Latest news with #Escobedo
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Williamson County commissioners approve buying new election equipment to comply with Trump executive order
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Williamson County commissioners approved the purchase of new election equipment to comply with a Trump Administration executive order banning ballots containing votes within barcodes in a 5-0 vote in Tuesday's county commissioners court meeting. The new system will be a ballot on demand (BOD) system, which prints a full-faced ballot that Williamson County voters would mark their voting choices using a pen. The ballot would then be scanned electronically. Previously, Williamson County used a ballot card, which would be inserted into a ballot marking device that allows voters to make their voting selections at the machine. Once the selections are made, the ballot—which had the voter's selections marked in a barcode like manner—would be taken to a scanner where it tabulates the ballot. Bridgette Escobedo, Williamson County's Election Administrator, recommend to voluntarily comply with the executive order with the BOD system in the commissioners' court meeting. 'We want our voters to have the same experience that they are currently having in a polling location,' Escobedo said. Escobedo also said that her team has created a mock polling location in their office to refine Williamson County's election processes and procedures as they adjust to the new system. 'The goal is to be ready for this upcoming November constitutional amendment election,' Escobedo said. The new voting system did receive some pushback in Tuesday's commissioner court meeting. Dr. Laura Pressley with True Texas Elections provided a testimony during the meeting, bringing up concerns she has with the BOD technology. 'We don't know what type of software, what kind of programs are on this new equipment, and you could have issues at the polls with different election workers,' Pressley said. 'There is a serious concern about ballot secrecy.' In the commissioners' court meeting, Escobedo said she does not have any concerns with secrecy with this system, saying her team will do their 'very best to protect the secrecy of everyone's ballot.' Pressley also had concerns about how this system would operate. 'If you have a very long ballot that's multiple pages—how do you handle that from a ballot numbering standpoint,' Pressley said. 'The only way really to ensure that is consistent ballot printing at the polls for the races that the group and that precinct can vote in.' KXAN reached out to Travis and Hays Counties on how their election systems work and if they planned to make changes to their current election systems. The Hays County's election administrator told KXAN Hays' election system machines are already in compliance with the executive order as they use optical character recognition technology, which captures a word-for-word record of voters' choices, instead of barcodes. KXAN has not heard back from Travis County yet. We will update this story when a response is received. Purchasing the equipment will cost $1,137,300. Commissioners also approved applying for the HAVA Election Security Grant, which could help reimburse the purchase of the BOD system. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘So indescribable and special': ‘Happy's Place' stars Belissa Escobedo and Melissa Peterman on working with Reba McEntire
"It feels very nostalgic," says Melissa Peterman of the new sitcom Happy's Place, which has hit the airwaves "in a time where I think people are hungry for that feeling." What's unique about the series, which reunites Peterman with her Reba costar Reba McEntire, is that it features "a lot of characters that we haven't often seen in a sitcom. I love the makeup of our cast. I love what each actor brings to that character from their own life, and their own upbringing and background, which I think is very unique." Another costar, Belissa Escobedo, grew up watching sitcoms because her mother loved them so much, and as she told Gold Derby, "something I always found was I want to see more people who look like me on these sitcoms." That's certainly the case with Happy's Place, which has six main cast members, three of which are people of color. That, Escobedo states, "is really amazing, because this is our world as well. We can be this joyous and funny and carefree. So it feels really special to be apart of it as my first sitcom." More from GoldDerby 'The Diplomat's' David Gyasi weighs in on a Dennison and Kate romance: 'Eventually something's gotta give' Vote for the 2025 Gold Derby TV Award nominees now! 'How to Train Your Dragon' flies to a franchise-best $83.7 million debut, dethrones 'Lilo & Stitch' Happy's Place stars McEntire as Bobbie McAllister, who inherits a bar from her father, Happy, after he dies. Upon returning to Knoxville, Tenn., she discovers she has a much-younger half-sister, Isabella (Escobedo), who also inherits half of the bar. As they navigate their newfound roles as co-owners and half-sisters, they're helped along by their chatty bartender, Gabby (Peterman). "These are three women at very different points in their life," Peterman explains, "and they all have something to learn from each other. Ultimately, it is about these three women, and what they give to each other and bring to each other." The nostalgia of Happy's Place comes from its classical format. Unlike the single-camera comedies that have become the norm, Happy's Place is a multicam that's taped in front of a live studio audience. "It's so electric," divulges Escobedo, who, like Peterman, has her roots in theater. To merge the rush of live performance with television "is something so indescribable and special," and it's all because of "that energy you get from the audience." Even with all of the read throughs and rehearsals, "it's never as good as it's going to be on show night." When the audience comes in for the taping, "something different just happens. The world starts making more sense, the jokes start landing." She firmly believes that, "we wouldn't get the performances that we do without the audience there." SEE Reba McEntire ('Happy's Place') and Melissa Rauch ('Night Court') discuss importance of network comedies at NBC Fall Comedy Celebration Peterman has experience with both formats, having starred on the single-cam Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon. "I love every medium for different reasons," she divulges, as each stretches "a different muscle." At the same time, "there is nothing like a multicam," which is essentially "a one-act play. I've known Reba for a long time, and she's meant to be on a stage. So when she comes alive, I come alive." The audience is also a great indicator as to whether or not the episode is funny, because, "when a joke works or it doesn't work, they let you know, and they let you know right away." For Peterman, "it sharpens your performance in a way" that's different from single-cams or movies. Having worked in the industry for so long, Peterman remembers a time when "there could be a Tuesday night or a Friday night, and there could be 20 sitcoms with a live studio audience. You could come into L.A. and have your choice of what shows to go see." Because the experience is so rare, "we want it to be fun for [the audience]. We've had people who are flying in from out of state" because "they want to see Reba. I feel very grateful that we get to do it." It's part of what makes Happy's Place such a throwback to "the shows that I go back to all the time, whether it was during the pandemic or any stressful moment, which I think we are encountering a lot." It certainly helps that the show is led by McEntire, who has been a TV staple for decades. What struck Escobedo immediately about her onscreen sibling was "her humility," as well as "the passion and joy she has for what she's doing. She's been doing it for so long, and it's easy to lost the spark," yet, "she walks in every day so happy to be here. She knows how special it is, and that reminds us of how special what we're doing is. It's awesome to work with someone who's leading the show that's happy to be on the show, and loves it just as much as anybody." Peterman's working relationship with McEntire goes back decades, encompassing not just Reba, but the podcast Living & Learning as well. "It does trickle down from the top," she proclaims. "We're here to have fun, and everyone is empowered to do their job." In addition to her singing talents, "she's instinctively really funny, which makes her such a great choice for a sitcom." Yet the broad comedy only works "if it has heart," which McEntire is always striving for. "I've been lucky to hitch myself to that wagon a couple of times, and it's a great place to be." As the show heads into its second season, Peterman is "expecting some big-gun guest stars" to make appearances, including some "blast from the pasts from our Reba cast." One guest star she's hoping will play her often hinted at but never-seen mother is Hacks star Jean Smart. "That would be my everything," she admits. More than anything, she hopes as Happy's Place continues, it will become a show that "people will want to watch over and over again. I can rewatch the six or seven seasons of a sitcom over and over again. I hope that we can do that." Happy's Place is streaming on Peacock. Best of GoldDerby Sam Rockwell on Frank's 'White Lotus' backstory, Woody Harrelson's influence, and going all in on 'this arc of Buddhist to Bad Lieutenant' Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh admit they 'never had the audacity to realize' a show like 'Deli Boys' was possible From 'Housewives' overload to the 'shadiest queens' alliance: The dish on 'The Traitors' Season 4 lineup Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Al Pastor Papi's downtown San Francisco location is now open
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's Vacant to Vibrant program welcomed three new businesses to the downtown area. What we know The new pop-ups include a Mexico-City-style taqueria, an interactive art studio and a clothing retailer. The Vacant to Vibrant program transforms empty storefronts into vibrant community spaces. Back in April, we reported on founder and head chef Miguel Escobedo's plans to turn his food truck, Al Pastor Papi, into a brick and mortar store. Now that location at 232 O'Farrell Street is open and serving his sumptuous, award-winning al pastor cooked on a spit roast, or 'El Trompo' for those who are in the know. Escobedo's bold Mexican flavors will be accessible in what the program calls one of the city's most high-traffic corridors. In a news release on Wednesday, Ecobedo said he's honored to bring a taste of Mexico City's street food to downtown. "This is about sharing our culture, feeding both locals and visitors, and proving that community, culture, and our signature tacos can help spark San Francisco's transformation," Escobedo said. Following Al Pastor Papi's Wednesday grand opening is Craftivity, the interactive art studio offers hands-on maker experiences and team-building workshops. Crafitvity opens Friday, June 13 at 215 Fremont Street. Both of these businesses will celebrate soft openings for the month of June. Patrons are asked to follow along on social media to see upcoming events and announcements. Perhaps Nooworks, a local apparel brand, is putting the 'vibrant' in this program's name. Their colors and artist-designed prints are bold and so is that fact that they offer inclusive sizing. Nooworks Union Square location at 236 Powell is now open. "Bringing back Downtown San Francisco means creating spaces to make this area into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "We're just getting started - and we'll keep investing in small businesses to power our city's comeback." The ongoing Vacant to Vibrant project has been revitalizing underused spaces in San Francisco that were vacated, especially during the pandemic.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State Attorney, St. Lucie Sheriff announce reopening of 2006 Florida's Turnpike murders case
ST. LUCIE COUNTY −Sheriff Richard Del Toro and 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl announced the reopening of the 2006 Escobedo family murder case during a morning news conference May 27. State and local officials plan to begin proceedings to prosecute and seek the death penalty against Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, whose federal death sentences for the 2006 drug-related slayings of a family on Florida's Turnpike in St. Lucie County were commuted by former President Joe Biden The federal death sentences of Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, were commuted in December 2024." "We're up to the task and we're going to do it," Bakkedahl said. "We will leave no stone unturned, no avenue unpursued. Our pursuit of justice for Damien and Julian." The men were sentenced to death in 2009 for their involvement in the drug-related slaughter of the Escobedo family - Jose, 28, and Yessica Escobedo, 25, who were living in Greenacres in Palm Beach County with their two sons, Luis Damien, 3, and Luis Julian, 4. "It is a pursuit of justice," Bakkedahl said. "This is not political." This story will be updated. Escobedo murders: Prosecutors to pursue death penalty Editorial: Trump, Biden undermine justice with Florida Turnpike killers Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: State death penalty sought in 2006 Escobedo turnpike murders in SLC
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Francisco food truck opening pop-up shop thanks to downtown revitalization
The Brief A program that seeks to revitalize downtown San Francisco by activating vacant spaces is expanding this summer. One of the recipients is a popular taco truck that will get a pop-up in the Union Square area. Al Pastor Papi was once received honors for 'Top Bay Area Burrito'. They offer Mexico City-style tacos and flavor. SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's Vacant to Vibrant program is expanding once more with plans for a Union Square restaurant and other businesses that will fill once-vacant properties in the city's downtown. One of the recipients is bringing their authentic tacos to the area in their first brick and mortar. The revitalization effort, which is a partnership between the nonprofit SF New Deal that supports small businesses and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, seeks to transform downtown and boost the economy. Vacant to Vibrant started in 2023. This week, officials behind this partnership said this summer's openings will mark a significant milestone for the program. They've seen their 21st storefront opening since the program's launch and another 25 businesses are slated to open over the next year, they said. Miguel Escobedo, founder and chef of Al Pastor Papi, is one of the recipients of the program. He's no stranger to the Bay Area's culinary scene. In 1999, he and his brother founded Papalote. That endeavor put him on the map and got him exposure on the Food Network. "I left that in 2017," he said. His brother still runs Papalote, but Escobedo went on to run Al Pastor Papi, founding the food truck in 2018. "I was a food truck for six years," said Escobedo. He went on to get recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "Top Bay Area Burrito." KTVU caught up with Escobedo back in 2022 where he demonstrated what it takes to make his burrito. At the time, he told us he went to a culinary institute in Mexico City to learn the art of al pastor. He was born in Mexico City. He said Mexico City-style tacos got a little lost in the whole birria craze (those are the cheesy, juicy tacos you dip in a consome.) He reminds us of this very important detail: "The original Mexico City-style taco is a corn tortilla, protein, onion, cilantro and salsa." He says 'El Trompo', the vertical spit roast, makes all the difference to his al pastor, the spit-roasted pork used in his dishes. The turnaround in getting this brick and mortar opportunity is pretty fast. Escobedo said Vacant to Vibrant reached out to him in early March. The space for his pop-up is reportedly in a former Chipotle franchise. "We're truly a block from Union Square. That was the beauty of the project," said Escobedo. "This is a unique experience for both of us. They were looking for an established brand in San Francisco." He said he's seeing tremendous support from SF New Deal. "Vacant to Vibrant is a movement that proves small businesses are the heartbeat of a thriving city," said Simon Bertrang, executive director of SF New Deal, the nonprofit that runs Vacant to Vibrant. He said they are working hand in hand with local small businesses, property owners and key partners like JPMorganChase on building a downtown that reflects the diverse spirit of San Francisco. "These long-term leases downtown and new pop-ups in Union Square signal real momentum, showing that when we invest in small businesses, we invest in the future of our city," Bertrang said. Escobedo said it's an honor to bring his authentic flavor to what he undeniably considers an "iconic neighborhood." He was enthused to be just two blocks from the Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the Vacant to Vibrant program is reinvigorating downtown. "Every time a new business takes over a vacant space, it breathes new life into our commercial corridors," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "By breaking down barriers for small business owners, Vacant to Vibrant is fueling San Francisco's comeback. Lurie thanked JPMorganChase for their support of the public-private partnership. The firm is furthering its commitment to the program with an additional $500,000 in funding. One of their representatives said they believe small and mid-sized businesses are the backbone of the economy. What's next You can expect Al Pastor Papi to make its debut at 232 O'Farrell Street near Union Square this summer. Other downtown pop-ups included in this summer's Vacant to Vibrant expansion include: Nooworks, a Mission-based apparel brand, at 236 Powell Street in the Union Square area. Craftivity, a hands-on arts and crafts studio that specializes in team-building experiences and creative group events, will pop-up at 215 Fremont Suite 1. In addition to new pop-ups, four businesses that opened last summer through the program will get long-term leases. Businesses that have now signed multi-year lease agreements include: Hungry Crumbs at 215 Fremont Street, 5B, Koolfi Creamery at 50 Fremont Street, Paper Son Cafe at 303 2nd Street, N102, and Studio Aurora at 302 Valencia Street. These businesses join seven others that were previous recipients of the Vacant to Vibrant program in securing long-term leases. Andre Torrez is a digital content producer for KTVU. Email Andre at or call him at 510-874-0579.
