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Texas race to replace deceased Democrat advances to runoff

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Texas race to replace deceased Democrat advances to runoff

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The race to replace the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner in Texas’ 18th Congressional District advanced to a runoff election between Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards.

The congressional seat, which covers some of the most densely populated portions of Houston, has been empty since Turner’s sudden death on March 5.

A Democratic stronghold, there were 16 candidates in the race, seven Democrats, five Republicans, three independents and one Green Party candidate.

Menefee, an attorney and Houston City Council member, won 32% of the vote as of late Tuesday night, and Edwards, who currently serves as Harris County attorney, brought in 26%. Because neither candidate took home 50% of the vote to win the seat, they will have to face off again in a runoff election in February.

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TRUMP’S SHADOW LOOMS OVER TEXAS RACE AS HUNT ACCUSES CORNYN OF BETRAYAL

The congressional seat, which covers some of the most densely populated portions of Houston, has been empty since Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner’s sudden death on March 5. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Due to the passing of Texas’ mid-decade redistricting bill, the district will split into districts 9, 29 and 18. However, this change will not happen until March and will not impact the runoff election.

Though both candidates have been vocal critics of President Donald Trump, Menefee has been endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Political Action Committee. He has been praised by the likes of Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Greg Casar, D-Texas, and Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. 

In a joint statement, the three called Menefee a “proven fighter” against “Republican overreach” and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney Ken Paxton and the Trump administration.

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“As the youngest person and first African-American to serve as chief civil lawyer for Texas’s largest county, Christian Menefee has a demonstrated record of standing up to Republican overreach and delivering results for working families,” the three said in the statement. “He has won multi-million dollar settlements holding corporations accountable for emissions deception and deceptive marketing and has protected communities by taking on polluters and discriminatory landfill expansion. He has taken on Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and the Trump administration. Christian is the proven fighter Texas’s 18th district needs. We are proud to back his campaign.”

MEXICAN IMMIGRANT-TURNED-CONGRESSWOMAN BLASTS DEM CLAIMS TEXAS REDISTRICTING HURTS HISPANIC VOTE

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee was endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Political Action Committee. (Office of the Harris County Attorney official website)

Menefee has also boasted in campaign ads about being called a “radical attorney” by the Trump White House.

Edwards, meanwhile, has been endorsed by groups such as EMILY’s List and Elect Democratic Women.

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Edwards’ campaign website emphasizes building a healthier, safer and more equitable District 18.

TEXAS DEMOCRAT VOWS TO ‘GO ACROSS YOUR NECK,’ MAKES THROAT-SLASHING GESTURE WHILE REJECTING ‘GO HIGH’ MANTRA

Houston, Texas, at dusk. (Reuters/Richard Carson)

She states that “under President Trump’s leadership, our country has seen devastating attacks on our democracy, divisive rhetoric that weakened communities, and policies that have harmed the middle class and working families.”

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Turner died at age 70, having only served in Congress for just months. He also served as mayor of Houston for eight years, from 2016 to 2024. He replaced the late Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office in 2024, after serving in Congress for 29 years.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Family members searching for 2 missing Southern California girls

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Family members searching for 2 missing Southern California girls

Loved ones are searching for two Southern California girls who have been missing for nearly two weeks.

Aurora Brunner, 13, and Lexi Boykin, 14, were last seen leaving a home in Redlands on May 15, the Redlands Police Department said.

The girls left the home around 2:30 a.m. and were both wearing backpacks at the time.

Family members said the girls were possibly headed to Pasadena, San Francisco or Texas when they disappeared. 

From left: Aurora Brunner, 13, and Lexi Boykin, 14, left a Redlands home on foot on May 15, 2026, and have not been heard from or seen since. (Redlands Police Department)

They have not been heard from or seen since and their families are very concerned for their well-being.

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Brunner is a white female who stands 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has blue eyes and blonde hair.

Boykin is a white female who stands 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has blue eyes, blonde hair and wears prescription eyeglasses.

Anyone who may know the girls’ whereabouts or has information on the case can call Detective Thomas Williams at 909-335-4777 or email twilliams@redlandspolice.org.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Inside Artesia’s Little India, a slice of South Asia in SoCal

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Inside Artesia’s Little India, a slice of South Asia in SoCal

Little India spans just five blocks along Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, but its sights and sounds can make visitors feel transported to South Asia without leaving Southern California. The vibrant enclave is filled with family-owned restaurants, bustling markets, jewelry shops, and colorful clothing stores that offer an authentic cultural experience.

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, KTLA’s Angeli Kakade explored the community and the pride residents take in preserving their South Asian roots. One of them is Arjana Vig, owner of Mancha Designs, a bridal and fusionwear boutique inspired by her journey from New Delhi to Southern California in the 1990s.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Ex-employee charged with stealing $1 million in model car collectibles from SoCal factory

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Ex-employee charged with stealing  million in model car collectibles from SoCal factory

A former MGA Entertainment employee was charged with stealing over $1 million in diecast model car collectibles from the company’s factory in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

The DA says that on Feb. 14, at approximately 4:30 p.m., 55-year-old Simi Valley resident Luis Tanahara allegedly stole CarTuned collectibles valued at approximately $500,000 from a shipping container at the factory in Chatsworth and loaded the items in his personal vehicle.

He was reportedly employed as a senior product designer for the company at the time.

Then, on March 4, investigators seized over $1 million in CarTuned collectibles from his residence.

FILE – A CarTuned JDM Series 4 -1976 Toyota Celica from MGA Entertainment is pictured. (MGAE.com)

The cars are highly valued by hobbyists and collectors, especially when sold in surprise “Master Packs.”

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The case was filed for warrant on April 7, and Tanahara was arrested and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on April 10. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from MGA Entertainment, the DA said.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 27 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Tanahara is being charged with one felony count of grand theft and one felony count of receiving stolen property with special allegations that he stole property valued at over $1 million. If convicted, he faces up to six years in state prison.

“My prosecutors do not come to play: If you steal collectible toy cars or any cargo from our ports,  you will be fully prosecuted,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Diecast cars are not everyday toys or merchandise with a set retail value, they are prized collectibles with a potentially infinite value to a collector, representing a tremendous loss for the victim. My office will continue to fight for our local businesses and hold retail thieves accountable.”  

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