Category: CNN Regional

By Madeline Montgomery

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    MARIETTA, Georgia (WUPA) — It’s National Teen Driver Safety Week, and a Marietta father is working to make cars safer for young drivers after losing his son in a crash.

The Road Ready Foundation encourages drivers to check tire tread and pressure and inspect their tires for damage.

Founder Alex Bebiak lost his son Jackson in 2023. Jackson was a passenger in a car that hydroplaned and hit an 18-wheeler. Bebiak said the crash was caused by insufficient tire tread.

“We learned that the crash was due to lack of tire tread on the tires,” Bebiak said.

The loss led his family to learn more about tire safety and identify an opportunity to educate teen drivers.

Bebiak now speaks at schools and driver’s education programs across the country, encouraging young drivers to check their tires.

“We found that three out of ten teen drivers are actually driving on unsafe tires through programs we’ve done at local high schools by checking their tires,” Bebiak said.

He said the foundation also found that 43% of teen drivers had never checked their tires or tread for safety. Three in 10 did not know what the tire pressure monitoring system warning light meant.

Tire Discounters is partnering with Road Ready to offer free tire checks for teens during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

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 Ben Jordan, Photojournalist Kyle Gustafson

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    MILWAUKEE (WTMJ) — Two Kenosha brothers who paid $1,000 each for a Milwaukee Brewers “Timeless Ticket” more than a decade ago say the team isn’t fully honoring the promise that came with it — the chance to sit in the best available seats for a game as big as the World Series.

Kevin and Kyle Deaton say they were stunned when they saw the seating options made available to Timeless Ticket holders last week: terrace level seats or standing room only, priced at or below what the two brothers paid for their tickets in 2015.

The tickets, according to the information card, “may be redeemed for the best available seat locations, subject to ticket availability at the time of redemption.” The brothers argue the Brewers aren’t living up to that language.

“When you promise somebody the best seat available, and you give them pretty much the worst seats that you have in the whole stadium, I would say, no. They’re not honoring it,” Kyle Deaton said.

The Timeless Ticket was offered more than a decade ago, when the Brewers sold 1,000 of them to fans for $1,000 each. Each ticket is redeemable for any game — including this World Series.

“We’re actively looking at the sites, and it’s kind of remarkable to watch the pricing go up and the kind of the mania, but 10 years ago or 11 years ago I was like I won’t have to deal with that,” Kevin said.

Kevin and Kyle knew all along they would patiently wait for the perfect time to use them — a World Series in Milwaukee.

“I wasn’t envisioning, hey, we’re going to get front row. But certainly first ten rows,” Kevin Deaton said. “Which is why I refused. Out of principle, I’m not even going to go.”

Hopes of sitting close to the action, like the seats they saw when it was time for season ticket holders to buy, quickly turned to frustration after they read the Timeless Ticket order form that outlined their options.

“This has to be a mistake. It’s terrace level; that’s level four. That’s not the best available seat. And she said, yeah, I’m not going to argue that there’s better seats available. This is what’s being allocated to the ‘Timeless Ticket’ holders,” Kyle said.

TMJ4 reached out to the Milwaukee Brewers Monday morning to request an interview on Monday morning about Timeless Ticket seating options. We have yet to hear back.

“I don’t know what they could do to make this right for us,” Kyle said. “They’ve had 1,000 people for 11 years that they knew they had to take care of if they ever got to the World Series. So, their solution or their rules of redemption, they made that up.”

Kyle and Kevin say they’re still rooting for the Brewers to win it all, but they plan to do so at home unless the team comes back with a better offer.

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 Glenda Valdes

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    KENOSHA, Wisconsin (WTMJ) — A family of four is facing the unimaginable after a devastating house fire destroyed their belongings and claimed the lives of their pets. Now, a close family friend is bringing the community together to help them start over.

Hailey Mews, her husband and their two young children, ages 4 and 2, were not harmed in the fire. However, the family lost nearly everything, including clothing, toys, photographs and cherished keepsakes.

“Just absolutely devastating. I mean, it was a complete loss,” said Brandy Miller, a longtime family friend.

Miller said the loss goes far beyond material possessions.

“To lose all of your pets, all your belongings, baby photos, wedding photos, you know, all those mementos, keepsakes, it’s just an absolute devastation,” she said.

Miller has known the family for more than a decade and says they’ve made a lasting difference in her life and the lives of others.

“They’ve done so much for our family, but also for other families in the community,” Miller said.

Determined to give back, Miller began collecting donations of clothing, shoes, winter gear and other essentials. She said the response has already exceeded her expectations.

The family is also in need of personal care items, food, children’s toys, blankets and gift cards to grocery stores and other retailers.

An upcoming pancake breakfast on Sunday at AMC Lounge will also help support the family, with a portion of sales going toward purchasing necessities.

For those wishing to contribute financially, visit this page for donations.

Miller hopes the community’s generosity continues as the family faces the difficult process of rebuilding.

“It takes a village, and this is just proof right now, that it really does take a village, and our village is amazing,” she said.

For a family that has spent years helping others, their community is now returning that kindness when they need it most.

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 Kaley Fedko

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Ringing the bell is a tradition that marks a major medical milestone, often celebrated by cancer patients at the end of treatment.

It’s a moment families spend months, sometimes years, waiting for.

For one little girl in Atlanta, that day has finally come.

Three-year-old Noa Ramirez may not have fully understood the moment, but her parents knew exactly what it meant. After more than two years of treatment for leukemia, their little girl had reached the finish line.

To celebrate, she had a bell-ringing ceremony Sept. 25 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

“I think Noa just feels like it’s something really cool that she gets to do. She gets to see a lot of her friends ring the bell, and I don’t know if she knows the true significance behind it being as young as she is, but she definitely knows it’s like a finish line to something,” said her mother, Kaleigh Ramirez.

Noa was just 16 months old when her life changed overnight.

“One day she was playing at a birthday party, and the next day she was comatose in her bed, and that’s how we found her,” Kaleigh Ramirez said.

What followed were years of hospital visits, treatments and a family waiting for this day.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, ringing a bell marks the end of medical treatment.

“These are the best days, no doubt. This job is hard sometimes, but days like this make it worth it,” said Noa’s oncologist, Dr. Ryan Summers.

The tradition has roots beyond the hospital walls, Summers said.

“The bell ringing is derived from kind of the naval tradition of ringing a ship’s bell at the end of a task that’s been completed,” he said. “It started first in Houston, but has really expanded to hospitals around the country, not just for cancer therapy, but for other types of medical milestones as well.”

For families who reach that finish line, it’s a moment shared with those who helped them get there.

One special guest at Noa’s ceremony was Maximus the Lion, the mascot for the Atlanta Gladiators, an ECHL hockey team. Noa specifically requested her favorite furry friend attend.

“She loves it,” said her father, Lucas Ramirez, of her love for hockey.

“She likes to just yell, scream, and cheer on the craziness. We’re trying to raise a really strong little girl, and I think it’s the perfect sport for her, so she definitely wants to start playing hockey,” he said.

Maximus joined Noa’s family, friends and the hospital staff who helped her through treatment.

“People say that it takes a village to raise a child, and it really took our village to really get us to this point, and that includes the hospital staff here,” Lucas Ramirez said.

Noa has spent so much of her young life coming to the hospital that even on the way to her celebration, she had one question.

“On the way here, she said, ‘Can I get a checkup first?’ So, for us, it was just like, no, not today,” Kaleigh Ramirez said.

There were no checkups, just a bell to ring.

“We were both sitting around saying it hasn’t hit yet, that she’s finally done. It’s one of those magic moments in life,” she said.

The celebrations didn’t stop at the hospital.

Noa, who is also a soccer fan, took part in a separate bell-ringing ceremony at an Atlanta United match the following day, giving her family another chance to celebrate the end of treatment.

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 Tim Caputo

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    MALIBU, California (KABC) — Powerful surf continues to pound Malibu’s coast, turning recent storm erosion into an immediate emergency as crews race to fortify the area.

Churning waves south of Zuma Beach are washing away the shoreline, raising concerns that a portion of Westward Beach Road could fall into the ocean. The popular Sunset Restaurant, which sits along that road, is also being threatened.

Crews are piling giant boulders along the coast to prevent high tide from causing more damage and keep the road from completely collapsing.

“The sand is disappearing, definitely… And the ocean is, I mean these waves… I’ve never seen anything like this after growing up and going to Zuma all the time. I’ve never seen waves this big. It’s crazy,” said Sabrina Pender.

The erosion has also exposed a water main in the area, prompting water service to be shutoff for the restaurant and some nearby homes.

Westward Beach Road is now blocked off for repairs. City officials are monitoring the situation to determine when the road can safely reopen.

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 James Taylor, CBS13 Photojournalist

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — A 29-year-old New York native has spent the past four and a half months walking across the country, and he’s now reached Sacramento with San Francisco as his final destination.

Chantz Rivera began his journey from New York City last May, carrying a backpack and tent as he set out to experience the country on foot.

Rivera said he averages about 20 miles a day, though the journey has required determination and commitment.

“It is a really serious commitment. You have to really be determined and committed highly,” Rivera said.

Before setting out, Rivera worked as a dishwasher in New York. He said he wanted to break away from the routine of working low-wage jobs and experience something a little more exciting.

“Instead of feeling like you’re stuck in your city or your home, at your workplace, I’ll just go out there and live life and see the world,” Rivera said.

Since beginning the trek, Rivera has traveled thousands of miles and gone through four pairs of shoes.

He’s also been documenting his journey through daily social media posts, sharing his experiences and the people he’s met along the way.

Rivera said many people have been generous, offering donations or places to stay overnight.

“Almost everybody I’ve met was so positive and nice and caring. It made me realize how much love people have for one another,” Rivera said.

The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Rivera recalled facing severe thunderstorms in Colorado and said there were times when he questioned whether he could continue.

“In Colorado, there were a lot of thunderstorms. I’m seeing lightning every 5 seconds,” Rivera said.

Despite those difficult moments, Rivera said he has remained committed to reaching the West Coast.

“There’s a couple of times I’ve thought about it, but no, I can’t quit because I’ve still got it in me to keep going,” Rivera said.

Now in Sacramento, Rivera is less than 100 miles from San Francisco, where he plans to finish his cross-country journey by dipping his toes into the Pacific Ocean.

“I can see myself being really excited, and just like wow, I really did it,” Rivera said.

Rivera hopes to reach San Francisco before Halloween. Even before completing his current trek, he’s already considering another ambitious adventure: walking through Europe and into Asia.

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.