Category: CNN Regional

By Lisa Valadez

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    Houston, TX (Houston Style Magazine) — First elected to Cedar Park City Council in 2017, Jefts says she would focus on reducing county debt, strengthening regional infrastructure, improving public safety and expanding public participation in county government. Heather Jefts, a Cedar Park City Council member first elected in 2017, is running for Williamson County judge with a platform focused on property tax relief, fiscal responsibility, public safety, infrastructure improvements and government accountability. Jefts and her family moved to Cedar Park in 2005, where she and her husband raised their two sons. A small business owner, community leader and nonprofit volunteer, she has emphasized applying her municipal government experience to the challenges facing a growing Williamson County. Her campaign platform highlights affordability, transportation, water access, conservation, economic development, parks and trails, and public safety. In responses to Houston Style Magazine’s questions, Jefts outlined how she would approach the county’s financial obligations, coordinate regional infrastructure projects and make county government more accessible to residents. Property Tax Relief and Fiscal Responsibility Property taxes and the cost of housing are central to Jefts’ campaign. She said she would use the administrative, budgetary and policymaking authority of the Williamson County Commissioners Court to expand housing options and improve affordability across the county. Jefts said housing costs have made homeownership unattainable for many young people. She believes increasing housing options at different price points could help stabilize the market and provide more opportunities for residents. She also identified county debt as a significant concern, stating that Williamson County has the highest debt per person of any county in Texas. Jefts said she would work with Commissioners Court to begin paying down debt ahead of schedule. Her approach would focus on reducing debt service obligations to create additional flexibility in the county budget. She said this could allow the county to lower its tax rate while saving money on interest and maintaining funding for essential services. Jefts said a consistent program of early debt repayment would provide financial flexibility without requiring cuts to vital services. She also outlined a way for residents to measure progress through annual budget reports showing how much debt the county has paid down and how much has been saved. Her experience in Cedar Park is a central part of her argument for this approach. According to her campaign website, Jefts helped decrease the city’s tax rate annually while paying off more than $21 million in city debt ahead of schedule. Her campaign also credits her with helping secure a AAA bond rating and saving taxpayers more than $7 million in interest. Jefts also points to Cedar Park’s first-ever Homestead Exemption as part of her record on property tax relief. At the county level, she said her objective would be to balance tax relief with the resources needed to support public safety, roads and other essential services. Growth, Traffic and Regional Infrastructure As Williamson County continues to grow, Jefts said infrastructure planning must keep pace with the needs of residents and businesses. She identified three areas for attention: expanding and integrating water and wastewater systems, closing broadband access gaps, and investing in transit that moves people and goods safely and efficiently. Jefts said her experience working on regional issues involving water, air quality, transit and transportation would help her pursue solutions that extend beyond individual city boundaries. Water availability is a particular concern in her infrastructure plans. Jefts pointed to the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority and Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System as examples of regional cooperation involving Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock, with Austin participating in the wastewater component. She said regional systems can reduce costs for participating communities and help address recurring drought concerns. Rather than requiring every city and municipal utility district to independently manage water sourcing, treatment, wastewater treatment, pipelines and delivery, Jefts advocated for a countywide water project. According to Jefts, such a project could help smaller communities, distribute costs more fairly, strengthen drought resilience and establish consistent conservation and water-quality standards throughout the county. She also raised concerns about the financial pressures communities face when developing water infrastructure independently. In her view, regional coordination could reduce competition over resources and help protect communities from outside entities seeking to control water supplies. Transportation and congestion are also priorities. Jefts said she wants to expand coordinated transit systems throughout Williamson County, pointing to regional planning efforts that include suburban transit and infrastructure improvements. She cited the regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which includes infrastructure projects intended to address regional needs while reducing environmental impacts. Jefts said she has laid the groundwork for expanding coordinated transit systems across the county. Her experience in Cedar Park also includes work on a Mobility Master Plan and support for technology-based traffic signals designed to improve traffic flow and safety. She said these types of initiatives could benefit communities throughout Williamson County. Jefts’ broader transportation goals include addressing congestion, improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and reducing air pollution associated with increasingly congested roads. Leadership, Public Safety and Countywide Representation Jefts said her experience on Cedar Park City Council has prepared her to work with elected officials who have different perspectives and priorities. She said much of her time on council involved working with Democratic minorities or councils with closely divided membership. Despite those differences, she said council members were able to work together on initiatives for the city. If elected county judge, Jefts said she would seek to establish a collaborative working environment on Commissioners Court while maintaining a focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety and sustainable growth. Her campaign points to several Cedar Park initiatives as examples of her approach to local government. These include investments in fire and police facilities, construction of Fire Station No. 5, funding for a Public Safety Training Facility, and the creation of a joint Mental Health Task Force involving Cedar Park police, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department and Bluebonnet Mental Health Services. She also cites voter-approved drainage improvements, reclaimed water initiatives, expanded parks and trails, and the development of Lakeline Park, a 200-acre park in Cedar Park. Jefts serves on the Capital Area Council of Governments, where her work includes emergency response and disaster preparedness. She is also First Vice Chair of the Clean Air Coalition, which works on regional air quality and public health issues. She said public safety and community well-being would remain central to her countywide agenda, alongside the infrastructure and financial decisions needed to support continued growth. Transparency, Ethics and Public Participation Increasing public access to county government is another component of Jefts’ platform. She said she would seek changes to Commissioners Court meetings to allow residents to provide comments both online and in person during agenda items. She also proposed holding one evening meeting each month to make participation easier for residents whose work schedules prevent them from attending during regular business hours. Additional proposals include expanding constituent services, increasing opportunities for community input and pursuing ethics reforms intended to keep residents at the center of county decisions. Jefts’ campaign website emphasizes accessible representation and public engagement. It describes her experience holding hundreds of constituent office hours and increasing public outreach around major Cedar Park projects. Her municipal record also includes financial disclosure requirements for city council members and a more stringent revolving-door policy for council members and staff, according to her campaign website. Jefts said she would bring the same emphasis on transparency and ethical leadership to county government, with residents given more opportunities to understand county decisions and participate in the process. Background and Campaign Priorities Jefts holds a degree in Sustainability Studies and Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. Before and during her public service, she worked as a small business owner and volunteered with community and nonprofit organizations. She served six years on the board of the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center, including two terms as president during its capital campaign and construction of a new facility. Her community involvement has also included literacy initiatives, diaper ministry and other volunteer activities, according to her campaign website. Her campaign brings together three central commitments: economic responsibility and tax relief, public safety and community well-being, and sustainable growth and connectivity. As county judge, Jefts said she would seek to reduce debt, improve infrastructure coordination, expand opportunities for residents to participate in government and maintain the services families rely on as Williamson County grows. More information about her background and campaign platform is available at jeftsforjudge.com.

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.

Lisa Valadez
Lisa@stylemagazine.com
713-748-6300

By Julie Sharp

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    CHATSWORTH, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Cargo Theft Task Force recovered $1 million in stolen train cargo at a San Fernando Valley business linked to online sales of the goods.

On Oct. 21, LAPD task force detectives, along with Burlington Northern & Santa Fe (BNSF) Police and several other agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, served a search warrant at the 21000 block of Nordhoff Street.

The warrant was triggered by an eBay sale of allegedly stolen, limited-edition runDisney x Brooks shoes.

The transaction led detectives to DesignerDeals4Less in Chatsworth, where $1 million in BNSF Railroad train property was discovered, including Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, ON, Salomon, and JanSport shoes, as well as JanSport backpacks, totaling 35 pallets of cargo.

Detectives contacted the business owner, who admitted to purchasing the stolen train property from illegitimate distributors of the brands.

The owner, 51-year-old Heros Tasci from Simi Valley, was booked at Van Nuys Jail for receiving stolen property.

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 Francis Page Jr.

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    October 27, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston’s holiday season is ready to hit a high note—and this year, the soundtrack has serious star power. Mayor John Whitmire announced Monday, October 26, that Houston-raised superstar Lizzo will lead the 77th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade, while legendary R&B group En Vogue will headline the city’s Deck the Hall celebration in December.

The free Thanksgiving tradition steps off in downtown Houston at 9 a.m. Thursday, November 26. Four-time Grammy Award winner and Emmy Award winner Lizzo returns to the city that helped shape her musical journey as parade grand marshal. Once a flute-playing member of Alief Elsik High School’s marching band, she will share the festivities with that very band—a hometown reunion with enough heart to rival the holiday dinner table.

Expect a moving celebration of Houston pride, featuring 15 floats, 10 oversized balloons, marching bands and performances. Among the eye-catching attractions are giant character balloons and H-E-Buddy, the familiar face of a grocer that has become part of Texas family life.

Houston’s Thanksgiving parade dates to 1949, when Santa Claus arrived at Union Station before traveling to Foley’s downtown department store. Seventy-seven editions later, the spirit remains remarkably familiar: neighbors gather, children marvel and the city celebrates what unites it.

H-E-B deserves a special holiday salute. Founded in Kerrville in 1905, the Texas-grown retailer has made community service as much a part of its identity as groceries. Its food-bank support, Feast of Sharing meals and longstanding commitment to Texas families reflect a simple belief: the season means more when everyone has a place at the table. That same spirit shines through its sponsorship of Houston’s signature Thanksgiving parade.

The holiday cheer continues Saturday, December 5, as Reliant presents Deck the Hall, the Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting and Concert, at Hermann Square outside City Hall. R&B royalty En Vogue will bring signature harmonies and decades of hits, joined by powerhouse vocalist Jessica Sanchez and soul singer MAJOR. The free event promises festive activities, treats, a fireworks finale and the lighting of Houston’s 52-foot holiday tree, adorned with 4,000 ornaments and nearly 100,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

Mayor Whitmire is inviting families from every neighborhood to share these moments together. City officials are coordinating with sponsors and partners, including H-E-B, Reliant, RODEOHOUSTON, bp America and Downtown Houston+, to make the celebrations welcoming and memorable.

The two occasions also spotlight civic partnerships that keep cherished downtown experiences accessible across generations, cultures and neighborhoods—proof that Houston’s greatest holiday attraction has always been its people.

Whether you’re cheering for Lizzo before the turkey reaches the table or singing along with En Vogue beneath the December lights, Houston has two opportunities to make cherished memories without an admission charge.

This season, the invitation is simple: bring your loved ones, bring your holiday spirit—and let Houston bring the music. For parade details, reserved seating and street closures, visit Houston’s Thanksgiving Parade. For concert information, visit Deck the Hall. Additional updates are available at the Mayor’s Office of Special Events.

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
3465287733

By Rina Nakano

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    ORANGE COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Irvine Lake began draining this morning ahead of the El Niño and to upgrade the 93-year-old reservoir.

Aside from making room for the upcoming El Niño, the water draining is part of the Irvine Ranch Water District’s $470 million Santiago Creek Dam improvement, which provides drinking and irrigation water to 900,000 customers of the 1.5 million people living in the downstream floodplain.

“We need to replace the outlet tower and the spillway completely,” said John Fabris, a spokesperson for Irvine Ranch Water District. “We’re going to bring it up to state-of-the-art in terms of seismic safety.”

Wendy Tochihara likes to fish in the lake and wonders where the fish will go.

“We want to save that fishery. It’s huge,” she said. “I want a full fishery assessment of that lake.”

She said that the trophy-class fishery is home to massive catfish, trout, sturgeon, wipers and bluegill.

“These bass that were put in that lake are called F1 largemouth bass,” Tochihara said. “Those are the purest form of Florida strain largemouth. You can’t get them.”

Right now, the fish have a home that’s around 23 feet deep. In three weeks, it’s expected to go down to five feet. Once the contractors are prepared to work on the dam, that’s when crews will drain it completely.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said they can’t enforce anything since the fish are non-native species that live in a private lake. They suggested residents contact Irvine Ranch Water District or Orange County Parks to temporarily relocate the fish or host a fishing derby.

Fabris said he expects O.C. Parks will restock the lake when the project is done in 2032. Tochihara said it won’t be the same.

“If all those fish are dead and they stock the lake with smaller fish, it’s no longer a trophy-class fishery,” she said. “Are the people going to come back?”

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 Joe Brandt, Kyle Burton

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A tractor-trailer driver hauling frozen snow crab had thousands of pounds of his cargo taken as he slept in his truck in Southwest Philadelphia, police said.

Police were called out to the 3400 block of Island Avenue just before 5 a.m. Tuesday and spoke to the truck driver.

He told police that he was asleep in the truck when he awoke to the sounds of movement outside. He peered through the window and said he saw six men removing boxes of crab from the truck.

When the driver got out, one of the men chased him down the street.

The group of men fled in a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck and a gray Dodge Caravan minivan, according to the driver.

Police estimate the group’s total catch amounted to two pallets of frozen snow crab, or about 100 30-pound boxes of the frozen seafood.

Earlier this month, a group of masked men stole about five pallets of beef from a tractor-trailer in Northeast Philadelphia. The suspects in that case left in a Ford F-150 and a Jeep, according to police.

Police say sleeping truck drivers are often targeted as they wait for their appointed delivery time in the morning.

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 Nicholas Lentz

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    WOODBURY, Minnesota (WCCO) — It’s a competition that takes just 30 to 40 seconds, but a lot happens in that short amount of time. A Woodbury, Minnesota, BMX racer is crushing the competition against all odds.

It’s a sport that takes many muscles.

“I’d really say your quads,” BMX racer Jemma Tollefson said. “Your core is, like, key for the gate. And then your arms, too; involves your whole body.”

Each racer has one goal.

“It’s all about who can get from point A to B the fastest,” Jeff Tollefson said.

Jeff Tollefson fell in love with BMX in the 70s.

“So, I still have my trophies from way back then, and mine are only three feet tall,” he said.

Jeff Tollefson competed but couldn’t travel far.

“I grew up poor, and my mom didn’t bring me anywhere,” he said.

But now, because of Jeff Tollefson’s protégé student, Jemma Tollefson, he’s traveled the world. Jemma Tollefson is also his daughter.

“So sometimes, we have to distinguish between being in coach mode and being dad, especially in these teenage years. But yeah, we spent a lot of time traveling the country. I think she’s been to 31 states already,” Jeff Tollefson said.

It all started in Woodbury, Minnesota.

“Her third word ever was bike,” Jeff Tollefson said.

He added that Jemma Tollefson, as a kid, would ask him to go out and ride with her.

“And then I’m like, hey, do you want to go down the hill? And then that was where I saw she had no fear on my mountain bike. She was going 17 mph on a balanced bike,” Jeff Tollefson said.

Jemma Tollefson is only 14, but she’s already a world champion.

“It was, like, pretty unreal,” she said.

Jemma Tollefson won the title in Australia, a feat that was against all odds.

“We’re at a big disadvantage here in Minnesota compared to the southern California, Texas and Florida states. We do the best we can, just trying to ride wherever we can,” she said.

Jeff and Jemma Tollefson regularly drive roughly 90 minutes to a track in St. Michael, Minnesota, chasing titles and adrenaline.

“It’s still scary now, even though I’ve been riding for nine years. So, no matter what, I think it will still be, like, scary, just, like, the thought of messing up, the thought [of] like coming unclipped or something. Like, anything can go wrong in that second,” Jemma Tollefson said.

WCCO asked her what the big dream is following her world title win.

“Olympics, number one. So, I hope to get a medal and I hope to get first,” Jemma Tollefson said.

Her father says he’s very proud of her.

“Never thought from that first day of her getting on a balance bike that we would be, you know, discussing being a world champion,” he said.

The next big races are over Thanksgiving, with two championships for the end-of-year standings. Jemma Tollefson is currently ranked No. 1 going into the finals.

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 Sarah Horbacewicz

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    ARCHULETA COUNTY, Colorado (KCNC) — Record flooding is impacting communities across southwest Colorado, as emergency crews rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies while families assess damage to their homes and businesses.

The Colorado National Guard and local first responders are working to reach people isolated by days of heavy rain. Gov. Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency for 12 Colorado counties, including Archuleta County.

In Pagosa Springs, floodwaters tore through a longtime family-run RV park. Josh and Kodi Trujillo and Kodi’s sister, Elisa Warner, are now confronting the major damage to their business and their homes.

“Pretty much every utility that we have is ripped out of the ground, and there’s probably an extra four feet of silt and debris,” Warner said.

As the water begins to recede, family members have been assessing damage at the property.

“We have been finding pictures that were my grandparents’ littered all over the park,” Kodi Trujillo said. “I looked over, and my daughter was just bawling because this is like all her family memories. This is the one place that’s been constant her whole life, and kind of ours too. And it’ll never look the same.”

The family said they had to walk across damaged roads to reach the property, a challenge facing residents across the region as at least three transportation routes remain closed.

Floodwaters have closed state highways and rural roads, leaving some residents stranded and forcing others to take detours that can add hours to their trips.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is assessing damage and working to restore access.

“We knew we were going to have to respond to some damage on the roadway,” Regional Communications Manager for CDOT Lisa Schwantes said, “We didn’t realize we were going to have a quarter of a mile of roadway that was completely demolished.”

For residents waiting to regain access, the biggest question is when roads will reopen. CDOT says safety must come first.

“We just want to make sure that everybody knows that we are doing the best we can to make sure and ensure that the roadway is safe and stable for public transportation,” Schwantes said.

The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating rescues and emergency supply drops for people unable to leave their homes. Over the weekend, a helicopter crew rescued two people and five pets.

Some evacuation orders were lifted Sunday night as rain eased, but damaged roads and remaining high water continued to limit access. Residents say this year’s flooding has been worse than last year’s.

In South Fork, Kathy and Mike Smith, who manage Fun Valley Family Resort, are assessing damage to RVs, cabins and bridges. The summer campground had already closed for the winter.

“We could just see it getting higher and higher, and then the electricity went out,” Kathy Smith said. “Then during the night, and then, you know, couldn’t see any more.”

The Smiths estimate repairs will cost thousands of dollars. The resort also experienced flooding last year, when the family thought it had weathered a rare event and would have time to recover.

“Last year, everybody was saying, okay, that’s the 100-year flood, and, you know, it was, it hit us, but we were able to rebound from it,” Kathy Smith said. “Who would have known that we’d have gotten hit twice?”

The family hopes federal funding can help communities facing repeated disasters. For the Smiths, the damage is difficult to see after years of investing in the resort.

“It’s just an emotional experience because we see, you know, what Fun Valley is all about and what condition it’s in right now,” Mike Smith said.

As residents begin to consider what comes next, friends, neighbors and longtime visitors are offering to help.

At Fun Valley, former guests have offered equipment and manpower to help restore the property.

“We’ve had long-term guests that come here every year, even from places in Texas, who have said, ‘I’m ready. I’ll be up there. I’ve got some equipment. I’ve got people. I’ll come up and help,'” Mike Smith said.

The Trujillo family has received similar offers as it faces an uncertain future for the Pagosa Springs RV park.

“Friends, acquaintances, they’re like, ‘What can we do? We’ll be there right now. I’ll put on my boots, and I’ll come help you,'” Kodi Trujillo said. “And it’s just overwhelming how wonderful they all are.”

Across southwest Colorado, emergency crews continue reaching isolated residents as families begin the long process of recovery.

Anyone in need of supplies or a wellness check in Archuleta County is asked to contact the sheriff’s non-emergency line. Their office will also be holding a community informational meeting on Tuesday evening at the county fairgrounds to share the latest information.

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.