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

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

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

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

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

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
KIELEESTLYE@GMAIL.COM
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First in the nation: Utah launches digital apostille service to cut Capitol trips

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Suzanne Stevens

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    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSTU) — Utahns who need documents authenticated for use in another country will soon have a new option that could eliminate a trip to the state Capitol.

Beginning Thursday, Utah will allow eligible documents to be submitted electronically and returned with a digital apostille, creating what state officials say is the nation’s first fully digital apostille process.

An apostille is an internationally recognized certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document so it can be accepted in another country. Utahns use them for purposes including missionary service, marriage, adoption, education and international business.

For Dakota Harward, the process is personal. Harward is returning to Guatemala next week, where his fiancée lives. Before leaving Utah, he came to the Capitol to have an employment verification letter authenticated for use there.

“I can either wait without her here or I can go down there and be with her,” Harward said.

Getting the paperwork completed, however, has not always been simple.

Harward said appointments can be difficult to secure, particularly for people who need a document quickly.

“You just can’t get an appointment unless you’re already there on the website at 10:01,” he said. “It’s like buying Taylor Swift tickets.”

The demand for apostilles and other authentications has increased sharply in Utah.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said her office handled about 18,000 apostilles and authentications in fiscal year 2020. That number climbed to more than 45,000 in fiscal year 2026 — an increase of about 250%. The new system is intended to give those customers another way to complete the process.

“This digital service really will provide a seamless transaction, something that is convenient, that’s secure and just one more way for people to get served,” Henderson said.

Utah already allows customers to receive some apostille certificates digitally. Beginning Sept. 3, eligible documents can also be submitted electronically, allowing the process to be completed without bringing paperwork to the Capitol or sending it through the mail.

The digital service comes at an additional cost to the customer. Henderson said the state continues to collect its regular $5 apostille fee, while the additional digital service is paid for by the customer. That total comes out to $75.00.

She said the option is intended to give Utahns a choice between the cost of the digital service and the time and expense involved in traveling to Salt Lake City or mailing documents.

Not everyone is immediately sold on going digital.

Harward said he has encountered strict paperwork requirements while dealing with authorities overseas and wondered whether digital apostilles would be accepted everywhere they are needed.

“I think I would worry about these other countries like Guatemala that may not accept a digital apostille,” he said.

Utah officials said the state tested the technology by issuing more than 1,200 digital apostilles during an international pilot program and reported a 100% acceptance rate.

Harward said the digital option could become more appealing once he is outside the country.

“If I’m out of the country and I need something apostilled, that would be a great option because I’m not here to organize it all,” he said.

Utah partnered with government technology company @Gov to implement the system. State officials said the platform reduces processing time by approximately 80%.

Traditional apostille services will remain available for customers who prefer paper documents or whose documents are not eligible for the digital process.

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.

Speed cameras shot up hours after going live

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Peyton Spellacy

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    SANTA FE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Three speed cameras in Santa Fe, two on Zia road and one on Rodeo Road, were damaged by gunfire just hours after going live Monday morning, but police say the devices are still functioning and issuing citations.

The newly activated cameras issued about 500 citations by 8 a.m. Monday. Two hundred of those citations were generated by a cameras on Zia Road. Just hours later, gunshots damaged the Zia Road camera, though it never stopped working.

“One of them was at Zia Road, which was also our highest violation location, where we recorded a violation of 67mph in a 35mph zone,” Santa Fe’s Interim Police Chief Ben Valdez said.

Valdez said the city brought the cameras back after noticing a lot of dangerous driving following the pandemic. The goal of the program is to change dangerous driving habits and help everyone get to their destinations safely. The city placed three cameras on the east side of Santa Fe and three on the south side.

“As for deployment locations, when we looked at was crash data, speeding complaints and where people have concerns of unsafe driving,” Valdez said.

Valdez noted that the city of Santa Fe owns any data collected by the cameras, not a third party.

“As they know in our contract we have spelled out that the data is the property of the city of Santa Fe, and it’s not being shared with any third parties,” Valdez said.

He also clarified how the technology operates, noting that confusion over the type of cameras being used may be the reason they were targeted.

“First of all, these are not Flock Cameras. Secondly, what the device does is when it detects a speeding violation, it then triggers the recording device which captures the violation, then it stops recording. So they’re not recording street activity 24/7,” Valdez said. “I think because of the concerns nationwide about Flock Cameras, that could be one driving reason. I know some people are not pleased with having these devices up because of privacy concerns.”

Police are now examining shell casings found at the scene to link the bullets and the gun to the shooter.

“In addition, we’re looking at other things such as Ring cameras, surveillance and also information from the public. If someone is out there boasting that, hey, I just damaged these cameras, we intend to file charges and hold them accountable,” Valdez said. “If you’re speeding, it’s a civil penalty for your first time is 50 bucks. Now, if you use a firearm and destroy a camera, that’s a felony offense and it’s going to be more than 50 bucks in penalties are much steeper than the initial violation.”

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.

Family grieves husky found dead in backyard construction hole

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Nick Bohr

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    RACINE, Wisconsin (WISN) — A Racine family is mourning the loss of their 14-year-old husky, Lia, who was found dead Saturday in a construction hole dug by electrical utility workers in a wooded corner of their fenced-in backyard.

“My wife calls me from outside, in a panic, saying she’s dead. She’s laying in a hole,” Brandon Wissmar said.

Wissmar said the hole was left uncovered, and he was unaware of its location until Lia was found. He rushed her to the vet, searching for answers.

“Petting her, she’s laying there, I put my head to her, and I said you got to see all the boys grow up, and I’ll take care of mom now,” Wissmar said.

Wissmar expressed concern that the uncovered hole could have posed a danger to his children as well.

In a statement to WISN 12 News, the contractor M.J. Electric said the work was for a new “not-yet-energized utility connection” and added. “We are conducting a thorough review of this incident to understand what occurred and to reinforce safety expectations across our crews.”

Wissmar said lawyers informed him that he has limited legal options because state law considers dogs property.

“I understand that while my dog might not be equivalent to my child, it’s closer to my child than my mailbox, and you’re basically telling me that they’re the same thing and I don’t agree with that,” Wissmar said.

He hopes contractors will improve communication and safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

“There just is no transparency; they’re just telling us we’ll be there at some point to do something. And we don’t know what that is, and in our case, since we didn’t know what that was, we lost our dog because of it,” Wissmar said.

The cause of Lia’s death remains unknown, as the family chose not to pursue a necropsy.

M.J. Electric issued to following statement to WISN 12 News:

“MJ Electric was saddened to learn that a customer’s family pet passed away over the weekend near one of our work sites. Our thoughts remain with the family during this difficult time.

“MJ Electric crews had been performing routine underground utility work at the residence as part of a new, not-yet-energized utility connection. We have reached out directly to the family to express our condolences and offer our support.

“We are conducting a thorough review of this incident to understand what occurred and to reinforce safety expectations across our crews. Safety is a core value at MJ Electric, and that commitment extends to every property and community where we work.”

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Mother and son arrested after yearslong child sexual abuse investigation

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Jason Burger

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    GUTHRIE, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A lengthy Guthrie Police Department investigation found years of abuse and ended with two people arrested after authorities said hundreds of files containing child sexual abuse material were found.

Those two suspects were a mother and her son, and Guthrie police said they have worked the investigation since 2024.

“A concerned mother called us and stated that Mr. Powell had sent an inappropriate voice message to their child,” said Lt. Jason Hamilton with the Guthrie Police Department.

Hamilton said that’s how the case began in 2024. Two years later, 31-year-old Erin Taylor-Powell and his mother, Daisy Powell, were arrested.

Erin was charged with first-degree rape, pornography and aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material. Daisy was charged with enabling child sexual exploitation.

“I’ve been here for a little over 20 years, and they’ve been here the entire time,” Hamilton said.

Court documents said the abuse goes as far back as 2015. Guthrie police started looking into the allegations in Aug. 2024.

Police obtained search warrants for the house where both suspects were living. Erin’s phone was a key part in the case, and after warrants were executed for his iCloud account, investigators found multiple files and text conversations with buyers.

After his phone was pinged, investigators found Erin in Guthrie getting out of a semi-truck that he was driving.

Just last week, he pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

“It was Detective Solomon’s tenacity for this case, and she’s had it since 2024. She has done multiple search warrants on phones, on iClouds, to find the evidence that was needed, and she found a lot,” Hamilton said.

In a probable cause affidavit for Daisy, it said multiple victims were interviewed, and when one of them told Daisy about a situation in which they were abused, court records said she did not act.

“Daisy did nothing but tell (the victim) to calm down, (the victim) was just dreaming or imagining things,” court documents said.

An investigator also wrote one of the victims said, “Daisy keeps everyone quiet, when I asked why she thought no one ever reported these incidents.”

Erin’s bond has been set at $5 million. Daisy’s is set at $2 million.

Both are in custody.

“I don’t know if we are looking for other victims, but if anybody wants to make contact, they can contact Detective Solomon at the police department number, and they’ll transfer them to her phone,” Hamilton said.

Those with information can contact the Guthrie Police Department at (405) 282-3535.

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‘Lowest level of force that we have’: Program demonstrates shock gloves, uses it on volunteering teens

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Waverle Monroe

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — Some school resource officers in Omaha-area school districts are using shock gloves to manage dangerous situations, a controversial tool that some districts have adopted while others have rejected.

The G.L.O.V.E was designed to help officers gain compliance quickly and reduce the risk of injury.

John Stuck, co-creator of the Tactical Athlete Program, trains school resource officers (SROs) and other agencies on how to use the gloves.

“We’re trying to do it as quickly as you possibly can, again, lowering the risk of injury to a child,” Stuck said.

Stuck described the shock gloves as “the most effective tool” he has seen in his 30 years of law enforcement.

The program not only trains officers but also demonstrates the gloves’ effects.

During a training session, a 16-year-old named Oscar experienced the gloves firsthand.

“He grabbed my arm, and then I felt this really intense shock, buzzing and did not like it. Yeah, it hurt. I immediately complied,” Oscar said.

Oscar added that the pain didn’t last long.

“Do you feel anything else?” Stuck asked.

“No,” Oscar replied.

“Did your body lock up?” Stuck asked

“No,” Oscar said.

Kylie, a 15-year-old, also tried the gloves.

“It kind of felt like a burning sensation, but it didn’t hurt where I would start screaming,” Kylie said.

Stuck explained that the gloves are designed to minimize harm compared to previous methods of gaining compliance, such as physically forcing arms out or striking motor nerve points.

“Some of the other things we deal with is when we get people turtled down on the ground with their hands underneath them,” Stuck said. “We would try to hit motor nerve points on the body to try and get some compliance.”

Kylie said the experience was enough to deter her from wanting to try it again.

“I didn’t want to do it again,” she said.

KETV anchor and reporter, Waverle Monroe, also tested the G.L.O.V.E, describing the pain as sharp but short-lived.

“The whole thing lasts about three seconds,” Monroe said. “Once the glove was off, the pain was gone in an instant.”

Stuck emphasized that the gloves are designed to be a low-level force option.

“This is the lowest level of force that we have in what we use,” he said.

Jason Cvitanov, vice president of operations at Complete Tactical Consultants, said the gloves are safe and effective.

“The problem gets solved literally in seconds, and then we’re out of the incident, and that is a distinct advantage to everyone involved,” Cvitanov said.

After families voiced frustrations about the gloves being used in Omaha Public Schools, the superintendent asked the Omaha Police Department not to use them.

However, districts like Bellevue Public Schools and Westside Community Schools will have the gloves.

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Delivery drivers go above and beyond to help save woman’s life

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Daisy Kershaw

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    COVINGTON, Kentucky (WLWT) — Two local delivery drivers went above and beyond to help save a customer’s life.

When a Covington woman had a medical emergency and stopped breathing, they jumped into action.

Delivery drivers Shawn Beam and Eric Bunzow work for a service partner of Amazon.

On Aug. 1, they made a delivery to a woman in her 80s in Covington, bringing a heavy package up to her home for her.

Moments later, they said she collapsed after telling them she was feeling dizzy.

“She grabbed me and her body tensed up, she collapsed and she pulled me to the ground,” said Beam, “And then I noticed she wasn’t breathing.”

That’s when Bunzow says he called 911.

“I have been trained for CPR,” says Beam, “I couldn’t do CPR on her because she was so tiny and I just pushed in on her stomach two times as hard as I could and then she gasped for breath and started breathing.”

Thankfully, Covington Fire and EMS were there in minutes.

“We were on the phone with 911 for a total of six minutes and EMS was there within five,” said Bunzow.

As soon as their shift was over, the two went straight to the hospital to check on the woman. That’s when they met her son, James Laidlaw.

“I think that’s the thing that really floored me the most, not just that they had helped, but that they were concerned enough that after a long shift. These two gentlemen came to the hospital to check up on her and see how she was doing, and that just really hit home with me,” said Laidlaw, “Restored my belief in humanity.”

For Bunzow, the experience struck a chord. He lost his mom in March.

“We bonded because he did lose his mom, but he was in the right place for my mom,” said Laidlaw.

Knowing that she is still here for her son means the world to Bunzow.

“Now, James has some extra time with his mom because he didn’t, he wouldn’t have had that,” he said.

Laidlaw, who is a paramedic, knows first-hand how differently this could have ended.

“I wholeheartedly believe that if both Shawn and Eric had not been there, that we would be planning a funeral,” he said.

Laidlaw said he and his wife were supposed to leave town for an event that day, and that they wouldn’t have been there to check in on his mom.

Luckily, Beam and Bunzow were in the right place at the right time.

“It was a scary experience, but I thank God for using me as a vessel in order to do his work,” said Beam.

Laidlaw says what his mom experienced was an acute medical event that she didn’t know she was at risk of.

He says the issue has now been addressed, that she’s now recovering and can’t wait to meet the two men responsible for saving her.

Laidlaw is working to organize a reunion for all of them so she can thank Beam and Bunzow in person.

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.

Entrepreneur builds sunless-tanning brand inspired by sister’s skin cancer scare

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Frank Sulkowski

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — A Savannah entrepreneur turned a personal mission to help her sister into Beettan, a growing sunless-tanning brand and business network.

For Michelle Peth, Beettan began as a way to support her redheaded sister, who faced serious skin cancer scares. Peth wanted to create an alternative to sun tanning that could deliver a natural-looking bronze without UV exposure.

“I first learned how to spray tan for her. I, you know, that was super scary to see your younger sister, you know, getting places cut off of her that were pre-cancerous, cancerous. So I learned how to spray tan to make her feel good. And then I got really good at it,” Peth said.

In 2014, Peth began working with a chemist to refine a sunless-tanning formula. Beettan, headquartered in Savannah, now uses naturally derived DHA beet extract in plant-based formulas designed to work with the amino acids in the skin’s outer layers. The goal is a customizable, streak-free finish without the orange undertones or strong odor often associated with traditional self-tanners.

“We’ve really just simplified the ingredients, the process to make it easier for the sprayer but also for the client,” Peth said.

Peth started by spraying clients herself while raising her son and working to support her family. Unable to secure a bank loan, she earned her real-estate license and reinvested her earnings into the tanning business. What began as a side hustle grew into a company selling products directly to consumers and wholesale to tanning professionals.

But Beettan is about more than just tanning solutions. Peth also wanted to provide a path to entrepreneurship. The company now offers sunless-tanning certification and business coaching to help people launch independent spray-tanning businesses.

“I went from bartender to business owner. So whenever I’m coaching these young spray tanners or young and business spray tanners, and they are discouraged or scared, you know, I let them know. I went from bartender to business owner. If I can do it, you can do it,” Peth said.

Peth has trained more than 500 women, empowering each one tan at a time.

“For me, every bottle, every tan represents a journey that began with family, determination and a desire to help—and became a way for other women to pursue financial independence,” Peth said.

“I like to see the light in their eyes when this business starts helping them financially, at freeing up time for their families. It’s bringing them joy, income. But also it’s, it’s a fun job. It truly is,” she said.

Beettan offers at-home products, professional solutions, certification, and business coaching, all from its Savannah headquarters.

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Officers save choking 3-month-old baby by using LifeVac device

CNN Newsource on September 2, 2026

By Jamie Mayes

Click here for updates on this story

    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Three Clarksville Police officers are being credited with helping save a 3-month-old baby who was barely breathing during a medical emergency Saturday afternoon.

Body-camera video shows the officers rushing into a home and immediately working to clear the baby’s airway. One officer delivered back blows while another retrieved a LifeVac, a portable suction device designed to remove an obstruction from a person’s airway.

Clarksville Police Chief Nathan Walls said the department equipped its officers with the devices about two years ago after his wife first brought them to his attention.

“I had never heard of it,” Walls said. “Actually, my wife had seen a commercial. She looked into it, and she said, ‘You guys need to be carrying these.’”

The department researched the device and decided to provide one to every officer.

“We equipped all our officers with them, and you just knew that at some point you were going to need it,” Walls said.

That moment came Saturday. Officer Dalton Fitzgerald, Officer Colton Foreman, and Officer Joel Sellers arrived at the scene. An officer used the LifeVac, and the baby soon began crying. This was a sign the child was breathing normally again.

Walls said the family’s decision to call for help quickly, along with the officers’ training and access to the right equipment, made a critical difference.

“To be able to, in that moment, remember your training that you may have done a while back and be able to stay on task, it’s quite remarkable,” Walls said.

Walls praised the officers for remaining focused during the high-pressure emergency.

“It’s kind of what we’ve come to expect,” he said. “And I sure hate to think that anybody is taking that for granted.”

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.