Category: CNN Regional

By Carly Yoshida

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    KILAUEA, Hawai’i (KITV) — A new eruption, called Episode 34, began at Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at 12:53 a.m. on Oct. 1.

Lava fountains started the night before, around 11:43 p.m. on Sept. 30, from the north vent inside the crater. At first, the fountains were low, about 30 feet high, but they quickly grew larger.

By early Oct. 1, lava fountains had reached up to 330 feet high and were tilted slightly to the northeast. In past eruptions, fountains at Halemaʻumaʻu have shot as high as 1,000 feet, with plumes rising up to 20,000 feet into the air.

Before this eruption started, scientists observed over 120 small gas bursts, known as “gas pistoning,” beginning on the night of Sept. 28. These bursts caused small lava fountains and overflows that slowly increased in strength and became more regular through Sept. 29 and 30. The eruption fully kicked off just before 1 a.m. on Oct. 1, when lava began flowing steadily and ground measurements showed signs of change inside the volcano.

Right now, all the lava and activity are staying inside the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and there is no threat to people or airports on the island. Winds are blowing from the northeast, which may carry volcanic gases and particles toward the southwest.

This eruption is part of an ongoing pattern. Since Dec. 2024, most eruptions in Halemaʻumaʻu have lasted less than a day and are usually followed by several days of quiet. Scientists continue to monitor the activity closely with cameras and instruments around the crater.

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By Alyssa Dzikowski, Trish Christakis

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — Residents in Miami-Dade may soon see a police car cruising their streets with no one behind the wheel.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on Monday unveiled its first-ever self-driving vehicle, named “PUG,” short for Police Unmanned Ground. Officials said the agency is the first in the country to put this kind of technology on the road.

The vehicle comes equipped with 360-degree cameras, license plate recognition, and even a deployable drone.

It is designed to patrol neighborhoods, integrate with law enforcement databases in real time, and provide support at crash scenes with tools such as thermal imaging and drone response.

“The PUG allows us to explore how new technology can keep people safe while making the best use of our resources. Deputies remain at the heart of this mission, and the PUG is here to support them,” Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said.

According to a press release, the self-driving car’s features include AI-driven patrol functions, real-time crime analytics, and first responder support capabilities. Officials also noted that the vehicle comes at no cost to taxpayers.

For the first year, a deputy will remain inside to monitor operations. After that, the agency plans for the PUG to operate independently for about 16 hours each day.

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By Olivia Young

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    Colorado (KCNC) — A teacher in the Denver metro area is reviving a lost art. Matt Paisley believes ThunderRidge is the only high school in the country to offer a cobbling class.

This is the first semester the class has been available, and it’s been so successful in the Douglas County school that there are more interested kids than spots for next semester.

“One at a time,” ThunderRidge High School teacher Matt Paisley coached a student using a sewing machine to add stitches to a shoe.

Inside Paisley’s ThunderRidge classroom in Highlands Ranch, 22 young cobblers are hard at work.

“Alex is hand stitching this stitch down boot and sole,” Paisley said to a group of students. “He channeled it, and then he’s going to use his jerk needle. It’s a different tool. He’s going to hand stitch all the way around. It will take hours.”

This is the first semester that the Fashion One course has included leathercraft, sewing and cobbling. It’s an idea the shop teacher — who runs a small custom boot and sandal business in his free time — pitched to the school and his students.

“This culture throws everything away instead of fixing it. The kids are learning also that proper craftsmanship is important,” Paisley said.

“We don’t have an organized system to train cobblers anymore. So I thought I would do something about that,” he added. “Before you can cobble, you have to learn how to sew. So that’s why there’s all these vintage sewing machines in here. The kids start off sewing their tool kit.”

By taking apart and rebuilding old shoes, students learn sewing, leathercraft and cobbling.

“So right now I’m welting the shoe,” said ThunderRidge sophomore Lexi Lezama. “This is the welt, and I take my awl and these lines that I drew on with Sharpie line up to the holes in the upper and… I sew a saddle stitch.”

The students work on vintage shoes and machines, donated by cobblers from around the country.

“The industry has been awesome. I get boxes regularly of donated supplies,” Paisley said.

“I’m gluing the bottom sole on. I put contact cement on both sides,” said ThunderRidge junior Lloyde Benell. “Then we just hammer out the whole side.”

Students like Benell have a background in woodshop.

“I find it very mesmerizing doing all the hand stitching and all that. It’s just very, like, calming,” Benell said.

While Lexi Lezama is interested in fashion:

“There’s two fashion design classes here at ThunderRidge, and I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I’m honestly, really glad I’m into this class,” Lezama said.

Many students come after school and during study hall to continue their work. Eventually, Paisley wants to run a cobbler’s shop out of the classroom.

“Mr. Paisley makes it really enjoyable. I really like how passionate he is. I walked in, like, not sure about taking this class, but as soon as he started talking about it, I realized, like, what he’s fought for this class… he made me want to be a part of this class,” Lezama said.

“I don’t think these kids are going to become cobblers, but that’s not the point. They’re learning how to make things and fix things,” Paisley said.

But if students do want to pursue a career in cobbling, Paisley says there will be jobs for them.

“The work is there. There’s too much work. There’s not enough trained staff. It’s a bottleneck, because you can’t take a pair of $500 boots and give them to somebody who doesn’t know how to do this stuff,” Paisley said.

Paisley wants his students to learn the value of craftsmanship and careful work.

“Has it changed your perspective about the kind of shoes that you would buy?” CBS Colorado’s Olivia Young asked Benell.

“Oh, definitely. I’ll always choose leather over plastic and all that quick stuff they’re making now,” Benell said.

“The way he talks about fast fashion and all that has definitely changed my views,” Lezama said. “These are definitely handcrafted and made with such detail that it’s made to last, like, forever. And shoes from like Shein are just, like, made so fast that they’re just, like, not good quality at all.”

Teaching a life skill through a lost art.

“Whether it’s wood, metal or leather, our kids solve problems and persevere,” Paisley said.

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By Kara Burnett

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — What began as one hair appointment for an 8-year-old boy has grown into a mission to restore confidence in children across Baltimore.

Tina Moore, stylist at Capelli Hair Services, got a call about a young boy who was homeless and hadn’t had a haircut in more than six months. By the time he made it to her chair, he had already missed two weeks of school.

“He was crying a lot because he said, ‘I’m going to be embarrassed in school. Please don’t cut my hair,’” Moore recalled. “His hair was so matted I didn’t know if I could save it.”

For two hours, Moore gently detangled the boy’s hair while the men in the shop poured encouragement into him. Her mother, a social worker, even joined the appointment to speak with the family. By the end, the boy’s tears turned into relief.

“He gave me a hug and said, ‘Now I’m ready to go to school,’” Moore said.

“Sometimes we think kids are young and don’t understand what self-esteem and confidence is, oh they do,” Moore said.

She reached out to Mount Royal Elementary and Middle School, offering free hair tutorials and support for families in need. When she was asked to serve more than 30 children in a single visit, Moore knew she needed help.

Local beauty supply stores stepped in with donated products, while Target and Costco provided gift cards and food. Moore says the generosity reminded her of her own childhood.

“My house was always filled with a bunch of children, my mom feeding the whole neighborhood. I just think we got away from that as time has went on and no one’s caring about one another,” Moore said.

Now, Moore is working to launch Crownivity Mobile Salon a project that would bring free haircuts, hygiene kits, and confidence-building programs directly to schools across Baltimore City and beyond. The goal is to raise $250,000 to get the mobile salon rolling.

“So they can focus on what their skills are, what their strengths are, what their talents are and not worry about if they’re going to get picked on before or after school or get into a fight because they don’t look like everyone else,” Moore said.

Moore is also partnering with her alma mater, Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School, to help provide some of these services.

“We know that there is a need and that children are suffering in silence and parents are suffering too because they can’t get their kids back to school,” Moore said.

The Crown Project is hosting its first free public event at Mount Royal Elementary and Middle School on October 16, offering free hair services for students.

For more information, or to donate, contact crown@crownitivity.org

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By Mallory Sofastaii

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A local college student is battling to restore her Instagram account after Meta accused her of violating policies on child sexual exploitation, abuse, and nudity — claims she calls false, hurtful, and baseless.

Mackenzie Blake, who wants to be a teacher, discovered last month that she couldn’t log into her Instagram account. Instead, she saw a message saying her account was suspended for a rule banning Instagram users from interacting or attempting to interact with children in a sexual manner.

“I thought it was a really gross accusation. I also work at a preschool occasionally, so I think that was disgusting that they would accuse me of that,” Blake said.

Prior to the account suspension, Blake said she posted typical photos of vacation and with her family and friends.

“I went to New York City. I posted pictures of that with my mom, my brother. That’s pretty much it,” Blake said.

Blake filed an appeal, which was denied immediately. She then paid for Meta verification to speak with a human customer service representative.

“They said they sent my review to a specialized team which came back within a day as still violating guidelines. I called another Meta agent and they said that my account was probably hacked since my password won’t work. I have seen nothing that suggests that,” Blake said.

Screenshots from her support chats with Meta show agents refused to explain what triggered the flag.

“They said they couldn’t tell me due to privacy and security reasons, which I think is ridiculous because it’s my account,” Blake said.

Blake’s case isn’t isolated. Our Scripps sister station, WRTV, in Indianapolis spoke with Amy Ladaw-Ortiz, a teacher, mother, and pastor’s wife who faced similar accusations.

“And when I saw this, it was like child sexual exploitation. I was like, what! I’m like, what happened? I was just in shock,” Ladaw-Ortiz said.

Similar reports have emerged worldwide from the U.S. to Australia, England, and Canada. More than 44,000 people have signed a petition calling on Meta to restore wrongfully disabled accounts, citing automated decisions, unhelpful support, and having to pay to speak with a human.

“It wasn’t helpful at all, and I think that as a company you should be able to have support without having to pay for it,” Blake said.

WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii reached out to Meta and has not yet received a response. A company spokesperson told WRTV that “We take action on accounts that violate our policies, and people can appeal if they think we’ve made a mistake.”

Meta added that no system is perfect but they haven’t seen evidence of a significant increase in incorrect enforcement of their rules.

In July, Meta announced new safety features to better protect young users. Many support that goal, however for those wrongfully accused, they want their access back.

“It’s really frustrating. I have my work group chat on there, so I’m missing out on that. I have notifications about my college on there, missing out on that, clubs missing out on that,” Blake said. “It’s just stressful, concerning, and I don’t know why it’s happening.”

Some users, including Ladaw-Ortiz in Indiana, have since had their accounts restored. If this happens to you, you can file an appeal on the platform, file a complaint with your state attorney general, the Federal Trade Commission, and be persistent. You can also pay for Meta verification for enhanced customer support, which costs about $15 per month.

As of January 1, 2025, the Maryland Attorney General has received 179 Instagram complaints and 101 Facebook complaints.

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

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By Kayleigh Randle

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    LONDON, Kentucky (WLEX) — A Laurel County family and their dog were reunited after she’d been missing for four months during the EF-4 tornado that ripped through London back in May. In September, a Facebook post brought them back together.

Sadie Lou is a 7-year-old Rottweiler-Doberman mix. She was welcomed with love into the Carnes family when she was just a puppy.

“She’s been wonderful. She’s always stuck by my side like my shadow. She loves to be around mama,” said Tina Carnes, who is Sadie’s owner.

Carnes says Sadie has always been skittish during storms.

Back in May, Carnes was out of town while her husband and kids were home when an EF-4 tornado barreled through London. Her husband was able to pull one of their dogs into a closet with him, but was unable to grab Sadie.

“He couldn’t chase after her because the windows started breaking, so he ran into the closet, and as soon as he got into the closet. The wind shut the door and trapped him in,” recalls Carnes. After they were able to safely walk outside, most of their home was gone. “They was looking and there was no sight of Sadie. So she was sucked out of the house.”

Carnes says she lost her home and Sadie in one night.

“We was posting for about a month online. Like on Facebook and stuff. Everybody was like Tina, there’s no way she’s lived through this. I mean, there’s not been a sight. She’s probably just out laying somewhere and someone’s just not recovered her just yet,” said Carnes.

After four months, recovery became a rescue. Carnes says she receieved a Facebook notification at 4:30 a.m. “There was a lady who posted and said “is this your dog?” … I was like ‘oh my God! That’s Sadie! That’s her!”

Sadie was seen walking around the Burkmann Feeds building, a mile away from their home. With help from an organization for animal advocacy, the family was reunited once again.

“I mean God is good. I mean it just shows that there is miracles and hope. Don’t ever let up hope,” Carnes praises.

Carnes says her cat and husky are still missing after the two were rescued from the rubble, but then ran away.

If you’d like to help out the Carnes family during this time, you can visit their gofundme link.

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