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Tag: family

  • Chatbot Crackdown: How California is responding to the rise of AI

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    California is quickly becoming a national leader in figuring out how families, educators, and lawmakers should adapt to life with artificial intelligence. From new classroom conversations to the state’s first major chatbot regulations, many are grappling with how to keep up with technology that moves faster than ever.Families Navigating AI at HomeRemember the dial-up days? Today, technology evolves in an instant—and many parents are struggling to keep pace.David and Rachelle Young have set strict rules for their 7-year-old daughter Dyllan’s online use.“Kids have a lot of access to the internet, and they can be shown something that we wouldn’t normally approve of, and that’s really scary,” Rachelle Young said.David says his daughter’s world looks nothing like what he had at her age—making parental guidance more important than ever.Lawmakers Respond: A New Chatbot CrackdownConcerns about children talking to AI-powered chatbots have reached the state Capitol.Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson co-authored SB 243, signed into law this fall, marking California’s first major attempt at regulating chatbot interactions.The new law requires companies to: Report safety concerns—such as when a user expresses thoughts of self-harm Clearly notify users that they are talking to a computer, not a person“They don’t want you to turn your phone off. They want you to think that you’re talking to a real friend, but they don’t have that same level of morality,” she said. Her concerns stem from real-world consequences: last year, a 14-year-old in Florida took his own life after forming what his family described as a “relationship” with a chatbot.Inside the Classroom: Understanding AI’s InfluenceAt UC Davis, Associate Professor Jingwen Zhang is tackling these issues head-on. She created a course examining how social media, artificial intelligence and chatbots shape human behavior.”Children used to form social relationships by talking in person or texting. Now they’re having similar levels of conversations with chatbots,” she said.Zhang says SB 243 is a strong first step but believes more protections are needed—especially for minors.She recommends future regulations that: Create stricter guardrails for what topics children can discuss with AI Limit exposure to sensitive or harmful content Add tighter controls for minor accountsA Rapidly Changing LandscapeParents, educators, and policymakers all agree: keeping up with AI will require constant learning.“We have to get to a place where companies are rolling out things that will not hurt the future generation,” Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson said.What’s Changing NextParents told KCRA 3 they want schools to start teaching more about AI safety and digital literacy.Starting this month, the popular Character AI platform is rolling out several major changes: Users under 18 will no longer be able to participate in open-ended chat Younger users will face a two-hour daily limit See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    California is quickly becoming a national leader in figuring out how families, educators, and lawmakers should adapt to life with artificial intelligence.

    From new classroom conversations to the state’s first major chatbot regulations, many are grappling with how to keep up with technology that moves faster than ever.

    Families Navigating AI at Home

    Remember the dial-up days? Today, technology evolves in an instant—and many parents are struggling to keep pace.

    David and Rachelle Young have set strict rules for their 7-year-old daughter Dyllan’s online use.

    “Kids have a lot of access to the internet, and they can be shown something that we wouldn’t normally approve of, and that’s really scary,” Rachelle Young said.

    David says his daughter’s world looks nothing like what he had at her age—making parental guidance more important than ever.

    Lawmakers Respond: A New Chatbot Crackdown

    Concerns about children talking to AI-powered chatbots have reached the state Capitol.

    Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson co-authored SB 243, signed into law this fall, marking California’s first major attempt at regulating chatbot interactions.

    The new law requires companies to:

    • Report safety concerns—such as when a user expresses thoughts of self-harm
    • Clearly notify users that they are talking to a computer, not a person

    “They don’t want you to turn your phone off. They want you to think that you’re talking to a real friend, but they don’t have that same level of morality,” she said.

    Her concerns stem from real-world consequences: last year, a 14-year-old in Florida took his own life after forming what his family described as a “relationship” with a chatbot.

    Inside the Classroom: Understanding AI’s Influence

    At UC Davis, Associate Professor Jingwen Zhang is tackling these issues head-on.

    She created a course examining how social media, artificial intelligence and chatbots shape human behavior.

    “Children used to form social relationships by talking in person or texting. Now they’re having similar levels of conversations with chatbots,” she said.

    Zhang says SB 243 is a strong first step but believes more protections are needed—especially for minors.

    She recommends future regulations that:

    • Create stricter guardrails for what topics children can discuss with AI
    • Limit exposure to sensitive or harmful content
    • Add tighter controls for minor accounts

    A Rapidly Changing Landscape

    Parents, educators, and policymakers all agree: keeping up with AI will require constant learning.

    “We have to get to a place where companies are rolling out things that will not hurt the future generation,” Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson said.

    What’s Changing Next

    Parents told KCRA 3 they want schools to start teaching more about AI safety and digital literacy.

    Starting this month, the popular Character AI platform is rolling out several major changes:

    • Users under 18 will no longer be able to participate in open-ended chat
    • Younger users will face a two-hour daily limit

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Hundreds of families wait in line for Thanksgiving food giveaway in Winter Park

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    A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA NEED HELP PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND THIS LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR A THANKSGIVING MEAL IS PART OF THE PROOF. THIS EVENT WAS PUT ON BY THE HISPANIC AMERICAN ALLIANCE GROUP IN WINTER PARK AND WESH TWO MICHELLE MEREDITH REPORTS. SOME PEOPLE GOT IN LINE LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS MUSIC, PEOPLE DANCING, FRUIT CRATES THAT WERE CREATIVELY TURNED INTO SUN HATS. IT LOOKED LIKE A PARTY. BUT TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. AND THERE WAS FOOD BEING STUFFED INTO CARS THAT PULLED UP ONE AFTER ANOTHER IN A LINE THAT SEEMED NEVER ENDING BECAUSE THIS WAS BETTER THAN A PARTY. IT WAS A FOOD GIVEAWAY PUT ON BY THE HISPANIC AMERICAN ALLIANCE GROUP, AND THE JOINT WAS JUMPING. THEY TELL US THEY STARTED THIS FOOD GIVEAWAY DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND 75 FAMILIES SHOWED UP. AND SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS JUST EXPLODED BECAUSE OF THE NEED. THE FOOD WAS SUPPLIED BY SECOND HARVEST AND WINN-DIXIE, BOTH CONTRIBUTING A TOTAL OF 56,000 POUNDS OF IT. WITH WINN-DIXIE PITCHING IN 500 TURKEYS. I’VE BEEN AMAZED TODAY WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I MEAN, IT’S 500 THAT WE’VE WE’VE SIGNED UP TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LINED UP HERE SINCE LAST NIGHT, AND THAT’S A BIG DEAL. AND EVEN THIS MORNING, COMING IN AT 630, THEY WERE LINED UP DOWN THE STREET A COUPLE OF MILES, AND FROM CHOPPER TWO WE COULD SEE THE LINE GOT OUR ATTENTION AND THE ATTENTION OF THE FOLKS WHO WAITED HOURS TO GET A CHANCE AT A FIRST CLASS THANKSGIVING DINNER. I CAN EAT DINNER FOR THIS BECAUSE IT’S TOO MUCH. IT’S SAD BECAUSE PEOPLE IS NEEDED, BUT IT’S HAPPINESS THAT WE CAN HELP THEM. SO THAT IS A IS A JOINT OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS AT THE SAME TIME. HAPPINESS THAT ON THIS DAY SEEMED TO PUT A SMILE ON EVERYONE’S FACE. COVERING ORANGE COUNTY AND WINTER PARK MICHELLE MEREDITH WESH TWO NEWS. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN HELP GET FOOD TO STRUGGLING NEIGHBORS. WESH TWO NEWS. SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS FOOD AND FUND DRIVE BENEFITS. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK. IF YOU’RE ABLE TO, WE HOPE YOU’LL HELP BY GIVING ONLINE OR STARTING A FOOD DRIVE. ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO NEED IT MOST. ALL OF THE DETAILS ARE ON THE SHARE

    Hundreds of families wait in line for Thanksgiving food giveaway in Winter Park

    Updated: 11:29 PM EST Nov 20, 2025

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    A Thanksgiving food giveaway organized by the Hispanic American Alliance Group in Winter Park provided meals to hundreds of families, with some arriving the night before to secure their spot in line.The event featured music, dancing, and creatively repurposed fruit crates as sunhats, creating a festive atmosphere as cars lined up to receive food. The giveaway, which began during the pandemic, has grown significantly due to increasing demand.The food was supplied by Second Harvest and Winn-Dixie, contributing a total of 56,000 pounds of food, including 500 turkeys.”I’ve been amazed with the amount of people,” said Shawn Sloan from Winn-Dixie. “It was 500 the amount of people we signed up to take care of, and people have been here since last night, and even coming in at 6:30, there were people lined up down the street a couple of miles.”From Chopper 2, the line of cars waiting for food stretched for miles, capturing the attention of those waiting for hours to receive a Thanksgiving dinner. “I can eat dinner.. for this…it’s too much,” said Matilde Canela, who picked up food at the event.Lorena Ortega from the Hispanic American Alliance Group expressed mixed emotions about the event. “It’s sad because people are needing but it’s happiness that we can help them, so it’s a joint emotion as the same time,” she said.The event brought smiles to many faces, highlighting the community’s spirit of giving and support during the holiday season.

    WINTER PARK, Fla. —

    A Thanksgiving food giveaway organized by the Hispanic American Alliance Group in Winter Park provided meals to hundreds of families, with some arriving the night before to secure their spot in line.

    The event featured music, dancing, and creatively repurposed fruit crates as sunhats, creating a festive atmosphere as cars lined up to receive food. The giveaway, which began during the pandemic, has grown significantly due to increasing demand.

    The food was supplied by Second Harvest and Winn-Dixie, contributing a total of 56,000 pounds of food, including 500 turkeys.

    “I’ve been amazed with the amount of people,” said Shawn Sloan from Winn-Dixie. “It was 500 the amount of people we signed up to take care of, and people have been here since last night, and even coming in at 6:30, there were people lined up down the street a couple of miles.”

    From Chopper 2, the line of cars waiting for food stretched for miles, capturing the attention of those waiting for hours to receive a Thanksgiving dinner. “I can eat dinner.. for this…it’s too much,” said Matilde Canela, who picked up food at the event.

    Lorena Ortega from the Hispanic American Alliance Group expressed mixed emotions about the event. “It’s sad because people are needing but it’s happiness that we can help them, so it’s a joint emotion as the same time,” she said.

    The event brought smiles to many faces, highlighting the community’s spirit of giving and support during the holiday season.

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  • Court docs show prosecutors believe disabled Sacramento man was killed by caretaker months before found

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    HIM. A SACRAMENTO FAMILY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF A MAN DESCRIBED AS A LOVING AND FIERY SPORTS FANATIC. IT’S TOUGH. IT’S FRUSTRATING. AFTER WEEKS OF SEARCHING, WE WEREN’T GETTING ANY ANSWERS FROM HIM. THE FAMILY OF 59 YEAR OLD RICHARD MCCLINTOCK NOW WANT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL UNTIL WE GET JUSTICE FOR RICHARD MCCLINTOCK, WHO HAD CEREBRAL PALSY RELIED ON CARETAKERS FOR SUPPORT. NOW, THE WOMAN HIRED TO HELP HIM IS CHARGED WITH HIS MURDER. 41 YEAR OLD CHRISTINA COHEN WAS ARRAIGNED ON MURDER AND FRAUD CHARGES. THE COURT NOT ALLOWING KCRA 3 TO SHOW HER FACE, BUT IT’S ONE HIS FAMILY KNOWS WELL. THIS IS WHAT WE SUSPECTED ALL ALONG. THE FAMILY SAYS COHEN’S WAS RICHARD’S CARETAKER FOR YEARS. THEY NEVER NOTICED ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL HIS SISTER DIED. AND SUDDENLY THEY COULDN’T GET IN CONTACT WITH RICHARD. MY AUNT SHELLY, SHE WENT OVER TO HIS APARTMENT, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER. ALL OF A SUDDEN. THEN WE STARTED GETTING TEXT MESSAGES FROM HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT. MESSAGES, THEY SAY LOOKED UNUSUAL. AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK THAT SAME NIGHT, THE CARETAKER WOULD NOT LET HER SEE OR WOULD NOT LET HER SEE RICHARD. THE FAMILY ASKED POLICE FOR A WELFARE CHECK ON OCTOBER 25TH. SACRAMENTO POLICE SAY OFFICERS WENT TO THE APARTMENT BUT DIDN’T FIND MCCLINTOCK. NEARLY TWO WEEKS LATER, POLICE FOUND RICHARD’S REMAINS AFTER GETTING A WARRANT TO SEARCH HIS APARTMENT TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS CAPABLE OF DOING THIS TO A DISABLED PERSON. AND MY UNCLE’S CONDITION IS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS. COHEN’S WAS INITIALLY ARRESTED FOR UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF HUMAN REMAINS, GRAND THEFT, AND ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL A DEATH. SHE’S NOW CHARGED WITH MURDER AND WELFARE FRAUD. HER ATTORNEY ASKED FOR CONTINUATION IN COURT TODAY. SHE’LL BE BACK IN COURT ON NOVEMBER 24TH. LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM CECIL HANNIBAL KCRA THREE NEWS. ALL RIGHT. CECIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. COURT RECORDS ALSO SHOW COHEN WAS ARRAIGNED ON FELONY EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES BACK IN JULY, BUT WE DON’

    Sacramento man with cerebral palsy was killed by caretaker in July, court documents allege

    Updated: 4:53 PM PST Nov 20, 2025

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    Newly-released court documents shed new light on the death of a Sacramento man with cerebral palsy who was believed to have been killed by his caretaker. Richard McClintic was reported missing by his family on Oct. 25. His body was found in his apartment on the night of Nov. 6, the Sacramento Police Department said, after officers executed a search warrant. (Previous coverage in the video player above.)Christina Cowens, 41, McClintic’s caretaker, was arrested in connection with his death. She was initially charged with unlawful disposal of human remains, grand theft, and concealment/attempt to conceal a death, before she was also charged with McClintic’s murder and making fraudulent claims to an officer. A felony complaint filed in Sacramento County on Nov. 10 indicates prosecutors believe McClintic was murdered on or about July 3, more than four months before his body was found. The circumstances surrounding McClintic’s death remain unknown, and it’s unclear how Cowens may have concealed McClintic’s remains after his death. Sacramento police said they had carried out a welfare check at his apartment soon after he was reported missing, but initially did not find him. Just a couple of weeks after McClintic’s death, Cowens was also charged with fraudulently appropriating a U-Haul truck, sometime between July 15 and 21. It’s not clear if that was related to the concealment of McClintic’s death.McClintic’s family described him as “a fiery guy,” who was “fun to be around.” “Very strong guy, 59 years old, with cerebral palsy and pushed through his entire life with that condition and never complained,” his nephew, Ryan Klagenberg, previously told KCRA 3.Cowens first appeared in court on Nov. 10. At that hearing, her attorney requested a continuation. She will return to the courtroom on Nov. 24. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Newly-released court documents shed new light on the death of a Sacramento man with cerebral palsy who was believed to have been killed by his caretaker.

    Richard McClintic was reported missing by his family on Oct. 25. His body was found in his apartment on the night of Nov. 6, the Sacramento Police Department said, after officers executed a search warrant.

    (Previous coverage in the video player above.)

    Christina Cowens, 41, McClintic’s caretaker, was arrested in connection with his death. She was initially charged with unlawful disposal of human remains, grand theft, and concealment/attempt to conceal a death, before she was also charged with McClintic’s murder and making fraudulent claims to an officer.

    A felony complaint filed in Sacramento County on Nov. 10 indicates prosecutors believe McClintic was murdered on or about July 3, more than four months before his body was found.

    The circumstances surrounding McClintic’s death remain unknown, and it’s unclear how Cowens may have concealed McClintic’s remains after his death. Sacramento police said they had carried out a welfare check at his apartment soon after he was reported missing, but initially did not find him.

    Just a couple of weeks after McClintic’s death, Cowens was also charged with fraudulently appropriating a U-Haul truck, sometime between July 15 and 21. It’s not clear if that was related to the concealment of McClintic’s death.

    McClintic’s family described him as “a fiery guy,” who was “fun to be around.”

    “Very strong guy, 59 years old, with cerebral palsy and pushed through his entire life with that condition and never complained,” his nephew, Ryan Klagenberg, previously told KCRA 3.

    Cowens first appeared in court on Nov. 10. At that hearing, her attorney requested a continuation. She will return to the courtroom on Nov. 24.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Woman decapitated by a garbage truck near elementary school in Orange County

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    A woman was decapitated by a garbage truck when she was crossing the street Wednesday in Orange County, according to authorities.

    Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga, 69, of Santa Ana, was crossing the street around 7:56 a.m. near Shelton and Bishop streets when she was hit by a garbage truck making a right turn on Shelton, according to a Santa Ana Police Department news release.

    Officers from the police department got multiple calls about the traffic collision and along with the Orange County Fire Authority, responded to the scene, according to the release.

    The truck had been going east on Bishop Street and making a turn on the roundabout when it hit the woman as she was crossing the street, authorities said.

    ABC7 reported that the woman had been decapitated in the collision.

    Children and families from the nearby Pio Pico Dual Language Academy were also nearby during the incident, according to the outlet.

    The Santa Ana Unified School District will be providing support for witnesses of the crash.

    The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit will be investigating the crash, according to the release. Anyone with more information has been asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.

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    Summer Lin

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  • Child, 6, hurt in Lake County deadly crash ‘may never walk again,’ family says

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    A 6-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital and may never walk again after the car he was riding in was hit in Lake County in a crash that killed two teenagers.The boy, identified by his family as Nickai Mixon, was a passenger in an SUV that was involved in the crash.State troopers say the crash happened around 6 p.m. on November 15 along State Road 33 near Groveland Farms Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old girl driving a 2008 Toyota Scion attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone while heading southbound. A 17-year-old Clermont boy was riding as her passenger.Troopers say the teen entered the northbound lane and saw an oncoming 2021 Lincoln Aviator driven by a 75-year-old Lakeland man. She swerved back into her lane, but lost control of the Scion, causing it to rotate and slide back into the northbound lane, directly into the path of the SUV, FHP says.The SUV then hit the passenger side of the Scion, causing it to overturn. The 16-year-old driver and her passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims were later identified as South Lake High School students Jade, 16, and her boyfriend, 17-year-old José Ivan. Lake County Schools confirmed their deaths and said grief counselors would remain available on campus throughout the week.The 75-year-old SUV driver in the Aviator suffered minor injuries, along with two of his passengers, including a 66-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy. 6-year-old Nickai Mixon was the fourth passenger in the SUV and was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.According to a GoFundMe created by the boy’s family, the crash left 6-year-old Nickai with a partially shattered spine and internal bleeding that required emergency surgery. Doctors at Arnold Palmer Hospital told relatives he has only a 50% chance of walking again.His parents, who live in Lakeland, are now driving back and forth daily to Orlando while juggling medical uncertainty, travel costs, and lost income.“Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help with travel costs, medical-related expenses, lost income, and the long recovery journey ahead,” the family wrote on the fundraiser page. They added:Anyone who wants to donate to their GoFundMe can click here.FHP says the crash remains under investigation.

    LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —

    A 6-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital and may never walk again after the car he was riding in was hit in Lake County in a crash that killed two teenagers.

    The boy, identified by his family as Nickai Mixon, was a passenger in an SUV that was involved in the crash.

    State troopers say the crash happened around 6 p.m. on November 15 along State Road 33 near Groveland Farms Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old girl driving a 2008 Toyota Scion attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone while heading southbound.

    A 17-year-old Clermont boy was riding as her passenger.

    Troopers say the teen entered the northbound lane and saw an oncoming 2021 Lincoln Aviator driven by a 75-year-old Lakeland man. She swerved back into her lane, but lost control of the Scion, causing it to rotate and slide back into the northbound lane, directly into the path of the SUV, FHP says.

    The SUV then hit the passenger side of the Scion, causing it to overturn. The 16-year-old driver and her passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims were later identified as South Lake High School students Jade, 16, and her boyfriend, 17-year-old José Ivan.

    Lake County Schools confirmed their deaths and said grief counselors would remain available on campus throughout the week.

    The 75-year-old SUV driver in the Aviator suffered minor injuries, along with two of his passengers, including a 66-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy.

    6-year-old Nickai Mixon was the fourth passenger in the SUV and was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    According to a GoFundMe created by the boy’s family, the crash left 6-year-old Nickai with a partially shattered spine and internal bleeding that required emergency surgery. Doctors at Arnold Palmer Hospital told relatives he has only a 50% chance of walking again.

    His parents, who live in Lakeland, are now driving back and forth daily to Orlando while juggling medical uncertainty, travel costs, and lost income.

    “Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help with travel costs, medical-related expenses, lost income, and the long recovery journey ahead,” the family wrote on the fundraiser page. They added:

    “Our family deeply appreciates every donation, share, and prayer.”

    Anyone who wants to donate to their GoFundMe can click here.

    FHP says the crash remains under investigation.

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  • Asking Eric: Neighbor’s vacant home threatens property

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    Dear Eric: The home next door is vacant. I think it is a rental property. There is a huge tree in the front yard that is coming over my property. A tree from this property fell on my house a few years ago. This caused my homeowner’s insurance to be canceled because it was considered to be an act of nature.

    I need to see if this can be avoided because the tree is old and the dead branches are falling on my car. Do you have any idea what can be done?

    — Neighbor Dilemma

    Dear Neighbor: Start by collecting information. Your local tax assessor’s office will have a record of who owns the property and what their address is, if the house is not their primary residence. Be sure that if you search online, you’re on the state or local government’s site. There are many data-harvesting sites that will try to charge you for this free information. Don’t click on the first link you find in a search; scroll until you find a city, county or state site.

    With this information, you can reach out to the owner directly, or you can reach out to the housing authority. Many housing authorities have task forces specifically charged with monitoring code violations. Even if yours doesn’t, a phone call to the housing authority will alert you to other options that might be available to you.

    Dear Eric: I just can’t come to grips with the new style phone etiquette where you send a direct question or comment to someone (texts mainly, or emails, messenger, etc.) and it seems now optional to answer or respond, or at best get a “liked…” or a smiley face wearing sunglasses in reply.

    My communications are important, take thoughtful effort to compose and like in the old days, you’re supposed to call the person back. I’m not talking about silly status posts on Instagram; this is two-way conversation and so many people interpret a texting response as optional!

    Is it just me or is this an epidemic that is killing courtesy and good manners in modern society? What should I do, fire my friends and family? It’s tempting.

    — Text Back

    Dear Text Back: Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to label it an epidemic. But it’s true that texting etiquette — and texting practices in general — can lead to miscommunication and frustration. Because it’s relatively new, at least in comparison to the telephone or, say, writing letters, we’re still iterating on it as a culture.

    All that to say, don’t fire your friends and family. If you want a text back about sometime specific, include that request in the text. Or consider having a broader conversation with friends and family about how you’d like to communicate. It’s good to ask for what we want. They may not always be willing or able to comply, but they won’t know this is something you’d like unless you tell them.

    And, when all else fails, just don’t text. If you have something to say, you can initiate the phone call, thereby sidestepping any emojis.

    Dear Eric: I read with interest the letter from the woman who had rooms in her house painted in colors other than what she’d specified (“Painted Over”). She wondered where the fault lied.

    How about this: I placed a cookie order with a new local bakery. My husband picked up the order. Well, the order was botched – not even close to the cookie flavor I’d ordered. When I notified the baker, he apologized, saying that my email address was similar to that of someone else who had also placed an order. He offered to do the correct order for me for a “discounted” price. Huh?

    Why should I be made to pay again for an error that was not my fault? Needless to say, I have not done business with this bakery since.

    What are your thoughts on this? I did not agree to this resolution. Instead of paying again, I just kept and used the incorrect order, despite my disappointment. Some customer service!

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Community holds vigil to remember tattoo artist who died after Orlando police standoff

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    NEXT 15 MINUTES. A COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER IN ORLANDO TONIGHT TO REMEMBER A YOUNG TATTOO ARTIST WHO THEY SAY WAS KILLED IN A POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING DURING A RAID AT THAT BUSINESS. WESH TWO DAVID JONES HAS THE STORY. SAY THIS WOULD MEAN THAT OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN, NOT ON OUR WATCH, NOT ON OUR WATCH. A TEARFUL NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE FOR A 20 YEAR OLD TATTOO ARTIST NAMED CALEB WILLIAMS. WE STAND, WE STAND. OUT. WE STAND. SAY LOUDER. WE STAND. THEY MARKED THE VIGIL WITH A BALLOON RELEASE HONORING THE YOUNG FATHER. THEY SAY WILLIAMS WAS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER IN FRIDAY’S STANDOFF, AND POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING. YOU’RE FIGHTING TO PROTECT PEOPLE, NOT KILL THEM. FAMILY AND FRIENDS LENT WILLIAMS MOM, NATALIE BURCH, ESCRIBANO SUPPORT AS SHE DEMANDED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HER SON’S SLAYING. THIS WAS NOT THIS WAS NOT MEANT FOR HIM. HE DIDN’T HAVE NO WARRANT. HE DIDN’T HE. HE WASN’T ARMED. THEY LITERALLY HE WAS AT THE WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME. HE WAS RIGHT, RIGHT BEHIND. HE WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM. AND HE JUST HE JUST HE WAS JUST THERE. WESH TWO WAS OVER THE SCENE FRIDAY. IT WAS A SWAT STANDOFF. ORLANDO POLICE SAY THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON TO SERVE A WARRANT ON, QUOTE, MULTIPLE SUSPECTS. THEY GAVE RAP SHEETS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS, BUT DID NOT SAY IF ANY HAD BEEN ARRESTED. FOLLOWING THE STANDOFF AND A SHOOTING MINUTES AFTER THEY ARRIVED. THEY DIDN’T IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AT ALL. THERE WAS NO NOTHING, NO NOTHING. NOT ONE TIME, HE LITERALLY WAS JUST WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY AND CAUGHT THE BULLET, POLICE SAID. SOMEONE WENT OUTSIDE OF THE BUSINESS WITH A AK 47 STYLE RIFLE. OFFICERS SAY THEY SHOT AT THE SUSPECT AS THE INDIVIDUAL RETREATED INSIDE WHEN THEY MADE ENTRY. AN HOUR LATER, THEY SAY THEY FOUND A SUSPECT DEAD. WILLIAMS COMMUNITY SAYS HE WAS NEVER A SUSPECT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SCENE. HE WAS SERVING A WARRANT, A REAL WARRANT. YOU WOULD HAVE. OFFICER WOULD HAVE CAME IN AND GAVE IT TO YOU. YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO COME IN LIKE THAT IN DUE TIME. LIKE I SAID, I DON’T SAY, I DON’T SAY, LONG LIVE CALEB CAN. HE’S STILL STANDING WITH US. HE’S STILL STANDING HERE. BUT I PROMISE YOU, FOR HIS SON, FOR HIS MOTHER. WE’RE GOING TO SPEAK. COVERING ORA

    Community holds vigil to remember tattoo artist who died after Orlando police standoff

    Updated: 11:48 AM EST Nov 17, 2025

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    A tearful vigil held Sunday evening for a slain tattoo artist and young father culminated in a balloon release and calls for accountability in the SWAT standoff that ultimately took his life.Family identified the man who was killed during Friday’s police standoff as Kaleb Williams, a 20-year-old tattoo artist working at the parlor at Edgewater and Lee in Orlando. The Orlando Police Department said a search warrant was being served at the business around 2 p.m. Friday, and less than five minutes later, police opened fire from outside of the business as a person holding an “AK-47 style” rifle exited and then reentered the parlor.According to OPD, “multiple suspects” were being served a search warrant “related to drugs and firearms,” with the department also providing a lengthy rap sheet for the suspects.When police officers entered the business around an hour later, they found a person dead.Ultimately, OPD has not said whether anyone is in custody following Friday’s events.But the family of Williams disputed OPD’s account of what happened, saying their loved one was not a “suspect” and should have never died.”This was not meant for him,” said Williams’ mother, Natalie Birch-Escribano. “He didn’t have no warrant, he wasn’t armed, they literally, he was at the wrong place, wrong time.”Williams was at work doing tattoos at the time all of this went down Friday afternoon.”They didn’t identify themselves at all, at all. There was no nothing, no nothing,” she said. “He literally was just walking down a hallway and caught the bullets.”WESH 2 has followed up with OPD to ask about any arrests made, whether Williams was the subject of the search warrant, and whether police were still working to identify other suspects.But the department said Friday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be handling the investigation of the events.”You’re fighting to protect people, not kill them!” said Williams’ best friend, Blair Gusmas. “I don’t say long live Kaleb, because he’s still standing with us. He’s still here. But I promise you, for his son, for his mother, we are going to speak.”

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    A tearful vigil held Sunday evening for a slain tattoo artist and young father culminated in a balloon release and calls for accountability in the SWAT standoff that ultimately took his life.

    Family identified the man who was killed during Friday’s police standoff as Kaleb Williams, a 20-year-old tattoo artist working at the parlor at Edgewater and Lee in Orlando.

    The Orlando Police Department said a search warrant was being served at the business around 2 p.m. Friday, and less than five minutes later, police opened fire from outside of the business as a person holding an “AK-47 style” rifle exited and then reentered the parlor.

    According to OPD, “multiple suspects” were being served a search warrant “related to drugs and firearms,” with the department also providing a lengthy rap sheet for the suspects.

    When police officers entered the business around an hour later, they found a person dead.

    Ultimately, OPD has not said whether anyone is in custody following Friday’s events.

    But the family of Williams disputed OPD’s account of what happened, saying their loved one was not a “suspect” and should have never died.

    “This was not meant for him,” said Williams’ mother, Natalie Birch-Escribano. “He didn’t have no warrant, he wasn’t armed, they literally, he was at the wrong place, wrong time.”

    Williams was at work doing tattoos at the time all of this went down Friday afternoon.

    “They didn’t identify themselves at all, at all. There was no nothing, no nothing,” she said. “He literally was just walking down a hallway and caught the bullets.”

    WESH 2 has followed up with OPD to ask about any arrests made, whether Williams was the subject of the search warrant, and whether police were still working to identify other suspects.

    But the department said Friday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be handling the investigation of the events.

    “You’re fighting to protect people, not kill them!” said Williams’ best friend, Blair Gusmas. “I don’t say long live Kaleb, because he’s still standing with us. He’s still here. But I promise you, for his son, for his mother, we are going to speak.”

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  • Does Selena Quintanilla Have Kids? She Was Not Pregnant at Time of Death

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    The 1997 murder of pop star Selena Quintanilla fueled endless gossip about her personal life.

    One of the biggest questions that has persisted for the 30 years following Quintanilla’s death at age 23 was whether she was pregnant at the time of her murder. (Quintanilla was fatally shot by her former friend and business associate Yolanda Saldívar in Corpus Christie, Texas, on March 31, 1995. She was convicted of first-degree murder in October of that year.)

    A hoax about Quintanilla’s supposed pregnancy sprang up during the early days of the internet, with Saldívar seemingly lending credence to the speculation in subsequent jailhouse interviews.

    Prior to the release of Netflix’s Selena y Los Dinos documentary in November 2025, Quintanilla’s widower, Chris Pérez, tried to clear up the pregnancy rumors. He has also offered insight into what his life was like with Quintanilla during their three years of marriage.


    Related: Jon Seda Is ‘Still Friends’ With Chris Perez After Playing Him in ‘Selena’

    Nearly 27 years after Selena hit theaters in March 1997, Jon Seda is still pals with Chris Pérez, whom he portrayed in the biographical film. “I’m still friends with Chris. Chris is just an amazing guitarist and he’s still out there making his music. Check out his music, it’s incredible,” Seda, 53, exclusively told Us […]

    Keep scrolling for more information about Quintanilla’s views on motherhood and the truth about whether she was pregnant at the time of her murder.

    Does Selena Quintanilla Have Kids?

    No. Selena Quintanilla and her husband Chris Pérez had no children together.

    The 2025 documentary Selena y Los Dinos featured archival footage of Quintanilla speaking to a reporter about the prospect of becoming a mom, according to People.

    “I would love to have children in the future. I think it is a part of my womanhood that, as a woman, I feel that I am missing it,” Quintanilla said. “More so in the future. I feel that I have to extract all of the goals that I have in my mind and achieve them.”

    She added, “In the future, when I have time to take care of my children, well, of course I’m going to have kids. Like six. Another group!”

    Does Selena Quintanilla Have Kids She Was Not Pregnant at Time of Death 005
    Arlene Richie/Getty Images

    Another segment in the documentary featured Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, reflecting on her discussions with the “Dreaming of You” singer about their future.

    “After she was married with Chris, she would just always tell me about her dreams. She would take off her makeup and always put her hair in a bun,” Suzette recalled. “We would talk about getting married, about me getting married one day, about her having children, her kids and my kids were gonna play together and we were going to make sure that we were going to raise them together. Normal stuff.”

    Following Selena’s death, Chris was married to his second wife, Vanessa Villanueva, from 2001 to 2008. Chris and Vanessa share two children: Cassie and Noah.

    Was Selena Quintanilla Pregnant When She Died?

    No. Selena’s widower Chris has routinely denied persistent rumors that she was pregnant at the time of her death.

    While promoting his memoir, To Selena, with Love, in 2012, Chris denied the pregnancy theories, along with speculation that he and Selena were planning to divorce.

    “I could fill a whole book just about [those rumors],” Perez told Chron. “There were some things that were just ridiculous.”

    What Has Selena Quintanilla’s Widower Chris Perez Said About Their Marriage?

    Chris has occasionally spoken about his marriage to Selena over the years, including writing warmly about her in his memoir, To Selena, with Love.

    The couple’s romance grew out of their musical collaborations, as Chris was a member of his future wife’s tejano band, Selena y Los Dinos. In Netflix’s 2025 documentary, Chris reflected on what life was like for one of the world’s biggest stars.

    “Selena was always going, always on,” he said. “I think ‘road life’ started to become pretty busy, pretty hectic.”

    Chris remembered that one of Selena’s favorite hobbies during her downtime was designing clothing.

    “Doing the designing was something that made her happy,” Chris said. “She would set some time aside — quiet time. She would have her sketch pads and she would start going to town … Some of our outfits that we wore onstage were drawn by her.”

    Elsewhere, Chris admitted that he’d struggled with “guilt” about the way Selena died. He said he had been aware that Yolanda Saldívar once showed off a pistol to his wife but was assured by Selena that Yolanda planned to return the gun. (Yolanda originally bought a Taurus Model 85 .38-caliber revolver from a San Antonio gun range. She later returned the weapon before re-purchasing the gun days before using it in the fatal shooting.)

    “There was a lot of that. A lot of [guilt] going through my mind,” he told Chron. “But when something happens like that so quickly, and the way it happened, I think it’s only natural for most people to feel the same way. The reason something like that happens is because nobody expected it to happen. We didn’t think this person was capable of doing what she did.”

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  • 7-year-old snowboarder aims for sixth 100-day season

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    With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals. He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard. “We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said. From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old. “I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said. Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year. “That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle. Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more. “He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him. “Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell. Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.

    With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.

    Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals.

    He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard.

    “We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said.

    From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old.

    “I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said.

    Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year.

    “That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle.

    Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more.

    “He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”

    Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him.

    “Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell.

    Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.

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  • Sunbury woman carried child for California couple suspected of scam

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    SUNBURY — Sunbury resident Alexa Fasold thought she was helping a childless California couple when she agreed to be a surrogate, but learned they may be part of a nationwide scam before delivering the baby in October.

    The healthy infant boy has been placed with a foster family in Montour County while the FBI and California authorities investigate Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, the owners of Mark Surrogacy, an Arcadia, Calif.-based agency, who were accused of felony child endangerment and child neglect and later found to have 21 children between the ages of 2 and 13 — mostly toddlers delivered by surrogates — in their home or care.


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    By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

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  • Sunbury woman carried child for California couple suspected of scam

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    SUNBURY — Sunbury resident Alexa Fasold thought she was helping a childless California couple when she agreed to be a surrogate, but learned they may be part of a nationwide scam before delivering the baby in October.

    The healthy infant boy has been placed with a foster family in Montour County while the FBI and California authorities investigate Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, the owners of Mark Surrogacy, an Arcadia, Calif.-based agency, who were accused of felony child endangerment and child neglect and later found to have 21 children between the ages of 2 and 13 — mostly toddlers delivered by surrogates — in their home or care.

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    By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

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  • Sunbury woman carried child for California couple suspected of scam

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    SUNBURY — Sunbury resident Alexa Fasold thought she was helping a childless California couple when she agreed to be a surrogate, but learned they may be part of a nationwide scam before delivering the baby in October.

    The healthy infant boy has been placed with a foster family in Montour County while the FBI and California authorities investigate Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, the owners of Mark Surrogacy, an Arcadia, Calif.-based agency, who were accused of felony child endangerment and child neglect and later found to have 21 children between the ages of 2 and 13 — mostly toddlers delivered by surrogates — in their home or care.

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    By Marcia Moore mmoore@dailyitem.com

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  • See how much health insurance costs would go up if expanded ACA subsidies are allowed to expire

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    See how much health insurance costs would go up if expanded ACA subsidies are allowed to expire

    The expiration of expanded ACA subsidies could lead to higher health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

    Updated: 5:36 PM PST Nov 11, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, initially passed by Democrats in 2021 as part of pandemic relief legislation, are set to expire at the end of this year, potentially increasing health insurance costs for many Americans.FactCheck.org has looked into competing claims of who benefits from the subsidies. Democrats first passed the expanded ACA subsidies in 2021 as part of pandemic relief legislation, with the enhanced subsidies initially set to last for two years. They were later extended through the end of this year via additional legislation passed by Democrats. Under the ACA, subsidies are available for people who buy their own insurance on the marketplace and if they earn up to 400% above the federal poverty level. Those eligible for coverage also can’t be enrolled in Medicare or have employer-sponsored health care. For an individual, this threshold is $62,000 annually, $84,000 for a couple, and $128,000 for a family of four, according to FactCheck.org. When the ACA subsidies expanded in 2021, it increased the financial help enrollees could get and eliminated the 400% income cap. If the subsidies expire, there would be no tax credit anymore for people who make more than 400% of the federal poverty level.Health policy research organization KFF looked at the changes families could see with the expiring ACA subsidies. According to FactCheck.org, premiums are based on income, and currently, people are paying up to 8.5% of their income for health insurance. If the subsidies expire, people would pay more for their premiums, from 2% to 10% of their income.For example, an individual who makes $35,000 is currently paying 3% of their income towards their health premium. If the subsidies expire, they would pay 7.5% of their income towards insurance, which would be a $1,500 increase. For a family of four earning $90,000 a year, they currently pay 5.2% of their income towards their health premium. If the subsidies expire, it would jump to 9.4%, resulting in a $3,700 increase. Prices could vary depending on age, income, family size, and location.Enrollment for health insurance through ACA has more than doubled since 2020, according to FactCheck.org. About 7% of the U.S. population, around 24 million people, enrolled this year, and the vast majority received subsidies. The Congressional Budget Office estimated 4.2 million people will not have health insurance in 2034 if the enhancement expires. They also estimate a permanent extension of these subsidies would cost nearly $350 billion over 10 years.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    The expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, initially passed by Democrats in 2021 as part of pandemic relief legislation, are set to expire at the end of this year, potentially increasing health insurance costs for many Americans.

    FactCheck.org has looked into competing claims of who benefits from the subsidies.

    Democrats first passed the expanded ACA subsidies in 2021 as part of pandemic relief legislation, with the enhanced subsidies initially set to last for two years.

    They were later extended through the end of this year via additional legislation passed by Democrats.

    Under the ACA, subsidies are available for people who buy their own insurance on the marketplace and if they earn up to 400% above the federal poverty level. Those eligible for coverage also can’t be enrolled in Medicare or have employer-sponsored health care.

    For an individual, this threshold is $62,000 annually, $84,000 for a couple, and $128,000 for a family of four, according to FactCheck.org.

    When the ACA subsidies expanded in 2021, it increased the financial help enrollees could get and eliminated the 400% income cap. If the subsidies expire, there would be no tax credit anymore for people who make more than 400% of the federal poverty level.

    Health policy research organization KFF looked at the changes families could see with the expiring ACA subsidies.

    According to FactCheck.org, premiums are based on income, and currently, people are paying up to 8.5% of their income for health insurance. If the subsidies expire, people would pay more for their premiums, from 2% to 10% of their income.

    For example, an individual who makes $35,000 is currently paying 3% of their income towards their health premium. If the subsidies expire, they would pay 7.5% of their income towards insurance, which would be a $1,500 increase. For a family of four earning $90,000 a year, they currently pay 5.2% of their income towards their health premium. If the subsidies expire, it would jump to 9.4%, resulting in a $3,700 increase. Prices could vary depending on age, income, family size, and location.

    Enrollment for health insurance through ACA has more than doubled since 2020, according to FactCheck.org.

    About 7% of the U.S. population, around 24 million people, enrolled this year, and the vast majority received subsidies.

    The Congressional Budget Office estimated 4.2 million people will not have health insurance in 2034 if the enhancement expires.

    They also estimate a permanent extension of these subsidies would cost nearly $350 billion over 10 years.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Pandion Creative Announces Dragon Mom; a Short Documentary on Motherhood, Ableism, and the Healing Power of Nature.

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    An intimate portrait of love, resilience, and the right to move freely through the world.


    NEWINGTON, N.H., November 11, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Pandion Creative announces Dragon Mom, a short documentary by filmmaker Harrison Buck that follows Laura Will, a mother navigating the emotional and societal realities of raising her son Alden. Alden was born with polymicrogyria, a rare neurological condition that renders him nonverbal and paraplegic.

    At five years old, Alden is discovering new ways to move through the world, including learning to use a sit-ski. As he finds freedom, Laura’s path unfolds beside him. Together, they confront ableism, advocate for accessibility, and challenge what inclusion truly means.

    Watch the Official Trailer for Dragon Mom
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMlsrPbXdjY

    At its heart, Dragon Mom is about the universal right to experience nature; to move freely, to play, to belong. The film reminds us that access to the outdoors is not a privilege but a shared human right. Through Laura and Alden’s journey, the film reveals how the natural world can heal, restore, and equalize.

    “I am truly grateful to my friends Laura and Dave for trusting me with their story.” said director Harrison Buck. “I have been moved beyond words by their courage and grace in the face of an ever-breaking wave that is caring for and raising Alden. We are so lucky to have Laura as the center of this piece for many reasons, but her honesty while reconciling with her own misunderstandings of what ableism is and the unflinching way she assesses her own life make her a gravitational force. I am perpetually impressed by her as she continues to evolve amongst this exceedingly rare diagnosis, and am honored to be able to share her story.”

    Starring Laura Will, David Nicholson, and Alden Nicholson, the film is brought to life through the lens of cinematographer Matteo Moretti, whose visual approach captures both intimacy and scale. The film features an original score by Grammy-winning musician Chris Pandolfi (of The Infamous Stringdusters), whose compositions act as a quiet guide leading the viewer through the film’s emotional terrain with grace.

    The film was shot on location at the Will’s Home, the Parlor Skis Factory, and various other locations in Massachusetts as well as Sugarbush Resort in Vermont. At Sugarbush, Alden skis with the team from Vermont Adaptive.

    Produced by Alex Delano and James Hamilton with design by Ania Puciata and production support from Sage Yazzie, Dragon Mom was created in collaboration with oakpool, whose team supported production, design, and post.

    “The oakpool team is thrilled to be along on the ride with Harrison and Pandion Creative once again,” said oakpool Co-Founder & Partner James Hamilton. “The creative bond and partnership between our organizations gets stronger every day, and we look forward to telling more meaningful stories together.”

    This marks the second documentary collaboration between Pandion Creative and oakpool, following Meko, a feature-length documentary about Bahamian fishing guide Meko Glinton and his experience with Hurricane Dorian. Meko is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, and Fandor.

    Dragon Mom is currently being submitted to several international film festivals, with screening announcements to follow.

    For more information or to view the trailer, visit pandioncreative.com or contact Remick@FordHamilton.com.

    About Pandion Creative

    Founded by filmmaker Harrison Buck, Pandion Creative is a purpose-driven film and content studio based in Newington, New Hampshire, telling human stories rooted in nature, culture, and craft. With a focus on visual authenticity and emotional depth, Pandion partners with like-minded organizations to create work that inspires awareness, empathy, and action.

    Learn more at pandioncreative.com

    About oakpool

    Founded by James Hamilton and Alex Ford in 2018, oakpool is a globally distributed firm serving brands from GORE-TEX and Goslings Rum to boutique lodges and tour operators worldwide. oakpool builds teams, systems, and software for sustainable growth through a partner-owned model that operates like an embedded digital and creative team.

    Learn more at oakpool.xyz

    Contact Information

    Remick Smothers
    Press Lead
    remick@fordhamilton.com
    202-412-5300

    Related Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMlsrPbXdjY

    Source: Pandion Creative

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  • Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrives in Manhattan, kicking off New York’s holiday season

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    The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was hoisted aloft at its new home in Manhattan on Saturday, marking the start of New York City’s holiday season.This year’s tree is a 75-foot-tall Norway spruce from the upstate town of East Greenbush, a suburb of Albany. After being cut down this week, it made the roughly 150-mile journey south on a flatbed truck, drawing curious onlookers along the way.The crowds were much bigger at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where workers used cranes to hoist the 11-ton tree into position overlooking the iconic skating rink. People gathered with coffee cups and phones as crews secured the spruce and began the careful process of stabilizing it.The tree will soon be decorated with more than 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski star weighing 900 pounds.It will be lit Dec. 3 during a live TV broadcast hosted by country music star Reba McEntire and remain on display until mid-January, after which it will be milled into lumber for use by the affordable housing nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.The tree was donated by homeowner Judy Russ and her family. She said it was planted by her husband’s great-grandparents in the 1920s.”For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible,” Russ told the radio station 1010 WINS.The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression. The comparatively modest 20-foot balsam fir was outfitted with garlands handmade by the workers’ families.The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933.

    NEW YORK —

    The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was hoisted aloft at its new home in Manhattan on Saturday, marking the start of New York City’s holiday season.

    This year’s tree is a 75-foot-tall Norway spruce from the upstate town of East Greenbush, a suburb of Albany. After being cut down this week, it made the roughly 150-mile journey south on a flatbed truck, drawing curious onlookers along the way.

    The crowds were much bigger at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where workers used cranes to hoist the 11-ton tree into position overlooking the iconic skating rink. People gathered with coffee cups and phones as crews secured the spruce and began the careful process of stabilizing it.

    The tree will soon be decorated with more than 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski star weighing 900 pounds.

    It will be lit Dec. 3 during a live TV broadcast hosted by country music star Reba McEntire and remain on display until mid-January, after which it will be milled into lumber for use by the affordable housing nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.

    The tree was donated by homeowner Judy Russ and her family. She said it was planted by her husband’s great-grandparents in the 1920s.

    “For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible,” Russ told the radio station 1010 WINS.

    The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression. The comparatively modest 20-foot balsam fir was outfitted with garlands handmade by the workers’ families.

    The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933.

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  • ‘Compassion is alive and well’: Volusia County food drive helps SNAP recipients

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    THANK YOU DAVID. MEANWHILE, SNAP RECIPIENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING AS THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES. JUST YESTERDAY, THE SUPREME COURT LET THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TEMPORARILY WITHHOLD ABOUT $4 BILLION IN BENEFITS. BUT HELP IS IN THE WORKS AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, THE VOLUSIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AS WELL, AND THE JEWISH FEDERATION PARTNERED TO PUT TOGETHER A FOOD DRIVE IN LESS THAN FOUR DAYS. TODAY. THE CARS KEPT COMING AND THE FOOD KEPT PILING UP UNTIL THEY COLLECTED 200,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, ENOUGH TO FEED 5000 FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON SNAP. THAT’S BEEN AFFECTED BY THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NOW IN U.S. HISTORY. THIS COMMUNITY DID THIS TOGETHER, AND IN A WORLD WHERE IT FEELS LIKE COMPASSION IS LOST, THIS COUNTY HAS SHOWN COMPASSION IS ALIVE AND WELL. AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT’S MORE INSPIRING THAN THAT. ARE YOU AMAZED? STUNNED? IT WAS BREATHTAKING TO SEE THAT LINE THAT STILL. I MEAN, HERE’S PEOPLE STILL PULLING IN, DROPPING OFF BAGS AND BAGS AND BAGS OF FOOD AND THAT STUFF THAT WAS LAYING IN YOUR GARAGE WHEN WHEN YOU HAD A FLOOD. THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT TO ALDI, THEY WENT TO WALMART, THEY WENT TO PUBLIX, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. TOMORROW AT THE SPEEDWAY, FOLKS IN NEED CAN TAKE FOOD. THAT WAS COLLECTED TODAY, BUT THERE ARE TWO REQUIREMENTS. YOU HAVE TO SHOW PROOF THAT YOU ARE IN THE SNAP PROGRAM AND THAT YOU ARE A VOLUSIA COUNTY RESIDENT.

    ‘Compassion is alive and well’: Volusia County food drive helps SNAP recipients

    Updated: 8:13 PM EST Nov 8, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    As the government shutdown continues, SNAP recipients are struggling, but Volusia County residents have rallied to collect 200,000 pounds of food for families affected by the suspension of benefits.Just yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to temporarily withhold about $4 billion in benefits. In response, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Jewish Federation organized a food drive at Daytona International Speedway in under four days.Today, cars arrived, and food donations accumulated until they reached 200,000 pounds, enough to feed 5,000 families who rely on the SNAP program.Rabbi Rob Lennick of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties said, “We did this together, and in a world where it feels like compassion is lost, this county has shown compassion is alive and well. And I tell you, what’s more inspiring than that.”Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County expressed his amazement at the community’s response, saying, “Are you amazed? Stunned. It was breathtaking to see that line. There are still people pulling in and dropping off bags and bags of food. And not stuff that was lying in your garage from when you had a flood. These are people who went to Aldi’s, they went to Walmart, they went to Publix.”Tomorrow at the Speedway, those in need can collect the food gathered today. There are two requirements: proof of participation in the SNAP program and residency in Volusia County. The food distribution will begin at 11 a.m.

    VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —

    As the government shutdown continues, SNAP recipients are struggling, but Volusia County residents have rallied to collect 200,000 pounds of food for families affected by the suspension of benefits.

    Just yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to temporarily withhold about $4 billion in benefits.

    In response, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Jewish Federation organized a food drive at Daytona International Speedway in under four days.

    Today, cars arrived, and food donations accumulated until they reached 200,000 pounds, enough to feed 5,000 families who rely on the SNAP program.

    This content is imported from YouTube.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Rabbi Rob Lennick of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties said, “We did this together, and in a world where it feels like compassion is lost, this county has shown compassion is alive and well. And I tell you, what’s more inspiring than that.”

    Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County expressed his amazement at the community’s response, saying, “Are you amazed? Stunned. It was breathtaking to see that line. There are still people pulling in and dropping off bags and bags of food. And not stuff that was lying in your garage from when you had a flood. These are people who went to Aldi’s, they went to Walmart, they went to Publix.”

    Tomorrow at the Speedway, those in need can collect the food gathered today. There are two requirements: proof of participation in the SNAP program and residency in Volusia County. The food distribution will begin at 11 a.m.

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  • Asking Eric: Daughter’s clutter keeps getting her kicked out of apartments

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    Dear Eric: My 40-year-old daughter and spouse live in an apartment with their children. Both were raised in clean, tidy homes.

    I know they have always paid the rent on time wherever they live. The issue: they’re both nasty slobs. They’ve been in their current apartment less than six months. Their patio is full of trash, unused plant pots, vacuum cleaner, patio furniture and kids toys, the only unit like this in the whole massive complex. I know the inside is just as bad.

    In the past I’ve offered to clean up with them, but they were so offended, they wouldn’t communicate for a month because I was judgmental, and then they withheld the children.

    Every year the landlord won’t renew their lease. Happens every year. They get angry and say they don’t understand why. Don’t landlords issue warnings for fire hazards, pest control? The expense and kids changing schools can’t be easy for them.

    Is there any way to approach them without raising their ire at me? It’s difficult for me to even look at it (can’t avoid it, it’s a front patio) when I pick up the kids weekly, but we’ve clashed before so I must be extra careful.

    — Trash Clash

    Dear Clash: It sounds like they’ve got to learn how to clean up their own mess, literally and proverbially. Your offer of assistance was really kind and, from your telling, did more than just point out the problem. But if something like that is going to raise their hackles to the point of cutting off communication, I fear there’s nothing you can say that won’t prompt a similar conflict.

    There are two options, then. First, if you believe the mess is harmful to their children, you can reach out to 311 to get them help for their hoarding tendencies. Many fire departments have members trained at intervention. They can pay the apartment a visit. You could also reach out to a social worker, but it doesn’t seem from your letter that you think the children are in danger and so this option might be too extreme.

    The other path is just letting it be. They obviously have a sensitivity to even the mention of the mess. And, as you wrote, their living habits are impacting their ability to find consistent housing. They could benefit from counseling and coaching around this issue and any emotional underpinnings that might be getting in their way. But they have to be willing, and you may not be the right person to step in.

    For now, take a step back, reach out to 311, and see if they can help get the ball rolling without implicating you.

    Dear Eric: I am writing because I don’t know where to start and how to begin getting out of horrible depression. I can’t turn my mind off. I’m afraid of dying and what’s after death. I’m afraid of being alone for the rest of my life (I’m 54 years old). I go to work and come home, or I’m watching my grandkids (who I just adore). I can’t lose weight. Nothing is positive and/or worth getting out of bed for. I feel so blah, yucky and worthless. Please, where do I start? And how do I start?

    — Cure for Sadness

    Dear Cure: I understand how overwhelming this constellation of feelings is. And even making a small start can feel like a huge task. So, don’t be hard on yourself and keep in mind that feeling better is a series of small changes, efforts, trials and practices that can snowball.

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • 7 Things I Learned From My One Year Old Son – Dragos Roua

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    I never thought I will have the chance to write something like this again. If you read my blog for some time, you may remember my “7 things I learned from my daughter” series. But that happened almost 2 decades ago, Bianca is now in college.

    And yet, here I am, a (happy) dad at 55, celebrating his third child – a smart, healthy and beautiful boy called Rovi – first birthday today.

    Here are 7 things Rovi taught be in the last 365 days.

    1. Falling Down Is Temporary, Getting Up Every Time Is What Matters

    A couple of months ago he started to walk. Or, to be more precise, he started to fall down every time he tried to get up. But he never stopped trying to get up, again and again and again. It was like he knew falling down is part of the lesson. It’s the getting up that really counts.

    2. If You Really Want Something, Don’t Stop Until You Get It

    When he is hungry or he wants something, he doesn’t stop until he gets it. Like, literally. He will not stop until he gets what he wants. I hope that later in life, this instinctual attitude will ripple into a character trait that will make him persistent, disciplined and loyal. And I’m really happy about that.

    3. Smiling Is Underrated

    He smiles all the time, to anyone, anytime. That made me understand that sometimes the burden of life pushed me away, and I forgot how smiling can change my mood, and the mood of people around me, in a second. It doesn’t cost anything, either.

    4. Sleeping Is A Superpower

    Rovi can sleep anytime, anywhere. That’s a true superpower and I hope he will maintain this for all his life. I really wish I could have this. Especially now, when sleep has been scarce.

    5. If You Don’t Like It, Just Ignore It

    As a child, he gets a lot of attention, from all kind of people. Not all of them are nice, but Rovi has this way of just ignoring them. He simply cut them from his reality, he suddenly stops looking at them, it’s like they never existed. That’s another superpower I hope he will maintain for all his life.

    6. Attachment Is Poison

    He may cry now, but then in one second he can laugh again. He doesn’t get attached to his emotions, he just fully immerses himself in them, living in the moment. Too often I forget this, insisting on my grudges, because they give me a reason to complain, or clinging too much to my pleasures, hoping they’ll last longer. Nope. Not gonna happen. Attachment is poison. Everything that matters is right here, right now, in this very moment.

    7. There’s Always A Way

    As he is starting to explore his surroundings, he encounters every day new types of obstacles. Today is the couch, tomorrow it may be a chair, and the other day the bedroom door. He almost never gets it from the first time, but, in the end, he always gets it. He always finds a way to conquer that obstacle. It’s not about not giving up, it’s about knowing, deep down, that there is always a way to get something. You may not getting from the first try – and, honestly, he doesn’t even look like he expects this – but in the end, if you stay long enough with that problem, you will find a way to solve it.

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    dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)

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  • Mom films toddler’s first store trip without her—not knowing it’s her last

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    A Texas mom captured the moment her 22-month-old daughter left for a trip to the store without her, not knowing it would be her last. 

    In a reel on Instagram, mom Naïma Hill filmed her toddler, Aveline or ‘Avy’ as she was nicknamed, heading out the door with her dad for a quick Home Depot errand. 

    That morning, David had gently encouraged Avy to go on a “daddy adventure” without mom. “She was excited to go but also a bit nervous,” Naïma told Newsweek.

    “I was always recording things to show my kids when they grew up. Who knew it would actually be for me to bawl over watching in the middle of the night, missing my babe.” 

    Days later, in May 2023, Naïma and her two children, Avy and Kade, then 4, were in a devastating car crash. The Hills were on their way to visit family overseas when they were hit by a vehicle from behind going 66 miles per hour. Naïma and Kade survived, but Avy and the family dog, Kemosabe, were killed. 

    Avy, Naïma said, was her “barnacle baby”—never far from her mother’s side. “I miss the small things—her going every place with me, even if it’s just for a minute she wanted to be in my arms. Avy was full of sunshine and sass. Happy to be outside, being held by her momma, [she] loved her family, her dog, had her favorite books, loved her horse Baba, and loved babies.” 

    In the aftermath of the crash, Naïma said that people often ask how she copes following such tragedy. 

    “Child loss is not something you get over, ever,” she said. “When something like this happens, the entire world is dark and everything is bad, so I am desperately trying to find and do good in this world, bring her sunshine back a little.” 

    What has helped, Naïma said, is finding friends who allow her to be honest without judgment. “With these few friends, we were able to say we’ve all never gone through this, and we don’t know the words that will hurt or feel OK, but our intentions and hearts are in the right place,” Naïma said. “We trust each other, and so let’s say whatever is on our mind and not be afraid to say the wrong thing and, most importantly, be called out for it.” 

    Naïma has also found purpose in Avy’s Sunshine Tribe (AvysSunshineTribe.com), a nonprofit she founded to honor her daughter and bring light back into the community.  

    Through it, Naïma organizes Avy’s Sunshine Kite Festival, a free annual event in Dallas inspired by Guatemala’s Sumpango kite tradition, where families decorate and fly kites to connect with lost loved ones.  

    The festival raises funds toward the family’s goal of building an inclusive community playground in their Cedars neighborhood. 

    Naïma also sells Avy-inspired art, stickers, and apparel to support the project. “I share my story and grief and raw of loss trying to expose more people to this deep pain so everyone can feel like they can always talk about their losses and carry them with them forever,” she said. “Spreading Avy’s sunshine is all I can do.” 

    Naïma continues to speak openly about grief, hoping to make conversations about loss less taboo. “On the back of our kite festival shirts, it says, ‘Ask me about my kite,’ which translates to something, like ‘Ask me about my person,’ so that, when people ask, you can freely tell them about your lost loved one. We always say, ‘Love them out loud forever.’ I always tell people to take pictures and videos because you’ll lose so many memories without them.” 

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  • Families sue Adams County jail for prohibiting visits while earning $3 million on jail phone calls

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    A handful of Colorado families sued the Adams County Sheriff’s Office this week for refusing to allow in-person jail visits and instead requiring inmates and family members to pay for phone and video calls through a system that has, in five years, put $3.1 million into the sheriff’s coffers.

    The lawsuit is focused on visits between parents and children, and argues that prohibiting in-person contact between parents and their kids is both a violation of their constitutional rights and likely to cause long-term harm to everyone involved. The proposed class-action case includes both minor children who want to visit their incarcerated fathers, and mothers who want to visit their incarcerated sons.

    “They’ve denied children the right to have contact visits with their parents, to be hugged by them, to look them in the eyes, to have the in-person relationship that is so necessary, especially for a child’s healthy development,” said Dan Meyer, litigation and policy director at Spero Justice Center, one of several organizations involved in the lawsuit.

    The Colorado case is the third lawsuit filed as part of a recent nationwide effort to force jails to allow in-person family visits.

    Adams County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Shea Haney declined to comment on the lawsuit.

    The plaintiffs include 4- and 6-year-old siblings in Adams County who have not been able to visit their father since he was jailed in February, as well as a 9-year-old boy whose stepfather was jailed from June to October.

    “To have to tell my child he wasn’t allowed to go see his dad, it was just really painful,” said Autumn Ray, mother of the 9-year-old boy.

    She spent as much as $400 a month on calls to the jail during her husband’s incarceration, she said. A phone call to the jail currently costs 15 cents a minute, while video calls cost 20 cents a minute, according to the lawsuit.

    Ray’s calls to the jail routinely stretched over an hour, she said, in part because the system for making calls often did not work, so she and her husband, whom she declined to name, would have more to catch up on when they could connect. The parents decided that spending the money on the phone calls was necessary as their son struggled with his dad’s absence, she said.

    “His dad and I talked and decided it was worth using some of our savings for him to still be able to talk to his dad on the phone, because otherwise the full brunt of parenting a neurodivergent, grief-stricken child was fully on me,” she said.

    The lawsuit alleges that the sheriff’s office is denying in-person visits to ramp up profits from the video and phone calls, and notes that the Colorado Supreme Court ordered the Adams County sheriff to allow in-person jail visits in 1978 — an order they say still stands. The jail has rooms dedicated to such visits that are going unused, the lawsuit alleges.

    The jail has not allowed in-person visits for family and friends since at least 2006, and stopped offering free video calls at kiosks in its lobby in 2020, according to the complaint.

    The jail now uses a company called HomeWAV to allow video and phone calls between inmates and their friends and family. The arrangement calls for the sheriff’s office to receive at least 40% of video call money and 80% of phone call money, according to the lawsuit.

    The sheriff’s office has received $3.1 million under the contract since 2020, while HomeWAV has earned about $1.7 million, according to the complaint.

    Colorado sheriffs have in the past cited staffing shortages and concerns about contraband as reasons not to allow in-person family visits. Meyer said those concerns can be overcome, and noted that in-person visits are allowed in one of Denver’s jails.

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