Texas Congressman Sylvester Turner Dies at 70 Weeks After Taking Office

Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Democratic congressman from Texas and former mayor of Houston, has died at the age of 70, just two months after being sworn into office. Turner succeeded the late Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away last year, and had previously served in the Texas House of Representatives for 26 years. His death was confirmed by colleagues and comes as a shock to the community, with Houston Mayor John Whitmire expressing sadness at the loss of a dedicated public servant. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both extended condolences, highlighting Turner's commitment to his constituents. Flags in Houston will be flown at half-staff in his honor. Turner had previously battled bone cancer but was reported to be free of the disease last year.