Category: CNN Regional

By Donald Fountain

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — From the streets to your screen, an Atlanta-based social media page is spotlighting homeless musicians, turning their everyday struggles into viral music stories.

Dirty Luxury began producing the series in May and quickly starting getting attention online.

“Johnny,” a singer experiencing homelessness who shares his perspective through his music, is one of many entertainers who have been showcased on Dirty Luxury’s Instagram and TikTok.

“I thought we would be entertaining, but the comments saying what we’re doing is God’s work—that’s big,” said Demetrius Worthy, Dirty Luxury’s creative director.

One of their biggest successes featured 1440 Tah, a rapper whose freestyle video in July helped him grow from 2,000 followers to over 100,000 and earn more than $13,000 in a month.

“I felt like it would happen at some point because I already knew it was going to,” said 1440 Tah, reflecting on his viral success.

Dirty Luxury meets talent throughout the city, including Desman Mosley, who became unhoused after the death of his wife and time in jail. Despite these hardships, Mosley maintains his faith and continues pursuing music.

“You gotta make sure you manifest what God wants for you,” Mosley said. “I’m trying to help you see the truth.”

The project has resonated with viewers, many of whom say it has changed how they perceive homelessness.

“They’re saying, ‘I’m thinking about homeless people so differently now,'” Worthy said.

Mosley and others featured in the series now have opportunities to share their music and stories with a wider audience. Fans and supporters can contribute through a Kickstarter campaign set up by Dirty Luxury to support these artists.

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By Demetrios Sanders

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    WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WXYZ) — A Waterford family is turning their backyard into a field of dreams by restoring a historic baseball diamond.

Katie Belliotti has a long history with softball from playing at the collegiate level to coaching.

“I coached at Walled Lake Central, Lake Orion and Kettering. Now, I’m here just to raise my kids and be there for their sports,” Belliotti said.

Earlier this year, she took her passion to the next level when she and her husband were alerted to a house listing that included an entire baseball diamond.

“I had never even heard of it, even though I live in this town. So, I looked at the listing and I called my husband and I was like we have to look at this house, we have to buy it. We weren’t even looking for a house,” Belliotti said.

The property came with Freehan Field, a baseball diamond that has been around since 1972. According to Belliotti, it was built by a Waterford police officer with help from former Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Freehan.

However, over recent years, the field had fallen into decay and hadn’t been used for many sports.

“This was all grass and overgrown,” Belliotti said.

Now, Belliotti is working hard to restore the field including chopping down tall grass, raising money for a new backstop and fixing the scoreboard. She plans to make it the home of her daughter’s team, the Lady Outlaws.

“So many coaches and different organizations, they guard their fields like nobody can play on here and they lock them up tight and they don’t let kids play, and that’s all they want to do is play softball or baseball,” she said.

She also envisions the field being accessible to the entire community, opening it up and renting it to other teams for a fraction of what other fields may cost.

“We can rent the field out to them for 50, 60 dollars comparable to 100, 200 dollars that other fields charge,” Belliotti said.

One local parent, Lynn Koyl, says her father played at Freehan Field and she’s glad her daughter has that same opportunity.

“Harper is really excited to continue the legacy and hopefully pitch on the field he pitched on as well,” Koyl said. “Who could’ve dreamed of this.”

Belliotti’s niece, Marjorie Zizelman, a softball player herself, says when she first saw the diamond in her aunt’s backyard, she could only imagine its impact.

“I could see the potential it had and just the opportunities it’s going to make for all the kids in the area,” Zizelman said.

To support the restoration efforts at Freehan Field, a GoFundMe has been created has been created.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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By Kyle Langellier

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    NEENAH, Wisconsin (WGBA) — Over 2,000 runners from across the country participated in the Fox Cities Marathon Sunday morning, but one couple’s finish was particularly memorable.

Drew Scott, a technology education high school teacher from La Crosse, Wisconsin, ran his first marathon with a very specific goal in mind. Scott ran alongside his girlfriend, Vanessa Kuenzi, a nurse at UW Health in Madison.

“This is my first marathon, and I really only did the marathon with this goal in mind,” Scott said.

Scott’s goal wasn’t just to finish the 26.2-mile race. Right before crossing the finish line, he faked a knee injury, dropped to one knee, and proposed to Kuenzi.

“He pulled out the ring, and I was speechless. I had no idea. My mind went blank and then I thought this is the perfect spot to do this,” Kuenzi said.

Kuenzi, who is from Neenah, was completing her third marathon Sunday.

“No man would run 26 miles for me, except for him,” Kuenzi said.

Scott said he trained for months specifically for this proposal moment.

“I knew that moment at the end would be worth all the pain I went through,” Scott said.

The couple met three years ago at a festival in Wisconsin, where Scott asked Kuenzi to dance. After years of dating and months of marathon training, they are now engaged.

“She makes me a better person, I’m so excited for our future because I know she’ll be an amazing wife and one day, an amazing mom,” Scott said.

Scott’s brother, Quintin, played a crucial role in the surprise proposal. Quintin ran the half marathon and handed the engagement ring to his brother at mile 17.

“My job was big,” Quintin Scott said.

“It was electric. He kept it a surprise for everyone, so there wasn’t too many people who knew,” Quintin Scott said.

Almost everyone in Kuenzi’s family was surprised by the proposal.

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By Maggy Wolanske

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    EVERGREEN, Colorado (KMGH) — The Clarkson triplets describe this time as a sad summer break, as classes at Evergreen High School have been canceled after a student opened fire at the school on September 10 and injured two classmates. This week, faculty and students will return to the high school with opportunities as part of the gradual return.

Last week, a survey was sent to students, parents and staff about the return-to-school plan, with 85% of students participating in the feedback. A letter was sent to the community on Friday, with Evergreen High School Principal Dr. Skyler Artes sharing an upcoming schedule with faculty returning on Monday, September 22. Half-days scheduled for students on Thursday, September 25, and Friday, September 26.

Denver7 listened to how Katie, Bella and Hailey Clarkson were feeling about this decision. They are triplets and sophomores at Evergreen High School. The girls were also in the same classroom when the shooting happened and have since been processing what happened that day.

“It’s really traumatic to think about. Every time I think about being stuck in the classroom, I think about the moments when I heard the first gunshot. It just like it keeps replaying in your head like, ‘what could I have done differently?'” Katie Clarkson said.

The Clarkson triplets said they were in the classroom for 44 minutes. Dduring that time, Bella was able to Facetime their mom for comfort. She said the comfort provided over the phone helped her during this scary time.

“I’ll always remember my mom on that FaceTime call and trying to keep me as calm as possible, and her telling me that I’m safe and I’m okay, and to take a deep breath because she kept me from freaking out,” Bella Clarkson said.

Hailey also used her phone to reach out to loved ones, saying she ‘thought I was going to die’ and wanted to say how thankful she was for them. Now, she is processing what happened and preparing for the return to school.

“I think the school is doing an amazing job at having those half days for us, to start going back to school, and so I think with the upcoming week, I think we can go back to school, not much like start assignments, but definitely go back into the routine of going to school,” Hailey Clarkson said.

Each triplet has different reactions to the return. Katie knows that class will have to start back up, but she said she’s scared it will make her remember all that happened the day of the shooting.

“Especially when it becomes lunchtime again, I can’t imagine how that’s going to be,” Katie Clarkson said. “Like me personally, I just think that’s going to make me relive everything.”

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Denver7 that Evergreen High School will have a full-time school resource officer on campus. There will also be a full-time armed JeffCo safety and security officer, which Bella referenced when asked about going back to school.

“I feel safe going back to school because the police station is really close by us, and they’re going to have like an armed security guard and all that stuff,” Bella Clarkson said.

The triplets also shared their nerves about focusing on schoolwork and what classwork will look like moving forward. Their mother, Annie Clarkson, said this time is a ‘roller coster of emotions’ and taking it moment by moment.

“They are scared, understandably. I think they also understand that going back to school is going to start the process of healing for that, so I think that I know they’re going to be okay, but it’s going to take some time. It is going to be a long process,” Annie Clarkson said.

Now, there is a reminder on the triplets’ wrists of the strength they each have moving forward. Each one wore a bracelet in their favorite color with the words ‘forever and always.’

“When they go back to school, they can wear the bracelets and look down and remember, like, we got this as a family. We got this. We’re there for each other. We support each other. We love each other. Remind them that they’re very loved forever and always,” Annie Clarkson said.

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By Jesse Zanger, Zinnia Maldonado

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    New York (WCBS, WLNY) — A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was shot in the head Monday morning in Queens.

NYPD said the teenager was shot in the parking lot outside a Dunkin’ at a strip mall on Linden Boulevard and Springfield in Cambria Heights.

He was rushed to Northwell-Cohen Children’s Medical Center in critical condition after the shooting at around 8:20 a.m., police said.

The area in front of the Dunkin’, between a pharmacy and U-Haul location, remained blocked off by the large police presence. Multiple people said students from nearby Andrew Jackson High School tend to hang out in the area before and after school.

“I heard a pop, about 8-something in the morning, and then I looked and I see all the kids. I see some kids running down the block,” witness Ronald Blain said.

“I’ve been living in this neighborhood, this community, for 20 years and the fact that my son is not safe walking to school or my children overall are not safe walking to school, is a problem,” resident Xavier Ezell said.

Investigators said it was unclear what led to the shooting or if the boy was the intended target.

So far, no arrests have been made.

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By WLOS Staff

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    HENDERSONVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — Community members took a long walk for a good cause, including someone who has been participating in the walk for more than two decades.

Jack Fitzgerald moved to Hendersonville almost 30 years ago.

For the past 25 years, Fitzgerald has taken part in the annual Hunger Walk, put on by the Henderson County Hunger Coalition.

Fitzgerald has walked over 12,000 miles during his time in western North Carolina.

Fitzgerald is also 92 years old and still going for a stroll.

News 13 talked to Fitzgerald to see why he keeps lacing up his shoes year in and year out.

“It’s such a good cause. It’s such a good time of the year. It’s great – you’re going to feel good after you hike either one mile. I used to do ten miles,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald has also volunteered with trail maintenance groups during his time in western North Carolina.

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By Jazmon DeJarnette

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    SALINAS, California (KSBW) — Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling fungus from soil and dirt in certain areas of California, is rising in Monterey County, affecting residents like Lidia Paramo, who has been battling the illness since September of last year.

What began as a routine trip to visit her brother turned into a long health journey for Paramo.

On the way back from that trip, both she and her son fell ill. While her son recovered, Paramo did not.

She underwent numerous diagnoses, ranging from pneumonia to stage 4 cancer.

“That was my reality. For a week, I thought I had stage four cancer. We didn’t know where it was coming from. We didn’t know what was happening. We just didn’t know. I have a young son. He just turned three and just everything that goes through your mind is so scary,” Paramo said.

After continuous misdiagnoses and another trip to the emergency room, Paramo experienced a breakthrough.

“My surgeon comes in and she’s running through the hallways. She’s like, yelling. It’s not cancer. It’s not cancer. She comes in and she’s like, it’s just some, like, some valley fever. And we just, like, we were all crying. Just hugging, just really celebrating,” she said.

However, the relief was short-lived as the fever had disseminated throughout her body due to the delayed diagnosis.

Paramo described her daily struggle: “It looks like a lot of crying. Just being in a lot of pain. It looks like not being able to carry my son right now. You know, I went from going on hikes, going to the beach, doing water activities to now walking from here to my car. That’s a workout.”

“My son is only with me. I’ve struggled a lot with daycare and just things like that. So it’s trying to find out, like, who’s going to take care of my son while I do this,” Paramo added.

The Monterey County Health Department has provided guidance on reducing exposure risk, especially in a region closely tied to agriculture.

“If you do need to be outdoors and it’s dusty and windy, people can choose to wear a well-fitted face covering,” they advised.

Signs of valley fever include increased coughing, shortness of breath, and fever.

Paramo emphasized the importance of understanding others’ struggles: “I don’t look sick. However, just because I don’t look sick doesn’t mean that I’m not. It doesn’t mean that my day isn’t just trying to survive.”

For those experiencing symptoms, it is crucial to visit a doctor promptly.

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