Category: CNN Regional

By Adi Guajardo

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    NEW YORK CITY (WCBS, WLNY) — Three medical students at New York City’s Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are redefining and expanding the art of ballet through a free course for children with autism.

The class is captivating young minds and helping them move and connect.

The three students cofounded the 12-week program, raised funds and secured a studio.

It rolled out last year in partnership with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai as part of a program called Approach To Dance Autism Through Personalized Teaching, or ADAPT. The class is geared towards children ages 7-12 with autism.

“It’s a form of physical therapy,” said Sheena Ranade, associate professor of pediatric orthopedic surgery. “It enables kids to work on their mobility, which is a major issue in this patient population.”

Experts say the class goes beyond mobility; it helps build meaningful connections.

“It gives me confidence,” student Kylie Reid said.

The studio has become a safe space for the students, which can hard to come by.

“There are not many spaces that are made for children with special needs and like a formal dance training,” mom Shaneeka Reid said.

Twelve-year-old Isabella Richardson is in her second year taking the course.

“Ballet makes me so happy,” she said. “I like to learn new dance moves, like plié, especially plié.”

Mom Adalia Richardson said she saw improvements after just a few classes.

“I feel like she’s become more confident. Her coordination has improved,” she said. “She’s done amazing and made so many friends.”

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 Brendan Ponton

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    VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (WTKR) — Virginia voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve redrawing the state’s congressional districts.

The referendum election follows 45 days of early voting. Currently, Democrats hold a 6-5 advantage in Virginia’s congressional delegation, but the new map could give them a 10-1 advantage.

The issue drew the attention of Virginia’s 74th and 75th governors this weekend. Gov. Abigail Spanberger rallied with pro-redistricting supporters outside of Richmond.

“Right now, we the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia – we want to stand up to object what we are seeing coming out of Washington and ensure we can be a counterweight to the actions of Texas, Missouri, of North Carolina and in a temporary fashion,” Spanberger said.

“And so the reality of the moment we are in is one where Virginia has a really unique opportunity to be responsive in a temporary fashion,” Spanberger said.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin returned to Hampton Roads to tell crowds to vote no during a rally at The Gala off of Great Neck Road in Virginia beach.

“The new map is crazy and what it does is take Northern Virginia and inject it into the entire state,” Youngkin said.

Two Republican members of Congress who represent Hampton Roads also spoke on the vote no side. The districts represented by Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans could become more blue if the referendum passes.

“This isn’t about us, this isn’t about Jen or me, this is about the people of Virginia,” Wittman said.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right. That’s fair for Virginia the way it is and we don’t want to change it,” Kiggans said.

Dozens of community members gathered inside The Gala for the rally.

“The issue is important, we risk disenfranchising so many Virginians here in Hampton Roads across the state for things that are happening elsewhere in the nation. We need to take care of Virginia first,” said Bruce Johnson of Virginia Beach.

Outside the venue, a group gathered with signs urging people to vote yes. Kay Flohre held a sign for passing cars.

“We’re trying to counter some of the mess that’s already been going on. It’s a temporary measure and I think it’s a fair thing to do,” Flohre said.

Both sides say the unusual April election is crucial.

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

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 Brenda Teele

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    SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA (KTBS) — Support for the community is coming from every level, state, parish, city, and the local school district following a devastating incident involving eight children.

Neighbors say the children were a familiar and active in the neighborhood.

One neighbor shared that they saw the children outside playing just a day before the incident.

Liza Demming, who lives two doors away from where the violence occurred, said their children played together.

“The kids play at my house. They were at San Gabriel for Easter Sunday with my kids, and they play all the time,” Demming said. “My daughter even went to the park with them.”

Demming said she heard gunshots Sunday morning and later saw the covered body of one of the children.

“That baby, that baby laying there on the roof of their home trying to get away?” she said.

Demming lives near the corner of Linwood Avenue and Highway 79, just steps from where the tragedy unfolded.

Local and state leaders are calling for even more to be done to address domestic violence.

Shreveport City Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor emphasized the urgency of the issue.

“One in nine women are domestically abused every nine seconds in this country — every nine seconds. When does it become a priority?” Taylor said.

State Sen. Sam Jenkins said domestic violence must be part of broader justice reform conversations.

“I just really hope that a part of the package that we begin to put together when we start talking about justice, and especially criminal justice, that we begin to look at domestic violence as a part of that package,” Jenkins said.

On Monday, the Caddo Parish School District plans to have counselors available at Summer Grove Elementary and Linwood Charter School to support classmates affected by the tragedy.

Shreveport City Councilmember Grayson Boucher also spoke about the emotional toll on first responders.

“I can only imagine what these police officers and firefighters went in and saw with such a horrific, painful thing to see — if any of them had to go home to their own children. Can you imagine? I bet there are going to be several children held very, very tight tonight,” Boucher 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 Carolyn Gusoff

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    HEMPSTEAD, New York (WCBS) — Four years ago, CBS News New York introduced you to a young Long Island man who overcame an autism diagnosis to graduate valedictorian of his high school class.

Now, Joseph Falco is exceeding expectations again, this time in college.

Falco will graduate from Hofsta University next month with top honors.

“I never thought I would get this far,” Falco said.

Neither did the experts who once said he may never speak. Now, his success speaks volumes about what’s possible on the spectrum.

“It’s real, and it’s here, right now, and I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Falco said. “I used to think it was something that potentially held me back, made me different, weird, wrong. But I couldn’t disagree with that any more now. I love the fact that I have autism. It has helped me focus.”

At first, Falco’s fixations led to a diagnosis of severe autism.

“When he was 2, they told me he was going to be nothing. Like, ‘He’s probably never gonna speak, probably is not gonna do anything, he’s really autistic, don’t expect a lot out of him,’ … The hand flapping, walking on his toes, no eye contact,” Joseph’s mother Dolores Falco said.

Early intervention and determination made the difference. He was the valedictorian of his Copiague High School class in 2022.

Four years later, Joseph is mastering what once seemed impossible. He’s about to graduate college with a computer science and cybersecurity degree, in the top 10% of honors students. He’ll get the highest designation Hofstra gives: honors, with distinction.

“His story says that anything and everything is possible,” Hofstra University’s Dr. Tomeka Robinson said.

Joseph is also reading social cues.

“I’ve been joining tons of clubs, making a bunch of friends, and just letting everyone know, hey, this is who I am,” he said.

“The day he walks across that stage … they’re probably going to have to bring a pump in, to pump out all the water from my tears,” Falco’s mom said. “Support them, fight for them, advocate for them, and watch them bloom.”

“I want people to see what I’m doing and think hey, you know, I can do that too,” Joseph said.

Now, he says he’s focused on “making things that might seem impossible all come true.”

On May 17th, he will graduate Hofstra cum laude, and he’s already halfway finished with his masters.

He’s looking forward to a career in cybersecurity, either in the private sector or in law enforcement.

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 Nick Caloway

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    NEW JERSEY (WCBS) — New Jersey is banning more than two dozen invasive trees and plants, including the Bradford pear, which residents say emits a strange odor when it blooms every spring.

The Invasive Species Management Act outlaws the sale and spread of 30 species, like the Bradford (or Callery) pear, Japanese barberry and running bamboo, throughout the Garden State.

Homeowners won’t need to remove anything from their yards, however, since the law targets future sales only, not existing landscapes.

The rules will phase in over the next few years after former Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill into law on his last day in office.

“A little bit like B.O.” The Bradford pear bursts into bloom each spring, and it stinks every time, residents say.

“It’s like a little bit sweet, but also a little bit funky,” said Chris Calabrese, of Jersey City. “A little bit like fresh-cut grass, but also a little bit like B.O.”

The smell isn’t the only issue with the Bradford pear. As an invasive tree, it also creates an ecological problem, spreading easily into the wild and pushing out native trees.

“Our forests have taken a bit of a beating recently with pests and pathogens. And being outcompeted by invasive species just inflicts more harm to our forests,” said Dr. Nicole Davi, an environmental science professor at William Paterson University.

William Paterson is using state grant money to plant 180 native trees on its campus in Wayne.

“Natives bring in pollinators. Natives support bird life. Natives have evolved here. So it supports a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem,” Davi 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.