Category: CNN Regional

By Alex Land

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    GREER, South Carolina (WYFF) — Blind and low-vision veterans in South Carolina are receiving Meta smart glasses at no cost through a partnership between Meta and the American Council of the Blind.

The glasses use artificial intelligence to help users understand their surroundings and read printed materials. The Palmetto Council of the Blind, South Carolina’s affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, is coordinating distribution events across the state, with help from local Lions Club volunteers.

U.S. Army veteran Jody Stedman lost his left eye after multiple surgeries for a detached retina left him legally blind. He was among the veterans receiving the glasses at Tuesday’s event in Greer.

“It’s more than just technology. It’s freedom. Independence,” he said. “It’s almost like a family member that you have when the family member is not there. It gives you that level of confidence,” Stedman said.

Jennifer Bazer, president of the Palmetto Council of the Blind, said the glasses provide another portable tool for people with vision loss.

“There’s a lot of tools out there. But this being so portable,” she said. “It’s so easy to ask Meta questions, to take photos, to take videos,” Bazer said.

Bazer emphasized that the glasses are meant to supplement, not replace, mobility aids such as white canes or guide dogs.

Four local Lions clubs volunteered at the Greer event, helping support the distribution of the glasses.

Jim Barbare, an international director with Lions Clubs International, said helping people with vision-related needs has been a central part of the organization’s work for 100 years.

Barbare said it was especially meaningful to see veterans receive the technology, including one recipient who was 106 years old.

“To hear his story was certainly heartwarming and encouraging for us as well,” he said.

How veterans can get the glasses Veterans who are blind or have low vision may qualify for free Meta smart glasses.

To qualify, applicants must:

Be a U.S. military veteran. Self-attest that they are blind or have low vision. Provide proof of military service or veteran status. Have a compatible smartphone capable of running the Meta AI app. Attend a distribution event in person. Veterans who missed the Greer event can email the Palmetto Council of the Blind at info@scblind.org to express interest in future events. Bazer said additional distributions may be planned based on community need.

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 Madilyn Destefano

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (WESH) — Rick Ross’ son, identified in documents as William Roberts III, was allegedly attacked outside Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach on Oct. 11, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Don Roberts III, 20, was arrested after police said he pistol-whipped the victim.

Although the two men have similar names, documents identify them as two different individuals.

William Roberts III was standing outside near the college campus with a woman when Don Roberts III arrived in a vehicle, DBPD said.

According to officers, Don Roberts III got out of the car and shouted, “I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll kill you right here,” to William Roberts III.

The victim told police he believed this was regarding Don Roberts III having a previous romantic relationship with the woman he was standing with, the arrest affidavit said.

He is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.

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 Moses

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    NEWPORT, New Hampshire (WMUR) — A lost silent film made more than one century ago with deep New Hampshire roots has turned up in Japan.

A local film archivist is bringing the piece of history back to the community and hoping more lost films are still out there.

“Van-ar-chy” was shot in the Sunapee area and made by Billy B. Van, a Newport resident and pioneer in the silent film industry.

“He was helping to define what movies were in the production of these early features that he made,” said John Tariot, a film archivist.

“Van-ar-chy” is on the list of lost Van films that Tariot had been trying to track down until a Japanese film student found it while researching a project.

“Somebody, we believe, brought it with them to Japan. And there it sat, unknown, unloved, unfound,” Tariot said. “It’s a great find. It means the world to me to be able to return this to the residents of the area — give something back to the community.”

Van was well known around town, and he could often be seen in the Newport Opera House speaking out during town meetings.

“Folks would actually come to the town meetings just to see Billy B. Van orate,” said Dean Stetson, of the Newport Historical Society.

Van was also a farmer and entrepreneur who created products like soap and shampoo, but it’s his films that are now giving people a new look at the town’s past.

“This particular film, ‘Van-ar-chy,’ does have a number of scenes that were shot and are still quite familiar in our community,” Stetson said.

As Tariot prepares to share “Van-ar-chy” during a special screening next month, the discovery is also encouraging him to keep searching for more lost films.

“So the hunt will continue after this. This is not the end by any means,” Teriot 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 Holden

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio (WEWS) — The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s newly renovated Primate Forest officially opens to the public Thursday, October 22, at noon, marking the completion of a major overhaul of the former beloved Rain Forest exhibit.

The multimillion-dollar project began in September 2024 and is the largest capital improvement project in the zoo’s history.

The transformation brings new animal habitats, immersive technology, interactive educational exhibits, upgraded dining and retail options, and new indoor play areas to the popular attraction.

The experience begins inside the CrossCountry Mortgage Forest Home, where projection mapping surrounds visitors with sights and sounds inspired by forest ecosystems. Guests can also explore the interactive Mother Tree, which highlights the connections between trees and the broader forest environment.

Animal welfare and conservation are central to the new experience. Visitors will see familiar favorites, including langurs, orangutans and dwarf crocodiles, in enhanced habitats designed to encourage natural behaviors and support animal care.

One of the biggest changes is the new orangutan experience. For the first time in Cleveland Metroparks Zoo history, the orangutans will have access to an outdoor habitat, along with an expanded, two-story indoor day room and an elevated deckwalk that gives visitors new vantage points to observe the animals.

The renovated space also features a Care and Conservation Room, offering guests a closer look at the zoo’s efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Primate Forest’s second-floor learning gallery includes hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages. Attractions include the Forest Theatre, Sustainable Future Design Lab, Connections Studio and the PNC Adventure Playspace — the first indoor play area in Cleveland Metroparks.

Visitors can also take advantage of an expanded dining area, a grab-and-go market, a bistro with a variety of food options and new Primate Forest merchandise. The facility will also offer private event rental opportunities. The opening marks the completion of the first phase of the Primate Forest project.

A planned second phase will include gorillas, with the future habitat area visible from the new dining space.

Primate Forest is included with regular Cleveland Metroparks Zoo admission.

On Mondays, residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township can visit for $8, continuing the discounted admission offered at the former RainForest.

The zoo is temporarily requiring timed-entry reservations to enter the Primate Forest queue. Visitors can scan a QR code upon arrival to reserve a same-day entry time.

Reservations are available from 10 a.m. until 90 minutes before closing and can accommodate groups of up to 15 people.

Guests will receive a text confirmation with their entry ticket and should join the line at the Primate Forest entrance at their assigned time. Waits may still occur.

Primate Forest officially opens Thursday, October 22, at noon at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, inviting visitors to explore its new habitats, technology and educational experiences.

For more information on the project, click here: clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo/zoo-locations/primate-forest

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 DeAndria Turner, Alex Suckow

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Louisville announced new efforts to help people experiencing homelessness move from the streets into permanent housing.

Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday that 100 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness have now been placed in permanent housing through the city’s Home for Good initiative.

“We’re creating spaces where people have an affordable place to live with support from healthcare professionals, social workers, job-training specialists, and other professionals who can help address their underlying needs and provide a path to stability,” Greenberg said.

The announcement comes as the city says its 2026 Point-in-Time count showed an 18% decline in the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The city is also awarding more than $1.1 million in Homeless Initiative funding to nine agencies.

That money is expected to help provide more than 400 additional shelter beds during severe weather, along with case management and services aimed at helping people transition into permanent housing.

Home for Good’s goal is to provide permanent supportive housing to at least 250 people experiencing chronic homelessness by 2027.

According to the Home for Good dashboard, there is already more than $10 million in funds coming from Louisville Metro ($6.4M) , federal government ($1.8M) and donations ($1.8M).

See the dashboard here.

More information on Home for Good, including a dashboard and a link to donate, visit this website: homeforgood.louisvilleky.gov.

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 Keenan Mills

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    WESTBROOK, Maine (WMTW) — Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows traveled to Westbrook on Tuesday to recognize Election Hero Day as the midterms are now two weeks away.

Bellows also discussed a record number of absentee ballots requested and accepted in the state and what municipalities are doing to prepare for Nov. 3.

According to Bellows, as of Tuesday morning, more than 178,000 absentee ballots were requested, with more than 100,000 already returned and accepted.

Bellows stated that this exceeds the record set in 2022, which led the nation. That year saw 62% of the voting-age population take part in the election.

According to Westbrook City Clerk Ellis Ledoux, absentee ballots, when returned, are confirmed for the proper paperwork, that the signatures match, and that the voter has checked in.

“We also want to make sure that we batch those properly and make sure that all of the ballots went out are what we are receiving back in, so we double-check those names and numbers throughout the day,” commented Ledoux. “And then at the end of the day, once we’ve done that, we securely store them in our vault.”

According to Ledoux, the city has issued 3,500 ballots and seen 2,000 returns.

In Sabattus, 18.7% of voters requested an absentee ballot. That’s 10% more than the most recent gubernatorial election.

For the city of Lewiston, it’s seeing nearly 200 early voters a day.

Lewiston City Clerk Kathleen Montejo attributes the large number to contentious local elections and questions, including a question surrounding the needle exchange ordinance. She added that she’s heard from voters who just have had enough of election season.

“We are hearing from a lot of folks who are simply just saying, ‘I’m over this election already because of all the advertising, the mailers in the mail,'” answered Montejo. “Someone was just telling me today that they received five copies of the identical mailer at their house today.”

Montejo also mentioned the regularity of the city’s absentee program, which Lewiston voter and resident Gerry Hardy took advantage of Tuesday afternoon.

Hardy, who’s in a wheelchair, mentioned he’s spent the last ten years dropping off his ballot at city hall early.

“You have to wait until it’s a nice, sunny day before you can go out,” said Hardy. “A lot of times during the election, it’s raining. And I have no transportation other than the chair.”

He also said that he doesn’t trust the mailing system enough to not drop it off himself.

Bellows said that among concerns voters have, there are two that stand out. One is that mailed ballots won’t be delivered to City Hall on time. Bellows claimed she has been in constant communication with the U.S. Postal Service.

She also said she’s heard concern about an ICE presence at the polls. According to Bellows, an armed federal presence at the polls is prohibited.

“That may be a reason that we’re seeing a rise in the in-person voting in this early no-excuse absentee voting period,” said Bellows.

Maine voters can request an absentee ballot until Oct. 29. The ballots can be dropped off until the night of the election.

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.