We analyze localized ionospheric – thermospheric (IT) events in response to external driving by a high-speed stream (HSS) during the ascending phase of the Solar Cycle 24. The HSS event occurred from ~ 29 April to 5 May, 2011. The HSS itself (and not the associated co-rotating interaction region) caused a moderate geomagnetic storm with peak SYM-H = -55 nT and prolonged auroral activity. We analyze TIMED/SABER measurements of nitric oxide (NO) cooling emission during the interval as a measure of thermospheric response to auroral heating. We identify several local cooling emission (LCE) events in high- to sub-auroral latitudes. Individual cooling emission profiles during these LCE events are enhanced at ionospheric E layer altitudes. For the first time, we present electron density profiles in the vicinity of the LCE events using collocated COSMIC radio-occultation (RO) measurements. Measurements at local nighttime show the formation of an enhanced E-layer (about 2.5 times increase over the undisturbed value) at ≥100 km altitude. Daytime electron density profiles show relatively smaller enhancements in the E-layer. We suggest that the IT response is due to additional ionization caused by medium energy electron (>10 keV) precipitation into the sub-auroral to high-latitude atmosphere associated with geomagnetic activity during the HSS event.