Author: CNN Newsource

By Camden Morris

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    LEEDS, Alabama (WVTM) — A 70-year-old Trussville, Alabama, man died Sunday after falling from a bucket lift while installing holiday lights at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, according to authorities.

The Jefferson County Coroner said 70-year-old Kurt Kralovec, 70 died after falling from a bucket lift while installing exterior holiday lights at the store around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Statement from Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Shops released a statement saying, “Our hearts go out to the family of Kurt Kralovec, and to our entire family of outfitters, as we grieve the loss of our dear friend and 12-year teammate. Our thoughts are with everyone affected during this difficult time.”

Police Call This a Tragic Accident Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin described the incident as a tragic accident and highlighted the risks associated with working at heights, particularly during the holiday season.

“Well, like other people, I have an occasion to go up and put Christmas lights out or change light bulbs in my home. And it really doesn’t take a high fall to really seriously injure someone,” Irwin said. “So whenever you’re doing something like that, you need to make sure that it’s stable, that you know that it’s, if there’s any safety recommendations for equipment or if you’re on a ladder, and that you have someone else nearby to call 911 if someone is injured.”

Kralovec was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the fall appears to have been a tragic accident, with no indication of criminal activity.

Irwin said family and friends of Kralovec contacted him seeking answers about the incident.

“In this case, fortunately, it wasn’t a criminal activity that occurred. But, you know, for the family and the friends of this gentleman, you know, who obviously had a lot of people that cared about him. You know, people called me last night that knew someone that knew me and called my personal number. You know, the family members did. And, you know, and I’m glad that I was able to talk to them, but because, you know, they they wanted to know what happened,” Irwin said.

OSHA is Investigating The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated an investigation into the incident. OSHA has six months to complete its review to ensure Bass Pro Shops is following safety guidelines.

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 Richard Bourne

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    JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — The Senatobia Police Department is responding after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s Office released its decision in the investigation into a police officer-involved shooting in Senatobia that killed a 1-year-old boy.

The department saying they want to have open conversation as the they know the community is upset behind the decision.

The attorney general’s office found that the use of force was justified.

When asked about that decision, Fitch told 16 WAPT, “Certainly very tragic, the loss of that young child, but the AG’s office, we certainly just look at the law and the facts and make a determination based on that.”

Community members and civil rights leaders have been calling for “justice for baby Kohen Wiley” ever since he was shot and killed.

Investigators said the incident occurred June 14 in a Walmart parking lot, where an officer responding to a shoplifting call fired into a vehicle, killing Kohen and seriously wounding the driver. Senatobia police said the officer believed the driver was moving toward him.

Vellesiya Wiley was with Kohen and a friend when officers responded to that shoplifting call. Her friend was the woman police accused of stealing diapers, then trying to get away in a car.

“They were called over a box of diapers, and a family now has to bury their baby. You cannot put those two things next to each other and call it reasonable policing. Shoplifting a box of diapers ends up with you shooting into a moving vehicle. This 1-year-old baby couldn’t put his hands up. A 1-year-old baby is not a threat to officers with a gun,” said attorney Ben Crump during a press conference on June 22.

Crump, who is representing Vellesiya Wiley and the family of Kohen, responded to news of the attorney general’s decision by insisting that body camera footage of the shooting be released.

They said following the shooting, records from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation identify Senatobia Police Sgt. Hunter Foster as the subject of the investigation.

On Sept. 1, the Senatobia Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to fire Police Chief Harold Vanderford after The New York Times reported he repeatedly used racial slurs in text messages.

Crump released a statement Monday afternoon, saying in part, “This is a department whose chief was fired after reports of racial slurs in his text messages, and whose officer faced a complaint alleging a racially offensive remark two days before he shot Kohen. If the footage supports the state’s decision, release it.(body-cam footage) We will not stop fighting until this family gets the truth.”

Chairman Rep. Kabir Karriem of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus said, “Kohen Wiley was a baby. He posed no threat. He deserved protection, and he deserved a future. His family is owed more than a conclusion. They are owed the evidence, the explanation and the truth. Release the video. Explain what the evidence shows about the officer’s position, the vehicle’s movement and the circumstances of each shot. Explain how your office evaluated the danger to Kohen and the other occupants. Address the questions raised by his family and their attorneys. A declaration of justification is not a substitute for accountability.”

Below is the entire release from Fitch’s office: “Today, the Office of the Attorney General announced it has completed the review of a June 14, 2026 incident in Senatobia involving one officer with the Senatobia Police Department. In this incident, the Attorney General’s Office found the use of force was justified. Pursuant to Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code, the review followed an investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.”

The attorney general’s office told the head of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety that there was insufficient evidence of any criminal conduct to present the case to a grand jury, saying it was declining to prosecute and would be closing the case.

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 Patsy Montesinos

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    NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — For Alicia Santos Jimenez’s two sons, going out together to make DoorDash deliveries had become routine.

Her 22-year-old son, John, had been delivering food through DoorDash for more than a year, she said, often bringing his 14-year-old brother, Alan, along.

Last Thursday night was supposed to be another one of those nights.

“He told us, ‘Mom, Dad, I’m going out to do DoorDash,’ because he delivered food,” Santos Jimenez said.

But this time, the brothers wouldn’t make it home together.

Police say the brothers were inside a black Infiniti sedan in the parking lot of Birchstone Village Apartments on North Dupont Avenue around 7:45 p.m. when a man approached their vehicle and began shooting.

Moments later, police say two more men approached the Infiniti, and one of them also opened fire.

The car backed out of the parking space and crashed into a nearby fence before all three suspects fled on foot, according to police.

John was taken to Skyline Medical Center, where he died.

Alan was taken to Vanderbilt Pediatric Hospital after being shot in the head. His mother says he is now awake and recovering.

“He was a young man who was just starting to live,” Santos Jimenez said. “My son had his whole life ahead of him, and they took it away.”

Now, Santos Jimenez is navigating a pain few parents can imagine: mourning one son while trying to remain strong for another.

“I’m trying to be strong for my other son,” she said. “I don’t want him to see me like this because he’s recovering right now, and I want him to be okay.”

John was just weeks away from turning 23.

His mother remembers him as a hardworking young man who was humble and, above all, loving toward her.

“My son was simple, humble and loving,” Santos Jimenez said. “He was very affectionate with me.”

She said John had also recently gotten the black Infiniti he was driving that night. He had only had the car for about a week.

Now, his mother is using her voice in hopes that her son’s case is solved and what happened to him is not forgotten.

“I want people to know what happened because, more than anything, I want justice for my son,” Santos Jimenez said. “I don’t want this to be left like this, because sometimes cases are left as though nothing ever happened. That’s what I’m asking for: justice for my son.”

Homicide Unit detectives say they are pursuing strong leads as they work to identify and locate the three suspects.

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

A GoFundMe has also been established to help the family.

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 Jeff Tavss

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    SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — The State of Utah has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, claiming the prediction market company is actually illegal gambling in which residents have lost millions.

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown announced the filing during a briefing Tuesday.

In the lawsuit, Utah claims that prediction event contracts offered by Kalshi are “indistinguishable” from sportsbook bets offered by online gambling companies. It alleges Kalshi “took in billions of dollars in bets,” focused mainly on sports.

The state shared data from Kalshi showing nearly 33,000 Utahns had verified accounts with the company as of February, and that residents had lost between $36 million and $66 million through transaction fees and betting losses.

Over the summer, Brown hinted at a possible lawsuit after a federal judge ruled the state could block prediction market companies from operating in Utah due to the state’s constitutional prohibition against gambling.

The new lawsuit accused Kalshi of advertising its betting activity as being legal in all 50 U.S. States despite Utah’s ban.

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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    October 20, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — When Houston’s Hispanic business community speaks, the city listens. And when the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announces a SOLD-OUT economic summit, the message becomes even louder!

The highly anticipated 2026 “State of Hispanics” Data Summit and Business Expo, scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hilton Americas-Houston, has reached capacity, underscoring extraordinary interest in one of Greater Houston’s most influential economic conversations.

With more than 400 business executives, entrepreneurs, elected officials, researchers, and civic leaders expected, this signature gathering promises something far more valuable than another afternoon of networking.

It’s a front-row examination of the people, purchasing power, and possibilities shaping Houston’s future.

And apparently, every seat is a hot commodity! $54 Billion in Hispanic Economic Power—and Growing Houston is famous for energy, innovation, international commerce, and entrepreneurship. But another economic powerhouse continues to influence the region’s trajectory: its vibrant Hispanic population.

According to figures published by the Houston Hispanic Chamber, Houston Hispanics generate more than $54 billion in annual consumer spending, helping drive demand across housing, retail, healthcare, financial services, technology, and countless other industries.

The sold-out Summit reflects growing recognition that Hispanic business success is not a niche economic conversation. It is central to Greater Houston’s long-term prosperity.

Through demographic research, economic analysis, workforce insights, consumer trends, and civic engagement, attendees will explore the opportunities and challenges facing Houston’s increasingly influential Hispanic community. Dr. Laura Murillo: Leading Houston’s New Majority At the forefront of this economic movement is Dr. Laura Murillo, President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, whose leadership continues to elevate Hispanic entrepreneurship, corporate engagement, and civic representation.

“As the Leader of Houston’s New Majority, we’ve known for some time that the Hispanic community is fueling the region’s demographic and economic growth,” Murillo said in announcing the initiative.

Her message is unmistakable: Hispanic Houston is not waiting for permission to shape the future. It is already helping build it.

And under Murillo’s leadership, the Chamber continues transforming that influence into meaningful business relationships, greater visibility, and expanded opportunity. Distinguished Speakers Bring Research to Reality The program features influential voices examining Houston’s economic and political landscape.

Dr. Jim Granato, Dean of the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, will bring academic perspectives on demographics and public policy.

Bill King, businessman, author, attorney, former Kemah mayor, and Rice University’s Baker Institute fellow, is also among the featured voices.

Mitzi Hudson Fleissner, Regional Research Director for Telemundo Station Group and NBCUniversal Local Research, will spotlight Hispanic consumer spending trends.

An AARP-presented fraud-prevention discussion will address the importance of protecting consumers, families, and businesses from financial threats.

Together, these conversations aim to transform powerful statistics into practical understanding. Corporate Houston Invests in Hispanic Success Major corporate partners are helping advance the Chamber’s mission.

PNC Bank serves as an event Underwriter, with Telemundo/NBCUniversal as Premier Media Partner, AARP and Shell as Patron Partners, and Vanir providing additional support.

Their involvement reinforces an important economic reality: investing in Hispanic opportunity means investing in Houston’s continued growth.

Houston Style Magazine: Proud Media Partner, Proud Houston Supporter As a longtime supporter and Proud Media Partner of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Houston Style Magazine celebrates this milestone and the Chamber’s enduring leadership.

Our commitment to amplifying Hispanic entrepreneurship, strengthening multicultural partnerships, and advancing inclusive economic opportunity remains unwavering.

The SOLD-OUT Summit represents more than a successful event. It reflects the growing influence of a community whose leadership, innovation, and purchasing power continue to reshape Greater Houston.

One thing is certain: The seats may be sold out, but Houston’s Hispanic economic opportunities are wide open!

EVENT DETAILS — SOLD OUT 2026 State of Hispanics Data Summit & Business Expo Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 • Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Hilton Americas-Houston 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010 Admission: SOLD OUT — Capacity Reached

Event Information: houstonhispanicchamber.com/the-state-of-hispanics-data-summit

Media Inquiries: (713) 644-7070

Houston Style Magazine — Proud Media Partner. Celebrating leadership, diversity, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment throughout Greater Houston.

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
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By Francis Page Jr.

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    October 20, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Democracy did more than show up Monday. It showed out.

On Monday, October 19th, Harris County voters launched the 2026 midterm election season with a remarkable display of civic participation. Updated reporting placed first-day in-person turnout at 104,734 ballots by 8 p.m., a new county record for the opening day of midterm early voting. The old benchmark—63,188 votes in 2018—was surpassed by more than 41,000 ballots. For a county sometimes described through its traffic jams, this was a line worth celebrating.

The record did not belong to any one neighborhood, candidate or political party. It belonged to the thousands of residents who made time to participate—before work, after appointments and between the ordinary demands of a Houston Monday.

Across 75 early voting centers, residents arrived with an unmistakable sense of urgency. Some waited outside busy community centers; others found shorter queues nearby. By 3:30 p.m., county election officials had already announced more than 70,000 voters processed, enough to surpass the entire first-day mark from 2018.

And where was the action hottest? An early-evening snapshot identified five standout locations. TOP FIVE BUSIEST HARRIS COUNTY EARLY VOTING SITES — OCTOBER 19

Reported vote counts as of 6 p.m.; these are not final daily totals.

Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center — 3,153 voters Kingwood Community Center — 2,794 voters Juergens Hall Community Center — 2,755 voters Metropolitan Multiservice Center, West Gray — 2,734 voters George Bush Community Center — 2,693 voters

Weekley, in the Cypress area, finished atop that early snapshot. But from Kingwood to West Gray, the real story was broader: a region stepping beyond political conversation and into the voting booth.

Why the rush? Voters interviewed locally pointed to grocery prices, household budgets, immigration, international conflicts and a desire for a greater say in government. Their priorities varied, sometimes sharply. Their decision to participate was the common ground.

There is plenty at stake on November 3. Texans will decide races for U.S. Senate, governor, Congress and statewide offices. Harris County voters will also select a new county judge, alongside county commissioners, judges and other local officials. These choices touch everyday issues, from disaster response and public safety to infrastructure, taxes and neighborhood services.

A record first day is exciting, but it is not an election result. Turnout alone cannot predict which candidates will prevail, and the final story will be written by all eligible voters who participate through Election Day. That is precisely why the opening milestone deserves attention: people are engaged, and democracy works best when participation reaches beyond slogans.

For those still making a voting plan, the good news is that flexibility is built in. Registered Harris County voters may use any county early voting center, regardless of their home precinct. Visit HarrisVotes.com to review a sample ballot, confirm a location and check current wait times before leaving home.

Early voting continues through Friday, October 30. Harris County voting centers operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the remaining weekdays and Saturday, October 24; Sunday, October 25, hours are noon to 7 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bring an acceptable photo ID; voters without one may qualify to use supporting identification under Texas rules. And remember to feed your printed ballot into the scanner so your vote is recorded.

Houston has a reputation for doing things big. On opening day, its voters gave that reputation a civic purpose. One day broke the record. The days ahead will show how far this energy can go.

Visit HarrisVotes.com

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
3465287733

By Burt Levine

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    October 20, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON — The thermometer said fall. The voting lines said something bigger was heating up.

Before the sun had fully risen Monday, October 19, voters were already gathering outside polling locations across Harris County. By 7 p.m., 104,660 people had cast in-person early ballots, establishing a new opening-day record for a midterm election and sending an unmistakable signal: Houstonians have Election 2026 on their calendars.

The previous midterm first-day mark was 63,188 in 2018, when the U.S. Senate contest featuring Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz helped drive exceptional participation. Monday’s count was roughly 65% higher. For perspective, the 2024 presidential election drew 125,472 first-day voters, so the new distinction is a midterm record, not an all-time record.

“This is unbelievable. This is unprecedented,” said State Rep. Ron Reynolds as he watched voters gather near Missouri City. According to Reynolds, the line began forming before 7 a.m., and the traffic of democracy continued through the evening.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth hailed the record, while election workers kept 75 early-voting centers operating across a county that has become one of America’s most consequential electoral stages. The numbers were not simply a headline for campaigns; they reflected thousands of individual decisions to participate.

At the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Congressman Christian Menefee joined Dr. Letitia Plummer, the Democratic nominee for Harris County judge, and Ebony N. Williams, a Democratic candidate for Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2. Voters stopped for greetings and photographs during the lunchtime campaign visit. A closing-time count provided to Houston Style Magazine placed the location’s first-day turnout at 2,957.

photo Sandra, Burt and Dr. Letitia Plummer

Crockett, who was defeated by James Talarico in the March Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, has since emphasized helping Democratic candidates elsewhere on the ballot. She said Monday’s participation could make November 3 a historic election for her party.

Plummer framed the contest in especially consequential terms. “This is American democracy on the line,” she told supporters, urging continued turnout across the county. She is competing with Republican Orlando Sanchez to succeed County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The race will determine who leads the Harris County Commissioners Court and plays a central role in budgeting, emergency management and county services.

Across town, Republican Governor Greg Abbott also campaigned in Houston, underscoring the importance both parties place on Harris County. Abbott faces Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa, while the U.S. Senate contest features Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. The political temperature was high across the ballot, even as October finally brought some relief from the weather.

In northwest Harris County, the Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center near Cypress emerged as a turnout powerhouse. The local election-night count cited by Houston Style Magazine showed 3,435 voters there by closing time. Families in the Cy-Fair ISD area have additional choices to weigh, including a $1.63 billion bond package for facilities and equipment and a separate proposition concerning the district’s operating tax rate. The measures highlight why the bottom of the ballot can be every bit as personal as the top.

Harris County residents will also help select judges and three elected Harris Central Appraisal District directors. Elsewhere in the region, Fort Bend County voters are making decisions about federal, state and local leadership. These are the offices and questions that shape property appraisals, school resources, public safety and everyday public services.

A record opening does not forecast the winner, nor does it reveal how any voter cast a ballot. It does, however, showcase something worth celebrating across party lines: civic participation at scale.

Harris County early voting runs through October 30, generally from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, hours are noon to 7 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

In a season of heated debate, the loudest message from opening day may also be the simplest: democracy works best when citizens show up.

Find voting centers, sample ballots and identification information at HarrisVotes.com.

Fort Bend County residents can consult FortBendCountyTX.gov for their county’s locations and hours.

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
3465287733