Category: CNN Regional

By Riley Nagel

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    BAKERSFIELD, California (KERO) — The Ready Set Back 2 School Health and Wellness Fair returns to the Kern County Museum on Thursday, Aug. 6, with thousands of backpacks and school supplies ready to be given away to families.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Organizers recommend arriving early to get through the line and take advantage of everything the event has to offer.

What began 17 years ago as a small backpack giveaway in a parking lot has grown into one of Kern County’s biggest back-to-school traditions. The event has expanded from a parking lot to Mill Creek Park and now fills the Kern County Museum with more than 90 community partners offering healthcare and dental services, employment resources and school supplies.

Behind the event is months of work by employees with Kern County Child Support Services, who hold fundraisers, collect donations and work alongside community partners to make it possible.

Toni Kendrick, with Kern County Child Support Services, said the staff who raise the money are central to the event’s success.

“They’re the reason why we have the event. They raise all the money to purchase the backpacks. I think it’s rewarding for us,” Kendrick said.

For many employees, seeing children leave with backpacks they helped provide is the most meaningful part of the day.

Antonio Vital said the event gives staff a chance to see the results of their efforts firsthand.

“They can see the fruits of their labor, so to speak, when they’ve been raising funds for a few months and now they get to see the backpacks actually given out to children,” Vital said.

This year, organizers hope to distribute more than 3,000 backpacks along with enough school supplies to help families through the school year. With the cost of back-to-school shopping continuing to climb, organizers say every backpack can make a difference.

“But I hear from the staff that there is a lot of thank-yous. It’s just one last thing they have to buy for the school year,” Kendrick said.

The event is designed to offer more than free backpacks. Dozens of local organizations will be on hand providing health services, employment information and other resources to support families beyond the first day of school.

“This is a very serious job that we have, but this is the one day of the year that we get to actually enjoy and actually serve our community first hand,” Vital said.

Kendrick said the event reflects something larger about the community.

“It’s just, it’s just a wonderful feeling to see us coming together. You know, Kern County is big on giving back to the community, and this is just a small part of that,” Kendrick said.

The Ready Set Back 2 School Health and Wellness Fair takes place Thursday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kern County Museum.

“Enjoy it. Enjoy the event and what we have to offer,” Kendrick said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KERO 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 Brieanna Smith

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    NORTHEAST TALLAHASSEE, Florida (WTXL) — A “little free library” built by preschoolers at Killearn Lakes Preschool is full again after someone stole more than 50 books and threw them in a dumpster just a week after it was installed.

The theft hit especially hard because students built the box themselves during the preschool’s “Construction Week,” painting it and installing it outside.

Students John Paul and Maddox were among those who helped put it together.

“We holded the drill and like helped made it a lot, make it a lot,” Maddox said.

“They chose to throw them away, which I think might even be worse. It makes me feel sad. It makes me feel sad for this small community of Killearn Lakes, because you don’t feel like you live in a place where someone would be willing to do that,” Owner Allison Crawford said.

Crawford says the box was designed to motivate students to read. HeadStart reports that reading at an early age helps kids develop language and supports pre-literacy skills.

“I think that now it’s very hard to get children to be motivated to read, and I think that building something like this gave them a different type of motivation than just sitting down as a chore and having to read,” Crawford said.

However, the community rallied quickly. Crawford said has she received about three boxes of donated books since the theft.

“It feels amazing. We had many, many past families that donated whose children are in middle and high school, and they came by and donated books to the cause, and we have current families that have re-donated books,” Crawford said.

Crawford said the school is now installing security cameras facing the box to prevent future thefts.

As for what the students had to say to whoever took the books:

“No, that’s mine. You can’t take that from me,” John Paul said.

“No, we put those books in there,” Maddox said.

Because of the volume of donations, the school is encouraging the community to start using the box again to cycle through the books and make room for more.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTXL 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 Taylor Locke

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    CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — A man is counting his blessings after live power lines crashed onto his Jeep when another driver struck a utility pole.

Keith Adcock was driving home on Courthouse Road near Richland Road last week when a vehicle veered into a ditch, drove through a neighbor’s front yard and struck a power pole.

The impact brought the lines down directly onto Adcock’s Jeep, trapping him in the middle of the road.

“The cables and everything came right down under my windshield,” Adcock said.

Adcock remained inside his vehicle for about an hour before Dominion crews could deenergize the wires.

“I stayed in my vehicle and the Dominion guy was out there and I said ‘I’m staying in my vehicle and I’m not getting out’ and he goes ‘Good man because those lines are live and you know they will kill you,'” Adcock said.

Adcock says a Dominion worker told him the front bumper on his Jeep may have saved his life by preventing the lines from sliding up over the hood and through the windshield.

“If that bumper wasn’t there it would’ve came up over the hood and went through the windshield…he said it would’ve taken my head off,” Adcock said.

Looking back on the moment the lines came down, Adcock said he put his faith in a higher power.

“I let go of the wheel and tapped on my breaks a little bit and said ‘Jesus take the wheel,'” Adcock said. “Like yeah wow, I mean unbelievable and who else could it happen to, they picked me.”

Adcock’s insurance is covering the cost to repair his Jeep.

He said he hopes his story serves as a reminder to never approach a downed power line and always stay alert while driving.

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 Joi Fultz

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    HENRICO COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — Lucky and Twinky are 1-year-old chickens with plenty of personality — and they’re the faces of a hands-on learning program that has reached thousands of students across Henrico County.

The two chickens were born through the “Hatching at Home” program offered by Henrico 4-H, which brings eggs and incubation equipment directly to classrooms and homes so participants can witness the full life cycle of a chick.

Carter Humphries, who works with the county’s 4-H Youth Development Program, is one of four staff members leading the effort in Henrico.

“I’ll be out and about, they’ll be like, ‘You’re the chicken lady!'” Humphries said.

The program delivers a dozen eggs and all the equipment needed to nurture them to schools across the county. Last year, it reached a significant number of young learners.

“This past year, we reached 13,000 kids just through our in-school hatching program alone. We do chicks, ducks, turkeys, geese, quail,” Humphries said.

The program’s popularity has grown beyond traditional classrooms. It is now available to homeschool families and co-ops as well.

“They would get a rainbow color of eggs for each family, each classroom, different size variations, and as they hatch, they will see the different breeds,” Humphries said.

Humphries said the experience connects to core academic standards and broader development goals.

“It really ties into almost all of the SOLs and just some of those other life skills that kids really we want to see them working on developing,” Humphries said.

The cost to participate is $30, which covers the eggs and equipment rental.

“That covers the cost of our eggs. That also covers the cost for renting the equipment, which includes the incubator,” Humphries said. “It also includes a brooder box, heat plate, feeder water, which is what the chicks will hang out kind of after they hatch.”

Families who do not want to keep the chicks after they hatch can return them to the county to be cared for.

Lucky and Twinky — now regulars at program events — have become ambassadors for what the experience can spark in young learners.

Those interested in hatching a chick at home can visit henrico.gov/extension/4h for more information.

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 Deanna Sipe

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    ROBBINSVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen has accepted Mayor Shaun Adams’ decision to take a three-month leave of absence following his arrest on Monday, August 3.

As previously reported, Adams was arrested on six felony drug charges, including trafficking, as well as misdemeanors for carrying a concealed firearm and drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, August 4, the Board of Alderman met for a scheduled meeting, adding the discussion regarding the mayor to the meeting agenda.

“The board cannot just automatically remove him,” Town of Robbinsville Attorney Amy Merrill said.

During the Mayor’s update at the meeting, Adams stated that he was innocent.

“I would like to say that I’m not guilty of all accusations against me,” Adams said.

Before deliberating on what would happen with Adams, the board held a nearly 30-minute closed session. Coming back out of the closed session, the board announced that Adams would take a three-month leave of absence, during which the mayor pro-tem, Jackie Ayers, would serve.

“Throughout the discussion, the mayor was being very sensitive to the fact that the town needed to have some accountability to the public and he wanted to be able to allow for there to be a distance between him and the board while he works through some of the issues,” Merrill said.

The board also took action to split up Adams’ day-to-day mayoral responsibilities.

“The board truly feels that we have in place the theory ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and that our judicial system is there and is…should be allowed to do its job and let things play out and see what happens and then make any formal decisions,” Merrill said.

Merrill said that only time and the judicial process could tell what would happen when the three-month leave of absence is over.

“A lot of it will depend on whether he’s found guilty or not and then what the charges are. There would have to be some other type of procedure in place,” Merrill said.

Adams’ leave of absence became effective on Tuesday, Aug. 4. His next court date is set for Monday, Aug. 10.

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 Madison Adams

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    HENDERSON COUNTY, North Carolina (WLOS) — Many voters across western North Carolina were surprised to learn Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards announced Wednesday he would not seek reelection, two days after the bipartisan House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured after finding he violated House rules in his interactions with two female staff members.

News 13 asked residents in Hendersonville and Asheville to get their reaction. While some closely follow politics, others said they don’t, and a few weren’t even familiar with Edwards.

Sam Engelhardt, an independent who recently moved to Asheville, said he wishes more people paid attention to local races but understands why many don’t.

“A lot of those elections, people don’t actually really follow,” Engelhardt said. “Sometimes the debates are only online, so you have to seek them out to learn about the candidates.”

Asked who he’d like to see on the ballot, Engelhardt laughed.

“Oh, me,” he said. “I’m more confident in myself than strangers that I don’t know.”

Engelhardt said he knows running for office isn’t easy because candidates often have to compromise to gain support.

“To gain support, a lot of times people end up making compromises in their beliefs,” he said. “It’s hard. You can’t win an election by yourself.”

Tony Varnadore, a Republican in Henderson County, said he was shocked to hear Edwards was ending his campaign.

“I just can’t believe it,” Varnadore said. “He’s such a good guy, and he’s done a lot for Henderson County. I’ve got his phone number. I can call him if I need something or ask him to check into something, and he’d do it.”

He said he got to know Edwards several years ago after working at a boys’ summer camp in Green River that Edwards’ parents operated.

“He grew up in Green River… I worked summer camp for him down there at his camp, and he was just a great guy,” Varnadore said. “He was one of the honest guys that, you know, I can probably count on my right hand how many honest people there are in Washington right now, and I’ve got one finger missing.”

Varnadore said he was skeptical when he heard about the House Ethics Committee’s findings against Edwards.

“My wife told me about it yesterday and said, ‘Did you hear about all that stuff about Chuck?'” Varnadore said. “I said, ‘That’s probably all crap that the Democrats have come up with.'”

Still, Varnadore said it is true, they should be taken seriously. “If anybody ever disrespected my daughters, I’d be upset, very upset.”

He also said he hopes Republican Party leaders choose someone voters can trust.

“I’d like for them to let the voters choose,” Varnador said. “But hopefully we’ve got enough common-sense Republicans who are going to find somebody to replace him who’s going to go with the same agenda that Donald Trump has. He needs all the help he can get.”

Under North Carolina law, the Republican Party’s 11th District Executive Committee, not voters , will choose the GOP nominee to replace Edwards on the November ballot. That’s been the process in North Carolina for more than 100 years when a party nominee drops out after winning the primary.

“Hopefully, there’s somebody the committee can find that would be honest,” Varnadore said. “That’s my big thing, honesty. There’s so many crooked politicians.”

Frank Owenby, a Republican from Henderson County, said he was disappointed to hear Edwards is ending his reelection campaign.

“I know after Helene, we contacted him, and it was like a week or so, we got immediate assistance,” Owenby said. “I’m very disappointed that he’s having to drop out. I think it’s just very unfair.”

Owenby said he questions the timing of the House Ethics Committee investigation against Edwards.

“Well, I feel like if it was very inappropriate, why didn’t it come up earlier?” he said. “Like a lot of the things lately in politics, you can’t keep going back years and years and have someone come up and accuse you of something. I think it’s really getting out of hand, and I hate it’s happening to him.”

Asked whether he would still support Edwards if the allegations proved to be true, Owenby said he would need to see evidence.

“If it was inappropriate, yes,” he said. “But I have my doubts that he’s done anything inappropriate. I’d have to see proof.”

Owenby said he would have preferred for voters, not party leaders, to choose the next Republican nominee.

The voters News 13 spoke with had different perspectives on Edwards and the accusations against him, but they all shared one hope: that whoever ends up on the November ballot will represent western North Carolina well.

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, Nicole Sganga

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A man was arrested near the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles County over the weekend after authorities found ammunition and a gun inside his car, just days before the president’s planned Southern California visit for a Republican National Committee event on Tuesday.

In a news release shared by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies said that plainclothes federal agents reported a suspicious individual on the property at 1 Trump National Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes on Saturday afternoon.

“The individual was observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities,” the release said.

When deputies approached the man, who has been identified as 38-year-old Downey resident Jeanine John Taele, they determined he was already under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department for a separate incident.

“Deputies detained Taele and located his vehicle in a parking lot on the golf course,” the release said. “During the detention, deputies recovered a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition from Taele’s pants pockets.”

While searching his vehicle, deputies said they also recovered a loaded pistol with a round chambered and an additional loaded magazine that also had hollow point ammo. Federal authorities also noted that a pair of binoculars and a badge that read “security protection agent” were also found.

Taele was arrested and booked on charges of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of armor-piercing/prohibited ammunition, deputies said.

“Recognizing the potential security implications surrounding the incident, detectives … obtained and executed a search warrant yesterday afternoon for Taele’s residence,” the release said.

Investigators said an illegally modified AR platform rifle, a 1911 .45 caliber pistol, an AR platform upper receiver, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk pistol and rifle ammunition, two radio signal devices and multiple notebooks containing “concerning statements” were recovered from the home during Monday’s search warrant.

The statements referenced the White House, law enforcement sources told CBS News.

“With respect to this defendant, we do not comment on the specifics of protective intelligence matters,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “However, the U.S. Secret Service thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection.”

Deputies said the investigation is being conducted with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service.

“Additional charges could be added as the investigation continues. Taele remains in custody,” the release said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Law enforcement sources tell CBS News that Taele had initially approached employees at the golf course and falsely identified himself as a U.S. State Department employee who needed to see Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secret Service personnel, who were already on the property to conduct advanced security preparations, were then alerted to Taele’s presence by staff.

Deputies said the case was presented to the LA County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on Tuesday morning. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning.

Sources tell CBS News that Taele has no known prior history with the Secret Service and that he was not on their radar. Investigators said they would be reviewing the material and items recovered from Taele’s home, contacting friends and family members and reconstructing his activities before the arrest in order to determine his intentions.

“With respect to this defendant, we do not comment on the specifics of protective intelligence matters. However, the U.S. Secret Service thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection,” a statement provided to CBS News from USSS said.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said on X that his office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also investigating the incident, and that they would be providing information as soon as possible.

He later said that Taele was also federally charged for the incident, and that he now faces up to 10 years in federal prison after he was charged with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Taele still faces charges in a Los Angeles Superior Court for the incident, Essayli noted.

“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” a statement from Essayli said when federal charges were announced. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”

President Trump was briefly in Southern California on Tuesday for a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner hosted at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course. He departed a little before 9 p.m. as he heads to Las Vegas, Nevada.

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 Stephanie Stahl, Casey Kuhn

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Philadelphia is a city of many medical firsts, including the place where America’s first blind medical student graduated.

Decades ago, Temple University Medical School said yes to a young man who couldn’t see.

Dr. David Hartman, who’s 76 now, was the first blind person to graduate from an American medical school. After many rejections, he said he’ll be eternally grateful to Temple for accepting him.

“It was a dream, something I hoped for,” he said. “I went through one rejection after another.”

Glaucoma robbed Hartman’s vision at age 8.

He graduated in 1976 and went on to become a psychiatrist. He’s helped thousands of people and their families.

“I am so grateful for Temple accepting me, it was truly a miracle, it took a lot of courage,” Hartman said. “It was just an unbelievable experience. I realized my life had changed forever.”

He also met his wife, Cheri, at Temple.

“You just felt the city was excited,” Cheri said about their graduation day. “We are the city that allowed this breakthrough to happen.”

Using dictation, he’s written books, and there was a movie about him called “Journey from Darkness.”

Hartman said blindness forced him to rely on his ears, making him a good listener — an essential asset for his career.

“So much of medicine is listening,” he said, “and psychiatry is all listening.”

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.