Category: CNN Regional

By Alexa Herrera

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a total of 14 people have died outside during the dangerously cold weather.

As the freezing temperatures continue, new single-room shelter units will open for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, Mamdani said at a news conference Saturday.

Preliminary findings found hypothermia played a role in the deaths of eight people. Officials are still waiting for the final results from the medical examiner’s office.

“This is one of the longest, most sustained cold stretches our city has endured in years, and it is showing no signs of abating. We remain in a Code Blue,” he said.

The emergency code went into effect Jan. 19, and officials have resorted to forcibly removing people experiencing homelessness from the streets to save lives.

Single-room-occupancy style shelter units opened Sunday in Upper Manhattan. They are designed for people who are reluctant to go indoors because they don’t want to share rooms or are skeptical of other shelter options.

“By making new single-room units available, we are meeting people where they are and removing barriers that keep too many New Yorkers out in the cold,” Mamdani said.

The mayor also said a new low-barrier-bed shelter site will open to make spaces more accessible.

Mamdani said officials ramped up outreach to get New Yorkers into shelters.

They have made more than 860 placements into shelters and safe havens since the start of the cold snap. Sixteen people were involuntarily transported who were determined to be a danger to themselves or others, he said.

Warming shelters remain open to anyone across the five boroughs. There are also 20 warming buses parked across the city.

“We have expanded shelter capacity, relaxed intake rules and worked with faith-based and community-based organizations to scale up outreach. As we have made clear, we are not going to slow down in this work,” he said.

On Friday night, 17 on-call ambulettes were deployed, which offer people on the streets warmth, food and medical attention.

Anyone who sees a person whom they think may need help is asked to call 311.

“It takes everyone stepping up and keeping an eye out for those across the city for us to be able to protect each and every New Yorker,” Mamdani said.

The mayor said an additional 130 city workers will help clear snow across the city.

“That means, in addition to the 2,500 sanitation workers who are working each 12-hour shift, we now have more than 1,200 additional workers who will be assisting in the cleanups of this city,” he said.

Mamdani also highlighted the 67 million pounds of snow melted and the 188 million pounds of salt used.

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.

WFOR

By Ivan Taylor

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — A 9-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital one month after suffering severe burns while playing with sparklers.

From his hospital bed, holding a teddy bear, Santiago Claudio recalled the moment his upper body caught fire.

“I was on fire. I was so hot,” Santiago said.

Vitini Rammin, director of the Trauma and Burn Program at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, said Santiago suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 18% of his body. She said injuries that severe often require multiple surgeries, skin grafts and long hospital stays.

“They took skin from my leg, from my back to put it in my stomach,” Santiago said.

Santiago has been hospitalized since Jan. 1. The accident did not happen at midnight on New Year’s Day, but later that afternoon.

His mother said she was working at the time. Santiago was being watched by his brother, but went into the backyard with another child without telling anyone.

“He was lighting one of the sparklers for his cousin,” she said. “Suddenly, a spark caught his T-shirt.”

Santiago ran back into the house screaming that he was burning.

“It was so hard. I was so desperate,” she said.

Santiago has since undergone several surgeries and remains under strict medical supervision because of the risk of infection. Doctors say he is still vulnerable to germs and must be closely monitored.

Despite everything, Santiago is focused on one simple goal.

“I want to play with my dog,” he said.

His dog, Bruno, has been waiting at home for him.

Santiago is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

Next week marks National Burn Awareness Week. Hospital officials say they treated more than 100 pediatric burn cases last year and hope Santiago’s story serves as a warning to parents about the dangers of fireworks and sparklers, especially when children are unsupervised.

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 Ivan Taylor

Click here for updates on this story

    MIAMI (WFOR) — A 9-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital one month after suffering severe burns while playing with sparklers.

From his hospital bed, holding a teddy bear, Santiago Claudio recalled the moment his upper body caught fire.

“I was on fire. I was so hot,” Santiago said.

Vitini Rammin, director of the Trauma and Burn Program at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, said Santiago suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 18% of his body. She said injuries that severe often require multiple surgeries, skin grafts and long hospital stays.

“They took skin from my leg, from my back to put it in my stomach,” Santiago said.

Santiago has been hospitalized since Jan. 1. The accident did not happen at midnight on New Year’s Day, but later that afternoon.

His mother said she was working at the time. Santiago was being watched by his brother, but went into the backyard with another child without telling anyone.

“He was lighting one of the sparklers for his cousin,” she said. “Suddenly, a spark caught his T-shirt.”

Santiago ran back into the house screaming that he was burning.

“It was so hard. I was so desperate,” she said.

Santiago has since undergone several surgeries and remains under strict medical supervision because of the risk of infection. Doctors say he is still vulnerable to germs and must be closely monitored.

Despite everything, Santiago is focused on one simple goal.

“I want to play with my dog,” he said.

His dog, Bruno, has been waiting at home for him.

Santiago is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

Next week marks National Burn Awareness Week. Hospital officials say they treated more than 100 pediatric burn cases last year and hope Santiago’s story serves as a warning to parents about the dangers of fireworks and sparklers, especially when children are unsupervised.

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 Olivia Young

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — An Atlanta woman has turned a personal hobby into a growing space for creativity and community.

“Hi, welcome. How y’all doin’?” Lexi Bynum said as a group of women walked into a private room at a local brewery.

It was bring-your-own-craft night at the Atlanta Craft Club.

“This is our solo table, so if you came by yourself, you’re welcome to sit there and meet new people,” Bynum told attendees.

By day, Bynum works as a designer at an aerospace company. In 2024, she decided to turn her love of crafting into something bigger.

“I was like, it can’t be that hard to put one together,” Bynum said.

What started as a few tables inside a brewery quickly grew into packed events.

“I had to go and create an actual business and do all the businessy things that crafty girls don’t love doing,” she said. “But since then, we’ve grown. We have our own brick-and-mortar studio as well.”

“I’ve been here since the beginning,” said Hyemi Byun.

For others, the club offers a first-time experience.

“This is my first time,” said Azariah Burrell. “My friend invited me. We’re trying to not do as many dinner or food outings. I’m trying to get into crafting and have more hobbies. That’s one of my goals for this year.”

The club welcomes all kinds of crafters.

“So we’re doing some gem painting,” Burrell said.

“I decided to bring this top that I’m knitting,” said Kianna Nelson. “I’ve been going to this craft club event for a couple of months now. I started because I moved here from Florida, and it was a nice way to meet people who had the same interests as me.”

“We do play crafts, jewelry making. Junk journaling is probably our most popular,” Bynum said.

Inside a junk journal, everyday items like receipts and book pages are turned into art.

“Basically taking scraps of things from your day-to-day life,” said junk journaler Leigh Ann Dooley. “I really love newspaper, so this is a spread I did.”

While some club events are ticketed, the bring-your-own-craft night is free.

“Especially in this economy, I think it’s hard to leave the house without spending a lot of money,” Byun said.

The club offers what many call a “third space” — a place beyond home and work.

“I think we get stuck in this cycle of going from home to work, maybe the gym, and then that’s it,” Burrell said. “To have a third space to come and just be creative and sit with friends and meet new friends, I’m really grateful.”

Sometimes, the strongest thing created isn’t art — it’s connection.

“We met each other through one of these events, and we’ve been coming ever since,” Nelson said of her friendship with Byun.

“You get time to sit in fellowship with each other and actually talk,” Burrell said.

Different projects, stitched together by the community.

“Find a way to play and enjoy yourself as an adult,” Bynum said. “It’s so necessary. It’s a good way to pour back into yourself.”

More information about events and registration can be found on the Atlanta Craft Club’s website and Instagram.

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 Paul Burton

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    GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Flowers, signs and a wreath are laid at the Fisherman’s Memorial in Gloucester, Massachusetts as the U.S. Coast Guard announced it suspended the search Saturday morning for the six missing crewmembers of the fishing vessel Lily Jean that sank off the coast on Friday. The body of one crewmember was recovered, and so was an empty life raft.

“Our crews searched as long and as hard as they possibly could, always with the hope of bringing your loved ones back to Gloucester,” said Capt. Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston.

For over 24 hours, Coast Guard crews conducted an exhaustive search in dangerous conditions covering more than 1,000 square miles using multiple aircraft, cutters and other boats.

“Despite these efforts, we have only located one deceased crewmember. Five crewmembers, and one NOAA observer remain missing,” Frederick said. “I believe there is no longer a reasonable expectation that anyone could have survived this long.”

Ricky Beal told WBZ-TV on Saturday that his brother Paul Beal and nephew Paul Jr. were on board the vessel when it sank. “It’s just devastating. I can’t explain it,” Beal said.

“I started fishing first, and Paul was, he used to come along with me, and then he worked on some of the party boats, the boats for hire,” Beal said. “The support from the community has been unbelievable.”

Greg Sousa owns the Crow’s Nest in Gloucester and knows several of the fisherman onboard the Lily Jean who are presumed dead.

“It’s a real local boat with real local guys,” Sousa said. “Everyone is talking about it. Paul is one of the good guys. PJ, you know, father and son gone at the same time.”

Grief and crisis counselors will be on hand at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church over the next two days to help families and community members impacted by the tragedy.

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.

WBZ

By Paul Burton

Click here for updates on this story

    GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Flowers, signs and a wreath are laid at the Fisherman’s Memorial in Gloucester, Massachusetts as the U.S. Coast Guard announced it suspended the search Saturday morning for the six missing crewmembers of the fishing vessel Lily Jean that sank off the coast on Friday. The body of one crewmember was recovered, and so was an empty life raft.

“Our crews searched as long and as hard as they possibly could, always with the hope of bringing your loved ones back to Gloucester,” said Capt. Jamie Frederick, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston.

For over 24 hours, Coast Guard crews conducted an exhaustive search in dangerous conditions covering more than 1,000 square miles using multiple aircraft, cutters and other boats.

“Despite these efforts, we have only located one deceased crewmember. Five crewmembers, and one NOAA observer remain missing,” Frederick said. “I believe there is no longer a reasonable expectation that anyone could have survived this long.”

Ricky Beal told WBZ-TV on Saturday that his brother Paul Beal and nephew Paul Jr. were on board the vessel when it sank. “It’s just devastating. I can’t explain it,” Beal said.

“I started fishing first, and Paul was, he used to come along with me, and then he worked on some of the party boats, the boats for hire,” Beal said. “The support from the community has been unbelievable.”

Greg Sousa owns the Crow’s Nest in Gloucester and knows several of the fisherman onboard the Lily Jean who are presumed dead.

“It’s a real local boat with real local guys,” Sousa said. “Everyone is talking about it. Paul is one of the good guys. PJ, you know, father and son gone at the same time.”

Grief and crisis counselors will be on hand at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church over the next two days to help families and community members impacted by the tragedy.

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.