Author: CNN Newsource

By Burt Levine

Click here for updates on this story

    June 10, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Two weeks after Texas’ May 26 primary runoffs, one message is still ringing louder than a church bell on Election Sunday: voters were not simply choosing candidates — they were choosing disruption.

Across Texas and Greater Houston, runoff results revealed a political appetite for younger voices, louder fighters, fresh faces, and candidates willing to challenge the comfortable old order. In race after race, voters looked at long résumés, familiar names, and decades of public service — then politely, and sometimes not so politely, showed them the exit.

Call it generational change. Call it protest politics. Call it democracy with a little hot sauce. Whatever the label, the 2026 runoff season proved that the old political playbook is being rewritten in real time.

The biggest headline came in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff, where Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Cornyn, a fixture in Texas politics for decades, represented the steady, senior statesman wing of the GOP. Paxton ran as the boat-rocker — combative, unapologetic, and powered by a base that preferred confrontation over caution. The voters chose the shake-up.

That same energy rolled into Houston’s congressional map. In Congressional District 18, longtime U.S. Rep. Al Green, a respected civil rights voice and veteran public servant, was defeated by State Rep. Christian Menefee, whose campaign leaned into youth, urgency, and a sharper generational call to action. Menefee’s victory was not just a win; it was a thunderclap from voters demanding new tactics for a new political era.

In Congressional District 7, Alexander Hale defeated Tina Cohen, another example of voters rewarding a younger challenger with a bold pitch. In west Houston’s Congressional District 38, Jon Bonk defeated Shelley DeZavala, continuing the same pattern: less establishment polish, more grassroots punch.

The theme did not stop at Congress. In the Republican runoff for Texas Attorney General, State Sen. Mayes Middleton defeated U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, while Democrat Nathan Johnson won his party’s attorney general runoff over Joe Jaworski. In both contests, voters made clear they were not afraid of reshuffling the deck.

Locally, the political tremors were even more personal.

In Harris County, Dr. Letitia Plummer defeated former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in the Democratic runoff for Harris County Judge. Parker brought history, experience, and name recognition. Plummer brought momentum, outsider energy, and a campaign that connected with voters ready for a different kind of county leadership. On the Republican side, Orlando Sanchez defeated Warren Howell, setting up a high-profile November battle for one of the most powerful county offices in America.

In Fort Bend County, Commissioner Dexter McCoy delivered one of the night’s most commanding victories, defeating Judge Rachelle Carter in the Democratic runoff for County Judge. At just 34, McCoy’s win symbolized the rise of a new Fort Bend — younger, more diverse, more assertive, and unwilling to wait its turn.

photo

In Texas House District 131, Staci Childs defeated Lawrence Allen Jr., son of longtime State Rep. Alma Allen, in a Sunnyside-area contest loaded with legacy, loyalty, and change. In Alief’s House District 149, Dr. Darlene Breaux defeated longtime incumbent Hubert Vo, ending more than two decades of representation and signaling that even trusted incumbents must keep pace with communities that are rapidly evolving.

Even beyond Texas, the mood is unmistakable. In Louisiana, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy failed to make the Republican Senate runoff, finishing behind Julia Letlow and John Fleming. Across the South, from Houston to Baton Rouge to Atlanta to San Antonio, voters are testing a new political formula: less patience, more purpose.

For democracy, that is not necessarily a crisis. It is a reminder.

Democracy is not a museum piece. It is a living, breathing, sometimes rowdy institution. It does not promise incumbents lifetime leases. It does not guarantee that seniority will beat sincerity. And it certainly does not reward leaders who forget to listen until election night.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, the 2026 runoffs offer a civic lesson wrapped in a political headline: communities are watching, voters are organizing, and young leaders are no longer waiting at the back of the room. They are stepping to the microphone.

The November general election will determine who can transform campaign energy into governing results. But one thing is already clear: the voters have spoken, and they did not whisper. They shouted for change.

REGISTER TO VOTE: Harris County Vote and For Bend County Vote

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

By Jermont Terry

Click here for updates on this story

    Illinois (WBBM) — A strange and what some call disturbing sight in Grant Park on Tuesday — a burning cross.

Chicago police spent about three hours investigating the cross burning earlier in the day. Though much information about the incident was not released, the sight here in the public park stirred emotions and shocked many.

The flames from the cross burning in the middle of Grant Park were visible to anyone driving or walking down Columbus Drive. It left Keinika Carlton and her daughter, Alyna, in pure disbelief.

“How did this happen? Like, I’m sure the people walking past saw someone walking down the street with a cross, sit up there, and light a fire to it. I’m surprised there wasn’t more people watching this,” Keinika said.

The two were driving near Grant Park. They didn’t see who started it, but they say it stirred up many emotions.

“I know my grandmothers and great grandmothers and grandfathers have experienced in real time, life in the South. So immediately I just felt sad,” Keinika said.

“It’s very hurting. Even in schools, they make it seem like things like that was so long ago and we’re making so much progress, and we’re clearly not. There is no progress because it’s clearly happening to this day in broad daylight,” Alyna said.

CPD has not said much about this incident.

“This was something that was used against Black people in the South,” Keinika said.

It is unclear if the incident was racial, as the act implies, or if it is connected with something else. Either way, the mother and daughter say seeing this cross burning in such a public place should upset everyone in its own right — not to mention the safety aspect as well.

“That could have gotten really out of control. It could have caught fire to all those trees over there and everyone in the area … people could have suffered,” Keinika said.

The tree trunk the cross was leaning against was torched, along with some leaves. The flames did not spread.

The Chicago Fire Department was called to put out the fire just before 2:30 p.m. Police are working to learn the motive.

“This is how things start. It starts from a distance, and it gets closer and closer, and you are in flames,” Alyna said.

It was unclear how long the cross was burning or if it was carried in or built it by the tree.

Police have not said if anyone is in custody in connection with the burning.

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 Ashley Grams

Click here for updates on this story

    Minnesota (WCCO) — A new state law goes into effect on Aug. 1 in Minnesota, which will no longer allow 10-, 11- and 12-year-old children to be prosecuted. Instead, children under 13 who are considered delinquent, or who have broken a state law, will be redirected to social services.

The Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA) represents social service staff across the state’s 87 counties and is asking the state to step in and make changes to the law.

Anne Broskoff is the Human Services Director in Brown County; she’s also part of MACSSA and says while violent acts in that age group may be few, counties aren’t prepared for those situations.

“From a human services perspective, that’s a role that we’re not used to dealing with in terms of addressing public safety for people that commit crimes against other people,” Broskoff said. “We really are looking for some reasonable exceptions for those violent crimes.”

Broskoff says they have concerns about finding the right place to house a child if they are a danger to themselves or the community.

“I think that this law change will be really helpful for youth that are starting to go down a path that they shouldn’t, that we can try and bring alongside those families and youth some well-needed resources and supports,” Broskoff said. “But I’m worried about our capacity to serve the breadth of what this law can bring, and I have some worries about community safety and youth safety.”

Broskoff says they are asking the state to amend the law to make an exception to prosecute and securely house children ages 10 to 12 years old who commit a serious violent crime.

The Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties, representing over 40 counties, and the Association of Minnesota Counties share these worries.

“There are concerns around the kids that may commit the serious offenses and the lack of available placement options for them,” Emilio Lamba said, representing both groups. “Whether they are going to end up in secure detention, if that mechanism exists, or if county staff may have to potentially sit with these children in county offices, hotels, until they can find the appropriate placements.”

Minnesota’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) is also asking the state to pump the brakes, to complete more research and ensure services outside of the juvenile delinquency jurisdiction are properly set up for children in the 10 to 12 age range. JJAC members are appointed by Gov. Tim Walz’s office and advise state lawmakers on juvenile justice and law.

Kate Richtman, vice chair of JJAC, said while they support the age change, there are a lot of questions at the county level about what this law will look like in practice.

“But what should that [secure] place be, and are there beds available, and what do you do at two o’clock in the morning?” said Richtman. “We aren’t sure what the capacity is going to be, and where those services are really going to need to be put in place.”

During the legislative session, JJAC asked state lawmakers to delay the law another year, but no changes were made.

JJAC said there are two other states that have the minimum age set to 13: Maryland and New Hampshire. But unlike Minnesota, Richtman said in both states there are “carve-outs” or exceptions for kids under 13 who commit certain offenses.

JJAC data collected from state agencies show 747 kids between the ages of 10 and 12 were arrested in 2023; 423 of them were referred for court proceedings, but fewer than 100 were placed in detention. Richtman says it can be difficult to get a full picture of how many kids in this age range will be impacted by this law change because often kids are referred to diversion programs.

Though Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says Minnesota’s most populous county is ready for the new law come August. Moriarty argues that, often, kids don’t face charges and instead are found unable to stand trial under the current system.

“When a judge finds them incompetent, we can no longer prosecute; that child cannot be held in the juvenile detention center, which means they walk out the door with no services,” she said.

Moriarty says since kids are already walking out the door without charges, the law change will help get child offenders the resources they need.

‘We need to get them the help they need so that they don’t continue to cause that type of harm,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Corrections said they are preparing to notify juvenile detention facilities across the state about the law, clarifying that as of Aug.1, the facilities will not be able to place a child under 13 on a hold.

“The [DOC] is also working with facilities on how they might continue to work with that age group if they are interested in doing so,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement. “The state of Minnesota will be offering training to the courts and law enforcement agencies about these changes soon.”

The spokesperson also said the only juvenile facility operated by the state, which is in Red Wing, has not admitted a child under the age of 13 to its cognitive treatment program in more than 20 years.

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 Michael Paluska

Click here for updates on this story

    HENDRY COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — The Florida panther once roamed the entire southeastern United States. Today, a small pocket of South Florida is all that remains of its habitat east of the Mississippi River.

Now, a team of wildlife filmmakers is using photography to fight for the big cat’s survival.

Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska trekked deep into panther territory with the team from the fStop Foundation. The non-profit is dedicated to tracking the panther and putting up trail cameras to give viewers a secret glimpse into their everyday lives.

On our first stop in the Greater Ok Slough Ecosystem, we saw footprints in the soft sugar sand of a massive male panther.

“This is the first time I’ve seen panther tracks in the wild,” Paluska said with excitement.

“It’s a panther stronghold,” wildlife biologist Sean McHugh said with a smile.

“The panther got shoved into South Florida because of the inaccessibility of it before roads were here. The Everglades, areas like this, and the Okeechobee Slough ecosystem were wild enough for it to escape that persecution from humans,” McHugh said.

Nearly hunted to extinction, the Florida panther is critically endangered. At one point, only 10 to 20 remained in the wild. Today, an estimated 120 to 230 panthers roam South Florida.

The nonprofit is working to change the panther’s fate — deploying trail cameras across the state to document the animals and inspire public support for their protection. Father and son William and Max Freund, along with McHugh, make up the core of the team.

Their method is methodical: scout the terrain, find tracks, position cameras, and wait.

The payoff comes when the team retrieves the cameras. Scrolling through hundreds of images, William Freund spotted something remarkable.

“Got 269 with her kitten walking right by the camera — nice,” William Freund said while scrubbing through the SD card.

For Max Freund, those moments carry weight far beyond the excitement of a single capture.

“I think to be able to show people an animal that we’ve never seen. I’ve personally never seen a panther, and we see them in the cameras, and we know that they’re around, and they’re thriving, and they have their challenges, but to be able to show people and let them experience something they’ll never see is really important,” Max Freund said.

McHugh said protecting enough land is the key to the panther’s future.

“These are the types of places that save the panther. If you have enough space, they will reproduce, and from there the population can continue to sustain itself.”

But wild places are disappearing fast. A joint study by 1000 Friends of Florida and the University of Florida estimates 190 acres of land could be lost per day to development over the next 50 years.

“It goes from sort of virgin land to some kind of agricultural use, whether it’s ranching or citrus or growing tomatoes, and then eventually that becomes the last, what we call the last crop in Florida, which is rooftops,” William Freund said.

The panther is not the only species at stake. McHugh said the big cat serves as an umbrella for an entire ecosystem — one that includes, bears, bobcats, alligators, snakes, and countless other species.

“People have a tendency to focus on the panther. It is an umbrella species. It’s a flagship species of fStop. There are so many other important species too, and it’s all part of the same ecosystem.”

Even after years of work, the team said the thrill of finding a panther on camera never fades.

“No, no, no, you never know. And that video starts playing, you just get excited, and you can’t wait to share it with everyone else,” Max Freund said.

The hope is that 250 years from now, these photographs will not be the last witness of Florida panthers roaming the wild.

“The key for us at fStop is the storytelling part of it. The old saying of you’re going to protect what you love, and you’re going to love what you understand, and so if we can tell the stories of these absolutely incredible resilient animals, we have a chance to make it happen,” William Freund 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.