Category: CNN Regional

By Laura Fay, Scott Jacobson, CBS News Philadelphia Staff

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A series of informational signs about slavery was removed Thursday from the President’s House in Old City Philadelphia, a historic site operated by the National Park Service.

Before the President’s House exhibit site at 6th and Market streets — once the home of Presidents George Washington and John Adams — opened in 2010, local activists urged the creators to include information about the enslaved people who lived at the home. Those stories made it into the final exhibit.

The city filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday seeking to have the signs put back. The suit says the city has prior agreements with NPS that require any disputes to be resolved “in an informal fashion through communication and consultation…or other forms of non-binding alternative dispute resolution that are mutually acceptable to the parties.”

In this case, NPS and the Interior Department “did not engage with the city and do not have the city’s approval to make unilateral changes to the President’s House exhibit,” the lawsuit says.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said the city’s agreement with the federal government dates back to 2006 and “requires parties to meet and confer if there are to be any changes made to an exhibit.”

“Our city solicitor Renee Garcia is working in conjunction with the amazing members of our law department team in working on following up on that cooperative agreement and we will keep you posted as to the result to all of our action,” Parker said.

Paul Steinke, executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, told CBS Philadelphia that workers from the park service removed the signage.

“The decision to do this appears to be made because the President’s House Site memorialized the nine enslaved individuals that were held there against their will by President Washington and his wife Martha, and this is the only federal historic site that commemorates the history of slavery in America,” Steinke said.

A spokesperson with the Interior Department said in a statement Friday that the displays were removed as the department implements President Trump’s executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”

“All federal agencies are to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values. Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking appropriate action in accordance with the Order,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We encourage the City of Philadelphia to focus on getting their jobless rates down and ending their reckless cashless bail policy instead of filing frivolous lawsuits in the hopes of demeaning our brave Founding Fathers who set the brilliant road map for the greatest country in the world – the United States of America.”

In September, Mr. Trump signed an executive order aimed at removing “ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives.” The order specifically mentioned Philadelphia’s Independence National Historic Park, home of the Liberty Bell and the President’s House, as well as the Smithsonian Institution’s museums in Washington, D.C.

At the time, dozens of Philadelphia organizations signed a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum opposing the changes.

Burgum was given a deadline of July 4, 2026, to complete any changes to Independence National Historical Park — a day when the site will take center stage as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary.

The executive order directed Burgum to ensure memorials “do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.”

After the president signed the order, Philadelphia City Council passed two resolutions condemning it.

Steinke said the exhibit “was created after years of scholarship and research to make sure we got the story right.”

“Today in a matter of minutes it was all ripped down, and presumably put away in storage for who knows how long. It’s a terrible day for American history, it’s a terrible day for Independence National Historical Park. It’s a terrible day for our city,” he said.

Steinke said he believes the stories will reemerge in other places in Philadelphia in the days and weeks to come.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on social media that, “Donald Trump will take any opportunity to rewrite and whitewash our history. But he picked the wrong city — and he sure as hell picked the wrong Commonwealth. We learn from our history in Pennsylvania, even when it’s painful.”

Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle, who represents Philadelphia, said in a statement that the signs’ removal was “absolutely unacceptable.”

“Philadelphia and the entire country deserve an honest accounting of our history, and this effort to hide it is wrong,” the statement read.

In a statement released Friday, Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia called the Trump administration’s decision to remove signs at the President’s House an “outrage.”

“Their shameful desecration of this exhibit raises broader, disturbing questions about this administration’s continued abuse of power and commitment to whitewashing history,” Evans’ statement read. “True patriotism requires facing our nation’s past — and learning from it. The Trump-Vance administration may try to whitewash an exhibit, but they cannot erase the shame of what they have done. I support the city of Philadelphia’s lawsuit to restore this truthful, accurate, and important exhibit.”

Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said in a statement the removal of the slavery displays is an “effort to whitewash American history.”

“History cannot be erased simply because it is uncomfortable,” Johnson said in a statement in part. “Removing items from the President’s House merely changes the landscape, not the historical record.”

As of Thursday evening, the official park service website for the President’s House said, “The outdoor exhibits examine the paradox between slavery and freedom in the new nation.” It also notes that the exhibit includes the perspectives of “enslaved individuals.”

“Although the house was demolished in 1832, some of it’s stories are preserved through videos shared from the perspective of enslaved individuals who lived and worked here, and text panels shed light on everything from visiting tribal delegations to the work of the executive branch,” the website states.

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 Overmyer

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — The future of air travel touched down in New York City on Friday.

An all-electric air taxi was on display for the public to check out at Pier 76.

The aircraft will take travelers from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport in seven minutes, according to Vertical Aerospace.

“That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard,” Manhattan resident Alexandra Ellerstein said. “I have had some treks to JFK.”

Some Bronx High School of Science students saw up close what the future looks like. The air taxi has four seats, an intercom to the pilot, and a display screen showing the aircraft’s speed, height and distance from destination.

According to Vertical Aerospace, the air taxi takes off vertically and can fly 100 miles, and since it’s electric, it’s virtually silent.

So how much will it cost? Vertical Aerospace said it will cost you about $300 to get to JFK.

“The market’s for everyone. We’re aiming to build this as-cost effective as possible,” said Eddie Moulton, senior systems tech for Vertical Aerospace.

The air taxi won’t be available to the public until 2028, but it’s already inspiring curiosity and showing what’s possible.

“One of the biggest complaints people have is just how congested the city constantly is. So I think to see the concept of a flying car come to life in Manhattan and kind of like alleviate some of that difficulty just getting around the city is awesome,” Ellerstein said. “As a New Yorker, it’s something I’m very excited about.”

In a city built on shortcuts, this could be the next one.

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 Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A Long Island school district is caught in the middle of a growing state vs. federal showdown with its mascot at the center of the fight.

In 2022, 13 Long Island districts were ordered to drop mascot names like “Chiefs” and “Warriors” after the state ruled the imagery is outdated, demeaning and offensive to Native Americans, but the Trump administration sided with opponents of the ban.

Now, the Connetquot Central School District has been threatened with funding cuts unless it reinstates its old mascot name.

After changing their mascot from Thunderbirds to T-Birds to comply with the ban, the change was just ruled a violation of federal law.

“It’s caught in the crossfire with the Trump administration, which is at war with blue states and diversity,” Hofstra University education scholar Alan Singer said.

Singer said Connetquot’s mascot is part of a much larger political fight.

The United States Department of Education ruled New York’s mandate discriminatory because it only banned Native American mascots and not European heritage names, like “Dutchman” and “Huguenots.”

“It’s gonna have to be fought out in the courts,” Singer said.

The school district told CBS News New York it’s reviewing the federal ruling and weighing its options.

CBS News New York reached out to the U.S. DOE for comment, but they have not yet responded.

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Education said in a statement:

“The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) continues to make a mockery of our nation’s civil rights laws. USDOE has offered no explanation as to whose civil rights were violated by changing a team name from Thunderbirds to T-birds. And USDOE has still not explained why it maintains an open consent decree with a New York State school district to eliminate its Native American mascot. NYSED remains committed to ending the use of harmful, outdated, and offensive depictions of Indigenous people and will not sacrifice the dignity of the students and families we serve for political expediency.

“In April 2023, the Board of Regents adopted regulations developed in collaboration with a Mascot Advisory Council composed of representatives and leaders of Indigenous nations with connections to New York State to end the use of demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York’s public schools once and for all. They were compelled to act because certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children. If we truly wish to honor our Native American people, we will teach our students the true history of the state’s Indigenous people and how they advanced our civilization – rather than perpetuating outdated and disproven myths.”

Some in the Connetquot School District are in favor of returning to the old team name.

“That’s all complimentary to Native Americans,” one person said.

“I don’t think it’s offensive at all,” another person said.

“I feel like they’re being honored in a way,” another man said.

Chief Harry Wallace of Long Island’s Unkechaug Nation disagrees.

“It’s a total fallacy to say that it honors the Native American people,” he said.

He said the imagery is a desecration of their symbols and harms students.

“As they grow up from children into adults, they carry with them that stereotypical image of hurt and harm and shame,” he said.

Meanwhile, Connetquot is left in a legal and financial bind with funding cuts threatened by both sides, and the issue leaves students confused.

“Not only is it going to cost a lot of money for school to rechange everything, but now, we have to rebrand all our school apparel,” one student 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 Mike Sullivan

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — A pair of New England Patriots superfans have been making waves at games over their matching attire and self-made threads.

Lesley Wilkins has had season tickets to the Patriots for more than a decade. Years ago, she befriended Pam Vetrano. The pair happened to have desks that abutted one another at work.

“One day she is like, ‘Hey, do you want to go to a Patriots game?’ I am like, ‘Oh absolutely,” said Vetrano.

“We ended up going to the game, and from then on I didn’t want to go with anyone else,” said Wilkins.

In the years since, they have been collecting and creating Patriots gear. They have roughly 30 jackets to go along with shirts, dresses, and bedazzled shoes. They often get together before the season to create some of their wardrobes.

“We are very superstitious, but we always wear the same thing,” said Wilkins of their matching attire every game.

“Every game we have to match, and we are grown adults, and we match from head to toe,” said Vetrano.

“There is always a meeting before the game, and then we bring all of our jewelry to the game and decide at the game. We probably have 30 pairs of earrings too,” said Wilkins.

The pair doesn’t sell their creations and rarely gives them away. They took the opportunity to offload some of their clothes while going to Patriots games in London and Germany.

“We gave away some of our gear when we were there because people there don’t have the same ability to buy the same things that we do here,” said Wilkins.

If the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl, Vetrano will be overseas then too, although she is now questioning it.

“I will be in Japan, but I actually contemplated canceling Japan if they do make it to the Super Bowl,” said Vetrano.

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 Neal Riley, Logan Hall

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    CARVER, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A shooting at a child’s birthday party in Carver, Massachusetts Saturday night killed two people and wounded two others, the district attorney said.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said there were multiple 911 calls made just after 7 p.m. for a reported shooting at Saint John The Baptist, a social club on Silva Street.

First responders found 27-year-old Benjamin Cowart at the scene. A 20-year-old, Jalen Pina, was taken to the hospital where he died.

Two other men, a 28-year-old and a 32-year-old, were hospitalized. Cruz said that they were in stable condition as of Saturday night.

The suspect is 22-year-old Nicholas Meuse, who left the scene but was then taken into custody down the street, Cruz said. He is expected to be arraigned either Monday or Tuesday in Wareham District Court, depending on the weather.

Meuse is charged with two counts each of murder and armed assault with intent to murder, as well as multiple gun charges.

Cruz said this was not a random shooting. He said everyone involved in the incident at the family party appeared to know each other.

“The people here in the town of Carver should feel safe,” he said. “There is no ongoing threat.”

No other information about the shooting was immediately available. The shooting is still under investigation.

Carver is a Plymouth County town with a population of just under 12,000. It is about 45 miles south of Boston.

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.