Category: CNN Regional

By Mike Holden

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    LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WEWS) — The City of Lakewood is making it easier for businesses to offer gender-neutral, single-user restrooms through a new voluntary program approved by City Council.

The resolution, which passed unanimously, allows businesses to convert existing single-user men’s or women’s restrooms into all-gender restrooms.

City leaders say participating businesses can also receive restroom signage at no or reduced cost.

Officials stress the program is entirely optional.

“This is not a mandate,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Cindy Strebig said. “People are just like, ‘Well, that makes sense.’ It’s easy. It’s not a controversial thing here.”

Strebig sponsored the resolution, saying the goal is to improve accessibility while giving business owners more flexibility.

She said the effort was supported immensely by members of the Lakewood Youth Council, who highlighted how all-gender, single-user restrooms can benefit LGBTQ+ individuals, parents with children of the opposite sex, caregivers and others who may need assistance.

The city says businesses with eligible single-user restrooms can opt into the program, and officials will help guide them through the signage process.

Some Lakewood businesses have embraced the concept.

At Cleveland Vegan on Detroit Avenue, co-owner Laura Ross said the restaurant has offered gender-neutral, single-user restrooms since it opened more than a decade ago.

“We always felt just keep it very simple,” Ross said. “It’s just a basic everyday thing to use the restroom.”

Ross believes the approach reflects the welcoming atmosphere she hopes customers experience when they visit.

“I mean, that absolutely all are welcome,” Ross said. “I think it’s a testament.”

Some residents who spoke with News 5 also supported the change, provided it doesn’t create an unnecessary financial burden for small businesses.

“I think it’s fine, as long as it’s done in a way that doesn’t burden small businesses financially,” Lakewood resident Chuck Greanoff said. “I think something that’s more accessible to everybody is good.”

Another resident, Zandra Mannion, said the change could help families.

“I myself have a grandson who would benefit from that and not worry about whether it’s for women or men,” she said.

Strebig said she reviewed similar programs in other communities, including Cincinnati, before introducing the resolution in Lakewood.

City officials are now accepting interest from businesses that want to participate in the voluntary program.

Strebig says interested businesses should contact the mayor’s office for additional guidance and ways to participate in the program.

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 Joshua Sidorowicz

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — When Marisa Penate bought a brand-new Toyota Sienna, she says safety was her top priority.

The grandmother from Mount Airy in Philadelphia paid more than $63,000 in cash for the vehicle using retirement savings. She needed a minivan large enough to transport her four young grandchildren.

“The most important thing, I bought it because it was safe,” Penate said.

Months later, Penate says that sense of security disappeared when a recall notice arrived from Toyota.

Penate purchased the 2025 Toyota Sienna last March.

In December, Toyota notified owners of certain 2025 Sienna vehicles that second-row seat rails may have been improperly welded. The recall notice warned that in certain high-speed crashes, the seats could lose structural integrity, increasing the risk of injury.

Penate says she immediately thought about her grandchildren, who regularly rode in those seats.

“Panic! I said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been driving my little babies,” she said.

The recall notice also included a recommendation from Toyota until repairs could be completed.

“The warning says, ‘no one sit in or use a child restraint in the second row … until the remedy is performed on the vehicle,'” Penate said while reading from the notice.

Toyota informed owners that dealers would replace the affected seat rails at no cost once parts became available.

Penate says when she brought her Sienna to the dealership, she learned there was another problem.

There was no repair available yet.

Attorney Bob Silverman, who now represents Penate, says situations like this have become increasingly common across the auto industry.

“You’ve got these recalls, ‘hey your car’s unsafe but we can’t fix it,'” Silverman said. “That’s crazy.”

Consumer Reports has found millions of vehicles are recalled each year before a remedy is ready, leaving some consumers waiting weeks, months, or even years for repairs.

Penate told CBS News Philadelphia her Sienna remained out of service for 102 days while waiting for replacement parts and repairs.

She was provided with a loaner vehicle during that time.

Penate filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas alleging the vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Pennsylvania law because it was out of service for more than 30 days due to a warranty-related defect.

Lemon laws are different in every state.

Penate is asking Toyota to buy back the vehicle and refund the purchase price, along with other damages and attorney fees.

Court filings show she initially tried to work directly with Toyota to resolve the issue, including seeking a trade-in or buyback. When those efforts failed, she filed suit.

Toyota declined to address the allegations.

A spokesperson told CBS News Philadelphia the automaker can’t comment on pending litigation.

Silverman says consumers should not ignore recall notices, especially when safety concerns are involved.

“Read those recalls carefully,” he said. “You should immediately contact the manufacturer and the dealer and say, ‘fix my car, and if you can’t, put me in a safe car while I’m waiting,’ and document everything.”

He advises drivers to keep:

Repair orders Emails Text messages Recall notices Records of conversations with dealers or manufacturers That documentation, he says, can become crucial if a dispute develops later.

For Penate, the case is about more than a vehicle.

“You have rights,” she said. “You have rights, and you need to exercise them.”

If your vehicle is recalled and a repair is not immediately available:

Read the recall notice carefully Ask the dealer for written documentation Request a loaner vehicle if safety is a concern Save every repair order, email and text message Keep records of all communications with the manufacturer and dealership

Consumer advocates say those records can make a significant difference if a warranty, recall or Lemon Law dispute later arises.

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 Ryan Hughes

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    HADDON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (KYW) — The “Skip the Stuff” law went into effect in New Jersey on Saturday.

At the Haddon Diner in Haddon Township, Jose Lopez was working the window to help pack takeout orders, and for years he says he’s always thrown extra items inside the bag.

“Automatically, we always put silverware in the bags and ketchups, syrups, and other condiments,” Lopez said.

Starting Saturday, Lopez no longer has to include single-use plastic utensils, napkins, or condiments. Now, customers must request them. It’s a change he says will take some getting used to.

“I don’t think a lot of people will know about the law at the beginning and maybe there is going to be some conflictions between them and us,” he said.

Officials say the goal is to reduce unnecessary plastic waste and help keep it out of landfills while also minimizing litter. The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association says businesses will also benefit.

“It can certainly save them money in the long run, most of our restaurants have been moving toward a more sustainable approach already,” said Amanda Stone, Vice President of Public Affairs.

Under the law, mobile orders will also not include utensils or condiments unless you check a box requesting them.

Kathleen Burns thinks the law is a great idea.

“I can’t stand the waste that comes with those utensils, which I can’t ever remember using, so in my pantry I have a giant bag of these utensils,” Burns said.

Derrick Williams called the change awful.

“Because I’m not going to always remember to ask for condiments or a fork and if I’m going somewhere where I need to eat quick, then I don’t have what I need,” Williams said.

Like it or not, New Jersey will issue warnings to businesses that don’t comply, with violations and fines to follow.

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 Andrew Ramos

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A New York City protester claims she was pepper-sprayed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and she’s now planning to file a lawsuit.

Linda Wolff, 72, says the incident unfolded Thursday when masked ICE agents were trying to get their disabled vehicle towed in Inwood. She says she joined demonstrators, screaming at the agents to leave the neighborhood.

“I said to the tow truck driver, ‘You know, you should be ashamed of yourself, working for ICE,’ and he got crazy,” Wolff said. “The ICE guys came over, and they just Maced me.”

Video shows Wolff on the sidewalk, filming the agents with her phone, as an agent approaches her and sprays pepper spray toward her head.

In the video Wolff filmed herself, an agent tells her to back up, then sprays her with the pepper spray at close range.

Wolff can later be heard saying, “Well, you just Maced me.”

“I’m gonna do it again,” the agent responds.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBS News New York in a statement, in part: “At the time in question, a group of individuals swarmed, became combative and verbally assaultive, and refused to move out of the way, in an effort to obstruct law enforcement, a federal crime. Law enforcement provided ample notice to these individuals to clear the street and used appropriate measures.”

Days later, Wolff says she’s still recovering from the effects of the pepper spray.

“My eyes, they’re burning, and so they’re very sensitive to the light,” she said.

Wolff tells us she is now pursuing legal action.

“It’s in the Constitution,” she said. “I can stand on the sidewalk and protest.”

“You do have a legal, constitutional right to film federal officers, especially in public spaces like that,” public interest attorney Kaivan Shroff said. “You don’t have the right to interfere or obstruct a law enforcement action. It’s very clear she wasn’t doing that from the video.”

Despite the fallout from the incident, she says she has no plans on slowing down her work of protesting and exercising her First Amendment right.

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 Lynne Keenum

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    TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (WVTM) — The funeral for Tuscaloosa County teen Will Roberts, whose courageous battle with stage 4 bone cancer inspired supporters around the world, was held Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Roberts, 15, of Ralph, died July 23 at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego after an 18-month battle with stage 4 osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

His journey drew national attention after his video went viral on social media in which he asked for help accessing an experimental treatment. Thousands of people across Alabama and beyond followed his story, donated to his care and prayed for his recovery.

Even after losing a leg to cancer, Roberts continued to encourage others with his faith, optimism and determination.

On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed Aug. 1 as Will Roberts Day in Alabama, honoring the teenager’s bravery and the inspiration he provided throughout his fight against cancer. “Alabama is remembering Will as a brave young man whose courage inspired us all,” said Ivey. “He inspired me, and he inspired us all.”

Roberts was the son of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation Capt. Jason Roberts and his wife, Brittney. He is also survived by his younger sister, Charlie.

Public visitation was held Saturday morning followed by the funeral service at noon at Shelton State Community College Gymnasium, 9500 Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa. Burial is at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Ralph.

Magnolia Chapel South Funeral Home livestreamed the service for those unable to attend in person.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to organizations supporting childhood cancer research and families facing pediatric cancer: Aveni Foundation or Beats the Odds Sarcoma.

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 Rachel Williams, Malcolm ShieldsEmail

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    BIMINI (WPBF) — A rescue boat operator in Jupiter ensured all 10 aboard a seaplane that crashed near a resort in North Bimini, Bahamas, were safely evacuated.

A 2014 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft was nearly overturned when officers arrived at the scene around 10 a.m. Saturday.

Nick Pavlakis, general manager of Marine Max in Jupiter and a rescue boat operator, witnessed the crash and quickly took action to help the eight passengers and two crew members on board.

“Right as I tied up from getting fuel, we heard some panicking people waving, and then we saw the seaplane drifting, so I thought, ‘Okay, the plane lost power, the plane is drifting,’ and I grabbed the four closest guys I had to me, a couple of locals, a couple of people in our group,” Pavlakis told WPBF.

Pavlakis and his team worked swiftly to evacuate everyone from the plane. He said a captain on a dinghy also assisted.

“At that point we said, ‘Okay, luggage comes off, all the passengers are safe, copilots come off, pilot is getting everything off of the plane,’ and he was filling up in the pontoons, and then it starts filling up in the cabin. He got off of the plane just as it started to roll, and it eventually rolled, sat on the bottom where it still is today,” Pavlakis said.

All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Pavlakis noted that the rescue operation was completed in a matter of minutes.

“We got everybody on the boat from leaving the dock and having people on board, minus the pilot and copilot … it must have been five minutes, ten minutes tops. But between getting the boat situated, getting all the luggage off felt like a few hours, but I think it was probably 20 or 30 minutes,” he said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the pilot attempted to change direction when the aircraft suddenly pivoted left. Despite efforts to correct its course, the plane failed to respond and collided with a dock.

“They crashed into a seawall, which is where the pontoon on the bottom of the seaplane started taking on water and their engine stalled,” Pavlakis said. “The plane was not on fire. I thought it was on fire for a minute, and that’s when I was a little bit worried, but it was just the saltwater going on the exhaust.”

Pavlakis expressed relief that everyone was unharmed.

“It felt great, but I didn’t even think about it. I had the right people with me, it was the right place, right time, and any day out on the water, anything that we can do to make it safe… we’re going to do that,” he said.

The red 2014 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Seaplane was operated by Tropic Ocean Airways, out of Fort Lauderdale. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane is owned by FloatSix Leasing, LLC based in Lubbock, Texas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said the seaplane said all occupants were from the United States, on board.

An initial report by the Police Force indicates that while attempting to depart, the aircraft encountered heavy vessel traffic in its intended path.

As a precaution, the pilot diverted northward in search of a safer route for take-off.

However, while taxiing on the water, the aircraft reportedly began pulling to the left. Despite efforts to correct the seaplane’s course, the aircraft failed to respond and collided with a dock. After impact, nearby boaters immediately rendered assistance, helping the 10 occupants safely exit the seaplane, which later sank in 100 feet of water.

The Police Force said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and government agencies were notified of the incident.

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 Natacha Casal

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    ENGLEWOOD, Florida (WBBH) — An Englewood woman is warning pet owners after she says her dogs were neglected and her belongings stolen by a sitter she hired through the Rover app during her trip abroad in early July.

Natalie Jones said her heart broke after witnessing her dogs, Harry and Buddy, being mistreated.

“Just, you know, it was breaking my heart. You know, they would come in and the big dogs, very friendly, goes to welcome you. And they would be screaming at him, kicking him, using their arms to get him away from. And I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ I was like, ‘Why? Why would you do that?'” Jones said.

Jones decided to use the Rover app, which connects pet owners with sitters and walkers in their area, for the first time. She selected Sara Bettencourt, who had 39 recent reviews and appeared qualified as a vet tech and owner of a dog grooming and nail trimming business.

“This lady in particular had 39 recent reviews. So I felt pretty good and she came for a meet-and-greet. She was a vet tech, and she owns her own business that, you know, is dog grooming and nail trimming and stuff. So I thought, well, this sounds pretty good,” Jones said.

However, upon returning from her vacation, Jones reviewed footage from her home cameras and discovered troubling behavior.

During the time Bettencourt cared for the dogs, Jones said they were neglected. According to an arrest report, Bettencourt and another person were seen on video carrying trash bags filled with Jones’ belongings and loading them into a car before leaving the home.

“And then, you see them just going through the cabinets, the refrigerator. You hear him talking about doing coke constantly. You see him sniffing, washing, flushing their nose out in the sink, and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is like a nightmare.’ So as soon as we walked in the door, first thing I wanted to make sure the dogs were OK,” Jones said.

Jones said her dogs have not been the same since the incident.

Bettencourt was arrested by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office for grand theft and has since been released.

Jones is now warning other pet owners to take precautions when leaving their pets in someone else’s care.

“My best advice to someone is get a picture of their ID and get a camera. If they won’t agree to those two things, they’re not the sitter for you, because anyone who loves dogs who isn’t doing anything wrong isn’t going to have any problem with that,” Jones said.

Rover has been contacted to determine whether Bettencourt is still listed as a sitter on the app. They shared a statement saying:

“The safety of our community is a top priority and we take allegations of theft, illicit drug use, and animal mistreatment extremely seriously.

Upon learning of this incident, our 24/7 Trust & Safety team launched a thorough investigation. The account of the sitter involved has been deactivated without the option to appeal, meaning they cannot communicate or book new stays with pet parents via Rover. We have also refunded Ms. Jones’s stay and offered to cover the costs of a house cleaning.

All sitters joining Rover must pass an enhanced background check through an industry leading third-party, which scans federal, state, and county databases for criminal behavior like theft. Any sitter who violates our policies or community standards will face swift action up to permanent removal from the platform. Rover stands ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation should they reach out.”

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 Jennifer Franciotti

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    REISTERSTOWN, Maryland (WBAL) — A private farm in Reisterstown has a unique approach to exercise steeplechase race horses.

Two horses took a gallop Friday morning on the turf, on their way to see some friends for an unexpected form of exercise. But no saddle was necessary because the horses went for a swim in the farm’s pond.

“We currently have five horses here that are regularly swimming, maybe not every day, but at least two or three times a week, and it offsets having to gallop every day,” said trainer Cyrill Murphy.

Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News that McTigue and Gold Charm are fresh from two big wins: McTigue at Saratoga and Gold Charm at Colonial Downs. Part of their recipe to help them win those races is their unconventional swimming routine.

“I don’t know if it’s the secret recipe, but it certainly helps us, and the horses enjoy it,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Murphy said the pond exercise also becomes a mechanism to combat the drought, which can cause the ground to get too hard and negatively impact the horses’ joints.

“It’s good for his cardio, gets his airway working, good for all his muscles without putting any stress on any bones or joints,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We do not have an artificial track. We literally train on the natural turf every day of the week.”

Murphy said the water exercises also help with the cooling process.

“You cannot make a horse fit, get a horse fit purely by swimming them, but you can help maintain their fitness once they reach a certain level,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

He told WBAL-TV 11 News the results speak for themselves.

“It’s a big advantage to us. Is it an overall advantage compared to everyone else? I don’t know, but our results say it’s working for us at the moment,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

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.