Category: CNN Regional

By Francis Page Jr.

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    June 25, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Sound the alarm, cue the choir, and tell the culture to put on its Sunday-best sparkle: ESSENCE’s Black Women in Music is officially back. After last taking center stage in 2018, the beloved celebration returns during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, bringing with it the kind of star power, sisterhood, and soul-shaking excellence that only ESSENCE can gather under one fabulous roof.

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Anthony Anderson, the private luncheon will honor four women whose fingerprints are not merely on the music industry — they are pressed into the blueprint: Brandy, Kandi Burruss, Missy Elliott, and Mona Scott-Young. Together, they represent the singer, the songwriter, the producer, the mogul, the visionary, and the woman behind the curtain making sure the curtain rises on time.

photo Anthony Anderson Courtesy of Essence

Launched in 2010, ESSENCE Black Women in Music became part of the brand’s larger celebration of Black women’s brilliance, standing proudly alongside signature platforms such as Black Women in Hollywood, Black Women in Business, and other cultural tributes that remind America of a simple truth: when Black women move, industries follow.

This year’s return to New Orleans feels especially fitting. The Crescent City is not just a destination; it is a drumbeat. It is jazz in the pavement, gospel in the balconies, second-line rhythm in the air, and ancestral memory dressed in festival colors. During ESSENCE Festival weekend, New Orleans becomes the cultural capital of Black joy — a place where business cards, church fans, designer heels, brass bands, and family reunions somehow all make sense in the same sentence.

photo Brandy Courtesy of Essence At the heart of the celebration is Brandy, affectionately known as “The Vocal Bible.” For more than three decades, the Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, and producer has delivered harmonies so layered they deserve their own zip code. From her groundbreaking television presence to her unmistakable influence on modern R&B, Brandy’s artistry remains both classic and current. Her recent arena run with Monica on The Boy Is Mine Tour proved what longtime fans already knew: the voice still reigns, and the audience still rises.

photo Kandi Burruss Courtesy of Essence

Then there is Kandi Burruss, the quiet storm who became a full-fledged empire. As a member of Xscape and the Grammy-winning songwriter behind TLC’s “No Scrubs,” Burruss helped shape the soundtrack of a generation. But she did not stop at the studio door. She expanded into television, Broadway, entrepreneurship, restaurants, production, and brand-building with the confidence of a woman who understands that ownership is the real encore.

photo Missy Elliott Courtesy of Essence

Missy Elliott, already honored by ESSENCE in 2018, returns to the spotlight as one of music’s most fearless architects. Rapper, producer, songwriter, performer, visual futurist — Missy did not simply bend genres; she took them to the beauty shop, gave them a fresh cut, added rhinestones, and sent them back into the world walking differently. Her videos changed what music could look like. Her production changed what rhythm could feel like. Her influence still echoes across generations of artists who learned that weird, bold, brilliant, and Black could also be platinum.

photo Mona Scott Young Courtesy of Essence

And behind many culture-shifting moments stands Mona Scott-Young, the media mogul and Monami Entertainment powerhouse whose impact stretches across music, television, talent management, and entrepreneurship. From helping guide the careers of Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Tyrese, and others, to building the Love & Hip Hop franchise into a reality television phenomenon, Scott-Young has long understood the business of visibility. She helped turn backstage strategy into front-page power.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, this celebration lands close to home. Houston knows the power of Black women in music — from gospel sanctuaries and HBCU bands to R&B stages, spoken-word rooms, church choirs, and business boardrooms. ESSENCE’s tribute is not just about celebrity. It is about cultural labor, creative ownership, and the women who keep turning rhythm into revenue, storytelling into legacy, and visibility into victory.

While the luncheon itself may be private, the message is public and powerful: Black women are not supporting characters in the music industry. They are the melody, the arrangement, the executive producer, the distributor, the tour manager, the brand strategist, and, when necessary, the person reminding everybody that the mic was never theirs to hand out in the first place.

This summer in New Orleans, ESSENCE is not simply hosting an event. It is staging a homecoming for excellence — and honoring four women who made the culture louder, richer, wiser, and undeniably more stylish.

More info go to: essence.com/essencefestival2026

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

By Marisa Sardonia

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    ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — North Carolina has the highest estimated rate of venomous snakebites per capita in the United States, according to a 2026 national analysis.

According to data analysis from playcasino.com and information from WorldPopulationReview.com, the Tar Heel State ranks above every other state, with an estimated 856 venomous snakebites per year and a rate of 18.79 incidents per 100,000 people.

Overall, Texas has the highest count of estimated venomous snakebites, topping 1,400 per year, but North Carolina ranks higher when population adjustments are made, per WorldPopulationReview.com.

The top 10 states with the highest estimated rate of venomous snakebites are as follows:

North Carolina: 18.79 incidents per 100,000 people Arkansas: 17.19 incidents per 100,000 people Texas: 14.70 incidents per 100,000 people Georgia: 13.44 incidents per 100,000 people West Virginia: 11.29 incidents per 100,000 people Mississippi: 10.83 incidents per 100,000 people Louisiana: 10.25 incidents per 100,000 people Oklahoma: 8.85 incidents per 100,000 people Arizona: 7.83 incidents per 100,000 people South Carolina: 7.72 incidents per 100,000 people

North Carolina is home to a variety of venomous snake species, including copperheads, cottonmouths, three kinds of rattlesnakes, and the rare eastern coral snake, according Carolinas Poison Center. Copperheads are the most common venomous snake in North Carolina and can be found in wooded areas and suburban neighborhoods all across the state.

What should I do if I am bitten by a snake? Signs and symptoms of a snake bite vary, but can typically include puncture marks, bleeding, redness, swelling or bruising, and pain or tenderness around the wound, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After a snake bite, a person may experience nausea and vomiting, a rapid heart rate, a weak pulse, trouble breathing or seeing, and muscle twitching.

If a snake bites you, stay calm and get to a safe distance away so you are not at risk of being bitten again. If you can, take a picture of the snake from a safe distance to help medical professionals determine the species.

Call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately. You can also call North Carolina Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for first-aid guidance.

Safely remove any tight clothing, rings or watches to avoid swelling. Gently wash the bite with soap and water, and cover the bite with a clean dressing if you are able.

What not to do if a snake bites you (Source: CDC):

Do not pick up or handle the snake, or try to trap it Do not wait to receive medical attention Do not apply a tourniquet or tight bandage Do not attempt to suck the venom out of the wound Do not apply ice to the wound Do not take pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can thin the blood

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

By WABC Staff

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    MASSAPEQUA, New York (WABC) — A Nassau County woman who is accused of stabbing a man to death as he slept in his Massapequa home appeared in court on Wednesday.

Friends and family of 28-year-old Robert Carragher packed the courtroom and were very emotional as 22-year-old Kristin Sculley faced a judge.

Many cried, and a woman even yelled out, ‘rot in jail.’

Carragher was stabbed in the neck and died in his father’s arms after collapsing.

“The absolute worst nightmare you can think of, picture for anybody it’s the absolute worst nightmare you can think of,” a family member said.

According to prosecutors, Sculley knew the victim for many years and in the early morning hours on June 1, she allegedly got a knife from her purse and plunged a switchblade into his neck as he was in bed sleeping.

The 28-year-old went up the stairs screaming for his parents’ help and bled to death on the kitchen floor, according to police.

“It’s now a matter of what circumstances caused a 22-year-old woman, 105 pounds, to take the life of a 28-year-old man,” attorney Dennis Lemke said.

Scully was later located in the basement laundry room near the victim’s bedroom.

Lemke, the 22-year-old’s attorney, claims that Carragher was her drug supplier and says Sculley acted in self-defense.

“She gave a statement to the police, in which right away she indicated that she was being sexually assaulted and was given some type of drug and she woke up and he was on top of her trying to abuse her,” Lemke said.

The two had conversations that show they had a romantic relationship and that night she spent hours in his room watching tv, according to prosecutors.

Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly released a statement saying in part,”Kristin Sculley was welcomed into the victim’s home as a trusted acquaintance, yet she retrieved a knife from her purse to allegedly carry out this brutal attack. No family should ever have to endure the nightmare that the victim’s parents experienced as their son died in their arms.”

Supporters of Scully were also in the courtroom. Many who were there for Carragher applauded as the judge did not set bail.

She will remain behind bars as the case moves forward.

Sculley pleaded not guilty to murder. If convicted, she faces 25 years to life in prison.

The 22-year-old is due back in court on July 24.

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

By Jacob Richey, Avery Copeland and Max Quinn, KOMU Digital Staff

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    COLUMBIA, Mo. (KOMU) — One of the men arrested in an apparent child enticement sting operation in Boone County was a longtime lawyer in state departments including the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Daniel Follett, 56, was charged Wednesday with one count of child enticement following his arrest on Tuesday, according to court documents.

A spokesperson for the Department of Revenue told KOMU 8 News on Thursday that Follett, who was the top legal counsel for the department, has had his employment terminated.

“The department is aware of an out-of-office incident involving a staff member being arrested and charged with criminal activity,” the department said in an emailed statement. “Following departmental procedures, employment has been terminated with the individual.”

Follett, of Columbia, allegedly attempted to meet a person he talked with online who he believed was 16 years old, according to a probable cause statement. He went to a predetermined location at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the statement.

In messages, Follett allegedly discussed paying money for sexual acts with the girl, who was actually a decoy, according to court documents.

Follett’s LinkedIn page, which is tagged as “Verified” from a government ID, lists him as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Revenue. Before that, he worked in the General Counsel’s Office for more than seven years and in the Attorney General’s Office for six years, according to his LinkedIn page. He also worked in the Attorney General’s Office and as general counsel for the Department of Public Safety in the late 1990s and early 2000s before a six-year period in private legal practice, according to his LinkedIn page.

Documents published on a Missouri Office of Administration webpage show Follett was recognized in 2023 for 20 years of service as a state employee.

KOMU 8 News reached out to Follett’s attorney for comment and has not received a response.

Follett is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. He was set to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Boone County Courthouse, according to court records.

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.

Jacob Richey
news@komu.com
5738846397

By Aki Nace

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday voted to overturn a ban on adult bathhouses and sex venues that has been in place for 38 years.

The ordinance creates a licensing framework and updates zoning regulations for the establishments, where consenting adults may engage in sexual activity. Some of the city’s health standards will also be revised to add exceptions to existing indecency laws.

Nine councilmembers voted to repeal the ban. Elizabeth Shaffer and Pearll Warren, who represent Wards 7 and 5 respectively, voted against, while Council Vice President Jamal Osman abstained.

Adult bathhouses and sex venues were a vital part of nightlife prior to the advent of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Duluth and St. Paul are among the cities in Minnesota where bathhouses — which serve as community spaces for the LGBTQ+ community — are permitted to operate with varying levels of oversight.

“These are places of refuge and I think it’s important to acknowledge that these establishments were even picketed by signs that said ‘AIDs kill’ and ‘avoid gay bathhouses,'” Councilmember Jason Chavez said at the meeting. “What we’re doing today is clearing the path for a proper public health and zoning framework to follow in the future.”

Chavez noted that Minneapolis was the site of the largest adult bathhouse raid in U.S. history. In 1979 two undercover police officers ticketed 125 guests and criminally charged nine others. The city formally banned bathhouses in 1988.

“Our LGBTQ2S+ communities have long been advocating for this policy,” said Councilmember Robin Wonsley. “Our former president, Councilmember Jenkins, the first Black trans woman to sit on this body and in that particular leadership role, spent years advocating for this policy.”

Shaffer said she would vote against the policy after hearing concerns from her constituents, and added that because of the city’s budget shortfall, “I don’t think this is a top priority for expanding city services.”

A spokesperson for Mayor Jacob Frey’s office released a statement following the vote.

“The mayor will sign bathhouses but as he’s said before, he wants our focus to remain on providing core City services: safe streets, housing, and economic development,” the spokesperson 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.

By Paula Wethington

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    Michigan (WWJ) — The Michigan Attorney General’s Office has issued the sixth of what will eventually be seven detailed reports on the topic of Catholic church clergy abuse in the state, this time focusing on the Diocese of Saginaw.

The research in the Diocese of Saginaw reviewed allegations against 37 priests and one deacon, 30 of whom are known or presumed to be dead. The eight others who are living or presumed to be living are not in active ministry. The report said most of the incidents listed that “may have violated Michigan criminal law” all occurred before 2002.

“This report is only possible because of the bravery of so many, from young children to the elderly, coming forward over decades to share their suffering,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “As always, I commend their strength and thank them for it. Accountability comes in many forms, and by publishing these accounts, we hope to foster acknowledgment for these survivors and safer communities today.”

The Michigan Department of Attorney General and Michigan State Police began this effort in 2018. So far, the statewide investigation has led to 11 criminal cases resulting in nine convictions.

There are seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan that provide administrative and support services to Catholic parishes and schools at the regional level. Each region is led by a bishop or archbishop. All seven dioceses have cooperated with the AG’s investigation, state officials said.

The Diocese of Saginaw report, released Thursday, is over 250 pages long.

It is a compilation of allegations of sexual misconduct incidents in that region and how the investigations were resolved. The notes include when a clergy person was removed from duties, where applicable.

“The Diocese of Saginaw, like all Dioceses in Michigan, has cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s Office from the beginning of and throughout this investigation. We fully believe in greater accountability and transparency, which is essential in restoring the trust that has been broken, resulting from the misconduct of a few,” Bishop Robert D. Gruss said in response to the report.

Gruss also provided a letter that said in part, “As Bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw, I want to express my deepest sorrows to those who have been victims of abuse by members of the clergy. Please accept my sincere apology for the pain and suffering you have experienced by those who were entrusted with your care. I’m deeply saddened by it all. And, again, I apologize to you on behalf of the Church and our Diocese.”

The Diocese of Saginaw was established in 1938. Its current region is 56 parishes in 11 counties in Eastern and Central Michigan, specifically Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. The diocese is home to about 100,000 Catholics. More than 680 priests served in the diocese during the 75 years covered in the investigation.

“The Attorney General has not filed criminal charges against any of the priests of the Diocese of Saginaw as a result of this investigation,” the report said.

The previous report, issued in December 2025, reviewed investigations at the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The Detroit report is the last one remaining to be released.

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.