CINCINNATI —

Dozens of volunteers came together at Irving Playground in Avondale to help revitalize a blighted park and to help police with a new plan to fight crime.

“It's extremely exciting to see everybody dive in like they are now,” volunteer Michael Neade said.

About 50 volunteers planted hundreds of flowers and plants. The Cincinnati Zoo and Mad Tree Brewing accounted for the bulk of the volunteers.

“Today is not where it stops. So, it continues to grow and get better,” volunteer Catie Bechstamper said.

At the same time, there’s another plan weaved into the revitalization effort. It’s devised by police because of crime problems at the park.

“I was getting a lot of complaints about nuisance, drug dealing, crowds, violent behavior, in this exact park,” Cincinnati Police Sgt. Jeff Meister said. “We just kind of chose this, put all efforts into Irving Playground.”

Meister said they’re working with a new concept that uses environmental design to help prevent crime.

The idea is that involving the community makes them more invested in keeping the area safe. It gives them a sense of ownership in the project.

“It's all about relationships, right? Like between the pollinators in the plants, between the neighborhood and all of the organizations around, between the city officials and everybody who is involved in making this project happen,” said Cincinnati Zoo director of community partnerships and conservation Mollie O’Neil. “Spaces like this in nature really do help people root and a sense of place and then care for this area and make great memories.”

WAUKESHA, Wis. —

The Waukesha Christmas Parade returned to downtown Waukesha Sunday one year after a driver plowed through the same event killing six people and injuring dozens more.

The theme of this year's parade was Peace on Earth.

There were 80 groups marching in the parade, many of which are the same that were struck by tragedy including the Waukesha Blazers baseball club, the Dancing Grannies and Catholic Communities of Waukesha.

Several floats were decorated by Waukesha South High School band members and other students in honor of last year's victims.

Terry Rutledge has been a part of the Waukesha community for 45 years and was in the parade last year with the Salvation Army.

On Sunday, he drove a decorated plow.

Emotions were running high not only for the people who performed in the parade but also for those who attended.

"Last year after the parade we all came together, and it's just nice that even a year later, we're all still together, so it kind of solidified the whole community and kept us solidified for the whole year. The spirit never went away for Waukesha Strong," said Andrea Dorantes, who attended last year's parade.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were the last attraction in the parade.

The parade started at 4 p.m. along a new route and ended just before 5:30 p.m.

It began at Cutler Park, near Maple and Wisconsin avenues. It then went east along Main Street, south on Barstow Street and ended back at Cutler Park.

For some, it was an opportunity to heal.

"It's a very full circle moment being back. Immediately after the events of last year I started therapy so that way I could start healing right away so this is definitely the last step in my healing process," said Joe Eisenman, who attended last year's parade.

For others, like Eisenman's father, it was an opportunity to offer support.

"I just went through everything that he went through last year. We weren't here but we went through it when he was here," said Chris Eisenman.

The parade offered an opportunity for Waukesha to redefine its Christmas parade.

"Last year brought a lot of terror and a lot of confusion, but this year I honestly see nothing but happiness. That's definitely something that's different, but it's also definitely something that's amazing," said Joe Eisenman.

Parade attendees created good memories to overshadow the bad ones.

"We were here right in front of the Dancing Granny troop. So we saw a lot that day so it'll be good to see them back in the parade," said Dorantes.

Healing Hearts of Wisconsin was on hand at Sunday's parade. The organization provides support for grieving children and their families. They had a tent sent up at Cutler Park. The group also had personnel along the parade route to provide support to those struggling.

A fatal plane crash in Watertown, Wisconsin, claimed the lives of a 73-year-old pilot and his 8-year-old grandson joining him for a flight up to northern Wisconsin.

Summit View Elementary School sent a letter to inform families about the tragic loss of student Colin Strebe on June 14 due to an accident.

The aircraft plunged into a grove of trees at Brandt Quirk Park near a residential area on Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m. Investigators spent much of Thursday at the site, where pieces of the wreckage were spread across the soccer field.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were at the airport hangar to examine the evidence.

According to reports from Federal Aviation Administration, the plane had just taken off from the Municipal Airport about 3 miles from the accident site. Sources say the flight was planned to Manitowish Waters.

Investigators will collect as much information as they can from witnesses, and the wreckage itself, to determine, if they can, what led to this family tragedy in Watertown.

Watertown police department said the Brandt Quirk Park would remain closed through the weekend for site cleanup.

Police have yet to identify the victims, officially saying only that there were two victims. The pilot is from Watertown, and his grandson is from Waukesha.

The FAA and National Transportation Board will lead the investigation.

WATCH: Scary moment for Watertown neighbors who heard and 'felt' the plane crash

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Officials in Davis, California, have lifted an overnight shelter-in-place order after they were unable to find a suspect in a knife attack late Monday -- the third such incident following two fatal stabbings in less than a week near the campus of the University of California, Davis.

The startling advice for students not to venture out following Monday's stabbing, which left a woman in critical condition. That attack was preceded by the killings Saturday evening of a UC Davis senior and Thursday of a 50-year-old man at different parks near campus. About 40,000 students are enrolled at the public university in Davis, a city of some 68,000 people about a 20-minute drive west of the state capital, Sacramento.

Authorities in Davis, California are searching for a suspect after three people were stabbed in less than a week in the city.

Two people died, and one woman is in critical condition in the incidents that have shaken the small university town.

Video above: Witnesses say their friend was stabbed by Davis attacker

The city sent out an alert to residents around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday calling for a shelter in place. That shelter-in-place has since been lifted but police have yet to find the suspect, whose description now matches the assailant in two of the recent stabbings.

Here’s everything we know about the stabbings right now:

Who was killed?

On April 27, David Breaux was identified as the man who was stabbed to death in Davis’ Central Park.

Breaux was a well-known community member and a positive presence around town, often referred to as the "Compassion Guy" for asking others about their definition of "compassion."

A message from the Davis mayor, police chief and other city officials said that Breaux was a Stanford graduate who was "instrumental" in the addition of a "Compassion Bench" at the corner of 3rd and C Streets in 2013.

Two days later, Karim Abou Najm, a 20-year-old UC Davis student, was stabbed and killed at Davis’ Sycamore Park while going home from an undergraduate awards ceremony.

The student was studying computer science and was set to graduate in six weeks, according to his father, Majdi Abou Najm, who also said his son already had two jobs lined up for after graduation.

"We moved from Lebanon in 2018 when the situation in Lebanon was a little bit starting to go in not the right direction," Abou Najm said. "We came here hoping for safety."

Who was hurt?

A 64-year-old woman who has not been identified was stabbed the night of May 1 at a homeless encampment in Davis on 2nd and L streets.

Video above: Chief of police at UC Davis speaks out on deadly stabbings

The woman was found after a 911 call, and she told authorities she had been stabbed more than once through a tent.

She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and has undergone surgery.

Witness Christine Barrios said that their friend was the woman who was stabbed and that the victim had thought at first that she had been punched.

Where did the stabbings happen?

Breaux was stabbed and killed at Davis’ Central Park. Najm was stabbed and killed at Davis’ Sycamore Park. The third person, an unidentified woman, was stabbed in the area of 2nd and L streets.

Are the incidents related? Is this a serial killer?

Police said it is possible the stabbings are connected. In at least two of the stabbings, a description of the suspect was similar.

Do authorities have any leads on a suspect?

Authorities are looking for a man with a light complexion, curly hair, 5 feet and 6 inches to 5 feet and 9 inches tall, and a thin build. He is believed to be wearing a black or blue sweatshirt, black Adidas pants with stripes and carrying a brown backpack.

A similar description was issued for the suspect in the stabbing death of Abou Najm.

Who is investigating the stabbings?

The FBI has been called in to help with the investigation into stabbings.

"We're a small agency and we're working around the clock with the personnel that we have now. I have detectives sleeping under their desks for a couple of hours, staying away from their families," Dan Beckwith with Davis police said on Monday.

Are there any increased safety protocols for UC Davis students?

As an added precaution, the university said it is increasing escort availability for its Safe Ride program for students.

Video above: UC Davis students concerned for safety following deadly stabbings

Those rides from campus into the city will now be available from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily, according to the university.

CNN contributed to this report.

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio —

The Middletown community is mourning the loss of an incoming freshman who died Monday at a local water park.

Mykiara Jones, 14, was about to enter her freshman year at Middletown High School. Teachers from the middle school described her as a "rare gem."

"She radiated joy every single day of her life," said Lori Barker, a science teacher at Middletown Middle School. "She kind of lived by the motto to always be your best self, and I think she inspired others around her to do the same."

Teachers said Mykiara was a leader and a role model inside the classroom and out.

"Her bubbly personality was infectious. She wanted to encourage everyone to be the best person they can be," said Mykiara's math teacher Jennifer King.

King said Mykiara excelled in math.

"We do MAP testing, and she actually had the highest score in the winter that I have ever had of a student, and when we took it in the spring, she just wanted to do better. She just pushed herself so hard and did an amazing job," King said.

Staff members at Middletown schools are wrapping their arms around Mykiara's family members, especially her mother, as she works in the district.

On Monday, Mykiara was at Land of Illusion Adventure Park in Madison Township. The Butler County Sheriff's Office said Mykiara was not wearing a life vest when she fell into the water. She was pulled out about 30 minutes later and was flown to Dayton Children's Hospital where she died.

While authorities suspect Mykiara drowned, the Montgomery County coroner has not yet ruled on a cause of death.

The park was closed Tuesday.

Land of Illusion said in a statement posted to its Facebook page that it's fully supporting state and local officials as they investigate the incident.

In the meantime, those who taught Mykiara wanted everyone to know how special she was.

"She didn't know a stranger. She was just very special," King said.

"She was the definition of Middie pride," Barker said.

Superintendent Marlon Styles sent a letter to parents Tuesday and informed them of Mykiara's death. Styles said the district's Student Services Department is working with Access Counseling to make grief counselors available to support students, staff and parents.

CINCINNATI —

Three victims of the shooting at Smale Riverfront Park are recovering.

Police said a 17-year-old girl is in critical condition and a 16-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy are healing after they were shot in the arm.

Family members told WLWT the oldest victim is in intensive care.

They said she has organ damage, but also told us she is stable after ending up caught in the crossfire.

We also talked with the mother of a 16-year-old who was shot.

"I was about to get in bed when somebody called and said, 'Ms. Katrina, your daughter's shot'. I'm like, what," Trina said.

It was a phone call that changed everything for Trina.

We are not using anything more than her first name and not identifying her 16-year-old daughter at their request after the shooting at Smale Riverfront Park on Sunday.

Trina said she is a nurse and started considering how badly her daughter could be hurt.

"They said that she was shot in the arm, like, and I don't know what it could've been because, you know, me, I see it all the time. It can go through the arm and go into the chest. So, I didn't really know what was happening," Trina said.

It is unbelievable, yet somehow feels predictable to this mother.

"I didn't want her to go down there. Specifically before, specifically for this reason. It seems like every weekend the kids convene down there and it just be a mess, like, there's all types of fights and stuff like that," she said.

Trina told us her 16-year-old daughter was shot as she went to the park after a movie.

She said the bullet is still inside.

Police said a 15-year-old boy was shot in the arm, too.

Even more concerning, officials said a 17-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot in the back.

Her loved ones said she is in intensive care.

They also said she lost a kidney and has a damaged liver, but is stable at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

They said she was not part of the fight.

For these families, there is a lot to process, including a shared pain knowing some lives have been changed forever and some have been lost.

"There's nothing that you can say to make a person feel better about their loved one being gone. There's nothing," Trina said.

Family members of the 17-year-old said she only turned 17 in May.

They said she was at the park celebrating the Fourth of July with some friends.

Trina said she feels children are being failed across the board, as she reflected on the shooting.

She said there are issues with parenting, the school system and a lack of jobs and other opportunities to keep kids off the streets.

MASON, Ohio —

Kings Island is celebrating its 49th birthday Thursday.

The park opened its gates and welcomed guests for the first time on April 29, 1972.

The opening set the stage for nearly 50 years of world class thrills, fun and family memories.

What did Kings Island look like in 1972?

It was the first year of operation for the Mason, Ohio, theme park, which was then owned by the Taft Broadcasting Company.

The idea for the popular theme park was conceived in the early 1960s as an expansion of Cincinnati's Coney Island, which was (and still is) prone to flooding from the Ohio River.

When the park first opened, there were just over 60 attractions for the public to enjoy.

Now, after years of investments, there are more than 100 rides and attractions including Orion, which claimed the title of Best New Amusement Park Attraction by USA Today's 2020 10Best Readers' poll.

The coaster is the seventh giga coaster on the planet.

Cincinnatian Nick Franceschina recently stumbled upon footage of the theme park during its inaugural year in his family's home videos. He shared the footage with us of his family outing. Watch that video in the player above.

The park will open its gates this year on May 15. Season passholders will get a special sneak preview on May 8 and 9. Soak City Water Park opens May 29 (Memorial Day weekend).

The old Zephyr roller coast at the shuttered Six Flags site is visible from several vantage points in New Orleans East.

But inside these busted up entry gates, the damage to the more than 250-acre park is far worse than one can imagine.

Sister station WDSU got an exclusive look at what's inside with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

When you come to the main entrance, most of the gates are busted open, and lightbulbs have been knocked out.

The park puts off an almost eerie feel.

On the boardwalk, the "Beach Bang" bumper cars are flooded out and flipped over.

A byproduct of Hurricane Katrina — and almost zero upkeep.

Rides that kids and young adults once enjoyed are decaying and rusting.

The "Ozarka Splash Park" ride is overgrown.

The "Batman Adventure" is barely standing.

The "Backlot Bus Tour Ride" has taken a back seat to rust and dust.

The music has stopped on the "Zedeco Zinger Swings."

And inside the "Main Street Metropolitan Building," the old stage is all but destroyed.

Buildings once filled with a feeling of fun and excitement are now covered in graffiti and dilapidated.

But despite these conditions, Cantrell has hope.

"Even though we're standing in a blighted area, do you see promise when you look at this?" WDSU asked Cantrell during an exclusive tour of the facility.

"I see promise when I look at this, and I see promise beyond this. I see a real gateway as an entry point to New Orleans through New Orleans East," said Cantrell.

The mayor's big motivation: The city owns this land. WDSU was the first local news crew allowed by the city into the park in almost 15 years.

The site employs a nuisance wildlife trapper.

There are 22 alligators on-site, with dozens of large snakes and large wild boars.

And while the city is paying for 24/7 security, which costs more than $10,000 a month, more than 25 films and TV shows have used the site for on-location shoots in recent years, which does generate some small revenue for the city.

"We own it and we can control it — and this is the best step forward for redevelopment of the east," said Cantrell.

But it won't come cheap — the price tag could be $50-100 million.

Cantrell isn't the first mayor to try and redevelop this property.

Six Flags declined to re-open following flooding from Katrina in 2005.

Previous administrations tried, with little to no success, to find a development partner.

And the ideas back then were all over the map.

"The retail mixed-use will be the first thing to be built," said one developer in 2017.

Others suggested a new theme park and concert venue.

But in the end, the city couldn't find anyone with a viable idea and enough cash to foot the bill

"I do not want to go back to the community with pie-in-the-sky projects that are not real," said Cantrell.

So her administration is taking a different approach.

"So it was our priority to make sure that developers came to the table ready with the financing, ready with a vision, ready with the capacity to get this done now. So no more waiting," said Cantrell.

And a city selection committee is moving fast.

In March, members picked three proposals for further consideration.

A development partner could be selected by the city in the next 90 days.

One of the pitched ideas came from newly retired Saints quarterback Drew Brees, along with current linebacker Demario Davis.

Their concept: an "agricultural innovation hub" at its core, and a state-of-the-art facility for urban farming.

Additional elements in the plan include an interactive education lab with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math and a "holistic and natural healing center."

And the decision to redevelop is an about-face for Cantrell.

Just two years ago her administration explored the idea of spending $1.3 million to demolish the entire park, leaving people in the nearby Maple Ridge subdivision scratching their heads.

"Our property in the Maple Ridge subdivision benefits on what they put there in the future," said one resident.

But now the mayor is set on breathing new life into this dormant amusement park.

"We're excited because they're viable and real — this isn't pie in the sky, they have what it takes to turn this into a real investment for our city and our people," said Cantrell.

HOUSTON, Texas – There may not be a lot of people out during this coronavirus pandemic, but the same can’t be said for the nation’s wildlife.

In Houston, the city’s assistant police chief, Larry Satterwhite, ran into a group of ducklings trying to find their mother at Memorial Park.

The department posted a video of the sweet encounter and joked that the officer was providing a "police escort" for the young ducks.

Police didn’t disclose whether momma duck was found.

The day before, an NBC News reporter captured another Houston officer leading a string of ducklings back to their mom. She says he also helped her after she locked her keys in her car.

A big thank you to

@houstonpolice

Sgt. Engelhart who not only helped me after I locked my keys in the car this morning, but also helped these little chicks find their way back to mom — all while making sure that folks know all

@HoustonTX

parks are closed due to

#COVID19

.

pic.twitter.com/x3TX29xzwJ

— Priscilla Thompson (@PriscillaWT)

April 11, 2020