Oregon State Marine Board issues safety warnings ahead of Labor Day

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Marine Board issued safety guidelines today ahead of Labor Day weekend to help recreationists navigate hazards on state waterways.

State officials are encouraging boaters and paddlers to review equipment rules, check local water levels and prepare for end-of-summer water conditions before heading out.

Low water levels across the state have increased hazards such as exposed gravel bars, shoaling and submerged debris. Randy Sigman, interim Boating Safety Program Manager for the Oregon State Marine Board, urged boaters to research their destinations in advance.

“Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the dangers that come with natural waterbodies such as current, tides and wind,” Sigman said. “Look out for wood, other debris and shallow gravel bars or shoaling that can catch motorized boaters off-guard with these low water levels.”

The Oregon State Marine Board compiles a weekly Opportunities and Access Report detailing water levels, ramp closures and nearby alternative locations. Boaters can also check access site status through the Boat Oregon Online Map to track impacts from low water or active wildfires.

State law requires all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, rafts, inflatable boats and stand-up paddleboards, to carry a properly fitted life jacket for every person onboard and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets must be in good condition and readily accessible, not packed away or stored under hatches. Children younger than 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while a boat is underway. Most recreational boating fatality victims in the state so far this season were paddlers who were not wearing life jackets.

Marine officials also cautioned recreationists against using pool floats on open waterways. Sigman warned that pool toys lack structural integrity and control needed for river currents. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control and can puncture easily,” Sigman said. “Float in a watercraft designed for a river that won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.”

Law enforcement will also monitor for impaired operators on the water. Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants violations can lead to fines up to $6,250, suspension of boating privileges for up to three years and jail time. Legal intoxicants under the law include alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs and certain prescription medications.

Seating rules inside motorboats are also strictly enforced. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales or transoms of a motorboat while the vessel is underway. Passengers are advised to remain in designated seats, as sitting on the stern creates hazards from direct exposure to carbon monoxide exhaust and potential propeller strikes.

Boaters are also subject to speed restrictions near shorelines and structures. A statewide proximity rule requires all motorboats and personal watercraft to slow down within 200 feet of docks, launch ramps, marinas, moorages, floating homes, piers and swim floats, regardless of whether a slow-no-wake buoy is posted. Operators remain legally responsible for damage caused by their boat’s wake, while paddlers should stay near shore and cross busy channels at right angles when safe.

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Sterling Webb asks court to extend restraining order on eligibility to Mizzou

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mizzou defensive lineman on Monday asked a St. Louis County judge to prevent the team he has practiced with for the past month from declaring him ineligible.

Lawyers for Sterling Webb filed a motion asking Judge Ellen Ribaudo to extend a temporary restraining order granted last month against the NCAA to cover Mizzou Athletics, as well. The motion states that Webb has been practicing with the team throughout August, but he’s seeking the restraining order because teams, not the NCAA, certify eligibility.

“Under the NCAA’s own Bylaws, it is the member institution, and not the NCAA, that certifies eligibility and withholds an athlete from competition,” Webb’s lawyer, Andrew Blackwell, wrote in his motion.

Blackwell also laid out in the motion that Webb already has a roster spot available and is not asking for damages.

The motion also states that granting the order against Mizzou would keep the school from holding or reducing revenue sharing or name, image and likeness proceeds Webb could receive.

Webb filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in late July seeking an extra year of player eligibility, arguing that the rules state he should have a season remaining. The NCAA said its interpretation of the rules means he has none.

A hearing is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order the Motion against Defendants The Curators of the University of Missouri and University of MissouriDownload

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From bus stop to school front: how Zum Services is bridging the communication gap

Matthew Pearce

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Every day, thousands of parents trust school bus services to safely transport their children from bus stops to school.

During the commute, parents place their trust in bus services to keep their children safe. But they don’t always have access to see exactly where their child is during the bus ride.

As technology continues to expand, the possibilities for location tracking have changed.

Tonight on News Channel 3, learn how Zum Services is bridging the communication gap between bus drivers, schools and, most importantly, parents.

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WE HIKE Adventure Hosts Free Suicide Awareness Events for Veterans

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-In honor of September’s Suicide Awareness Month, local non-profit WE HIKE Adventure is returning for its second year with a free two-part community series at Chuck Heinrich Memorial Park: “WE HIKE for Veterans: Awareness, Connection & Prevention.”

Beyond bringing the community together on the trails, this year’s series expands to introduce “Unlace and Unwind” post-walk yoga led by a military veteran trained through Warriors at Ease in trauma-informed practices.

Event Highlights:

Thursday, Sept 10 (6:45 AM): Morning gravel trail walk followed by veteran-led yoga at 8:15 AM.

Monday, Sept 21 (6:45 PM): Evening sunset walk on an accessible paved path, followed by sunset yoga at 8:00 PM.

Location: Chuck Heinrich Memorial Park (11055 Loma Del Norte Dr.)

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Commissioner Ellis, Experts, Advocates and First Responders Call on Harris County to Invest Additional $4.5 Million for Effective Community Safety Strategies

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON — Public safety does not always arrive wearing a badge.

Sometimes it pulls up in a purple-and-gray vehicle carrying an unarmed behavioral-health specialist and an EMT. Sometimes it looks like a trusted neighborhood violence interrupter sitting beside a shooting victim before retaliation turns one tragedy into two. And sometimes it means helping a domestic-violence survivor find safety before the next call becomes a homicide investigation.

That broader vision of public safety is at the heart of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ push for an additional $4.5 million investment in community-based safety programs as Commissioners Court moves toward critical Fiscal Year 2027 budget decisions.

photo Commissioner Ellis Calls on Harris County to Invest Additional $4.5 Million for Effective Community Safety

Ellis and Georgetown Law’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety recently released Advancing Safer Communities in Harris County, Texas, examining four years of results from three initiatives: the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), RISE violence interruption, and domestic violence prevention and intervention programs. The proposal would bring combined investment in the initiatives to approximately $15.3 million.

Read The Full Advancing Safer Communities Report

Right Help, Right Call Launched in 2022, HART dispatches interdisciplinary, unarmed teams to eligible nonviolent calls involving mental-health crises, homelessness, substance use and social-welfare concerns. By September 2025, the HART model had expanded throughout all Harris County Sheriff’s Office districts. The new report says teams have now responded to more than 31,000 calls and connected more than 5,000 residents to care.

That is not anti-police. It is smart deployment.

Every appropriate call handled by HART can leave a deputy, ambulance or other emergency resource available for a situation where seconds — and specialized law-enforcement skills — truly matter.

Meanwhile, RISE — Relentless Interrupters Serving Everyone — uses trained “credible messengers” with neighborhood connections and lived experience to defuse disputes, discourage retaliation and connect residents with resources. Harris County Public Health describes the program as complementary to traditional law enforcement, not a substitute for it.

The numbers are encouraging. RISE has reportedly interrupted at least 186 potentially violent conflicts and conducted more than 2,300 hospital visits involving victims of gunshots, stabbings and assaults. In Cypress Station — where RISE, HART and expanded Sheriff’s Office strategies have worked simultaneously — overall crime has fallen 36%, family violence 48% and aggravated robberies 34% since 2023.

Ellis is also urging sustained investment in domestic-violence intervention, including assistance that helps survivors escape dangerous homes and therapeutic services for children exposed to violence.

“For too long, our public safety systems have been built to respond only after harm has already happened,” Ellis said.

Now comes the budget test.

With Harris County facing significant FY2027 financial pressures, every new dollar will face scrutiny. Ellis’ argument is that prevention deserves to be judged not simply by what it costs — but by the arrests, jail stays, emergency-room visits, shootings and tragedies it may help prevent.

Commissioners Court is expected to take up the community-safety proposal as part of its Tuesday, September 8 budget deliberations.

For Harris County, the question is becoming refreshingly practical: Why wait for a crisis to become a crime when there is evidence that earlier intervention can help keep it from getting that far?

Advancing Safer Communities in Harris County Website

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
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IACCGH Connects Business Across Borders and Beyond at 2026 Houston Gala

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, TEXAS — Houston’s international business community came together in grand fashion Saturday, August 29, as the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) hosted its 2026 Annual Day Gala and Awards Banquet at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

The elegant evening brought entrepreneurs, corporate executives, elected officials, community leaders and international partners under one roof to celebrate achievement, deepen relationships and reaffirm Houston’s increasingly important place in the evolving India-U.S. economic partnership.

And after more than a quarter-century of building bridges, IACCGH proved once again that sometimes the shortest distance between Houston and India is a handshake.

Founded in 1999, IACCGH emerged during a transformative period when India was opening its economy to greater global investment and Houston businesses were increasingly looking beyond traditional borders for new markets. Since then, the Chamber has grown into one of Greater Houston’s important connectors between Indo-American entrepreneurs, major corporations, governmental institutions and emerging business leaders.

photo IACCGH – Connects Business Across Borders and Beyond at 2026 Houston Gala

Its mission remains straightforward but powerful: facilitate commerce between the United States and India, expand access to Indo-American markets, advocate for the Indo-American business community and help Greater Houston businesses and professionals succeed.

At the 2026 gala, Consul General D.C. Manjunath underscored how much opportunity remains ahead.

His remarks highlighted possibilities for deeper collaboration in technology, healthcare, energy and education as India advances its ambitious Viksit Bharat 2047 vision — a national strategy aimed at transforming India into a fully developed economy by the 100th anniversary of its independence.

Those sectors also happen to read like Houston’s résumé.

From the Texas Medical Center and Houston’s globally dominant energy ecosystem to its expanding technology, manufacturing and higher-education sectors, Houston is strategically positioned to play a meaningful role in the next generation of India-U.S. commerce.

The evening also celebrated entrepreneurs who have turned opportunity into measurable success.

Sunny Bathija, founder of Satya Inc., was honored as IACCGH’s 2026 Businessman of the Year, while Tina Khatri, CEO of TDK Construction, received recognition as Businesswoman of the Year.

Longtime Houston entrepreneur Bal Sareen, founder of Brask Inc., was recognized for his distinguished business career and contributions to the petrochemical industry and Indo-American community. William T. Harris and Milton Thibodeaux were also honored for their leadership and contributions to Greater Houston’s business landscape.

The gala welcomed prominent civic leaders, including U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, further illustrating IACCGH’s longstanding ability to connect business leadership with government, diplomacy and community engagement.

That connection matters.

IACCGH’s work extends far beyond one glamorous evening. Throughout the year, the organization supports international trade missions, entrepreneurship, small-business development, supplier diversity, women and youth empowerment, education and leadership development.

Historically, the Chamber has also helped foster institutional relationships, including connections involving Houston’s world-class healthcare community and counterparts in India. Each partnership represents another building block in a relationship that has evolved from cultural connection into substantial economic opportunity.

The 2026 gala ultimately served as both celebration and statement.

Houston is one of America’s most international cities. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. And between them stands an organization that has spent 27 years connecting people who see borders not as barriers, but as business opportunities waiting to be explored.

For IACCGH, the evening celebrated what has already been accomplished.

But judging from the energy inside the Hilton Americas-Houston, the best chapters of the Houston–India business story may still be ahead. Learn More: iaccgh.com

Watch the Full Gala Video: youtu.be/hKJx2rPx87w

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Kierra Lee
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HCC Strikes a Golden Note: Mariachi Águilas de Oro Makes Historic Houston Debut

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston City College has added a new sound to the rhythm of student life — and judging by the applause at Houston’s Wortham Theater Center, it is a sound audiences are ready to hear again.

On Friday, August 28, Mariachi Águilas de Oro — Golden Eagles — made its historic public debut during opening night of the seventh annual Houston Mariachi Festival. Violins sang, trumpets soared and the unmistakable heartbeat of the guitarrón helped introduce Houston to HCC’s first student mariachi ensemble.

The three-day festival, held August 28–30 at the Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston, featured mariachi and folklórico performers from across Texas. HCC students shared Friday’s spotlight with the University of Houston Mariachi Pumas — putting the fledgling Golden Eagles ensemble on one of Houston’s premier performing-arts stages for its very first flight. A Golden Debut The performance was more than another college extracurricular activity. It represented a vision HCC leaders have spent more than a year developing: using culture as another pathway toward connection, confidence and student success.

“Mariachi is more than music. It’s a bridge between heritage and hope,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. That philosophy fits Houston particularly well. In one of America’s most culturally diverse cities, students do not leave their heritage at the classroom door. HCC’s new ensemble recognizes that culture can be an educational asset — something that brings students together while reinforcing pride in who they are and where they come from.

photo HCC – Mariachi Band Strikes a Golden Note – Mariachi Águilas de Oro Makes Historic Houston Debut

Mariachi Águilas de Oro began as a student club with nearly a dozen members, including graduates of Cesar Chávez, Carver and Klein Collins high schools and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Members are studying engineering, business and other disciplines, proving that you can calculate an equation, build a business plan — and still know your way around a vihuela.

Better still, participation is open to HCC students regardless of academic major or previous mariachi experience. Culture Meets Opportunity For lead singer and ensemble president Isaias Luis-Torres, mariachi offers something textbooks alone cannot provide: an emotional connection between performer and audience.

“I love to see how much the music impacts their lives,” Luis-Torres said.

Fellow HCC student Josue Ramirez, who has played mariachi since age 10, describes that connection almost as an exchange of energy — musicians expressing their emotions while audiences respond with smiles, awe and sometimes tears.

That is part of mariachi’s enduring power.

The music carries stories of family, celebration, struggle, romance and resilience across generations. For Houston’s Latino community — and increasingly for audiences of every background — mariachi is both preservation and invitation: remember where we came from, and come celebrate with us.

HCC Southeast President Frances Villagran-Glover, D.A., called the inaugural ensemble an example of what happens when “culture, community and opportunity come together.” Building the Legacy The Wortham debut is intended to be a beginning, not a finale. HCC leaders envision eventually developing Mariachi Águilas de Oro beyond its current student-club structure into a formalized program inspired by established university ensembles at the University of Houston and University of Houston-Downtown. The Golden Eagles could also become cultural ambassadors for HCC at graduations, recruitment programs, festivals and community events.

photo

The HCC Foundation helped make the debut possible by funding the ensemble’s distinctive HCC-blue uniforms with gold trim, removing another financial barrier for participating students while giving the musicians a professional identity worthy of the stage.

And those uniforms symbolize something larger.

For additional information about Houston City College and Mariachi Águilas de Oro, visit HCC’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

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
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3465287733

Young black bear makes unexpected visit to Pocatello neighborhood

Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A young black bear made a surprise visit to a Pocatello neighborhood on Monday morning.

Idaho Fish and Game found the bear climbing a fence and foraging for berries in a south valley neighborhood.

Crews captured the animal and released it in a remote habitat.

“We can’t be sure how or why this black bear found its way to this Pocatello neighborhood, though it is possible it had worked its way along the Portneuf River corridor as it foraged for food,” said Dressel.

The wildlife managers say drought conditions have reduced the availability of natural food sources, which may be driving bears closer to communities in search of food.

Fish and Game says bear sightings in Pocatello city limits are rare, with the last reported sighting in 2018.

Video of the bear cub being released back into the wild by team members, courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

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Man accused of fleeing police in 97 mph pursuit, leaving injured 1-year-old in crashed SUV

By CBS 58 Newsroom

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    FOX POINT, Wisconsin (WDJT) — FOX POINT, Wis. (CBS 58) — A 32-year-old Kenosha man is facing five charges after prosecutors say he led police on a pursuit reaching 97 mph before crashing in Fox Point and leaving his injured 1-year-old son inside the vehicle. Steven Pokorny is charged with fleeing an officer causing property damage, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, child neglect causing bodily harm, child abandonment and obstructing an officer. Prosecutors are seeking repeater enhancements on all five charges.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, Aug. 31, a Glendale officer tried to stop Pokorny’s Chevrolet Trax early Thursday, Aug. 27 after learning its registered owner had a felony warrant. The complaint says the SUV sped away, beginning a chase that reached 97 mph.

Minutes later, police were called to a crash in the 7400 block of N. Boyd Way in Fox Point.

Officers found Pokorny’s 1-year-old son standing barefoot in the back seat amid shattered glass, according to the complaint. An officer reported seeing about 20 fresh, bleeding cuts along with additional injuries to the child’s back, head and other areas.

Prosecutors say Pokorny ran from the SUV, leading to a search of the area before a police K-9 tracked him to a yard on N. Boyd Way, where he was allegedly hiding.

During an interview with investigators, Pokorny reportedly denied driving and claimed a friend had been behind the wheel. He also denied abandoning his son, saying he had been trying to unbuckle the child but “couldn’t bring him with me.”

Investigators noted the SUV’s passenger-side airbag did not deploy, which the complaint says is expected if nobody was detected in the passenger seat.

Pokorny made his initial appearance in court on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

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.

Los Angeles Angels to be sold to Rams, Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke

By Austin Turner

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — After 23 years, two generational superstars and zero playoff appearances in more than a decade, the Los Angeles Angels will operate with new ownership in 2027 under a name familiar to many sports fans.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, operated by Stan Kroenke, announced Tuesday that it has agreed to purchase the franchise from Arte Moreno. Kroenke also owns the LA Rams of the NFL, Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Colorado Rapids of the MLS and Arsenal F.C. of the English Premier League.

Each of the aforementioned teams owned by Kroenke, except the Rapids, have won championships in their leagues since 2022.

“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization,” Kroenke said in a statement. In a news release, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment called the agreement an extension of their footprint south, where they’ll look to host events year-round in Southern California.

Angel Stadium in Anaheim has been subject to scrutiny as it ages, and securing a new ballpark will likely be one of the first objectives of the new ownership. Kroenke is yet to comment on whether the franchise would remain in Anaheim or change its name to shed the Los Angeles moniker as the team plays about 30 miles from downtown LA.

In a statement, Arte Moreno, who purchased the team from the Walt Disney Company in 2003, said he believes Kroenke is the “best next owner” for the team. “The Angels Organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Moreno Family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise,” Arte Moreno said. “The Angels Organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.” Moreno’s ownership has faced intense scrutiny over the last several years. The franchise continued to see on-the-field success in the first six seasons after the sale, but the Angels’ last playoff victory came in 2009.

Since promoting three-time AL MVP Mike Trout to MLB in 2012, the team has appeared in the postseason just once, where they were swept by the Kansas City Royals in 2014. The team signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in 2018, but he left to crosstown rival LA Dodgers in 2023 after winning two MVP awards of his own for the Angels.

The lack of success despite serious star power has led to fierce calls from the fanbase for Moreno to sell the franchise. This season, Angels fans have frequently engaged in the “tarps off” movement, where fans gather in stadium nosebleeds, take their shirts off and chant “sell the team.” As of Tuesday morning, no terms of the deal have been released. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.

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.