Category: CNN Regional

By Joshua Davis

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    WILKESBORO, North Carolina (WXII) — Chris Handy, a 50-year-old father, overcame the challenge of losing part of his leg to walk his daughter, Noelle, down the aisle at her wedding in June.

His journey began on January 1, when he went down to the basement barefoot and ended up with a splinter in his toe, which led to an infection.

The infection caused his leg to swell to his ankle and resulted in a low-grade fever. After consulting with doctors, Handy made the difficult decision to amputate his leg below the knee.

“We made the determination to go ahead and take the leg below the knee, rather keep doing small operations to try to save it,” he said.

His daughter, Noelle Shumate, expressed her concern, saying, “I was really worried. It’s always hard, because you think your parents are invincible, and then you get, you know, to the point where their health is not where it used to be.”

Handy spent several months in the hospital, followed by physical therapy, which he described as a humbling experience.

“To lay on your back in a hospital bed from January until April 2, whenever I ended up losing my leg, yeah, I laid in the hospital bed for that many months and then turned around and having to do physical therapy. It’s very humbling experience,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Handy was determined to walk his daughter down the aisle. “We’re going to get it done. I’ll find a way, whatever it took,” he said.

Physical therapists at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist supported Handy in adapting to his prosthetic leg, helping him build strength over seven days.

Dr. Walter Davis, Medical Director at the Sticht Center Rehab, noted Handy’s focus on regaining function.

“He was so focused on the function, he was really looking to the therapist to teach him how to get out of bed, first, how to get to the bathroom on his own, how to get in and out of a wheelchair, and then how to walk,” Davis said.

Kelsey Robinson, a physical therapist at the Sticht Center Rehab, shared how they simulated an entire wedding for Handy to practice walking down the aisle and even the first dance.

“We basically were able to simulate an entire wedding, and let him practice walking down the aisle. And then he also got to, later in his stay, practice the first dance as well. And I can just tell you, you could hear a pin drop in that room. Everybody was speechless,” Robinson said.

When the big moment arrived, Handy was nervous about stepping on his daughter’s dress, but he successfully walked her down the aisle using a cane.

“That flowing dress scared the crap out of me. I just knew I was gonna step on it. I was gonna ruin something. It was gonna be for God and everybody but I used the cane and walked her down the aisle, and didn’t have an issue doing the transition ever to the grass. So it’s great,” Handy said.

Noelle reflected on the experience, saying, “To walk down the aisle with him was just, it’s something I always dreamed about, and it didn’t happen how I always dreamed about. But it was much more than that. It was perfect, because we got to do it together.”

Handy is now back to work and has even walked his other daughter around her college campus. He emphasized the importance of mindset in physical therapy, saying it makes the difference in getting back on your feet.

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By Natalie Bailey

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A water main break caused a geyser of water to shoot into the air early Wednesday morning near businesses in northeast Oklahoma City.

The break was reported shortly after 2 a.m. near the intersection of East Memorial Road and Broadway Lane. Oklahoma City Fire Department crews told KOCO 5 that they couldn’t turn off the water and had to call the OKC Utilities Department for assistance.

OKC Utilities Department officials told KOCO 5 that the break is expected to have minimal traffic impacts and water outages because of its location in the grass. They confirmed that three customers located directly on the corner of Memorial and Broadway will have service impact.

Repairs are expected to be made by 2 p.m. Wednesday.

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By Madilyn Destefano

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (WESH) — A woman was found unresponsive in her Daytona Beach home with severe injuries consistent with what appeared to be an animal attack, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.

When officers arrived Friday just before 7:15 p.m., they found 38-year-old Monica Emerson inside the home. They also discovered four dogs running freely.

Police said the victim’s significant other told investigators he spoke to Emerson about 30 to 40 minutes before coming to the home. He was planning to take her to the bank,

The incident report shows police saw animal feces spread throughout the home before finding the victim in a back room on the floor, lying next to the bed.

The report states she had missing skin, and cuts on her body including to her eyes lips and left arm. Police say none of the injuries appear to be the result of foul play or caused by human involvement.

Further investigation suggested Emerson may have experienced a medical episode that caused her to lose consciousness, during which time she was fatally attacked by the dogs. Her partner told them she was epileptic and took medicine twice a day.

DBPD Animal Control Services took custody of all four dogs. The animals were then transferred to Volusia County Animal Services where they will be held for 10 days before being euthanized.

It’s unclear whether the dogs belonged to Emerson. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

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By Laura Terrell

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Gabe Fholer was in kindergarten when he started experiencing fevers and unexplained pain. His mom knew something was wrong.

“Our pediatrician came in and said his white counts were so high the machine couldn’t read them,” Stephanie Fholer said.

Gabe was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“Just the worst thing you can imagine. Just the shock. He was a very healthy, normal, active 6-year-old,” Stephanie Fholer said.

Gabe spent a year and a half going through treatment, including chemotherapy.

“This particular type of ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) was very challenging to cure. It required some less conventional approaches at the time,” Dr. Nick Fustino said.

Doctors say Gabe was one of the first children at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines to receive a breakthrough drug called Blinatumomab.

KCCI first told you about Blinatumomab back in July. Late last year, clinical trials for the immunotherapy drug ended early due to its clear benefits, and Blinatumomab is now standard practice for treating B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer.

Blinatumomab works in combination with chemotherapy but is considered less toxic and does something chemo cannot do.

“It has taken our cure rates from probably a little bit below 90% for acute lymphoblastic leukemia to well above 95%. And it’s also very effective in very hard-to-cure cases like Gabe’s was,” Fustino said.

In Gabe’s case, Blinatumomab helped get his cancer down to a level low enough so he was able to get a bone marrow transplant.

“His transplant was deemed effective,” Stephanie Fholer said. “There is no sign of cancer in his body, and right now he has no more chance of getting leukemia than you or I do.”

Gabe is now back on the ballfield doing what he loves and enjoying second grade in Des Moines.

“It’s a terrible thing to have happen, but our outcome has been miraculous. Medicine is just amazing,” Stephanie Fholer said.

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By Allison Petro, Michelle Meredith

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    CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (WESH) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.

FWC officials said they responded to a call from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office regarding an incident at the Port Canaveral Cargo Dock.

Initial reports indicate that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.

Only one bird survived, according to officials.

Heather Pepe, co-founder of Wild Florida Rescue, described the heartbreaking situation:

“All killed in an instant … left the 13 to suffer until they were put down or died,” she said. “How this person hit them though, even in the road. I don’t know, they would have had to gun it. Step on the gas and gunned it.”

After the incident, the FWC reviewed video evidence, collected physical evidence and interviewed the suspect.

The birds were run over while resting in a parking lot, possibly drinking water from a puddle.

“But these animals…we see their souls,” She said. “That’s what we see … we see their eyes wide open. And we see them looking at us for help.”

The incident remains under investigation, and additional evidence will be submitted to the Brevard County state attorney’s office for review before any charges are filed.

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By Pepper Purpura

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    POLK COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) — Iowa farmers are voicing frustration and concern after President Donald Trump hosted Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House this week — just days after announcing a $20 billion U.S. bailout for Argentina aimed at stabilizing its financial markets.

The bailout, structured as a currency swap through Argentina’s central bank, comes as a trade dispute is costing U.S. soybean producers sales to the South American nation —raising concern that the administration’s focus on foreign financial aid is coming at the expense of American farmers.

“Our farmers are angry,” said Polk County farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union Aaron Lehman. “We’re facing a financial crisis because we’ve been avoiding common-sense trade policies and instead have started trade wars with many countries around the world.”

Lehman said the bailout will directly benefit Argentina’s agricultural industry — one that competes with U.S. farmers for access to the Chinese market.

“Now the U.S. Treasury is helping Argentina with a $20 billion bailout that is directly helping Argentine farmers sell their soybeans to China, undercutting the Chinese market for U.S. soybeans,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the deal, saying in a post last week that “Argentina faces a moment of acute illiquidity” and that the U.S. is “prepared to take exceptional measures to provide stability to markets.” Trump praised the move during Milei’s visit, calling Argentina “on the verge of great economic success.”

But Iowa agriculture leaders say the decision couldn’t come at a worse time.

China, once the top buyer of American soybeans, stopped purchasing U.S. crops in May in response to Trump’s ongoing trade dispute. Since then, China has ramped up imports from South America — particularly from Argentina, which recently cut export taxes to make its soybeans more competitive.

Chad Hart, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University, said the ripple effects are already visible.

“When you add all this together, it leads to falling soybean prices, which means lower farm incomes,” Hart said. “At the same time, they’re facing some of the highest costs they’ve ever seen.”

Lehman added that farmers are also still waiting for a promised domestic aid package — one that’s been delayed amid the ongoing government shutdown.

“In the meantime, a promised aid package to U.S. farmers sits on the government’s back shelf,” he said. “This is putting U.S. farmers at risk. How can the current administration justify a bailout for Argentina, continue a trade war with China, and then fail to deliver a promised aid package to U.S. farmers?”

Hart said the strain extends beyond individual farms.

“Agriculture is dragging the general economy down in Iowa,” he said, pointing to layoffs at John Deere and a rise in farm bankruptcies.

Lehman said the state’s leaders need to step in.

“Our Iowa congressional delegation should be demanding answers,” he said.

White House sources said the agreement is also contingent on President Javier Milei remaining in office and maintaining his market-reform agenda, which the Trump administration views as essential to the deal’s success. U.S. officials emphasized that continued U.S. financial support depends on Milei’s government upholding its austerity measures, anti-corruption efforts, and commitment to economic liberalization aimed at restoring investor confidence in Argentina.

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By Austen Erblat

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — A Denver metro area spa was the target of a recent undercover prostitution sting, which ended with the arrest of the spa’s owner, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said it received a complaint from a customer who said he was offered sexual acts in exchange for money at Mango Spa, at 6650 S. Vine St. in Centennial. Soon after, a deputy went undercover as a customer at the spa. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was given a similar offer and declined, and then the owner, 46-year-old Sun Jingli, was arrested.

Singli faces charges of prostitution and keeping a place of prostitution, a misdemeanor. She’s due in court on Nov. 7. No one else at the spa is facing charges, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office didn’t say it believed there was evidence of human trafficking in this case, but said that businesses with high employee turnover and other suspicious behavior, such as being open later than advertised, only accepting cash, and having to buzz customers in, can point to human trafficking.

And while some experts, advocacy organizations, and law enforcement say prostitution can sometimes be tied to human trafficking, a growing movement is calling for decriminalizing or legalizing sex work to reduce stigmas and increase safety for both sex workers and customers.

Prostitution is illegal in most of the United States, except for several counties in Nevada. In Maine, selling sexual acts is decriminalized, but paying for sexual acts remains illegal.

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