Month: November 2025

By Dillon Thomas

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — Wednesday marked 52 years since the body of a 15-year-old girl was found in rural Northern Colorado, and detectives are still trying to identify her killer. In November of 1973, hunters along the St. Vrain River in Platteville found the body of the teenager. However, it wasn’t until 2023 that the girl, known as “Jane Doe 1973,” was identified.

“We exhumed her to get DNA from her,” said Byron Kastilahn, a cold case detective for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. “With new technology of genetic genealogy, we were able to identify some of these Doe cases including Jane Doe.”

The teenage girl, who is Weld County’s longest cold case victim, was identified as Roxanne Leadbeater of Los Angeles.

Kastilahn was able to identify her by linking DNA to Leadbeater’s cousins. He said he called them and asked if anyone from their family had ever gone missing, and that is when they said their cousin did in the 1970s.

The cousins said Leadbeater was being raised in the Redondo Beach area of the California city before she vanished.

“I contacted that police department, and all the suburbs around there including the Los Angeles Police Department,” Kastilahn said.

“Pretty much look at a map, (I called) anybody who had a police department. There is no record of her being reported as missing or a runaway.”

Kastilahn attempted to locate Leadbeater’s immediate family, but that is when he ran into another issue.

“Her father died in 1985, her brother died in 1984 and her mother had just died in 2023,” Kastilahn said.

The WCSO was able to obtain two yearbook photos from schools around Los Angeles that Leadbeater attended. Those photos suggested, based off of school year, that she was alive for at least the start of the 1972-1973 school year.

Leadbeater was able to find a 50-year class reunion and asked attendees for any information they may have had on Leadbeater’s disappearance.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get anything. A lot of people did remember her from high school. But, nothing specific,” Kastilahn said.

The sheriff’s office invited CBS News Colorado’s cameras inside their cold case office, which is filled with boxes for each case currently still open. Leadbeater’s case is not in a box but rather in a folder. That is due to there being such limited information and leads.

Investigators do not know what her cause of death was as there were no cuts or breaks to any of her bones when she was discovered in the 1970s. However, they do believe there was foul play involved as her body was found along a remote river in a rural farming community.

Kastilahn said the WCSO hopes to start getting any leads that may help them better understand why a teenager from Los Angeles, who was never reported missing, wound up deceased in a very remote area of Northern Colorado.

“If she did run away, there is no reason for her to be in Colorado,” Kastilahn said.

Anyone with information on Leadbeater’s life and final moments who thinks they might be able to help with solving the case is asked to contact the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Óscar Contreras

Click here for updates on this story

    HUGO, Colo. (KMGH) — Nine people were arrested and charged with drug-related crimes in Hugo Wednesday as part of a large drug bust conducted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said nearly all of the agency’s deputies executed multiple search warrants throughout the Town of Hugo following several months of investigative leads on drug-related activity in the county that began on July 1.

Deputies said several suspects were identified and many of them were detained or arrested Wednesday. Several others remain under investigation, the spokesperson said.

“This first wave of search warrants was conducted in an effort to eliminate narcotics within our communities,” the sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

The sheriff’s office is not identifying the suspects “due to the subsequent court proceedings and future search warrant considerations.”

In a social media post, the agency thanked its many deputies for the work put into this investigation and acknowledged many have been putting “all-nighters” and missing their days off to help the agency.

“We are aware there are several other residences that need attention, and we are actively working on building probable cause on those residences, throughout Lincoln County,” the spokesperson said.

The announcement out of Hugo comes hours after federal agents in Colorado announced they had made a historic drug bust for methamphetamine in the state and two days after DEA officials announced the single biggest fentanyl bust in Colorado and one of the largest in the country.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By KNXV Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A man was arrested after allegedly gaining access to a school and sexually assaulting a minor at Orangewood Elementary School in Phoenix on Wednesday.

According to records from authorities, 25-year-old Abel Gblah encountered a 10-year-old girl who was going to the nurse’s office. He told the girl he was a doctor and then proceeded to sexually assault her in an empty classroom.

Police reports say that Glbah fled the scene, and he was later apprehended at his home.

Court documents show the suspect denied being at the school or knowing the victim.

Evidence was found at the suspect’s home, including a shirt that the suspect was seen wearing in school surveillance video.

In a statement, the Washington Elementary School District said they called 911 when school officials learned of an unauthorized man on campus, which is located near 19th and Glendale avenues, on Wednesday afternoon.

The school was put on lockdown from 12:20 to 1:45 p.m.

District officials say the individual followed a student, who was buzzed in through the main entrance. He was on campus about 10 minutes and made “inappropriate contact with a student” while at the school, according to district officials.

The statement goes on to say: “The school and district understand how concerning situations like this can be. An Orangewood employee has been placed on administrative leave while the District continues its investigation.

“The school administrator will be working closely with staff and District Security to review safety procedures to ensure they are doing everything possible to keep Orangewood a safe place for students and staff. Additionally, District Security will be on campus for the remainder of the week.”

According to an initial appearance in court, which Gblah did not attend in person, Gblah has two prior convictions in 2021 for sexual conduct with a minor.

A representative for the state said during the initial appearance that Gblah was still on probation for those convictions and had been failing to comply with probation terms, including failing to report nearly two dozen times, and failing to register as a sex offender.

Glbah is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond for the new allegations. However, due to his probation violations, a judge ruled that he is not releasable or bondable.

Read the full statement from Washington Elementary School District:

I want to provide an update regarding the advisory I sent yesterday. As shared, we were made aware of an unauthorized male on campus. We immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown from 12:20 to 1:45 p.m. Upon investigation, it was determined that the individual gained access behind a student who was buzzed in through the main entrance. He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student. We have been working closely with the Phoenix Police throughout the investigation and last night they informed us that an arrest has been made. The Phoenix Police can provide additional information about the matter.

We understand how concerning situations like this can be. Please know that I am working closely with our staff and District Security to review our safety procedures and ensure we are doing everything possible to keep Orangewood a safe place for students and staff. Additionally, District Security will be on campus for the remainder of the week.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Phoenix Police Department for their quick response to the matter. We are beyond grateful for their help and support and we are thankful they were able to apprehend this individual so quickly. Please know that we are working closely with the child and the child’s family to provide any and all resources and support that they might need. Thank you for your continued support and trust.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Francis Page, Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    November 20, 2025 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston is famous for many things — big energy, bold ideas, unstoppable ambition, and people who can pivot faster than a freeway ramp on 610. And in a city where opportunity moves at the speed of innovation, Houston City College (HCC) has created one of the most powerful on-ramps to a better life: Fast-Track Career Training Programs that launch students into the workforce quickly, confidently, and with real earning potential from day one.

Leading that charge is one of Houston’s most popular workforce pathways — the Fast-Track Forklift Operator Certification, a one-day credential that proves life-changing opportunities don’t always require years of college, mountains of debt, or long nights in lecture halls.

Sometimes, a single day can shift your direction — and your destiny.

Quick Training. Immediate Impact. Real Jobs.

In today’s hyper-connected, delivery-driven world, forklift operators keep Houston’s economic engine humming. Port Houston, Amazon’s mega-distribution centers, construction sites, manufacturing plants, and regional warehouses all depend on skilled operators to keep goods moving safely, swiftly, and efficiently.

HCC’s Fast-Track Forklift Certification is built specifically for that reality.

What Students Get in Just One Day:

OSHA-aligned safety training Hands-on forklift driving experience Equipment inspection and hazard awareness Load balancing and warehouse navigation A recognized certificate employers trust

No prerequisite courses. No standardized tests. No barriers blocking the path.

Just clear, concise, career-ready training designed to meet the needs of Houston’s booming economy.

A Career That Starts Fast — and Grows with You

One of the biggest strengths of this fast-track program is how quickly students move into real jobs. Across Texas, forklift operators earn:

$15–$17/hr starting $18–$22/hr with experience Specialized refinery, port, and overnight roles often exceed $24/hr Warehouse supervisors can earn $55,000–$70,000+ annually For many families, this isn’t just a job — it’s stability, healthcare access, upward mobility, and the foundation for a stronger financial future.

And the best part? This certification is just the beginning.

Fast-Track Today. Degree Tomorrow. Leadership Ahead.

Houston City College designed its workforce programs as career ladders, not career dead ends. The forklift certification plugs directly into a broader ecosystem of opportunity that includes:

OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) Forklift Technician Institutional Certificate Logistics & Supply Chain Certificate Level 1 Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

With each step, pay increases. Opportunities expand. Confidence grows.

A one-day forklift class becomes the spark for a full-blown career in the region’s growing supply chain and logistics sector — one of Texas’s highest-growth industries for the next decade.

That is the genius of Houston City College: small steps that open big doors.

A Program Built for the People Houston Depends On

Houston City College knows that life can get complicated. Work. Kids. Bills. Budgets. Dreams that need flexibility. That’s why the Fast-Track programs are built with intention:

Short, convenient training Multiple campus locations Affordable costs and scholarship options Instructors with real-industry experience Schedules designed for working adults

Whether someone is restarting a career, building a better one, returning to the workforce, or simply ready for a fresh start, HCC provides a pathway designed for real people with real responsibilities.

It’s practical. It’s empowering. It’s one of the most inclusive doors to opportunity in Houston.

Fast, Focused, and Full of Promise

Houston Style Magazine proudly highlights programs that uplift our community through education, empowerment, and workforce access. And HCC’s Fast-Track Career Training stands as one of Houston’s greatest engines of economic mobility.

For anyone searching for a faster way forward — a way to earn more, do more, and become more — Houston City College has built a pathway lit with possibility.

A pathway where a better career is not years away… but just one fast-track step away.

More info: hccs.edu/continuing-education/ce-programs/forklift-operator-certification

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Francis Page Jr
fpagejr@gmail.com
7139275444

By Lisa Valadez

Click here for updates on this story

    November 20, 2025 (Houston Style Magazine) — In an effort to bring hope, nourishment, and holiday cheer to families across Texas, injury attorney and philanthropist Thomas J. Henry has announced the second annual Feast of Texas, an expanded statewide initiative following the success of the inaugural program in 2024, which provided more than 3.5 million meals. The program partners with local food banks and community organizations to deliver complete holiday meals to families experiencing food insecurity, with special attention to both urban and rural communities. This year, the initiative addresses heightened need caused by the ongoing government shutdown, which temporarily halts SNAP benefits for many households.

The Feast of Texas continues the evolution of Thomas J. Henry’s philanthropic efforts, which began with more than 30 years of Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaways in the Coastal Bend region. Now statewide, the program collaborates with food banks in Central Texas, Corpus Christi/Coastal Bend, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio to provide nutritious meals and holiday staples to families in need. The initiative reflects Thomas J. Henry’s broader commitment to uplifting communities, bridging gaps between rural and urban areas, and ensuring Texans can experience the comfort and dignity of a shared holiday meal.

This year’s statewide allocations include a $125,000 donation to the Central Texas Food Bank to serve 12,000 families, $150,000 to the Coastal Bend Food Bank to provide meals for 6,300 families, $125,000 to the North Texas Food Bank to deliver 375,000 meals, and support for the Houston Food Bank to distribute 300,000 nutritious meals. In San Antonio, a $250,000 gift will provide 500,000 pounds of fresh produce to 20,000 families. Collectively, these efforts ensure millions of Texans will receive nourishing meals during the holiday season.

The Feast of Texas prioritizes rural counties, where food relief resources are often limited, by partnering directly with local food banks to create a flexible, scalable, and efficient distribution system. By extending beyond metropolitan areas, the program provides critical access to nutritious meals, reinforcing Thomas J. Henry’s philosophy that success is measured not only by personal achievement but by the ability to strengthen and uplift communities.

Thomas J. Henry’s philanthropic initiatives have already generated more than $200 million in economic impact across Texas. The Feast of Texas exemplifies his firm commitment to addressing food insecurity and supporting families statewide during the holidays. The program aligns with the broader mission of Thomas J. Henry Law, PLLC, a leading personal injury firm recognized for legal excellence and community engagement since 1993.

Texas is home to approximately 1.7 million Veterans and millions of families who face food insecurity each year. Programs like Feast of Texas provide critical support to ensure that all Texans, regardless of location or circumstance, can enjoy a nourishing holiday meal.

More information about Thomas J. Henry’s philanthropic initiatives, including the Feast of Texas, is available at tjhgives.com

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Francis Page Jr
fpagejr@gmail.com
7139275444

By Lisa Valadez

Click here for updates on this story

    November 20, 2025 (Houston Style Magazine) — The future of Houston’s automotive industry was showcased at the 2025 HADA Student Technician Competition, presented by Ally, where 23 high school teams from across the region competed in a full day of technical challenges. Klein Cain High School, sponsored by Parkway Chevrolet and led by instructor Henry Silva, emerged as the 2025 champion after demonstrating exceptional skill, precision, and professionalism.

Pearland High School, sponsored by Mac Haik Ford – Pasadena, claimed second place, while James Reese Career & Technical Education High School, sponsored by Sterling McCall Lexus – Southwest, took third.

Klein Cain and Pearland High Schools will advance to the North Texas Auto Dealers Technician Competition in early December, representing the Houston region against top student technicians from Dallas and Fort Worth. Winning teams received Milwaukee tools, cash prizes, trophies, and industry exposure that can lead directly to internships, job offers, and long-term careers within Houston’s dealership network.

Now in its third year, the competition simulates the demands of a modern automotive service department, with challenges including electrical systems, technical service information, safety and environmental practices, precision measurement, problem-solving and diagnostics, interviews with dealership service managers, and on-vehicle inspection and repair. Each station tested both foundational knowledge and hands-on expertise required of today’s ASE-certified technicians.

The event was hosted by the Houston Automobile Dealers Association (HADA) in partnership with ASE Education Foundation, Texas State Technical College (TSTC), and local dealerships. Participating dealers mentored teams, provided resources, and supported the competition, which serves as a key workforce development pipeline for Houston’s automotive industry.

HADA represents approximately 189 franchised new car and truck dealers in the Houston area, employing over 30,000 people. The association also produces the Houston Auto Show, manages a scholarship program, and operates the city’s Motorist Assistance Program. More information is available at houstoncardealers.com.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Francis Page Jr
fpagejr@gmail.com
7139275444