Congressman Al Green Awards $500,000 to Harris County Constable Precinct 7 to Combat Human Trafficking

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Lisa Valadez

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    Houston, TX (Houston Style Magazine) — On Friday, February 13, 2026, Congressman Al Green presented a symbolic check for $500,000 to Harris County Constable Precinct 7 to support ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in underserved communities across his congressional district. The federal funding was designated for specialized officer training and community-based programs focused on prevention, victim services, and law enforcement coordination.

Houston continues to rank among the U.S. cities with the highest number of reported human trafficking cases, with vulnerable populations disproportionately affected. Precinct 7 faces heightened risks due to socioeconomic barriers, major transportation corridors, large event venues like NRG Stadium, and local industries often associated with trafficking activity.

The funding will strengthen survivor advocacy services, expand community outreach and education, enhance law enforcement training, and improve investigative coordination in partnership with local agencies and nonprofit organizations.

“Houston is one of the nation’s leading hubs for human trafficking, and far too many vulnerable residents are being exploited in our communities,” Green said. “This funding will help equip Harris County Constable Precinct 7 with the resources necessary to prevent trafficking, protect survivors, and hold traffickers accountable. As Houston prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, these proactive investments will help ensure we are prepared to address heightened risks of human trafficking and safeguard our communities.”

Anyone who suspects human trafficking or needs assistance can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.

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Detroit hat shop keeps classic style alive across generations

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Demetrios Sanders

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Fashion trends are constantly changing, but in Detroit, there’s one accessory that’s transcended generations. From officials to celebrities to everyday Detroiters, hats have been an important part of the city’s style.

At the corner of Gratiot and Bessemore, there’s a store with an old school feel that has kept this tradition alive for more than three decades.

“You can kind of just sense it when you walk into the building,” said Dorian Corbett, co-owner of Hats Galore and More.

But make no mistake — the items inside have stood the test of time.

“One thing that has always stood out is a well-dressed man or a well-dressed couple at that,” said Ryan Yeargin, co-owner of Hats Galore and More.

Hats Galore and More was first opened in 1993 by Robert Yeargin. Since 2021, it has been owned by his son, Ryan, and his great-nephew, Dorian Corbett.

“My mom worked here, my grandpa would help out when he could with his brother running the store, so it’s something that’s very important to me,” Corbett said.

The family-owned business offers lots of classic headwear from Kangol hats to fedoras. Many of the looks have become synonymous with the Motor City.

“I came out this hotel, and he said, ‘Man, you’re always dressed.’ I say, well, where are you from? He said I’m from New York, I said well ‘I’m from Detroit,'” said Roosevelt Barnes, a shopper.

Barnes says growing up, his father and uncles always wore a hat. Since then, they’ve become a mainstay in his wardrobe.

“You’ve only got one chance to make a first impression, and how you dress will be how you are addressed,” Barnes said.

And he’s far from the only one who has come to love the fashion statement.

“If you go back to the old Tiger games and all that, everybody wore a suit, a hat, everything was dressed up. Detroit’s got style,” said Dave Edgar, another shopper.

Although many have worn hats for years, Hats Galore and More has even seen new people coming through their doors.

“Who’ve never worn a hat a day in their lives but they’re interested, they want to branch out,” Corbett said.

The owners say this headwear will be here to stay for a very long time.

“It’ll transcend time as long as you take care of it and it’s well maintained, it’ll last you a lifetime,” Yeargin said.

If you want to check out the shop for yourself, Hats Galore and More is open Monday-Saturday.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. ­­­WXYZ verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Turning pages into power: Black history amplified through mobile bookstore, virtual club

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Naja Woods

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — This February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. In central Indiana, two women are turning the milestone into a movement, using books to celebrate Black history, culture and joy all year long.

Natalie Pipkin drives a bus toward learning, but most of the seats are now shelves stacked with stories.

“We have so many stories to tell…we make it easier for people to find,” Pipkin said. “The power of the story is when the book is opened.”

In 2022, Pipkin turned her mission into motion, launching the Black WorldSchoolers Mobile Bookstore.

She travels all across the Midwest, working to provide more access to books that wouldn’t typically be in schools or libraries.

“It’s Indiana’s first bookstore on wheels,” Pipkin said. “Black WorldSchoolers was really about positively shaping how first my children were seeing themselves in the world.”

For Pipkin, every stop has a purpose.

“Our mission is to provide access and awareness to our stories as well as excitement and engagement around reading,” she said. “Not only are these just about Black people, these are by Black people.“

Across central Indiana, DeAndra Beard-Ingram is on a similar page.

“I share books into the world that I think are significant and should be shared over and over with, not just our community, but whoever is willing to read,” said Beard-Ingram, CEO of Beyond Barcodes Books.

With her husband’s help, Beard-Ingram relocated her bookstore from Kokomo to Indianapolis in 2021, one of just a few Black woman-owned bookshops in the city.

“It really was a place for people to come and connect, learn about history,” Beard-Ingram said.

The store closed after the tragic death of Beard-Ingram’s husband. Now, her mission continues; she’s launching a virtual book club, Reading Beyond Racism.

“It’s really creating a safe, a virtual safe space for us to heal and walk together through and work toward liberation,” Beard-Ingram said.

Both women say their work is especially important now.

“It’s so important because history, Black history as we know it, is being intentionally erased, reshaped,” Beard-Ingram said.

“They can take it away. They can ban it. They can make laws against it…Make sure you keep your stories,” Pipkin added.

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Portal Bridge transfer means NJ Transit, Amtrak riders will see big changes

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Noelle Lilley, Naveen Dhaliwal, Kristie Keleshian

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — As construction on New Jersey’s Portal Bridge gets underway, NJ Transit and Amtrak riders will see some major changes for the next month.

Amtrak started transferring rail traffic from the 115-year-old bridge in the Northeast Corridor to a track that crosses the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River.

What’s happening to the Portal North Bridge The project, officially called the Portal North Bridge Cutover, means hundreds of thousands of rail commuters will share a single track between Newark and Secaucus for four weeks, bringing schedule changes and slower, more crowded trains.

In addition, there will be no NJ Transit Midtown Direct service into Penn Station from the Gladstone Branch, and Morristown and Montclair-Boonton lines. Service will be rerouted to Hoboken during the week and alternate routes like PATH, ferries and the 126 Bus will be busier than normal.

If you must travel, NJ Transit advises commuting before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m. and before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Old bridge was notorious for delays NJ Transit leaders say it will be worth the wait because the old Portal Bridge is notorious for sticking, causing delays up and down the busiest rail corridor in the U.S.

“The bridge literally has not been in good shape for decades, and for the first time in 100 years, we’re about to build a brand new bridge and open a brand new bridge so we can increase reliability,” NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri said.

What commuters should expect Thousands of commuters were feeling the effects Monday morning.

“I definitely have to be better about planning out my route,” said rider Katie Schalow. “I definitely got up about 45 minutes earlier to make sure I checked the times today.”

Another rider said she waited an hour for her train to arrive.

Until the cutover is finished, NJ Transit urged commuters to plan ahead, double-check travel schedules, and, if possible, work from home.

In the meantime, officials say riders should expect the following:

Modified train schedules, largely including earlier departures Reduced service frequencies on certain segments Longer travel times due to operational constraints Some train consolidations or cancellations Regular schedules are expected to return on March 15.

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Milwaukee woman battles rat infestation near her home

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By TJ Dysart

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Kathleen Bebo, who lives near 12th and Morgan in Milwaukee, is dealing with a rat infestation that began in October, prompting her to consider moving.

Bebo has killed eight rats since the rodents started appearing, and she believes they are coming from the alley due to neighbors not disposing of trash properly. On Friday, she caught two rats, which remain in the trap outside her home.

“My husband usually opens this up and takes them out,” Bebo said, describing her routine of checking traps. “It’s disgusting, two rats in one day,”

Bebo shared a photo of a dead, soaking wet rat nearly the size of her shoe found in her back alley, noting that the problem has worsened since it began in June of last year.

“I personally have seen eight rats in my traps,” Bebo said. “So that’s eight rats since October that I have killed.”

Her biggest fear is that the rats will invade her home.

“They are going to be in my house,” Bebo said.

She believes the issue stems from neighbors not properly disposing of their trash and has reached out to her alderman, Scott Spiker, and neighborhood services for assistance.

“The neighborhood services guy came out to look at my property to see if I have burrows, and they said unless I have them all, I could do is kill them,” Bebo said.

Attempts to contact Alderman Scott Spiker and the Department of Neighborhood Services for comment were unsuccessful.

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New Orleans cousins celebrating 56 years of riding with Krewe of Iris

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Metia Carroll

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    New Orleans (WDSU) — Two cousins will be making history as one of the longest consecutive riding members of the Krewe of Iris.

Jackie Gondrella and Lynn Worley, cousins aged 79 and 86, have been riding with the Krewe of Iris for 56 years.

“Fifty-six years, this will be 56 years,” Gondrella said.

Initially, when the cousins joined the krewe in 1970, they had a mutual understanding that it would be a one-time deal.

“One-time deal, one and done, we knew we couldn’t afford it again,” Gondrella said.

Despite the $200 dues and monthly payments for beads, they found the investment worthwhile.

“We were so young and poor we would put on layaway and pay each month up until Mardi Gras to get our beads,” Gondrella said.

Reflecting on the costs, Gondrella humorously considered the real estate she could have owned had she invested the money elsewhere.

For the past 56 years, the cousins have cherished their time on the parade route, including the original one that rolled into the French Quarter.

“Ohhhh, the real thrill of a lifetime, turned onto Royal Street, people above us, below us, and you would get to the corner, and the crowds extended on every side street, it was fantastic,” Gondrella said.

Back then, the rules were looser, the crowds tighter, the floats smaller, and the costumes more revealing.

“Oh goodness, we were young and we wore short costumes, we were cute,” Gondrella said with a laugh.

In 2010, Gondrella traded her tunic for a tiara, becoming the queen of Iris.

“John and I were the king and queen of Iris,” she said.

It was a memorable year, coinciding with the Saints’ Super Bowl win, earning her the nickname “Super Bowl Queen.”

2020 marked the first time in 56 years that the duo didn’t roll down the avenue and then there was last year, which brought a scare when Worley thought Gondrella was dead.

“I turned around, her eyes were wide open. I thought she was dead… that was my worst experience,” Gondrella said.

This year, Gondrella is riding with a broken arm, determined to continue despite the challenges.

“This year it’s a broken arm, but I’m riding, I hope nothing else happens,” she said. “I only think about getting healthy enough to get on that float and ride … I don’t ever think about not riding, cause that even just thinking about that would be devastating to me. Because I know there will come a time when I get on at all,” Gondrella said.

The cousins are addicted to the thrill of the ride, and this year, all they want is a chance to do it again.

“I don’t know many people who do one thing for 56 years and still love it,” said Worley.

“I love it just as much as the first time I rode,” said Gondrella.

Jackie and Lynn are riding on the romance float, with Jackie on the neutral ground side and Lynn on the sidewalk side, talking to each other across the float.

They used to ride with Jackie’s sister Anne, who passed away, and the krewe marked her spot with a memorial plaque, ensuring her presence with them every time.

Iris is rolling Saturday at 11 a.m. along the Uptown parade route.

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‘This isn’t my house’: Oklahoma City homeowner discovers stranger asleep in living room

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Jason Burger

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Brenda, a homeowner in Oklahoma City, woke up early Thursday morning to find a complete stranger asleep in her living room, prompting her to call the police.

“I flipped on the kitchen light, heard a noise, like someone snoring, and I turn around, and there’s a man,” Brenda said.

She discovered the man asleep in her front living room, about four feet from her.

She immediately woke up her daughter and son-in-law, who were staying with her at the time.

“When I said, ‘There’s an intruder in our home,’ then they woke up quickly,” she said. “We all went out to the living room, and just kind of nudged him.”

Brenda noted that the man seemed intoxicated.

“He could barely stand up; fortunately, he was not aggressive, and we kind of shooed him out of the house,” she said.

According to the police report, when the man woke up, he said, “This isn’t my house,” and left on a bicycle.

Brenda reported that while nothing was stolen, the man left things out of place and had relieved himself in a fruit bowl. He also took some leftovers from the fridge.

Brenda does not wish to press charges, but made a police report to alert her neighbors about the bizarre incident.

“I don’t necessarily want to press charges. I did want to make a police report just because I don’t want this to happen to my neighbors either,” she said.

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‘Wanted to be that little voice of hope’: Steakhouse helps after Omaha Steaks announcement

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By KETV Staff

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    ASHLAND, Neb. (KETV) — Even with a full plate at his own restaurant, TJ Olson said Round the Bend Steakhouse is willing to step up after Omaha Steaks ended food service distribution earlier this week.

“We can cut, package and get them out. Kind of a short-term solution to get them through a busy holiday weekend that they were expecting to have product and now they don’t,” Olson said.

This is not a permanent answer, but he hopes to bridge the gap.

“If we can be that short-term answer for a couple of weeks to get help you out until you find a new supplier, that’s what we want to do,” Olson said.

Olson said Round the Bend can provide steaks, ribeyes and other products, all prepared by their in-house butchers.

“We grind all of our scraps from our steaks to turn into our burgers, so we have a lot of ground beef on hand as well,” Olson said.

His help doesn’t stop at butchering — Olson also has advice for finding a new supplier.

“Don’t jump around from this one to this one to this one. Find one you can build a relationship with,” Olson said.

He’ll give you recommendations for getting lower prices.

“Get together with four other restaurants and buy 100 cases of meat,” Olson said. “You can get that price down, and you can ask your suppliers to do that.”

He’s even offering to connect owners with sales representatives. He said he’s doing it because if the restaurant industry can get through the COVID-19 pandemic, then it can get through anything.

“We wanted to be that little voice of hope, like, ‘Hey, we can get through this weekend. It’s Valentine’s weekend,'” Olson said. “If we could do that, that’s what we wanted to do.”

If owners are worried about finding quality meat, Olson said that they shouldn’t be.

“There’s enough high-quality places that can come in and step right in where Omaha Steaks were for these folks with just as good, if not better, quality,” Olson said.

He said the restaurants are all in this together.

“We’re here for you no matter what industry you’re in,” Olson said. “Whether you’re a Korean barbecue or barbecue place or a steakhouse just like us, we’re going to help.”

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‘I just want to know why’: Omaha mother seeks justice 25 years after Jermaine Moore’s death

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Beth Carlson

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    OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — Twenty-five years after the death of her son Jermaine Moore, an Omaha mother is still fighting for justice while keeping his memory alive.

On Valentine’s Day in 2001, the 17-year-old was shot several times, including in the head, according to Omaha Police. Linda Moore says no arrests have ever been made in her son’s case and her questions remain unanswered.

“Who did this? Why? Why would you lure him out of the house to do that to him? You know, 17 years old, his life was just getting started,” Linda Moore said. “They took a wonderful person for me. My only son.”

She remembers her son as a kind person who looked out for his family.

“He was just so joyful, outgoing, and. You know, I was just always used to that bright, pretty smile he always had on his face,” Linda said.

She often wonders what his life would be like if he were still here today.

“He would have been an amazing dad, because he was so overprotective of his sisters. He helped them out of everything. Every time they got in trouble, he was always right there,” Linda said.

The family believes that someone lured Jermaine out of his home that night.

“I could just remember that smile going out of the door, walking down the street. And that was the last time I seen my baby. And something kept telling me to call him back,” Linda said. “He told me, whatever you do, don’t come around this corner. You know, it’s like he knew. It’s like he protected us,”

She said she believes witnesses still know the truth of her son’s death.

“They’ve been hiding it all these years, instead of coming forward,” Linda said.

Moore said the holiday is especially tough for her family every year.

“My kids went to the gravesite and lit off 25 balloons, but I couldn’t get out. I just remember him as he is,” Linda said. “I’m never going to give up. If it takes me to the last breath. I will never give up. As long as I’m here, I’m going to keep more fighting to find out who killed my son.”

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From burying to marrying: Iowa funeral home director officiates wedding after judge doesn’t show

CNN Newsource on February 16, 2026

By Kayla James

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    MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCCI) — A Marshalltown couple ran into a wedding day hiccup Thursday when the judge scheduled to marry them didn’t show up, but love and a quick phone call found a way.

Alexis and Rean Webb planned to tie the knot at the Marshall County Courthouse at 4 p.m. on Feb. 12. It was always meant to be something intimate, where they would be surrounded by close loved ones.

“We wanted something very small and low-key,” said Rean Webb.

The couple, joined by their children, posed for a photo inside the courthouse. Unfortunately, just moments later, they would learn the judge they had an appointment with wasn’t going to show up, and there wasn’t a different judge available.

While the no-show could have derailed their plans, the Webbs kept calm. In fact, they said they were more surprised by how quickly everything came together next.

“My dad instantly jumped up, and he was like, ‘I know somebody: Jody,'” Alexis Webb said.

That “somebody” was Jody Anderson. He’s a friend of Alexis’s dad and is ordained. He and his wife are also the owners and funeral directors of Anderson Funeral Homes.

Anderson said he was at home when Alexis’ father called his phone. His wife woke him up to let him know who was on the line.

“I rolled into the funeral home. Parking lot was full of cars. Family members. Didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” Anderson said.

Still, he opened the doors to the funeral home’s chapel, welcomed the family inside, and took time to speak with the couple.

“I took 5-10 minutes, met with them, discussed the importance, made sure they were both for real,” Anderson said.

They were.

Within 30 minutes of that first phone call, Alexis and Rean Webb were married in a ceremony the couple said turned out to be more meaningful than they expected.

“It was even better than we expected because we kind of did get a real wedding in a sense. We’re in a chapel. I got to walk down the aisle with my dad. The girls got to be flower girls. My son got to be the ring bearer, and his son got to be his best man. I mean, what more could we ask for?” Alexis Webb said.

For the Webbs, what began as a setback ended with a wedding they’ll never forget, and they’re grateful for Anderson.

As for Anderson, helping was never a question.

“It goes back to my career as a funeral director. The phone rings? I go. I mean, you don’t say no. You help people, and I think that’s what the good Lord put me on the Earth to do, is to help people, and I was just happy to help,” Anderson 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.