Category: CNN Regional

By A.J. Nwoko

Click here for updates on this story

    RICHMOND, Virginia (WTVR) — Army veteran Frank Bland makes sure to remind himself of his weighty title on days like Dec. 7.

“I am a living miracle,” Bland said.

Not for anything he’s done, but for his father’s actions 84 years ago during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Had dad not escaped that inferno that was engulfing him and grabbed that rope, I wouldn’t be here,” Bland said.

Bland describes in detail how his father survived one of the deadliest attacks in U.S. history. His father was aboard the USS Tennessee when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“He heard screaming,” Bland said. “Oil was in the water. Flames were skirting about on top of the water and anyone who jumped in immediately succumbed.”

His father’s survival came down to faith and a miraculous moment.

7, 1941 attack Army veteran Frank Bland Photo by: WTVR Son of Pearl Harbor survivor ensures father’s story lives on 84 years later Army veteran Frank Bland By: A.J. Nwoko Posted 7:09 PM, Dec 07, 2025 and last updated 9:14 PM, Dec 07, 2025 RICHMOND, Va. — Army veteran Frank Bland makes sure to remind himself of his weighty title on days like Dec. 7.

“I am a living miracle,” Bland said.

Not for anything he’s done, but for his father’s actions 84 years ago during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Had dad not escaped that inferno that was engulfing him and grabbed that rope, I wouldn’t be here,” Bland said.

Bland describes in detail how his father survived one of the deadliest attacks in U.S. history. His father was aboard the USS Tennessee when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“He heard screaming,” Bland said. “Oil was in the water. Flames were skirting about on top of the water and anyone who jumped in immediately succumbed.”

His father’s survival came down to faith and a miraculous moment.

“He literally called on God,” Bland said. “He told me years later, he testified in churches that it was the grace of God. He heard his voice, he sent angels, and the next thing you know, a rope came down on the USS Tennessee.”

The young sailor endured what many others could not.

“War is ugly, but this is what this 19-year-old and so many others had to endure while they were out there,” Bland said.

Many of those names were read aloud at the Virginia War Memorial on Sunday during its wreath-laying ceremony. The ceremony honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who survived and shone a light on the civilians who carry their legacies.

Eight U.S. battleships were severely damaged during the attack, 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed and 2,403 Americans were killed.

The memorial also highlighted acts of courage like those displayed by Navy Officer Donald Ross, who was aboard the USS Nevada.

Ross assumed responsibility on the battleship, which was badly damaged by bombs and torpedoes in the attack, and kept it powered until it was able to be beached. It was the only battleship to do so during the Japanese attack.

Ross was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

Clay Mountcastle, Virginia War Memorial Director, emphasized the importance of remembrance.

“Dec. 7th is not just another day,” Mountcastle said. “And it never can be and it never will be here at the Virginia War Memorial.

To ensure that day is never forgotten, veterans like Bland challenge others to listen for how they may be connected to this history.

“By me sharing this story with you, you become soul, body, spirit in realizing you are now in that family of a bond where we know we are of one here,” Bland said.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 A.J. Nwoko

Click here for updates on this story

    GLEN ALLEN, Virginia (WTVR) — A Christmas tradition nearly three decades in the making continued despite an act of vandalism that forced organizers to completely reimagine their annual celebration.

The Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center has hosted its Illumination event for 27 years without incident. But plans for the 2025 edition literally fell through after an unknown vandal took a chainsaw to the event’s 40-foot centerpiece cedar tree.

“It’s a great lesson in learning from adversity,” Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center President K Alferio said. “And when something happens, you just figure out how to move on and make something better.”

Rather than cancel the beloved community tradition, Alferio and the center’s team decided to improvise. They reached out to the community for help, and the response exceeded all expectations.

“We were truly overwhelmed. We got so many lights and garland and decorations that we were able to fill up this whole big field,” Alferio said.

The result was thousands of Christmas lights lining the center’s brand-new outdoor event space, creating a spectacular display that drew cheers from attendees during the countdown.”We were truly overwhelmed. We got so many lights and garland and decorations that we were able to fill up this whole big field,” Alferio said.

The result was thousands of Christmas lights lining the center’s brand-new outdoor event space, creating a spectacular display that drew cheers from attendees during the countdown.

“I was really surprised at first, but I think it really worked out with the stage and having a bigger venue to run the event,” Wes Boggs, a student at Glen Allen High School, said.

While the original 40-foot tree was destroyed, organizers replaced it with a 10-foot spruce. The metal star that topped the original tree survived and was restored thanks to Henrico County’s efforts.

“They went out, they got the star; they fixed it, they rewired it so we were able to have the star with us tonight so it will always be a part of the event,” Alferio said.

The center maintained beloved traditions like its indoor tree gallery while embracing new elements, including a Lego replica of the original tree that will remain on permanent display.

The reimagined illumination has created an unexpected gift that community members are excited to see grow in future years.

“As someone who’s lived here for a while, I get to watch it grow because I plan to stay here,” Cam Mule, another Glen Allen High student, said. “That will be cool to watch.”

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Kelsey Jones

Click here for updates on this story

    NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (WTKR) — Scammers are targeting grieving families in Newport News, posing as funeral home staff to steal money during their most vulnerable moments.

Alinda Wheeler and her sister were planning their mother’s funeral when they received what seemed like a legitimate call Monday evening.

The caller claimed to be affiliated with C.C. Carter Funeral Home in Newport News and knew specific details about their pre-arranged services, the Wheelers say. The imposter demanded $600 through Cash App to continue with funeral arrangements.

Wheeler says she thought the account was legitimate and sent $580 before realizing she had been scammed.

Chris Carter, the owner of C.C. Carter Funeral Home, says scammers are using his name and posing as fake family members of his to target vulnerable families. He says the fake callers demand money and threaten families, telling them, “The state will take the body back if they don’t pay immediately.”

Carter discovered the scammer had stolen his photo from the funeral home’s website to make the Cash App account appear legitimate.

Newport News police say this type of scam is sadly common across Virginia and they are investigating this incident.

Carter says there were nine other victims the imposter allegedly tried to swindle money from. In some cases, the scammer told families they were on their way to the bank to get a check when the Cash App transaction didn’t go through.

Carter’s staff had to call potential victims to warn them it was a scam. The funeral home has now posted a warning message on their website alerting people about the ongoing scam.

They advise families not to send any funds through email or over the phone. Carter says, “It’s sick that scammers would exploit people during such a vulnerable time in their lives.”

He believes there’s a special place in hell for people who prey on grieving families.

Police encourage families to never provide payments over the phone when funeral services are involved. They recommend asking for written confirmation of any service or payment request and advise people to trust their instincts if something feels strange about a phone call.

Wheeler says her experience has taught her family an important lesson about protecting themselves. She says they will never conduct any financial transactions over the phone again.

The scam highlights how criminals target people during their most emotional and vulnerable moments. Funeral directors across the region are now warning families to be extra cautious about unexpected payment requests.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Ange Toussaint

Click here for updates on this story

    WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — A U.S. veteran is walking 98 miles from West Palm Beach to Miami over nine days to remember the 98 victims of the Champlain Towers South collapse that occurred four years ago.

Tim Roberto, who works at Beachway Therapy Center and founded the Stomping Out the Stigma Foundation, began his journey on Thursday with friends joining him along the way. The walk serves as both a memorial to those who died and a tribute to the first responders who worked at the collapse site.

“It’s kind of hot but it feels really good because of the cause,” Roberto said during a stop at a West Palm Beach fire station. “Every minute counts when you’re going down to Surfside Miami.”

Roberto said he has spoken with many first responders through his foundation’s therapeutic work and understands the mental trauma they experienced during the Surfside response.

“A lot of the first responders that I talked to in Stomping Out the Stigma help therapeutically. I was very aware of what they all went through,” Roberto said.

The Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside collapsed in June 2021, killing 98 people. The tragedy highlighted ongoing concerns about building safety and the mental health impact on emergency personnel who responded to the scene.

Retired Battalion Chief for Palm Beach Fire Rescue Sam Eaton said mental health support for first responders is often overlooked.

“When it comes to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, it’s to bring awareness of the impact of the mental trauma that those organizations and those populations are affected by,” Eaton said.

Roberto plans to continue his walk over the next few days as he completes his nine-day journey to raise awareness about first responder mental health, while honoring the victims of the Surfside collapse.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Linnea Hoover

Click here for updates on this story

    WESTMINSTER, Maryland (WMAR) — A good suit can mean the world, and the seniors of McDaniel College know that better than most.

Thanks to 60-year-old Tom Green, every senior on the football team now has a fitted suit, shirt, tie, and shoes from Men’s Warehouse in Westminster.

“It means everything,” one player said. “It was really having Tom around was really awesome and then for him to do something like this, like of course he gave us a lot of knowledge from his experience, but now truly doing something like this for us means a lot.”

Green didn’t stop at just providing suits. He also shared life wisdom with the players. “Life is like an EKG. You hit your peaks, you go to your valleys, and you can hit your peaks again,” Green said.

Green is at a peak right now, but he’s also had his share of valleys. He was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in May of 2015.

On Christmas Eve, 2017, Green says, “My wife prayed for me through the night that God would heal me because I was dying,” Green said.

Then came a miracle. By May 2018, Green was completely cancer-free and left with a question: What do I do with the gift of life?

His answer was football at McDaniel College.

“I certainly got the energy for it, and, you know, I’m trying to stay in shape for it, and I wanna play football without so sad I didn’t get on the field with these guys because, you know, I’m looking forward to next year,” Green said.

The gesture meant more than just new clothes to the players.

“It shows me that people still, there’s still joy in the world,” one player said.

“I feel like the big boss got the suit on and all that,” another added.

“It shows your character because you know how you carry yourself is how people are gonna look at you,” a third player said.

Green’s teammate described the impact of his generosity.

“He did not need to do any of this. Tom just did it because he wanted to, and it makes him feel good,” the teammate said.

Now these football players are ready to go out and tackle life, dressed for success.

“These young men are the future. They’re the future of the workplace, industrial, you know, financial, or other sports teams.

That’s where these guys are headed,” Green said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Maki Becker

Click here for updates on this story

    KIANTONE, New York (WKBW) — A Jamestown-area restaurant that served 1,000 free meals during last month’s federal government shutdown is now fighting to stay open after experiencing a dramatic drop in business.

Now Lee Cain, the owner of Phatties restaurant on Foote Avenue in Kiantone, says business has plummeted by 75 to 90% since daylight saving time ended.

“Right around the time daylight savings and the clocks fell back, started getting dark at 5:30, no one was really coming for dinner anymore,” Cain said.

The restaurant was serving only about 10 customers per day, which Cain called unsustainable for a business in its first six months of operation.

“That’s just not a sustainable business model. Whenever you see a 75% to 90% drop in sales, especially in your first six months…you have to adapt and overcome or bow out,” Cain said.

Facing the possibility of closing after Christmas, Cain turned to Facebook on Tuesday to ask the community for help. His aunt Sherri Shaw, who waits tables and makes pie for the restaurant, echoed the plea for support.

“We need people to come in as much as they can,” Sherri said.

The social media appeal appears to have worked. Customers responded to the restaurant’s generosity during the shutdown and showed up to support the business.

“I heard about all the nice stuff he did over Thanksgiving. And my friend and I always go out once a week, and I thought we gotta try this place,” one customer said.

Another patron said the restaurant’s charitable actions motivated their support.

“I thought that was such a good gesture that I’ve decided to support him and I’ve been here. This is probably my fourth time here,” they said.

Cain expressed optimism about the response to his Facebook post and the increased customer turnout.

“Yeah, I honestly, I’m feeling really good right now,” Cain said.

Cain has been tweaking the hours to better suit customers. He posted on Facebook Friday that they will be open until 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WKBW verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Blake Phillips

Click here for updates on this story

    CLEARWATER, Florida (WFTS) — A very loud Sunday morning filled Clearwater as thousands of motorcycles gathered for the 9th annual Burt’s Christmas Toy Run. This year brought a special push to break the world record for the largest motorcycle toy run, drawing more eyes and bikes to an already popular event.

“I look forward to this every year. I won’t even sell my bike because this is what I want to come to every year. This is awesome,” said Mike Carriere, who brought several different toys for the toy run.

Christin Mosca, who was riding with her husband Doc, shared in that excitement: “It’s a fun event, and I love seeing all the motorcycles here and all the people getting together for this. It’s really fun.”

“Every year I kept looking at the thing. I’m going, we got to do this one. We got to do it. And then I saw this thing where trying to break the record and I said we got to be involved in this one,” said Jim Pouba.

While the record attempt adds excitement, Jim Pouba, one of the organizers and sponsors from Our Town America, says there is a deeper purpose behind the event.

“The need is really the most important part, especially at this time of the year. People who need that little extra help. By having the event tied into it, it’s only going to help raise the awareness and raise the total amount of money that’s raised in the toys that are distributed,” Pouba said.

The event featured plenty of festive fun alongside the charitable mission, including riders dressed in holiday costumes.

After the ride, all toys will be counted and distributed back to the community. Our Town America says they’ll know if they set the record by the end of this week.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.