WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 13: Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs after delivering remarks at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on June 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump is expected to address Republican congressional members Thursday morning. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2024 — Former President Donald Trump made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill on Thursday, his first visit with lawmakers since the January 6, 2021, attacks. Embraced by energized House and Senate Republicans, Trump was bolstered by his bid to retake the White House.
Despite facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and a recent guilty verdict in an unrelated hush money trial, Trump arrived as the presumptive Republican nominee. He has managed to purge the GOP of most critics, silence skeptics, and attract previously critical lawmakers to his MAGA-fueled campaign.
During a private breakfast meeting at GOP campaign headquarters across from the Capitol, a packed room of House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump. They presented him with a baseball and bat from the annual congressional game. Senators later celebrated with an American flag cake adorned with “45” and “47” candles, symbolizing Trump’s potential next presidency.
Trump boasted that his telephone rallies for lawmakers could draw larger audiences than popstar Taylor Swift, who has yet to make any political endorsements.
The visit underscored Trump’s enduring influence within the Republican Party and his ability to galvanize support among GOP lawmakers as he campaigns for a return to the White House.
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 14, 2024 — In a unanimous decision yesterday, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit aimed at restricting access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The suit, brought by a group of doctors and anti-abortion organizations, claimed that the FDA had failed to adequately consider safety concerns, thereby endangering women’s health.
Mifepristone, which is used in over 60% of abortions in the United States, has been proven safe and effective. However, concerns arose that the conservative-majority court might limit access to the drug following its 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Writing for the court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that the plaintiffs, who do not prescribe mifepristone themselves, were not directly harmed by the FDA’s actions and thus lacked the standing to sue.
Despite the ruling preserving access to mifepristone, the drug remains illegal in 14 states that have enacted total abortion bans.
Implications of the Ruling
The Supreme Court’s decision does not indicate a shift in its stance on reproductive rights. The ruling focused on the plaintiffs’ lack of standing rather than the legality of the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone. This leaves open the possibility that the court may consider future, more robust challenges against the drug.
Anti-abortion groups have already expressed their intention to file new lawsuits. Additionally, the Supreme Court is poised to rule later this month on a separate abortion case involving Idaho’s ban, which permits the procedure only when the patient’s life is at risk. The court appeared divided when it heard arguments for this case in April.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston ISD board meeting went late into the night to pass the budget for the upcoming school year.
In a rare, split five-to-four vote, HISD trustees voted to pass Superintendent Mike Miles’ $2.1 billion budget. As part of his plan, one-third of the funds, or $684 million, will go toward the 130 “New Education System” or “NES” schools.
Funding has been a controversial topic when it comes to job cuts. There have been 1,500 HISD positions eliminated between November and June to save money.
On Friday, parents will be able to find out how their children did on this year’s STARR testing and will be able to individually look up test results.
Overall results were released earlier this week, showing students are doing better in reading and math. The data shows students at the 130 NES schools have improved more than students at non-NES schools, according to Miles.
Miles said in reading and math, NES schools had the largest single-year increase of any urban district in Texas ever.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An escaped inmate who authorities say also tried to carjack a district attorney’s office employee at knifepoint was caught early Friday morning, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
At about 3 a.m., Nigel Thomas Sanders was captured at his mother’s home in the 1400 block of Force St. by the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force in east Harris County, according to authorities.
There is no threat to public safety, the sheriff’s office said, adding that Sanders will face new charges of aggravated robbery and escape for Thursday’s incident.
Sanders is not the only person who will be charged.
ABC13 has learned two more people, identified as his mother and his sister, were arrested for hindering apprehension, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said during an update Friday morning that Sanders resisted arrest, so officials deployed a Taser and took him into custody. He’s being treated at the hospital.
Authorities added that they received multiple leads and several law enforcement agencies were involved in searching addresses for the suspect.
Sanders’ capture on Friday marked the end of a 12-hour search for a man authorities considered dangerous.
It all started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, when the sheriff’s office received word of an escape, prompting the shutdown of the jail complex, HCSO Assistant Chief Philip Bosquez said.
An inmate count uncovered Sanders was missing. They believed he escaped from 1301 Franklin, which is the building adjacent to the criminal courthouse.
Bosquez said Sanders, who has a lengthy criminal history, was in court for three burglary counts and an unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon charge. After his hearing, Sanders was on his way to the jail when Bosquez said he “facilitated” the escape, even though HCSO didn’t mention specifics.
Sanders got to the building’s sallyport, where an employee was getting into her vehicle. Bosquez said there, he jumped in and held her at knifepoint. The woman crashed into several cars, and Sanders took off on foot again.
Bosquez could only say that Sanders got ahold of the knife outside of jail.
The University of Houston-Downtown earlier issued an alert to students and staff, warning them to “get indoors immediately,” “lock outside doors,” and “avoid windows.” UHD later said there was no longer an emergency, and the situation was cleared.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also confirmed that the employee, held against her will, works in her office.
MEXICO CITY, June 14, 2024 — Grupo Salinas, owned by billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, owes more than 63 billion pesos to Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT), according to SAT head Antonio Martínez Dagnino.
During a morning press conference with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Martínez Dagnino detailed that this sum includes over 53 billion pesos from tax disputes following SAT audits of four companies between 2008 and 2018, and an additional 10 billion pesos in tax credits.
Martínez Dagnino highlighted the enormity of Grupo Salinas’ debt, noting that it surpasses the annual budgets of federal entities such as Baja California Sur (21 billion pesos) and Tlaxcala (18 billion pesos).
Over 90 percent of the debt is linked to fiscal consolidation, a mechanism used between 1982 and 2013 allowing taxpayers to offset group-wide gains and losses, resulting in deferred income tax payments. This mechanism did not absolve tax liabilities, which have since accrued due to updates, inflation, and surcharges, pushing the original debt of 38 billion pesos from 17 lawsuits, including seven tax consolidation cases, to its current figure.
Former Federal Fiscal Attorney and current Undersecretary of Human Rights, Population, and Migration, Félix Arturo Medina Padilla, stated that Grupo Salinas has leveraged its legal and corporate structure to challenge and delay a final ruling, preventing the enforcement of tax payments.
Grupo Salinas encompasses around 20 companies across Mexico, including notable entities like Elektra, Banco Azteca, Seguros Azteca, TV Azteca, and internet service provider Totalplay. Earlier this week, the federal government disclosed that Totalplay alone owes more than 1.5 billion pesos in unpaid taxes.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas just testified before a Texas Senate committee that there’s a 12% chance we will see rolling blackouts in some parts of the state this summer.
Vegas testified that the electricity grid needs to increase 76% in the next six years to properly serve Texans, a much higher estimate than he has previously given.
He blames two industries for more than half of the grid’s added capacity needs: new artificial intelligence data centers and cryptocurrency companies, which use thousands of computers to create digital currency through virtual transactions.
Texas has become a destination for the cryptocurrency business, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is now saying state officials need to look into them, asking if the two industries create enough jobs to justify the amount of energy they use.
“It really is an immediate need. I actually worry more about the transmission delivery,” Rob Gramlich, a former advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy, explained. “There’s already congestion within Texas and an inability to deliver the power sources that already exist to the end user.”
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Frustrated and unable to get answers, a Spring Branch couple contacted Action 13 for help removing a fence from a drainage ditch behind their home.
That fence was knocked into the ditch behind Keith and Sondra Hardy’s home on Soway Street during the May 16 derecho.
With rain in the forecast, the couple worried the debris would cause their property and sanctuary to flood.
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“It’s a playground for all of us,” Sondra Hardy said of the couple’s backyard, which borders the ditch.
The yard is adorned with eclectic finds – colorful street signs and statues. The couple told ABC13 they first started collecting lights to help Sondra Hardy, who has Usher’s Syndrome.
“A syndrome where you lose both your hearing and your vision,” she explained.
Recently, Sondra Hardy, who is legally blind, said she was devastated to learn her 6-year-old granddaughter has the same condition.
“I don’t want anybody to have to go through. So we started really decorating the backyard, really doing things, because I want her to see everything she can,” she explained.
Worried their labor of love could wash away, the couple contacted the county, city, and developer, InTownHomes, asking they remove the fence.
“It seems like they’re just pointing fingers at each other, not taking any responsibility,” said Hardy.
Three hours after ABC13 first contacted InTownHomes, they removed the fence from the ditch.
ABC13 learned that while the property owner is obligated to remove their debris, the Harris County Flood Control District is also responsible. In an email, the Flood Control District told ABC13 they had planned to remove the fence the following day.
SAN JUAN, PR – June 14, 2024 — Power outages have severely disrupted life in Puerto Rico since early June, with the latest incident leaving 350,000 residents without electricity for hours during a sweltering heatwave. The blackout also interrupted water services and endangered the lives of the elderly and those with medical conditions, such as individuals relying on respirators and insulin that requires refrigeration. Luma Energy, the private company responsible for electricity transmission and distribution on the island, attributed the outage to failures in two transmission lines. Although power has been restored, lawmakers are urging the governor to declare a state of emergency in response to the recurring issues.
The persistent power problems have reignited concerns over Puerto Rico’s infrastructure. Since Hurricane Maria devastated the island’s fragile electric grid in 2017, the territory has struggled to provide reliable electricity. The government had hoped that privatizing the power grid would lead to improvements, but that promise remains unfulfilled.
Frustration among Puerto Ricans has mounted, with many taking to social media to call for the removal of private companies like Luma Energy. The outages have not only sparked public outcry but also prompted action; during a previous blackout earlier this month, towns in central and southern regions activated emergency response teams and requested food distribution to cope with the prolonged power loss. The situation underscores the urgent need for a sustainable solution to Puerto Rico’s ongoing energy crisis.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Cooperstown rejected Astros legend Billy Wagner this year, and this season’s Houston team isn’t exactly hall-of-fame worthy so far.
But at least we got Orbit.
The ballclub’s anthropomorphic green alien, known for teasing the opposing dugout while saying nothing, became an inductee to the Mascot Hall of Fame.
According to the hall, a vote of 90,000 fans admitted Orbit – who may or may not have an evil twin named Comet – into the illustrious hall in Whiting, Indiana.
Orbit will enter with San Francisco Giants’ marine mischief-maker Lou Seal, the University of Montana’s Monte the Grizzly Bear, and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Jaxson de Ville, whose portrayer famously donned nothing but body paint, a Speedo, and the jaguar head.
Orbit becomes one of just eight Major League Baseball mascots in the hall and the second from Houston. The Rockets’ Clutch the Bear was a 2006 inductee.
Orbit’s history
Houston Astros mascot Orbit helps celebrate Billy the Marlin’s birthday before the start of a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Miami.AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Like many of your favorite movie and television franchises, Orbit is a reboot of the same named alien who existed at the Astrodome from 1990 to 1999.
The team’s move to Minute Maid Park at Union Station in 2000 gave way to the introduction of Junction Jack, a locomotive conductor jackrabbit who existed until 2012.
By the time the team changed ownership, leagues, divisions, colors, and logo, Orbit got another look, reborn on Nov. 2, 2012, according to the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Orbit’s antics, always pulled with a smile, famously included a feud with former MLB pitcher Chris Archer. Orbit once tried to pass off a laxative as an “electrolyte formula” as a peace offering.
Got any memories or wacky photos with Orbit? You can send 13 yours here.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Night fell on Thursday without law enforcement apprehending a person who authorities say escaped a courthouse and tried to carjack a district attorney’s office employee at knifepoint earlier in the day.
At about 9:30 p.m., SkyEye checked in on the search for 35-year-old Nigel Thomas Sanders, who the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said set off an alert in downtown Houston about six hours earlier.
SkyEye focused on the Near Northside, where police were seen speaking with neighbors while light was still out in the evening.
By late evening, the search appeared scaled back without activity. Eyewitness News reached out to law enforcement to clarify where the operation stood.
Start of the search
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the search, prompting a lockdown at the nearby University of Houston-Downtown.
Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office units were situated at Commerce Street near Austin Street.
A spokesperson for the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office told ABC13 that authorities are looking for an escapee still in jail-issued trousers.
The spokesperson said the person attempted the carjacking but failed and jumped into nearby Buffalo Bayou instead.
The Houston Police Department also said the man was wearing a black shirt and orange pants.
Hours after the escape, HCSO gave an update before 7 p.m., identifying the suspect as Sanders, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 165 pounds.
Nigel Thomas Sanders, 35, was identified as the jail inmate who escaped from courthouse custody in downtown Houston on June 13, 2024.
According to Assistant Chief Philip Bosquez, they received word of the escape at 3:30 p.m., prompting the shutdown of the jail complex. An inmate count uncovered Sanders was missing. They believed he escaped from 1301 Franklin, which is the building adjacent to the criminal courthouse.
Bosquez said Sanders, who has a lengthy criminal history, was in court for three burglary counts and an unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. After his hearing, Sanders was on his way to the jail when Bosquez said he “facilitated” the escape, even though HCSO didn’t mention specifics.
Sanders got to the building’s sallyport, where an employee was getting into her vehicle. Bosquez said there, he jumped in and held her at knifepoint. The woman crashed into several cars, and Sanders took off on foot again, last seen on the street.
Bosquez could only say that Sanders got hold of a knife outside of jail.
HCSO believes Sanders is dangerous and a threat to the community, urging people to call 911 if they see him.
Meanwhile, the University of Houston-Downtown earlier issued an alert to students and staff, warning them to “get indoors immediately,” “lock outside doors,” and “avoid windows.” UHD later said there was no longer an emergency, and the situation was cleared.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also confirmed that the employee, held against her will, works in her office.
“We are thankful and grateful that she was not physically harmed during this incident,” Ogg said. “Once he is arrested, we expect to prosecute this defendant and seek justice in this case.”
