Category: CNN Regional

By Katie Houlis

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — For the third day in a row, the New York City Health Department has announced a death in the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease cluster.

Health officials say three people have died in connection to the outbreak.

“Our hearts are with their family and friends as they mourn their loss. Out of respect for their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information about their passing,” Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said in a statement, in part.

The first two deaths were reported on Friday and Saturday.

As of Sunday, a total of 74 Legionnaires’ disease cases have been connected to the cluster, health officials say. Of those 74 patients, three have died, eight are currently hospitalized, 51 have been discharged from the hospital, and 12 did not need to be hospitalized.

“While we continue to investigate cases and closely monitor those in the hospital, we have not identified anyone with new symptoms for more than a week, and we are not seeing any concerning trends in emergency department surveillance data,” Martin said in a statement, in part.

Health officials believe the source of the outbreak – suspected to be water vapor containing live Legionella bacteria from a cooling tower in the area of the 10028, 10075 and 10128 ZIP codes – has been eliminated after they ordered 76 buildings that tested positive for the bacteria to undergo precautionary cleaning.

“We will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive and will hold accountable any owner who fails to comply with our public health laws,” Martin said in a statement, in part.

Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after spending time in the impacted area is encouraged to seek medical care.

For more information on Legionnaires’ disease, including symptoms and prevention, visit the health department’s website.

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 Zachary Bynum, Anna McAllister

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A 14-year-old boy is hospitalized after being pulled from a swimming pool at a Lauderhill apartment complex Sunday, marking the latest in what officials describe as an alarming increase in child drowning and near-drowning incidents across South Florida.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue responded to Sunny Lake Apartments after reports that a child had been pulled from the water. The teenager was rushed to the hospital.

His condition has not been released.

The incident comes as South Florida continues to experience a troubling string of water emergencies involving children.

According to CBS News Miami reporting, there have been at least six drowning or near-drowning incidents involving children across South Florida over the past month, many of them in Broward County.

Sunday’s rescue also happened at the same apartment complex where another near-drowning was reported last year.

Among the recent tragedies CBS News Miami has reported:

– On July 5, a 4-year-old drowned in a lake in Plantation. – Just four days later, another child drowned in Plantation. – On July 12, North Lauderdale Fire Rescue rescued a 2-year-old boy who was found drowning in a swimming pool. The child was reported to be in critical condition. – Just six days later, a 4-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical after a near drowning.

The latest rescue has renewed concerns among first responders, who say many of these incidents are preventable.

Officials continue to urge parents and caregivers to closely supervise children around water, install appropriate pool barriers and enroll children in swim lessons as early as possible.

“We are unfortunately seeing a trend in these tragedies and near tragedies here in South Florida,” CBS News Miami’s Anna McAllister reported from the scene Sunday.

To help address the problem, Florida offers vouchers that can help families pay for swim lessons, part of an effort to reduce child drownings across the state. Information about the program is available on the CBS News Miami website.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for young children, making constant supervision and water safety education critical during South Florida’s year-round swimming season.

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 Nick Lentz, Stacey DuFord, Ahmad Bajjey

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued a statewide air quality alert for Sunday due to wildfire smoke forecast to move through the state.

The alert is in effect Saturday for the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula due to smoke and will expand statewide on Sunday.

A cold front moved through Southeast Michigan on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a brief improvement in air quality in the area, but cooler, drier air behind the system is pulling wildfire smoke with it.

Air quality on Sunday will range from unhealthy for sensitive groups across the Lower Peninsula to unhealthy in the Upper Peninsula, according to the National Weather Service.

CBS News Detroit has declared Sunday a NEXT Weather Alert Day due to the expected poor air quality. Similar conditions could warrant the designation Monday.

High temperatures in Southeast Michigan will be in the 70s and 80s on Sunday.

Federal officials recommend that people keep windows closed overnight to keep smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with filters that have a minimum efficiency reporting value of 13 or higher.

Dr. Abeer Berry, a cardiologist at Huron Valley Hospital, says anyone with preexisting health conditions has to be especially careful around air pollution.

“If you have an underlying heart disease, you’re being exposed to air pollution, which increases inflammation both in your lungs and heart. So, it puts you at higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke, accelerates plaque buildup in your arteries and it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. And those play a big role in whether or not you’re creating a perfect environment for a cardiovascular event,” Berry said.

Metro Detroit had the worst air quality in the world early Thursday, resulting in numerous disruptions to community events and programs, including outdoor events.

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 Matthew Ablon

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    BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KTVT) — The boxing community is in mourning after a prominent competitor was reportedly hit and killed by a driver in Texas over the weekend.

The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 10 a.m. on Saturday to the 23000 block of FM 159, near the community of Navasota. Deputies arrived and found 26-year-old Hannah Rapp lying on the roadway, with initial reports indicating a vehicle had hit her. First responders provided emergency care prior to transporting her to a nearby hospital. Rapp, however, died of her injuries.

During the investigation, Brazos County deputies said they learned Rapp and another bicyclist were on the road when 31-year-old Charles Medina drove past them. However, the sheriff’s office said Medina then stopped his vehicle, shifted into reverse, and hit Rapp. He was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Brazos County is located about 80 miles northwest of Houston.

ESPN notes that Rapp was a rising star in the ring, having challenged for the World Boxing Council’s featherweight championship this past June. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman mourned Rapp’s death in a statement shared online.

“The loss of Hannah Rapp leaves us heartbroken. She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family. We join in the grief of her loved ones, her team, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and supporting her throughout her brilliant career,” the statement reads.

The World Boxing Association also shared a tribute to Rapp on X.

CBS affiliate KBTX-TV in College Station notes that Rapp moved to the area in 2024 from her native Indiana. She had been boxing for less than five years and balanced training with her job at Texas A&M.

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 Riley Rourke, Brandon Truitt

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — The Starbucks at South Station in Boston has been shut down after a video showed rats eating the food in the display case. The video taken around 10 p.m. Wednesday also shows the rodents climbing on the cash register.

The Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) sent over an employee to inspect the location after receiving the video. The Starbucks manager told the inspector that an employee had mistakenly left the food out overnight and they had since thrown it all away.

Rat droppings were also found throughout the stand, including in a cabinet. Fruit flies were seen in the display case as well. The location had “multiple violations of the Massachusetts Sanitary Code and FDA Food Code,” according to the ISD.

The Starbucks was ordered to close due to the “immediate health hazard.” Its food permit was also temporarily suspended until another inspection can be completed and passed. The manager was told to retrain their staff on how to close properly, and the owner of the Starbucks location was instructed to hire a pest control company to address the “rodent infestation.” The location will also need to be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected.

“Our South Station location is temporarily closed while we address a pest issue. We will not reopen until we are confident that the store meets our high standards of cleanliness and safety. We look forward to welcoming our customers back soon,” a spokesperson for Starbucks told WBZ-TV in a statement.

“While this is a location operated by a third party, we expect all of our locations to provide the customer experience that Starbucks has come to be known for. We’ve been in touch with the licensee and understand that the location will be closed for a short period while they address the issue.”

“It was pretty disturbing,” said commuter Clothilde Donarumo, who was sent the video by a friend. “I’m definitely concerned. I don’t get food here in the mornings, but now I am definitely not going to for a while until I hear an update because that did not look good on that TikTok at all.”

“They don’t realize the medical repercussions,” said commuter Jacqui Russo.

A database from the City of Boston showing all past health inspections had no other violations listed for the location, except for an issue with a check in January 2025. The Starbucks was most recently inspected in December 2025 and passed.

Starbucks closed more than a dozen stores in Massachusetts last year, including the iconic “Golden Teapot” location. The company said the closings were due to “underperforming stores” across the country.

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 Darrin Post

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — In an email to Mayor Helena Moreno obtained by WDSU, Jill Dennis of the Assured Supervision Accountability Program says they will begin removing individuals from the ASAP program on Monday.

ASAP will no longer be accepting new enrollments and will officially end its partnership with the city by Aug. 1.

If the ASAP ankle monitoring program is ended, all Orleans Parish individuals currently enrolled in the program would return to the custody of the Orleans Parish Jail.

ASAP claims Orleans Parish Judges are intentionally not using the ankle monitoring service, causing a dip in the program’s numbers.

Dennis writes, “We cannot continue to provide our service to a court whose actions are doing so much damage to our ability to operate a successful business while providing the top-level security we provide.”

In the letter, Dennis claims the nationwide program has been operating in the city of New Orleans at a loss week after week.

Dennis calls for a conversation with the city to explore alternative choices to keep the program running in Orleans Parish.

“Mayor Moreno, our city needs this program. I do not want to leave Orleans. But I don’t know what else to do,” Dennis writes.

A statement from Mayor Moreno’s office states, “The Mayor’s office received the letter from ASAP late Thursday night and needs time to review.”

We reached out to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office for a comment and they issued the following statement:

“The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the care, custody, and control of individuals who have been lawfully committed to our custody. We do not determine who is booked into the Orleans Justice Center, nor do we decide who is released or the conditions of their release. Those decisions are made by the courts in accordance with the law.

The Sheriff’s Office does not operate or administer an electronic monitoring program, nor do we order individuals to be placed on electronic monitoring. When a court orders an individual to be released on electronic monitoring, our role is limited to processing that order and ensuring the individual is properly fitted with the required monitoring equipment before release.

As with any changes that could affect the local criminal justice system, we are committed to working with our justice system partners to ensure we can continue to safely provide care and supervision for everyone housed in our facility.

Because this matter involves court-ordered release conditions and private electronic monitoring services, any questions regarding the selection or use of specific electronic monitoring providers should be directed to the appropriate judicial or program administrators.”

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 Rachel Whelan

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio (WLWT) — Nearly three weeks after Lincoln Heights father of five Eddie Crossty was killed, the people who knew him best are making sure his legacy lives on.

Coworkers at Christ Hospital have launched a fundraiser to support Jackson Street Farms, the urban farm in Lincoln Heights where the 50-year-old spent his free time teaching children how to grow vegetables, caring for chickens and mentoring young people in his community.

Instead of sending flowers, they decided to invest in the work they say mattered most to Eddie.

“We wanted to do something that’s going to be a lasting memory,” Tammy McFarland, assistant manager of the emergency department at Christ Hospital, said.

Crossty was shot June 29 in a driveway near Jackson and Leggett streets in Lincoln Heights. He later died from his injuries.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies said a juvenile suspect was later turned in at the Hamilton County Juvenile Center by a parent. The juvenile has since been charged with aggravated murder, murder and two counts of felonious assault.

At Christ Hospital, coworkers say Eddie’s impact reached far beyond his job title.

As supervisor of environmental services, he was known for greeting everyone with a smile, leading by example and making people feel welcome.

“He always greeted everybody with a smile. He knew everybody and everybody in the hospital knows Eddie,” McFarland said.

What many of his coworkers didn’t realize was that when Eddie left the hospital, he headed to Jackson Street Farm.

There, the father of five devoted his time to teaching children how to grow food and mentoring young people.

“When we heard about that, that kind of went along with his personality,” McFarland said. “Always smiling, always funny … always really kind and willing to do whatever he could for somebody.”

Hospital leaders hope the fundraiser will help continue Eddie’s vision for the farm, including plans for a new chicken coop and expanded opportunities for children.

“Maybe build the new chicken coop that Eddie had a vision for, or grow more vegetables or bring more kids in and be able to help them and mentor them and live on his legacy,” McFarland said.

The fundraiser is being managed through the Christ Hospital Credit Union. Organizers say the donation account will remain open through Labor Day, with all proceeds benefiting Jackson Street Farm. Donations must be made in person at the credit union using cash or a check.

Young says the outpouring of support from coworkers comes as no surprise, because Eddie touched lives both inside the hospital and throughout the community.

“He made an impact with the Christ Hospital community and his own community,” Chariss Young, an emergency department manager at Christ Hospital, said. “It’s truly a tragedy, and he’s going to be missed.”

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 Alexis Mathews

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A Louisville mother has secured a historic victory in a civil case against an online ghost gun seller.

On Wednesday, a jury awarded the family of Henry Willis $104 million.

The 18-year-old was in a mental crisis when he ordered a ghost gun kit, or untraceable firearm, and died by suicide three years ago. Willis was a Seneca High School graduate.

His mother sued the unlicensed Nebraska-based retailer, Husky Armory LLC, and its parent company for negligence. Attorneys argued that the 18-year-old’s age was not verified during the transaction. They also argued a background check was not required when he purchased the ghost gun kit.

The unlicensed gun retailers did not appear in court during the civil case.

His mother hopes the verdict sends a clear message to those in the gun industry who put profit over people.

Laura Herp, mother of Henry Willis, said, “No amount of money can bring my son back, and nothing will ever make this right. I filed this lawsuit because gun sellers need to be held accountable. And I’m so grateful to this jury for doing their part to make that a reality. I know that far too many families already share my pain. To me, this was always about making sure no one else experiences a tragedy like ours.”

She also hopes this landmark case raises awareness about suicide prevention.

The verdict is believed to be the largest awarded in U.S. history against a seller of firearms.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.

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 Malcolm Shields

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    WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — A Miami woman was arrested on allegations of conducting a shoplifting scheme at Walmart.

Tammye A. Ovalle-Enireb, 18, from Miami, was arrested on Wednesday, July 15, and charged with larceny and retail theft, fraud swindle or defraud obtaining property and accessory after the fact.

According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, on June 3, at a Walmart located at 9990 Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach, Ovalle-Enireb and co-defendant Daruin J. Gutierrez De La Rosa, 22, are accused of taking items to the self-checkout register, scanning barcodes for items that had less value than what was taken by the duo out of the store.

A sheriff’s office deputy contacted a store employee who said he saw the two scan the items.

De La Rosa used two credit cards to pay a total of $105.01 and exited the store.

The employee then made contact the duo and requested to look at the purchase receipt to verify the purchases.

De La Rosa gave the store employee the receipt.

Moments later, the two fled the store to a green Toyota Corolla and left the parking lot. The purchased items were left in a shopping cart with the employee.

The employee was able to determine that the items scanned should have totaled $661.74. The employee provided the deputy surveillance video of the two suspects and told the deputy the store’s desire to prosecute the suspects.

A check of the Toyota’s license plate indicated the vehicle was registered to Ovalle-Enireb. She was positively identified in surveillance video by her mother who also identified the man as Ovalle-Enireb’s boyfriend but did not know his name.

Through investigative means, the deputy was able to find out where Ovalle-Enireb lived, which was at an apartment complex on Lake Crystal Drive in West Palm Beach.

An apartment complex manager told the deputy that De La Rosa was the renter living with Ovalle-Enireb.

De La Rosa lone identification was a Dominican Republic passport.

A photo with De La Rosa’s passport was used in a photo lineup where the Walmart employee identified De La Rosa as the suspect.

The sheriff’s office was informed that De La Rosa arrived at the United States in September 2024 on a B-2 Visa and overstayed in the United States.

A check of credit card transactions and store video revealed De La Rosa and Ovalle-Enireb were involved in five incidents involving the barcode scheme between May 5 and June 6.

Ovalle-Enireb was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $11,000 bond.

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.