Category: CNN Regional

By Zoe Blair, Ryan Lovell

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    BESSEMER, Alabama (WVTM) — Bessemer City Middle School welcomed therapy dogs to campus on Friday, offering students a chance to interact with the animals as a way to alleviate stress and improve focus. Teachers at the school believe the presence of the dogs is beneficial, especially for students dealing with significant trauma.

“Many of these students are dealing with trauma on par with war veterans,” said Brandon Baum, a teacher at Bessemer City Middle School.

Baum explained that the school is trying to use every possible strategy to support students who have witnessed distressing events in their communities.

“It’s the truth that we’re dealing with. There’s a lot of things going on in our communities. We wish we could have hid it from them, but they’ve witnessed some things that we would have liked to keep from them. And so we have to try to exhaust every option and every strategy possible,” Baum said.

The school has been grieving the loss of a seventh-grader who was a victim of gun violence earlier this year. Teachers say the therapy dogs have been a much-needed source of comfort for the students.

“There’s something nice and warm and, furry and fuzzy. Just something that they can express their love to and feel that reciprocated in a particular way,” Baum said.

Students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to interact with the dogs.

“I just like dogs because it keeps me more focused in school,” said Jayden Heard, a student at Bessemer City Middle School.

Christian Aguilar, another student, shared, “It helps me be focused because it’s something I can look forward to (that’s) at the end of the month, and I really enjoy coming here to see Lizzie and Bodie.”

Zyreunna Lindsay added, “I love playing with dogs and I love playing with Bodie.”

Dr. Yuvraj Verma, the teacher behind the initiative, hopes to continue bringing therapy dogs to the school to help keep students calm and focused in class.

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By Beth Carlson

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — After years of hosting the Joe Tomsu Memorial Bowling Tournament in Omaha in honor of his father, the community is coming together to support Matt Tomsu after his breast cancer diagnosis in June.

Matt founded the tournament in 1999 after losing his father to cancer. Each year, it brings professionals and amateurs to Omaha, with 16 states and two countries represented this year, amongst the over 170 bowlers.

“I said that I wanted to do was raise money for cancer research if we’re going to do this. So that’s where we started. And the first year we raised $1,358, which we thought was amazing. And now, 27 years later, we’re over $300,000,” Matt said.

In its 27th year, it’s the first time that Matt will not be bowling while undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s a little tougher, but it’s amazing… I was worried about the support of the tournament. I didn’t know, but everybody jumped in and did a part of it,” Matt said.

A Nebraska USBC Hall of Fame recipient, the bowling community rallied around Matt during day one of the tournament.

“It makes me want to tear up a little bit when I talk about him. I’ve been friends with him for so long. I worked with him when I started out in this business. and the nicest, most genuine guy that you’ll ever meet in your life,” Larry Dall, a longtime bowler and friend of Matt’s, said.

The tournament offers cash prizes for bowlers over the two days of play. All of the proceeds go towards cancer research at the Nebraska Medicine Buffett Cancer Center.

“People just keep coming up and support me, and I can’t even describe how it feels,” Matt said. “This is a way to fight back. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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By Yunier Martinez

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    BURLINGTON, Vermont (WPTZ) — As reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits continue to affect people across the region, one Burlington family has transformed a small neighborhood library into a free community pantry, all thanks to an idea from an 8-year-old boy.

The bright red wooden shed, built by Ollie Grant and his grandfather, originally served as a “little free library” filled with books for anyone to borrow.

However, during a school food and clothing drive this fall, Ollie learned that some of his classmates and neighbors were struggling with access to meals.

His mother, Laina Grant, said that simple moment prompted a bigger conversation.

“He explained that some kids were needing some extra support,” Laina Grant said.

Hearing that inspired Ollie to offer a solution. When asked how he could help, he suggested the family fill the little library with food.

“Because not a lot of people have food and we really need to help,” he said.

The Grants converted half the library into a free food pantry stocked with pasta, canned goods, and other nonperishables.

At first, the pantry went unnoticed until the family shared the idea on Front Porch Forum. Within days, the shelves were empty.

“So we put it on Front Porch Forum and in our neighborhood email. Then that day, it was empty,” Laina said.

Since then, the pantry has been refilled and emptied many times, sometimes within a single day.

The effort has sparked strong community support.

Laina Grant said they’ve received nearly 20 emails from neighbors praising Ollie’s kindness and offering to help restock the pantry. One resident even mailed the family $100 to buy additional groceries.

For the Grants, the project has become a way to teach generosity and gratitude, especially as Thanksgiving and the holiday season approach.

“We all sit around the table and say what we’re thankful for, and one of the things is always food,” Laina said. “The fact that he can give back to people, he’s always really thankful for that.”

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By Stephanie Moore

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    RICHLAND COUNTY, South Carolina (WYFF) — A detention officer in South Carolina has been arrested for using excessive force on two inmates, involving a chemical irritant, according to authorities.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said on Oct. 26 Latasha McClendon, 52, reportedly sprayed a chemical irritant into the cell before closing the flap door with two inmates inside.

Authorities said McClendon sprayed the irritant during a verbal dispute with an inmate in the cell.

Investigators said they reviewed evidence and determined the use of force was excessive.

McClendon was arrested and charged with two counts of third-degree assault and battery and misconduct in office.

She was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

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By Doug Meehan

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    GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts (WCVB) — For most, the idea of retirement means relaxing days in the sun, somewhere warm, and far away from the daily grind.

That is not the case for a North Shore couple who started their “retirement job” almost 50 years ago. Their idea of relaxing is running a company that makes, in their words, “formed for function” furniture.

“I was always afraid that sort of at mid-life you would lose your freedom to choose what you want to do,” said Gerhart Klein, owner of Brigger by Klein Design.

At 92 years young, Klein first started making furniture in the mid-1970s. At the time he couldn’t find a chair that he liked at local furniture stores, so he decided to make one.

In the mid-1980s, he moved into his current manufacturing facility in Gloucester and hasn’t stopped since.

Made of locally sourced wood and fabrics, the chairs are described as Scandinavian inspired design that are both flexible and comfortable.

“I make comfortable chairs,” said Klein.

With no signs of slowing down, it’s no coincidence that Klein’s energy matches that of a certain battery bunny. When Klein started his relaxing furniture business, he was simultaneously employed as a chemical engineer for a local company that made electronic capacitors. That company later evolved into, of all things, Duracell.

By 1985 Klein decided to leave corporate America and jump full time into his new endeavor.

“It’s an interesting challenge that is definitely what I like as my retirement job,” he said.

By his side for more than 62 years is his wife, Brigitte. In fact, the company name Brigger is a combination of the married couple’s names, BRIGitte and GERhart.

It seems being together for all that time makes, just like their chairs, a perfect fit for life and business.

Klein credited his wife for much of their company’s success.

“That’s why we’re still together because I come up with something, it was something that could be improved. She’s (Brigitte) quality control,” he said.

The two still have no signs of slowing down. They have recently relaunched their website, as most of their sales are online.

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By Terri Parker

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    BOYNTON BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — The daughter of a Boynton Beach woman who was shot and killed minutes after asking police for help has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and a Boynton Beach police officer.

Attorney Gary Susser filed the suit on behalf of Fridelene Daniel’s minor daughter. It accuses the Boynton Beach Police Department and Officer Jermaine Jones of failing to protect Daniel after she reported being stalked by her ex-boyfriend, Robens Cesar, two years ago to the day.

Investigative Reporter Terri Parker obtained the lawsuit and the lobby body-camera video from Daniel’s visit to the police station.

On the video, Daniel tells an officer, “I don’t know what’s wrong with him, every time, he keeps following me. I don’t want that.”

Daniel says Cesar had a gun and that she feared he would kill her.

“He got a gun. I don’t want him to make me die,” Daniel says. The officer responds, “He got what?”

The complaint alleges Jones “made fun” of Daniel, mocked her pronunciation of the word “gun,” used inappropriate language, and minimized the danger.

At one point on the recording, the officer tells Cesar, “So, one year ago. She don’t want it no more. You can’t fix this. OK, you got to find you a new boo. OK, work on a new relationship, alright? Yeah. I’m done. I’m good.”

The suit says Jones did not open an investigation, did not call a supervisor or a domestic-violence advocate, and did not escort Daniel to her car, even as Cesar was allegedly at the station “actively stalking her.”

Police say less than an hour after Daniel left the station, she was shot and killed.

According to the arrest report, Cesar confessed and told detectives that Daniel’s visit to police was “the final straw.”

“This was stalking 101. It was a crime being committed in his presence,” Susser told Parker. “She was mocked, she was belittled and she was not taken seriously and was summarily dismissed.”

Susser says Jones later received a two-week suspension and domestic-violence training. The lawsuit seeks $5 million from the city’s insurance carrier for Daniel’s daughter.

Cesar remains in the Palm Beach County Jail, charged with first-degree murder.

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By Tracy Escobedo

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    WATSONVILLE, California (KSBW) — A 19-year-old Watsonville man has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault and kidnapping of an underage girl.

Watsonville police officers responded to a report of a sexual assault Friday morning.

Officers learned that the 17-year-old victim was lured into the suspect’s car and taken to another location where the assault happened.

The victim said she did not know the suspect.

Officers were able to locate and arrest Christopher Medina Amezquita in Capitola with the help of the Capitola Police Department, the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

Medina Amezquita was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on multiple felony charges, including rape, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Detectives believe there are more victims and are asking anyone who may have been victimized by him to contact Watsonville police Det. Marcos Rios at 831-768-3357.

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