Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday threatened to place Harris County’s elections under state control, accusing local officials of repeated failures to enforce election laws after allegations surfaced involving improper voter registration addresses.
Abbott said the state could intervene after Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt alleged that more than 100 Harris County voters were registered using commercial P.O. box addresses, which are not allowed under Texas election law unless tied to a valid residential address. Abbott called Harris County a “repeat violator” of election integrity and suggested local officials were unwilling or unable to correct the issue.
Harris County officials quickly rejected the governor’s claims, calling them exaggerated and politically motivated. County leaders said there is no evidence that illegal votes were cast and emphasized that the county has already taken steps to review and verify the registrations in question.
“This is a baseless attack,” Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said, noting that the county tax assessor-collector’s office is responsible for voter registration and has been working to resolve any technical issues identified by the state.
Abbott’s remarks revived debate over a 2023 Texas law that allows the secretary of state to place certain county election offices under administrative oversight. The law applies only to counties with populations exceeding four million — a threshold met solely by Harris County — and was passed after Republicans criticized election administration in Houston during recent election cycles.
Under the law, the secretary of state could assume control over election procedures, including approving county policies and overseeing election administration. Abbott has not formally initiated that process, but his comments signaled that such action remains under consideration.
County Judge Lina Hidalgo and other local leaders warned that the governor’s rhetoric risks undermining public confidence in elections. They argued that voter registration issues are routinely addressed through established legal processes and do not justify a state takeover.
“This is about power, not election security,” Hidalgo said.
The dispute comes as Texas gears up for high-profile elections in 2026, with Harris County remaining one of the state’s most politically influential and closely watched jurisdictions. Republican leaders have argued that stronger state oversight is needed, while Democrats say the county is being unfairly targeted because of its size and Democratic lean.
No timeline has been announced for any potential state intervention, and the secretary of state’s office has not indicated that a formal takeover is imminent.
CES 2026 doubled down on AI-infused hardware, wild display tech, and smarter home gadgets, with giants like LG, Samsung, Hisense, and Razer using the show to preview what your screens, rooms, and rigs will look like over the next few years. Across the floor, the themes were clear: brighter and more precise TVs, AI that actually does things in the background, and gaming gear that blurs the line between assistant and peripheral.
LG: Affectionate AI and Zero‑Labor Living
LG framed its entire CES presence around “Affectionate Intelligence” and a “Zero Labor Home,” pitching AI as something that quietly observes, learns routines, and then executes tasks without constant user input. The company showed how its systems sense conditions in real environments, process that data, and trigger actions—from climate tweaks to appliance behavior—rather than just tossing generic recommendations on a screen.
On the hardware side, LG’s 2026 TV and monitor lineup pushed both cinematic and creator workflows. A new wave of OLED and microRGB TVs improved brightness, color handling, and anti‑reflection performance, all tied into an updated Alpha 11 processor for better motion and upscaling on flagship sets like the G6 and C6. For gamers and pros, LG brought out a 32‑inch UltraFine Evo 6K monitor built around Thunderbolt 5 and a Nano IPS panel, plus attention‑grabbing gaming displays including a 27‑inch tandem OLED at up to 720 Hz and a 52‑inch 5K 240 Hz screen that currently stands as one of the largest high‑refresh gaming monitors on the floor.
LG also leaned heavily into home robotics and accessibility‑minded design. The LG CLOiD home robot embodies the brand’s Zero Labor Home idea, using AI to navigate, understand context, and offload household tasks instead of acting as a simple remote on wheels. Around it, LG’s “Comfort Kit” accessories—like vacuum easy‑handles, easy‑open refrigerator containers, and simplified controls for air purifiers and dehumidifiers—showed how the company wants AI‑connected appliances to feel more physically approachable and inclusive, not just more connected.
Samsung and Hisense: Battle of the Big Screens
Samsung used CES 2026 to sharpen its high‑end TV story, focusing on OLED and MiniLED sets aimed at both home theater fans and gamers. The lineup emphasized higher peak brightness, refined local dimming for better black levels, and more advanced AI processing to handle upscaling and motion for films, sports, and next‑gen consoles on the same panel. Samsung’s booth also leaned into futuristic TV form factors and ultra‑slim designs, signaling how much the company wants its displays to double as decor when they are not showing content.
Hisense, meanwhile, arrived with one of the most aggressive display strategies at the show, built around multi‑primary color systems that go beyond standard RGB. Its flagship RGB MiniLED sets use an added cyan primary managed by a Hi‑View AI Engine RGB chipset, driving tens of thousands of dimming zones and targeting up to 110 percent of the BT.2020 color space for ultra‑wide gamut and smoother gradients. Hisense also showcased a massive 163‑inch RGBY MicroLED display that adds yellow to the mix, hitting up to 100 percent of BT.2020 and maintaining uniform color and luminance across more than 33 million subpixels, all in a wall‑mountable panel only about 32 mm thick with a zero‑gap design.
Beyond flat panels, Hisense pushed its Laser Home Cinema range as an alternative to traditional TVs. New models like the XR10 and PX4‑PRO support screen sizes from 65 to as large as 300 inches, using multi‑camera and time‑of‑flight sensing to automatically correct geometry—even when projecting from the side—and TriChroma laser light engines to maintain high color accuracy and IMAX Enhanced credentials. For gaming, low‑latency modes and up to 3,500 ANSI lumens on ultra‑short‑throw setups aim squarely at players who want a theater‑scale image in a regular living room.
Big‑Screen Focus Highlights
Brand
Key 2026 CES Display Tech
Notable Specs/Claims
Intended Use Case
LG
OLED, microRGB TVs, 6K and high‑refresh monitors
Up to 720 Hz gaming monitor; 5K 240 Hz 52‑inch; Alpha 11 AI processing
Premium home theater, PC and console gaming, Mac‑friendly creative work
Samsung
OLED and MiniLED TVs
Higher brightness, better dimming, AI upscaling and motion enhancements
Up to 110% BT.2020 on RGB MiniLED; 163‑inch RGBY MicroLED; 65–300 inch laser projection
Large‑format installs, color‑critical viewing, projector‑based home cinema
Razer: AI Companions for Gamers
Razer’s 2026 CES lineup stepped beyond traditional keyboards, mice, and laptops into AI‑driven companions designed to live on, or around, your battlestation. The company introduced concept projects like Motoko and an evolved form of Project Ava, both aimed at turning an assistant into part of the gaming setup itself rather than just an app running on another screen.
Project Motoko takes the form of an over‑ear wireless headset loaded with cameras, mics, and a Snapdragon‑class processor, meant to behave like an AI wearable that happens to double as gaming cans. With dual 4K cameras, near‑ and far‑field microphones, and on‑device AI, Motoko is pitched as a heads‑up helper that can capture photos, translate text, and hold natural conversations, much like other AI wearables, while still delivering positional audio for play. Alongside it, Razer’s latest iteration of Project Ava evolved from a screen‑bound avatar into a compact glass‑tube holographic assistant that sits on your desk, complete with speakers and a camera so it can perceive the space and act as a persistent AI copilot for gaming tips, task organization, and general queries.
Both concept devices are model‑agnostic, designed to work with different AI systems rather than tying users to a single provider. During CES demos, Motoko ran on OpenAI’s ChatGPT while the Ava holographic assistant tapped into xAI’s Grok, showcasing how Razer envisions a future where players pick their preferred AI like they pick a GPU brand, then plug that intelligence into Razer hardware. Razer expects these prototypes to evolve into commercial products later in 2026, signaling a likely wave of peripherals that blend presence, personality, and practical assistance.
Other Standout Future‑Facing Tech
Outside the big brand booths, CES 2026 was packed with experimental gear that hints at how immersive computing will evolve over the next few years. Extended‑reality glasses like the Asus ROG XReal R1, featuring 240 Hz 1080p micro‑OLED lenses and a dock for HDMI/DisplayPort input, promised a personal IMAX‑style screen you can plug into a PC or console, effectively turning your portable display into a giant virtual monitor for games and media. Elsewhere, smaller companies leaned into sensors, robotics, and AI‑powered home devices—everything from highly specialized smart doorbells to context‑aware refrigerators—illustrating both the creative experimentation and occasional overreach that has become a CES hallmark.
Across categories, a few threads connected these announcements: more granular control over light and color on displays, AI that runs closer to the edge on devices like headsets and robots, and a push to make interfaces feel more ambient and less screen‑bound. For anyone building a gaming setup, content studio, or AI‑enhanced workspace, CES 2026 effectively previewed a near future where your display, your headset, and even your home robot are all part of the same intelligent, responsive environment
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officially unveiled its 2026 entertainer lineup Thursday night, ending weeks of anticipation from fans ahead of the annual celebration at NRG Stadium.
Star-Studded Performers Head to NRG Stadium
This year’s lineup features a diverse mix of country, pop, Latin and Americana artists performing from March 2–22. Headliners include Chris Stapleton, J Balvin, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Parker McCollum and Riley Green. Fan favorites such as Dwight Yoakam, Rascal Flatts, Koe Wetzel and The Red Clay Strays are also scheduled to take the stage.
Texas native Cody Johnson will headline a rare, full-length, concert-only performance on the final night, Sunday, March 22. Jon Pardi and Randy Houser will join him as special guests for the rodeo’s closing celebration.
Rodeo Dates and Schedule
The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens Monday, March 2, and runs through Saturday, March 21, featuring traditional rodeo competitions before Johnson’s standalone finale.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Cody Johnson’s March 22 concert are already on sale. Tickets for the remaining 2026 performances will be released in two waves beginning Jan. 15.
For the latest on Houston and Texas culture and entertainment, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
U.S. hiring slowed more than anticipated in December, closing out one of the weakest years of job growth in decades. The economy added an estimated 50,000 jobs last month, down from a downwardly revised 56,000 in November, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Unemployment Rate Ticks Down
Despite slower hiring, the unemployment rate edged slightly lower to 4.4% in December, compared with a revised 4.5% the month before. Economists had forecast a gain of 55,000 jobs and an unemployment rate holding steady at 4.5%.
Weakest Job Growth Outside Recessions
With December’s figures, the U.S. added about 584,000 jobs in 2025. Outside of recession years, that marks the weakest annual job growth since 2003, BLS data shows. Economists say the slowdown reflects mounting uncertainty, including shifts in trade and immigration policy, persistent inflation, and high interest rates.
A Broad-Based Hiring Slowdown
Hiring cooled across most industries, a trend some economists have described as a “hiring recession.” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, has noted that nearly every sector has been affected by the pullback.
Health Care and Hospitality Buck the Trend
The main exceptions in December were health care and leisure and hospitality. Leisure and hospitality added 47,000 jobs, while health care and social assistance grew by 38,500 positions, driven in part by an aging population and continued consumer spending in select areas.
Losses in Manufacturing and Retail
Job losses were concentrated in goods-producing industries, particularly manufacturing. Retail trade also shed jobs, as seasonal hiring was weaker than in past years, underscoring the uneven nature of the labor market slowdown.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Two suspects linked to the deadly shooting of a woman on a METRO bus have been taken into custody and charged, METRO said.
METRO told ABC13 that the person who fired first and caused the fatal injury has been charged with murder. They also said the second person, who allegedly fired back and injured another passenger, is charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon.
A source confirmed the second suspect is 18-year-old Patrick Scott. Court records show he was out on bond for aggravated robbery at the time of the shooting.
Earlier on Thursday, the Houston Police Department released surveillance photos captured by METRO bus cameras showing two suspects.
By late afternoon, sources close to the investigation confirmed that the two suspects in the photos are now in custody. Records show they were arrested just after 2:30 p.m.
Family members identified the woman who was killed as Caitlin Stup, 25. They said she was riding the bus to get to her job at a restaurant when the shooting happened. Authorities described Stup as an innocent bystander.
HPD said the shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at 10800 Richmond Avenue. The Houston Fire Department said she was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Officials also said a 16-year-old boy was injured by gunfire during the incident.
Police first said there was one suspect in the case, but later clarified there were two.
“This was a tragic and senseless act of violence, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this devastating incident,” the METRO statement read.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s time to find the umbrella, and soon you’ll need your jacket again, too!
We are in for another warm, soupy January day that starts with patchy dense fog, but it will end with showers and thunderstorms as a cold front slowly rolls through Southeast Texas. An ABC13 Weather Watch is in place due to the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms ahead of a Friday night cold front.
Temperatures will start near 70 degrees and warm toward 80 in the afternoon. While there’s a small chance for a few showers in the morning, those chances climb to 70% during the afternoon and evening with widely scattered showers and thunderstorms expected to pop up. Isolated severe storms will be possible ahead of the front. Primary threats will be damaging winds and large hail, but a brief isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
Are we expecting any severe weather with Friday’s front?
The Storm Prediction currently gives southeast Texas a 5% to 15% chance we’ll be near a severe thunderstorm on Friday. While there could be tornadoes to our northeast in Louisiana, if a storm turned severe in Southeast Texas, it would likely be due to gusty winds or hail. There will also be some 1-3″ rain totals in the heavier storms that could temporarily flood streets.
Are we expecting any severe weather with Friday’s front?
We do expect the front to produce a chance for thunderstorms, but severe weather looks unlikely. The Storm Prediction currently gives about a 5% chance we’ll be near a severe thunderstorm on Friday, and we agree with that assessment. While there could be tornadoes to our northeast in Louisiana, if a storm turned severe in Southeast Texas, it would likely be due to gusty winds or hail.
How’s marathon weekend looking?
Chilly! Friday’s front will knock us back into more typical winter territory Saturday and Sunday. Expect a steady north wind up to 25 mph under a cloudy sky Saturday, limiting highs to the upper 50s. Temperatures at the start of the marathon on Sunday will be in the low-to-mid 40s. Highs on Sunday will only climb into the low 60s with a north breeze around 15 mph. While the clouds on Saturday will still be fairly thick, Sunday will bring a thin layer of high clouds that should allow sunshine through.
Are any other freezes on the horizon?
We have no freezes in our 10 day forecast, but there’s still a lot winter left to get more freezing weather. In fact, signals are growing that a colder pattern will develop across Canada and the United States during the second half of January.
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Houstonians gathered to honor the memory of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, a death that has ignited protests across the country.
Demonstration at Post Oak and Westheimer
In Houston, protesters assembled at the four corners of Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road, one of the city’s busiest intersections. Demonstrators called for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in Houston, holding signs and chanting in remembrance of Good while demanding accountability.
Good was a U.S. citizen, a prize-winning poet, and a hobby guitarist. She was also a mother of three who had recently moved to Minneapolis. She was fatally shot shortly after dropping off her youngest child at an elementary school.
National Reaction and Federal Response
Good’s death has sparked nationwide protests and renewed debate over immigration enforcement tactics. The Trump administration has described Good as a “domestic terrorist,” a characterization cited in its defense of the ICE agent’s fatal response.
Calls for Change
Anti-ICE protesters hold signs on Jan.8 demanding justice for Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Credit: Indira Zaldivar
Houston protesters said the demonstration was not only about honoring Good’s life, but also about opposing ICE operations in their city and calling for broader changes to federal immigration enforcement practices.
Another anti-ICE protest is scheduled Friday evening in Houston.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officially unveiled its 2026 entertainer lineup Thursday night, ending weeks of anticipation from fans ahead of the annual celebration at NRG Stadium.
Star-Studded Performers Head to NRG Stadium
This year’s lineup features a diverse mix of country, pop, Latin and Americana artists performing from March 2–22. Headliners include Chris Stapleton, J Balvin, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Parker McCollum and Riley Green. Fan favorites such as Dwight Yoakam, Rascal Flatts, Koe Wetzel and The Red Clay Strays are also scheduled to take the stage.
Texas native Cody Johnson will headline a rare, full-length, concert-only performance on the final night, Sunday, March 22. Jon Pardi and Randy Houser will join him as special guests for the rodeo’s closing celebration.
Rodeo Dates and Schedule
The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens Monday, March 2, and runs through Saturday, March 21, featuring traditional rodeo competitions before Johnson’s standalone finale.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Cody Johnson’s March 22 concert are already on sale. Tickets for the remaining 2026 performances will be released in two waves beginning Jan. 15.
For the latest on Houston and Texas culture and entertainment, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
For 20 years, Glenn Davis wasn’t just calling the game – he was shaping how Houston experienced soccer. From the Dynamo’s very first season in 2006 to countless playoff runs and international competitions, Davis became synonymous with the sound of Houston soccer. His voice carried the highs of championship glory and the heartbreak of near misses, weaving a story that connected fans to the beautiful game.
Davis’ journey with the Dynamo began when the franchise first arrived in Houston, but his influence on American soccer stretches far beyond the Bayou City. As one of Major League Soccer’s original broadcasters, Davis has been a fixture in the sport since MLS kicked off in 1996. His résumé reads like a global soccer passport: seven FIFA World Cups for ESPN and FOX, Olympic Games for NBC, Copa América, Italian Serie A, NCAA National Championships, and countless MLS matches across multiple platforms.
Before the microphone, there was the pitch. Davis arrived in Houston in 1984 as a professional player and quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s soccer community. For more than four decades, his passion for the game has fueled efforts to elevate soccer locally and nationally.
Reflecting on his tenure, Davis shared:
“I have cared deeply for the men who have played the game and the men who have coached it, and I stand firmly behind my work and the standard of coverage provided over two decades. I want to thank the passionate Dynamo and MLS fans and all my television colleagues. All memories will be treasured.”
Eddie Mendoza, a respected voice in Houston’s soccer community, added:
“Thank you for everything, Glenn Davis. We appreciate everything you have done in this soccer community.”
Janis Burke, CEO of the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, echoed that sentiment:
“Thank you for being the voice of soccer in Houston for so many years. No one can take away what you’ve done for the sport.”
What’s Next for Glenn Davis?
The timing of Davis’ departure coincides with one of the most exciting chapters in soccer history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to North America. Davis plans to remain deeply connected to the sport, continuing his role as a respected voice in soccer broadcasting and contributing to the game’s growth during this historic era.
For Houston fans, it’s truly the end of an era – but for Glenn Davis, the next chapter promises to be just as impactful.
New York City parents could soon receive free child care for their 2-year-olds under a new plan set to be unveiled by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Program Details
The proposal would expand the city’s existing universal pre-K system to include 2-year-olds. Hochul has pledged to fully fund the first two years of the program, with the rollout beginning in high-need neighborhoods before expanding citywide over several years.
Political Significance
For Mamdani, the plan marks an early move to deliver on a key campaign promise aimed at making New York City more affordable. Hochul said the initiative reflects her broader push to address the high cost of child care and support working families statewide.
Next Steps
The announcement is expected Thursday, alongside Hochul’s commitment to pursue a broader free child care program across New York State.
