With so much going on in the world, you might be looking for a mental health break. Why not try a farm where you can cuddle with goats?

It's fun the Strohmer family wants to share. As third-generation farmers, they have just about everything running around their 100-acre farm in Woodstock, Maryland.

"It's a lot of fun to farm," Brenda Strohmer said. "We do a lot of agri-tourism here at the farm, and me and my eldest brother run the farm."

Strohmer said when COVID-19 hit, they started doing private tours and now they are offering something new, goat cuddling.

"So, they come down, sit in the goat pen, the goats come up to them — or they don't — and that's what I tell them. Just sit there and be still and they will come to you," Strohmer said.

Everything from big goats to baby goats, they're just as curious as they can be.

For $30, you can have up to four people visit with the goats for 30 minutes. If you're willing to get up early, you can even feed "Bear," the baby calf. Strohmer said spending time with the animals is a great way to relieve stress.

"It's just relaxing because it's fun to watch them in their environment. One minute, they're sleeping, next minute they're jumping around and playing. It's just relaxing. It's just a breath of fresh air," Strohmer said.

This spring, she's bringing in a yoga instructor for goat yoga with more events planned throughout the year.

"We also do an Easter egg hunt, pumpkin patch, corn maze and we're going to do some things throughout the summer," Strohmer said.

Strohmer said the fee that you pay to visit goes to pay for things like food, vet bills and upkeep for the farm.

For more information on how to sign up to visit, go to the farm's website.

As tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine, concerns are growing for people who fear for family and friends in Ukraine.

Some are worried about how an invasion will impact their loved ones. A Maryland man whose father is from Ukraine told sister station WBAL how the Ukrainian community in the Baltimore area feels about the situation.

Greg Zilberman, the owner of Silk Road Bistro, said his concerns are growing about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially after President Joe Biden said he is convinced that Russia has decided to invade.

"It's definitely overwhelming to say the least. It's a very uneasy feeling that it brings upon the world. Russia invasion anywhere, any country invading anywhere, there is always the risk of world war," Zilberman said.

The thought of war has Zilberman concerned, like many others in Baltimore's Ukrainian community. His father is from Ukraine and Zilberman said he has a friend there now.

"I'm nervous for him. I'm nervous for everybody there. There's no way that something like this doesn't result in bloodshed, unfortunately," Zilberman said.

Zilberman said the entire situation is complicated and it has many in the Ukrainian community divided.

"Some of them are really big Putin supporters. 'Come on in, we're your people, this isn't an invasion.' The other half, 'Why are you coming into our country? Stay out. Russia isn't big enough?'" he said.

If Russia does invade, he said that many are worried about how it will happen and the impact it will have on people there.

"Are they going to peacefully cross the border? Are they going to kick people from their homes? What kind of temporary government is going to be established?" Zilberman said.

Zilberman said he is closely monitoring the situation every day. He thinks some type of military action is definitely possible, but overall, he is hoping and praying for the best.

"Obviously, a peaceful resolution will be ideal, but it's a conflict like all the others in the world. It's not so black and white, it's a gray area," he said.

Zilberman said the issue has been a hot-button topic for many Ukrainians that come to his restaurant. He said he is hoping things between both countries are solved peacefully.

ESSEX, Md. —

Warning: This article contains disturbing details that may be upsetting to readers.

The aunt of two young children found dead in the trunk her car during a traffic stop Wednesday is charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, police said.

Police said Thursday they arrested and charged Nicole Johnson, 33, of Baltimore, in connection to the deaths of her niece and nephew, 7-year-old Joshlyn Johnson and 5-year-old Larry O'Neil.

Johnson faces multiple charges, including first-degree child abuse that resulted in the death of a child under the age of 13. At the time of the autopsy, police said, the girl weighed 18 pounds and her brother weighed 21 pounds. According to doctors , it would have taken several months of malnourishment to attain these weights, police said.

Johnson waived her right to a bail review and remains held on a no-bail status. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 27.

Due to the nature of this case, it will take time to determine the exact circumstances that led to the children's deaths.

County police said officers stopped a speeding car at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday on Eastern Boulevard near Wagners Lane, which led to the officers discovering the children's bodies.

Police said the driver, Nicole Johnson, had no license nor insurance and was using fake temporary tags. According to police charging documents obtained by Baltimore sister station WBAL-TV, officers advised Nicole Johnson to report to District Court within five days, and that they were towing her car.

According to charging documents, she then stated, "It don't matter. I won't be here in five days and y'all going to see me on the news, y'all going to see on the news making my big debut."

Nicole Johnson retrieved belongings from the car. One of the retrieved items was a clear trash bag that contained maggots and the officer smelled a strong odor, police said. There was a suitcase in the bag that Nicole Johnson claimed to contain just blankets, police said.

The charging documents state that Nicole Johnson removed the blanket, exposing the decomposing body of a young child.

Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson ran away and was apprehended a short distance away.

The charging documents state that detectives searched the remaining bags and found another decomposing body of a young child.

Police said in the charging documents that Nicole Johnson told detectives that both children are her sister's children and that she was watching them because her sister was unable to care for them.

The children's biological mother told detectives that she moved from Ohio to Maryland with the children in July 2019 and that she couldn't care for her children and agreed to leave them with her sister, Nicole Johnson.

According to the charging documents, Nicole Johnson told detectives she struck the 7-year-old girl several times for misbehaving and that the girl hit her head on the floor and died. She put the girl in a suitcase and had been carrying it around for months, according to the charging documents.

The charging documents state Nicole Johnson told police she saw blood on the leg of the 5-year-old boy two months ago and he never woke up. She said she placed him in a plastic tote bag in the trunk with his sister.

"She admitted that she smelled the strong odor of decomposition but thought it was a rat in the engine," police said.

Police said the mother tried numerous times to get in touch with Nicole Johnson but was unsuccessful. Police said the mother eventually heard from her in March and arranged to have her children returned, but Nicole Johnson never showed. Police said the mother was unable to find Nicole Johnson or her children until detectives notified her of the children's deaths.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski tweeted a statement, saying: "The abhorrent details of this heartbreaking incident remain difficult to comprehend. On behalf of the people of Baltimore County, I share my deepest sympathies with the family, friends, and loved ones of Joshlyn Marie James Johnson and Larry Darnell O'Neal.

"As our community grieves the loss of these two children, I thank our officers for their swift efforts in apprehending and charging a suspect in this case."

Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt released a statement, saying: "This truly was a devastating incident — one that not only shocked our community to its core, but significantly affected our patrol officers, forensic technicians and detectives. I am grateful that the harrowing details of this case were thoroughly and quickly uncovered, resulting in an expeditious closure to this tragedy. I want to commend all of our Baltimore County Police Department members who worked tirelessly throughout this investigation to bring justice to these innocent, young victims."

TOKYO —

Chase Kalisz got things rolling, claiming the first U.S. gold at the Olympic pool.

By the time the morning was done, the powerhouse team had a whole bunch of medals.

Six of them in all, quite a start Sunday for the Americans in the post-Michael Phelps era.

"I'm happy to be here and kick the U.S. off," said Kalisz, who won the 400-meter individual medley.

There was room for others to shine, as well.

Host Japan won a swimming gold, Tunisia claimed a surprising spot atop the medal podium, and the mighty Australian women set the first world record of the competition in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

The Americans certainly had no complaints about their opening-day performance. In Phelps' record-setting career, which encompassed five Summer Games, they never won six medals in the first session of finals.

"A pretty good start for the U.S.," said Kieran Smith, who in his first major international meet snagged a bronze in the men's 400 freestyle. "We executed today. I'm really proud of us."

The Aussies, who hope to challenge America's dominance in the pool, picked up three medals Sunday.

The free relay was never in doubt, not with a dynamic quartet that included sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell swimming the leadoff and anchor legs, respectively, joined by Meg Harris and Emma McKeon.

McKeon blew away the field on the third leg and Cate Campbell touched in 3 minutes, 29.69 seconds. At the medal ceremony, the sisters touchingly draped their medals around each other's neck.

The silver went to Canada in 3:32.78, while the Americans capped their morning with one more medal to surpass their best first-day haul from the Phelps era (five in both 2004 and 2008).

With Simone Manuel anchoring the relay, they touched just behind their rivals to the north in 3:32.81.

Kalisz was the first U.S. medal winner of the Tokyo Games, and Jay Litherland — who was born in Osaka — made it a 1-2 finish for the Americans by rallying on the freestyle leg to claim the silver. Brendon Smith of Australia earned the bronze.

In the 400 free, 18-year-old Tunisian Ahmed Hafnaoui was the stunning winner from lane eight, his victory punctuated with loud screams that could be heard throughout the largely empty arena.

"I was surprised with myself," said Hafnaoui, who joined Ous Mellouli as a gold medalist from the north African country. "I couldn't believe it until I touched the wall and saw the 1 (on the scoreboard)."

Hafnaoui finished in 3:43.26, followed by Australia's Jack McLoughlin and Kieran Smith. The top three were separated by less than a second after eight laps of the pool.

The U.S. women did their part, too.

Japan's Yui Ohashi won gold in the women's 400 IM with an electric breaststroke leg, but two Americans were right in her wake. Emma Weyant earned the silver, while the bronze went to Hali Flickinger.

"After we saw (Kalisz and Litherland go 1-2), we kind of looked at each other and said, 'It's our turn,'" Weyant said. "I think that really got our team going."

Kalisz, a protégé and former training partner of Phelps, touched first in 4:09.42. Litherland was next in 4:10.28, just one-10th of a second ahead of Brendon Smith.

Kalisz flexed his muscles and then climbed atop the lane rope, splashing the water while a contingent of his teammates cheered him from the stands at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

"U-S-A! U-S-A!" they chanted.

Kalisz was the silver medalist in the grueling event at the Rio Games five years ago. Now, at age 27, he's the best in the world at using all four strokes.

"That one was the most special type of pain," Kalisz said. "I had vowed that I was going to make that hurt as much as possible and give my absolute best to accomplish this."

Litherland came over to give the winner a hug, having ensured the Americans got off to the best possible start at the pool.

"To come back and do this with Chase means a lot," said Litherland, who finished fifth in the 400 IM at Rio.

After putting on their medals during a masked-up victory ceremony, Kalisz and Litherland walked around the deck arm-in-arm.

No social distancing for them.

The Americans seized their chance after Japanese star Daiya Seto stunningly failed to advance to the final, having finished ninth in the preliminaries after making a tactical error attempting to save his energy for the medal race.

The finals were held in the morning Tokyo time rather than their usual evening slot, a nod to U.S. television network NBC, which wanted to show the finals live in prime time back in America.

That was the same format used at the 2008 Beijing Games, where Phelps won a record eight gold medals. He retired after Rio, having captured 23 gold medals overall, but the Americans still have plenty of star power for the post-Phelps era.

Ohashi helped to make up for Seto's flop in the men's IM. She pulled away in the breast to win in 4:32.08.

Weyant gave chase in the freestyle leg but settled for silver in 4:32.76. Flickinger was third in 4:34.90, while Hungarian great Katinka Hosszu, the defending champion, faded to fifth.

The only people in the stands of the 15,000-seat arena were media, VIPs, officials and swimmers who weren't competing Sunday. It was an eerily quiet atmosphere at times, though many ignored requests by Japanese organizers to refrain for any sort of cheering to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

There was a drum in the stands, as well as a few horns to spice things up.

In a striking touch before the first race, the loudspeakers blared the song "Pompeii" by the British band Bastille, which includes the lyrics, "But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?"

In the pool, it was business at usual. But it certainly felt like plenty had changed in an Olympics that were delayed a year by a worldwide pandemic and are finally being staged under tight restrictions that included a ban on all fans.

The Americans had no complaints.

Even with Phelps looking down from a broadcast seat, they are off to a dynamic start at the Olympic pool.

In an effort to address growing tensions between police departments and the communities they serve, some departments are turning to new ways of community outreach in hopes of rebuilding trust that’s been lost.

Kelly Fenner at the Baltimore County Police Department has taken on a new role for the department. It’s a position created in hopes of reestablishing trust between the department and the community. Her title: Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

As a Black woman in law enforcement, this 30-year veteran of the force says she has a unique perspective on the current state of affairs.

“It put me in a unique position because I see both sides. My being a Black woman in a community that’s been underrepresented and underserved for so long,” she said.

The City of Baltimore and its surrounding counties have long had a painful, complicated history rooted in racism and conflict. Fenner’s job is to work to repair that fragile relationship between the police and the community.

“We’re just looking for progression, not perfection,” she added.

So, how does a police department work to rebuild trust right now? In Baltimore County, they’re starting inside the department by deploying various kind of empathy training.

“We have to start looking at ourselves in the mirror before we can change how we’re perceived outside the agency,” Fenner said.

Community outreach is also a pivotal part of Fenner’s job. Over the course of the past few months, she’s hosted various candid community conversations. Most are hosted online because of COVID-19, but the idea is for officers in the department to be able to listen to residents and understand what they’re thinking and feeling.

“This is a slow burn, nothing happens overnight. We did not get here overnight and it’s going to take time for that to change,” she said.