Category: CNN Regional

By De’Jah Gross

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    WEST CHESTER, Ohio (WCPO) — Miniature fluffy cows rolled through the courtyard at Liberty Place, an Anthem Memory Care Community in West Chester, on Monday afternoon, bringing smiles and memories to residents.

The special visitors from Boots N’ Mini Moos provided more than entertainment; they offered therapeutic benefits for people living with cognitive impairment.

“It’s very soothing to them; they’ve grown up with pets, lived on farms, so even just having an animal around, even if they can’t have it themselves now to take care of every day, just having them come in and visit makes them smile,” said Amy Snow, Life Engagement Director for Liberty Place.

For 88-year-old Mary Lou Ullrich, meeting cows Laney and Darla brought back fond memories of farm life.

“I grew up on a farm with my parents until I was about a freshman in high school, and then we moved to a small town,” said Ullrich.

She remembered collecting eggs from chickens and brushing horses during her childhood. While interacting with the miniature cows, she smiled from ear to ear.

“They’re beautiful – they have their own little way of life and I think that’s interesting to watch,” Ullrich said.

Snow said evidence shows animals provide significant benefits for those with cognitive impairment. The cow visit even drew out residents who typically don’t participate in activities.

“There’s a couple of residents who come out who don’t usually come at all; when they see the animals, they come out. It’s good to see them get out and do a little more. They see the animals, and it makes them happy,” said Snow.

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By Jay Sirkin

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    STILLWATER, Minnesota (WGBA) — A Wisconsin farmer has taken the top prize in a global pumpkin competition.

Fond du Lac farmer Jim Ford won the giant pumpkin weigh-off this weekend at the Stillwater Harvest Fest in Minnesota.

Ford’s pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2,491 pounds, according to a post from the fest on Sunday. As for how he’s able to grow huge pumpkins, Ford said in an interview with NBC 26 that the key is to grow it early and keep it healthy.

“It’s just like a little baby,” Ford said. “We don’t want them too hot. We don’t want them too cold. We want them just right.”

The world record for the heaviest pumpkin is 2,819 pounds, which was recently set by twin brothers in England.

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By Hailey Gravitt

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    LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — An 83-year-old Vegas Golden Knights super fan has completed her bucket list.

After beating Stage 4 colon cancer, Sherry Hernandez set out to make a bucket list fit not for a king — but a Vegas Golden Knight.

Decked out in glitter and gold, Hernandez had three items on her bucket list:

Beat cancer Get the dream seats at a Golden Knights game Receive a puck or stick from the team

“My doctor said, ‘Sherry, you’re in for the fight of your life’…and he was right,” Hernandez said.

Now cancer-free, Hernandez said she’s living proof that sometimes the biggest wins aren’t scored in the arena.

“I had a second chance to live, so I took advantage of all the treatment. The chemo was ugly, but we made it through,” Hernandez said.

With her cancer battle won, the Golden Knights stepped in to help with an epic assist. When they saw Hernandez’s list for themselves in T-Mobile Arena, the team knew what they had to do.

“They tapped on the glass, and then they handed me a puck, and I couldn’t believe it!” Hernandez said.

But the team wasn’t finished. A Golden Knights executive approached with one final surprise: a stick from player Jack Eichel.

Hernandez’s niece Irene Wandke tells me every game at T-Mobile Arena is rowdy, but getting her aunt’s bucket list completed was “the cherry on top.”

“It was so awesome. We made so many memories of her together, and this was just one more way to do something for Sherry, who does something for everyone,” Wandke said.

Hernandez praised the Golden Knights for their community involvement.

“They give back. Everywhere you go…you see them supporting some event, some charity. They are just awesome,” Hernandez said.

When I asked her if she could add anything to her bucket list, Hernandez said the only thing she wants now is to meet Jack Eichel.

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By Jorge Torres

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    TEMPE, Arizona (KNXV) — Inside a colorful storefront in Culdesac Tempe, culture and creativity are stitched into every design.

Ito-Brand is Arizona’s only Puerto Rican fashion shop, and it’s run by a 21-year-old college student with big dreams.

Adrian Rodriguez Rivera, founder of Ito-Brand and a full-time student at Arizona State University, started the brand as a side project in high school. Today, it has grown into a fast-rising business and a cultural hub for Boricuas in the Valley.

“This is the only Puerto Rican clothing store in Arizona,” Rodriguez Rivera said. “Every design, while it may be subtle, is inspired by Puerto Rico.”

Rodriguez Rivera designs everything himself, from the prints to the production.

“I source my blanks, I talk to my printers, and do all the design proof. Everything,” he said. “It’s gnarly, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

His clothing lines, featuring T-shirts, tanks, and shorts, pull inspiration from the island’s tropical plants, wildlife, and culture. One of his standout pieces is a shirt featuring a photograph of Old San Juan, taken by his father.

“In Puerto Rico, you can say mi viejo to refer to your dad,” he explained. “My dad took that picture, and we wanted a shirt that represents what inspires the brand, and the person who helped me start it.”

For Rodriguez Rivera, Ito-Brand is personal. Growing up in Arizona, he says he was ridiculed for his heritage.

“I grew up feeling like I shouldn’t talk about my culture. I was even bullied for it,” he said. “Starting this brand was like saying, ‘I’m going to wear this on my chest because this is who I am.’”

That message has resonated deeply with his customers, many of whom share emotional moments in his store.

“People talk to me like I’m their nephew,” he said. “They tell me how grateful they are to see Puerto Rican culture represented here.”

Every purchase at Ito-Brand also gives back. Rodriguez Rivera donates a portion of the proceeds to causes close to his heart, including hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico and wildlife preservation.

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By Sara Tenenbaum, Chris Tye, Sara Machi

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Federal agents fired tear gas to disperse a crowd during a tense standoff on Chicago’s far South Side Tuesday afternoon, before driving away from the confrontation.

The incident happened near 105h and Avenue N in the city’s East Side neighborhood, near the Indiana border.

State Senator Robert Peters, who represents Illinois’ 13th District and is running for Congress in this district, initially posted about the developing situation around 11:30 a.m., writing, “All eyes on the East Side right now! ICE cannot just come into our communities and wreak havoc like this. My staff are on the ground and we will update residents as the situation evolves.”

“I’m in Springfield but my staff are on site at 105th and Avenue N. ICE behavior is unacceptable,” he posted a little less than half an hour later. “And if we know one thing about East Siders, it’s that they don’t tolerate this kind of b——t.”

What exactly led to the incident was not immediately clear, though there appeared to be an aftermath of a car crash in the area where the agents and crowd were gathered. CBS Skywatch was over the scene as agents appeared to take at least one person into custody, handcuffing them.

As of 12:30 p.m., there appeared to be a crowd of about 50 to 75 people and a couple dozen officers. Several high-ranking Chicago police officers, identifiable by their white shirts, were also at the scene.

Around 12:40 p.m. the agents deployed some sort of chemical agent or smoke bomb, sending the crowd scattering and giving the federal agents an opportunity to leave the area. CBS News Chicago reporter Sara Machi had just arrived at the scene and said the canisters that were deployed appeared to be tear gas, and the dispersal of the agent downwind and throughout the crowd sent most people scattering from the area.

Chicago police remained at the scene, without the gas masks that federal agents had equipped before firing the tear gas, continuing to disperse the crowd after the tear gas was fired. Machi said she saw people throwing up, spitting and trying to get pepper spray and tear gas out of their eyes in the aftermath.

She said people gathered at a nearby AutoZone, providing eye rinse, towels and water. Machi said there were at least 10 people in the building alone.

Former Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy told CBS News Chicago that based on the uniforms the agents are wearing, which are full camouflage, he thinks they are likely Customs and Border Protection agents. He also said that based on what he’s seen today and in recent weeks, he doesn’t think the federal agents are appropriately trained in crowd control, especially compared to Chicago police.

“There’s a lot of problems I’m seeing from the way that federal authorities are handling this, and it was a different story when you saw the Illinois State Police come into Broadview, along with the Cook County Sheriff’s officers,” McCarthy said. “They were very controlled, they were in a line, they were not scattered all over the place, yo didn’t see pepper balls being fired and tear gas being thrown. They have a lot to learn, let’s put it that way, and they should be relying on local police to do that.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has said tear gas deployed by federal agents in other situations have affected CPD officers.

State Senator Elgie Sims, who represents Illinois’ 17th District, which encompasses East Side, released a statement saying, “I am monitoring the situation between federal agents and bystanders in my district. Using a chemical agent to disperse a crowd is unjust. No person should be targeted by the color of their skin and no group should be attacked for standing up for what is right. Let me be clear: Now is not the time for hate and divisiveness. Now is the time to stand united as a community and to protect our neighbors.”

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By Adam Beam

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    BEE COUNTY, Texas (KRIS) — A cleanup effort at a local cemetery has left many community members distressed after personal items were removed from gravesites, sparking a debate about communication and regulations.

The issue at Our Lady of Victory Cemetery #2 came to light after a Facebook post decried the “removal and destruction” of items from plots.

“I was really upset. I was mad. I was crying,” said Erlinda Alvarado, who has multiple family members buried at the cemetery. She described finding bricks, lights, and even a small fence that had been removed and discarded. “For them to just rip them off. They just ripped it out with no heart or nothing.”

Laly Arteaga, the cemetery administrator, explained that the cleanup is an annual process done to maintain the grounds and prepare for All Souls’ Day on November 2.

She cited existing rules and regulations that allow only flowers on the graves.

“We do it because we want it nice. I want it nice for my loved ones and I know everybody else wants it nice for their loved ones,” Arteaga said.

She stated that the removal is necessary because the items interfere with lawn maintenance, damaging equipment. “They have bricks, they have stones, they have rocks. They would break their (maintenance crews) lawn mowers,” Arteaga explained.

Regarding notification, Arteaga said the cemetery announced the cleanup on the radio and social media after consulting with the county judge. “He said, ‘Well, you have rules and regulations.’ He goes, ‘Once you do all that, you’re good to go.'”

Notice of a community clean-up was posted to the church’s Facebook.

Multiple families said they received no direct communication. “We didn’t get no notices, we didn’t get no phone calls at all,” said Olivia Rodriguez, who visits her parents’ graves.

Another visitor, Sylvia Longoria, echoed the sentiment. “Not even a warning, not even a call. Older people need to know by word of mouth.”

The conflict over how long the rules have been strictly enforced also differs. While Arteaga stated, “Every year we do it for years. We’ve been doing it,” families like Alvarado’s claimed the decorations had been in place for years without issue.

Felicia Vasquez reached out to share her perspective with KRIS 6, writing, “I’m still in disbelief what I drove into yesterday. A dozen of vehicles packing up what was left of their loved one’s plots that were abruptly picked and pulled apart. It was absolutely heartbreaking.”

Vasquez cotninued, “The worst part was driving a little further where our family member is buried, I couldn’t help but instantly burst into tears when I saw our beautiful loved ones plot.”

“O.L.V Cemetery in Beeville did not properly notify our family that these actions were going to take place. These actions are insensitively cruel & heartless!”

Arteaga acknowledged that mailed notices were attempted in the past but were often returned due to outdated addresses.

She expressed a willingness to hear suggestions from the community, but stated that communication often breaks down. “They don’t communicate with us. We’re here to talk the right way and hear their suggestions, not their arguments.”

For the families, the items left at the graves are profound symbols of love and memory.

“That’s the only thing that we mourn to,” Alvarado said.

Removed items have been placed in a pile at the back of the cemetery for families to reclaim, though some described the pile as “messy and disorganized.”

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KYW

By Stephanie Stahl, Ed Specht

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A little boy from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, endured years of treatment for a rare childhood hip disorder, and now he’s back to playing sports.

Doctors say 9-year-old Landon Gallo had to be temporarily immobilized, making for a challenging journey. But now he’s better than ever, even sprinting without pain, after his treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Three years ago, Landon was limping and sidelined with pain that was originally thought to be growing pains.

“It was like the inside of, like my bone hurt, like my hip bone hurt,” Landon said.

He was eventually diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, which happens when blood flow to the hip socket is interrupted. Left untreated, it can cause bone damage and a painful disability.

“When I first heard the diagnosis, I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” Landon’s mom, Jessica Gallo, said.

The treatment was to cast Landon’s legs in a V-shape. Landon was able to scoot on the floor at home, but getting around was a challenge.

“It seems a little bit barbaric to take a kid who is active, who loves to run and play, and to put him in casts so that he can’t walk,” said Dr. Wudbhav Sankar, Landon’s doctor at CHOP.

But Sankar said the casting allows blood flow to return to the hip socket.

Sankar said the cause of this rare disease isn’t known, and it’s usually treated with surgery or the casting that Landon had for six weeks.

After the casts were removed, Landon had extensive physical therapy, and now he’s back to the things he loves – soccer, lacrosse, skiing, Taekwondo and more.

He’s been cleared to play sports with no limitations.

“He’s doing really great, and it’s so exciting to see how far he’s come,” his mom said.

Doctors say this hip disorder is four times more likely to strike boys than girls and usually happens between ages 4 and 10.

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By Stephanie Stahl, Ed Specht

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A little boy from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, endured years of treatment for a rare childhood hip disorder, and now he’s back to playing sports.

Doctors say 9-year-old Landon Gallo had to be temporarily immobilized, making for a challenging journey. But now he’s better than ever, even sprinting without pain, after his treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Three years ago, Landon was limping and sidelined with pain that was originally thought to be growing pains.

“It was like the inside of, like my bone hurt, like my hip bone hurt,” Landon said.

He was eventually diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, which happens when blood flow to the hip socket is interrupted. Left untreated, it can cause bone damage and a painful disability.

“When I first heard the diagnosis, I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” Landon’s mom, Jessica Gallo, said.

The treatment was to cast Landon’s legs in a V-shape. Landon was able to scoot on the floor at home, but getting around was a challenge.

“It seems a little bit barbaric to take a kid who is active, who loves to run and play, and to put him in casts so that he can’t walk,” said Dr. Wudbhav Sankar, Landon’s doctor at CHOP.

But Sankar said the casting allows blood flow to return to the hip socket.

Sankar said the cause of this rare disease isn’t known, and it’s usually treated with surgery or the casting that Landon had for six weeks.

After the casts were removed, Landon had extensive physical therapy, and now he’s back to the things he loves – soccer, lacrosse, skiing, Taekwondo and more.

He’s been cleared to play sports with no limitations.

“He’s doing really great, and it’s so exciting to see how far he’s come,” his mom said.

Doctors say this hip disorder is four times more likely to strike boys than girls and usually happens between ages 4 and 10.

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