By Max Foster, CNN

Reggio Emilia, Italy (CNN) — In the small, historic city of Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy, the sense of pride is only heightened this week when a major royal pays a visit, with the global media travelling in her wake.

Catherine isn’t Italy’s princess. The pride comes from the way the Princess of Wales is expected to shine her formidable spotlight on Wednesday upon one of the city’s crown jewels – a revolutionary, and much-imitated approach to preschool education.

The Reggio Emilia Approach is more philosophy than method. First developed after World War II, it’s become nearly as defining for the town as the local cheese Parmigiano Reggiano.

The emphasis is on creativity, relationships, and hands-on discovery – all themes Catherine has spearheaded with her own work through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. It’s a neat fit for this first overseas visit Catherine will make since being diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago.

An aide to the Princess of Wales described the visit as “an important step in the Princess’ recovery journey,” adding “she takes great joy from this work.”

This is the royal’s first official visit to Italy, though she spent time in Florence after school and before she went to university and has been “remembering the happy memories,” said the aide.

“She’s had many conversations with her husband the Prince of Wales, and her children about this trip, and they’re looking forward to hearing about it on her return to the United Kingdom.”

The visit is “a significant honor,” Reggio Emilia mayor Marco Massari wrote on Instagram. “The Princess of Wales will learn about an approach to public early childhood education that we regard as a cornerstone of our community.”

“Today, even a princess has chosen to come and discover this approach, and that makes us proud and grateful to those who have built this legacy and to those who keep it alive and thriving today,” said Federico Ruozzi, president of the city’s preschool and infant-toddler center.

The British princess will be welcomed at the town hall by the mayor before greeting crowds in the medieval piazza. Expect two days of images of Catherine throwing herself into craft classes, outdoor learning and meeting members of the entire community who play their part is making the approach come to life.

“This is a huge moment for the princess. There will be many highlights of 2026 but this being her first international visit post her recovery… this is a really significant moment for her,” the aide added.

The Princess’s team at Kensington Palace remarked Catherine is taking different pace on early childhood issues compared to pre-2024. She’s taking it up a gear. On her recovery and return to public facing engagement, her team said they continue to find the right balance, and that this is expected to be the first of several trips.

A spokesperson added, “The Princess is keen to explore further how globally we can identify positive, hopeful solutions to address some of today’s toughest social challenges, by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and prioritising the early years with the same urgency as climate change.”

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By Lex Harvey, CNN

(CNN) — Plans to build Australia’s first Trump Tower have been scrapped just three months after it was announced, with the local developer saying the Trump brand has become “toxic.”

“Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly unpopular in Australia,” David Young, CEO of Altus Property Group, told CNN in a statement.

The 91-story Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast was billed as Australia’s tallest tower, featuring a 285-room luxury hotel, high-end retail plaza, restaurants and residential apartments finished to Trump specifications, according to a February press release from Altus announcing the deal.

The project sparked backlash after it was announced by Altus and the Trump Organization, which is owned by US President Donald Trump but run by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric.

The luxury seaside property was the Trump Organization’s “first official project in Australia,” Eric Trump said at the time.

CNN has reached out to the Trump Organization for comment.

One petition aiming to stop the project garnered more than 140,000 signatures.

CK, who started the petition under an alias to avoid backlash from Trump supporters, told CNN in February she felt powerless while watching scenes of “anti-immigrant violence and the social division” in the US on social media, and looked for a way to express her opposition.

Young said the tower will still proceed — but without the Trump name.

In a LinkedIn post Tuesday, the Altus CEO called the backlash to the Trump Tower “grossly unfair” but said “the brand in this country has become toxic to Australians.”

“Trump Org is a non-political, free of the President run organization by Eric and Don Jr and run well with over 136 resorts and towers globally yet here in Australia both the media and certain orgs paint a picture of Donald Trump for pure sensationalism,” Young said.

He said there is “no acrimony between the Trump family and myself” and he has been in discussions with “many high-end luxury plans” about the tower.

Young had laid the groundwork for the tower in 2007 with a “cold call to Ivanka Trump,” according to a blog post on the Altus website.

Young recalled introducing himself to Trump’s daughter as a property developer from Australia, who was intent on building “Australia’s finest tourist property at Surfers Paradise.”

Almost 20 years later, when the deal was signed, Young said the tower “will be an Australian, not American project,” according to comments published in The Australian newspaper.

He had anticipated the building could be ready before the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

But Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate — who once dined with Trump in Mar-a-Lago and was an enthusiastic supporter of the project — said a development application had never been submitted to City Council.

“This project was an agreement between two private parties,” Tate said in a statement to CNN, adding “we didn’t have a proposal to consider.”

Money could also have been a factor, according to Tate.

“The Trump Organization wants a lot more for their brand on the funding side of things, to operate it and the percentage of return,” Tate told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“(Meanwhile) the developer’s going, ‘Well, I’m putting in all of my money in and you’re actually going to take quite a lot of profit’, so I think that

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced charges filed against Mitchell Grote, 30, after he shot a police officer with a pellet gun.

Grote received the following charges after a May 8 incident:

• aggravated mayhem
• assault upon a peace officer
• battery on a peace officer causing injury
• resisting an executive officer through force
• resisting, obstructing or delaying peace officers during course of duty

Grote also received special allegations for personal use of a dangerous or deadly weapon and personal infliction of great bodily injury, according to the SBCDAO.

Grote is alleged to have been on probation at the time of the incident, which stems from a stabbing near Santa Barbara City Hall on January 29, 2023.

Grote pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the special allegations. His next court appearance is set for May 26 and his bail is set at $1,000,000 for the shooting and no bail on his felony probation.

The post Santa Barbara man charged after shooting officer with pellet gun appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced charges filed against Mitchell Grote, 30, after he shot a police officer with a pellet gun.

Grote received the following charges after a May 8 incident:

• aggravated mayhem
• assault upon a peace officer
• battery on a peace officer causing injury
• resisting an executive officer through force
• resisting, obstructing or delaying peace officers during course of duty

Grote also received special allegations for personal use of a dangerous or deadly weapon and personal infliction of great bodily injury, according to the SBCDAO.

Grote is alleged to have been on probation at the time of the incident, which stems from a stabbing near Santa Barbara City Hall on January 29, 2023.

Grote pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the special allegations. His next court appearance is set for May 26 and his bail is set at $1,000,000 for the shooting and no bail on his felony probation.

The post Santa Barbara man charged after shooting officer with pellet gun appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) - Charlotte Cooney is a standout for both Carpinteria High School girls tennis and girls basketball but her passion has always been playing baseball.

"I like playing the other sports but there is nothing like baseball," smiled Cooney who is the only current girl playing high school baseball in the Santa Barbara area.

Adding even more pressure on Charlotte is her dad Pat Cooney is the head coach of the Warriors.

"She can't afford to make a mistake because than the stereotype comes out oh the girl makes the mistake or the girl is weaker than the boy," stated head coach Cooney. "She really has to be on her game."

Charlotte Cooney has plenty of game. She is not only a 3-year varsity player but she starts for the Warriors, usually at second base where she is solid defensively.

Cooney is also one of the Warriors regular relief pitchers and yes she strikes out the boys, often.

"That's one of my favorite things when they come up to bat because I am the catcher," began fellow Warriors senior Micah Smith. "She is pitching they will be chirping 'I am going to hit a tank' and then they strike out or pop out so that's fun."

Charlotte has never hit a home run but she collects plenty of singles and has a solid on-base percentage.

"Boy or girl she earned her spot," said Smith.

Family and friends are a big reason why playing baseball has been so much fun for Charlotte at Carpinteria High School.

Her grandfather Mike Cooney is an assistant coach while her other grandfather, Carp Warriors Hall of Fame member Lou Panizzon operates the scoreboard. Chartlotte's mom runs the snack shack and her younger sister Caroline is the public address announcer.

It may be a family affair but she does not get any special treatment on the field.

"We don't play any favorites here, it's strictly a coach-player relationship," said Pat Cooney.

"I think it would be different if I wasn't playing here. I am surrounded by good people," said Charlotte who will attend Cal Poly in the fall.

She may or may not play baseball for a club team in college but for now she is soaking up the final innings of her high school baseball career.

Carpinteria qualified for the CIF-Southern Section playoffs and they have a first round game on Friday at Flintridge Prep of La Canada in Division 7.

"I've played with all of these guys since we were