Category: CNN Regional

By Imani Fleming

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    WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin (WISN) — Residents, immigrant rights advocates, and labor groups in West Allis are urging changes to a new policy that allows local police in West Allis to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement with arrests without requiring a warrant signed off by a judge.

“Requiring a judicial warrant does not block federal enforcement, it simply ensures the West Allis Police Department does not do ICE’s bidding based on inaccurate information,” said Rep. Angelito Tenorio, who represents West Allis in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

The group gathered outside the West Allis Police Department to voice concerns about the partnership between ICE and local police and talk about the differences between an administrative warrant and a judicial warrant.

They believe the collaboration will negatively impact the community, making residents less likely to trust local law enforcement or seek help during emergencies.

Their concerns follow the West Allis Police and Fire Commission’s approval of the policy, which community leaders argue undermines due process, increases the risk of unlawful detentions, and diminishes accountability for both local and federal law enforcement.

The group said they have been in discussions with the Police and Fire Commission, noting that some commissioners have been receptive to their suggestions. They plan to continue these talks at a meeting scheduled for July 16 at the police department.

12 News is waiting to hear back from the Police and Fire Commission.

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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    June 26, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — In a city that measures ambition by skyline cranes, championship dreams, and the speed of traffic on the Katy Freeway, Houston City College has delivered a milestone worthy of a standing ovation: HCC has surpassed 100,000 enrolled students — its largest enrollment level since 2019.

That is not just a number. That is a citywide vote of confidence. From working parents returning to school, to high school students earning dual credit, to first-generation scholars, future nurses, coders, welders, entrepreneurs, educators, and dreamers who refuse to sit still, Houston City College has once again proven why it remains one of the most important engines of opportunity in Greater Houston.

As a proud media partner, Houston Style Magazine joins the celebration with heartfelt congratulations to the HCC Board of Trustees, Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D., faculty, staff, students, partners, alumni, and community supporters who helped make this historic achievement possible. The milestone reflects more than institutional growth. It reflects the daily, often unseen work of advisors, instructors, enrollment teams, financial aid counselors, administrators, and campus leaders who meet students where they are and help move them toward where they are called to be.

photo Houston City College Kristina Perez and Dr. Butch Herod Joanne King

Houston City College, formerly Houston Community College, entered a new era in 2025 with a refreshed name and brand identity designed to reflect the institution’s expanding role in a fast-changing city. Still, the heart of HCC remains beautifully familiar: access, affordability, workforce readiness, academic excellence, and a deep belief that talent is everywhere — even when opportunity has not always been evenly distributed.

And Houston has responded.

With more than 300 degrees, certificates, and credential offerings, HCC continues to serve as a powerful bridge between aspiration and achievement. Whether a student wants to transfer to a university, earn an associate degree, complete a certificate, start a new career, or upgrade skills for the modern economy, HCC has built pathways that are practical, flexible, and deeply connected to real-world opportunity.

The college’s expanding baccalaureate degree offerings further underscore its forward momentum. Programs such as Artificial Intelligence & Robotics are preparing students for high-demand fields that are reshaping industries from cybersecurity and manufacturing to healthcare, data analytics, automation, and intelligent business systems. In plain Houston terms: HCC is not just keeping up with the future — it is helping train the people who will build it.

photo Houston City College Leadership and Board Members at the Bloomberg

The timing could not be more important. Houston’s economy is growing, diversifying, and demanding a workforce ready for the next generation of jobs. HCC is answering that call with bold partnerships and serious investment. In June 2026, the college announced Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a regional workforce transformation initiative supported by a $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The initiative is designed to expand skilled trades, registered apprenticeships, employer engagement, and student access across Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast.

That investment — the largest ever received by HCC, according to the college — aims to serve more than 1,350 career and technical education students over three years. It also strengthens Houston’s pipeline into high-wage, family-sustaining careers in sectors such as construction, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and infrastructure. In other words, while some institutions talk about workforce development, HCC is putting hard hats, laptops, lab coats, and opportunity maps into students’ hands.

At the center of this momentum is Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, whose decades-long HCC journey reflects the power of steady leadership and student-centered vision. Since joining HCC in 1985, she has helped expand access to education across campuses, online platforms, and workforce pathways. Today, as HCC’s ninth chancellor, she leads a seven-college organization serving students across 22 locations in Greater Houston — and now, with enrollment again crossing 100,000, the mission feels even more urgent and inspiring.

This achievement belongs to every student who clicked “apply,” every parent who prayed over tuition, every professor who stayed after class, every staff member who answered one more question, and every trustee and community partner who believed Houston deserves a college system as big-hearted and hardworking as the city itself.

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Houston City College has crossed 100,000 students. But the real story is not simply how many students walked through the door. The real story is how many futures are now walking forward.

Congratulations, HCC. Houston sees you. Houston salutes you. And Houston Style Magazine proudly celebrates this milestone with you.

For more information on programs, enrollment, financial aid, campus locations, and degree options, visit the official Houston City College website: HCCS.edu

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 Francis Page Jr.

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    June 26, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON — Before some students ever slip on a white coat, place a stethoscope around their neck, or learn how to pronounce “ophthalmology” without blinking, Harris Health is giving them something even more powerful: a front-row seat to service.

This summer, Harris Health welcomed 145 Summer Junior Volunteers, a spirited class of young people ages 14 to 17 who are choosing compassion over couch time and purpose over endless scrolling. Through a six-week program requiring more than 60 hours of service, these future healthcare heroes are gaining meaningful, hands-on experience while supporting patients, visitors, staff, and communities across Harris County.

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For Houston Style Magazine readers, this is more than a feel-good summer story. It is a glimpse into the future of healthcare equity, civic service, and workforce development in one of America’s most diverse regions.

Harris Health, established in 1966 as the public healthcare safety-net provider for Harris County, has long stood at the intersection of healing and hope. Its hospitals, clinics, and outpatient centers serve residents from every walk of life, making the system not only a medical institution but a living classroom in humanity. In 2026, as Harris Health continues marking six decades of service, its Junior Volunteer Program reminds us that legacy is not only built by doctors, nurses, and administrators. Sometimes, it begins with a teenager offering directions, a friendly smile, or a helping hand at just the right moment.

The program began in mid-June and runs through late July, placing students in real healthcare environments at Harris Health facilities including Ambulatory Care Services outpatient clinics, Ben Taub Hospital and Ben Taub Tower, and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital and The Outpatient Center. Depending on their site, volunteers serve in patient navigation, concierge services, administrative support, specialty clinic assistance, guest transportation, Food Farmacy support, radiology-related areas, supply chain, and other hospital or clinic assignments.

That means these students are not simply watching healthcare happen from a distance. They are learning how care feels from the inside.

At Ambulatory Care Services locations across Harris County, junior volunteers may greet patients and visitors, answer questions, help guests navigate appointments, assist with patient reminder calls, and support access to the Harris Health MyHealth portal. At Ben Taub, located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, students rotate through specialty clinic settings and may assist with patient navigation, phones, data entry, and observational learning. At LBJ Hospital, volunteers are welcomed as part of the LBJ family, with potential placements ranging from nursing units and concierge services to culinary medicine, pet therapy, and birthday club activities.

Now that is what we call a summer upgrade. The experience also includes opportunities beyond daily assignments, such as field trips, days of service, and enrichment activities designed to expose students to the broader healthcare landscape. These experiences help young people connect classroom curiosity to career possibility. For students considering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, hospital administration, rehabilitation, dentistry, behavioral health, or community care, Harris Health is offering something no textbook can fully deliver: proximity to purpose.

Just as important, the program teaches professional habits early. Students must complete onboarding steps, medical clearance, online training, orientation, and site-specific expectations. In other words, this is not a summer drop-in club. It is a selective, structured opportunity that prepares young people to show up with responsibility, empathy, and excellence.

And Houston should applaud that loudly.

In a city where healthcare innovation and health disparities often live side by side, programs like this matter. They introduce young people to careers that serve communities. They create mentorship moments between professionals and students. They remind families that volunteering can open doors to confidence, leadership, and lifelong civic engagement.

For parents and students interested in next year’s program, Harris Health notes that applications are typically limited by location and accepted on a first-come basis. The 2026 application opened February 2 and quickly filled, a clear sign that Houston’s young people are eager to serve. Families should begin reviewing requirements early, including parent or guardian forms, immunization documentation, TB screening requirements, training, and orientation deadlines.

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Adults interested in giving back can also explore year-round Harris Health volunteer opportunities. Whether onsite or virtual, Harris Health continues to invite community members to support patients, visitors, and staff throughout the system.

This summer’s 145 Junior Volunteers are not just filling hours. They are filling hallways with kindness, clinics with courage, and hospitals with the hopeful sound of tomorrow walking in early.

For more information on the Harris Health Junior Volunteer Program, visit:harrishealth.org/give-hh/volunteer/Pages/summer-junior-volunteer-program.aspx For adult and year-round volunteer opportunities at Harris Health, visit:harrishealth.org/give/volunteer For Harris Health locations across Harris County, visit:harrishealth.org/locations/hhs

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 Ayron Lewallen

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    HOMEWOOD, Alabma (WVTM) — With a high-profile trial now behind them, Aniah Blanchard’s family is honoring what would have been her 26th birthday while carrying both grief and remembrance.

Blanchard would have turned 26 on Monday. She was kidnapped from an Auburn gas station in 2019 and later killed. Her remains were found a month later.

Earlier this year, Ibrahim Yazeed was convicted for her death and sentenced to life in prison.

For Blanchard’s mother, Angela Harris, the milestone is deeply personal. Harris said she was the same age when Aniah was born, and their birthdays are on the same day.

“My heart is just so broken,” Harris said. “It feels like I’m having a heart attack basically every second of the day. I miss her so bad.”

This year, instead of spending the birthday with friends and family at the Homewood Patriot Park, she returned to a restaurant where she and her daughter used to celebrate their birthdays together.

“On our birthday, she would always be like, ‘Mom, what do you want to do?’” Harris said. “She wanted me to be happy.”

Even with the conviction and sentence, Harris said the trial and sentencing forced her to relive the loss all over again—even though the sentence brought some relief.

“I’m happy with it,” Harris said of the sentence. “I know he’s not ever going to get out of jail to be able to hurt anybody else. And now, finally processing that, I’m okay.”

Still, Harris said days like her daughter’s birthday bring anger and heartbreak because Blanchard is no longer here. She said talking about her daughter helps her through even the toughest days.

“She was the sweetest, most caring, funny,” Harris said.

Harris believes Blanchard’s final act of courage—fighting to stay alive—will be part of her lasting legacy. She also said her daughter had long felt that something was going to happen to her, and that memory helped motivate Harris to push for Aniah’s Law, which she believes has made the world safer for others.

“Ultimately, yes, she did lose that fight, but she won because she saved so many other lives with Aniah’s Law, and that’s what she would have wanted,” Harris said. “She cared so much about people.”

Now, Harris said she and her son are working to honor Blanchard in new ways. The family is opening a food truck in her honor and expects it to open within two weeks. Harris also hopes to open a safety center for people who need help.

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 Adam Roberts

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    FORT SMITH, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — Lockheed Martin is expanding its workforce at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, increasing its total number of positions to more than 230.

The company initially planned to hire 110 employees for its Fort Smith site. The new positions will include roles such as F-35 aircraft mechanics, IT specialists, logistics coordinators, and security personnel.

“This is really good for Fort Smith as a community because this development will generate more high-skilled employees and workers to come to Fort Smith. Eventually, this itself will have some spillovers for quality of schools, for quality of services, in town, for a housing demand,” Thomas Jandik, a finance professor at the University of Arkansas, said.

The expansion is part of the base’s pilot training program, which trains pilots from allied nations on how to fly F-35 aircraft.

The pilot training mission has operated at Ebbing since 2023.

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 Veronica Haynes, Sera Congi, Peter Eliopoulos

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    EAST BOSTON, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A plane landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport on Wednesday after its captain became incapacitated during the flight, according to airport officials.

Massachusetts State Police said airport officials were notified at about 1:37 p.m. that a pilot aboard the Air Canada flight was incapacitated.

Air Canada flight 7664, being operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was traveling from Newark Liberty International Airport to Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia when the incident occurred.

“During the flight, the captain experienced a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck as per safety protocols. The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely,” Air Canada said in a statement.

There were 61 customers aboard the aircraft. The De Havilland twin-turboprop landed without incident, according to Massport.

“When the plane swerved, I knew something was wrong. It was not turbulence. It really felt like someone jolted the controls, and it happened over and over again,” said passenger Rodney McDonald. “Within a few moments one of the flight attendants went into the cockpit frantically, and a few moments later he was dragging one of the pilots out of the cockpit.”

From Sky 5, Massport Fire Rescue and Boston EMS crews could be seen surrounding the aircraft on the runway. The captain was taken for medical treatment in Boston. No additional information about their condition was immediately available.

Co-pilots are ready to step in when an incident like this takes place, said former Massport CEO Tom Kinton.

“I’m sure the passengers were alerted to this on board; I’m sure the co-pilot had to take command of the aircraft; he’s fully capable to do that,” Kinton said. “They don’t typically have as many hours as the left seat, but that doesn’t mean they’re not qualified to fly the plane.”

The plane was moved to Terminal B gate. The flight was rescheduled to leave Boston for Halifax at 6:45 p.m.

“Every thought goes through your mind, you start praying, my boys started praying as well, but just grateful for how it all ended,” McDonald 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 Nick Sloan

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    JACKSON COUNTY, Missouri (KMBC) — Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota has confirmed an alligator was caught at a local lake.

“Longview Lou,” a juvenile alligator, was found at Longview Lake this week and is now in the hands of Kansas City’s Animal Control.

LeVota said a fisherman spotted the alligator.

“The alligator is now in the care of Kansas City Animal Control, where he will be held for a short period while officials determine whether an owner can be identified,” LeVota said. “My hope is Longview Lou can go live at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium!”

There are no indications the alligator injured anyone.

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.