Women Professionals in Government Sets the Stage for “An Evening of Elegance and Excellence” in Houston

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    June 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston, prepare for an evening where elegance meets impact, where white attire becomes a statement of unity, and where the business of good government gets a well-earned spotlight. Women Professionals in Government, widely known as WPG, will host “An Evening of Elegance and Excellence” on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM CT, bringing together civic leaders, public servants, community advocates, professionals, and friends for a signature Summer Social designed to raise funds for scholarships, community service grants, and WPG’s continued mission-driven work.

The 2026 Summer Social will feature Harris County Administrator Erica Lee Carter as guest speaker—an especially fitting voice for an organization dedicated to advancing women in government and public policy. In February 2026, Harris County Commissioners Court appointed Carter as County Administrator, making her the first African American woman to hold the position; she officially assumed the role on March 9, 2026, overseeing county operations, strategic-plan implementation, and coordination across departments.

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For Houston Style Magazine readers, this is more than a social event. It is a celebration of leadership, legacy, mentorship, and the bright future of women shaping public service in Harris County. Founded in 1981 by Mary Dipboye, a University of Houston graduate with a master’s degree in public administration, WPG was created to build a network where women in government could gain knowledge, sharpen skills, and support one another’s career growth.

Today, that mission continues with purpose and polish. WPG describes itself as a nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization organized for charitable, educational, and social welfare purposes. Its mission includes building support networks for people interested in government and public policy, providing career-growth knowledge and skills, offering scholarships to young women pursuing government and public-policy degrees, and supporting agencies serving women and children.

That mission comes alive through WPG’s year-round work. The organization meets monthly from September through May, excluding January, creating a forum where city, county, state, and federal professional women—and men who work in or with government—can gather, network, and hear from community leaders. WPG also provides two scholarship opportunities annually for young women pursuing degrees in government and public policy, while also offering grant funding to other charities serving women and children in Harris County.

The 2026 Summer Social carries that tradition forward with style. Guests are encouraged to wear white, giving the evening a crisp, celebratory feel worthy of the Harris County Ceremonial Courtroom. Admission is $50 for members and $60 for non-members, with sponsorship and donation opportunities helping strengthen WPG’s scholarship fund, community-service grants, and operating support.

Carter’s presence adds a powerful contemporary note. Her public-service résumé includes experience across local, state, and federal government, nonprofit work, service as an elected Harris County Department of Education trustee, and a term representing Texas’s 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2024 to 2025. Harris County’s announcement also noted her work on economic opportunity, voting access, budget management, afterschool programming, the CROWN Act as county employee policy, and support for minority- and women-owned businesses.

In a city where public service often requires both grit and grace, WPG’s Summer Social reminds Houston that government is not just buildings, budgets, and board meetings—it is people. It is the professionals who keep services moving, policies improving, communities connected, and doors opening for the next generation.

And yes, this is also a networking event. Bring the business cards, bring the confidence, and bring the white outfit that says, “I came to support excellence—and I understood the assignment.”

Event Details Event: Women Professionals in Government Summer Social — “An Evening of Elegance and Excellence” Date & Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM CT Location: Harris County Ceremonial Courtroom, 201 Caroline Street, Houston, Texas 77002 Attire: Members and guests are encouraged to wear white Admission: Members $50; Non-Members $60 More Information & Tickets: Visit WPG Houston online at wpghouston.com

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Why Houston Should Attend Attend because scholarships matter. Attend because women in public service deserve support. Attend because mentorship changes careers. Attend because grants to organizations serving women and children strengthen Harris County. Attend because an evening in white can help create a brighter future.

From monthly luncheons to scholarship opportunities, from leadership development to community giving, WPG has spent more than four decades building a civic table where women are not simply invited—they lead. Since 1981, WPG has played a role in advancing women professionals through networking, skill-building, and knowledge-sharing, while also supporting women students committed to public-service careers.

Houston, this is the kind of evening where elegance is not just what guests wear—it is what the organization represents: excellence in service, dignity in leadership, and a commitment to lifting women and children across Harris County.

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.

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Fishing event honoring Fletcher Merkel brings hundreds of kids together, raises funds for Annunciation scholarship

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Conor Wight

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — On the Lake Harriet shoreline in Minneapolis Saturday evening, dozens of children picked up a fishing rod for the first time.

It’s a skill that 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel taught his own friends. It made for the perfect premise for a new annual event, Fishing For Fletcher, that’s designed to bring people together and help further education at Annunciation Catholic School.

Fletcher Merkel lost his life there last August in a shooting that also claimed the life of 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Dozens of others, primarily children, were injured.

It’s a tragedy that Mollie and Jesse Merkel will not allow to define their son, a boy who adored nature and making friends. That kind of shared joy was on full display on Saturday as kids learned to fish; of the 250 registered children, about 150 of them had never done it before, according to organizers.

“He [Fletcher] included all the kids in his class. He never liked for anyone to be sitting out or not feel like they were part of the community,” Mollie Merkel said, “I think he’s watching us and is joyful that his people, his community are here.”

Off the water, children played in a bounce house and ran across the grass as adults entered a silent auction, raising more than $42,000 as of Saturday evening. Organizers said that proceeds will go to the Fletcher Merkel Memorial Endowment Fund through the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota. His parents say they now have enough to give two children a full-ride through 8th grade at the school.

“We’re just doing our best to combat what happened to us with joy and kindness. And set an example to prove that good can overcome evil,” Jesse Merkel said.

The couple said they were “overwhelmed” by the support from fellow Annunciation families as well as total strangers from across Minnesota.

They said that some days are much harder than others. The end of the school year proved particularly difficult, they said, as they see how other children have grown over the course of the school year.

“How tall would Fletcher be? How many new pairs of shoes would I have had to buy him this year? What sports, like what would he be doing right now?” Mollie Merkel pondered.

They’re painful questions that they’ll never have answers to, but they have a clear answer when it comes to the kind of impact Fletcher Merkel had on his classmates and his community. Smiles, laughter and live music punctuated the inaugural Fishing for Fletcher event.

It was months in the making. Lance Kramer, a father at Annunciation who lives near the Merkels, said that he began thinking about a fishing event to honor Fletcher Merkel within weeks of the shooting.

“What kept running through my mind was that she [Mollie Merkel] said ‘I don’t want people to forget Fletcher. I don’t want them to remember him for what happened, I want them to remember him for who he was,'” Kramer said. “He was a little 8-year-old boy that just lived life to it’s fullest. He tore through sneakers in like a week or two. He loved sports, he loved people.”

That shared love brought in so many volunteers that at a certain point, Kramer and other organizers needed to kindly turn people away.

Fishing for Fletcher brought in familiar faces from across town, including cheerleaders with the Minnesota Vikings.

For the Merkels, they hope to keep bringing new faces to Annunciation through their fundraising efforts. It’s the kind of welcoming spirit that they say Fletcher Merkel extended to others just about everyday.

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.

Emergency fish salvage in place at reservoir on Colorado’s Eastern Plains

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Jesse Sarles

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    Colorado (KCNC) — Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife are encouraging everyone with a valid Colorado fishing license to come and catch fish at Nee Noshe Reservoir in Kiowa County.

Monday marks the start of an emergency fish salvage due to the reservoir drying up.

CPW says they’re making the move due to the ongoing drought and reduced reservoir operations. Jim Ramsay, CPW Aquatic Biologist, said the “reservoir is unlikely to refill in the foreseeable future.”

The reservoir is located within Queens State Wildlife Area about 21 miles north of Lamar and 12 miles south of Eads.

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.

Boy’s lemonade stand helps veteran recover from surgery

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Ta’Niyah Jordan

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    BURTON, Michigan (WJRT) — A 7-year-old boy is raising money through a lemonade stand to help a local veteran pay his utility bill while he recovers from surgery.

Elijah Putnum-Vogal set up his stand at Zerka’s in Burton, selling lemonade for $2 to support the veteran who will be out of work for four months.

“He has no power right now,” Putnum-Vogal said.

Elijah’s aunt, Monique Kusky, organized the fundraiser after learning about the veteran’s situation. She said the veteran works part time at Dollar General and receives a disability check, but it hasn’t been enough to cover his expenses.

“There is a vet that’s worked at Dollar General for quite a while actually and he’s been sick,” Kusky said. “And you would never know by seeing this man. You walk in there, he greets you with a smile every day.”

Kusky said the veteran had no power even before his surgery. When she learned about his circumstances, she knew she had to help.

“So when I found out where he was standing and the situation he had going on, I couldn’t just let that go,” Kusky said.

All donations from the lemonade stand will go directly to helping the veteran. Putnum-Vogal said that helping his neighbor is more important than buying toys and ice cream.

“Him needs help and I feel bad for him,” Putnum-Vogal said.

Community members stopped by throughout the day to donate, buy lemonade and show their support. Organizers said the event not only raised money but also brought the community together to help a neighbor in need.

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.

Pittsburgh-area Lyft driver stabbed in the neck during fight with passenger, Pennsylvania State Police say

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Mike Darnay

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    Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Pennsylvania State Police said that a Lyft driver was stabbed in the neck late Sunday night during a fight with a passenger.

State Police said in a release early Monday morning that Saul Baxin, 31, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing.

According to the release, State Police troopers were called to the area near the Neville Island exit of Interstate 79 just after 11 p.m. Sunday for what they called an “assault incident.”

State Police said that through their investigation, they leanred that a Lyft driver had been stabbed in the right side of his neck after a fight with a passenger.

The suspect in the stabbing, identified as Saul Baxin, 31, left the Lyft vehicle on foot towards the area of Coraopolis Road, State Police said.

State Police said Baxin was hit by a passing vehicle while in the area of State Road, where he was taken into custody by officers from the Robinson Township Police Department.

The Lyft driver who was stabbed was last said to be in stable condition.

Court documents show that Baxin is awaiting arraignment on aggravated assault, simple assault, and criminal mischief charges.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Lyft said that “violence like this has no place in the Lyft community or in our society.”

“The driver’s well-being is our priority, and we have been in contact to offer support,” the statement read. “The ride requester has been permanently removed from the Lyft platform, and we stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.”

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Macy’s worker retires after 50 years on the job

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Morgan Kirsch

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    SAGINAW, Michigan (WJRT) — A Saginaw Macy’s employee is retiring after 50 years with the same department store location.

Jeanette Voelker, along with her friends, family and colleagues, gathered at G’s Pizzeria in Saginaw on Sunday to celebrate her five decades at Macy’s. ABC12 was there to capture the celebration.

“When I went through my first Christmas, and I did all those returns at Christmas, I said, ‘Well, I’m never doing that again, and then here I am. 50 years later, I’ve been doing it all this time,” Voelker said.

When Voelker was just 17, her father gave her the application after she got out of high school.

“My dad gave me the application when I got out of high school and said, ‘You’re not going to sit around here all summer. You’re going to have to go to work,'” Voelker said.

She said she was at the same department store location at the Fashion Square Mall through its transitions from Hudson’s to Marshall Field’s and later to Macy’s.

Voelker most recently worked in returns. She said there were many factors that kept her at the store.

“I love the customers. I love the employees and the friends that I’ve made. They’ll be my friends forever. It helped me raise two great kids, bought a house,” Voelker said.

Guests poured their hearts out in thank you cards and hugs. Voelker’s longtime coworker, Michelle Trombly, said she’s irreplaceable.

“She’s definitely part of the reason that work is enjoyable, always looking forward to working with someone that you consider a friend as well as a co-worker, so that’s going to be a big, big empty hole,” Trombly said.

Voelker said the end of her long career also marks a new beginning.

“It’s been a ride, but I’m ready to get off and start spending some time with my family,” Voelker said.

Voelker’s last official day is June 5. She plans on coming back to the store for her 50-year work anniversary on July 15, when she said her sons will visit to do her final ring-ups.

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.

Woman who banned herself from Pennsylvania casinos for life gets escorted out after winning jackpot

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Madeline Bartos

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    Pennsylvania (KDKA) — A woman who was banned from Pennsylvania casinos for life was escorted out by police after she hit the jackpot in Dauphin County.

According to a public information release from the Pennsylvania State Police, troopers were contacted shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday about a woman who was at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National in East Hanover Township.

Police said the woman had been identified as someone who was self-excluded from casinos after she won a slot machine jackpot.

After reviewing information, troopers said they confirmed that the 69-year-old woman from Asbury, New Jersey, had given herself a self-imposed lifetime ban from casinos in 2019. Police escorted her off the property and told her a non-traffic citation for trespassing would be filed against her.

Troopers didn’t say whether she got to keep the jackpot.

In Pennsylvania, people who are struggling with a gambling addiction can voluntarily ban themselves from casinos. According to the Council of Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, people can put themselves on a self-exclusion list for one year, five years or a lifetime. The self-exclusions don’t expire.

After someone puts themself on an exclusion list for casinos, the council said licensed facilities must refuse their wagers and deny them gaming privileges. The council also said self-excluded gamblers are prohibited from collecting any winnings.

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Raymond Berry, former Baltimore Colts star and New England Patriots head coach, dies at 93

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By JT Moodee Lockman, Matt Schooley

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry, a former Baltimore Colts star and New England Patriots head coach, has died, his family said. He was 93.

Berry was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 1973. Officials with the Hall of Fame said he died at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, while surrounded by his family. Berry is survived by his wife of 65 years, his three children and nine grandchildren.

“People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “…there was no finer gentleman – a person who remained humble and grounded when others sought to thrust stardom upon him.”

Berry with the Baltimore Colts Berry played 13 seasons with the Baltimore Colts, between 1955 and 1967. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and played on two NFL championship teams.

He led the league in receptions in 1957, 1959, and 1960 and retired as the NFL’s all-time receptions leader.

“The chemistry he developed with quarterback Johnny Unitas through hours of route-running and thousands of repetitions in practice created a dynamic tandem that thought with one mind on game days,” Porter said. “Together they helped the Colts win consecutive titles in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game that served as a springboard for professional football becoming this country’s most popular sport.”

Head coach of New England Patriots Berry joined the New England Patriots in 1978 as a receivers coach, taking over as interim head coach in 1984 when Ron Meyer was fired.

During his first full season as head coach in 1985, Berry led New England to the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance. Berry’s Patriots were defeated 46-10 by the Chicago Bears after winning the AFC title that year.

In six years with the Patriots, Berry had a 48-39 record and four seasons above .500.

“Raymond Berry holds a special place in Patriots history,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “He led our franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance following a remarkable playoff run, a milestone that was the greatest achievement in team history at the time… He was every bit the gentleman people knew him to be; humble, faithful, kind and deeply respected by all who knew him.”

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Georgia man arrested after confessing to 1989 New Jersey cold case murder, authorities say

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Dan Raby

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    GRIFFIN, Georgia (WUPA) — A Griffin, Georgia man is now under arrest, charged in connection with a cold case homicide investigation in New Jersey, prosecutors say.

It’s been nearly 37 years since 42-year-old Mauricio Cuadra was shot during an apparent home invasion; now, authorities say 62-year-old Joseph Quiros-Soto is charged with his murder.

Officials say on Aug. 9, 1989, the officers with the Bayonne Police Department responded to reports of a home invasion and shooting at an apartment on the 400 block of Avenue C. Inside the home, they found Cuadra suffering from a gunshot wound. Cuadra died shortly after.

The case remained a mystery until 2024, when Quiros-Soto confessed to the murder to police in Locust Grove, Georgia, saying that he had become a born-again Christian, NJ.com reports.

Police told the outlet that he gave the detectives details of the crime and allowed visiting Hudson County authorities to take a DNA sample, which matched a stain on the victim.

Authorities were eventually able to obtain a warrant for the Georgia man’s arrest. On May 27, 2026, deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office arrested Quiros-Soto at his home in Griffin, charging him with murder and murder during the commission of a burglary.

Quiros-Soto is being detained in Georgia, awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

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Kīlauea eruption episode 48 begins early Monday morning

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By KITV Web Staff

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    KILAUEA, Hawai’i (KITV) — Kīlauea Volcano began a new eruptive episode early Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Episode 48 started at 4:40 a.m. HST on June 1, with continuous lava fountaining from the volcano’s north vent. Scientists first noted increased activity around 3:45 a.m., when fountaining began and instruments recorded a drop in ground tilt.

By 5:07 a.m. HST, USGS reported that fountains from the north vent had increased to about 350 feet (100 meters) high. Volcanic tremor also continued to rise, showing that the eruption was still building.

Officials say the eruption is expected to intensify further, with lava fountains potentially reaching 600 to 800 feet (180 to 250 meters) within the hour.

The activity remains at Kīlauea’s summit within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The USGS continues to monitor the eruption closely and will provide further updates as conditions change.

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.