Category: CNN Regional

By Sean Daly

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Willy Wonka would approve of Lollipop Lumberjack’s Candy Co.

A mobile truck owned and operated by Jessica Fresia and Chad Hysell, two colleagues at a Clearwater charter school, this crazy confection on wheels is very much a vehicle for joy.

“This really feels so happy from the minute we’re setting up to the minute we’re handing products to customers,” says Jessica.

Cotton candy, sour gummies, wildly colored slushies: You name it, and the Lollipop Lumberjack crew will try to fit it all in a cup.

You can rent the truck for events — or visit Lollipop Lumberjack at one of its public events.

But serving sweets isn’t the only mission.

The couple also gives part of the proceeds back to the community: to teachers, to special-needs groups.

“I think there’s so many situations in Tampa Bay where families are suffering,” says Chad. “So that’s important to us.”

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 Amy Fleury, Nick Bohr

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    CUDAHY, Wisconsin (WISN) — An 89-year-old woman has been charged with felony hit-and-run after a crash last month in Cudahy.

A 9-year-old girl was crossing the street on Oct. 28 when she was struck by a car in the crosswalk, and the driver did not stop.

Prosecutors on Monday charged Darlene Adam of Milwaukee with hit-and-run causing injury.

The incident happened at the intersection of East Ramsey and South Swift avenues near J.E. Jones Elementary School in Cudahy.

Cudahy police later caught up with Adam after finding the vehicle two blocks away at Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore hospital, about two blocks away from the school, where she told police she had an appointment.

According to the police, Adam told officers that she had struck either a rock or some sort of construction barrel.

Adam is not in custody.

The girl was able to go back to school after suffering a concussion and other injuries.

WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr spoke with Adam Monday afternoon. Through her door she told him it was an accident, she never saw the girl, and won’t be driving again.

“I’m giving up my license,” she said.

The incident raises the issue of when senior drivers should stop driving.

“Not all elderly people are bad drivers. Just because you are higher up in age doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t drive,” said Lauren O’Desky, the owner of Glendale-based Oasis Senior Advisors.

She said if you suspect your loved one might be having trouble– take a ride with them– and have a conversation about next steps– before something serious happens.

“The goal is to not take away independence, the goal is to maintain independence but also make sure that your loved one is safe and the people on the road are safe as well,” she said.

If convicted, Adam could face up to nine months in jail. She has no criminal record. She’s expected to make her first court appearance in about a month.

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 Jessica Riley

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A teenager from the Pittsburgh area has made it his mission to give back to service members every holiday season.

This year, Collin Arthrell is making sure those aboard the seas have a special gift and a reminder from someone back home.

Collin’s mission started nearly a decade ago at just eight years old. He was inspired by his two older brothers who enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

“Ever since my brothers left, I had that connection between them throughout giving,” Collin said. “So I decided if I gave to our military members, I would feel that connection and they can feel close to home.”

Every year, it begins at the Brentwood VFW where a group helps Collin sort, prep, and pack thousands of stockings.

“I’ve been collecting stockings, packages, donations from all around the country and throughout that, we’ve had over 15,000 stockings delivered to the military,” Collin said.

This year, the stocking will head to Norfolk, Virginia, destined for the USS George Bush, filled with essential items like candy, hygiene, socks, hats, and more.

“One of the most important is the energy packets, because they can put it right into a bottle of water instead of having to purchase a Monster or something like that, or when a store runs out,” said Collin’s mother Tracey.

Collin doesn’t always personally know who opens each stocking, but the why is what matters.

“Some people aren’t able to receive stuff from family members and I totally understand that and grasp that,” Collin said. “Just to keep a smile on their faces and keep the morale up.” “Raised him to be a good human being and that’s all we can ask for as a parent,” Tracey said.

Collin’s efforts aren’t going unnoticed, especially by the Brentwood VFW, who continue to open their doors for him. “These people are out there for the holiday,” said Brentwood VFW Post 1810 Commander John Wallace. “I know I had my share of missing holidays and birthdays and getting something from home is always a thrill when you open the package and see it came from home.”

This year, with donations tight due to rising costs and many people struggling, Collin says his mission continues and so does his ask for support.

“We’re still fundraising,” Tracey said. “We have a secure website where you can do so and its a tax-deductible receipt immediately given to you, so that’s another good things. Collin is now sixteen and thinking about his future, saying that the Navy is a no-doubt next step.

“Keep smiling and always ask someone how their day is no matter what they’re going through,” Collin said.

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 Wakisha Bailey

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — For Lt. Colonel Barbara George, the mission to make The Joy of Sharing with the Salvation Army possible isn’t just part of her work. It’s part of her family’s story.

Every time George buttons her Salvation Army uniform, she thinks about the path that brought her here.

“This uniform has opened so many doors for me,” George said. “It’s a reminder every single day of who I serve and why I serve.”

George has been connected to the Salvation Army her entire life — 62 years and counting. But her family’s relationship with the organization stretches back even further.

In 1934, George’s grandmother was suddenly widowed, pregnant with her seventh child and raising a family in Brooklyn with no support systems for widows.

“When she was 10, her dad died,” George said. “My grandmother was pregnant with her seventh child. It’s 1934, Brooklyn, New York. There are no services for widows.”

With few options, her grandmother turned to a small church for help — a church that would change everything.

That church was the Salvation Army.

The support George’s grandmother received sparked a lifelong connection. George’s mother grew up in that same church, fell in love with music and began serving others through it.

Her mother’s compassion and creativity shaped George’s childhood and ultimately inspired her own calling.

“I knew God was calling me to do something bigger,” George said, “and it involved giving back to people.”

Today, the Salvation Army provides far more than Sunday services. It offers meals, social services, emergency assistance, youth programs and spiritual support for families across the region.

During the holidays, their work becomes especially visible — and incredibly meaningful — through The Joy of Sharing campaign.

George and her husband, Lt. Colonel Edgar George, trade their uniforms for holiday hats this time of year, joining volunteers and officers who serve record numbers of families.

“Our officers work so hard. At every location, there are people in record numbers of need, and the need just continues to grow,” George said. “The joy of sharing, it’s something circumstances can’t touch.”

George met her husband in officer training college, and they were commissioned together in 1989. Their shared calling became a shared life.

Today, as divisional officers, they oversee toy distributions across the region — ensuring gifts arrive on time and spirits stay high.

“I’ll be down there next week handing out toys because that’s my joy, to be with the people,” George said.

Their commitment is generational. The George family’s legacy continues through their children, who also serve as Salvation Army officers. Even their grandson plays a role in holiday efforts.

What started as a single act of support for a struggling family in 1934 has grown into a multi-generational mission of service.

This holiday season, the George family’s story reminds us that compassion can echo through generations — and that the joy of sharing is one gift that never fades.

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.

KYW

By Wakisha Bailey

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — For Lt. Colonel Barbara George, the mission to make The Joy of Sharing with the Salvation Army possible isn’t just part of her work. It’s part of her family’s story.

Every time George buttons her Salvation Army uniform, she thinks about the path that brought her here.

“This uniform has opened so many doors for me,” George said. “It’s a reminder every single day of who I serve and why I serve.”

George has been connected to the Salvation Army her entire life — 62 years and counting. But her family’s relationship with the organization stretches back even further.

In 1934, George’s grandmother was suddenly widowed, pregnant with her seventh child and raising a family in Brooklyn with no support systems for widows.

“When she was 10, her dad died,” George said. “My grandmother was pregnant with her seventh child. It’s 1934, Brooklyn, New York. There are no services for widows.”

With few options, her grandmother turned to a small church for help — a church that would change everything.

That church was the Salvation Army.

The support George’s grandmother received sparked a lifelong connection. George’s mother grew up in that same church, fell in love with music and began serving others through it.

Her mother’s compassion and creativity shaped George’s childhood and ultimately inspired her own calling.

“I knew God was calling me to do something bigger,” George said, “and it involved giving back to people.”

Today, the Salvation Army provides far more than Sunday services. It offers meals, social services, emergency assistance, youth programs and spiritual support for families across the region.

During the holidays, their work becomes especially visible — and incredibly meaningful — through The Joy of Sharing campaign.

George and her husband, Lt. Colonel Edgar George, trade their uniforms for holiday hats this time of year, joining volunteers and officers who serve record numbers of families.

“Our officers work so hard. At every location, there are people in record numbers of need, and the need just continues to grow,” George said. “The joy of sharing, it’s something circumstances can’t touch.”

George met her husband in officer training college, and they were commissioned together in 1989. Their shared calling became a shared life.

Today, as divisional officers, they oversee toy distributions across the region — ensuring gifts arrive on time and spirits stay high.

“I’ll be down there next week handing out toys because that’s my joy, to be with the people,” George said.

Their commitment is generational. The George family’s legacy continues through their children, who also serve as Salvation Army officers. Even their grandson plays a role in holiday efforts.

What started as a single act of support for a struggling family in 1934 has grown into a multi-generational mission of service.

This holiday season, the George family’s story reminds us that compassion can echo through generations — and that the joy of sharing is one gift that never fades.

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 Noelle Lilley

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    New York (WCBS, WLNY) — A raging fire in Mount Vernon, New York forced dozens of people out of an apartment building early Sunday morning in Westchester County.

Mount Vernon officials said the flames broke out shortly before 3 a.m. at a building on Cottage Avenue. Hours later, there was still an active scene.

Officials said the fire started in a kitchen on the seventh floor and then spread to the cockloft, the space between the ceiling and the roof.

“The fire got inside there, and once it gets inside there, it spreads all over,” Mount Vernon Fire Chief Juan Peralta said.

Neighbors said they could see and smell the smoke from blocks away, plus charred walls and broken windows as they got up close.

“Blazing fire, blazing, blazing was just going and going and going,” said resident Eileen Charles Forteau.

Multiple agencies were called to assist, including the FDNY and emergency responders from across Westchester.

“This is an old age style pre-war building, and there are no standpipes. So, of course, that makes it a little more difficult,” Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said on the scene.

Two residents were taken to Jacobi Medical Center, and five firefighters were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Help for residents who have been displaced The mayor and the Red Cross were on the scene to help the roughly 100 residents who were displaced.

“Families that have been impacted are being serviced over at the Doles Center here in Mount Vernon so that they can get some warmth, some beverage, fill out the paperwork that is necessary, so that we can begin getting them housing vouchers and food vouchers and assistance,” the mayor said.

Neighbors across the street were also impacted — all just days before Thanksgiving.

“My building didn’t have no water right now because I guess all the water is gone,” Charles Forteau said.

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.