Crash causes flooding, power outages in Northwest Spokane

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Natalie Grant

Click here for updates on this story

    SPOKANE, Wash (KXLY) — A crash caused major flooding and power outages in Northwest Spokane on Tuesday morning.

It happened around 6:20 a.m. near the intersection of W. Rowan and N Drumheller. According to witnesses on the scene, a car crashed into multiple trees, power poles, and a fire hydrant. The crash is causing major flooding and road closures in the area. Avista is also reporting around 300 people without power. No word on the condition of the driver, but video from the scene shows a person being carried off on a stretcher. People are advised to avoid the area.

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.

Neighbors celebrate 300-year-old tree preservation

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Grace Rodriguez

Click here for updates on this story

    CHATHAM COUNTY, Georgia (WJCL) — Groups of people turned out Saturday for a picnic to honor a 300-year-old oak tree off Little Neck Road after county officials moved to protect the tree from a planned Georgia Power pole expansion.

An arborist with Chatham County designated the tree as “exceptional,” which protects it from damage or removal. The picnic served as a preview to a larger celebration planned for Monday, Feb. 16.

Allen Grizzard, whose family has owned the property where the tree sits for 98 years, shared his gratitude during the picnic.

“We are so happy for the thousands of people that supported us, shared love, and wanted to save our tree,” Grizzard said. “People have shown up even after the tree was saved, to have a picnic out here and enjoy the tree on Valentine’s Day.”

Supporters painted a sign reading “Respect your elders,” with the “T” in “respect” stylized as a tree, as people and pets filtered by to admire the tree.

“My great aunt was part of the original Savannah Historic Society. And at the time, they campaigned to save all of the live oaks that now make Savannah so famous,” Savannah resident William Verrilo said. “I thought it was really amazing what Chatham County and Savannah was able to get together in such a short time to come together and protect this tree and get it designated as a landmark.”

Word initially spread about the tree’s removal via social media. Pat Wilver, another Savannah resident, said his separate post on social media helped galvanize public outrage and support.

“I just took some video of the tree, put a song to it, and then we put it out, and I went crazy viral. People were really, really mad about what Georgia Power was doing, so they just kept sharing it and commenting and everything else,” Wilver said.

He said strangers reached out offering to help in small, meaningful ways.

“I probably had 50 different people, like, DM or comment, saying that they were ready to sit in this tree. Right. And they don’t know me. They don’t know the owners, right? They just want to do something good. So, like, we don’t have to know each other and, to want to do some good,” Wilver said.

Grizzard recalled childhood memories beneath the oak in the moments that they found out the tree was set for removal.

“I remember being 3 and 4 years old, and my cousin called me the other day, and she was just about crying because we played under that tree when we were 3 and 4 years old, and we still have those memories with our great-grandfather,” Grizzard said.

Grizzard said the tree cannot live forever, but he hopes it will now stand for another 300 years.

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.

‘They’re champions’: Inside the culture that’s made Jax State bowling a powerhouse

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Julian Mitchell

Click here for updates on this story

    OXFORD, Alabama (WVTM) — Erin Klemencic’s description of the Jax State bowling team is as perfect as a shot in the strike pocket.

“We’re pretty like go with the flow, like kind of lighthearted, but we know how to lock in when we need to,” Klemencic said.

To prove her point, just check the trophy case where Jax State has two national championship trophies in just two full seasons as a program.

“It’s just who they are, they’re champions. They were born to be champions, and they come together, and it’s just really special things to witness,” head coach Shannon O’Keefe said.

O’Keefe has spent 12 years coaching alongside her husband, Bryan, and it’s with all that experience that she can easily describe the talent of this team.

“This is the most talented group coming in at such a young age that we’ve had to work with,” O’Keefe said.

However, talent is the only thing that’s powered this team; it’s the connection between each of them.

“On the lanes, we can feel it after each shot, we pick each other up, and off the lanes, we just share special moments with each other,” Annalise O’Bryant said.

Building bonds and becoming family is a pillar of this program.

“We have a saying within our program that there’s eight people on the team currently, so when one of them is throwing a shot, it’s eight faces throwing that shot; we’re all in it together with them,” O’Keefe said.

It’s that culture that’s fueling a title run this year. The Gamecocks are currently the No. 1 team in the nation and riding a 30-match win streak.

“Our connections, just our execution, I think we put ourselves every time in position to be at that level and win championships,” Klemencic said.

A program built not just to win now, but in the future.

“It’s this next generation of kids that just continued to move the program in the right direction and keep chasing down some dreams, some titles and then hopefully there’s little ones at home watching and want to follow in their footsteps,” O’Keefe said.

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.

Jesse Jackson’s life from Greenville to the national stage

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Nigel Robertson

Click here for updates on this story

    GREENVILLE, South Carolina (WYFF) — Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate, has died, according to his family.

Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on Oct. 8, 1941, and attended racially segregated Sterling High School, where he was elected student class president and earned letters in baseball, football, and basketball.

In July 1960, Jackson helped change his hometown by joining the Greenville 8, a group of African American students who filed into the whites-only Greenville County Public Library, leading to its integration. His involvement in the civil rights movement had only just begun.

“Announce to you this day my decision to seek the nomination for the Democratic Party for the presidency of the United States of America,” Jackson said during his presidential campaign.

Before his presidential runs in 1984 and 1988, Jackson joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 1965 during the historic marches. He was also present when Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.

Jackson graduated from college with a degree in sociology and attended Chicago Theological Seminary, where he was ordained by the minister of a Chicago church. He resigned from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by Dr. King, and went on to create the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

The 1970s saw Jackson traveling the world, working to bring change to a number of issues. By 1984, he became the second African American to make a national run for president, following Shirley Chisholm. Jackson received 3.5 million votes in 1984 and more than 7 million votes in 1988, finishing second in the primaries to Michael Dukakis.

Jackson married Jacqueline Brown in 1962, and they had five children. As his family grew, so did controversy, including accusations of overstating his presence at Dr. King’s assassination and having a child out of wedlock. He apologized for accusing Barack Obama of talking down to Black America.

His diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease came in 2017, and over the years, his presence on the national stage began to slow. In November 2025, he was hospitalized for progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative condition he had been managing for more than a decade. Despite these challenges, Jackson’s standing in history endures from his Greenville roots.”

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.

Early Voting Begins in Texas Senate Primary; Disability Group Endorses Jasmine Crocket

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Lisa Valadez

Click here for updates on this story

    February 17, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Early voting for the Texas primary elections began today, with voters having the opportunity to cast ballots through February 28. The primary election will determine who will represent the Democratic Party in the November general election for the U.S. Senate, where the eventual nominee will face one of three Republican candidates, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Election Day is set for March 3, 2026.

In the Democratic primary, U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is running against State Representative James Talarico. The race has drawn attention not only for its political stakes but also for issues affecting the disability community.

Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., a nonprofit organization that typically refrains from endorsing candidates during the primary season, announced it is making an exception this year. The organization cited Congresswoman Crockett’s targeted policies aimed at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities as a key factor in its decision.

The endorsement comes amid heightened attention to disability rights in Texas. Attorney General Paxton, one of the Republican Senate candidates, has joined a lawsuit with eight other state attorneys general challenging federal regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, focusing on the integration mandate.

According to Disability Community for Democracy, Congresswoman Crockett is the only candidate running for the Senate who has clearly articulated policies addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities. She is also the sole candidate to publicly oppose the spread of misinformation regarding autism by controversial vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Congresswoman Crockett has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, and for these reasons, we are proud to endorse her,” the organization said in a statement.

The primary election outcome will determine whether Crockett or Talarico will advance to face a Republican candidate in the November general election for the U.S. Senate.

Read full statement here.

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.

Francis Page, Jr
fpagejr@stylemagazine.com
7139275444

RODEOHOUSTON 2026: Twenty Days of Tournament-Style Glory in the Rodeo Capital of the World

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Francis Page, Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    February 17, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — When the lights rise inside RODEOHOUSTON, Houston doesn’t just host a rodeo—it stages a 20-day, high-stakes athletic spectacle that rivals any postseason playoff in professional sports. Welcome to the Super Series: a tournament-style showdown where grit meets glory and champions are crowned under Texas-sized pressure.

With a staggering $2,533,500 total payout, RODEOHOUSTON stands as one of the richest stops on the professional rodeo circuit. Each event champion walks away with $65,000, plus accumulated round winnings, a custom-made saddle, an iconic championship belt buckle—and a guaranteed return invitation the following year. Even more significant, RODEOHOUSTON is an official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) National Finals Rodeo (NFR) money event. That means every dollar earned in Houston counts toward PRCA World Standings and qualification for the NFR in Las Vegas. In rodeo terms, that’s career-defining.

The Format: Built Like a Playoff Bracket

RODEOHOUSTON’s structure is precision-designed for drama and fairness. The competition begins with five three-day Super Series, each featuring eight elite athletes in eight classic rodeo disciplines:

Bareback Riding • Saddle Bronc Riding • Bull Riding • Steer Wrestling • Tie-Down Roping • Team Roping • Women’s Barrel Racing • Breakaway Roping

Across three go-rounds per series, the top four money winners in each event advance to one of two Semifinal rounds. Ten athletes compete in each Semifinal event. From there, the stakes rise even higher.

The top four from each Semifinal advance directly to the Championship Round. The remaining six athletes get one more shot in one of two Wild Card rounds, where only one competitor per event punches the final ticket to Championship Saturday.

Then comes the ultimate test.

Championship Saturday: Ride Again for the Crown

The Championship features ten athletes in each event. The top four performers immediately compete again in the electrifying Championship Shootout Round, where a single ride, run, or rope determines the event champion—and the $65,000 prize.

It’s sudden-death rodeo at its finest.

2026 Super Series & Championship Schedule

All events take place at NRG Stadium:

Super Series I Monday, March 2 – Wednesday, March 4, 6:45 PM

Super Series II Thursday, March 5 – Saturday, March 7 (2:45 PM on Saturday)

Super Series III Sunday, March 8 (2:45 PM) – Tuesday, March 10

Super Series IV Wednesday, March 11 – Friday, March 13

Super Series V Saturday, March 14 (2:45 PM) – Monday, March 16

Semifinals Tuesday, March 17 & Wednesday, March 18 – 6:45 PM

Wild Card Rounds Thursday, March 19 & Friday, March 20 – 6:45 PM

RODEOHOUSTON Championship Saturday, March 21 – 2:45 PM

For Houston Style Magazine readers, Houston families, sports fans, and rodeo enthusiasts across Texas and beyond, RODEOHOUSTON delivers more than entertainment—it celebrates Western heritage, athletic excellence, and the competitive spirit that defines our city.

In Houston, we don’t just host champions. We build them.

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.

Francis Page, Jr
fpagejr@stylemagazine.com
7139275444

GO VOTE, HOUSTON! Early Voting Ignites High-Stakes Congressional Races Across Harris County

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Burt Levine

Click here for updates on this story

    February 17, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston, this is your moment.

In Houston and across Harris County, the energy is unmistakable. Early voting is underway, and area voters are showing up with purpose. From congressional contests to pivotal primary races, the 2026 election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent memory. For readers of Houston Style Magazine—Houston and Harris County’s most-read and most-followed weekly publication—this moment is about more than politics. It’s about participation, progress, and protecting the power of your voice.

According to recent polling from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, several congressional districts across the region are experiencing competitive, high-stakes matchups. Newly drawn district boundaries have reshaped communities from Humble to Missouri City, from Acres Homes to Independence Heights, creating dynamic races that reflect Houston’s evolving demographics.

In Congressional District 18, anchored by growing suburban communities and anchored by a diverse electorate, generational leadership has become a central theme. Analysts suggest voters are energized—not necessarily dissatisfied—but eager to evaluate vision, longevity, and future-focused representation. Strong favorability ratings for multiple candidates show an engaged Democratic base paying close attention.

Congressional District 29 is equally compelling. Once majority Hispanic, the district now reflects a broader coalition that includes historic African American neighborhoods and long-established Latino communities. Political observers note that turnout among these blocs could determine whether the race is decided outright or moves into a runoff. Enthusiasm is high, and voter engagement will ultimately shape the outcome.

Meanwhile, in the newly configured Congressional District 9, competitive fundraising and multiple viable candidates signal that every ballot cast will matter. With significant financial resources fueling outreach efforts, the real deciding factor will be participation at the polls.

Early voting offers flexibility and convenience—no need to wait until Election Day. Super Tuesday primaries are critical because they influence who advances to the general election and who represents Houston’s interests on Capitol Hill. Federal funding, infrastructure projects, healthcare access, small business support, and disaster recovery resources all hinge on the leadership voters choose today.

Houston has always been a city where civic engagement drives progress. From civil rights milestones to economic growth and innovation, our region thrives when citizens show up and speak up. Voting is not simply a right—it is a responsibility that safeguards democracy and strengthens community voice.

Before heading out, confirm your polling location, review your sample ballot, and check voting hours directly through the official Harris County Elections website:

👉 HarrisVotes.com harrisvotes.com

Encourage your family, neighbors, colleagues, and friends to do the same. Share the link. Post it. Text it. Make sure no one misses their opportunity.

Houston’s future is on the ballot.

The power is yours.

Go vote, Houston. Your voice matters.

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.

Francis Page, Jr
fpagejr@stylemagazine.com
7139275444

Woman says her father opened fire in hockey rink, ‘has mental health issues’

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Peter Eliopoulos

Click here for updates on this story

    PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island (WCVB) — Following a deadly shooting in the stands during a Rhode Island high school hockey game, a woman told NewsCenter 5 that her father was the shooter.

The woman, who did not provide her name, was exiting the Pawtucket Police Department with a man and a child when she offered that information.

“My father was the shooter,” she said.

“He shot my family, and he’s dead now,” she also said.

The shooting happened at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Andrew D. Ferland Way during a high school hockey game just before 3 p.m. Monday. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the suspect was among the three people who died in the shooting. Three others were wounded in the shooting.

Goncalves said police believe the suspect’s gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

The chief later revealed the shooter was born Robert Dorgan, but also used the name Roberta and the surname Esposito.

“He has mental health issues,” said the woman who said the shooter was her father.

She went on to say that he struggled with his mental health for some time and was, “very sick,” although she did not provide specific details.

As she walked toward a pickup truck parked across from the police department, the woman said she did not know who was killed but that she was going to the hospital next.

Hockey players and their families were brought to the police department by bus amid the investigation. Some of the players were still wearing uniforms, and parents were carrying flowers intended as gifts for one of the teams’ senior night celebrations.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

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.

Celebrating a Decade of Partnership: Legacy SBHC and YES Prep Transform Student Health Across Houston

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Francis Page Jr

Click here for updates on this story

    February 17, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — In a city as dynamic and diverse as Houston, success in the classroom often begins with something simple: access to quality health care. For the past decade, Legacy Community Health and YES Prep Public Schools have proven that when health and education move in lockstep, students don’t just survive — they thrive.

As the two organizations celebrate 10 years of partnership in 2026, their collaboration stands as a model of what school-based health care can accomplish when mission meets momentum and is one example of Legacy’s broader 39‑clinic School-Based Health Care (SBHC) network across the Greater Houston communities.

Meeting Students Where They Are: Legacy’s School-Based Health Care Model

Legacy operates the largest SBHC program in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, with 39 clinics across Greater Houston and Galena Park. Legacy SBHC serves students in partnership with YES Prep (21 locations), KIPP Texas–Houston (14 locations), and Galena Park ISD (4 locations). These on-campus clinics deliver medical and behavioral health services directly where students learn, same day, in person or virtually — eliminating the need for families to rearrange work schedules, secure transportation, or travel across the city for an appointment.

It’s a simple but transformative idea: bring care to campus to meet students, siblings, and children of staff where they are.

By embedding clinics within schools, Legacy’s goal is to help reduce student absences, strengthens academic continuity, and eases the burden on working parents – a benefit reflected in more than 72,000 student appointments completed during the 2024–2025 school year alone. It’s not just convenient — it’s strategic. Students thrive academically when their physical, mental, and emotional health are supported. Healthy students are better able to focus, fully engage in learning, and achieve their goals.

Who Legacy Is — And Why It Matters

As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas, Legacy Community Health serves patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Sliding fee scales, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment assistance, and dedicated eligibility specialists who help families enroll in coverage or obtain reduced-cost care ensure that no child is turned away.

That commitment has made Legacy not only a trusted healthcare provider, but a stabilizing force across Houston’s neighborhoods. From preventive care to behavioral health, Legacy’s mission is rooted in equity — ensuring every family has access to quality, compassionate care.

Breaking Down Barriers to Care

For many Houston families, traditional clinic visits can mean:

Lost wages from missing work • Transportation challenges • Delays in pediatric and/or behavioral health appointments • Insurance gaps or financial stress School-based clinics remove those barriers. Students can receive care during the school day, minimizing lost class time while maximizing access to essential services.

The result? Less stress for families. Fewer disruptions to learning. And more equitable access to preventive, medical, and mental health services.

Legacy’s school-based clinics also serve siblings, parents, district students, and school staff — extending support to entire school communities.

Comprehensive Services — All Under One Roof

Across its school-based network, Legacy provides:

Well child exams and preventive visits • Vaccinations • Asthma and allergy care • Chronic condition management • Sports physicals • Individual and family counseling • Trauma-informed behavioral health services • Psychiatric evaluations

Leadership Perspective: Health and Education Are Interconnected

Robert Palussek, CEO of Legacy Community Health, emphasizes that student achievement and access to care are deeply intertwined. By delivering services on campus, he notes, the organization removes barriers and strengthens families and communities simultaneously – “health and education go hand in hand,” as he has said in recent statements.

Stephanie Ramirez, Vice President of School-Based Health Care, underscores the daily impact: on-campus clinics keep students healthy, help to reduce absences, and provide families with invaluable peace of mind. Families value knowing care is close by.

Together, their leadership reflects a broader philosophy — that education reform must include health equity.

A Regional Model for the Future

Ten years after launching its collaboration with YES Prep, Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program stands as a cornerstone of regional public health strategy and one of the largest SBHC programs in the nation.

With 39 clinics serving Greater Houston and Galena Park, the program represents sustained investment in children’s health, family stability, and community resilience. The YES Prep milestone is worth celebrating — but the larger story is Legacy’s ongoing commitment to ensuring students and families are equipped to succeed today and for generations to come.

In a city built on innovation and heart, this decade-long partnership proves one powerful truth: when we invest in student health – across every district/charter, underserved communities, and in school campuses – we invest in their future.

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.

Francis Page, Jr
fpagejr@stylemagazine.com
7139275444

Runaway pig caught after snack-fueled standoff with North Carolina deputies

CNN Newsource on February 17, 2026

By Marisa Sardonia

Click here for updates on this story

    RUTHERFORD COUNTY, North Carolina (WLOS) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office truly brought home the bacon this week after deputies wrangled a runaway pig that wandered into a home in search of snacks.

On Monday, Feb. 16, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about a pig that wandered into an Ellenboro home. Authorities said the pig’s motive “seemed to be finding snacks.”

The sheriff’s office said the pig eventually surrendered after “a short standoff involving a pack of crackers and some highly questionable negotiations.”

The pig was taken into custody and transported to Rutherford County Animal Control Services, operated by Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue.

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.