Utah family raises concerns after hunters ask to hunt deer on their property

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.

Swim instructor recounts rare river otter attack, receiving 38 stitches

By Karina Nova

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    LAKE TAHOE, California (KGO) — A Lake Tahoe swimmer is recovering after what’s believed to be a river otter, attacked her during a swim along the East Shore of the lake on Sunday.

The attack left her with dozens of stitches and injuries to her face, arms and legs.

Lynnette Bellin, a certified Infant Swimming Resource instructor who teaches self rescue lessons, said she was on her weekly swim in the lake when the encounter occurred.

She said she had been trying to get back to teach a self-rescue lesson when the animal attacked.

“It ripped the goggles off my face. It got me on the temple, on my cheek, my nose. You can kind of see claw marks there, full on bite marks on this arm. But my foot is the worst because it has 22 stitches,” Bellin said while showing the injuries.

Bellin said she posted videos to social media immediately afterward showing blood on her body.

She described the animal pulling her underwater before she realized it was an otter.

“And right before I got there and I got grabbed by the lake, yanked under water. It was so powerful it felt like a human. That’s when I saw the otter and it just did not hesitate. It started coming after me. It was teeth and claws and I was pushing it away,” Bellin describing what she says went on for about 5 minutes.

She said she eventually escaped by relying on her swim training and climbing onto a rock. Bellin then recorded video while walking about three-quarters of a mile to Hidden Beach. People who saw her along the way contacted authorities. Bellin said officials responding to the incident were surprised by her account.

“Every single authority that was coming to do a report on this was like, we’ve never had an otter attack. are you sure it was an otter. Sure looks like what I was fighting off,” she said.

In a statement, the Nevada Department of Wildlife said, “River otters are native predators and are found in Lake Tahoe and its surrounding waterways. While attacks on people are uncommon, otters are wild animals and can become aggressive if they feel threatened, cornered or are defending young.”

Bellin said she believes the encounter occurred because she was swimming close to shore to avoid boat traffic and that the otter may have been defending its young.

“I think the most disconcerting thing is that lake Tahoe is always my sanctuary, my peace. I go there to get mental calm and just to regulate myself. I have 38 stitches right now. I can’t swim until those are all healed up. But September is a great time to be swimming in the lake so I’m sure I’ll find myself in there eventually,” Bellin said.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife said it is working with Nevada State Parks to post signs in the area alerting visitors to the reported incident and reminding the public to be aware of their surroundings and give wildlife plenty of space.

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.

17,000 SF residents facing SNAP cuts: Here’s how city’s new job program could save their benefits

By Suzanne Phan

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Thousands of San Franciscans who receive CalFresh food assistance could begin losing benefits under new federal work requirements, prompting city leaders to launch a program aimed at helping residents maintain eligibility.

The new requirements took effect June 1, with a three-month grace period ending Tuesday. City officials estimate that 17,000 San Francisco residents are at risk of losing CalFresh benefits, the California version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Tuesday that San Francisco will partner with United Way and Project Open Hand to continue the CalFresh Community Works program. The city said nearly $6 million in new grants will help connect recipients with work opportunities so they can continue receiving food assistance.

For recipients such as Troy Brunet, the changes bring uncertainty.

“It’s $83. It doesn’t go very far,” Brunet said of his monthly benefit.

Brunet, who lives with HIV and AIDS, relies on CalFresh and weekly food distributions from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

“Today is my pickup day right down the street at Saint Francis Lutheran church. To pick up food from the food bank today,” he said.

He described some of the food he receives through the program.

“Eggs, onions, some onion. Apple. Bell pepper.”

Under the new rules, adults ages 18 to 64 who do not have young children must work 80 hours per month or qualify for an exemption. Those who do not meet the requirement or receive an exemption will be limited to three months of CalFresh benefits during a three-year period.

Brunet said losing his benefits would create additional hardship.

“If I lose my SNAP benefits, than that’s what it is. I will have to struggle through to make ends meet which is going to happen to a lot of people unfortunately,” he said.

Another recipient, Michael Hampton, also expressed concern.

“I have eggs, bok choy. Oatmeal,” Hampton said, describing food he received.

A former paralegal, Hampton said he is unable to work because of health issues.

“That’s not realistic for me because I have some medical issues. I can’t work at this time,” Hampton said. “But I do volunteer to organizations.”

To address the new requirements, the city’s CalFresh Community Works program will help participants connect with qualifying activities, including work opportunities.

San Francisco Human Services Agency Executive Director Trent Rhorer said the city is responding to changes imposed at the federal level.

“While we cannot control the changes to public benefits that have been thrust upon us by the federal government, we can and will do everything within our power-including innovative community partnerships-to help food insecure San Franciscans meet the requirement so they can maintain CalFresh,” Rhorer said.

Lurie said the initiative is intended to help families retain access to food assistance.

“By connecting San Franciscans to these opportunities, we are not only helping families put food on the table but also making our city stronger, safer, and healthier,” Lurie said. “As Washington cuts assistance that San Franciscans rely on, our city is stepping up for our families-strengthening our safety net, bringing down costs, and finding ways to help keep San Franciscans connected to critical food assistance. Every family should be able to put down roots and thrive in the city we all love.”

State Assemblymember Alex Lee also criticized the new requirements.

“H.R. 1’s expanded work requirements are red tape traps to cut off vital food aid to low-income people,” Lee said. “This is yet another cruel and punitive policy by the Republican federal government to starve our families. While the federal regime is destroying our safety nets, we are stepping up to strengthen California’s investments in food aid. The state budget bolsters funding for food banks, local counties, and extra food benefits to mitigate the devastating impacts of H.R. 1. As Chair of the Human Services Committee, I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure families have access to affordable and nutritious food.”

Food bank leaders said they expect demand for assistance to remain high.

“H.R.-1 is literally taking food out of people’s mouth, but the food bank will be here to support where we can,” said Marchon Tatmon of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

Under the new rules, SNAP recipients may also satisfy eligibility requirements by volunteering, attending school or participating in job-training programs. City officials say the expanded CalFresh Community Works program is intended to help residents navigate those options and avoid losing access to food benefits.

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.

Mom gives birth to rare set of triplets weighing more than 19 pounds, nearing world record

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.

Man goes viral documenting scores of crashes at end of 105 Freeway

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.

Condo owners stunned by sudden $26,000 HOA fee for emergency roof assessment

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.

The Next Industrial Age: Peter Huntsman & Ryan Sitton Take the Stage at Gulf Coast Industry Forum

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

Houston Public Library Hits All the Right Notes With MYLink Card Campaign

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, TEXAS — Before there were smartphones, streaming subscriptions and search engines answering questions in seconds, there was the library card — a little rectangle that quietly gave generations of Americans access to worlds they had never seen.

This September, the Houston Public Library (HPL) is giving that old-school passport to knowledge a decidedly modern remix.

HPL’s “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes!” campaign celebrates Library Card Sign-Up Month by encouraging Houstonians to sign up for — or rediscover — the free MYLink library card, one of the most useful cards you can carry without receiving a bill at the end of the month.

And in 2026, that card does considerably more than check out a hardcover novel.

MYLink provides access to books, e-books, e-audiobooks, digital magazines, streaming music and movies, research databases and online learning resources. Texas residents can apply for a MYLink card free of charge and receive digital access after approval, while customers seeking physical materials can visit an HPL location to obtain their physical card.

That makes the library card part reading pass, part classroom, part movie ticket, part music subscription and — increasingly — part technology lab.

Through HPL’s TECHLink centers, customers can explore creative and emerging technologies including 3D printing, audio and video production, embroidery equipment, laser cutters and other makerspace tools. Houston’s FY2026 budget underscores how important that digital mission has become: the city projected approximately 3.7 million virtual library visits and targeted 27,000 TECHLink visitors during the fiscal year.

Then there is HPL’s increasingly popular Library of Things, where “checking something out” may mean much more than taking home a book. The collection includes items connected to science, technology, arts, crafts, hobbies, games and household projects — giving families opportunities to experiment without purchasing equipment they may only need occasionally.

In other words: your library card may actually save your wallet from hitting a few sour notes.

“Our library card is one of the most powerful tools Houston residents can use for learning, creativity, and discovery,” said Houston Public Library Director Sandy Gaw. “Whether you’re streaming music, exploring new skills, researching your family history, or checking out something fun from the Library of Things, a MYLink card opens the door to endless opportunities.”

The Houston campaign also connects with a nationwide tradition.

Library Card Sign-Up Month grew from a national American Library Association initiative launched in 1987 to encourage children and families to make library membership part of the back-to-school experience. Nearly four decades later, the mission has expanded far beyond children’s reading.

The 2026 honorary chair is Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Laufey, whose own love of books helped inspire this year’s musical theme. The American Library Association describes libraries as places where residents can find everything from classic stories and makerspaces to clubs, technology, tools and creative discovery.

That message feels especially appropriate in Houston.

Serving approximately 2.3 million city residents, HPL has evolved into a sprawling civic network encompassing neighborhood and regional libraries, history research centers, TECHLink facilities, outreach programs and the flagship Central Library.

Yet its fundamental mission remains wonderfully unchanged: give people access to knowledge regardless of the size of their bank account.

For students, that can mean homework resources. For job seekers, it can mean technology and workforce tools. For entrepreneurs, it can mean research. For families, entertainment. For history lovers, Houston’s remarkable archival collections. And for a curious kid discovering a favorite author for the first time, it might mean something even bigger — the beginning of a lifelong relationship with learning.

So this September, Houston Public Library is reminding the Bayou City that sometimes the most valuable upgrade does not require a monthly subscription.

It just requires a library card.

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Get your free MYLink library card: houstonlibrary.org/mylink

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

From Candidate to Civic Organizer: Amanda Edwards Takes Do Something Houston Into Houston’s Neighborhoods

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, TEXAS — Democracy works best when people actually participate in it — and former Houston City Council Member Amanda K. Edwards is taking that message from the campaign trail directly into Houston neighborhoods. After suspending her 2026 campaign for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Edwards turned her attention back to Do Something Houston, the voter-registration initiative she originally launched in 2024. The community-centered effort focuses on meeting potential voters where they already live, worship, eat and gather — including churches, restaurants and neighborhood spaces. It is a simple strategy with potentially powerful consequences: make voting personal, accessible and part of everyday Houston life. At Houston Style Magazine, we believe democracy should never become something citizens simply watch from the sidelines. Voting is not a spectator sport. Registration gets you on the roster; showing up at the polls puts you in the game. And for Texans who want to participate in the November 3, 2026 – General Election, the calendar is moving quickly. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 5. Early voting begins Monday, October 19, and continues through Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Harris County Early Vote Centers are scheduled to operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday during the early-voting period. Election Day Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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That gives Do Something Houston and other civic organizations an important September mission: find the unregistered, reach the disengaged and remind longtime voters to check their status before deadlines arrive. But registering voters is only half the job. The real victory comes when registered Houstonians become actual voters. Check your registration. Update your address if necessary. Look at your sample ballot before Election Day. Talk with your children who recently turned 18. Check on the new neighbor down the street. Call the relative who always has plenty to say about politics but somehow never makes it to the polls. Because democracy is strengthened one conversation — and one ballot — at a time. Amanda Edwards may have stepped away from being a candidate, but through Do Something Houston, she is continuing something equally important: helping create more voters. Houston has the people. Houston has the power. USEFUL VOTER LINKS Register or Update Your Harris County Voter Registration: Harris County Voter Registration Portal Check Registration / View Your Sample Ballot: Harris County Voter Search Early Voting, Vote Centers and Election Information: HarrisVotes.com Official Texas 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

Keep It Lake Ontario: MapQuest Finds a New Route to the Top by Standing With History

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Sometimes the best way forward is knowing when not to change directions.

That lesson arrived with a splash this week after President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. federal government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The August 27, 2026, executive order directs the Interior Department and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to replace Lake Ontario in the federal Geographic Names Information System and require federal agencies to use the new designation.

The administration framed the decision through an America-first lens, emphasizing the United States’ economic, environmental and strategic investments in the Great Lakes, including shipping, Coast Guard icebreaking, energy production and billions of dollars spent on ecosystem protection.

But there is one geographic wrinkle large enough to see from space: Lake Ontario is shared with Canada.

Approximately 52% of its surface is Canadian territory, and Canada has emphatically declined to play the name game. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the centuries-old Lake Ontario name will remain, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also rejected the change.

Then came MapQuest.

Yes, that MapQuest — the online mapping pioneer many of us remember from the glorious days of printing six pages of directions before leaving the house.

Its response was remarkably uncomplicated: “We’re not changing it.”

And suddenly, everybody remembered MapQuest.

The company decided to continue labeling the Great Lake Lake Ontario, saying it wanted to preserve names familiar to its users. The reaction was extraordinary. Hundreds of thousands of downloads followed, usage reportedly jumped to roughly 50 times normal levels, and MapQuest climbed to the top of the U.S. navigation-app rankings. Sensor Tower data cited by TechCrunch estimated 162,000 U.S. downloads during the week beginning August 24 — more than ten times the previous week’s level.

By September 1, CBS News reported that MapQuest had reached No. 1 among free apps in Apple’s U.S. App Store.

Talk about recalculating the route.

Meanwhile, Google Maps followed the federal designation for American users, and Apple Maps subsequently began displaying Lake America in the United States. Canadian users continue to see Lake Ontario, while international users may encounter both names.

That leaves us with the unusual reality of one enormous body of water and multiple digital identities. A Name Older Than the United States There is another reason MapQuest’s decision resonates beyond politics.

The word Ontario has Indigenous roots. Canada traces it to an Iroquoian word associated with sparkling water, and Indigenous nations lived around the lake long before either the United States or Canada existed as modern countries.

And American history itself provides an interesting witness. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, which formally recognized U.S. independence, specifically refers to “Lake Ontario” while establishing the young nation’s boundaries. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay negotiated that treaty.

In other words, calling it Lake Ontario is hardly anti-American. America was born with Lake Ontario written into its founding diplomatic paperwork.

Public sentiment appears to recognize that distinction. A Reuters/Ipsos survey released September 1 found 63% of Americans opposed the renaming, while just 14% supported it.

For Houston Style Magazine, the bigger lesson is refreshingly simple: history does not have to become collateral damage in contemporary political disagreements.

Presidents change. Trade disputes change. Technology certainly changes.

But some names become part of our shared cultural vocabulary because generations carried them forward.

MapQuest made its choice — and consumers answered by downloading.

Thirty years after helping America find its way, the original digital mapmaker may have discovered its most memorable route yet: Sometimes standing still is exactly how you move forward.

Download MapQuest from the App Store Read the White House executive order

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Kierra Lee
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