Category: CNN Regional

By Jazmon DeJarnette

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    SALINAS, California (KSBW) — Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling fungus from soil and dirt in certain areas of California, is rising in Monterey County, affecting residents like Lidia Paramo, who has been battling the illness since September of last year.

What began as a routine trip to visit her brother turned into a long health journey for Paramo.

On the way back from that trip, both she and her son fell ill. While her son recovered, Paramo did not.

She underwent numerous diagnoses, ranging from pneumonia to stage 4 cancer.

“That was my reality. For a week, I thought I had stage four cancer. We didn’t know where it was coming from. We didn’t know what was happening. We just didn’t know. I have a young son. He just turned three and just everything that goes through your mind is so scary,” Paramo said.

After continuous misdiagnoses and another trip to the emergency room, Paramo experienced a breakthrough.

“My surgeon comes in and she’s running through the hallways. She’s like, yelling. It’s not cancer. It’s not cancer. She comes in and she’s like, it’s just some, like, some valley fever. And we just, like, we were all crying. Just hugging, just really celebrating,” she said.

However, the relief was short-lived as the fever had disseminated throughout her body due to the delayed diagnosis.

Paramo described her daily struggle: “It looks like a lot of crying. Just being in a lot of pain. It looks like not being able to carry my son right now. You know, I went from going on hikes, going to the beach, doing water activities to now walking from here to my car. That’s a workout.”

“My son is only with me. I’ve struggled a lot with daycare and just things like that. So it’s trying to find out, like, who’s going to take care of my son while I do this,” Paramo added.

The Monterey County Health Department has provided guidance on reducing exposure risk, especially in a region closely tied to agriculture.

“If you do need to be outdoors and it’s dusty and windy, people can choose to wear a well-fitted face covering,” they advised.

Signs of valley fever include increased coughing, shortness of breath, and fever.

Paramo emphasized the importance of understanding others’ struggles: “I don’t look sick. However, just because I don’t look sick doesn’t mean that I’m not. It doesn’t mean that my day isn’t just trying to survive.”

For those experiencing symptoms, it is crucial to visit a doctor promptly.

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By Beth Carlson

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    LINCOLN, Nebraska (KETV) — On Saturday, two opposing fans took center stage during the Nebraska football halftime show to celebrate the live-saving bone marrow donation one Michigan fan had given to a young Husker fan.

In 2021, Julia Morrison’s family found out that she would need a bone marrow transplant and began their search for a match. They had no idea that she would match with a complete stranger, a Michigan fan and OB-GYN doctor from Ann Arbor, Erica Brockberg.

“I joined in 2013 when I was in medical school, so we were learning about, blood cancers, blood disorders, and heard from patients who had been treated with bone marrow transplant and what that had meant to them. At the end of that lecture, they gave us the opportunity to do a cheek swab, and sign up for the registry,” Brockberg said.

Brockberg donated her bone marrow, and over a year later, finally connected with Morrison. Both Brockberg and Morrison agree there’s a special connection between the two of them, even sporting one half of a matching heart on their shoes during Saturday’s game.

“I knew that person was special,” Morrison said about her donor. “We have little hearts that say the perfect pair.”

“Even though we did not meet for over a year, we knew that we that our donor was going to be special. They were going to give Julia that chance, a second chance at life, a chance to be a kid again. And then after meeting Erica, it’s become everything and more,” Tyler Morrison, Julia’s Dad, said.

On Saturday, the two families, decked out in their respective team’s gear, headed for center field to represent the bond that brought them together.

“It’s just an incredible opportunity to raise awareness to, bring eyes in front of Memorial Stadium. 90,000 fans and, have an incredible, outsized impact,” Tyler Morrison said.

Outside the stadium, volunteers with National Marrow Donor Program met fans willing to sign up to be potential donors.

“It’s heartwarming because I work with patients that may find their second chance at life, and then we work with patients that never do. So today, again, you’re giving hope to our blood cancer patients,” Letica Mondragon, NMDP Account Manager, said.

Even though the score wasn’t what Husker fans were hoping for, there was still a reason to cheer.

“We’re celebrating the bone marrow transplant. that got this little girl out of a life-threatening illness and gave her the gift of life,” Dr. Jeffrey Gold, NU President, said.

If you would like to sign up to be a possible match for a bone marrow donation, you can sign up on their website.

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By Christa Swanson

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    Colorado (KCNC) — Investigators have released a preliminary report on an aircraft crash in Colorado that claimed the lives of two pilots, stating the plane’s engine suddenly stopped in flight.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, a pilot was receiving instruction when the Beech P35 airplane crashed near Englewood on Sept. 5. Officials said the pilot wanted to receive training on the aircraft because he planned to purchase a similar airplane. They took off from Centennial Airport at 5:43 a.m. and remained in their traffic pattern and performed several landings, the NTSB said.

The report states that neither pilot sent a distress call before the crash.

A firefighter said he was around 1.5 miles south of the crash site when he heard the airplane fly overhead. He told investigators he heard the engine stop completely as it flew past.

A woman who lives south of the airport also spotted the plane and told investigators that she saw it flying on a different flight path, lower than she was used to seeing. She also heard the engine go silent and said the airplane banked hard to the left as it descended.

At 6:23 a.m., the airplane collided with several concrete pole barriers in front of a generator before it came to a stop. The plane was destroyed in the crash, and both pilots were fatally injured. The Douglas County Coroner later identified the men as Perry “Matt” Feeney of Arvada and Lee “Rob” Hill of Greenwood Village.

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By Jodi Long

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    URBANDALE, Iowa (KCCI) — Each year, thousands of young Iowa girls build courage, confidence and character through Girl Scouts. There is a troop in Central Iowa also breaking barriers. Troop 535 celebrates culture as the state’s first and only bilingual troop.

At the group’s first meeting of the school year, troop leader Marlu Abarca greets the girls and their parents with a friendly, “Hola!” For the majority of girls in the troop, Spanish is their first language, including Abarca.

“I think the parents, especially, feel very comfortable being able to express themselves in their own language,” she says. “It allows them to engage more with their girls’ lives and their activities.”

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa says it’s intentional about better connecting with families whose first language is not English. Abarca says this way, parents can be involved while the girls can embrace their heritage in a fun way with friends.

“I think this really goes to show that representation matters for the girls,” she explains. “So the fact that the girls can see someone their same age who also has parents who speak Spanish at home, and it normalizes it for them.”

The troop is getting attention from outside the state. Abarca says she has heard from other troop leaders considering starting their own bilingual troops.

“I love that other people are learning to embrace other all-girl scouts.”

Currently, Troop 535 has a waitlist. Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa says its short-term bilingual outreach programming is expanding. GSGI will offer a one-day program in Marshalltown, and several events are planned throughout the fall in the Des Moines metro.

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By Brooklyn Joyner

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    CLEVELAND, Mississippi (WAPT) — Delta State University students are reacting to the Cleveland Police Department’s ruling that Trey Reed, a 21-year-old student, died by suicide after he was found hanging from a tree on the university’s campus near the pickleball courts on Monday.

Connor Coker, a DSU student, said, “I don’t have much of an opinion on the autopsy. I’d like to think that they aren’t lying, but considering the history of Mississippi, it’s hard to be sure.”

Lebrisha Underwood, a criminal justice major at DSU, expressed skepticism, saying, “I think it’s bull. I think the family needs to hire their own personal investigator. I think they need to do their own investigating. I think it’s bull.”

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Reed’s family, said they are seeking an independent autopsy. Reed’s grandfather has expressed suspicion about the initial ruling, citing misinformation from officials. Crump is also demanding access to a video that may show what led to Reed’s death.

Marquell Bridges from the Building Bridges Coalition for Community and Progress said, “You keep telling us what to believe, but you’re not showing us any evidence, showing us any video.”

Cleveland police have stated that all files and materials have been turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review. They added that final toxicology results could take two to four weeks to complete.

Connor Coker also said, “If he really did kill himself, I hope his family finds peace, and if he didn’t, I hope his family finds justice.”

Trey Reed’s independent autopsy is being paid for by Colin Kaepernick’s “Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative.”

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By Tim Fang

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    California (KPIX) — Agents with California Department of Fish and Wildlife said they busted a group of more than 40 people suspected of illegally taking Dungeness crabs off the coast near San Francisco last month, issuing 15 citations.

The agency on Thursday announced the results of the bust, which took place on the night of Aug. 30. Around 9 p.m., CDFW officials responded to a report of crab poaching at Thornton Beach, just off the coast of Daly City.

The initial report claimed “about 30 people” were involved, but the agency said closer to 45 people were illegally taking Dungeness crabs by hand under lights, while the season was closed.

Officers intercepted people as they hiked back up the trail.

“Some dropped bags of crabs and ran, while others were stopped as they attempted to evade and make their way to their vehicles,” CDFW said in a statement.

During the operation, which took place between 9:45 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning, 15 citations were issued. Crabs, which were stuffed into trash bags, backpacks and grocery sacks, were also seized.

Officials said most of the taken crabs were undersized, which are illegal to take at any time. The number of crabs that were saved was estimated to be in the hundreds.

“Instead of ending up in a pot, these crabs were returned to the beach and scuttled back to their rightful underwater spots,” the agency added.

Anyone who may see poaching activity is urged to call the agency’s CalTip program at 1-888-334-2258, text “Caltip” TO 847411 or to use the Tip411 app.

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By Leah Phillips

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    GREENVILLE, South Carolina (WYFF) — Four student chefs from Greenville County schools competed in the annual “Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown” on Sunday for the opportunity to have their dish added to the school lunch menu.

The Euphoria Greenville festival celebrated its 20-year anniversary this year, and almost half of that time has included the competition, which promotes culinary education throughout our local schools.

“I want (students) to have the best experience when it comes to Greenville County schools,” said Chef Dayna Lee, owner of Comal864, a local Greenville restaurant.

“I care about the food that our kids are consuming. I care about the way they think about food. I care about the way they think about their community.”

Each year, students partner with seasoned industry professionals, like Lee, to cook their dishes. The professionals let the students take charge, allowing them to call the shots as the 50-minute timer counts down.

When asked about her experience with her student partner, Chef Elijah, Lee stated, “He knew exactly what he needed to me do, made that happen, and just, it’s cool to see people care. It’s cool to see younger — our younger generations — care.”

Matt Critell, principal of Reedy Laurel Elementary, helped host the competition.

He says Greenville County serves over 80,000 student meals per day, between breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks.

“It’s not just putting good food in front of them but putting good food in front of them in an efficient and highly effective manner,” said Critell.

Greenville County School students can expect to see the winning dish on their lunch menus as soon as this October.

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By Doug Meehan

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Ever since the early days of humankind, clay pots have been an integral part of cooking. Now, a Massachusetts woman is on a mission to bring back the ancient cookware into modern times.

“I had a fascination for clay. Just because of the enviroInside her Roslindale home workshop, Kattumuri Kargbo and her team are hard at work making one-of-a-kind, natural clay pots by hand.

“This is pure earth. Very pure earth full of nutrients that sustain life,” she said.

The pure clay is first harvested from 30 feet underground at a property owned by Kattumuri Kargbo in Bridgewater. It then goes through a process of gravity sifting and filtering. Once in a pliable state, the material is skillfully transformed into cookware that is hardened in a heated kiln.

When finished, Kattumuri Kargbo said you cook with her pots the same way as you would with any pot or pan.

“You can braise in them, you can cook soups and stews,and grains and rice. You name it,” she said.

Kattumuri Kargbo said that what you cannot name are any harmful properties in her cookware. She said natural clay pots are heather cooking vessels than ones made of ceramic clay or traditional metals. Her hope is to offer a healthier version of cooking that starts with the pot itself.

“So, when you teach people and bring about that awareness, I think we can be successful, and I said that’s what I’m going to do,” Kattumuri Kargbo said.

Becoming a successful business has not been without its challenges. Seven years ago, the mother of four lost everything, including her company, when her home at this same Roslindale location went up in flames.

“2018 was a year that, like, latterly transformed our lives because here was this massive fire that practically took everything we ever owned. It took my business. It took my home. It took everything,” Kattumuri Kargbo said.

Undeterred, Kattumuri Kargbo rebuilt her home and her business. And like her cookware itself, she gained strength and renewed purpose through the heat of fire.

“Thank God we came back. We rebuilt and we started it all over again and we persevered,” she said.nmentally friendly nature of it,” said Miriam Kattumuri Kargbo, owner of Miriam’s Earthen Cookware.

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