Category: CNN Regional

By Eva Andersen, Atheer Hussein

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Will Ferrell greeted fans Monday outside the Netflix House in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, ahead of the premiere of his new comedy series “The Hawk,” signing autographs alongside co-stars Luke Wilson and Jimmy Tatro before speaking with CBS News Philadelphia about the upcoming show.

In the 10-episode comedy series, Ferrell plays Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a former golf superstar determined to make one last comeback despite those around him believing it’s time for him to retire. Ferrell said his character’s motivation comes from ego.

“Fueled out of his absolute narcissism,” Ferrell said. “He really only cares about himself, and that’s what gets him back to the top of his game.”

The series also stars Tatro as Lonnie’s son, Lance Hawkins, whose relationship with his father becomes a central part of the story. Though the two have a fraught on-screen relationship, off camera, Tatro says he’s grateful to share the screen with Ferrell.

“How do I add to a legacy like Will Ferrell? I’m just happy to be a part of his next chapter,” Tatro said. “I grew up watching Will.”

Wilson plays Golden Fisk, Lonnie Hawkins’ longtime rival.

“He’s kind of Will’s nemesis …this guy who’s beat him in the past,” Wilson said.

Wilson also shared that his visit to the Philadelphia area brought back personal memories. The actor competed in the Penn Relays in 1988 as part of a 4×800 relay team.

“I really love Philly, and I was walking around today, it was making me remember my dad, grandad showing up at Franklin Field,” he said.

Ferrell said golf proved to be an ideal backdrop for comedy because of the challenges professional golfers face.

“It’s very hard to play,” Ferrell said. “If you look at the life of a pro golfer, it’s a lot of misery. So that seemed to be a funny backdrop to set up a comedy.”

“The Hawk” premieres Thursday on Netflix.

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 Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield

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    EAST BETHEL, Minnesota (WCCO) — It may not be the first sport you think of, but cheerleading is definitely a sport. There are an estimated 4.5 million participants across 70 countries, with most in the U.S., where the sport originated.

It’s go time at Cedar Creek Community in East Bethel, Minnesota. And part of that enjoyment is an intramural sports league with Lifespark’s 50 senior homes.

Cheer is a newer addition, and choreographer Wendy Zimmerman is the “director of fun” for the Cedar Creek Cheetahs.

“I think it’s just the idea that there is nothing that can limit our seniors,” Zimmerman said. “So when Lifespark comes up with some sort of idea and says, ‘I want to do this,’ we all say, ‘Yes.’ How are we going to do that? I’m not quite sure, but we’ll figure it out.”

And they did, dazzling audiences with their pyramid of walkers.

“They absolutely laughed thinking I was kidding. I’m like, ‘I’m not kidding,'” Zimmerman said. “And then we did it once when we did our first intergenerational practice and it was like, everybody’s eyes just lit up.”

The key to that move is the younger contingency: Kylie, Cora and Lilliana. The trio has assimilated perfectly, down to their graying wigs.

“The coolest thing about this is like helping out the seniors,” Kylie said.

“I’ve been known for doing cheer for a long time, and I love volunteering,” Cora said.

“You know, it’s just fun to work with the seniors. They’re always like in a good mood and they’re just a joy to work with,” Liliana said.

And while it’s mostly a women’s game, the men are all in this together.

“My wife likes doing this [laughs], I’m being honest with you,” said a resident.

“When I see them achieve things that they started out thinking they couldn’t do it, yeah, you know, it just makes you feel very proud,” Zimmerman 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 S.E. Jenkins

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    FRISCO, Texas (KTVT) — A Frisco man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to transporting a minor to a furry convention for sexual exploitation, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Joseph Ray Robertson, 37, was sentenced July 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell, who also ordered lifetime supervised release following his prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

Court documents show Robertson took a minor from Frisco, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia, in May 2024 to attend a furry convention, a gathering centered around a subculture involving anthropomorphic animal characters and costumes.

Prosecutors said Robertson used the event to sexually abuse the child.

“Robertson commissioned an elaborate, custom-made costume to further facilitate his furry persona,” court documents state. “While at the convention, Robertson sexually abused the child … Additionally, Robertson purchased sexual stimulants and devices at the convention, and commissioned artwork depicting his furry persona engaged in sex acts with the minor victim.”

“This defendant’s actions were depraved and absolutely justify every day of the imposed 20-year sentence,” U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said in a statement.

“Most children’s experiences with people costumed as animals comes in the context of fun encounters in theme parks. This defendant turned a furry costume into a nightmare of sexual abuse,” Combs said. “It shocks the conscience that a child was allowed into a convention where adults were dressed up as furry animals and sex devices were being sold. Not one person in that convention contacted the authorities to protect the child. Every child deserves security, dignity, and a community that stands fiercely in their defense.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller. It is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting cases involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

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 Emily McLeod

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Several people came out to Monday night’s DeKalb County Board of Education meeting to discuss a proposed policy regarding immigration enforcement.

Students, parents and community activists are hoping the board enacts the policy before the first day of school in August.

The proposed policy restricts law enforcement or other government agents from questioning or removing a student from campus, obtaining student information or accessing non-public areas of school property without proper legal authority.

According to the policy, unless there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and staff, a judicial warrant, court order or other legally binding document issued by a court of competent jurisdiction would need to be presented and then reviewed by the District’s Office of Legal Affairs before access is granted.

The policy also says nothing in it will be construed or applied in a way that violates state or federal law requiring compliance or cooperation with lawful law enforcement activity or lawful requests for information.

Jessica Stern is a local immigration attorney and is hoping to see the policy go into effect before the start of the school year.

“Students deserve to start the year without the fear and families need to be able to send their children to school without concern of law enforcement coming in to their schools,” Stern said.

Nancy Aguilar Fuentes is a student a Sequoyah Middle School and spoke at Monday night’s meeting.

“We want a policy so ICE can’t get kids inside the schools so parents can feel safe keeping their child in school,” Aguilar Fuentes said.

Despite being in the middle of summer vacation, she felt is was important to speak at the meeting.

“They should know about what’s happening in the world and what I am going through and what other families may be in right now — in this situation they might be in right now,” Aguilar Fuentes said.

The DeKalb County School District sent CBS Atlanta a statement which said:

“The DeKalb County School District’s Policy Committee reviewed a proposed draft of Board Policy JBCF: Response to Federal Immigration Enforcement (Safe Zones) in May. The proposed policy is scheduled for a first read by the DeKalb County Board of Education during its August meeting. DCSD remains committed to providing a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for all students.”

Back in February the DeKalb County School District posted a statement on the district’s website following a resolution that it had passed.

According to the district, the resolution reaffirmed the district’s commitment to ensuring every student regardless of immigration status, national origin or status of their parents or caregivers has access to a safe, supportive, high-quality education.

The statement also said the district does not ask for or collect immigration status, maintains strong protections for student records and has established procedures for responding to law enforcement activity.

DeKalb County’s next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 10.

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 Steve Maugeri

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Several new Florida laws designed to strengthen protections for domestic violence survivors took effect this month, including tougher penalties for repeat offenders, expanded relocation assistance and a study examining a new way for victims to discreetly seek help.

For Yasira Tejada, the changes represent meaningful progress after escaping an abusive relationship nine years ago.

“There were times where no one understood my situation. No one understood why I stayed. They would judge me for staying,” Tejada said.

Today, Tejada is studying health care in college with the goal of working for an organization that supports domestic violence survivors.

“It’s more than a job. It’s a mission for me,” she said.

One of the new Florida laws increases criminal penalties for repeat domestic violence-related offenses.

For example, stalking a spouse is generally charged as a misdemeanor for a first offense. Under the new law, a subsequent stalking offense against the same spouse can be elevated to a felony, increasing the potential punishment for repeat offenders.

“A lot of perpetrators, a lot of offenders commit this crime because they think they can get away with it,” Tejada said.

A second new law directs the state to study whether Florida should create a secure, web-based 911 reporting portal for domestic violence victims. The study will examine whether the system could allow survivors to discreetly communicate with law enforcement using pre-established codes or phrases when making a phone call is not safe.

“There’s never enough. We can always have more avenues to report, especially with the advent of technology,” said Dr. Joanette Brookes-George, a criminologist.

Brookes-George also works with Unmute Yourself, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence. She said tougher penalties add another layer of accountability but are not a complete solution because they do not address the root causes of abuse.

“I think it will deter repeat offenses. I don’t know if it will stop the initial offense,” Brookes-George said.

The new laws also increase the amount of relocation assistance available to survivors leaving abusive situations.

The study on the proposed web-based reporting portal must be completed by the end of January.

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 Ivan Taylor, Abby Dodge

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A South Florida mother is facing child abuse and child neglect charges after Hialeah police say she chained her 13-year-old daughter to a fence outside a relative’s home and left her there in the summer heat without food, water or shade.

Authorities arrested 34-year-old Yashira Marie Maldonado in connection with the incident, which police say happened Saturday morning, July 11, at a home on West 63rd Street in Hialeah. She has since been released on bond and has been ordered to have no contact with her daughter.

According to investigators, Maldonado drove her daughter from their apartment on West 28th Street to the home of the girl’s great-grandmother. Police say the mother wrapped a metal chain around the child’s waist, secured the other end to the property’s fence and left her there before driving away.

Ring camera video obtained by neighbors captured the mother’s arrival at the residence shortly before 9 a.m. Investigators say the footage shows her leaving after chaining the girl to the fence.

“The defendant drove the victim in a beige Toyota Camry to the witness residence,” the arrest report states. “She wrapped a metal chain around the victim’s waist and tied the other end to the house fence, restricting her from moving around.”

Police said the girl was left with a clear backpack, some clothing and medication.

Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriquez said a family member, not living in the home, called police.

“Once the father got word of that, he contacted police,” Rodriquez said. “Officers arrived and sure enough found this 13-year-old child tied to the fence.”

According to the arrest report, the child had no protection from the sun and was left without food or water.

“It’s horrible. She left her outside, no shade. Right in the sun,” Rodriguez said. “The heat alone, it’s very sad for what happened to this 13-year-old child.”

Investigators also say a witness received a text message from Maldonado at approximately 9:10 a.m. that read, “I got fired from my job!!!!!!”

Court documents said Maldonado told officers that she knew what she did was wrong and that she needed to take a break from caring for her child.

Neighbors described the allegations as deeply disturbing.

“That’s very disturbing,” one neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told CBS News Miami. “It’s sad. I don’t know what happened in there, but it’s sad.”

Another neighbor, Armando Calzadillo, who lives across the street, said the alleged abuse was unacceptable.

“That is something aberrant. It deserves to be punished,” he said in Spanish. “You don’t do that to a child, especially one with special needs.”

CBS News Miami visited the apartment complex where police say Maldonado and her daughter lived. When a crew knocked on the apartment door and rang the Ring doorbell, an automated response said, “We can’t answer the door now.”

Neighbor Arlene Gomez identified Maldonado from a photograph and said she was shocked by the allegations.

“I’m just dumbfounded about what happened because I never thought that woman would do such a thing,” Gomez said in Spanish.

The 34-year-old now faces charges of child neglect and child abuse. As part of her release conditions, she has been ordered to stay away from her 13-year-old daughter while the criminal case proceeds.

The child’s current condition has not been released, and police have not disclosed who is caring for her following the mother’s arrest.

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 Jamal Goss

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — While school is out for the summer, learning continues for children at Trees Atlanta’s Junior TreeKeeper Camp.

Inside the organization’s Kendeda TreeHouse, young campers learn about trees, wildlife, water, soil and the connections that make up Atlanta’s ecosystem. Outside, other groups put those lessons into motion through gardens, green spaces and bicycle trips along the Atlanta Beltline.

For 7-year-old Isaac Fulton, the experience combines two things he enjoys: spending time with friends and riding his bike.

“I like being with my friend and going on the Beltline every day,” Isaac said.

But the rides are about more than summer fun. Campers are encouraged to notice the plants, animals and natural systems they may otherwise pass without a second thought.

Isaac said one lesson changed how he thinks about a routine fall chore.

“If you rake in the fall, animals won’t have shelter for the winter,” he said.

Junior TreeKeeper Camp uses classroom instruction and hands-on activities to introduce children to environmental science and stewardship. Depending on their age group, campers may explore nearby green spaces, participate in nature activities, ride bicycles or learn how caring for trees supports the larger community.

In one classroom, camp counselor Danielle Hogan worked with rising first-graders as they learned about the natural world around them.

“Our mission is to give them knowledge about Atlanta’s ecosystem and the history behind Trees Atlanta,” Hogan said.

She said teaching children early can help them understand that trees are not simply part of the scenery. They provide shade, support wildlife and contribute to healthier communities.

“It’s important for the kids to get involved now because our older generation is dying down,” Hogan said. “We want to continue to have the green nature that Atlanta brings thrive for future generations. It’s important for them to get excited about it now.”

That lesson extends beyond the youngest campers. Older participants were also seen working with mulch, giving them a hands-on look at the effort required to care for trees and the surrounding landscapes.

Trees Atlanta was founded in 1985 to protect and improve the region’s urban forest through planting, conservation and education. The nonprofit says it has planted more than 170,000 trees across metro Atlanta during its four decades of work.

The organization is also part of a broader One Million Trees Initiative involving public, nonprofit and community partners across the metro area. A 2025 progress report marked the initiative’s fifth year.

For Hogan, the camp’s impact is measured not only by what children learn during the week, but also by what they carry home and how those lessons shape their relationship with nature.

“They’re our babies,” Hogan said. “They’re the beginning of a greater mission.”

Isaac’s explanation of why trees matter is much simpler.

“They give us air,” he said. “Also shade.”

For now, Isaac is focused on his next bike ride and another day outside with his friends. But the lessons he is learning could influence how he cares for Atlanta’s trees and green spaces long after summer camp ends.

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.