68.4 F
Houston
Friday, May 8, 2026

Home Blog Page 223

Diddy’s Defense Rests After Just 20 Minutes in Sex Trafficking Trial

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
Diddy’s Defense Rests After Just 20 Minutes in Sex Trafficking Trial

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team concluded their defense Tuesday with a brief 20-minute presentation, ending a high-profile federal trial in New York that has lasted nearly seven weeks.

Diddy Declines to Testify

Mr. Combs spoke in court for the first time in weeks, confirming he would not take the stand. “It’s my decision with my lawyers,” he said, while also complimenting the judge: “I want to tell you thank you.”

Charges and Potential Sentence

Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

Defense Strategy and Evidence

The defense called no witnesses and instead entered text messages between Combs and two alleged victims, including singer Casandra Ventura and another woman referred to as Jane. One message read aloud stated Jane “always [has] fun” during “hotel nights,” or what were referred to as “freak-offs.”

Why Combs Didn’t Testify

Legal expert Mitchell Epner noted that calling Combs to the stand could have been risky, potentially shifting the case’s weight entirely onto his testimony.

Defense Pushes for Acquittal

Combs’ team filed a motion for acquittal, arguing prosecutors failed to prove any charges. Attorney Alexandra Shapiro stated, “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” and claimed the women involved had the autonomy to leave.

Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutors alleged Combs used his fame and businesses to run a sex trafficking ring, presenting over 30 witnesses who described being coerced into unwanted sex acts using drugs and violence.

Closing Arguments Ahead

Final arguments are set for Thursday and Friday, where both sides will make their last pitch to the jury.

Check back in with Que Onda Magazine regarding closing remarks on Thursday and Friday.

James Harden sued for negligence after his nephew accused of rape at his Houston home, records show

ABC13 Houston
-
0
James Harden sued for negligence after his nephew accused of rape at his Houston home, records show

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden was sued for negligence for the conduct of his security team, according to court documents.

The lawsuit says the NBA All-Star’s nephew sexually assaulted a woman at a New Year’s Eve party in 2024 at his mansion in Houston.

Eyewitness News obtained the lawsuit, which was filed in Harris County, Texas, on Monday.

During the party, guests were allegedly asked to leave their personal belongings, including cell phones, inside their vehicles or at the gate, according to the lawsuit.

It details that the victim drank from a bottle given to her by Justice Armani Blackburn, who is Harden’s nephew, which she says led to her quickly losing consciousness.

The 18-page lawsuit claims she was sexually assaulted by Blackburn while unconscious.

The lawsuit says the victim’s two friends were removed by Harden’s security, even though she was still inside the residence, which prevented them from intervening in the alleged attack.

Records show that her friends found her phone after being kicked out, called her sister, who then contacted Harden’s sister, who is Blackburn’s mother.

The filing stated that the victim’s sister sent a photo of her to Harden’s security, who claimed that the woman inside was not her, despite the lawsuit alleging that she was in fact at the mansion at that time.

The negligence claim against Harden stems from the conduct of Harden’s in-home security, which they say failed to act responsibly in response to outside calls for help and could have prevented the alleged sexual assault.

The lawsuit also says that Harden is “vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer,” who were also named as defendants in the case.

Harden’s legal team hasn’t commented about the case.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

2025 Texas Legislative Recap: What Changed in State Election Laws

Edward Saenz
-
0
2025 Texas Legislative Recap: What Changed in State Election Laws

Key Changes Passed, Major Proposals Failed

Texas lawmakers approved several election-related reforms this session, including an expanded early-voting schedule, improvements to mail-in voting processes, and new restrictions on curbside voting. However, controversial proposals—like proof of citizenship requirements and online voter registration—did not advance.

Early Voting Period Adjusted for Accessibility

Senate Bill 2753 restructured early voting by starting it later but eliminating the three-day break before Election Day. It adds more access on Sundays and holidays, giving voters more opportunities to cast ballots. However, these changes may delay partial election results, as tallies from early ballots will not be released until all polling locations close.

Mail-In Voting to Be More Voter-Friendly

Senate Bill 2964 allows election officials to notify voters of errors on their mail-in ballots via phone or email and gives voters the ability to correct them by mail or in person. House Bill 2259 requires mail-in ballot instructions to be printed in larger fonts and multiple languages, making them more accessible. Both bills take effect in September.

Tighter Rules on Curbside Voting

House Bill 511 adds new verification steps for voters using curbside voting. Voters must now sign a form swearing they cannot enter the polling site without assistance. Those providing rides for multiple voters must also complete and sign documentation. Failing to comply may result in a Class A misdemeanor.

Proof of Citizenship Proposal Fails

Senate Bill 16, which would have required all voters—current and new—to prove citizenship, failed to get a floor vote in the House. The sweeping bill faced criticism for potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.

Attorney General’s Election Powers Remain Limited

Efforts to expand Attorney General Ken Paxton’s authority to prosecute election crimes failed after the House and Senate couldn’t agree on the scope of the power. The current law still requires local prosecutors to initiate such cases.

Online Voter Registration Still Off the Table

Despite hearings and proposed legislation, Texas will continue to rely on paper-based voter registration. Bills to allow online registration didn’t make it past committee or failed to meet legislative deadlines.

Counties Can Still Send Unsolicited Registration Forms

Legislation that would have banned counties from mailing out unsolicited voter registration applications failed. This means counties can continue such outreach, despite pushback from some lawmakers.

No Guns in Polling Locations

Bills to allow concealed firearms in polling places didn’t pass. Proposals permitting poll workers or voters to carry guns inside polling sites missed key legislative deadlines.

No New Audits for Hand-Counted Ballots

House Bill 3113, which aimed to make hand-count audits easier and more verifiable, did not advance. Current law still requires a full manual recount to verify hand-tallied election results, even after high-profile counting errors in 2024.

What Now?

Though several reforms were enacted, Texas did not pursue some of the more controversial or expansive changes this session. Counties will now prepare to implement the new laws by 2027, as required by the state.

The Texas Legislature is set to reconvene. Keep up with future developments with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Jessie J Shares Honest Update After Breast Cancer Surgery

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
Jessie J Shares Honest Update After Breast Cancer Surgery

Recovery After Surgery

Jessie J has opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis and recovery, sharing a heartfelt update from her hospital bed. In a June 24 post, she reflected on the past 48 hours, expressing gratitude for her surgeon, nurses, and loved ones.

“I will always show the good and hard bits of any journey I go through,” she wrote. Now back home, Jessie is resting and awaiting further results.

Final Performance Before Surgery

Earlier this month, Jessie performed at Capital’s Summertime Ball in Wembley Stadium, calling it her final show before undergoing surgery. In an emotional moment, she told the crowd of 75,000, “Today, this show is my last show before I go to beat breast cancer!”

Early Diagnosis and Going Public

Jessie revealed her diagnosis on June 3, shortly before releasing her single “No Secrets.” She emphasized the word “early” and said she chose to go public to help herself and others facing similar challenges. “I’m an open book,” she said. “It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much – similar and worse.”

Maintaining Humor and Perspective

Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, Jessie has remained lighthearted. “I’m getting to keep my nipples, that’s good,” she joked. She added that the timing of her diagnosis felt surreal, given the pre-scheduled releases of her songs “No Secrets” and “Living My Best Life.”

A History of Health Struggles

Jessie has long been open about her health journey. She previously shared her diagnoses of Ménière’s disease, OCD, ADHD, and her experience with miscarriage. In 2023, she welcomed her son, Sky, into the world.

For more on Jessie J’s recovery, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Rain chances climb even higher Tuesday and Wednesday

ABC13 Houston
-
0
Rain chances climb even higher Tuesday and Wednesday


HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Rain chances are increasing as tropical moisture makes its way back into Houston. This tropical moisture will remain disorganized, but these storms could drop a quick inch or two of rain that floods streets along with frequent lightning strikes that could temporarily knock out the power. This type of pattern also can produce funnel clouds and waterspouts in the morning near the coast.

We’ll have a few showers form near the coast Tuesday morning that will then expand northward toward Houston by the early afternoon hours. Remember, if you hear thunder roar, head indoors! It won’t take long for showers and storms to pass by, but they could bring briefly heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds. You chance of getting rain is at 40%. Otherwise, it’ll be another typically hot June day with lows in the mid 70s and highs in the low 90s. Factor in the humidity, and the heat index will peak between 100 and 105 degrees.

How high will the rain chances go this week?

For now, we have rain chances peaking at 70% Wednesday. Tropical moisture is flowing in around a major heat ridge over the northeastern part of the country. The showers and storms should also bring rain-cooled highs in the upper 80s if it rains early enough in the day. Otherwise the highs will peak in the 90s where it doesn’t rain or rains late in the afternoon.

How much rain should we expect to pick up?

About an inch where the storms pass by. There could be some pockets with multiple inches that lead to localized street flooding.

What’s happening in the tropics?

There is an area of showers and thunderstorms near the island of Bermuda that has a 40% chance for development over the next couple of days. Meanwhile, another storm is threatening to form south of Mexico in the eastern Pacific. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Keep up with all things Houston with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Texas Launches $20 Billion Water Infrastructure Plan, Puts Tax Measure on November Ballot

Edward Saenz
-
0
Texas Launches $20 Billion Water Infrastructure Plan, Puts Tax Measure on November Ballot

Gov. Greg Abbott on June 18 signed into law a sweeping $20 billion plan to address Texas’ water infrastructure crisis, marking the state’s largest investment yet in securing long-term water supplies and repairing aging systems.

The plan, passed by the Texas Legislature with bipartisan support, directs an immediate $2.5 billion into a newly created Texas Water Fund. Lawmakers also approved a constitutional amendment proposal that would dedicate $1 billion annually in sales tax revenue to the fund for 20 years, starting in 2027. Voters will decide the measure’s fate in November.

“Texas is facing a water emergency that demands a generational solution,” Abbott said during the signing ceremony. “This investment will help ensure that our communities and our economy have the water they need for decades to come.”

The Texas Water Fund aims to split spending evenly between developing new water sources and upgrading existing infrastructure. New supply projects may include desalination, treated wastewater reuse, and construction of new reservoirs and pipelines. Infrastructure improvements are intended to reduce the billions of gallons lost each year through leaky pipes and aging systems.

A recent study by the public policy group Texas 2036 estimates the state needs $154 billion in water supply and infrastructure investments by 2050 to avoid severe shortages. Currently, Texas loses an estimated 88 billion gallons of water each year through failing pipelines, with Houston accounting for roughly a third of that loss.

The plan is a compromise between proposals that initially emphasized new water supply projects over repairs. Under the new law, the Texas Water Development Board will administer funds, working with regional planning bodies and an advisory committee.

Environmental groups praised the emphasis on conservation and system upgrades but expressed concern about the potential ecological impact of large-scale desalination projects.

If approved by voters, the tax dedication would secure funding through 2047, providing what lawmakers describe as a long-term solution to Texas’ growing water needs.

Study warns rollback of federal clean energy tax credits could cost Texas billions and thousands of jobs

Edward Saenz
-
0
Study warns rollback of federal clean energy tax credits could cost Texas billions and thousands of jobs

A recent study warns that repealing federal clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act could cost Texas’s economy billions of dollars and threaten tens of thousands of jobs.

The analysis by Energy Innovation projects that Texas could lose more than $87 billion in gross domestic product by 2034 if the tax credits are rolled back. The state’s GDP is expected to drop by $17.17 billion in 2030 and by $20.32 billion in 2035 alone.

Employment in Texas’s clean energy and manufacturing sectors could shrink by about 120,000 jobs by 2035, the study said.

The potential repeal would also raise energy costs for Texas households, with electricity bills expected to increase by roughly $780 annually and vehicle fuel costs by about $420 per year by 2035.

Since the proposal to repeal the tax credits surfaced, more than $14 billion in clean energy projects and approximately 10,000 associated jobs have been canceled nationwide, with Texas among the hardest hit, according to industry reports.

Texas’s clean energy manufacturing sector, which currently contributes $18 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports 122,000 jobs, faces uncertain prospects if the tax incentives disappear.

Experts warn the rollback could also undermine U.S. competitiveness in the global clean energy market and impact rural Texas communities that have benefited from renewable energy investments.

“This legislation threatens to stall progress on clean energy development in Texas, putting economic growth and jobs at risk,” the report states.

Texas has been a leader in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, and industry advocates are urging lawmakers to maintain federal support to preserve momentum.

The Inflation Reduction Act tax credits have been a key driver of investment in clean energy nationwide since their enactment in 2022.

Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions, Then Retreat as Strait of Hormuz Remains Open

Edward Saenz
-
0
Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions, Then Retreat as Strait of Hormuz Remains Open

Global oil markets saw significant volatility this week following a series of escalating geopolitical events in the Middle East.

Brent crude prices initially jumped more than 5% after the United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, raising fears of a major disruption to oil supplies. However, prices later eased back, falling roughly 7% as Iran refrained from blocking the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway responsible for transporting approximately 20 to 30 percent of the world’s oil.

Instead of targeting the crucial shipping lane, Iran retaliated by launching attacks on a U.S. military base in Qatar. While this move intensified regional tensions, it did not directly threaten the flow of oil through the Strait, calming immediate market concerns.

Analysts from Goldman Sachs warned that any future disruption to the Strait of Hormuz could send Brent crude prices soaring above $100 per barrel, exacerbating inflationary pressures worldwide. The global energy market remains closely attuned to developments in the region, where supply interruptions could have widespread economic consequences.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for energy transit. With ongoing political volatility, traders and policymakers alike are watching carefully to assess risks to the already tight oil supply chain.

As the situation continues to unfold, market watchers emphasize the importance of diplomatic efforts to maintain stability and keep oil flowing uninterrupted.

Texas Overhauls Voting Laws: More Weekend Access, New Mail Ballot Rules, Curbside Limits

Edward Saenz
-
0
Texas Overhauls Voting Laws: More Weekend Access, New Mail Ballot Rules, Curbside Limits

Texas lawmakers have approved a series of election reforms aimed at expanding weekend voting access, clarifying mail-in ballot procedures, and tightening curbside voting rules, in a package of changes set to take effect ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Under the new law, early voting will span 12 consecutive days ending the day before Election Day. The updated schedule eliminates the previous three-day gap before Election Day and guarantees two full weekends of early voting. In addition, Sunday voting hours will be extended to nine hours, including on holidays.

“This is about making sure every Texan has a fair chance to cast a ballot,” said Sen. Andrea Martinez, D-Dallas, a supporter of the bill. “By providing more consistent access on weekends, we’re meeting voters where they are.”

Local election officials, however, have raised concerns about the increased workload. Many counties will need to adjust staffing and equipment allocations, though no additional state funding has been designated to support the changes.

The Legislature also approved reforms to mail-in voting. The new law requires clearer instructions on ballot envelopes and provides voters with opportunities to correct errors that might otherwise cause their ballots to be rejected. The reforms follow a federal court ruling that struck down Texas’s previous mail ballot ID requirements as discriminatory.

Curbside voting access has been narrowed. The updated law limits the service to voters who are physically unable to enter polling places, typically due to a disability. Election officials must continue to ensure that curbside voting is available and accessible to those who qualify.

Meanwhile, efforts to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration failed in the Legislature. The proposal drew criticism from voting rights advocates, who warned it would suppress registration among eligible voters who lack documentation or have changed names.

The voting reforms are expected to be implemented by August 2027, in time for the 2028 general election. While supporters say the changes will boost turnout, others warn the new requirements could create logistical challenges and delays in reporting early results.

Abbott Vetoes THC Ban, Calls for Regulation; Special Session Set for July

Edward Saenz
-
0
Abbott Vetoes THC Ban, Calls for Regulation; Special Session Set for July

In a surprise late-night decision, Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday vetoed Senate Bill 3, a measure that would have banned all hemp-derived THC products in Texas, including popular items containing delta-8 and delta-9. Instead, the governor called for a special legislative session to create a regulatory framework for the controversial industry.

The veto came just before the midnight deadline to act on legislation passed during the regular session. Abbott cited constitutional concerns and the potential for costly legal challenges, saying an outright ban could violate federal protections under the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp at the national level.

“While I share concerns about unregulated THC products, a blanket ban would criminalize lawful businesses and consumers and likely face immediate court challenges,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texas must take a smarter path — one that protects public health while respecting constitutional boundaries.”

The special session is set to begin July 21. Abbott is asking lawmakers to draft legislation that would regulate hemp-derived THC products through licensing requirements, age restrictions, packaging and labeling standards, potency limits, and proximity rules for retail locations.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a leading supporter of SB 3, blasted the veto, describing it as a last-minute betrayal. Patrick, who had championed the bill as essential to protecting young Texans and public safety, said he was “deeply disappointed” in the governor’s decision.

“Texas had the opportunity to shut down a dangerous and unregulated market that targets our kids,” Patrick said. “Instead, we’re heading toward de facto legalization under the guise of regulation.”

Hemp industry leaders and small business owners, meanwhile, praised the veto. The Texas Hemp Business Council said the decision saved an industry valued at more than $4 billion and thousands of jobs.

“We are grateful Governor Abbott recognized the economic impact and legal complexities involved,” the group said in a statement. “We stand ready to work with lawmakers on responsible regulation.”

The coming special session sets up a high-stakes political showdown between supporters of a ban and those pushing for regulation. It also highlights growing divisions within the state’s Republican leadership.

1...222223224...956Page 223 of 956

Houston’s premier Hispanic news network, dedicated to keeping you informed with the latest updates on local and national breaking news, community events, entertainment, chisme, and much more. We strive to be your trusted source for engaging and timely content that connects with our vibrant community and celebrates the culture and stories that matter most to you.

Contact us: contact@queondamagazine.com

© Copyright - Que Onda Magazine 2024