Category: CNN Regional

By Brandon Truitt

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — There is something new staking its claim in Boston. You might not have heard, but the elephants are here.

The Great Elephant Migration has officially arrived in the Back Bay. The wildlife conservation exhibition launched in Newport, Rhode Island in the summer of 2024 and traveled across the United States. Heading south to Miami, Florida before migrating west to Beverly Hills.

Made of dried plant stems, the 100 life-sized elephants will be displayed freely down the mall of Commonwealth Avenue, starting at Farfield Street and heading toward the Boston Public Garden.

The elephants will be under 24/7 security and were already attracting thousands of onlookers before the exhibition officially opened. “It’s just very joyous,” said Back Bay resident Pat Romeo-Gilbert. “It is just so fun to see this.” Gilbert was one of the many people WBZ-TV spoke with who felt connected to the exhibition’s philanthropic mission of promoting coexistence of animals and humans.

To that point, there were some four-legged friends unsure of what to make of the large sculptures. Dogs up and down Commonwealth Avenue were having mixed reactions to their newest neighbors.

“She started staring at them super confused,” said Alejandro Estrelles of his dog, Mila. “She started barking at them a little like, ‘what are you doing here? This is my place. Why are you here?’ I was recording [the dog] because I knew she was going to have some kind of reaction. It was funny.”

The elephants are also available for purchase with proceeds going to the nonprofit.

The exhibition officially opens on Saturday and will be free and open to the public until it leaves on September 18.

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 Nikiya Carrero

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — The parents of a 5-year-old boy who died of cancer are pleading for the return of a commemorative statue stolen from a park dedicated to his memory.

For the past six years, a life-size bronze replica of Jake Duque has stood atop a concrete platform in a Miami Lakes park named in his honor. Jake, who died in 2020 after battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma—an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer—became a symbol of hope for thousands of followers known as “Jakey’s Army.”

His parents, Karen and Orlando Duque, said they were in disbelief when they received a phone call Saturday morning informing them the 44-inch-tall statue was gone.

“We literally said, ‘Go back! You must not have seen it.’ We still are in shock,” Karen Duque said.

The impact of the theft was felt immediately by the family, including the couple’s 4-year-old child. “I’ll tell you what our 4-year-old told us this morning: ‘Someone took our brother? My brother? Who would take my brother?'” Karen Duque said.

The statue was a focal point of comfort for both the family and the community, Orlando Duque said.

“You know, when you see this sunset now in a couple of minutes, you’ll understand the peace that people see here,” he said. “And that peace comes not only from God, but from my boy Jakey. That’s what we’re missing here.”

A plaque located beneath the statue’s former site reads: “He planted mustard seeds of faith that transformed the lives of thousands of people.”

The parents are asking for the return of the statue, noting that it holds no monetary value but is irreplaceable to their family and the community. “There’s no value. The statue is priceless to us,” Karen Duque said. “It’s not just a statue. It’s a representation of a boy who impacted so many people’s lives, and it’s a statue that belongs to the community. It belongs to everyone.”

The parents stated they do not wish to press charges if the statue is returned.

Anyone with information regarding the missing statue is asked to contact the family at 305-915-7050.

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 Jeremiah Estrada

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    LAHAINA, Hawaiʻi (KITV) — Three years after the deadly Lahaina wildfires, residents remain on a path to recovery bolstered by community support to help them rebuild.

The Maui County Council announced on Friday that a memorial service organized by Kuhinia Maui will be held on Saturday at the Lahaina United Methodist Church to honor the 102 lives lost on Aug. 8, 2023. The memorial will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be led by the Lahaina and Kula communities with the county’s support.

According to Maui County Council Chair Alice L. Lee, the council approved the budget this year for fiscal year 2027 towards support for recovery. The budget is divvied up amongst:

$6 million to Lahaina Community Land Trust to help keep homes in community hands $3 million for Upcountry Maui wildfire rebuild, recovery and mitigation $1 million to Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery “We know the losses inflicted by the fires are something people continue to deal with every day,” Lee said. “They have our unwavering support in navigating a path to recovery.”

577 single-family and multifamily units have been completed as of last week, and those homes passed final inspection, according to the county’s recovery dashboard. Construction will begin for 667 more homes after the permits have been issued.

“We aspire toward a recovery that restores hope for people who have suffered extraordinary heartbreak,” Lee said. “I’m proud of the council’s financial investments in recovery, but they are pale in comparison to our community’s emotional and spiritual investments in recovery.”

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) shared its outreaching efforts to support long term community health:

Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center’s behavioral health staff continues to help residents, including those who are accessing services for the first time nearly three years after the fires. DOH’s Maui Behavioral Health Wildfire Response has accomplished the following: Provided 86,903 sessions of support, therapy and holistic services to date Facilitated 436 training sessions for 8,323 participants Held health fairs, wellness events, socialization opportunities and therapeutic programs that served over 2,400 individuals DOH’s Adult Mental Health Division opened two Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics on Maui in late 2023. The expanded clinics serve Kahului, Lahaina and surrounding communities. “Healing does not happen on a set timeline,” said Dr. Courtenay Matsu, deputy director of Behavioral Health. “Three years later, people in the Lahaina community continue to experience the effects of displacement, loss and trauma in different ways. We remain committed to meeting people where they are and ensuring that behavioral health services and community-based supports are available to those who need them.”

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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    NEWARK, New Jersey (WCBS) — A day at the pool turned into a life-and-death emergency Thursday.

A camper and two lifeguards went to a Newark pool expecting a normal summer day. A child’s life depended on all three.

A 13-year-old camper went into the pool at Saint Peter’s Park Recreation Center on Lyons Avenue just before 10 a.m.

Kye Muse-Thomas heard a friend screaming for help. A fellow camper, who is autistic and nonverbal, was suffering a seizure in the pool. Muse-Thomas was there to help his friend out of the water.

“Well, actually, honestly, I didn’t do CPR after all. But I did pick him up heroically, and I saved his life, actually,” Muse-Thomas said.

That CPR was done by teenage lifeguards Rafaela Cura and Kyayla Dixon-Hammond. Their typical day at the pool doesn’t involve emergencies, Cura said, but rather “cleaning up boo-boos and telling people to stop running.”

The unresponsive camper was their first real emergency.

“I did compressions while Kyayla did ventilation, and it was a very emotional situation where we had to, like, put our training to use,” Cura said.

It took five cycles of CPR, but then the boy gasped.

“It’s kind of scary when you realize you’re working with somebody who doesn’t have a pulse and then you get their pulse back,” Dixon-Hammond said.

“Relief. I think I breathed with him for the first time he was breathing,” Cura said.

Paramedics took the boy to the hospital where he’s recovering.

Cura and Dixon-Hammond credit their training, their teamwork, and a friend who was there to help.

“I feel courageous and brave and heroic with my unexpected heroism,” Muse-Thomas said.

All three learned a little about themselves — that sometimes what we’re made of doesn’t show up until someone else needs us to find it.

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 Madeleine Wright

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    MALVERN, Pennsylvania (WBBM) — On hot summer days, families line up at Scoops ‘N’ Smiles on King Street in Malvern for a sweet treat. For many customers, it has become a summer tradition.

“It’s terrific,” George Dippell, from Malvern, said. “I have grandchildren; every time they come to visit, they want to come here.”

Brothers Akain Rowland and Yusef Jackson co-founded the shop in 2016. They expanded five years later with a second location in West Chester.

The brothers say Scoops ‘N’ Smiles is about more than ice cream. As part of Black Business Month, they hope their success inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“I think that being a Black-owned business is very important to our community, for the young people to see that it can be done by somebody that looks like them,” Rowland said.

Before opening the ice cream shop, Rowland and Jackson served in the Navy and worked as accountants. But after years in different careers, they found their passion in serving scoops.

Rowland remembers the excitement surrounding their first day of business.

“We had like 220 people show up for a soft opening,” Rowland said. “I was like, I guess we’re doing this.”

The business has grown into a community favorite, employing 27 people, including part-timers, full-timers and managers.

“It’s delicious,” Renee Jones from Malvern said. “It’s the best ice cream in town, if you haven’t tried some. Scoops ‘N’ Smiles.”

For younger customers, the toppings are part of the fun.

“I like to get Nerds, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate jimmies and chocolate chips,” 8-year-old Arona Jones said.

Rowland and Jackson said building a successful business also means giving back. They frequently bring their ice cream truck to schools, churches and nonprofit events, offering free or discounted treats.

“We just want to keep the love, keep, you know, just balance everything in the community because without the community you don’t have a business,” Jackson said.

As Scoops ‘N’ Smiles celebrates 10 years in business, the brothers say their mission remains the same: spreading positivity and bringing smiles to their customers.

“We started one shop, never pictured the second shop, ended up with the Chester County’s biggest catering company with our ice cream truck,” Rowland said. “Hopefully we’re just still scooping for another 10 years.”

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 Edie Kasten, Irika Sargent

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — What does it take to bowl a perfect game? Tenacity, skill, and experience. Nine-year-old Landen Henderson, of Maywood, has all three.

“He’s always had a ball in his hand, even before he could walk,” said his mother, Keya. “We drilled his very first bowling ball before he was 2.”

Keya doubles as Landen’s chauffeur and biggest fan, and she has plenty to be proud of.

In May, Landen beat a field of adult bowlers to become the youngest winner ever in the Indiana Times Classic Bowling Tournament. He asked his parents to compete, and said that would be his birthday present.

How did he win? Landen has a simple explanation.

“The guy that came in second, he needed to shoot a score to beat me and he didn’t,” Landen said.

Landen has a whole history of wins under his belt; more than you can imagine.

Recently, he was honored for his accomplishments at Rate Field, with a shout-out on the field and the jumbotron during a White Sox game.

“I went onto the field, and I was just on jumbotron,” he said. “I was kind of nervous, because there were a lot of people, but then also I had a lot of fun.”

Landen bowls three to five times a week, and comes from a family that’s been bowling for generations. His parents met at the bowling alley.

So who is Landen’s toughest competition so far?

“Probably my mom,” he said. “She knows my game better than anyone else.”

“I have to oftentimes remind him that I still have it. Even though I’m a little older than him, I still have it,” Keya said.

Keya’s a champ as well, with several big wins to her credit, but she said it’s her son’s curiosity that makes him a winner.

“He is always learning, he is information seeking, and he’s very independent,” she said. “He’s an only child of older parents, so he’s very mature.”

His principal, Carnita Nash, first met Landen way back in his pre-k days, and she’s pretty proud, too.

“Having that quality to be driven and goal-oriented is amazing at such a young age,” she said. “That’s something he’s always had. We’re just seeing it more now as he grows older.”

Landen’s had to grow up a little faster than some kids his age. His family has been through a lot this past year or so.

“About six months after losing my mother, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Keya said.

Keya said Landen put his own fears aside to support her.

“I said that for Halloween he should have been a lifesaver,” she said. “He saved me. He gave me purpose where I struggled.”

Back on the lanes, Landen is just part of the team. His principal said that’s part of his charm.

“He’s a very compassionate loving kid,” Nash said.

Which inspires his friends Naekel and Amir to cheer him on even more.

“He’s a pretty cool guy. He’s a great bowler,” Naekel said.

“He’s cool. He’s like, very tame, like, respectful,” Amir said.

His father, Jarade, said great bowling is only part of success.

“Our biggest message for him was learn how to lose, because that’s how you win,” he said. “You’re going to have a lot of losses, a lot of wins, just remain humble.”

Does Landen have any bowling tips?

“To, like, not worry about the score when you’re just a beginner. But then, also, don’t worry about the score when you already know how to bowl. Just have fun,” he said.

Landen’s parents said they’re hoping a college scholarship in bowling is in his future.

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.