Month: September 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 9, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston offered a warm Bayou City welcome to Adi Farjon Israel, the new Consul General of Israel to the Southwest United States, during a private Rosh Hashanah reception bringing together civic, business and community leaders.

Call it apples, honey and diplomacy — Houston style.

The gathering gave Farjon Israel an opportunity to begin building relationships across a region that includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

photo Adi Farjon Isreal & Frank Marchetti

Among Houston-area leaders welcoming her were Reggie Gray, Gigi Lee, Chris Hollins, Karen Lowe, Sandija Bayot, Takeshi Koyama serves as the Consul-General of Japan, David Simon, Rachel Schneider Jolene Jones, Linda Toyota, Lindon Rose and Traci Pelter, Market President and Publisher of the Houston Business Journal.

Farjon Israel arrives with considerable international experience. Before Houston, she led Israel’s Foreign Ministry Central Europe Departmentand previously served as Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva. Earlier assignments included diplomatic posts in Berlin and Santo Domingo.

photo Linda Toyota & Adi Farjon Isreal

Her background also includes extensive work in civil society, communications and women’s leadership.

Upon beginning her Houston assignment, Farjon Israel described serving as consul general as “a profound honor” and emphasized diplomacy’s ability to create bridges between communities, cultures and ideas.

That philosophy fits Houston well.

As one of America’s most internationally connected cities, Houston sits at the crossroads of energy, medicine, technology, education, trade and culture — offering fertile ground for stronger relationships between Israel and the Southwest.

The timing also carried special meaning. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, traditionally represents reflection, renewal and hope.

For Farjon Israel, the symbolism could hardly be more fitting: A new year. A new city. New relationships.

And, hopefully, a sweet beginning.

Shanah Tovah, Consul General Farjon Israel — and welcome to Houston.

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Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest embassies.gov.il/houston/en Official Biography — Adi Farjon Israel embassies.gov.il/houston/en/the-consulate/the-consul

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.

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By Naveen Dhaliwal

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    New York (WCBS) — A Bronx woman is recovering after police say she was injured in a triple shooting.

For Christina Andries, the phone call late Monday was almost impossible to believe. Her 65-year-old mother, Cheryl, had been shot.

“Nobody wants to get a call. When they called me and told me she got shot, I’m like, who would do such a thing?” Andries said.

Andries says her mother, who works at the Hope Center as a nursing aide, was just an hour away from getting off of her shift when she went to a deli on University Avenue to get some water just before 11 p.m.

As she exited, police say shots rang out. They say one bullet hit a 43-year-old man in the head.

“The gentleman that it was intended for, it went in his head, came out and went in her leg,” Andries said. “Her bone broke.”

Andries says the bullet was lodged in her mother’s leg, and she had to undergo surgery to get it out. She is now recovering at Lincoln Hospital.

Investigators say a 52-year-old woman was grazed in the leg and is expected to be OK. Now, they are working to determine what sparked the gunfire and who was responsible.

“It’s insane because you’re just going out to do your job, and then you have to worry about people that’s being ignorant on the street,” Andries said.

For Andries, the focus remains on her mother’s recovery.

“They told me she was going to be fine, and she was stable. I was able to calm down,” she said. “This is the first thing that’s ever happened to my mother.”

Now, she waits for answers about how an ordinary trip to the store ended with her mother in a hospital bed.

“She’s innocent bystander, and she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Andries said. “Now that it’s happened, it hits home hard.”

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.

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 9, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston families dreaming about holiday travel, family reunions, study abroad, business trips or that long-postponed international getaway will have a rare Saturday opportunity to take care of one of travel’s most important details: the U.S. passport.

The Houston Passport Agency has announced a special Passport Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the George Thomas “Mickey” Leland Federal Building, 1919 Smith Street, 4th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.

The special event is by appointment only. When scheduling, applicants should specifically state that they are requesting an appointment for the “Special Agency Weekend Event in Houston.”

That Saturday access matters. The Houston Passport Agency normally operates Monday through Friday and serves customers by appointment, generally for urgent international travel within 14 calendar days or when a foreign visa is needed within 28 days.

For Houstonians balancing jobs, school schedules, children and the everyday art of getting across town, opening a federal passport office on Saturday is more than convenient. It is government meeting people closer to where their lives actually happen.

A Second Saturday Passport Option Houston-area residents will also have another opportunity that morning.

The South Houston Post Office, 315 North Allen Genoa Road, South Houston, TX 77587, is listed by the U.S. Department of State as hosting a Special Passport Acceptance Fair from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Because these special fairs can reach capacity, arriving early is smart.

The distinction is important: the Houston Passport Agency event is appointment-only, while the South Houston Post Office fair is an acceptance-facility event primarily for first-time applicants, children and others who must apply in person using Form DS-11.

Applicants should arrive prepared with evidence of U.S. citizenship, a valid physical government-issued photo ID, required photocopies, a compliant passport photo, the appropriate application and fees. Do not sign Form DS-11 until instructed by an authorized acceptance agent. Children under 16 have additional parental appearance and consent requirements.

For travelers choosing between documents, the passport book is required for international air travel. The less-expensive passport card can be used for certain land and sea travel involving Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, but it cannot replace a passport book for international flights.

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Current State Department processing times are 4–6 weeks for routine service and 2–3 weeks for expedited service, which costs an additional $60. A first-time adult passport book application costs $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee at an acceptance facility.

The State Department also reminds consumers that passport appointments themselves are free. Travelers should use official government channels rather than paying third-party services merely to secure an appointment.

There is something fitting about expanding passport access in 2026, America’s 250th anniversary year. The nation’s passport tradition reaches deep into the republic’s history: National Archives holdings include U.S. passport applications dating to 1795, while passport responsibilities were associated with America’s foreign-affairs apparatus during the nation’s earliest years.

A passport is practical paperwork, certainly. But it is also a tangible marker of citizenship and America’s connection with the wider world.

And in a healthy democracy, government works best when its institutions are accessible, understandable and responsive to the people they serve. For a working parent, student, entrepreneur, senior or first-time traveler, one open Saturday can make a world of difference.

Houston, get those documents together. The world is calling — and September 26 is a good day to answer. OFFICIAL PASSPORT LINKS Houston Passport Agency — Address, Appointments & Official Information travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast/make-appointment/houston.html U.S. Department of State — Special Passport Acceptance Fairs travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/where-to-apply/special-passport-acceptance-fairs.html U.S. Department of State — Passport Forms, Fees & Application Help travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help.html

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.

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3465287733

By Addie Meiners

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY) — An east Louisville man is accused of setting his house on fire.

Abdul Al-Mousa is charged with second-degree arson after his home caught fire just after noon on Monday.

His neighbors in Forest Springs say they expected this.

The sight of burned windows and door frames is a sad one, but for them, it is also a sight of relief.

“This is an amazing neighborhood, and it’s a place I’d be happy to stay. It was just one rotten apple.”

“I mean, my gosh, it’s like I have my life back.”

Investigators say Al-Mousa intentionally set the fire.

Michael Ray, who lives nearby, says he is the one who called 911.

“I saw the fire in the garage and him standing maybe 15 feet in front of me, and I go, ‘Dude, did you just start that fire?’ And he looked at me and said, ‘Yes,’” Ray said.

According to the arrest citation, Al-Mousa not only admitted to using an oil-soaked rag on a stick to start the fire, but also told firefighters, “Let it go.”

Ray says he took video of the fire while Al-Mousa moved across the street to watch.

Ray and other neighbors say this is only the most recent issue Al-Mousa has had in the neighborhood over the past few years.

“He had a blowtorch walking through the house, a live chainsaw through the house, he’s in his front and back yard with a sword.”

Ray says video shows Al-Mousa and a city worker after his behavior was reported.

According to Metro 311’s website, Al-Mousa was reported 15 times over the past two years for erratic behavior, high grass and weeds, trash scattered across the yard, and rodents.

“He meant for us to be scared, and we were.”

One neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, says she feels like the system has failed both her neighborhood and Al-Mousa.

Records show he was previously in jail on domestic violence charges. A judge ordered him to receive mental health treatment and released him, but court records show he never sought treatment and continued living in his home, harassing his neighbors.

“There needs to be a different way of interpreting and handling that kind of behavior. But the police can’t do anything about it unless the laws change.”

We did speak with Al-Mousa’s estranged wife, who says she has repeatedly tried to get him mental health support, but he refused.

She says she asked the court to intervene, but has not had any success.

Al-Mousa is now being housed at Louisville Metro Corrections.

He’s set to be arraigned Wednesday morning.

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.

By Angela Rozier

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    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPBF) — A South Florida wildlife advocate is campaigning to make the American flamingo Florida’s official state bird, emphasizing its unique connection to the state, conservation success, and economic benefits.

Ron Magill, the Goodwill Ambassador and Conservation Liaison for the Zoo Miami Foundation, is leading the effort to make the change.

“For the last two years, they have tried to introduce a bill to get the flamingo listed as the state bird of Florida,” Magill said. “Right now, the state of Florida is the northern mockingbird. And I’ve got nothing personal against the northern mockingbird. It’s a nice common little bird, but it’s also the state bird of Louisiana, of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. We shouldn’t be sharing a state bird with anybody.”

Visshaael Patel, the Communications Manager at the Palm Beach Zoo, admits flamingos are a favorite among visitors.

The flamingo, once extricated from Florida in the 1800s due to hunting for its plumes and meat, has made a comeback.

“Florida is the only state in the country that can list the flamingo as a native species,” Patel said. “The fact that flamingos are now staying here, they’re not just flying through and migrating off to the Bahamas and Cuba, Mexico. They’re flamingos that are now staying here. It’s nature telling us we’re doing a good job.”

Zoo visitor Amy Ambrosia wants the American flamingo to be the state bird.

“Well, I think it should be the American Flamingo, right, because when you think of South Florida, you think of flamingos, and even when we had that storm a lot of the flamingos came back so you’re seeing flamingos even in the Everglades now,” Ambrosia said.

Advocates highlighted the flamingo’s economic potential.

“Many people outside of the country automatically think that the flamingo is the state bird of Florida. As a matter of fact, many people within the state of Florida think the flamingo is the state bird of Florida. Think of all the logos, the tourism dollars that could be attracted, all the merchandising that could be done with the flamingo. This is a win-win for the state,” Magill said

The legislative process has faced challenges in previous years.

“Last year, it made it through the House and was voted overwhelmingly, positively, but it just died in the Senate,” Magill said. “This year, I’ve been allowed to advocate, and I am pulling out every stop. I have to speak to every person I can to get schools across the state involved. I’ve gotten major artists, I’ve gotten Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen, you know, a huge columnist involved. We’re going to try to organize a rally.”

The bill, introduced by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, also proposes designating the Florida scrub jay as the state songbird. “The bill says the flamingo’s the state bird and the scrub jay is the state songbird. So, they’re both included in this bill that really recognizes two birds that are only found in Florida as far as the United States goes,” Magill said.

The flamingo’s recognition would also reflect the success of conservation efforts, particularly the Everglades restoration project. “Everglades restoration is the single most expensive restoration project in the history of the world. By recognizing the flamingo, protecting those wetlands, we’re protecting so much more,” Magill said.

The campaign includes outreach through radio, television, and community events. “I just got a brand-new vehicle that’s all wrapped in flamingos, that I’m going to be driving up the state to speak to chambers, to speak to different groups throughout the state, to get them to understand why this is a win-win for the entire state,” Magill said.

He plans to campaign until the legislative session convenes in March.

“This is a win-win. It’s not costing anybody anything. This is not something we’re paying tax dollars for. This is just something recognizing an iconic bird for an iconic state,” Magill said.

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.

By Carson Zorn, Edward Franco

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    CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WBBH) — A Cape Coral man was arrested on Monday after police said he stripped naked inside a HomeGoods store and exposed himself to a shopper.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, officers responded to the HomeGoods on Del Prado Boulevard South at around 10:45 a.m. after reports of a fully nude man inside the store.

When officers arrived, they were directed to a nearby Aldi store after being told that the suspect had walked in that direction and may have entered the store. Officers located the suspect standing near the entrance to the store and identified him as Billy Thomas, 43, CCPD said.

Officers detained Thomas, and while walking him back toward a patrol car, they noticed a pair of white shoes and a pair of underwear near the entrance of the HomeGoods, CCPD said. Thomas then told officers that the items belonged to him and said that his clothes had started smoking and that the bicycle he was riding was smoking as well.

Officers never located a bicycle, CCPD said.

A woman who was inside the HomeGoods at the time of the incident told officers that she saw Thomas enter the store, walk into the aisle where she was standing, and say, “I’m sorry, I have to do this,” CCPD said. The woman said Thomas then dropped his pants, exposing himself. A store employee also confirmed that Thomas had been naked in the store.

Thomas was arrested and faces a charge of indecent exposure.

“I don’t really expect to go HomeGoods and see some naked man in the middle of the aisle,” said Alexandra Campos, a shopper at the store.

Shoppers at the Cape Coral HomeGoods store were startled to hear about the incident.

“It is concerning. Definitely something I wouldn’t like to expose my children to,” said Maria Ycaza, another shopper.

“It’s very worrisome. You know, children out and about,” Ycaza added.

Campos shared her thoughts, saying, “People just don’t need to see that, and even I don’t want to see that, coming to HomeGoods. I’m coming home to shop and have a peaceful experience.”

For customers inside HomeGoods, the incident was anything but business as usual.

“Keep a lookout, keep an eye out, be self-aware. Everything that’s happening around you,” Campos advised.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Records show that Thomas has been arrested at least 28 times in Lee County since 2002.

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.