Category: CNN Regional

By Brooke Butler, Chris Smyth

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — The Savannah College of Art and Design has completed its 11-acre backlot, a working production space designed to give students hands-on experience while attracting professional film, television and commercial projects to Savannah.

“The backlot itself is a classroom, and so we have 11 acres of every imaginable location,” said Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of SCAD’s School of Film and Acting and executive director of SCAD Casting. “Restaurants, bars, hospitals, libraries—you name it. We really created our own city out here so students could be here and shoot.”

Built in phases over five years, the backlot, located off Louisville road, also includes a town hall, alleyway, motel, subway station, movie theater, and a fully furnished suburban house.

Unlike traditional backlot facades, many of the buildings feature usable interiors and practical elements. During a tour, D.W. Moffett, chair of SCAD’s film and television department, demonstrated running water inside the house.

“Any other backlot in the world, if you came to this house, you would not have that,” Moffett said.

The practical sets can also help students reduce the cost of their productions by eliminating the need to rent outside locations.

“If you can take the location cost away for a lot of student projects, that makes them able to shoot so much cooler stuff and not have to bear the burden of the debt,” Moffett said.

The complex also features an LED volume and two purpose-built soundstages, including a 9,000-square-foot space designed for professional productions.

“I fully expect a television show to be in residence here at the big soundstage,” Moffett said. “And that then just becomes an engine for internships.”

SCAD leaders said connecting students with working professionals is central to the facility’s mission. Productions can give students opportunities to earn classroom credit, gain experience on professional sets and build résumés before graduation.

“We don’t wait for our students to graduate to go out into the industry,” Reeve-Rabb said. “We bring the industry in.”

The facility is designed to support more than film and television. SCAD said the backlot and soundstages can also accommodate commercials, music videos, fashion campaigns and more.

Reeve-Rabb said professional productions in Savannah can benefit the wider community by generating business for hotels, restaurants and local shops.

SCAD says it is the only college in the world with a backlot of this size and a professionally operated, designated casting office.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mary Saladna

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    TOPSFIELD, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Friday marked the 208th Topsfield Fair, with a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and smells to celebrate.

Night one, however, was all about the pumpkins.

There were 21 contenders in this year’s Giant Pumpkin contest, many of which came from master growers.

NewsCenter 5 caught up with Woody Lancaster, a master grower from Topsfield.

“This is my biggest pumpkin ever, and my last pumpkin,” he said. “This is my swan song.”

Before the judging even started, Lancaster was randomly selected for a chance to win $10,000.

The check was hidden in one of 50 envelopes.

The arena erupted in cheers when Lancaster won the big prize. But he knows the event is about more than just pumpkins.

“It’s camaraderie. We grow competitively, but we help one another. The camaraderie makes it all worth everything—it’s big. And the money’s a bonus, I’m not gonna lie,” he said.

The pumpkin growing contest has several categories the judges must consider, including symmetry, color and weight.

Tom Keenan of Swampscott took home the title of “Prettiest Pumpkin.”

“I was shocked because there are a lot of pretty pumpkins that come to this fair every year,” Keenan said.

The main event of Night One is the pumpkin weigh-in.

One of the final two pumpkins of the night belonged to Larry Masters of Nassau, New York.

His pumpkin weighed a whopping 2,220 pounds.

But Lancaster told us he believed in the greatness of his gourd.

In addition to his $10,000 win, Lancaster’s pumpkin came in at 2,598 pounds, a new Topsfield Fair record.

The fair runs from Friday, Oct. 2, through Monday, Oct. 12.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Chierstin Roth

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — A Colorado company is making a splash in the aviation industry with a plane that’s both cheaper and quieter to operate than its standard counterparts.

The eFlyer 2 looks like a regular plane, and for all intents and purposes, it is.

“The only difference is instead of a loud, noisy, dirty engine, it’s got a nice, clean, quiet electric engine,” said Bye Aerospace CEO Rod Zastrow.

Bye Aerospace is the company behind the innovative design.

“It’s a new design started from scratch that incorporates a lightweight, small but very powerful electric engine, lightweight composite construction materials for the structure, and high energy density batteries to propel the motor, so all of that’s brought together for the first time in history.”

Although it will be available to the public for purchase, the company has geared its design toward the flight school industry.

“Our main objective is to help lower the cost of pilot training. So right now, legacy aircraft cost about $165-175 an hour to operate, just basic operating costs. This aircraft is designed to operate at only $35-40 an hour.”

The planes operate off a series of batteries and backup batteries that will automatically kick in if necessary, with charging stations that work similarly to electric cars.

“We can charge two airplanes at the same time. So, it makes it very efficient for the flight schools.”

And the interest in people getting their hands on the new technology is booming, including here in Colorado with Spartan College already submitting a pre-order.

“We have about 1,000 of those orders from around the world for both this and the follow-on four-seat derivative.”

Although the company just conducted a successful test flight from Centennial Airport, the design is still undergoing rigorous testing.

“We will learn a lot in this process, and that will happen over the next six to nine months. We’ll do another prototype that will incorporate all of those changes, and we hope that’s the last prototype that will undergo all of the FAA-required flight testing, and then we can start production. So that won’t be too terribly long down the road.”

And while the eFlyer 2 may change the game in the world of pilot training, there are limitations to the technology with how long all-electric planes can stay in the air and how big they can be due to the weight of batteries – meaning we likely won’t be seeing any all-electric jets anytime soon.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mark Rivera, Karen Jordan

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    GLEN ELLYN, Illinois (WLS) — Confidence, inclusion and joy took center stage Sunday as the National Association for Down Syndrome hosted its 21st annual fashion show in Glen Ellyn.

“The Lucky Few Fashion Show” brought together models of all ages and the families cheering them on, giving children with Down syndrome an opportunity to take the spotlight on the runway. ABC7’s Mark Rivera served as emcee for the event.

Among the participants was 6-year-old Pauly, who was eager to show off his costume. His mother, Lisa Roque, said the atmosphere of the event was unlike any other.

“The love in the room is absolutely amazing. The event—I’m overwhelmed with joy, being a part of it,” Roque said.

The National Association for Down Syndrome hosts the event to give families a chance to connect while offering children an opportunity to shine.

Eve, one of the models, summed up her reason for attending simply by saying, “the fashion show.”

Her father, Jeff, said the experience is about more than walking down the runway.

“The opportunity to be invited, gets to work with kids of all ages and ability levels,” Jeff said.

For Isabella, this year marked her third appearance in the fashion show. Her mother, Melissa Dehoyos, said she hopes the experience leaves a lasting impression.

“I really hope she understands that just because she’s different from typical children that doesn’t mean she is limited on what she can do,” Dehoyos said.

Milliana, meanwhile, is a six-year veteran of the runway and already looking ahead to her next role.

“I’ll be a flower girl,” she said.

Her mother, Jennifer Marthaler, said the spotlight is a natural fit.

“She loves being on display on stage in the spotlight,” Marthaler said.

The National Association for Down Syndrome is also celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. The organization provides support, resources and programs for people with Down syndrome and their families.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Krista McNally

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    LONG ISLAND, New York (WABC) — Human skeletal remains were found Thursday evening in Plandome Pond Park, prompting an investigation by Nassau County police and the closure of the community park.

The remains were discovered shortly before 6 p.m. in a wooded area below train tracks, according to Kenneth Riscica, mayor of the Village of Plandome Heights.

“It was discovered by a group of high schoolers that were running along the train tracks; the remains were in a wooded area below the train tracks,” Riscica said.

The discovery was not along one of the park’s main trails.

“The remains were found in a very remote area of the park,” Riscica said.

Diana Cotumaccio, who has lived next to Plandome Pond Park for decades, said seeing a crime scene in the neighborhood was extremely uncommon. She said she saw about half a dozen police cars enter the park on North Bourndale Road on Thursday night.

“Last night there were several cop cars along with police officers, and they indicated to me there were remains in the park. I’m here 30 years and this is a new one for me,” Cotumaccio said.

Nassau County police said there are indicators that the remains may be those of an elderly woman who was reported missing in December.

“It probably is somebody who has been missing for a year, and we need to think of this family who finally will have closure,” said North Hempstead town supervisor Jennifer DeSena.

The efforts to find the missing person police believe it may be were extensive – it included a three-to-four-day search with helicopters, marine bureau dogs, and grid searches.

Police say where that woman was last seen was about four miles from where this body was found.

This is an ongoing investigation, and police say they do not believe there’s anything suspicious about the disturbing discovery.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By WABC Staff

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    MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — A 71-year-old man was killed on Monday morning after he was thrown from his bike after hitting an off-leash dog in Central Park.

It happened just before 8:30 a.m. near East 84th Street inside the park.

The bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet at the time, was riding a trek racing pedal bike and struck the pavement. He suffered injuries to his head and body.

First responders rushed the victim to New York Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The owner of the golden retriever was on the scene and police say the dog was not injured.

Dogs are permitted to be off leash in Central Park from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., but dogs must be on a short leash on park drives at all times.

Police say it does not appear the cyclist was speeding, but parkgoers say speed and the congestion at the intersection is a terrifying combination.

The deadly incident comes after a 41-year-old pedestrian was struck by a bicyclist and killed in the same area of the park last month.

In that case, Richie O’Brien, a father of two, was walking to work when he was struck. He died days later.

After that incident, the Central Park Conservancy called for additional safety measures in the park, including a 15 mph speed limit, stronger enforcement of traffic rules and better bicycle infrastructure.

On Monday, the conservancy released a statement, calling on all New Yorkers to follow the rules of the park:

“We are heartbroken to hear of the fatal incident that occurred in Central Park this morning involving a cyclist and an off-leash dog. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the cyclist who lost his life,” the statement said. “Central Park was created more than 150 years ago to provide a peaceful, joyful respite for all from the intense pace and pressures of the surrounding city. The Park cannot continue to serve that purpose unless all New Yorkers hold to the essential agreement of public space: know and follow the rules, and respect your fellow visitors.”

There is no word yet if anyone may be facing charges in Monday’s deadly incident.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By WMAR Web Staff

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services has welcomed its newest four-legged friend. Meet Valor, the agency’s newest peer support facility dog.

The pup completed his training in August and is partnered with Rick High, a specialist with the department’s peer support team and 21-year veteran of the department.

“We help out with the behavioral health and mental wellness for the department. We found that the old school toughened it out or even just, you know,” High said. “Pushing things down did not work well. That doesn’t work well with anyone.”

High and Valor visit fire stations, sometimes after a bad call to offer support and comfort to firefighters.

“People love this job and it’s the best job in the world. However, we do carry a lot with us, and as my wife would say, you can’t pour from an empty cup,” High said.

Valor came to the department through the Maryland-based non-profit Hero Dogs, which pairs service and therapy dogs with veterans and facilities. The golden and Labrador retriever mix’s training helps him identify firefighters who are stressed and provide comfort.

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By Jeff Hager

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    PERRYVILLE, Maryland (WMAR) — From her waterfront terrace at the Owens Landing Court condominiums in Perryville, Margarette Gamache first noticed the stray dogs.

“There was three big dogs with no collars and no people,” Margarette told us, “So my first thought was ‘strangers in the neighborhood’, but then they went down to the pier.”

Margarette called on her husband, Tom, to check out the lost pets, but he had no idea what lay in store.

“When I first saw the dogs, they were still on the top of the ramp and then I saw the brown dog,” Tom recalled, “He went down the third slip in and he jumps in. It’s a day at the beach. He’s swimming off. Well, the older dog, which was a lab, a real husky lab, that dog jumped in to follow him and when I got down on the dock, he was struggling.”

With the help of some other neighbors, Tom worked frantically to pull the lab to safety, while a Perryville police officer with the help of a man in a passing fishing boat who had spotted the commotion, focused their efforts on saving the other dog, which ended up struggling to stay afloat for nearly half an hour.

Good Samaritans who happened to be in the right place at the right time pulled the animals from the river in the nick of time.

“If nobody was out here to see that happen, they could have been swimming in there and drown,” said Margarette.

“With nobody knowing,” added her husband.

“With nobody even knowing, and they would have ended up being missing dogs in the area,” she noted.

“Floated up in the marina like some jumpers from the bridge,” he replied.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Jeffrey Lindblom

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    DEARBORN, Michigan (WXYZ) — A fish species so sensitive to pollution it vanished from the lower Rouge River more than 100 years ago has been found again — and environmental groups say it is a sign that decades of cleanup and restoration work are paying off.

Ashley Flintoff, executive director of Friends of the Rouge, said her team netted six greenside darters in the murky waters at Ford Field Park on Sept. 17.

“The Rouge River has suffered from decades and decades of legacy pollution and contamination. I think this is our way of bringing back the river and speaking up for the river,” Flintoff said.

The discovery sparked an immediate reaction.

“Screaming so loud, passersby’s looked over and were like, ‘what do you have in there?'” Flintoff said.

Flintoff describes the greenside darter as “intolerant” of its surroundings.

“Meaning that they are very sensitive to pollution and to habitat,” Flintoff said.

She believes industrialization pollution initially forced the fish to flee — as machinery boomed and contaminated the waters. The Rouge River actually caught fire for a period in 1969, a moment that partially contributed to the push to pass the Clean Water Act.

“The river is so polluted nothing could live in it at the point,” Flintoff said.

Before the area was industrialized, the river would have supported more plant and wildlife — including ducks, bugs, other animals and 55 different species of fish. That same Sept. 17 outing also set a new record for Friends of the Rouge: the group documented 21 species of fish in the river — the most it has ever recorded in a single survey, surpassing a previous high of 19.

“It tells us the work that has been done over the past 40 years in this watershed is really doing its job,” Flintoff said.

The organization is also marking its 40th anniversary.

Parkgoers Norma Zurawski and her mother Casey were pleased to hear about the find.

“I love fish,” Norma Zurawski said.

“It’s very cool that those efforts that people are making are actually working,” Casey Zurawski said.

Flintoff said millions of dollars spent on water quality and habitat projects are paying off. She also credited the community for doing its part to help keep the 127 river miles of the Rouge clean and healthy, alongside the organization’s own restoration and stormwater mitigation efforts.

“There are ways for humanity and nature to coexist and we can have a healthy and thriving river,” Flintoff said.

The six fish were released after being documented. The ones found appear to have the capacity to breed, raising the possibility that more greenside darters could return to the lower Rouge River.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.