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Ring in the Holidays with Thompson San Antonio: A Luxe Winter Escape Wrapped in Texas Magic

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Francis Page, Jr.

December 8, 2025 (Houston Style Magazine) — As the Lone Star State slips into its shimmering holiday glow, one destination is rising above the rest—Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, the boutique luxury retreat redefining winter enchantment in one of America’s most storied cities. Perched stylishly above the River Walk and infused with modern elegance, Thompson San Antonio is transforming December into a month-long celebration of community, culinary brilliance, and festive wonder that travelers from Houston—and far beyond—won’t want to miss.

This year, the property unveils its “12 Days of Thompson” celebration, a curated holiday programming series that blends heartfelt giving, local artistry, delicious seasonal moments, and warm family traditions. Paired with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve rooftop celebration at The Moon’s Daughter, Thompson San Antonio is positioning itself as one of Texas’ premier holiday getaways.

Whether you’re escaping Houston for a romantic weekend, rallying friends for a winter adventure, or looking for a stylish destination to welcome 2026 in grand fashion, Thompson San Antonio is delivering holiday magic with sophistication and soul.

A December to Remember: 12 Days of Thompson

Thompson San Antonio has built a reputation for pairing luxury hospitality with cultural charm, and December’s experience lineup elevates that ethos beautifully. This year’s 12 Days of Thompson (December 6–25) offers something for every type of holiday reveler.

Highlights Include:

Day 4 – S’mores & Sundown (Dec. 12) Roast, relax, and revel in an evening of cozy poolside s’mores under the stars.

Day 5 – Carols & Cheer (Dec. 13) A lobby filled with Christmas carols, nostalgia, and seasonal warmth.

Day 6 – Lattes & Letters to Santa (Dec. 14) Send Santa your wishes and enjoy latte perks when you tag @themoonsdaughters.

Day 7 – Holiday Relaxation Station (Dec. 15) A complimentary 10-minute chair massage melts away holiday stress—self-care season is here.

Day 8 – Tinsel & Tasting (Dec. 19) Guests are welcomed with a festive complimentary holiday cocktail.

Day 9 – A Very Jazzy Holiday (Dec. 20) Smooth live jazz in the lobby sets the tone for a sophisticated seasonal soirée.

Day 10 – Polaroids & Peppermint (Dec. 21) Strike a pose by the Christmas tree and leave with a keepsake Polaroid.

Day 11 – Holiday Hot Cocoa (Dec. 24) Rich, decadent hot chocolate served in the lobby—perfect for warming the spirit.

Day 12 – Cookies & Milk (Dec. 25) Santa’s favorite duo awaits guests at check-in—a charming finale to the series.

A Celestial Start to 2026: The Moon’s Daughter NYE Celebration

For those looking to greet the new year in unforgettable style, Thompson San Antonio is delivering a skyline spectacle.

On Wednesday, December 31st, The Moon’s Daughter Rooftop Bar hosts its Midnight Mirage NYE celebration—an elevated evening complete with:

Front-row views of San Antonio’s firework displays, High-energy music and dancing, Tarot readings, A live tattoo artist, A celestial-themed rooftop ambiance and Admission starting at $299

For an elevated culinary experience, guests may also reserve the NYE Prix Fixe Dinner crafted by Executive Chef Dave Arciniega—an artful menu priced at $99 per person and designed to launch an unforgettable final night of 2025.

So, Houston Style Magazine readers pack your winter weekend bags, polish your holiday sparkle, and get ready to ring in the season—and the New Year—with a touch of Thompson style.

Please note: 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

Man charged with arson, concealing a homicide after roommate found shot to death following fire

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Todd Feurer

Click here for updates on this story

CICERO, Illinois (WBBM) — A man has been charged with setting a fire in the apartment building where he lived to cover up the shooting death of his roommate last month in Cicero, Illinois.

Police said, around 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 3, police and firefighters responded to reports of an explosion and fire in a three-story apartment building the 1800 block of South 51st Avenue.

During a search of the building, firefighters found 29-year-old Jesus Nunez dead of a gunshot wound to the head on the first floor. Several other people who live in the building were evacuated, but no other injuries were reported.

An autopsy later determined Nunez was shot before the fire was set.

An investigation determined his roommate, 37-year-old Naman Alfredo Vazquez, used an accelerant to set a mattress on fire to cover up Nunez’s death, according to police and Cook County prosecutors.

Vazquez later fled to New Mexico, and was arrested during a traffic stop on Nov. 4, police said.

Prosecutors later obtained an arrest warrant for Vazquez, who has been charged with aggravated arson and concealment of a homicide. He has not been charged with Nunez’s murder, but police said the investigation remains open.

Vazquez was extradited from New Mexico on Friday, and at his first court appearance on Sunday, a Cook County judge ordered him held in jail while he awaits trial.

Vazquez was due back in court on Tuesday.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

Man charged with impersonating police officer in events that led to gunfire from real police

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Adam Harrington

Click here for updates on this story

AURORA, Illinois (WBBM) — A man was charged with impersonating a police officer and other counts after a chain of events that led to gunfire from real police officers in Aurora, Illinois.

Dustin Legat, 48, was charged with false impersonation of a peace officer and possessing oscillating, flashing blue lights, both felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.

Aurora police said at 9:33 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, their officers responded to a 911 call about an incident in the area of Jackson and East Benton streets. The caller said another driver was following him, had displayed a gun, and had claimed to be law enforcement in an effort to try to pull him over.

The real police located the two vehicles at 4th Avenue and South State Street, and found the driver who was pretending to be an officer outside his vehicle, police said.

During the altercation, a real police officer fired a gun once and struck the alleged impersonator’s car, police said. No one was hit, and no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, police found the man now identified as Legat had no affiliation with any law enforcement agency, and he was taken into custody.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

A Utah man’s death-defying pivot to the circus arts

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Peter Rosen, KSL

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SALT LAKE CITY (KSL) — Bryan Flanders thought he was going to die. He ended up teaching circus arts instead.

His story begins with a small bump on his shoulder that grew bigger and more painful. He went to a doctor who he said diagnosed it as terminal cancer.

“It was a type of cancer that the life expectancy was anywhere from about one to five years, and there just wasn’t any treatment for it at the time,” his wife, Chantel recalled. At the time, they had been married for two years.

“I mean they (his doctors) said that essentially that in the next couple years large chunks of your body would be cut off and until you would be done,” Bryan Flanders said.

A month later, he found out he did not have cancer and was not going to die. But the experience already had him thinking.

Flanders had been on track for a career in public policy. He was working full-time to put himself through graduate school, and he had an internship, as well.

“It just kind of felt like, why was I doing all this for if I was going to die,” he said. “What was the point of this, you know, meat grinder lifestyle of just working myself to death, and it made me want to choose happiness.”

Happiness for Flanders turned out to be taking his shoes off and becoming a yoga instructor.

Until he was diagnosed with cancer, yoga was “something for older people,” not him, he said.

“Bryan was bullet bike-riding, rock climbing, tough guy,” Chantel Flanders said.

But during that month, he tried yoga, took to it and found himself teaching at studios up and down the Wasatch Front.

He learned acroyoga (acro, as in acrobatic) and then more circus arts and opened the Salt Lake City Circus Arts Center at Trolley Square.

“It really shifted my thinking into helping people feel better in their bodies and helping people become physically fit,” he said.

“When I was dating Bryan, he always said, ‘My ultimate goal is I want to be a college professor. That’s what I want do. I want to teach,'” Chantel Flanders said.

“And this is not what he foresaw himself teaching, but he’s a very good teacher. It’s amazing how he can look at someone and know the intricacies about what they need to change in their body to make something more successful.”

You can see how thoroughly Bryan and Chantel Flanders have steeped themselves in acroyoga and circus by flipping through their family photos – a long series of the couple and now their 3-year-old daughter Eleanor and dog, Archimedes, in perfectly-balanced acrobatic poses.

“Bryan and my photos are very ‘OK, what are we going to wear? What heels is Chantel wearing? What new outfit should we go get? How can we match?’ I think everybody thinks that that’s me. It’s actually Bryan,” Chantel said.

“Ninety-five percent of the time Bryan is down on the ground on his belly. He’s framing the shot. I’m the one that’s standing in in frame so he can focus on something,” Chantel said. “And then he sets the timer, he runs over and we’ve got no more than 20 seconds from the time that he leaves and we strike a few poses, try to listen for the camera going off and then we go back and see if we got anything.”

Bryan Flanders says he is grateful for the cancer he didn’t have.

“Everything that happens to us helps (us) become who we are, and I for sure wouldn’t change it,” he said.

“A little face face-to-face with death changes how you view life.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by KSL’s editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

$3K reward offered as Utah investigates theft of human skull at ancient burial site

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Carter Williams, KSL

Click here for updates on this story

KANAB, Utah (KSL) — State officials are offering a $3,000 reward as they continue to investigate who stole a human skull from a protected ancient burial site in southern Utah.

The investigation began in January, after archaeologists were alerted by a person concerned about a Facebook post photo depicting a person posing with human remains. It was passed around to various government agencies to determine its location and jurisdiction before experts were able to determine that the remains were on land managed by the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration east of Kanab in Kane County, said Joel Boomgarden, the trust’s lead archaeologist.

The agency traveled to the site and found that the skull had been removed from the remains at the site. It’s unclear if anything else was taken from the site, which was found to be an ancient burial in the 1990s.

The trust lands administration announced information about the theft on Monday, adding that it’s offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible in the case.

“(Land vandalism cases) come up from time to time. … Sometimes it’s malicious; sometimes it’s just people loving the site to death, they start visiting the site and things just start to deteriorate. But this one clearly seems to (have) a malicious intent,” Boomgarden told KSL. “I don’t understand what causes a person to do this sort of thing. It’s beyond me.”

Trust officials declined to share photos or the exact location on Monday to dissuade further damage to the site.

Boomgarden’s team is currently working on a formal redocumentation of the site in the wake of the theft. It’s unclear how old the remains are, but Boomgarden points out that Kanab is home to plenty of “basketmaker era archaeology” dating back thousands of years.

“It’s an important site. I mean, all these sites are important,” he said. “Any time you have human remains, it’s a sensitive site.”

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Utah Attorney General’s Office at 801-538-5113 or send an email with information to aginvestcomplaints@agutah.gov. The office says it will respect requests to remain anonymous.

The incident comes after another land vandalism case in Kane County, which made headlines last year. A Washington County woman was arrested in connection with the defacement of an ancient petroglyph near the confluence of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch.

She was ordered to pay nearly $15,000 in fines and restitution, and write an apology letter to all “relevant stakeholder tribes” in the area as part of her sentence handed down last month, after pleading guilty in the case.

State archaeologists and local tribes said that the incident underscored the growing problem of land vandalism on sacred Native American sites.

“It takes away that tangible connection for people to realize that Southern Paiute people have been on this landscape for eons,” said Autumn Gillard, cultural resource manager for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, last year. “It’s an erasure of us.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by KSL’s editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

Six inmates overdose on fentanyl in jail

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Melissa Luck

Click here for updates on this story

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KXLY) — Six inmates who experienced symptoms of a fentanyl overdose were taken to the hospital, then returned to the Kootenai County Jail.

Now, one of them is charged with bringing the drug into the facility.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded Saturday evening to two inmates having a medical emergency.

The deputies quickly identified fentanyl overdose symptoms and administered Narcan, reviving both inmates.

Shortly after, other inmates started experiencing the same symptoms – six in all.

The inmates were taken to the hospital and received treatment, then returned to the jail.

Deputies searching the jail found trace amounts of fentanyl.

Raymond D. Spezzi, who was one of the initial inmates treated, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

Disney superfan looks to break record with 15,000 rides on Radiator Springs Racers

CNN Newsource on December 8, 2025

By Mónica De Anda

Click here for updates on this story

ANAHEIM, California (KABC) — A Disney superfan from Brea is about to do something most fans only dream of. He’s revving up his engine to break a record on his favorite Disney California Adventure ride.

“I’m gonna go for 15,000 rides on Radiator Springs Racers,” said Jon Hale.

Hale takes a picture with a new sign every time he hits an additional 100 rides on the attraction, which he calls his “happy place.” And he keeps track.

“I have a little notebook where I keep track of the ride’s number. I also keep track of the lane for the race… And the color of the car, and whether or not I win the race,” he said.

On Dec. 8, Dale plans to hop on Radiator Springs Racers for the 15,000th time.

He’s well-known by cast members, often taking selfies with them and they celebrate him, too!

“When I got to 999, they pulled the car over to the side and they were all there waiting for me and they told me I got one more ride for 1,000, so they jumped in the car and gave me some stuff and that just spurred me on from there.”

Hale’s love for the “Cars”-themed ride began in 2012 when he visited the park for the first time since having a gastric bypass surgery, two knee replacements and losing over 150 pounds. He celebrated by getting on the attraction.

“It’s the characters, it’s the theming, the way that it’s constructed on the outside, it’s perfect,” he said.

Eyewitness News was there when Hale got on the ride for the 10,000th time back in 2017. It took him 5 years, 5 months and 3 days to get to that point.

Eight years later, he’s ready for his 15,000th ride. As for what’s next?

“Probably 15,001.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.

Social worker killed on job described by coworker as “passionate, wonderful person”

CNN on December 8, 2025

KPIX

By Amanda Hari

Click here for updates on this story

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — The San Francisco General Hospital community came together Sunday night to hold a vigil for a coworker killed on the job.

Alberto Rangel, 51, died Saturday after he was allegedly stabbed by a patient on Thursday afternoon.

“Alberto was there to help and he was failed,” said his coworker Maddy Abule.

Abule worked with Rangel for over two years. He was a social worker and she helped patients with insurance eligibility, but outside of the long-term HIV clinic, they were also friends.

“He was just such a passionate, wonderful person and had so much life to live,” Abule stated.

She went on to explain that he loved fashion, art, and had a great sense of humor. He also loved his job. She says he went above and beyond, even running a support group for those living with HIV and AIDS.

“There are people who are alive today because of him,” Abule said. “For him to lose his life at work when he was there to provide services to patients, it’s not right. It’s not right. It’s a disservice and betrayal.”

Auble was just feet away when Rangel was allegedly stabbed Thursday afternoon. She heard screaming from outside her office.

“I opened my door and Alberto was on the floor,” Abule recalled.

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office arrested 34-year-old Wilfredo Tortolero-Arriechi for the stabbing. The San Francisco Police Department’s homicide detail will now investigate Rangel’s death

Tortolero-Arriechi was still there when Auble walked out. She recognized him as a patient they had seen many times.

“I saw Wilfredo,” Abule said. “I looked him in the eye. He saw me, too. He probably recognized me. I recognized him. And he just stood there and looked at everything and looked at what he had on and then put his shirt over his head. Perhaps to hide his identity, and then voluntarily put his hands behind his back.”

She says during this time, her coworkers were trying to help keep Rangel alive, telling him they loved him and to stay with them. Despite their efforts, on Saturday, he passed away from his injuries.

UPTE union representative Chey Dean stated they are going to make sure the hospital re-evaluates their safety measures.

“What I know is social workers have been raising the alarm about safety issues for years, to have been met with pretty much radio silence,” said Dean. “What I know is our colleague, and our friend, and our loved one deserves more than our grief, they deserve change and I know that we will not stop until we get that.”

The Department of Public Health said in a statement that they will be making improvements.

“Keeping our staff, patients, and community safe is our highest priority,” said the San Francisco Department of Public Health. “DPH and the hospital have already taken steps like adding more security, limiting access points, and speeding up the installation of weapons detection systems. We are also conducting a full investigation and are committed to making both immediate and long-term safety improvements at all our facilities.”

Auble still worries it won’t be enough, saying they raised concerns about the suspect beforehand, including filing reports, and nothing happened.

“We are furious as a community,” Auble explained. “This is unforgivable. And a lot of us don’t want to come back. A lot of us can’t come back.”