Milton unearths 100-year-old U.S. flag

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Bella Ferak

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    MILTON, Wis. (WISC) — MILTON, Wis. — Historians at the former Milton College recently made a remarkable discovery when they opened a box containing a 100-year-old American flag with a handwritten letter attached.

The flag, which arrived at the college in 1926, was sent by Joseph Dutton, an alumnus who wanted to express his gratitude for the education he received there.

According to Doug Welch, lead historical preservationist at Milton College Preservation Society, the flag originated from a leper colony in Hawaii during the Civil War era. Dutton attended Milton College in the 1850s and served in the military.

“In 1926, this flag, this very flag here, 100 years ago, shows up at Milton College with a letter from Dutton saying, you know, ‘This is an appreciation of the education I received here.’ When I saw the flag and saw the note, my jaw dropped. It was like, ‘Holy smokes, this is a big deal,'” Welch said.

During the 1850s, Milton College distinguished itself as an educational pioneer. The institution championed women’s education and abolitionism—causes it embraced even before the University of Wisconsin-Madison took similar stances. It’s said renowned abolitionist Sojourner Truth once spoke on campus.

Welch emphasizes that the flag represents far more than patriotic decoration or a simple historical artifact.

“This is really kind of a symbol of Milton College down through the years, and – going back to Joseph Goodrich – and its commitment to education, women’s education, fighting [for] abolitionism, fighting to save the Union,” Welch explained.

The flag’s journey to preservation was not guaranteed. When Milton College closed its doors in 1982, local banks took control of the campus and auctioned off most of its contents. However, this significant flag managed to survive the dispersal of the college’s assets, preserving a tangible connection to the institution’s storied past.

Now, the flag is framed and displayed in the college’s main hall, where visitors can view it at the Milton College Preservation Society. For those interested in Civil War history, educational heritage, or the stories of individuals who fought to preserve the Union, the flag offers a window into a transformative period in American history.

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Houston Turns Out—and Turns Up the Heat—for James Talarico

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Burt Levine

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    July 21, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston’s Sunday heat was relentless, but so was the political energy surrounding State Rep. James Talarico as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate moved through three community-centered stops. From Dr. Letitia Plummer’s Harris County Judge campaign relaunch in Midtown to a packed town hall at Kingdom Builders Center in southwest Houston and a faith-community gathering at Community of Faith in north Houston, Talarico came prepared to do more listening than lecturing.

That distinction mattered. Many Black Houston voters supported Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett during the Democratic primary, and they were not interested in being treated as a dependable voting bloc whose support could simply be penciled in. Talarico acknowledged that frustration directly, telling attendees that the Democratic Party has too often assumed Black voters would automatically fall in line. His message was clear: trust must be earned, relationships must be maintained and political promises must arrive with receipts.

Talarico backed that pledge with a proposed $25 million investment in Black voter outreach—an amount he described as the largest commitment of its kind in modern Texas political history. He promised sustained engagement through community powerhouse Houston Style Magazine and other Black media, churches, historically Black colleges and universities, neighborhood leaders and local organizations. At Kingdom Builders, voters pressed him on voting rights, Black farmers, public education, immigration, maternal health, campaign staffing and support for Black candidates down the ballot. Some questions came wrapped in encouragement; others arrived with enough heat to compete with the Houston pavement. Talarico stayed, listened and repeatedly began his responses with “Thank you.”

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Congressman Christian Menefee introduced his longtime friend while reminding the audience that democracy is strongest when candidates face difficult questions instead of avoiding them. State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum also helped welcome Talarico, while other elected officials attended in support. Simmons offered the day’s most memorable political seasoning, describing the nominee as a faith-driven fighter ready for the contest ahead.

Talarico’s biography fits naturally into his education-centered message. A former San Antonio middle-school teacher, he was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 and has built much of his legislative identity around public schools, affordable childcare and reducing healthcare costs. His Houston remarks emphasized strong neighborhood schools, lower household expenses and government that responds to working families rather than simply campaigning at them.

The numbers explain why national observers are watching. A June University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll placed Republican nominee Ken Paxton at 43 percent and Talarico at 42 percent—well within the survey’s margin of error. Federal Election Commission filings show Talarico reported approximately $68.6 million in receipts through June 30, with about $21.5 million remaining in cash. Fundraising, however, is not the same as votes, and Texas history provides a flashing caution sign: Lloyd Bentsen was the last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas, winning in 1988, while Democrats last won statewide office in 1994.

That history is exactly why Houston mattered. Talarico did not ask voters merely to oppose Paxton; he asked them to believe in a different direction for Texas. Whether that appeal becomes a history-making coalition will depend on organization, turnout and continued accountability long after Sunday’s microphones are packed away.

Early voting runs October 19 through October 30, followed by Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. The campaign calendar is tightening, the political temperature is rising, and Houston has made one thing unmistakably clear: no candidate should expect the Black vote without first showing up, listening closely and earning it.

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Kierra Lee
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TSU Welcomes the Class of 2030 with Historic New Student Pinning Ceremony

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    July 21, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Texas Southern University’s newest ‘Tigers’ are about to receive more than a pin. They are receiving a public promise that they belong to a proud academic family built to educate leaders, strengthen communities and change history.

On Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Texas Southern University will welcome the Class of 2030 during its New Student Pinning Ceremony at Sawyer Auditorium. TSU alumni are invited to volunteer and personally pin incoming freshmen, creating a memorable bridge between those beginning their Tiger journey and those already carrying the university’s legacy into the world.

That bridge matters. Founded in 1927, Texas Southern University grew from Houston Colored Junior College into one of America’s leading historically Black universities. Today, TSU remains deeply rooted in Houston’s historic Third Ward while preparing students to become engaged citizens, professionals and creative leaders locally, nationally and globally. In other words, the pin may be small, but the history behind it is heavyweight.

TSU’s alumni roll reads like a Houston history lesson with extra swagger. Its graduates include trailblazing public servants such as Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland, along with leaders across business, education, entertainment and civic life. The pinning ceremony places the Class of 2030 into that continuing story—not as spectators waiting in the wings, but as the next generation expected to study hard, serve boldly and leave the institution stronger.

Adding even more Tiger pride to the ceremony will be keynote speaker Teneshia Hudspeth, Harris County Clerk and the county’s chief election official. Hudspeth is a TSU communications alumna and the first African American woman to serve as Harris County Clerk. She leads an office serving the state’s largest county, which surpassed 5 million residents in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 population estimate.

Hudspeth’s story is especially fitting for a ceremony centered on beginnings. Her public-service journey started as a Mickey Leland Congressional intern before she joined the Harris County Clerk’s Office. During nearly two decades there, she advanced through numerous responsibilities, including public affairs, voter outreach, communications and chief deputy, before voters elected her county clerk in 2020.

Her climb was not a quick elevator ride; it was the staircase—one responsibility, one lesson and one earned opportunity at a time. That is a timely message for freshmen who may arrive at TSU with enormous dreams but without every detail mapped out.

Hudspeth’s career demonstrates that preparation, persistence and service can turn an entry-level opportunity into historic leadership.

As chief election official, Hudspeth carries responsibilities tied to public trust, access and the orderly administration of democracy. Her presence also reflects TSU’s long-standing role in producing graduates who do more than earn credentials. Tigers enter courtrooms, classrooms, boardrooms, newsrooms, laboratories and public office ready to make their communities stronger.

The alumni volunteers will be equally important. By placing a pin on a new student, graduates are saying: “We see you. We welcome you. We expect you to succeed.” For first-generation students, students arriving from outside Houston or anyone feeling those familiar first-day butterflies, that personal welcome can transform a large campus into a genuine community.

Houston Style Magazine readers and Houston-area TSU alumni are encouraged to show up in maroon-and-gray spirit and help the Class of 2030 begin boldly. The ceremony offers a meaningful opportunity to give back without writing a speech, chairing a committee or sitting through a three-hour meeting. Sometimes service is as simple—and as powerful—as placing a pin, offering encouragement and reminding a young Tiger that generations are cheering them forward.

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More information on Texas Southern University: TSU.edu Event Details Saturday, August 15, 2026 • 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Sawyer Auditorium • Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street • Houston, Texas 77004

Volunteer registration: Register to help pin the Class of 2030

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
4096658446

Woman shares ‘horrific’ experience with Cyclosporiasis

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Alexis Mathews

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    FRANKLIN, Kentucky (WLKY) — Jessica Mallard of Simpson County, Kentucky, fell seriously ill with Cyclosporiasis during the Fourth of July holiday.

“We don’t have any deadly cases, but I can tell you I feel like I’m dying,” Mallard said.

She was admitted to the hospital with explosive diarrhea, fatigue, and unbearable stomach pain before being diagnosed as one of more than 100 confirmed cases of the parasitic illness in Kentucky.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had a child, but it’s worse than labor. It like somebody was ripping my stomach into two pieces,” Mallard said. “I couldn’t even barely get in the shower. I had a total of nine IVs.”

Her husband, Christopher, stayed by her bedside throughout the antagonizing ordeal.

He admits he was terrified.

“Just seeing her in that much pain and, you know, after 18 years of marriage, I was just like, what is going on?” he said.

After spending 10 days in two separate hospitals, Mallard was able to return home this past weekend. While she continues to experience lingering symptoms and is unable to go back to work at the moment, she also remains uncertain about what caused her illness.

“I never switched up. I never eat anything different. It’s the same salad,” Mallard said.

Mallard had consumed Marketside bagged salad with lettuce from Taylor Farms, a Mexican grower currently under investigation by the FDA as a potential source of contamination in the Cyclosporiasis outbreak.

The agency stated that its investigation is ongoing despite a false positive test result on Taylor Farms’ products. A voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce and salad mix from the company remains in effect.

Dr. Monalisa Tailor, a primary care doctor at Norton Healthcare, addressed concerns about salad safety.

“You can still eat a salad,” she said, while emphasizing the importance of washing fruits and vegetables.

Taylor also encouraged shoppers to consider local farmers markets for fresh food options, explaining that smaller-scale farming practices reduce the risk of exposure to parasites.

“They don’t get this exposure to this type of parasite because there’s less people managing and tending those areas,” said Dr. Tailor. “It’s not a commercial garden, so they’re watering everything on their own, and that helps significantly reduce the risk for an organism like this. Sometimes, some of the berries can also be a risk for this. So your raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, if you do have some of those that are ones that you picked up from the grocery store, maybe this is a good opportunity to turn them into jam or some other baked item. Because if you heat something up, that actually ruins your risk of Cyclospora and takes it away.”

Dr. Tailor also debunked the myth around Cyclosporiasis being a source of weight loss.

“Your likelihood of becoming dehydrated is really, really high given how hot it is outside right now and I don’t want someone to end up in the hospital just for IV fluids,” she said. “So, no, you don’t want to get this, it’s not the quick thing to help you lose the weight. It is a quick way to end up really dehydrated, feel dizzy, lightheaded.”

The Mallards have started a GoFundMe amid this unexpected health journey.

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After nearly 250 years, final Revolutionary War cannon fragment recovered from Lake Champlain

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Lucy Cherry

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    PERU, New York (WPTZ) — After spending nearly 250 years at the bottom of Lake Champlain, the final major missing piece of an exploded Revolutionary War cannon has been recovered, marking what researchers believe is the end of a decades-long search.

The artifact is believed to be the last major missing fragment of a cannon that exploded during the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776 — the first major fleet-on-fleet naval battle of the American Revolution.

The explosion aboard the gunboat New York killed Patriot sailor Thomas Rogers and injured two other crew members.

For more than 25 years, the Valcour Bay Research Project has searched the lake bottom in Northern New York for the cannon’s missing pieces. This summer, researchers from Texas A&M University’s Maritime Archaeology and Conservation Center used remote sensing technology to locate what they believed was the final missing fragment.

Buried beneath more than four feet of mud off the coast of Peru, New York, the piece was found almost exactly where researchers predicted the explosion would have sent it.

“It’s really exceptional,” said Dr. Christopher Dostal, director of Texas A&M’s Maritime Archaeology and Conservation Center. “Preservation is unbelievable up here. You’ve got cold, dark, anoxic clay. Things like this just don’t happen.”

Once the artifact reached shore, the discovery was put to the test.

The diver who recovered the first piece of the cannon nearly three decades ago carefully aligned the newly recovered fragment with a 3D-printed replica created from that original discovery. The pieces matched, providing another confirmation that researchers had finally recovered the last major missing section of the cannon.

“It’s a completion of the puzzle,” said Ed Scollon, who recovered the first cannon fragment about 27 years ago. “Our goal was to find this gun and to find out what had happened, and we did all of that and more. It just shows that with this kind of a collaboration, you can learn from not only the stories in books, but from the archaeological evidence that’s still there.”

Researchers say the recovered fragment will now undergo conservation before eventually joining the rest of the original cannon at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, where the complete artifact will be preserved and displayed for the public.

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Farm offers 20 years of opportunity for adults with disabilities

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Doug Meehan

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    DENNIS, Massachusetts (WCVB) — For two decades, an organization on Cape Cod called Cape Abilities has been proving that adults with intellectual disabilities have plenty of ability to be an important part of the community. And at a farm run by Cape Abilities in Dennis, they are growing both beautiful produce and valuable opportunities.

“Probably about 100 or so flow in and out of the farm program,” said Kim McElholm, president and CEO of Cape Abilities.

On the farm, adults with intellectual disabilities work hand in hand with farmers to grow and sell the crops. It’s not only a job and a paycheck, but it’s also an opportunity for the associates to be a valued part of their community.

“I have countless stories of individuals that I have just been so impressed with and in awe of what they, how they started and where they’ve come,” said farm director Rachel Gillis.

Over the last 20 years, this farm and market, located on 6 acres just off 6A, have been growing a lot more than tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. They are also cultivating and changing lives through opportunity and purpose.

“They come here, learn skills such as farming, how to grow a tomato from seed to production. They also get to learn the cash register, customer service,” said McElholm.

Celia Levy has been working as a market associate at the farm for five years. She shared it’s been the best job she has ever had.

“It’s great because everyone is so nice and they treat me well and they respect me,” said Levy.

The farm operates seven days a week, nine months a year, with core values that include compassion, inclusion, innovation, integrity, respect and opportunity. As it turns out, whopper tomatoes and beautiful flowers are not the only things that are blossoming at this farm.

“This is an opportunity for someone to hit their goals, work, be with peers and then also give back to our community,” said McElholm.

And even though the growing season lasts nine months, there is still plenty going on during the “off” season at the farm, including during the holiday season, when the growing buildings turn into Santa’s workshop and people come from all over the Cape to buy their Christmas trees from the very able staff.

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Riverhounds’ Trevor Amann sets record with fastest hat trick in U.S. pro soccer

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Ashley Liotus

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — Trevor Amann made history on Saturday by scoring a hat trick in just 3 minutes and 27 seconds during a match against Louisville, setting the record for the fastest hat trick in any U.S. professional soccer league.

“It was all a blur of emotion,” Amann said.

Amann, who was overwhelmed after the game, said he didn’t realize he had broken the record until after the match, when the emotions truly set in.

“Initially kind of just happened,” he said.

The home game was played under a national spotlight, giving Amann’s family in Texas and Colorado the chance to watch his historic performance live.

Hat tricks are notoriously difficult to achieve, and Amann has only recorded two others in his career. He credited his success to both his hard work and the contributions of his teammates.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of work, and it’s really nice to have,” Amann said. “Kudos to the teammates putting me in good areas.”

The Hounds are back in action on Saturday when they host Rhode Island. Amann said, “Hey, maybe I’ll score another hat trick then.”

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77-year-old postal worker arrested for hoarding cats she collected along her route

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Jack Sears

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    MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — Authorities in Martin County arrested a 77-year-old woman after discovering more than 70 caged cats and an undetermined number of dogs inside her home.

In a press conference held Monday afternoon in Stuart’s Foxwood community, Sheriff John Budensiek said that Gail Giustino had worked for the postal service and is believed to have been collecting feral cats along her route. He called the situation the worst case of animal hoarding he has seen in Martin County.

The sheriff said animal control had tried to access the house over the past week but was unable to do so because the homeowner was uncooperative.

Giustino was arrested on two misdemeanor charges.

“Do we want to arrest a 77-year-old lady? The answer is absolutely not,” the sheriff said. “We truly believe that Gail thinks she’s doing the right thing, but she’s doing the wrong thing, and we have arrested her for two misdemeanors. The goal of arresting her was to be able to seize the animals to save them.”

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Veteran leads effort to build first female veterans monument in Southwest Florida

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Bernie Montás

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    CAPE CORAL, Florida (WBBH) — Lisa Arnold, president of Sisters in Arms of Cape Coral and a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, is leading an initiative to construct a monument in Cape Coral to honor female veterans, which would be the first of its kind in Southwest Florida.

“I spent 28 years on active duty, retiring in 2021,” Arnold said.

Arnold began seeking approval for the project in 2024, inspired by her experiences as a veteran.

“My service was allowed because of the women who have come before me, and all those women who have laced up combat boots set the path for me and for many women in my generation,” Arnold said.

She said that female veterans often feel their contributions are overlooked.

“I’ve noticed, and many of my peers and many of my fellow female veterans, we’ve noticed that our stories are minimized or unheard,” Arnold said. “I know people have asked my peers, like, are those your ribbons at your desk?”

Cape Coral City Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra is one of Arnold’s strongest supporters for the project.

“I just feel like our city is so veteran friendly, and I feel like this is just another way we have an opportunity to celebrate veterans and especially female veterans,” Nelson-Lastra said.

For Nelson-Lastra, the project is also deeply personal.

“I’m the daughter of a Vietnam vet and granddaughter of a World War II vet and the sister of a Persian Gulf vet, so to me, this was a natural fit,” she said.

The Sisters in Arms of Cape Coral have raised just over $30,000 toward their $400,000 fundraising goal. Arnold said she hopes the monument will be completed by 2028.

“Whenever we get this monument here is going to be a great day for all the women that have served our country,” Arnold said.

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‘Tail was bouncing against the door’: Family finds nearly 8-foot alligator on front porch

CNN Newsource on July 21, 2026

By Meghan Moriarty

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    PALM BAY, Florida (WESH) — A Palm Bay family woke up to an unexpected guest at their front door: a nearly 8-foot alligator that did not want to leave.

“I thought at one point he was gonna come through the window,” Sierra Wynn said. “His tail was bouncing against the door and against the house. It was such a deep, guttural hiss and growl. He just looked so mean. I thought he was gonna come through the window.”

Palm Bay police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the home off Malabar Road.

“We were scared. Terrified,” Wynn said. “At one point, when he was getting kind of agitated with the flashlight in his eyes, he actually looked right up at me. He started opening his mouth and growling and hissing.”

Wynn said she’s thankful they got an alert from their security camera because she’s not sure what would have happened if they hadn’t.

“If we didn’t have the cameras and the features where we get notifications that there’s an animal in the yard, who knows what would have happened,” Wynn said. “If I had opened the garage to let the dog out, or if I had opened the front door, I wouldn’t have known.”

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