City of El Paso names new zoo director

KVIA on June 8, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

Editor’s note: The original version of this story stated former Zoo Director Joe Montisano filed a wrongful termination lawsuit. A former zoo employee filed the lawsuit against the city, Montisano and other zoo employees.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens will have a new leader. Monday, the city announced the appointment of Gary Lunsford as the zoo’s permanent director. He served as interim director since September.

Lunsford’s career in wildlife includes his time as an inspector for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, the city said.

He comes from Massachusetts, where he worked as the Buttonwood Park Zoo director, according to the city. Outside of El Paso and his home state, he’s worked at zoos in Canada, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

“With more than 30 years of experience in zoo operations and an unwavering dedication to our animals and the teams who care for them, makes him the ideal leader for the Zoo’s next chapter,” said City Manager Dionne Mack.

Former El Paso Zoo Director Joe Montisano resigned in November after being placed on temporary administrative leave in September 2025.

A former zoo employee filed a wrongful termination lawsuit afainst the city Montisano and other zoo employees, which has been dismissed after a settlement was reached May 27.

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Columbia Public Schools back in court for charter school fight

KMIZ on June 8, 2026

Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools will return to Cole County court on Monday as the months-long legal battle over charter schools in Boone County continues.

CPS filed the suit in December after the charter school, Frontier, announced a plan to establish a charter school in the county. The application was later approved by the state’s Board of Education in April.

The case primarily revolves around SB 727, which was signed in Spring 2024.

SB 727 states that charter schools can be operated in counties “between 150,000 and 200,000 inhabitants.” While the bill does not call out Boone County by name, census data shows that Boone County is the only county in the state that falls between these guidelines.

In a revised petition filed in April, CPS argues that SB 727 was unconstitutional since it only affects Boone County. They also argue that when the General Assembly went forward with the bill, it was required by the constitution to publish the provision in Boone County after it was introduced, which they also failed to do. The group also argued that the BOE’s approval of the application was also unconstitutional since it hinged on SB 727 to allow the school in the first place.

In their response, the state argued that the lawsuit is coming too late and CPS had until the end of the legislative session or May 30, 2025, to file the suit.

CPS pushed back against this, arguing they wouldn’t have known to prefile a lawsuit since no charter school applications were sent before the deadline.

“No one knew if there was ever going to be a charter in Boone County,” CPS attorney Natalie Hoernschemeyer said.

The state also argues that they and the Attorney General are not proper defendants for the case since they don’t oversee Board of Education decisions.

“We weren’t involved in it, it was the state Board of Education,” state attorney Ryan Dugan said.

They add that the state also has “sovereign immunity,” which prevents lawsuits from being brought against the state.

CPS initially argued that Frontier had not taken proper steps in its application, like receiving public input from the community.

According to court documents, CPS is requesting that the judge declare that the approval of Frontier’s application was unconstitutional and reject it.

Judge Emily Fretwell, overseeing the case, said she will make a ruling “in the next couple of weeks.”

This is an ongoing story.

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Oregon gas prices follow national trend, fall 13.6 cents in a week

KTVZ on June 8, 2026

Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — Average gasoline prices in Oregon decreased by 13.6 cents per gallon over the last week, currently averaging $5.05 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. This decline mirrors a national trend, with the average U.S. gasoline price falling by 17.9 cents per gallon in the same period, now at $4.09 per gallon.

Gasoline prices in Oregon are 24.2 cents per gallon lower than one month ago and stand $1.15 per gallon higher than one year ago. The national average price of gasoline is down 45.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.02 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel also decreased by 13.8 cents compared to a week ago, settling at $5.299 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, stated that average gasoline prices declined in nearly every state over the last week. This trend occurred as oil prices continued to fall, with crude approaching $90 per barrel and refiners increased output following seasonal maintenance. “The combination of lower oil costs and improving refinery runs has kept downward pressure on pump prices, giving motorists a welcome reprieve,” Haan said. “However, the future of prices remains murky.”

Haan added that global oil supplies continue to tighten with the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed. He noted that any further deterioration in this situation could send prices sharply higher. Haan concluded, “For now, motorists may enjoy the savings at the pump, but the risk of a significant reversal has not gone away.”

GasBuddy’s survey of 1,307 stations in Oregon indicated a significant price difference within the state. The cheapest station was priced at $4.27 per gallon yesterday, while the most expensive was $6.19 per gallon, a difference of $1.92 per gallon.

Gasoline prices also fell in major Oregon cities. In Eugene, prices are $4.97 per gallon, down 15.5 cents from last week’s $5.12 per gallon. Salem saw prices at $4.98 per gallon, an 11.6 cent decrease from $5.10 per gallon last week. Portland’s average price is $5.19 per gallon, which is 12.1 cents lower than last week’s $5.31 per gallon.

Historical data from GasBuddy shows the average price for June 8 in Oregon was $3.90 per gallon in 2025, $4.14 per gallon in 2024, $4.29 per gallon in 2023, $5.48 per gallon in 2022 and $3.41 per gallon in 2021. For the U.S. average on June 8, prices were $3.07 per gallon in 2025, $3.42 per gallon in 2024, $3.55 per gallon in 2023, $4.98 per gallon in 2022 and $3.07 per gallon in 2021.

GasBuddy, a PDI Technologies company, is a fuel savings platform for North America. It provides real-time prices at more than 150,000 stations. GasBuddy gathers its data from more than 11 million weekly price reports, updating averages 288 times daily through spotter reports, direct station integrations and transactional data.

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Alpha-gal syndrome: A growing concern in Missouri and beyond

KMIZ on June 8, 2026

Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A tick-borne allergy might be on the rise across Missouri and the United States. But scientists and researchers can’t really pinpoint how much it may be growing.

Alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy to products from mammals, like red meat, which contain the alpha-gal molecule, that a person can develop when bitten by the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum).

Alpha-gal (galactose-a- 1, 3-galactose) is a sugar molecule naturally found in most mammals, but not in humans.

“Alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy, but it’s a very unusual food allergy,” said Dr. Benjamin Casterline, a dermatologist and immunologist with MU Health Care researching alpha-gal syndrome. “It has delayed symptoms, and the symptoms are very variable.”

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, more than 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome were documented between 2010 and 2022. These are classified as suspected cases because not every state tracks cases of alpha-gal syndrome.

Foods that can cause symptoms include beef, pork, lamb, venison, cow’s milk and gelatin.

More common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and hives. More severe symptoms include anaphylaxis, arthritis, neurological symptoms, headaches, brain fog and in the most extreme cases, death. Some people may not have any symptoms at all.

Symptoms often start a few hours after eating something containing the alpha-gal molecule, but can start sooner or later.

Alpha-gal syndrome isn’t unique to the United States. Cases have been discovered in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Since the condition was discovered in 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates that up to 450,000 people in the United States may have alpha-gal syndrome, with many not even knowing they have it.

In May, the Missouri General Assembly passed HB 1855, tacked onto HB 2372, which makes alpha-gal syndrome a reportable condition, requiring labs to send positive results to the Department of Health and Human Services within seven days to keep better track of where more cases are popping up.

The law is pending a signature from Gov. Mike Kehoe.

From 2017 to 2022, every Missouri county but five reported at least one suspected case of alpha-gal syndrome, with 71% out of the 114 Missouri counties and St. Louis city having more than 87 suspected cases per 1 million people.

Most of the states with the most suspected cases are in the Midwest and the South, like Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kentucky and eastern Oklahoma and Kansas. There are also states on the East Coast with high levels of suspected cases, like Virginia, Delaware and North Carolina.

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the CDC, this year, 67 out of 100,000 visits to the emergency department were for tick bites in the Midwest. Emergency department visits for tick bites more than tripled from March to April 2026.

“Unfortunately, we don’t really have any breakthrough treatments for alpha-gal syndrome,” said Casterline. “Nothing has been specifically studied for alpha-gal syndrome except for lifelong dietary avoidance, which is a tall order for people.”

And for some, like Rebecca McCorkle, who has been living with alpha-gal syndrome for around two decades, it is an order that dictates almost every decision she makes every day.

“When we go to visit family, we take our own pots and pans, when we go on vacation, we stay in Airbnbs, and we take our own pots and pans. When we do anything, that’s what we have to think about,” said McCorkle. “Every time that I turned around, I was having to pull out this laundry list of do’s and don’ts, I thought, ‘gosh, I’m not the fun, easy person that I used to be.'”

Watch ABC 17 News at 6 on Wednesday to hear more about how alpha-gal is changing life for some Mid-Missourians.

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Missouri Supreme Court denies appeal in income tax ballot language case

KMIZ on June 8, 2026

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday denied the state’s appeal on a ruling last week that tweaked the ballot language on a question asking voters to eliminate the state income tax.

Chief Justice W. Brent Powell denied the appeal by state officials to challenge the rewritten ballot language in an order posted Monday morning.

“Missouri’s highest court is allowing voters to see a more truthful ballot summary of the power grab behind the politician’s Amendment 5,” Scott Charton, a spokesman for the group Missourians for Fair Taxation, said in a news release Monday.

The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals denied an attempt last week to take the question off the ballot, but rewrote the language that will appear with the question on the August primary ballot.

The court stated in the decision that its rewrite cleared up that a “no” vote would still allow for future changes to the tax system.

The court also changed the ballot summary to note that the amendment would require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if sales tax revenue increases.

Amendment 5 would allow the state to phase out the current income tax, while increasing sales taxes to make up for the loss, and was a major priority of the Republican majority in Jefferson City this past legislative session. Gov. Mike Kehoe decided in May to put the measure on the August primary election ballot. Other ballot issues were certified last week.

The lawsuit was originally brought by private citizen Jill Owens against Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and other state officials.

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Texas Southern University Takes Flight Again with New Twin-Engine Diamond DA42

CNN Newsource on June 8, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    June 8, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston’s aviation future just gained a little more altitude — and a lot more horsepower.

Texas Southern University’s fast-rising aviation program has welcomed a brand-new 2026 Diamond DA42 twin-engine aircraft, a major milestone that further positions the historic HBCU as one of the nation’s most exciting places to train the next generation of pilots. The delivery marks another proud moment for TSU Aviation, which has been steadily building momentum through new aircraft, new partnerships, and a new home at the Houston Spaceport.

For students, this is not simply another airplane. It is a classroom in the sky — one equipped with modern technology, twin-engine performance, and the advanced systems needed to prepare future aviators for the real-world demands of commercial, corporate, cargo, and aerospace flight.

Dr. Terence Fontaine, Executive Director of Aviation at TSU, called the moment one of the program’s “pinnacle” achievements, noting that while the university has previously had twin-engine training capability, the new Diamond DA42 represents a major technological leap from its older 1980 Seneca II.

And in aviation, a leap like this matters.

Multi-engine training is often the final major step before aspiring pilots earn the Airline Transport Pilot certificate, the credential that opens doors to careers with major airlines. By adding the DA42, TSU is giving its students access to training that is both industry-aligned and future-focused — the kind of experience that helps turn dreams into flight plans.

This new arrival follows an already historic season for TSU Aviation. In April, the university celebrated the opening of its new aviation facility at Houston Spaceport, developed in partnership with the City of Houston and Houston Airports. The facility includes a 20,000-square-foot hangar, 4,500 square feet of classroom and office space, and supports TSU’s expanding aviation and future aerospace engineering instruction.

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The university also recently added a fleet of 12 Cirrus SR20 aircraft, strengthening its ability to train students on modern, safety-focused equipment. Together, the SR20 fleet and the new DA42 give TSU one of the most impressive collegiate aviation training platforms in the region.

The climb does not stop there. TSU Aviation has also entered elite pilot pathway partnerships, including programs with Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, helping students connect classroom excellence with career opportunity.

For Houston, this is more than a university headline. It is a workforce development story, an economic mobility story, and a representation story. In an industry where diversity has long lagged behind opportunity, Texas Southern University is building a runway for students who deserve not just a seat on the plane — but a place in the cockpit.

At Houston Style Magazine, we proudly salute TSU for continuing to prove that when investment meets vision, history takes flight. From the Third Ward to the Houston Spaceport, the message is clear: TSU Aviation is not waiting for the future. It is training it.

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

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
4096658446

Decision 2026: Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler to run for reelection

KTVZ on June 8, 2026

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler announced Monday, June 8th, that she will seek re-election for a second term in November 2026. Kebler says she is campaigning to continue her leadership and advance progress on housing, homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure improvements.

Kebler is completing her first term as mayor, having been first elected to the Bend City Council in 2020 before voters elected her mayor in 2022. She states her re-election will provide tested and trusted leadership, aiming to protect the city’s progress and keep Bend on track for housing affordability and smart planning.

Mayor Kebler emphasized her commitment to Bend’s future in a statement. “I’m honored to have spent the past four years leading the City Council and getting results for Bend,” Kebler said. “I’m running for another term as mayor to provide tested and trusted leadership in this pivotal moment. We must protect the progress we’ve made as a city from federal chaos, and keep Bend on track toward housing affordability and smart planning. I’m excited to lead our continued progress on housing, homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure improvements that are creating a better Bend for everyone.”

During her current term, Kebler’s administration has worked to reverse a decade-long trend of growing homelessness. This includes significantly reducing unsheltered homelessness in 2025 through investments in shelter and safe parking options. The city also created its first Navigation Center and collaborated with service providers to help hundreds of people transition to more secure housing.

In terms of housing affordability, Kebler’s leadership saw rent increases flatten and median home prices turn a corner. The city achieved this by building more homes and investing over $15 million into income-restricted affordable housing. Additionally, permitting processes were streamlined, code changes implemented to allow more housing types, and new complete neighborhoods were planned with required percentages of affordable housing. As a result, Bend leads the state in both market rate and income-restricted homes produced per capita.

Public safety initiatives under Kebler’s term include a significant reduction in police response to mental health calls through collaboration with the Deschutes County crisis response team. Concurrently, police resources were increased to address drunk driving and serious crime. The fire department maintained award-winning response times and cardiac survival rates while taking steps to provide more efficient services and cut overtime costs.

Kebler also secured over $60 million in federal grants and earmarks. These funds are designated to improve Bend’s transportation system, update water infrastructure, enhance permitting processes, and create more affordable housing. Furthermore, local roads were paved, sealed, and swept, and projects from the 2020 GO Bond list, such as intersection improvements, new roundabouts, and safer infrastructure for people who walk and bike, were completed.

The mayor has garnered support from various local leaders. Congresswoman Janelle Bynum praised Kebler’s dedication. “Mayor Kebler understands the needs of her community and has a proven track record fighting for real results for Bend’s working families. She is the collaborative, forward-looking leader Bend needs,” Bynum said.

State Senator Anthony Broadman highlighted Kebler’s effectiveness in securing resources. “I’ve seen first hand how hard Mayor Kebler works for Bend, and how effective she is in Salem at bringing home the resources and policy changes that the city needs to make progress on some of our toughest issues. The people of Bend should be proud to re-elect their very own Bend High grad to another term as Mayor,” Broadman stated. Kebler graduated from Bend High in 2001.

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang noted Kebler’s collaborative approach. “Re-electing Mayor Kebler will ensure Bend and Deschutes County continue to make progress on homelessness, housing, wildfire preparedness, and more. She has built important relationships with local leaders across the political spectrum to create positive change for our community,” Chang said.

Former Bend Mayor Sally Russell expressed her full support. “Bend has seen solid leadership under Mayor Kebler. Bend and our region will benefit under her continued leadership the next four years. I fully support her re-election,” Russell said. Another former mayor, Casey Roats, emphasized Kebler’s steadiness. “Under Mayor Kebler’s leadership, our local government has stayed strong and sound through the chaos and divisiveness coming out of DC. We need Mayor Kebler at the helm to navigate our toughest issues, create collaborative solutions, and stand up for our democracy. She has my vote,” Roats stated.

Kebler has secured endorsements from a wide range of officials, including Representative Emerson Levy, Representative Jason Kropf, Deschutes County Commissioners-Elect Jamie Collins and Rick Russell, Bend Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins, and Bend City Councilors Steve Platt, Mike Riley, Megan Norris, and Ariel Méndez. Other supporters include Bend School Board Chair Marcus LeGrand, Bend Parks Board Chair Donna Owens, Vice Chair Cary Schneider, COCC Board Chair Erica Skatvold, COCC Board Vice Chair and former Bend Police Chief Jim Porter, former State Representative Judy Stiegler, former District Attorney Mike Dugan, former Bend Mayor Gena Goodman-Campbell, former Bend City Councilor Mark Capell, and former Parks Board Member Zavi Borja. Kebler will be seeking additional endorsements.

Before her mayoral term, Kebler worked as a prosecutor and a crime victims rights attorney. She currently serves as a board member for the League of Oregon Cities and has been an appointed member of Oregon’s Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability since 2019. Kebler lives in southeast Bend with her daughter. She plans to engage with the community during her campaign. “In my time as mayor I’ve learned to listen to all voices, not just those I agree with,” Kebler said. “I look forward to engaging with people all across Bend in this campaign.”

Voters interested in learning more about Mayor Kebler and her priorities can visit melaniekebler.com.

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Freedom Library to host Independence Day Celebration

KYMA on June 8, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Freedom Library is hosting A Special 250th Independence Day Celebration next month.

The event is taking place at the Historic Yuma Theatre, located at 254 S. Main Street, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon.

During the celebration, attendees will learn about the history of the Declaration of Independence as well as listen to very well-known actors read the document.

Attendees will also learn about what happened to those who signed the document, as well as learn about Yuma’s connection to the Declaration of Independence.

The Freedom Library says those who attend will have the opportunity to win of their scholarships, and the event is free to attend.

Yuma Insurance, Church for the City, Green Tree Grocery Outlet, Middle School MBA and Air Central Heating & Cooling are sponsoring the celebration.

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Houston City College Lands Historic $17 Million Bloomberg Philanthropies Investment to Power Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers

CNN Newsource on June 8, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    June 8, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON — Houston City College is preparing to make workforce history — and this one comes with hard hats, high hopes, and a $17 million boost for the future of Greater Houston.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 11 a.m., HCC will host a news conference at its District Office, 3100 Main Street, to formally announce a landmark $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies supporting the launch of Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a bold regional workforce initiative designed to expand skilled trades training, Registered Apprenticeships, employer partnerships, and career pathways across Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast region.

For Houston City College, this is not just another grant announcement. It is a record-breaker. College officials describe the investment as the largest ever received by HCC, placing the institution at the center of a national conversation about how America prepares the next generation for good-paying, hands-on careers.

The initiative is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ broader $90 million national effort to strengthen how high school students prepare for and enter high-wage careers in the skilled trades. Here in Houston, Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers is expected to serve more than 1,350 career and technical education students over three years, connecting classroom instruction with hands-on training, industry credentials, and earn-and-learn opportunities.

In a city that builds, powers, moves, heals, and innovates for the world, this announcement hits right at the intersection of education, economic mobility, and regional growth. Simply put: Houston needs talent, students need opportunity, and this initiative is designed to help both meet at the jobsite.

“We’re proud to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies on this innovative initiative that will deliver strong results for apprenticeships and internships to expand opportunity and improve job prospects for residents,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “By investing in apprenticeship expansion and skilled trades training, we are preparing the workforce vital to the Gulf Coast’s continued economic growth.”

Led through the Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub, Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers will focus on building a stronger talent pipeline for industries facing urgent and growing workforce needs. The initiative will support skilled trades workforce development, Registered Apprenticeship expansion, industry-driven career pathways, earn-and-learn education models, and regional workforce innovation.

That is a mouthful — but the meaning is clear. Students will gain access to training that can lead directly to family-sustaining careers. Employers will gain a more prepared workforce. The Gulf Coast region will gain a more connected system for preparing talent in high-demand fields.

HCC Board of Trustees Chair Eva Loredo said the investment reflects HCC’s mission to remove barriers and create stronger pathways to opportunity.

“In our work at HCC, we know that talent in our wider community is everywhere, yet opportunity isn’t always evenly distributed,” Loredo said. “This wonderful investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies greatly helps us to achieve that goal. This is a great day for Houston.”

And indeed, it is.

For many students, the skilled trades offer more than a job. They offer a doorway into stability, advancement, entrepreneurship, homeownership, and generational progress. Apprenticeships and career-connected education can allow students to earn while they learn, build professional networks early, and graduate into industries where their skills are immediately valued.

That model matters deeply in Houston — a region where construction, energy, advanced manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, public utilities, and industrial services continue to shape economic opportunity. The Gulf Coast does not just need workers. It needs highly trained, safety-minded, career-ready professionals who can help keep one of America’s most important economic engines running.

Key collaborators for the initiative include Houston Independent School District, Greater Houston Partnership, Good Reason Houston, BridgeYear, Alief Independent School District, CenterPoint Energy, Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub, Hays Electrical, Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee-Plumbers Local Union 68, and Pipefitters Local 211.

Officials from HCC and partner organizations will be available at the June 10 news conference to discuss how Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers will expand workforce infrastructure, strengthen employer engagement, and create seamless pathways from high school to college and into high-demand careers.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, this announcement represents more than institutional good news. It is a workforce equity story. It is a student success story. It is a regional competitiveness story. And yes, it is also a reminder that some of the most powerful careers in America do not begin with a corner office — they begin with a classroom, a credential, a mentor, a tool belt, and a chance.

As Houston continues to grow, rebuild, reimagine, and lead, Houston City College is making one thing clear: the future of work must include real pathways for real people. With Bloomberg Philanthropies’ historic investment, Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers is poised to help more students trade uncertainty for opportunity — and trade up into careers that can change the trajectory of families across the region.

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Event Details What: News conference announcing Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers and the $17 million Bloomberg Philanthropies investment When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. Where: Houston City College District Office, 3100 Main Street, Houston, TX Who: Houston City College leaders, Bloomberg Philanthropies representatives, workforce partners, education leaders, and regional collaborators About Houston City College Houston City College is one of the nation’s largest singly accredited, open-admission community colleges, offering bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. With 14 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers, HCC serves diverse communities across the Greater Houston area by preparing students to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. For more information: hccs.edu

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

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
4096658446

Oregon Lightning fall to Kentucky Barrels 40-17 in home season finale

KTVZ on June 8, 2026

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Lightning concluded their 2026 home regular season with a 40–17 loss to the Kentucky Barrels on Sunday, June 8th, in Redmond.

Kentucky’s offense established an early lead, driving to a 19–2 halftime advantage. The Barrels capitalized on short fields and red-zone opportunities, relying on a ground attack that delivered four rushing touchdowns. Kicker Amman Lakip initiated the Lightning’s scoring with a deuce and contributed a rouge on a kickoff.

Kentucky quarterback Darryl Overstreet Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns. Running back Desmon Epps added another rushing touchdown for Kentucky. Wide receiver Shilo Flannigan led Kentucky’s passing game with 7 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns, converting third-down plays and stretching the field. Oregon’s defense faced repeated short-field possessions but battled throughout the game.

Oregon’s offense saw a second-half surge, led by wide receiver Maurice “Mo” Ashley. Ashley delivered nine receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns, both coming after halftime. Wideout Prince Shinola added 4 catches for 30 yards. The Lightning’s defense limited Kentucky’s star pass-catcher, Darius Prince, to four receptions for 42 yards.

Defensively, Nick Brassel led Oregon with six tackles. Bashu Delco II contributed five tackles and made several key open-field stops. Offensive lineman James Hines was named the Lightning in the Storm Player of the Game on 6-7 Day. Hines anchored the trenches during the game and remained on the field after the final whistle to sign autographs, take photos and engage with supporters, embodying the organization’s “Fans First” mentality.

The Oregon Lightning are currently two games out of playoff position.

The Oregon Lightning will face the Kentucky Barrels again in a rematch on Saturday, June 13, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. This game will take place in the Cincinnati metro area. Tickets for the upcoming game are available at kybarrelsfootball.com.

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