80.2 F
Houston
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Home Blog Page 90

84 rescued in human trafficking bust at 9 Houston-area bars, TABC says

0

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A highly touted 10-year human trafficking investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has so far has only resulted in one felony arrest.

But TABC officials remained bullish on the effectiveness of their efforts during a high-profile news conference on Thursday.

A human trafficking investigation involving nine Houston-area bars led to the arrest of four people and 84 people rescue…Show more

On October 18, ABC13’s cameras were rolling when nine cantinas were busted in a single night. At the time, TABC investigators said 84 people were rescued as part of raids conducted simultaneously. TABC also said all nine cantinas had their liquor licenses suspended for 90 days.

On Thursday, TABC invited the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, the Houston Police Department, and other agencies to stand alongside as they spoke about the raid’s success.

“They look on the outside like a regular bar or a nightclub with a bar, a dance floor, pool tables – but behind them is a labyrinth of hidden rooms, cement floors, closet-sized with soiled mattresses,” TABC Chai Kevin Lilly said. “An actual house of horrors hiding within the trapdoors and secret doors of these establishments.”

At the news conferences, TABC officials could not name any suspected sex trafficking suspects who were arrested. It’s not clear that the operation actually netted any suspected traffickers.

Thursday afternoon, the Harris County District Attorney’s office confirmed that the 10-year investigation yielded just four arrests. Of those arrests, three are misdemeanors, and the DA’s office said those three are likely trafficking victims. That means those charges will probably be dropped at a future date. The fourth arrest is a felony, but that individual may be a crucial witness in the investigation.

Neither the DA’s office nor the TABC could confirm that any suspected traffickers were arrested and charged. When pressed on this, a TABC spokesperson told ABC13 that the operation was still considered a success because there could be additional criminal charges, and that there were no injuries or deaths during any of the raids.

“Imagine nine simultanous operations throughout the city of Houston, at exactly the same time, involved flawless precision,” Chair Lilly said during the news conference. “This really was an extraordinary day for law enforcement in this country.”

Sources within the Houston Police Department say they were merely supporting the TABC investigation.

The nine cantinas raided were:

  • El Flamingo Club, 3715 Aldine Mail Route
  • Koko Bongo, 955 Federal Road
  • Los Escorpiones #2, 1636 Federal Road
  • Los Escorpiones #5, 2815 Luell St.
  • El Cruzero Sports Bar, 7715 W. Hardy Road
  • Bora Bora Sports Bar, 11028 Aldine Westfield Road
  • El Rinconcito Night Club, 743 Freeport St.
  • La Condesa, 8810 Jensen Drive
  • Las Margaritas Night Club, 210 E. Little York Road

The establishments ccould be eligible to get their liquor licenses reinstated after 90 days, though TABC officials say most times, the establishments are effectively shut down permanently.

Texas Attorney General’s Office releases collection of evidence in controversial death penalty case

0
Texas AG releases autopsy report in controversial death penalty case

Texas AG releases autopsy report in controversial death penalty caseKen Paxton says the autopsy report…Show more

There’s yet another twist in the controversial case of Robert Roberson, the Texas man who was set to be executed one week ago.

Roberson was convicted of murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis in 2003 and sentenced to death.

His scheduled Oct. 17 execution was delayed by the Texas Supreme Court, and now, there are cries for his life to be spared, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton strongly disagrees.

Paxton came out swinging in a statement released on Wednesday, calling out two state lawmakers for “misleading” the public in Roberson’s case. Paxton’s office also shared Nikki’s original autopsy report.

Paxton says the report proves Roberson was convicted of beating his child and leaving her with extensive head wounds. He says the jury did not convict Roberson on the basis of “shaken baby syndrome.”

Roberson’s supporters say he deserves a new trial under the state’s “junk science” law that says a defendant should get a new trial if faulty science is discovered in a case.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Texas man whose murder conviction tied to shaken baby syndrome won’t testify in-person

His attorneys argue new medical evidence suggests the child died of pneumonia, not shaken baby syndrome.

Paxton says that claim is not true and pointed to the child’s autopsy report while calling out two state representatives — Joe Moody and Jeff Leach — who have shown support for Roberson and also were part of a hearing held on Monday to discuss Roberson’s case.

Rep. Moody — the chair of the committee spearheading the effort for a new trial — said Paxton’s statement has no new facts, calling it a “collection of exaggerations, misrepresentations and full-on untruths completely divorced from facts and context.”

That bi-partisan committee is expected to release a full statement on Thursday.

READ MORE: Texas set to execute man on discredited ‘shaken baby syndrome’ hypothesis

Roberson was found guilty based on the testimony from a pediatrician who said the baby died of ‘shaken baby s…Show more

According to Roberson’s attorneys, he woke up to find his 2-year-old daughter Nikki lying on the floor at the foot of the bed one night in 2002. They say Roberson comforted her, put her back to bed and went back to sleep himself. He found Nikki unconscious with blue lips when he woke up the next morning. He took her to an emergency room, where she was ultimately pronounced dead.

Roberson, a 57-year-old man, was then convicted in her death.

Roberson was found guilty based on the testimony from a pediatrician who cited swelling and hemorrhages in Nikki’s brain at the time as a “shaken baby syndrome” diagnosis, even though there is limited evidence to support this as an accurate diagnosis. The hypothesis has come under serious scrutiny in biomechanical studies, as well as lengthening medical and legal literature. The medical examiner also suspected that Nikki sustained multiple head injuries, and considered the death a homicide in the official autopsy.

Roberson is autistic, according to his legal team, which affects how he expresses emotions — a concern that also arose during the trial.

Since his conviction, new evidence found that Nikki had pneumonia at the time of her death and had been prescribed respiratory-suppressing drugs by doctors in the days leading up to her death. These drugs include the narcotic drug codeine and promethazine, both of which are no longer prescribed to children Nikki’s age or those in her condition because it could impair their ability to breathe and be deadly.

Following a post-mortem toxicology report, medical toxicology and emergency room medicine expert Dr. Keenan Bora concluded that high levels of promethazine are likely to have exacerbated Nikki’s issues breathing.

A reexamination of her lung tissue by lung pathology expert Dr. Francis Green also found that chronic interstitial viral pneumonia and acute bacterial pneumonia were damaging her lungs, causing sepsis and then septic shock, leading to vital organ failure.

17-month-old girl fell from 3rd floor balcony and had severe wounds, court documents say

0

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — Court documents reveal disturbing new details in the case of a 17-month-old girl who died after being found abandoned along the Seawall in Galveston on Wednesday.

The child’s mother, 30-year-old Channel Yonko, is charged with capital murder. She appeared in court on Thursday morning, where a magistrate judge denied bond.

The memorial next to the Kroger along the Seawall continues to grow. It’s where 17-month-old Hannah Yonko was found — in the middle of 59th Street — on Wednesday morning.

According to new details from charging documents, police say they have surveillance video from the second story at the Beach Front Palms Hotel, where it appears the toddler fell from the third floor balcony and then rolled onto the concrete sidewalk.

The documents also allege the baby had additional severe wounds. Investigators believe her mother killed her.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Mom charged after toddler was found near Kroger along Galveston Seawall and died, police say

Yonko was taken into custody shortly after Hannah was discovered on 59th Street. When an officer located her nearby, she was allegedly crying and asking for help and made comments about how her daughter might have been sick.

Handcuffed and wearing a dark green jumpsuit, Yonko appeared before a Galveston County magistrate judge on Thursday morning after spending the night in jail.

She was told to not say anything as she was read her rights, but instead, she asked to call an attorney.

“Can I receive my phone call?” Yonko asked in court.

“Ma’am, you’re here for magistrate court. Please just listen to the words that are told to you. Don’t ask any other questions unless you need to,” the magistrate judge replied.

Across the island, residents mourn for the 17-month-old daughter police say Yonko killed.

“It’s really upsetting news, and then I got to work and everybody was talking about it and it just upset me even more and I’m like – I have to go pay my respects,” UTMB pediatric nurse Jasmine Hernandez said.

Hernandez laid flowers and a doll at the growing memorial for Hannah. She said when she heard Hannah had been rushed to the hospital, she hoped they could save her.

According to court documents, Yonko and Hannah were staying at the hotel with Yonko’s sister.

ABC13 spoke to Brandon Uriba, who said he found Hannah while driving down 59th Street. He said he noticed the girl wrapped in a blanket.

“It was heartbreaking to see that. To see a little precious, beautiful, perfect little girl laying there lifeless,” Uriba said.

Police said they also found a trash bag at the hotel parking garage with Yonko’s room key, a knife, plastic sand toys, unused diapers, and unopened kid snacks.

People on the island are trying to understand how a mother could have killed her little girl, as police say she did.

“Especially somebody who was supposed to protect her from day one and then let her down,” Hernandez said.

Beyoncé to appear at Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Houston on Friday

HOUSTON, Texas — Beyoncé is expected to appear Friday in her hometown of Houston at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Harris’ presidential campaign has taken on Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the singer’s planned appearance brings a high-level of star power to what has become a key theme of the Democratic nominee’s bid: freedom.

Harris will head to the reliably Republican state just 10 days before Election Day in an effort to refocus her campaign against former President Donald Trump on reproductive care, which Democrats see as a make-or-break issue this year.

The three people were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Harris campaign did not immediately comment.

Beyoncé’s appearance was expected to draw even more attention to the event – and to Harris’ closing message.

Harris’ Houston trip is set to feature women who have been affected by Texas’ restrictive abortion laws, which took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. She has campaigned in other states with restrictive abortion laws, including Georgia, among the seven most closely contested states.

Harris has centered her campaign around the idea that Trump is a threat to American freedoms, from reproductive and LGBTQ rights to the freedom to be safe from gun violence.

Beyoncé gave Harris permission early in her campaign to use “Freedom,” a soulful track from her 2016 landmark album “Lemonade,” in her debut ad. Harris has used its thumping chorus as a walk-out song at rallies ever since.

Beyoncé’s alignment with Harris isn’t the first time that the Grammy winner has aligned with a Democratic politician. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, danced as Beyoncé performed at a presidential inaugural ball in 2009.

In 2013, she sang the national anthem at Obama’s second inauguration. Three years later, she and her husband Jay-Z performed at a pre-election concert for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Cleveland.

“Look how far we’ve come from having no voice to being on the brink of history – again,” Beyoncé said at the time. “But we have to vote.”

A January poll by Ipsos for the anti-polarization nonprofit With Honor found that 64% of Democrats had a favorable view of Beyoncé compared with just 32% of Republicans. Overall, Americans were more likely to have a favorable opinion than an unfavorable one, 48% to 33%.

Speculation over whether the superstar would appear at this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago reached a fever pitch on the gathering’s final night, with online rumors swirling after celebrity news site TMZ posted a story that said: “Beyoncé is in Chicago, and getting ready to pop out for Kamala Harris on the final night of the Democratic convention.” The site attributed it to “multiple sources in the know,” none of them named.

About an hour after Harris ended her speech, TMZ updated its story to say, “To quote the great Beyoncé: We gotta lay our cards down, down, down … we got this one wrong.” In the end, Harris took the stage to star’s song, but that was its only appearance.

Last year, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in Maryland after getting tickets from Beyonce herself. “Thanks for a fun date night, @Beyonce,” Harris wrote on Instagram.

Beyoncé is not the only Texan expected to be part of the lineup.

According to democrats.org, Willie Nelson is listed to join as well.

The time of the event is slated for 3-8 p.m.

¡Que Onda! Magazine Houston – edición 1310

Muere Fernando ´El Toro´ Valenzuela, leyenda del béisbol mexicano, a los 63 años

0

El béisbol mexicano y mundial está de luto tras el fallecimiento de Fernando Valenzuela, el mejor pelotero mexicano de la historia, a los 63 años. Valenzuela murió en un hospital de Los Ángeles, ciudad donde se consagró como una leyenda inmortal en la década de los 80.

El “Toro” de Navojoa, Sonora, perdió la batalla contra una enfermedad que su familia decidió mantener en secreto. Fue ingresado de emergencia en un hospital en California, donde finalmente falleció, dejando un legado que será difícil de igualar para cualquier mexicano en el deporte.

Nacido el 1 de noviembre en el pequeño pueblo de Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Fernando Valenzuela no solo hizo historia en el campo, sino que marcó un antes y un después en el mundo del béisbol.

Su carrera alcanzó su punto más alto durante su tiempo con los Dodgers de Los Ángeles, equipo que retiró su emblemático número 34 en marzo del año pasado, un homenaje que solo 11 jugadores más han recibido en los 141 años de historia de la franquicia.

La “Fernandomanía” fue un fenómeno sin precedentes que trascendió fronteras. No solo fue ídolo en Los Ángeles, sino que también dejó huella durante su paso por equipos como los Padres de San Diego, Orioles de Baltimore, Angels de Anaheim y Phillies de Filadelfia.

Su estilo único y su dominio en la lomita conquistaron a fanáticos de todo el mundo, pero especialmente en México, donde millones seguían sus partidos desde casa, convirtiéndolo en un verdadero ícono del deporte.

Fernando Valenzuela logró innumerables hazañas a lo largo de su carrera, incluyendo la conquista de dos Series Mundiales (1981 y 1988), seis apariciones en el Juego de Estrellas de la MLB, y fue galardonado con el Novato del Año y el Premio Cy Young, otorgado al mejor lanzador de las Grandes Ligas.

What would a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump victory mean for the stock market?

0

The stock market has climbed over the course of the presidential campaign, raising questions about whether the rally will continue depending upon which candidate wins: Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

The S&P 500 has soared more than 20% this year, repeating a feat that the index achieved in 2023. The Nasdaq has jumped 23% this year, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has increased 14%.

Over the full span of the next administration, the market will likely move higher whether the nation elects Harris or Trump, experts told ABC News. However, they added, each candidate’s policies could favor different types of stocks while posing unique risks.

Here’s what to know about what a win by Harris or Trump could mean for the stock market:

What would a Trump presidency mean for the stock market?

Trump has vowed to extend the corporate tax cuts signed into law during his first term when they begin to phase out in 2025. If approved by Congress and signed into law, the tax cuts would accompany an anticipated deregulatory agenda taken up by federal agencies within the Trump administration.

That combination of low corporate tax rates and loose regulation would likely bolster corporate profits and propel the stock market higher, experts said.

“Taxes do have consequences,” Peter Morici, a professor emeritus at the University of Maryland’s School of Business, told ABC News. “With the Trump administration, it will be like a cork coming out.”

Trump policies would favor sectors such as oil and gas as well as artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, firms focused on renewable energy could suffer if Trump undermines financial incentives enacted under Biden, some experts said.

“The Inflation Reduction Act was a big deal for solar and electric vehicle stocks,” Callie Cox, chief market strategist at Ritholtz Wealth Management, told ABC News. “Who knows what will happen if that policy is walked back?”

Trump Media & Technology Group, the Trump-owned parent company of social media platform Truth Social, could rise in value if Trump takes office. Shares of the company have more than doubled in price over the past month as the former president has improved his standing in some polls.

However, while Trump’s policy proposals could boost the stock market, they also may threaten market performance, some experts said.

On the campaign trail, Trump has promised tariffs as high as 20% on all imported goods. Economists widely expect that such a policy would raise consumer prices. Trump has also voiced plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, which some economists say could cause a labor shortage.

Last month, Trump suggested invoking the military to tamp down what he described as the “enemy from within.”

“If he starts using the military domestically and imposes a 20% tariff and becomes a draconian, anti-democratic figure, it will weigh terribly on the stock market,” Morici said.

What would a Harris presidency mean for the stock market?

Stock prices would likely increase under Harris, as they have under President Joe Biden, but a potential hike in corporate taxes and robust regulatory enforcement could limit the gains, some experts said. So

Corporations currently face a federal tax rate of 21%, which Harris aims to raise to 28%. Such a tax hike could hinder corporate profits and take some fuel out of the stock market, Reena Aggarwal, a professor of finance and director of the Georgetown Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy, told ABC News. But, she added, it remains unclear whether the policy will ultimately become law.

“I don’t think this can happen that easily,” Aggarwal said. “It takes a long time.”

Aggarwal pointed to renewable technology as a sector that would benefit from policies under the Harris administration.

When asked about how the stock market would fare under Harris, Cox said the outcome would “come down to interest rates and earnings.”

The Federal Reserve typically raises interest rates in an effort to cool the economy and rein in inflation, but the policy often places downward pressure on stock prices.

The Harris campaign has put forward proposals to slow price increases for everything from groceries to prescription drugs to homes. Those plans include a federal ban on price-gouging and a focus on market concentration that the Biden administration says triggers high costs for consumers.

In the end, long-term stock market performance will likely depend on economic forces over which Harris, or any president, will exert limited control, Cox added.

“I don’t think Kamala Harris could enact changes that have long-term effects on the stock market,” Cox said. “If you’re a long-term investor, politics do not matter for your portfolio.”

Dry and warm Wednesday, rain chances remain elusive until next week

0

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We started off your Wednesday with cool to mild temperatures and patchy fog. That fog burned off quickly and is yielding to sunny skies. This sunshine will allow temperatures to climb into the upper 80s/low 90s.

Thursday will look about the same as Wednesday, but we could see a bit more cloud cover and possibly an isolated coastal shower Friday. Most of us will stay completely dry.

When could we see our next chance of rain?

Rain chances look slim this week, but there is a pocket of moisture sliding in south of I-10 on Friday that’s good enough to warrant a 10% chance of a shower. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until closer to Halloween for a pattern change that should bring up moisture levels significantly and eventually bring about some rain chances. Right now we have rain chances at 20% for next Wednesday through Friday.

What weather scenarios are on the table for Halloween?

For now it will most likely be a warm, humid Halloween with a small chance for streamer showers blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico. An alternate scenario with a slim chance of occurring is for a cool front to slip in on or just before Halloween to bring a line of storms and possibly some cooler weather behind it. We’ll hopefully have more clarity on which scenario winds out by this weekend!

Speaking of the weekend, how does the forecast look for now?

The final weekend of October will be like most of the others this month: Unseasonably warm and humid with lows in the 60s and highs near 90.

What are you tracking in the tropics?

Oscar has dissipated, and the tropics will likely stay quiet until the first week of November when a storm may try to spin up over the Caribbean. Head to our daily Tropical Updatepage for a complete look at what we’re covering in the tropics.

Baby girl dies after being found abandoned near Kroger along Galveston Seawall, police say

0

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — A baby girl has died after being found abandoned near the Galveston Seawall on Wednesday, and authorities say a suspect will face charges in connection with her death.

The Galveston Police Department said at about 9:45 a.m., officers responded to reports of an abandoned child in the middle of the road just outside the Kroger near 59th Street and Seawall Boulevard.

Officials said the child was still alive and was taken to the trauma center at The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston.

In an afternoon update, Galveston police said the baby had died at the hospital.

Galveston PD has not yet been able to identify the girl but said she was about 17 months old.

“This was definitely not a natural death,” Police Chief Doug Balli said during an afternoon press conference, adding that the baby had suffered trauma and other injuries likely from a fall.

The chief said a suspect has been detained and will face a capital murder charge. Police have not identified that suspect or released additional information but added that the child’s family has been notified.

Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela

0

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela, one of the most popular and beloved Dodgers of all time, has passed away earlier this evening at the age of 63.

“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda and his family.”

Born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Mexico as the youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela made his Major League debut at age 19 with the Dodgers on September 15, 1980, throwing 17.2 innings without allowing an earned run for the remainder of the season. In 1981, beginning with a 2-0 Opening Day shutout of the Houston Astros in an emergency start, he went on an unprecedented career-opening run, with complete games in his first eight career starts – five of them shutouts – and a 0.50 ERA. Immediately, Fernandomania became a fan sensation. “He turned the game into a religion,” Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin once said.

Tilting his eyes skyward in his pitching motion and baffling hitters with his signature screwball, Valenzuela went on to start the 1981 All-Star Game and finish the regular season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and 11 complete games, including eight shutouts in 25 starts. He became the first player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season. In the postseason, he went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA, averaging eight innings per start, capped by a 146-pitch complete game to win Game 3 of the 1981 World Series. “This was not the best Fernando game,” said Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully. “It was his finest.”

The achievements and accolades continued through the decade for Valenzuela. He was an All-Star selection every year from 1981-86. In the last of those, he struck out the first five All-Stars he faced – Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken Jr., Jesse Barfield, Lou Whitaker and Teddy Higuera – on his way to a career-high 21-win season. A lifetime .200 hitter with 10 home runs, Valenzuela won two Silver Slugger Awards. And his smarts and agility on defense throughout his career culminated in a Gold Glove Award in ’86. In his final season with the Dodgers, he pitched a no-hitter on June 29, 1990 against the St. Louis Cardinals, inspiring another of Scully’s famous calls: “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky.”

In 17 big league seasons, Valenzuela compiled a 173-153 record and 3.54 ERA with the Dodgers (1980-90), Los Angeles Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997). He later joined the Dodgers Spanish language broadcasting team in 2003 and remained for 22 seasons.

The Dodgers inducted Valenzuela as part of the inaugural class of the Legends of Dodger Baseball in 2018 and retired his number on August 11, 2023. Valenzuela has been named to numerous Halls of Fame, including the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. He was very active in supporting various team and Latino initiatives in the community. He was honored for his work in Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program (RBI) with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Valenzuela is survived by his wife Linda and four children, Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda and Maria Fernanda, and seven grandchildren.