Author: CNN Newsource

By Burt Levine

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    September 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, TEXAS — In a democracy, Election Day should be less obstacle course and more open door. Yet in fast-growing Tarrant County, Texas, voters are heading toward one of the most consequential midterm elections in years with 92 fewer Election Day polling locations than they had in 2022.

First reported by Cecilia Lenzen of the Fort Worth Report and published by The Texas Tribune, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on September 1 to approve 224 Election Day vote centers and 47 early-voting locations. In 2022, the county operated 316 Election Day sites and 50 early-voting locations.

The vote split along party lines. Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare and Commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez supported the plan, while Democratic Commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles Jr. opposed it.

Republicans and county election officials argue the consolidation is about efficiency, staffing, accessibility requirements and eliminating locations historically used by relatively few voters. Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig said he is confident the plan gives voters sufficient opportunity to cast ballots. The revised proposal is also significantly larger than an earlier plan containing only 176 Election Day locations and 42 early-voting sites.

That deserves acknowledgment.

But improvement over a more restrictive proposal does not automatically answer the bigger question: Why should a growing county offer substantially fewer places to vote than it did four years ago?

Tarrant County has more than 1.3 million registered voters and has evolved from a dependable Republican stronghold into one of Texas’ most closely watched political battlegrounds. In that environment, decisions affecting ballot access deserve extraordinary transparency — regardless of which party controls the courthouse.

More than 100 residents addressed commissioners before Tuesday’s vote, with most opposing the reductions, while representatives from roughly 30 civic organizations rallied outside.

Some concerns are especially difficult to dismiss.

Critics pointed to the elimination of the Maverick Activity Center at the University of Texas at Arlington, arguing that removing a campus voting location makes participation harder for students. Residents also raised concerns about communities such as ZIP code 76104, where the approved configuration leaves no polling site.

Commissioner Simmons called the decision political. Commissioner Miles went further, displaying a framed poll-tax receipt belonging to his wife’s great-grandmother and arguing that additional travel, transportation and time burdens can function like modern barriers to voting.

O’Hare rejects that interpretation, calling the revised arrangement a “sensible plan” designed to provide voters adequate opportunity while allowing election administrators to deploy resources more efficiently.

And there is one important safeguard: Tarrant County operates countywide Vote Centers, meaning registered voters can cast an Election Day ballot at any county Vote Center rather than being restricted to one neighborhood precinct.

Still, democracy should aspire to something greater than technically sufficient access.

The goal should be maximum reasonable participation.

Fort Worth’s City Council unanimously urged county officials in August to reconsider polling-place reductions and ensure locations were distributed fairly throughout the county. That was not radical politics. It was common-sense democracy.

Now the responsibility shifts to voters.

Texas’ voter-registration deadline is October 5. Early voting runs October 19-30, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The Texas Secretary of State confirms those dates and provides registration status, polling-place and voter-information tools through VoteTexas.gov.

Fewer polling locations should never mean fewer voices.

Tarrant County voters now have an opportunity to demonstrate something politicians of every party should remember: democracy works best when citizens refuse to surrender their seat at the table — or their place in the voting line.

Original reporting: Read The Texas Tribune/Fort Worth Report Official voter information: VoteTexas.gov

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 Francis Page Jr.

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    September 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, Texas — Houston is preparing to welcome a new diplomatic voice just in time for one of the Jewish calendar’s most meaningful seasons.

Consul General Adi Farjon Israel, the newly appointed Consul General of Israel to the Southwest United States, will make one of her first major public-facing appearances in Houston at a private Rosh Hashanah reception bringing together civic, cultural, community and business leaders.

For a city where international relationships are woven into everything from energy and medicine to technology, education and culture, the gathering promises to be more than a holiday welcome. It is also an introduction to the diplomat who will help shape Israel’s relationships throughout a strategically important five-state region.

Farjon Israel arrived in Houston in August 2026 to lead the Houston-based diplomatic mission responsible for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico. The Consulate General promotes diplomatic relations, provides consular services and engages communities throughout the Southwest.

And Houston is getting a diplomat with a passport full of experience.

Before coming to Texas, Farjon Israel served as Director of the Central Europe Department within Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2020 through 2024, she served in Geneva as Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations. Her career has also included responsibility for Israel-Canada relations, diplomatic service in the Dominican Republic and four years as spokesperson for Israel’s embassy in Berlin.

That résumé suggests her Houston chapter will center on something this city understands particularly well: relationships.

In an August message introducing herself to the region, Farjon Israel described diplomacy as a bridge where communities, cultures and ideas can meet, while emphasizing meaningful dialogue, innovation and deeper community engagement throughout the Southwest.

Those priorities should find plenty of runway in Greater Houston.

The upcoming reception also carries special symbolism. Rosh Hashanah 5787 begins at sundown Friday, September 11, 2026, and concludes at nightfall Sunday, September 13. The Jewish New Year traditionally emphasizes reflection, renewal and hope for a sweet year ahead — making it an especially fitting backdrop for the beginning of Farjon Israel’s Houston tenure.

Think of it as Houston hospitality with apples, honey and a little international statecraft.

The invitation-only gathering will provide Farjon Israel an opportunity to meet leaders representing Houston’s remarkably diverse civic landscape while opening conversations about longstanding friendships and future cooperation.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, the occasion also highlights one of Houston’s greatest strengths: our ability to bring the world into the same room.

Diplomacy at its best is not merely government speaking to government. It is people talking with people — sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing, but continuing the conversation.

As Consul General Adi Farjon Israel begins this new chapter, Houston has another opportunity to demonstrate precisely that spirit.

Welcome to Houston, Consul General Farjon Israel — and Shanah Tovah. Event Details: Private Rosh Hashanah Reception Welcoming Consul General Adi Farjon Israel Location: Disclosed upon confirmed RSVP • Attendance: Invitation only Media Access: Advance RSVP and confirmation required; walk-up media will not be accommodated Consulate Press Office: press@houston.mfa.gov.il • Social Media: @IsraelInHouston Official Consul General Profile: Consul General Adi Farjon Israel — Official Biography Consulate Website: Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest

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 Julia Sandor

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    GRANTSVILLE, Utah (KSTU) — As Utah’s fall archery season gets underway, one Grantsville family said they’ve been surprised by a growing interest in the deer that frequently visit their property.

JoAnn Orr reached out to FOX 13 News after hunters began knocking on her and her family’s door asking for permission to harvest deer on the family-owned land within Grantsville city limits.

The property has been in Orr’s family for generations and remains a place filled with memories and wildlife.

“This was my father’s, father’s field that he bought when he was just a young man,” Orr said. “This is like a happy place for me. Just a great place to be.”

For Orr, her nephew Tristen Shepherd, and their family, the deer that roam through the field have become familiar neighbors.

“A couple months ago there used to be like five or four every time they would come, but now there’s only like two or three,” Shepherd said.

But recent visits from hunters seeking access to the property raised questions about what hunting activity is allowed within city limits.

“We have had people coming to our door asking if they can come into the property and harvest a deer and that just didn’t feel right to me,” Orr said. “I’ve been a hunter in the past. I just think there’s a time and a place.”

According to Grantsville City Code, it is generally unlawful to discharge a weapon, including a bow and arrow, within city limits. However, the ordinance includes an exception for legal seasonal hunting authorized by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

Grantsville Police told FOX 13 News that hunting under those circumstances has been allowed in the past when hunters obtain permission from the property owner.

Mike Wardle, the DWR’s Big Game Coordinator, said hunting remains an important wildlife management tool, but safety is a top priority.

“Hunting is an important management tool for us,” Wardle said. “We want to make sure recreationists are doing it safely. We don’t want people discharging high-power rifles in the middle of a city.”

Wardle noted that state regulations prohibit the discharge of a firearm within 600 feet of a building. However, a bow and arrow is not considered a firearm under that regulation.

He emphasized that hunters should also consider the impact of their actions on nearby residents.

“We do support fair chase hunting and ethical hunting,” Wardle said. “We want our hunters to be aware of their impact on their neighbors. Especially in a town setting, you really need to be careful.”

For Orr and her family, the message is simple, their property is not open for hunting.

“I have too many good memories to want to do something like that,” Orr said. “I’d rather have it as a sport than just a deer lying in a field.”

While only a couple of deer are frequenting the field these days, the family hopes more of their four-legged visitors return soon.

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 J.J. Zavalla

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KABC) — A South Bay family has grown from four to seven overnight after welcoming a rare set of naturally conceived triplets, a pregnancy that medical professionals described as an uncommon occurrence.

Nyla Craft said she first learned she was expecting triplets during a doctor’s appointment earlier this year.

“Earlier this year, I went to the doctor and I saw like two different sets,” she said. “I was like, oh my goodness, I’m having twins. And she was like, no, there’s three. And I was like, oh my gosh, triplets.”

Craft said there is a family history of multiples.

“My mom’s a twin, and there are triplets in the family,” she said. “They’re all boys as well. So it skipped a few, but it came to me.”

Like the triplets in her family, Craft’s newborn trio are all boys.

Her husband, Marco Bernal, recalled his reaction to the news.

“I was like, freaking out,” Bernal said. “I was like, we have two right now. Then five from 2 to 5 was insane, you know?”

The newborns join older sister Naya and older brother Maceo. According to their parents, Naya has eagerly embraced her role as a big sister.

“She’s been excited. She wants to come help,” Craft said.

Maceo, however, has been less interested in the babies.

Craft said the physical demands of carrying the triplets were unlike anything she had experienced before. When she learned the three babies weighed a combined 19 pounds at birth, the number put her difficult pregnancy into perspective.

“Knowing that it was 19 pounds of baby in there just hanging was like, ‘oh my gosh,'” Craft said. “I was like, now it makes sense why I was in so much pain.”

Craft said she was no stranger to carrying large babies.

“I was carrying 9 pounds something ounce, and he was 10 pounds, so I’ve carried big babies already,” she said. “But this time, since it’s 3 babies moving in my stomach at the same time, it was rough. But I pushed through it because, you know, I wanted them to come out healthy.”

The trio’s combined birth weight of about 19 pounds also put them close to the reported world record for the heaviest set of triplets at birth, 22.7 pounds.

The family said they received extensive support from medical staff throughout the pregnancy and delivery.

“Amazing care. Everyone was just so caring and, you know, making sure I was okay,” Craft said.

Quynh Vo-Hanser of Kaiser Permanente South Bay said the pregnancy was especially unusual.

“This is a really rare event,” Vo-Hanser said. “This is what we would refer to as mixed triplet. This is a spontaneous pregnancy, which meant that it was achieved naturally. And within this triplet set, there’s an identical twin set, and then the fraternal sibling.”

Vo-Hanser emphasized the rarity of the birth.

“Within the United States, there’s 3.5 million deliveries and about 2,400 are triplets. And even more rare than that are these special triplets,” she said.

“The other thing is that they’re all the same sex. I have never seen this, all these conditions within the triplet, in my three decades.”

Gina Renteria, chief nurse executive, said the delivery required a significantly larger medical team than a typical birth.

“We had three NICU nurses, one for each of the babies. We had two doctors for the babies, doctors for the mom, an extra nurse for the mom,” Renteria said. “There were about 15 people in the delivery room when we normally have about five.”

Dr. Rohit Passi, chief of neonatology at Kaiser Permanente South Bay, said Craft’s care reflected a broader effort to support mothers facing pregnancy-related challenges.

“We know that Black moms have a higher mortality rate and other complications within pregnancy,” Passi said. “We adopt a holistic approach and equity lens to really meet patients where they are at in elevating their voices. And Nyla’s case is a perfect example of that.”

Passi added that Craft’s experience was particularly meaningful because of challenges she had faced earlier in life.

“You know, she shared her story of having struggles early on. She wasn’t even sure she would be able to become pregnant,” he said. “And it’s our job as health care providers and as a healthcare organization to elevate their voices, particularly of moms like Nyla, because they are truly inspirational.”

For Bernal, the arrival of the triplets also carries a personal significance.

“How can you forget your kids’ birthdays if they’re on your birthday, you know?” he said.

Craft said she is grateful for the family she now has.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign was created to help the family of seven cover future expenses.

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 Jory Rand

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    NORWALK, California (KABC) — For years, the abrupt end of the 105 Freeway in Norwalk has been a problem for drivers. Dozens of crashes have led to injuries, several deaths and a lot of repairs.

Eyewitness News has covered more than one crash in recent years that saw a car go into the building at the dead end on Studebaker Road.

Oswald Ponce lives close enough that he doesn’t need to be told there’s been another crash.

“Some of them would even wake me up at night,” Ponce told ABC7.

He witnessed so many crashes there that he started an Instagram account to document them all.

“It’s been like bigger than I thought it’d be,” Ponce said. “It was more of like a gag at first. I didn’t think a lot of people would really see it.”

Well, people have seen it. His account, @105exitcrashes, has over 19,000 followers, and one video has close to 18 million views.

At the suggestion of several of his followers, Ponce began keeping a tally of how many days it’s been since the last crash. He’s had to replace the dry-erase sign counting the tally around a dozen times after it was stolen or damaged, including a spray paint tagging the night before he met with Eyewitness News. But last week, the sign reached triple digits.

“It’s the first time I’ve reached 100 while running the account, Ponce said. “And probably the first time it’s reached 100 days here without a crash in years.”

Things got so bad two years ago that L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn all but begged Caltrans to put in lights, signs and rumble strips.

“It still is a bad design that probably should’ve never been allowed to happen,” Hahn told Eyewitness News in April 2024. “But until we have major changes at that intersection, the least the state of California could do would be to make it as safe as possible.”

But even with all of those additions, the crashes are still happening, albeit less frequently. Ponce says he’s been told his account may have something to do with the decrease.

“That’s possible,” Ponce said. “Maybe people are too embarrassed to crash here now because they’ll be put on blast on my account… If I’m making a good impact on society, that’s good.”

“I don’t want to take away from the seriousness of it. People getting hurt, it’s obviously an issue,” Ponce continued. “If it’s causing less crashes, it’s a good thing.”

Maybe someday soon, if the crashes dwindle and the string of crashless days continues to grow, it will make his Instagram account obsolete. Ponce says he’d be just fine with that.

Eyewitness News reached out to the city of Norwalk, which said it is still working with Caltrans and other authorities to make the intersection safe.

Caltrans sent a long list of additions that have been made in the intersection over the years, and it says there are many more that will continue into the year 2029.

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 Leanne Suter

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    SAN CLEMENTE, California (KABC) — Homeowners at the Villa Moura condominium complex in San Clemente are pushing back against a more than $26,000 emergency assessment for roof replacements, saying the cost is placing a financial burden on residents and questioning whether the assessment was legally imposed.

For Beverly Albright, an 81-year-old resident in the complex, the assessment has created uncertainty about her future.

“I will have to move. And this was my… I’ve worked very hard to make it so that I could be here,” Albright said.

Residents at the 198-unit complex said each homeowner received a $26,000 emergency assessment for new roofs.

Some neighbors said they believe many residents will struggle to pay the cost.

“They’re not going to be able to afford this, and the board’s response is to take out a loan, or take out equity of your house, or dip into your retirement, and I feel like that’s just unacceptable,” homeowner Megan Blanda said.

Homeowners said they are fighting the assessment by seeking to recall members of the homeowner’s association board and by filing a claim alleging the board violated the law.

Noah Martin, a homeowner at Villa Moura, argued that the project does not qualify as an emergency under state regulations, and said residents should have been allowed to vote on how to address the roofing work.

“It didn’t fit under the California Code of Regulations, 5610. Clearly, it was not an emergency; it’s a deferred maintenance. And so, then we as members should have a vote on how we want to take care of the roofs,” Martin said.

Residents also said they have been warned that liens could be placed on properties if owners do not pay the assessment.

“They’re threatening, also, to put a lien on our property if we don’t comply and we don’t pay,” a resident said during a gathering of homeowners.

Residents said the HOA board has known for several years that repairs would be needed to the tile roofs. They contend the roofs are not leaking and that only the underlayment needs replacement, not all of the tiles.

“What we would like to do is have multiple bids competitively submitted and actually negotiate those bids in the best interest of the homeowners. As the board should be doing with their fiduciary responsibilities to us,” said homeowner Adam Dubin.

Michael Kushner, an attorney and HOA expert with MBK Chapman who is not involved in the dispute, said large special assessments have become more common and that homeowners generally must pay assessments even while challenging them.

“Homeowners have to pay those, even if they’re completely illegal. They have to pay them and then dispute them. California law doesn’t recognize the right of offsets, and you can’t withhold payment,” Kushner said.

According to residents, homeowners were given three payment options: pay the more than $26,000 assessment in full, split the amount into two payments, or add more than $2,000 to their monthly payment for six months and $400 thereafter.

The financial impact has left some residents uncertain about how they will cover the cost.

“Retired, single, what, lose my house? I wouldn’t qualify for a loan to refinance. So where do you go?” Albright questioned.

Homeowners have created a GoFundMe page to help the residents who can’t pay.

The HOA board said it could not comment because of ongoing legal matters. Residents said they are considering filing a lawsuit against the board.

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 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON/PASADENA, TEXAS — The Gulf Coast has never been shy about building big things. Refineries. Chemical plants. Ports. Pipelines. Careers. Communities. And, increasingly, the technology powering America’s next economic chapter.

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, two Texas industrial heavyweights will sit down for a timely fireside conversation about what comes next.

Peter Huntsman, Chairman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, will join Ryan Sitton, founder and CEO of Pinnacle, for “The Next Industrial Age: A Conversation with Peter Huntsman” at the Gulf Coast Industry Forum at Pasadena Convention Center. Huntsman and Sitton take the stage at 1:40 p.m.

Houston Style Magazine, serving as a media sponsor, is proud to help amplify a conversation that directly affects Houston-area families, businesses, workers and the next generation of innovators.

And the timing could hardly be better.

Just weeks before the forum, shareholders of Huntsman Corporation and Olin Corporation approved their proposed merger of equals, moving the companies another major step toward creating OlinHuntsman, a North American chemicals powerhouse with more than $12 billion in annual revenue. Upon completion of the transaction, Peter Huntsman is expected to become non-executive chairman of the combined company.

Translation: Huntsman isn’t simply coming to Pasadena to predict industrial change. He is living it.

The fireside chat will range from the future of Gulf Coast manufacturing and American industrial leadership to the global competition surrounding artificial intelligence, technology, energy, talent and innovation.

Sitton brings an equally Houston-sized résumé to the conversation. An engineer, entrepreneur and former Texas Railroad Commissioner, he co-founded Pasadena-based Pinnacle in 2006. The industrial reliability company applies data, engineering and risk analysis to help large processing facilities operate more safely and efficiently.

Together, Huntsman and Sitton can tackle a question that is becoming impossible for American industry to ignore: What must the United States get right now to lead the next industrial age? That question reaches well beyond petrochemicals.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping manufacturing, data analysis, research and productivity. Advanced materials remain essential to everything from automobiles and electronics to construction and medicine. Meanwhile, global competition is putting renewed emphasis on American manufacturing capacity, supply-chain resilience, skilled workers and innovation.

For Huntsman, innovation also carries a deeply human dimension.

He serves as Chairman and CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, continuing his family’s extraordinary commitment to cancer research. Huntsman Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center where research now includes precision oncology, genomics, data science and artificial intelligence.

The fireside chat is part of the 2026 Gulf Coast Industry Forum, the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region’s largest annual event. For 17 years, the forum has connected industry, government and community leaders around the petrochemical, maritime, logistics and manufacturing sectors that make the Houston Port Region one of the world’s most consequential industrial corridors.

Doors open at 7 a.m., with networking, breakfast and exhibitor visits before the program begins at 9 a.m.

In Houston, we understand something the rest of the country occasionally needs reminding about: America’s industrial future isn’t arriving someday.

Much of it is already being built right here along the Gulf Coast.

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EVENT DETAILS – Gulf Coast Industry Forum Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Doors Open: 7 a.m. | Program: 9 a.m. Peter Huntsman & Ryan Sitton Fireside Chat: 1:40 p.m. Pasadena Convention Center 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, Texas 77507 Registration & Information: Gulf Coast Industry Forum — Economic Alliance Houston Port Region

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