Category: CNN Regional

By Kerri Corrado

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Residents of the Park Terrace Apartments in Philadelphia’s Holmesburg neighborhood said they’re in disbelief after learning their neighbor’s death was heat-related.

The medical examiner’s office identified the woman as Mona Toole.

The Philadelphia Fire Department said they found Toole unresponsive Wednesday afternoon.

Residents say they have been living without air-conditioning, and the recent heat wave created unbearable conditions inside.

“I am sick about it,” Mary Laughlin, a resident at the apartments, said. “If the air was on, Mona would still be alive.”

“I can take heat, but that was just beyond — I couldn’t even breathe up there,” said Lorrie Reilly, who also lives in the complex.

One apartment clocked at 98 degrees, and residents said they feared something bad would happen.

“We suspected it,” Reilly said. “We were hoping it wasn’t the case. You don’t want to lose anybody anyway, but especially not this when it could have been avoided.”

At last check, the air has not been fixed. Residents said it’s cool now, but they are worried when it heats back up again.

“Summer’s just around the corner and what are we going to do then if it’s not on?” Reilly said.

Residents said they are worried about each other and said since Toole’s death, it hasn’t been the same.

“As I was walking through the halls tonight. just getting home from work, it’s very somber,” Reilly said.

Residents said their hearts go out to Toole’s family.

CBS News Philadelphia reached out to the apartments management company based in Lakewood for comment on both the extreme heat and Toole’s death, but we have not heard back.

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 Marcia Kramer

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday the NYPD has finally obtained the green light to shoot drones out of the sky, amid worries about the possibility of a terror attack during a summer of high-profile events, starting with the FIFA World Cup.

The NYPD also has a new multi-million dollar arsenal of weapons at its disposal.

“Commercial drones can be easily adapted into weapons of war” With the World Cup, Sail 250, America 250 and the Fourth of July just around the corner, the Big Apple has a plethora of events that could be potential targets, so Tisch worked with the feds to train a group of officers in drone mitigation.

She said she is most concerned about the weaponization of drones in the Ukraine that could be adopted for a terror attack here.

“Tactics that once belonged to militaries are now increasingly accessible to smaller groups and individuals, and commercial drones can be easily adapted into weapons of war,” Tisch said.

Read more: Drone dropped package with knives, cellphone, drugs onto prison grounds in upstate New York, staff says Tisch, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and James Barnacle, the man in charge of the New York FBI Office, have joined forces to combat what they see as the possibility of a terror attack during the World Cup or one of the other big events this summer.

A drone attack is one of their biggest concerns.

“There are foreign nations and terrorist organizations that see our success as a threat, a threat that they want eliminated,” Clayton said. “When your enemies tell you something, and when they act, you should know that they mean it.”

NYPD has spent $6.5 million on drone mitigation tech Tisch said she got authorization to have officers train with the FBI on removing drones from the sky. The NYPD has also spent millions on drone-mitigation technology, include the purchase of a special SUV capable of neutralizing drones.

“NYPD personnel are positioned to work with our federal partners under new authority to confront credible drone threats at major events, lawfully and effectively. Over the past several months, we have purchased $6.5 million in drone-mitigation equipment,” Tisch said.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner says officials are worried about threats from Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups.

“This is not a hypothetical threat. It is a real threat that’s being borne out elsewhere,” Weiner said.

Public warned to take heed of no-drone zones In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration will establish no-drone zones, starting with World Cup events.

“If you are planning to fly a drone at a World Cup event or over restricted airspace in New York City, think again,” Barnacle said. “Flying in these areas isn’t just dangerous, it is a federal crime.”

“The threat picture has changed, the technology has changed, and our capabilities have to change with it,” Tisch added.

For security reasons, the police commissioner would not reveal where the drone mitigation teams will be stationed, but even recreational flyers will face penalties if they fly their drones during the summer’s big events, including a fine of up to $100,000 and jailtime.

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 Doug Williams, Elijah Westbrook, Naveen Dhaliwal

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Repairs continue at LaGuardia Airport after a sinkhole was discovered and forced a runway to close Wednesday, causing days of delays and cancellations amid the Memorial Day weekend travel rush.

Runway 4/22 was supposed to reopen Thursday, but the Port Authority later said it was pushed back to Friday, typically one of the busiest travel days of the season.

At first, the Port Authority announced it expected to complete the repairs by noon Thursday. Then, the timeline was pushed back a few hours. It was not immediately clear why.

Transportation officials set a 6 a.m. goal to get it back open for the first flights of the day. But crews appear to still be continuing repairs and inspections as of 6:30 a.m.

The agency did not respond to CBS News New York’s question about what caused the change.

Sinkhole at LGA discovered Wednesday morning The sinkhole at LaGuardia was discovered at around 11 a.m. Wednesday during a routine inspection, airport officials said. Runway 4/22, one of that airport’s two runways, was immediately shut down.

Sally Marchetto and her family’s flight home to St. Louis was delayed and ultimately canceled while the six of them were waiting at the airport.

“We were just sitting at the gate, and a young man came up, and he was like, ‘I think they said something about a sinkhole.’ And we’re like, really?” Marchetto said. “They kept just flipping it back and forth, the times. Departure time at 6:30. Departure time at 7. Departure time at 8. So then they canceled it.”

The family decided to stay at an Airbnb in Queens after getting rebooked on separate flights Friday.

“Tomorrow, I’m leaving at 9 a.m., and my 80-year-old parents will have to go at like 2:30,” Marchetto said.

Ossining resident Lee Weinberg and his family finally took off for Kansas City on Thursday.

“Delta warned us at 9:30 p.m. last night. They canceled our flight, and, yeah, it was terrible. We lost the whole day,” Weinberg said.

Olijuah Williams of Queens, who was heading to Atlanta, wasn’t as fortunate.

“My flight has been canceled, you know, so under the circumstances, I’m still trying to keep my spirits up,” Williams said.

LGA down a runway during repairs LaGuardia, which serves mostly domestic travelers, handles about half the air traffic that nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport does. While LGA usually operates two runways, JFK operates four.

With LaGuardia down a runway, that means more congested tarmacs and less wiggle room for arrivals and departures.

There was no word on what caused the sinkhole. Port Authority sources said Wednesday that investigators were looking at many possibilities, including a fuel line tunneling project.

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 Joan Murray

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Thousands of Floridians who pay for health insurance are encountering significant obstacles when attempting to fill prescriptions, as health insurance companies increasingly deny coverage for medications recommended by their doctors.

For some, the struggle has become a way of life. Marilyn Bach-Nunez, a 71-year-old retired advocate in Sunrise, cares for her daughter, Joy, who has a rare genetic condition causing chronic pain. Bach-Nunez, who has COPD and rheumatoid arthritis, said she has had to fight her health insurance provider to cover necessary prescriptions not on the official list.

“It makes me angry inside, especially because I worked my whole life,” Bach-Nunez said. She asserted, “The insurance companies are becoming our doctors, and they are not doctors”.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, which lobbies for the industry and patient access, recently claimed a staggering number of prescription denials. “70 percent of patients face rejection on their initial attempt,” PhRMA said.

Health insurance companies dispute this. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the industry’s trade group, countered in a statement that the research is misleading. AHIP alleged that “Brand drug makers bankrolled this misleading research to distract from the unaffordable prices they alone set and raise”.

In Fort Lauderdale, cardiologist Dr. Tiffany DiPietro reports that a prescription she writes for a patient is rejected almost daily. “All insurance companies have a formulary, so they want you to try what’s cheaper,” she explained. “But the best medicines are newer, one company makes it, and they set the price”.

The high cost means some patients in South Florida simply go without. Shirley Hanson, an 82-year-old home health aide, never picked up prescriptions to treat blisters on her arm. “I’m 82, and I’m still working. I can’t afford my prescriptions,” she said.

“In my humble opinion, they hope you give up,” Dr. DiPietro said of the denial process, noting she can spend “one to two hours on the phone hoping to get through”.

However, AHIP maintains that “Health plans approve the vast majority of claims and connect patients with care that’s effective, safe and as affordable as possible”.

Marilyn Bach-Nunez refused to give up. After two appeals and two and a half months, she is now paying $12.65 for her COPD medication, which has a shelf price of $765. She said that “within three or four days with this medicine, I wasn’t getting out of breath”.

What to do if your insurer denies coverage: Appeal the decision and work with your doctor on the appeal process before submitting it to the insurance company. Look for discounts online directly from the drug manufacturer and prescription cards. Apply for a grant from a nonprofit organization such as The PAN Foundation, which may offer a cheaper price on your prescription.

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 Abby Dodge

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — The ex-wife of a Cuban operative said her life transformed into a thriller from the silver screen after she learned her husband had been living a double life. Her comments came as she reacted to the recent indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of a civilian aircraft.

Ana Margarita Martinez, the ex-wife of Juan Pablo Roque, described a mix of relief and lingering disbelief tied to one of the most painful chapters of her life.

“You can’t serve an evil regime like the Cuban regime and not be a sociopath,” Martinez said, referring to Roque.

Martinez met Roque in 1992 after he allegedly defected from Cuba. The two married in 1995. Martinez said he embraced a public life within Miami’s Cuban exile community, acting as a stepfather to her children and participating in humanitarian efforts.

“He was a partner, as far as I could see,” Martinez said. “Of course, I didn’t know that he was living a double life.”

Roque became involved with Brothers to the Rescue, a group that conducted flights to search for and assist Cuban rafters. Martinez said he helped pack supplies for those at sea and flew missions alongside volunteers.

The incident occurred on Feb. 24, 1996, when Cuban fighter jets shot down two unarmed Brothers to the Rescue planes in international airspace, killing three American citizens and one U.S. resident.

Martinez recalled that Roque told her he was leaving for a business trip the day before the planes were shot down. He later resurfaced in Cuba alongside Fidel Castro. “It was just surreal,” she said. ” It was unfathomable. There’s no justification for that.”

Authorities have alleged that Roque was part of a broader intelligence effort that infiltrated exile groups. Martinez noted he had worked closely with some of the men who were later killed in the incident.

Standing inside the historic Freedom Tower as news of the indictments was announced, Martinez said she felt a sense of long-awaited validation.

“I’m just feeling grateful that this has finally happened,” she said. “That the Trump Administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have taken this step.”

The indictment of Castro and others marks a significant development decades after the attack, which remains a defining moment for many in the Cuban exile community.

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By Andrew Adams, KSL-TV

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    DRAPER, Utah (KSL, KSL TV) — A Utah couple believes their 7-year-old is now the youngest child ever to complete a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon, after finishing the course in about 17 hours on Saturday.

Nate and Beckie Lambert said 7-year-old Tim didn’t tire until the final mile of the nearly 22-mile trek that featured approximately 11,000 feet of elevation change.

“This is rated as one of the most strenuous hikes in America,” Beckie said during an interview on Wednesday with KSL. “It’s a tough hike. It’s a tough hike for adults. It’s a really tough hike for a 7-year-old.”

The parents said they hadn’t always planned on taking the 7-year-old with them for the hike, but they began training about 5 months ago with their teenage children, and Tim seemed up to the task.

“We started going on these runs, these 4-mile runs, and he was, like, at the top of the pack and leading the way on these runs, so we were like, ‘Hey, we think he’s got this in him,’” Nate said. “Then we did a 5K race, and he took first place in his division.”

Beckie said Tim was also able to run to the top of Corner Canyon with her, also raising confidence that he could do the rim-to-rim hike.

“It became pretty evident to us that Tim could outrun, out-hike and out-attitude nearly all of his older siblings, and he really, really wanted to go,” Beckie Lambert said. “We decided we’re going to let him, we’re going to let him go.”

Tim shrugged.

“My brothers and sisters were, like, training for the Grand Canyon and I wanted to train with them, so we did,” the 7-year-old said. “My parents just realized that I could hike the Grand Canyon.”

The couple said the family started in 40-degree temperatures at 4:36 a.m. Saturday at the North Rim, continued along the North Kaibab Trail, traversed across the canyon near Phantom Ranch in 110-degree heat and then finished at the South Rim on the South Kaibab Trail at 9:43 p.m.

During that time, they said the family took plenty of breaks and consumed salt pills hourly along with plenty of water and food.

“This was not about beating a time — anything less than 24-hours beats the record, so we let him take it at whatever pace he was safe doing,” Beckie said of Tim. “He aced it.”

The family said Tim earned the nickname of “Rim-to-Rim Tim” for his performance, which earned the adoration of other hikers they encountered along the trail.

The Lamberts said several people signed affidavits for Tim’s record pursuit.

Tim said the hike proved he could do hard things and he planned to do more.

“If I can do this, then I can do all this, higher, hard stuff,” the 7-year-old said. “It was, like, super fun.”

The difficulty of the trek was the point, according to his parents.

“A lot of parents these days want to help their kids avoid any kind of suffering or chance of failure,” Nate said. “We feel like we want to give our kids the chance to stretch themselves and really push through the pain and show themselves that they can do hard things because that’s a big boost of confidence.”

When asked if his parents could talk him into doing the rim-to-rim hike again, Tim said “no.”

However, he said for his next feat he was hoping to complete a 10K run soon.

Nate simply beamed about what Tim had accomplished already.

“To have a son that has a world record is, like, really thrilling,” he said.

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 Dan Spindle

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is the first Star Wars film to hit theaters in more than six years. But before you head to the movie theater for a fantastic popcorn flick, consider how important these characters from a “galaxy far, far away” can be to those who need an extra boost in the healing process.

West on Grant just east of Craycroft and right into the parking lot; “This is the Way” to the Tucson Medical Center Emergency Department for children.

For Meagan Bethel, it’s also a way for her to express creativity through a costuming group, the Mando Mercs, that keeps them coming back for the kids.

“People know it’s Star Wars, even though it’s my own custom character, they know the Mandalorian t-visor and they know the armor; what that means,” Meagan said.

For her, it started with conventions and fandom.

“I saw a lot of women dressed up as Mandalorians, like, oh it’s not just for the guys. I can do this, too. There’s so much Star Wars happening right now that I feel like there’s something for everybody,” Meagan told me.

This group, unlike the Empire loyalist 501st Legion or the Rebel Legion with its Jedi peacekeepers attracts volunteers looking to embody the warrior spirit of the Mandalorians.

“I’m in no rush today so it’s your schedule,” Meagan told the hospital staff.

So the health care professionals at TMC set aside a space where the magic happens, piece by piece, soft and hard goods attached.

“Even though we have our own custom characters, we do have to follow a very strict rule to make sure they look screen accurate,” Meagan showed me with several pieces of armor locked in place.

Then it’s time to don the helmet for any person looking to follow this creed of kindness.

Of course, a little help from the bad guys is always welcome as this TIE fighter pilot tags along.

“I was a young kid when the prequel were coming out. I remember The Phantom Menace. People relate to Star Wars, whether it’s when they were kids or they saw it last week. It’s something that everyone can have fun with,” Meagan told me.

On this recent Star Wars Day, I followed along, room to room to room.

“It’s nice to meet you! My name is Nadala Haast. I’m a Mandalorian.”

These tiny fans got to travel to “a galaxy far, far away.”

“Hello there. Happy Star Wars Day!” “Hello! Happy Star Wars Day!” “Hello there. Happy Star Wars Day!”

They traveled far from their stresses and far from the pain and hospital beds…

“Yeah Grogu couldn’t come today but he wanted to send this as a gift to you. He’s filming the movie. He’s pretty famous.”

…and close to the connection Star Wars brings through the goodness and generosity of others. Call it a Force that can help in the healing process.

“It says something really special about a human being that can put time apart to bring you joy and just a simple smile into someone’s day,” Stephanie Padilla, a pediatric nurse at TMC, told me.

Meagan the Mandalorian moved on.

“Are you gonna go see the movie when it comes out? I’m excited for it.”

Her mission as a Mandalorian? To help kids like KC have a moment of make believe in a fantasy world; if only for a few special minutes.

“I hope you have a good Star Wars Day. Maybe watch some Star Wars later,” Meagan said.

“It’s awesome. It’s never like I’ve seen before,” KC Sandia told me of the unexpected visit.

“I hope you have a happy Star Wars Day,” Meagan told the patients, already planning her next visit clad in armor to break down walls spreading smiles through Star Wars.

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 Kimberly King

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    HENDERSONVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — For the first time, the daughter of Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel is speaking out publicly, insisting that her mother is innocent of accusations that she fatally poisoned her other daughter and attempted to poison other relatives during a Thanksgiving dinner in 2025.

Maija Lacey, 28, attended Wednesday’s bond hearing, where a Henderson County judge denied Casper-Leinenkugel’s request to be released while awaiting trial.

“We just want our mom out. I don’t think it’s right that she’s in there,” Lacey said after the hearing.

Henderson County Judge Athena Brooks denied bond as prosecutors outlined details tied to two separate death investigations involving Casper-Leinenkugel. Prosecutors allege Casper-Leinenkugel poisoned her adult daughter, Leela Jean Livis, and others at a Thanksgiving gathering last fall by serving wine laced with acetonitrile, a chemical that converts to cyanide in the body.

Casper-Leinenkugel is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and multiple counts of distributing a prohibited food or beverage.

Investigators have also charged Casper-Leinenkugel in the 2007 death of Michael “Misha” Schmidt, who died at the same rural Henderson County property where Casper-Leinenkugel lives.

“The victim and the defendant were friends,” prosecutor Michael Van Buren told the court of the Schmidt case. “The victim had a trailer on that property. At one point in time, somehow this defendant was able to get that property.”

Van Buren said investigators determined Casper-Leinenkugel was the last person seen with Schmidt before he was found dead after the two had been drinking alcohol together. Prosecutors allege Schmidt’s death was also caused by acetonitrile poisoning.

Maija Lacey, Casper-Leinenkugel’s daughter, said she does not believe either case against her mother is supported by strong evidence.

“There’s a lot of factors in it that just don’t make sense,” Lacey said. “They’ve put a lot of stuff out there that’s just twisted words and not what’s actually been said.”

Lacey describes her mother as loving and devoted to her children, saying Thanksgiving dinner last fall felt no different than previous family gatherings.

“We were all there having fun. She cooked everything like she always does,” Lacey said. “It was nothing different than any other holiday get-together.”

Investigators said Casper-Leinenkugel poisoned her 32-year-old daughter, Livis, through wine served during the meal. But Lacey said her mother never handled the wine.

“Mom didn’t touch the wine. It was Leela that poured it,” Lacey said.

Evan Pegg, Maija Lacey’s boyfriend, also attended the dinner and said he became violently ill after drinking the wine. Despite that, he said he does not believe Casper-Leinenkugel had any role or poisoned anyone.

“The reason why I’m alive is because of her mom telling Maija to call the ambulance,” Pegg said.

Lacey said she also drank the wine but did not become sick. She added that her mother and Livis had always been very close. She said everyone was loving and happy to be together last Thanksgiving.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecutor told the court that investigators found internet searches on Casper-Leinenkugel’s devices about what happens when someone ingests acetonitrile.

“It’s not anything normal people would have in their home,” Van Buren said. “It’s used for industrial pharmaceutical-type uses.”

Van Buren said emergency responders found Livis unresponsive and claimed Casper-Leinenkugel later specifically asked medical personnel to test for cyanide poisoning.

Defense attorney Paul Bidwell argued that prosecutors lack direct evidence tying Casper-Leinenkugel to the alleged poisoning. Bidwell questioned the handling of the wine and whether investigators can prove his client delivered the substance.

“They’re trying to prove Ms. Leinenkugel attempted to murder people at that Thanksgiving dinner,” Bidwell said. “That theory suggests she did it in a very inefficient way because she apparently did not ever touch the delivery system for the poison.”

A future hearing in the case is scheduled for August, when attorneys are expected to argue additional motions before the court.

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.