Spring in Houston is prime planting season. These native picks thrive in local heat, humidity, and unpredictable rain—while supporting pollinators.
1. Texas Lantana
Texas Lantana Bright orange and yellow blooms attract butterflies and bees. Drought-tolerant and perfect for full sun.
2. American Beautyberry
American Beautyberry A standout shrub with vibrant purple berries in fall. Great for shady areas and supports local wildlife.
3. Turk’s Cap
Turk’s Cap Thrives in Houston’s heat and partial shade. Its red flowers are a favorite for hummingbirds.
4. Gulf Muhly
Gulf Muhly An ornamental grass with soft pink plumes. Low-maintenance and ideal for adding texture to landscapes.
5. Texas Sage
Texas Sage Also called “cenizo,” this hardy shrub produces purple blooms after rain and handles drought with ease.
Why Native?
Native plants require less water, fewer chemicals, and are better adapted to Houston’s climate—making them a smart, sustainable choice for April planting.
In neighborhoods across Houston, a quiet, often unwelcome visitor moves through the night. The Opossum is frequently labeled “filthy,” “scary,” or a pest. But much of what people believe about this animal is simply not true.
Not Dangerous—Just Misunderstood
Opossums are non-aggressive and solitary. When threatened, they’re far more likely to freeze or “play dead” than attack. Despite common fears, they areextremely unlikely to carry rabies due to their naturally low body temperature, which makes it difficult for the virus to survive.
Their quiet, slow movements and unusual appearance may startle people, but they are not a threat to humans, pets, or neighborhoods.
Nature’s Cleanup Crew—and Tick Control
Far from being a nuisance, opossums play an important role in Houston’s ecosystem. They are natural scavengers, feeding on:
Roadkill and animal remains
Insects and cockroaches
Rodents and small pests
They also groom themselves constantly, consuming large numbers of ticks in the process. This helps reduce tick populations in the areas they inhabit. Fewer ticks can mean a lower risk of tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, for both people and pets.
In that sense, opossums act as an unexpected layer of protection in our neighborhoods.
Why You’re Seeing Them More Often
As Houston continues to grow, wildlife habitats shrink. Opossums adapt by moving into residential areas in search of food and shelter. Seeing one in your yard at night is not unusual—it’s often just passing through.
They do not dig aggressively like some animals, nor do they typically cause structural damage. Most encounters are brief and harmless.
What To Do If You See One
If you come across an opossum:
Keep your distance and give it space
Do not attempt to handle it unless it is clearly injured
Secure trash and pet food to avoid attracting wildlife
If the animal appears hurt, contact Houston SPCA, which operates a wildlife ambulance and rehabilitation center serving the region.
Changing the Narrative
Opossums have lived in North America for millions of years, quietly contributing to the health of ecosystems long before Houston existed. Yet today, they are often met with fear instead of understanding.
Reframing how we see these animals starts with simple awareness: they are not invaders, but neighbors adapting to a changing environment. In a city like Houston, coexistence isn’t optional—it’s part of living here.
U.S. immigration arrests have declined in recent weeks following a controversial enforcement crackdown and the fatal shootings of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
At the height of the operation late last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were making nearly 40,000 arrests nationwide per month. The aggressive strategy—described by officials as rapid, high-visibility enforcement—targeted locations like restaurants, bus stops, and retail parking lots across states including Texas, Florida, and California.
Policy Shake-Up Follows Public Backlash
In late January, the killings of two civilians during enforcement actions in Minneapolis sparked national outrage and raised concerns about tactics used by federal agents. Public opinion polls suggested many Americans believed enforcement efforts had gone too far.
The fallout led to major leadership changes, including the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in early March. Border enforcement official Tom Homan was reassigned to oversee operations in Minneapolis and announced a reduction in agent presence in the region on Feb. 4.
Arrest Numbers Decline — But Not Everywhere
According to data analyzed by the Associated Press, ICE arrests dropped by nearly 12% nationwide in the five weeks following the policy shift—from an average of 8,347 weekly arrests to 7,369.
However, the trend was uneven. Arrests increased in several states, including Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Florida. Meanwhile, larger states such as Minnesota and Texas saw notable declines, balancing out the national average.
Who Is Being Arrested?
The Trump administration maintains that enforcement targets serious offenders, often described as “the worst of the worst.” But data shows a more complex picture.
In the weeks following the policy change, about 41% of those arrested had no criminal record—down slightly from 46% before Feb. 4, but still higher than earlier averages.
Individual cases highlight the impact. Recent court filings include a Honduran father of three U.S. citizens arrested during a traffic stop in California, and a Venezuelan doctor in South Texas detained for overstaying her visa while accompanying her child to a family immigration hearing.
What Comes Next?
Advocates say the dip in arrests may signal a shift in enforcement strategy, but caution it’s too early to determine if the change is permanent. Federal officials, meanwhile, insist immigration enforcement remains a priority despite the recent slowdown.
For more on immigration enforcement and its effects, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (KTRK) — Day One of the 2026 NFL Draft is going down in Pittsburgh! The Houston Texans made a trade on Day One of this year’s draft.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans received the No. 26 and No. 91 pick from the Buffalo Bills (who got No. 28, 69, and 167).
With the 26th pick, Texans selected Georgia Tech offensive guard Keylan Rutledge.
In the 2025-26 NFL regular season, the Texans finished 12-5. Houston’s season ended with a loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional playoff round.
In this year’s draft, the Texans have a total of five draft picks remaining, including the 38th, 59th, 106th, 141st, and 243rd picks.
Rounds 2 and 3 will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24, with Rounds 4-7 at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. You can catch all the draft coverage live on ABC13.
GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — Carnival Cruise Line’s fifth Excel-class ship, the Carnival Tropicale, is scheduled to homeport in Galveston starting in 2028.
“I think you know it. Texas people jump in their car, and they’ll drive to the port,” Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line President, said. “You know, Carnival Cruise Line, 50% of the U.S. population could drive to one of our ships in 5 hours or less.”
City leaders, including Galveston Mayor Craig Brown, say that people driving to the port will help boost the local economy.
He told ABC13 this will bring more visitors to local hotels, shops, and restaurants.
“It brings income to the city. It brings sales tax to the city,” Brown said. “We’re probably going to experience our 2 millionth cruise passenger this coming year.”
The cruise line says the ship can carry over 6,000 people, and Brown believes many of them will spend time on the island.
“Right now, we’re experiencing close to 30% of those people that come on the island to go on the cruise ships are staying on the island, are coming here after or coming and staying before the cruise,” Brown said.
The arrival of the Carnival Tropicale means both the cruise industry and the local job market are growing.
“It’s also great for the community of Galveston,” Duffy said. “There’s also 4,500 jobs that support the cruise industry and with this growth, more time to come.”
In 2024, the Carnival Jubilee became the first brand-new ship to debut at the Port of Galveston.
Carnival and city leaders are confident that when the Carnival Tropicale sets sail in 2028, it will be another success for Galveston.
“I saw an energy that started because they brought their biggest and most luxurious ship here to Galveston,” Brown said. “When they brought that here, that also added to our community here and gave us a benefit that we really appreciate.”
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Hurricane season is quickly approaching, and this weekend is a great way to stock up on emergency supplies in Texas.
Starting Saturday, the state will waive sales tax on items useful for safety during the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons, which run from June 1 through November.
Officials provided some key items available for under a certain amount:
Less than $3,000:
Portable generators
Less than $300:
Emergency ladders
Hurricane shutters
Less than $75:
ice chests
batteries
first-aid kits
small batteries
carbon monoxide detectors
fire extinguishers
fuel containers
ground anchor systems and tie down kits
hatchets
Mobile telephone batteries and chargers
smoke detectors
tarps and other plastic sheeting
According to the Comptroller.Texas.Gov website, items ineligible for the sales tax weekend include:medical masks, tents, plywood, toilet paper, step ladders, camping stoves, gloves, camping supplies, chainsaws, batteries for automobiles, and cleaning supplies.
For those unable to make it to the store over the weekend, online purchases qualify for the tax-free sale as long as they are made between Saturday and Monday, April 27.
Officials also urge customers to remember that delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are also a part of the sales price.
This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 27.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We are drying out and warming up in the days ahead, but we do have another cool front in our 10 day forecast.
Temperatures Friday morning will fall back toward 70 degrees as clouds stream overhead. Patchy fog is possible again for the Friday morning drive. As some sunshine breaks through the clouds, temperatures will warm back into the mid 80s. There is a 20% chance you’ll encounter a brief shower..
What’s the outlook for the weekend?
Temperatures will rise back into the upper 80s over the weekend. With the humidity it will feel closer to 90 at the peak heat of the day. Rain chances will stay low at 10% under a partly cloudy sky. The sun at this time of year is about as intense as it is in late August, so you can quickly catch a sun burn if you’re not careful!
Are there anymore cool fronts in the forecast?
We have one penciled in for late next week as we say goodbye to April and hello to May. The front is expected to blow in late Thursday or early Friday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Behind the front we anticipate a day or two with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s.
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Authorities in Tampa have confirmed that one of two missing doctoral students from the University of South Florida has been found dead, while the search continues for the second student.
Discovery and Arrest
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced that the remains of 27-year-old Zamil Limon were discovered Friday near the Howard Frankland Bridge.
Limon’s roommate, Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, was taken into custody after a brief standoff at a residence earlier that day. Authorities said he surrendered and was later charged with multiple offenses, including abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, false imprisonment, and battery.
Search Continues for Second Student
Investigators are still searching for Nahida Bristy, also 27, who remains missing. Marine and dive teams are actively working in areas near the bridge.
Officials upgraded both students’ status to endangered prior to the discovery, indicating concern for their safety.
Timeline of Disappearance
Limon and Bristy were last seen separately on April 16 in the Tampa area. A mutual acquaintance reported them missing after several days without contact.
Limon was last seen at his residence that morning
Bristy was last seen on campus at the Natural & Environmental Sciences Building
Both were pursuing doctoral studies—Limon in geography and environmental science, and Bristy in chemical engineering.
University Response
USF President Moez Limayem said there is no ongoing threat to campus safety, while expressing grief over Limon’s death and hope for Bristy’s safe return.
Ongoing Investigation
The cause of Limon’s death has not yet been determined. Authorities are urging anyone with information about Bristy’s whereabouts to contact campus police as the investigation continues.
The vouchers require the FDA to review eligible drug applications within 60 days, significantly shortening the typical approval timeline. The move is part of a broader push to explore new treatments for conditions that are often difficult to manage.
Drugs Under Study
The companies are researching:
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder
Methylone, a synthetic compound related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Additionally, the FDA approved an early-stage clinical trial of noribogaine hydrochloride, a derivative of ibogaine, for potential treatment of alcohol use disorder—marking the first U.S.-based study of its kind.
Federal Push for Psychedelic Research
The announcement follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump directing federal agencies to speed up research and review of psychedelic therapies. The goal is to address rising rates of depression, PTSD, and addiction.
Promise and Caution
Early studies suggest psychedelic-assisted therapy may offer lasting mental health benefits when administered in controlled settings. However, none of these drugs are currently approved for routine psychiatric use in the U.S.
Many remain classified as Schedule I substances, indicating a high potential for abuse and no officially accepted medical use. Experts stress that further research is needed to confirm safety and effectiveness.
What’s Next
The FDA says it will soon release updated guidance for companies developing psychedelic treatments, including recommendations on clinical trial design and patient monitoring.
As interest grows, regulators emphasize balancing innovation with rigorous scientific standards to ensure patient safety.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — What’s a great way to celebrate Earth Month, offload electronics you no longer use, and help a local business ring in its 30th anniversary?
How about joining ABC13 and CompuCycle for the 19th annual ABC13 Earth Day E-Cycle Drive, an event focused on helping our communities safely recycle electronics.
From 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026, you can stop by CompuCycle at 8019 Kempwood Dr., Houston, TX 77055 to drop off old or unwanted electronics.
1 of 10
Take a look through some of the action (and big equipment donations!) during 2025’s drive at CompuCycle.
CompuCycle, who is celebrating 30 years in business and sponsoring this event, will take care of the rest, and you can leave knowing you’ve played a part in reducing harmful e-waste.
You don’t even have to get out of your car as the CompuCycle team will assist once you arrive.
Each year, the amount of electronic waste dropped off for recycling has grown with the drive hitting 100,000 pounds or more multiple times over the years.
In fact, ABC13’s Earth Day E-Cycle Drive holds the Guinness World Record for the largest single day e-waste collection, set in 2014 when we collected 138,174 lbs. of electronics.
But records were meant to be broken!
We want to top that this year. Will you help us?
Here’s what else to know before the big day.
How much is it?
Free! You can drop off and all will be handled at no cost to you. No appointment necessary.
Is there anything I should prepare?
Yes! Before you drop off electronics, back up any important data and perform a factory reset on devices that store personal information. Remove any accessories like cables and chargers.
What can I drop off?
Old computers and phones are just the tip of the iceberg. CompuCycle accepts various items from fax machines and Wi-Fi extenders to e-readers, MP3 players, streaming devices, and charging cables.
So whether you have one device or several, you can drop them off during the drive.
What happens to my electronics after I drop them off?
Once collected, CompuCycle sorts your old electronics, hard drives are wiped clean for your safety, and all materials are then processed for use in new consumer products.
Goods are also recycled in compliance with their e-Stewards certification, according to CompuCycle’s website, adding that they will guarantee secure data destruction on all devices with storage capabilities to protect your personal information.
Why does safely recycling electronics matter?
Diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of e-waste from Houston landfills promotes a healthier city, preventing the release of toxins in our air, soil and water.
Typically, the impact and response during the drive is great.
In 2024, ABC13 viewers recycled the equivalent of 382 refrigerators worth of electronic waste.
240.92 lbs. of toxic metals diverted
Reduction of 45.37 metric tons of greenhouse gas
Saved 383.72 gallons of oil
Like removing nearly 10 cars from the road
293.60 cubic yards of landfill space saved
3,736,637.20 hours of electricity saved
What if I can’t make it?
We really want to see you on Friday, April 24, but we know things happen.
CompuCycle accepts drop-offs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Business deliveries can be scheduled by calling (713) 869-6700.
In addition, both residential and corporate drop-offs are welcome during the drive.
