Ahead of Labor Day weekend, officials are warning those headed to Texas’ beaches about fireworms.
If you come across one, officials advise you to avoid touching it. Their sting leaves a burning sensation that can last for hours, and their venom can make you feel sick or dizzy.
According to scientists, several of them have washed up on beaches near Corpus Christi and Port Aransas.
A researcher from the Harte Research Institute found one attached to a log along the coast.
Fireworms move around by hitching rides on logs. They feast on gooseneck barnacles.
If one of these worms leaves its poisonous spike in your skin, you are recommended to use adhesive tape to remove it.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A low pressure disturbance just offshore from Galveston will continue to swing scattered showers through Southeast Texas over the long holiday weekend.
We’re starting the day off in the mid-70s with scattered showers, especially near the coast. Temperatures will warm to near 90, allowing for heavy showers and a few thunderstorm to pop up in the late afternoon hours. Your chance of getting rain is 40%, and most showers should move through quickly from the north and northeast, keeping rain totals generally less than 1/4 of an inch. Rain chances will be higher near the coast, especially from Galveston to the Texas-Louisiana border.
What is the weather outlook for Sunday and Labor Day?
The low pressure over the Gulf of Mexico should start pushing pack toward the upper Texas coastline on Sunday, boosting rain chances to 60%. It is then predicted to move closer to Matagorda Bay by Labor Day, which would put most of Southeast Texas in a very moist tropical flow. That will push the rain chances up to 80%. Have a backup plan in case any day turns into a washout, and at a minimum, know where you could go to seek shelter from a heavy thunderstorm. Of course, when thunder roars, go indoors! Temperatures will remain in check with lows in the mid-70s and highs generally in the upper 80s. Where it rains heavily, temperatures will stay stuck in the 70s.
Are there any cool fronts on the horizon?
We actually see signs that front may enter Southeast Texas toward the end of next week, which would push the tropical moisture into the Gulf of Mexico and drop our rain chances to less than 20%. As the air dries out, highs will again top the 90 degree mark, but lows will push closer to 70 degrees. If the front comes in stronger than expected, we could even get some morning lows in the 60s!
What are you tracking in the tropics?
In addition to the low pressure over the Gulf, we are also monitoring two tropical waves in the Atlantic, one of which has a 40% chance for development over the next 7 days. This wave in the central Atlantic could end up as a named storm in the Gulf of Mexico during the 2nd week of September and bears watching. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.
Alex Bregman got ejected in the 4th inning after a wrong call was issued by Alex Tosi, the umpire. After a pitch was delivered miles outside of the strike zone, Bregman, understandably frustrated, walked off home plate and said a few words under his breath to Tosi, who ended up ejecting Bregman from the game, unfairly.
Bregman attempted to walk back towards the umpire, before Astros’ manager Joe Espada interrupted the situation. Bregman was on fire up until this situation abruptly chilled him out.
Tosi indeed made a mistake, an unnecessary one, and this is an accurate observation because Tosi labeled this same exact same call a ball when Astros RHP Hunter Brown was pitching against Maikel Garcia on a 2-2 count at the top of the 5th. Joe Espada questioned Tosi’s call, understandably making Bregman’s reaction justifiable.
RHP Hunter Brown did a phenomenal job on his 26th birthday, allowing only a single in the first inning by Michael Massey and another single by Maikel Garcia in the 2nd inning. A huge improvement from his last meet with the Royals on April 11 this year. A flawless job, and to no surprise,
“Once I got through the first inning, that was awesome. I was very thankful. That was a birthday gift, in itself,” states Brown who was followed by Bryan Abreu who gave up a 3 run RBI, afterwards Ryan Pressly finally returned from an almost 3 week injury, and impressively earned a scoreless 8th inning. The fireman Josh Hader closed the game and cut off the royal stove after pitching a perfect last inning.
Jason Heyward, released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a tremendous debut with the Astros after a 2 run double RBI in the 5th inning,
“What an opportunity to be apart of a group that stays grinding,” states proudly Heyward after an outstanding win. In the 8th, the Astros took over from a 3-2 deficit. Yainer Diaz brought Jose Altuve home to tie the game after hitting a grounder.
With the fire rising in all the hearts of Astros fans and Astros dugout, Jeremy Pena came in clutch to fall to an out right at home plate. The Kansas City Royals suffered with 2 players who ended up getting injured in the 8th as well. Vinnie Pasquantino and Lucas Erceg both received hand injuries.
Erceg attempted to catch the Diaz grounder with his bear hand, which ended up hurting him, and as he threw the ball to Pasquantino, Diaz collided with the hand of Pasquantino, injuring the first baseman.
Mauricio Dubon won the game with a heavy 2 run single off John Schreiber, who was relieving Lucas Erceg, and this catapulted the Astros up 6-3 to start the series off right.
RHP Hunter Brown did a phenomenal job on his 26th birthday, allowing only a single in the first inning by Michael Massey and another single by Maikel Garcia in the 2nd inning. A huge improvement from his last meet with the Royals on April 11 this year. A flawless job, and to no surprise,
“Once I got through the first inning, that was awesome. I was very thankful. That was a birthday gift, in itself,” states Brown who was followed by Bryan Abreu who gave up a 3 run RBI, afterwards Ryan Pressly finally returned from an almost 3 week injury, and impressively earned a scoreless 8th inning. The fireman Josh Hader closed the game and cut off the royal stove after pitching a perfect last inning.
Jason Heyward, released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a tremendous debut with the Astros after a 2 run double RBI in the 5th inning,
“What an opportunity to be apart of a group that stays grinding,” states proudly Heyward after an outstanding win. In the 8th, the Astros took over from a 3-2 deficit. Yainer Diaz brought Jose Altuve home to tie the game after hitting a grounder.
With the fire rising in all the hearts of Astros fans and Astros dugout, Jeremy Pena came in clutch to fall to an out right at home plate. The Kansas City Royals suffered with 2 players who ended up getting injured in the 8th as well. Vinnie Pasquantino and Lucas Erceg both received hand injuries.
Erceg attempted to catch the Diaz grounder with his bear hand, which ended up hurting him, and as he threw the ball to Pasquantino, Diaz collided with the hand of Pasquantino, injuring the first baseman.
Mauricio Dubon won the game with a heavy 2 run single off John Schreiber, who was relieving Lucas Erceg, and this catapulted the Astros up 6-3 to start the series off right.
RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) — Fort Bend County elected officials are about to get a big bump in pay.
Although an item from Tuesday’s Fort Bend County Commissioners Court was discussed for only a minute, the discussion is lasting longer in the community.
I think it’s not fair. The regular working people don’t get that kind of raise.
Richmond resident Karen Jahn
Commissioners approved salaries for next year’s elected officials. They include big raises for themselves.
Budgets from the last 15 years show next year’s raises are some of the largest in recent history.
“It hurts my feelings, honestly, a little bit because I was trying to go to a 50-cent raise at my last job, and that was way too much. I was asking for way too much,” Sugar Land resident Bethany Skinner said.
Most county elected officials will make between 9% and 26% more money.
Here are some of the highest pay jumps:
The county attorney’s salary is set to increase from $164,507 to $207,312.
The sheriff’s salary will increase from $164,507 to $196,699.
The county judge’s salary will increase from $164,507 to $187,945.
The county commissioners’ salaries will increase from $156,673 to $170,919.
The item wasn’t unanimous. Commissioner Andy Meyers voted against it.
I couldn’t find any justification for it, and if I can’t justify it, I can’t explain it to my constituents to the point they understand it.
Commissioner Andy Meyers
Commissioners who approved it say an audit was done looking at county pay compared to other counties in Texas.
They say the audit showed they were well below. Therefore, they decided to approve raises for county employees, including elected officials, to make their pay average compared to others.
However, Meyers said not all counties govern the same way.
“They’re not doing the same job,” Meyers explained. “So, they shouldn’t be paid the same, in my opinion.”
County leaders who supported the raises said they would not increase taxes. They plan to reevaluate them in the future to see if they’re still in line with other counties.
“When people look at a 2% raise or a little bit more, but I think anything over 10% is just too much,” Jahn said.
“Definitely don’t like that,” Skinner said. “I would rather it go to more programs for the people.”
They’re raises some neighbors say they don’t mind to see, just not as much.
Health officials are warning Americans about a rare insect-borne virus that has infected several travelers.
As of August 16, there have been 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease, sometimes called “sloth fever,” detected among U.S. travelers returning from Cuba, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is urging clinicians and public health offices to be aware of the virus, test for suspected cases, and for travelers to protect themselves from insect bites.
What is ‘Sloth Fever’?
Oropouche virus is an arthropod-borne virus, meaning it is spread to people by the bite of infected arthropods, a group of insects. The virus is mainly spread to humans by infected Culicoides paraensis, a species of biting midges, although it can also be transmitted by certain mosquito species, according to the CDC.
The virus is sometimes called “sloth fever” because scientists first found it in a three-toed sloth, and the virus naturally lives in sloths, non-human primates, and birds. Dr. Chantal Vogels, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, explained that this nickname likely stems from the role of sloths as hosts in the virus’s natural transmission cycle.
Oropouche virus is endemic to the Amazon basin, including Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. It was first discovered in a human in 1955, in a febrile forest worker in a village in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, mentioned concerns about the virus spreading to Cuba and possibly elsewhere in the Caribbean, with imported cases already seen in the U.S. He noted that there is a possibility it could establish itself in the southern U.S., particularly in Gulf Coast states.
What Are the Symptoms?
The incubation period of Oropouche virus disease is three to 10 days and presents symptoms similar to other diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Common symptoms include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain, typically lasting about two to seven days before disappearing.
Patients may also experience other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, rash, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and pain behind the eyes. Dr. Michael Angarone, an infectious diseases specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, pointed out that about a week after initial symptoms, more than 50% of people may experience a recurrence of symptoms, which will last for another five to seven days before subsiding again.
How Is It Treated?
To diagnose Oropouche virus disease, a healthcare provider will need to order laboratory tests. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Oropouche virus disease. Treatment mainly involves managing symptoms, including getting rest, preventing dehydration, and taking over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, according to the CDC.
The CDC advises against taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until dengue can be ruled out to lower the risk of bleeding.
How Do I Prevent the Virus?
The best prevention method is to avoid bites from midges or mosquitoes. The CDC recommends using insect repellent, installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors, wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants, and using a fan when outdoors. Currently, there is no evidence of local transmission in the U.S.; all cases have been travel-related.
Dr. Vogels emphasized that travelers should be alert, especially if traveling to areas where there is ongoing transmission. If symptoms appear upon returning to the U.S., they should seek medical attention.
There have also been recent reports of possible vertical transmission, where a pregnant person passes the infection to their baby in utero. This infection may result in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal deaths and congenital malformations. While this has been demonstrated in South America, it is also being investigated in cases from Cuba. Dr. Angarone mentioned that descriptions of fetal demise, miscarriage, or premature labor, and congenital abnormalities have been reported, though not yet confirmed to be caused by the virus.
Experts recommend that travelers, especially those who are older or immunocompromised, take extra precautions to prevent infection. Pregnant individuals should reconsider nonessential travel to countries with an Oropouche virus Level 2 Travel Health Notice, as advised by the CDC.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo delivered her State of the County speech on Thursday, highlighting the region’s resilience in the face of recent challenges. Speaking to the public, Hidalgo addressed Harris County’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters, such as the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl.
She emphasized the importance of the billions of dollars secured for flood recovery efforts and discussed the $2.5 billion bond set for the November ballot, which she said would be crucial for maintaining flood control improvements.
Hidalgo also opened up about her personal struggles with mental health, urging the community to support those who may be facing similar challenges.
“If you see somebody struggling, encourage them to seek help, encourage them to see a professional and just remember it’s something that we don’t talk about enough,” Hidalgo said.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A former HISD computer teacher is charged with sexual assault of a child after he allegedly had sex multiple times with a student during the 2023 school year.
Jesus Zamora used to teach at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy in southeast Houston. The school, which serves sixth through 12th graders within HISD, is known for its rigorous academic standards and high expectations.
Court documents show the teenager, who was just 15 when the alleged assaults began, made an outcry against the 25-year-old Zamora to her mother, and an investigation was initiated.
Records show the teen told investigators that she and Zamora, who was her advocacy teacher at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, had engaged in intercourse multiple times on campus.
The victim said she and Zamora allegedly grew a friendship in March 2023 while playing “Game Pigeon” on their phones. During the game, Zamora reportedly told the victim that if he won, she would “owe” him something, according to documents. In one incident, Zamora told the teen she owed him a kiss, and she tried to dodge it as much as possible, but he allegedly forced her to kiss him while in the back of a classroom at the school.
The teen then said that in April 2023, after she had just turned 16, Zamora started asking her to engage in sexual intercourse with him, and when they did, he would take photos of her without her consent.
“It’s just heartbreaking to hear things like that,” Darryl Parnell, a grandfather of two teens who attend the school, said. “Men. Grown men can’t contain themselves around these young girls. If you can’t control yourself, you shouldn’t be a teacher.”
“I’m shocked that it happened in this school,” mom Raquel Hanson said. “I know it can happen in any school. It’s a sad thing, but we just have to keep on with our daughters, get to know our teachers, and know what’s going on.”
By Thursday afternoon, HISD officials had not released a statement on the teacher. Investigators say Zamora is also not yet under arrest, but a warrant has been issued.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reported a significant increase in burglaries targeting independent pharmacies across the country, with nearly 900 incidents involving the theft of controlled substances in 2023.
These thefts pose severe risks to small businesses and communities, as stolen prescription medications often end up being illegally sold.
In response to this growing problem, the DEA, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, has announced the results of a 21-month investigation into a Houston-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for hundreds of these pharmacy burglaries nationwide.
The investigation led to the recent arrest of 24 additional members of the DTO in Houston, bringing the total number of individuals charged in connection with the operation to 42.
The investigation linked the organization to over 200 pharmacy burglaries in 31 states, including Washington State.
The stolen medications, which included oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and promethazine with codeine, were transported to Houston for illegal sale.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram emphasized the significance of the operation, stating, “From November 2023 to July 2024, the DEA, with our law enforcement partners, took down 42 individuals behind nearly 200 pharmacy burglaries in 31 states. This Houston-based network targeted rural pharmacies, stealing powerful drugs like Oxycodone and Xanax to flood the streets. These criminals even crawled on floors to dodge security, but they couldn’t escape us.”
The operation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces initiative, which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations through a multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach.
The DEA continues its efforts to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and hold accountable those who contribute to the illegal drug trade.
At least nine people have died after being infected with listeria from Boar’s Head deli meats tied to a massive recall last month, federal health officials said Wednesday.
The new food poisoning toll includes two deaths in South Carolina plus one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three deaths were previously confirmed in people who lived in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.
At least 57 people have been sickened and hospitalized in the outbreak. Illnesses were reported starting in late May and have continued into August, the agency said. It is the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, and Boar’s Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products.
Listeria infections are caused by a hardy type of bacteria that can survive and even thrive during refrigeration. An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC. Infections can be hard to pinpoint because symptoms may occur quickly – or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.
The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those who are pregnant or those with weakened immune systems.
The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.
Boar’s Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to Aug. 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The products included those sliced at deli counters as well as some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters and bacon.
All the recalled deli meats have been removed from stores and are no longer available, Boar’s Head officials said on the company’s website. The products were distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.
CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.
Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects.
In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, of Newport News, died on July 18 from a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria, an illness that was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.
Morgenstein, 88, was a German-born Holocaust survivor who moved to Canada and then the U.S. as a young man and later became a flamboyant hair stylist, according to his son, Garshon Morgenstein. During his 70-year career, his father styled celebrities such as the singer Tom Jones and was known for his funny, outgoing personality, Garshon Morgenstein said.
Gunter Morgenstein enjoyed liverwurst, usually spread on bagels, and bought it regularly, insisting on the Boar’s Head brand because he believed it was top quality, his son said.
He fell ill in early July and was hospitalized on July 8, eventually becoming so sick that doctors said he suffered permanent brain damage and was unlikely to recover. Family members withdrew life support, his son said.
After Morgenstein’s death, a review of receipts showed that he bought the recalled deli meat tied to the outbreak on June 30. The family has hired a lawyer, Houston-based Ron Simon.
“It’s really just a senseless accident and tragedy for something that just should not have ever happened,” his son said. “He still had many good years left.”
