🗞️ Community Cheers as North Carolina Leadership Academy Takes Home State Championship

🗞️ Kernersville's Fresh Monkees shows Fox 8 how to make healthy summer drinks

🗞️ ‘They Need Help, Not Punishment’: Principals Share Stories Behind Teen Violence

🗞️ Wake Forest researchers show local seniors how healthy habits can slow aging

A local high school baseball team has brought home a state championship title, making their community proud. The North Carolina Leadership Academy secured the 1A North Carolina High School State Championship, as announced by IMPACT Baseball on social media.

The team's victory marks a significant achievement for the school and the surrounding area. Players, coaches, and supporters celebrated the hard work and dedication that led to this moment.

The championship represents the culmination of a season filled with determination and teamwork. This win puts North Carolina Leadership Academy on the map as a powerhouse in high school baseball, and the local community is buzzing with excitement over the accomplishment.¹

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With summer heat settling in, it's time to cool down with something cold and creamy. On a recent Recipe Wednesday, Shannon Smith from Fox 8 visited Fresh Monkees in Kernersville to learn how to whip up shakes and smoothies that are both refreshing and good for you.

The team at Fresh Monkees showed off a few of their favorite blends. These aren't your average sugary drinks.

Each one packs in nutrients while still tasting great, making them a smart choice for anyone looking to beat the heat without sacrificing flavor. If you're in Kernersville, you can stop by Fresh Monkees to try these creations for yourself.

The recipes are simple enough to make at home too, so you can enjoy a healthy, cool treat all summer long.²

A group of school principals in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is speaking out about teen violence. They say the root of the problem isn't the kids themselves, but the challenges they face outside of school.

These educators argue that labeling young people as "bad" does more harm than good. They've seen how trauma, poverty, and a lack of stable support systems can push students toward trouble.

One principal pointed out that many students are dealing with things adults wouldn't even know how to handle. The stress of an unstable home life or exposure to violence in the neighborhood can change how a teenager behaves.

Instead of punishment, the principals are pushing for more understanding and resources. They believe that when a student acts out, it's often a cry for help, not a sign of a bad character.

The conversation comes as the community grapples with a rise in incidents involving young people. Local leaders are trying to figure out what works to keep kids safe and on the right track.

The principals agree that schools can't solve this alone. They need parents, community groups, and local government to step up and provide the safety net that many kids are missing.

One administrator shared a story about a student who was acting out in class. Instead of sending him to the office, the principal sat down with him and found out his family had just been evicted.

That student didn't need a lecture. He needed a meal and a place to feel safe.

These stories are common in schools across the district. The principals say they see the potential in every student, but that potential can't grow without the right support.

They're calling for more mental health services in schools, better training for teachers on handling trauma, and stronger partnerships with community organizations. The message is simple: there are no bad kids, just kids who need help³.

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have found new evidence that sticking to a structured diet and exercise plan can help older adults stay healthier longer. The study focused on frailty, a condition that raises the risk of chronic disease, disability, and early death.

The findings suggest that simple, consistent healthy habits can slow down some of the most troublesome parts of aging. This is the latest update from a major clinical trial called the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk.

The two year study involved more than 2,100 adults between the ages of 60 and 79, all of whom were considered at higher risk for cognitive decline. The trial took place at five different academic medical centers across the country.

Participants were split into two groups. One group followed a structured program with coaching, goal setting, and regular check ins.

They focused on eating well, exercising regularly, and doing activities that challenged their brains and kept them socially connected. The other group took a more self directed approach to their health.

Both groups saw improvements in their frailty scores. But the people in the structured program showed significantly greater gains.

They also performed better on cognitive tests, though researchers noted that the improvements in frailty alone didn't fully explain the brain benefits. That suggests there are multiple ways that healthy living helps as people age.

"The results add to growing evidence that targeting multiple areas of health at once, rather than focusing on a single behavior, may be the key to maintaining independence and quality of life later in life," said Mark Espeland, the lead author and a professor of gerontology and geriatrics at the medical school. The study was published in The Journals of Gerontology.⁴