Category: CNN Regional

By Lane Casadonte

Click here for updates on this story

    CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — 9-year-old Jaiyon Taylor of Prince George has qualified for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Nationals, ranking as one of the top 12 riders in the country for her age group.

Jaiyon trains at the Redbird Equestrian Riding School in Chesterfield with her horse, Nymeria. She competes in dressage, an Olympic sport with origins in Greek military training from the fifth century BC.

“The whole purpose of dressage is to form a basis of harmony between horse and rider,” said Ingrid Patel, owner of Redbird Equestrian. “At the Olympic level, you see it explained a lot as horse ballet.”

Jaiyon’s love for horses started early — she first rode at age 2. Initially, her parents wanted her to try a cheaper alternative.

“We brought her a power wheel horse. That was her first horse … she’s tried a bunch of different sports, but her love for horses and her wanting to ride never went away. So I was like, let me just go for it, and here we are,” said Jamekia Taylor, Jaiyon’s mother. “I didn’t want to put a lot of money into something that she wasn’t going to be good at, but she’s actually really good at it. So once I saw that she was really good at it, I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s just go for it.'”

As a 70-pound fourth grader, Jaiyon has mastered making a horse weighing more than half a ton do exactly what she wants.

“You use your leg muscles to squeeze, and that’s how she can take off. Or you can use your hand gesture to make it take off,” Jaiyon said.

While there is no racing or jumping in dressage, riders must still control an animal with a mind of its own.

“It’s kind of easy, but it’s kind of hard at the same time,” Jaiyon said. “Because you have to figure out how to do it right and not make it go wrong so she won’t take off on you and you get hurt.”

Patel praised Jaiyon’s ability to focus during her rides.

“If you’re thinking about all of the things that can go wrong, all of those things are going to happen. If you’re scared that the horse is gonna go faster, yes, that horse is gonna go faster. But if you’re listening to your coach, and you have the ability to zone in in the moment, that’s where I was really surprised by her,” Patel said.

Getting hurt is a possibility Jamekia deals with each time her daughter gets on a horse.

“A lot of the parents gave me a lot of reassurance that she’ll be fine, and even if she does fall, she’ll get back up, because kids are more resilient than we are as old people,” Jamekia said. “I trust Jaiyon, I trust her, and I know if something’s bothering her or she’s not comfortable, she’ll tell me.”

Patel started Redbird Equestrian five years ago to give more people the opportunity to experience equestrian sports.

“My whole goal in starting this place was to open up accessibility and having equestrian experiences to as many people as possible. So I really wanted to be available to a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds,” Patel said.

Jaiyon will head to Nationals later this month. Her horse will not be traveling with her, as all riders who reach this level must ride an unfamiliar horse to keep the playing field level.

“When she won regionals, I cried, like, the ugly cry, because I just felt like, really, this is my baby. My daughter is doing this,” Jamekia said. “Also by her being an African American rider who is in a very low percentile, she has inspired other girls that look like her to ride now. And that’s just amazing. I just feel like it’s an amazing thing. I’m proud of her.”

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.

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 Barrett Tryon

Click here for updates on this story

    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — High gas prices are hitting drivers at the pump, but the pain is also being felt at the marina as boaters hit the water for the Easter holiday weekend.

Fuel prices for boats are typically higher than what people put in their cars. However, it is a lot tougher to tell the difference these days.

A lot of the rental shops talked to Tampa Bay 28 on Saturday and said the same thing: prices have not stopped people from coming in. But they all agreed they are watching gas prices closely and said their own prices will go up if they cannot catch a break soon.

Garrett Sherman is a dockmaster at the Riverwalk in Tampa. He is the first and last person people see as they dock downtown.

“I get to work in this nice weather. I get to view all of these beautiful boats,” Sherman said.

He explained that people show up at all times of the day, which means he hears a lot about how much it costs to top off the tank.

“There’s a common acronym when you own a boat, which is B-O-A-T, bring out another thousand,” Sherman joked.

Visitor Brad Gordee experienced the rising costs firsthand when planning his family vacation.

“I booked this trip for my daughter’s 18th birthday like two months ago, and the captain on the boat was kind of like, ‘oh, you know, I don’t know if I should charge you guys a surcharge for fuel or not,'” Gordee said.

Even with surcharges and pricier trips to the pump, the costs do not appear to be stopping boaters from enjoying the water.

“You need it. You have to have it. If it’s expensive, it’s going to put a dent into the old bank account. It’s too bad. Hopefully they get lower,” visitor Kirk Olimb said.

Prices no one can seem to motor away from — whether it’s by land or sea.

“Whether they’re out there boating, they’re not really thinking about it. They’re just thinking about I’m out here for a fun day,” Sherman said.

This story was reported on air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WFTS 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 Megan Matthews

Click here for updates on this story

    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A new app called “Too Good To Go” has launched in Louisville.

The app aims to reduce food waste by allowing customers to purchase unsold food from local restaurants at a discount.

Every day, hundreds of pounds of food are thrown out from Louisville restaurants because it didn’t sell throughout the day. Now, that extra food can go to consumers instead of in the trash.

The app has already partnered with several community favorites like the Macaron Bar, Barry Bagels, and Soupy’s.

“Over the time that we’ve been in the city, we’ve actually already saved over 13,000 meals from going to waste,” said Allie Denburg, with Too Good to Go.

Barry Bagels is one of the main restaurants seeing that impact, saying before the app, they were throwing away close to six dozen bagels a day.

“I really hate wasting all of these bagels when someone could be eating them. So it was really nice to see that there was a nice balance between being able to keep our product flowing with money and then also keeping people fed with just things,” said Chance Kauer, manager of Barry Bagels.

Some businesses like Soupy’s, which has been in the area for decades, are using it to offer sampler packs and attract new customers.

“We’ve sold out every day. So, if you see it on there, hurry up and get it, because it goes quick,” said Kyle Byerly, part-owner of Soupy’s.

The app is simple to use. Customers can download it from their respective app store, browse a map of nearby options to choose from, place an order and pick it up during a designated time frame.

Denburg said waste is inevitable in the food industry, but Too Good to Go offers business owners a solution.

“There’s always going to be some surplus in the business model unless, you know, they bake less and end up losing out on potential income. So generally they’re overbaking, needing to throw things out. And this is a way that they can make sure that they don’t really have to throw out anything and can help save that food from going away,” said Denburg.

The end result is a win-win-win. Businesses make back revenue, customers save money, and less food goes to waste.

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 Jacob Murphy

Click here for updates on this story

    BRUNSWICK, Maine (WMTW) — As of Thursday afternoon, AAA says average diesel prices have risen to $5.90, more than a dollar up from what it was last month. While fuel costs are impacting everyone, it’s also having major impacts on Maine’s ocean economy.

“We fuel up every single day, multiple times a day,” said Kelly Punch with Mere Point Oyster Farmers.

The company owns multiple boats that oftentimes see eight hours a day on the water between harvesting oysters and running farm tours.

Punch said that typically, as fuel prices fluctuate, they absorb those costs, rather than putting them on customers. The issue now is the uncertainty as to when they will come back down.

“Having that lack of stability with fuel prices, I mean, prices for everything but fuel, especially, it’s been very stressful for us,” she said.

It’s not only the cost of taking boats out on the water. Ground transportation to move their oysters is more expensive, and equipment is getting more expensive as the price of plastic increases. Punch said trying to absorb all of it isn’t sustainable.

The Maine Lobsterman’s Association spoke with Maine’s Total Coverage and says lobstermen have also been feeling that pain at the pump, but it hasn’t hurt them too badly since the industry doesn’t start picking back up until May. The concern would be if prices don’t come back down until then.

If fuel prices don’t drop, that could eventually mean prices getting passed on to customers this summer.

“We’re working really hard to produce a quality oyster and to be able to afford people the luxury of a beautiful farm tour,” Punch said. “But as costs rise and our revenue decreases, it makes it increasingly hard to provide that experience.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Maine produces the majority of lobsters for the entirety of the U.S., along with being a major oyster supplier. Affording transportation costs to other states could also factor into pricing.

“Fish markets are feeling it, processors are feeling it, restaurants are feeling it. With the cost of our operations going up, eventually the cost of seafood will go up. The cost of all food will go up,” Punch 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 David Jones

Click here for updates on this story

    ST. CLOUD, Florida (WESH) — An Army veteran from Osceola County finally received the help he’s been waiting years for in the form of a kidney donation.

Retired MSgt. Owen McCurty, who lives in St. Cloud, was profiled in a November story on WESH 2 as he sought to raise awareness of his situation: high creatinine levels in his kidneys, kidney disease and the need for eventual dialysis.

After retiring from the Army in 2003, he said his issues progressively got worse until he had to be put on Advent Health’s donor list more than six years ago.

“Someone stepping forward to integrate themselves in my journey and giving me something, it would mean the world to me,” McCurty said back in November.

The story aired, and he said messages began coming in from around the country as the story had been picked up by affiliate stations.

Soon, he would meet his kidney match: a woman from Dallas, Texas.

“She Facebooked me first, we talked several times, and she decided to move forward,” McCurty told WESH 2 on Sunday.

“Just like any surgeries, I’m just going through some pain and just a little uncomfortable now, but I’m truly blessed.”

He said her surgery took two-and-a-half hours and his took five-and-a-half hours.

“The coverage you guys did, the news story, the way you laid it out, a lot of times, when people need something, it’s very difficult to get the word out,” McCurty said. “You’ll be amazed, sometimes when people hear your story, the way it’s presented, deep down inside of them, they want to help. That’s exactly what happened to me.”

Now, he said he hopes his story will inspire others to become donors, and he said it’s his hope that stories like his will continue to be highlighted.

“I really strongly believe if you hadn’t done the story, I wouldn’t be in the situation I am today,” McCurty 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 Gail Paschall-Brown

Click here for updates on this story

    CENTRAL FLORIDA (WESH) — Central Florida students are getting ready for prom season, and many families will spend hundreds of dollars per student on tickets, transportation, and attire.

However, one organization is helping students with free prom attire and accessories.

The average prom dress can cost $150 to $300, and tuxedo rentals can be as much as $200 or more, especially for designer options.

26Health, a nonprofit health care organization, aims to make prom fun and not frustrating by offering free attire and accessories.

Joanne LaComb is a mother on a mission, searching for special prom attire for her son and daughter at “Operation Prom” on Magnolia Avenue in Orlando.

“You know prom suits are so expensive. It’s $111 for a ticket for a prom. Imagine buying a couple hundred suits, you want to make sure your kids look snazzy. They don’t want to go without looking like a nice suit. It’s such a blessing. I’m so grateful for it,” George LaComb, a student at Lake Buena Vista High School, said.

She found a prom dress for her daughter, Elizabeth and FaceTimed her son George to ensure his suit was just what he wanted.

“Without this, I don’t think I would have had a prom suit, or at least a nice one for our prom. So I’m really grateful that my mom was able to get me a suit and I’m able to go wear something nice to our prom,” LaComb said.

April 11 is LaComb’s prom at Lake Buena Vista High School, and it is also Derrion Bivins’ prom at Evans High School.

“Actually, it’s crazy, I wasn’t going to go to prom because I couldn’t afford a suit, so like an hour or two, it came in my email, ‘Oh, mom, I can go, you just got to buy the ticket.’ I can go. It’s like, yeah, we was happy,” Bivins said. “That’s great because the tickets are expensive. Yeah, it’s $130 per person.”

A social media request went out, and 26Health employees and partners donated 325 items for this effort.

“We believe in giving back to the community, so this was a brainchild of our staff, and they wanted to be able to do something for individuals who may not have had the funds to participate in prom,” Latrice Stewart, 26 Health president and CEO, said.

Thanks to the generosity of others, all the students will look fabulous at their proms. This is 26Health’s first year doing this, and the CEO said it has been an incredible experience because giving back is what they do.

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 Muhammad Abdul Qawee

Click here for updates on this story

    BOCA GRANDE, Florida (WBBH) — Leah Lendel, who survived a shark attack at Boca Grande nearly a year ago, has returned to the site as part of her healing process.

“It’s kind of like healing for me to come over here, because seeing this happen to me and sometimes I even forget I got a shark bite,” Lendel said.

Leah was nine years old when a shark nearly tore off her arm while snorkeling off the coast of Boca Grande. Despite the traumatic experience, Leah has shown remarkable resilience and fearlessness.

“I already went through all the hard stuff already. Like, there’s nothing more hard for me now,” Leah said.

The attack occurred 10 months ago, and Leah still vividly remembers the moment.

“You see, like, the black stuff in the water? That’s where he was,” Leah said.

First responders and nearby construction workers rushed to help save her life, and surgeons were able to reattach her hand. Leah is still working to regain her strength.

“I can’t really play piano now, and I can’t pick up more than 8 pounds, but me and my therapist are working for me to get my wrist strength back,” Leah said.

Leah’s mother, Nadia Lendel, explained that they often visit the beach on Boca Grande and considers the area where the attack happened a healing area.

“We come out here often for her request, to just sit, you know, and remember what happened, but also, that it’s such a great outcome for her. We have her, you know, she’s alive,” Nadia said.

Nadia expressed her pride in her daughter’s recovery after surviving the shark attack.

“We thought, you know, it’s going to be 100% amputation. And so that we were just praying. Of course, we, you know, we were hoping. But when you see something this bad, you just understand reality hits. You’re like, this is what it is,” Nadia said.

Despite the traumatic experience, Leah dreams of getting a snorkeling license, and Nadia is nervous but supportive.

“She’s not afraid. She’s fearless,” Nadia said.

Leah wants people to stay aware in the water and not be afraid of sharks.

“It’s really rare the sharks even attack a person and I would recommend not swimming in murky water,” Leah 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 Dean Fioresi

Click here for updates on this story

    LONG BEACH, California (KCAL, KCBS) — An investigation is underway in Long Beach after a family discovered possible human remains during an Easter egg hunt in the area near DeForest Park and Wetlands on Sunday afternoon, according to police.

Officers told CBS LA that they were called to the 5900 block of De Forest Avenue at around 5 p.m. upon learning of the discovery.

“Due to the circumstances, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office is responding to the scene,” police said.

Family members told CBS LA off-camera that what appeared to be the human skull and other bones of a small child were discovered in the middle of their holiday tradition while children were looking for Easter eggs.

Aerial footage shows several brightly-colored eggs on the path near what looked to be a partially-excavated skull in the ground. Two officers were seen covering the object with a canopy.

“At first we saw the family there, doing like an Easter egg hunt, but they were freaking out a little bit,” said Marc Zaldana, who was walking along the path when he encountered the children in what he said were the moments after the disturbing discovery was made. “I can only imagine, like for them, finding a dead, another kid. Must be tragic for them.”

As the investigation continues, police said that details would remain limited. Long Beach police officers were still on the scene as of 10 p.m. Saturday night.

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 Holly Santman, Christa Swanson

Click here for updates on this story

    WINDSOR, Colorado (KCNC) — The Easter holiday wouldn’t be complete without an egg hunt, and one church in Northern Colorado has a unique way to celebrate.

A helicopter came out to drop 6,000 eggs over the church yard at Zeal City Church in Windsor. The eggs were dropped during two Easter events, and then the kids could hunt for them and collect the candy inside.

“We’re celebrating Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we really wanted to bless our community and not just give them a sermon, but something to make them memories with their families and friends,” said Lead Pastor Jeremy Cleveland. “And so, we’ve had the helicopter out here for two services dropping over 6,000 eggs. Just celebrating Jesus at Zeal City Church.”

Jeremy Cleveland said he and his wife, Brittany Cleveland, wanted to do something creative and unique for their community.

They said hundreds of families attended Sunday’s services and egg hunts.

“The kids are enjoying it, loving it, parents are having a great time. It’s been awesome,” said Brittany Cleveland.

This is the second year the church has put on the Helicopter Egg Drop, and they hope to continue it in the future. The Clevelands said they want to be creative with their Easter service and bless their community.

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.