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Texas Voters Approve All 17 Constitutional Amendments

Edward Saenz
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Texas Voters Approve All 17 Constitutional Amendments

Texans turned out Tuesday and gave their support to every one of the 17 proposed state constitutional amendments on the ballot. The measures ranged from tax exemptions and water infrastructure funding to parental rights and dementia research.

Statewide Results on Key Proposals

Early returns show strong majorities for many of the amendments. Some of the most widely supported measures included:

  • Proposition 10: Temporary property tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire (about 90% yes).
  • Proposition 7: Property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-related conditions (about 87% yes).
  • Proposition 13: Increased school homestead exemption for homeowners (about 81% yes).

Other amendments drew narrower support, such as Proposition 6, which bans taxes on certain securities transactions (around 58% yes).

Highlights of What Passed

  • Creation of a technical college infrastructure fund (Prop 1).
  • A ban on a state capital gains tax (Prop 2).
  • Limits on bail for certain felony offenses (Prop 3).
  • New water infrastructure funding (Prop 4).
  • A ban on inheritance taxes (Prop 8).
  • Parental rights affirmed in state law (Prop 15).
  • Requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens (Prop 16).
  • Property tax exemptions for border security infrastructure in counties along the Texas-Mexico border (Prop 17).

Texas’ 18th Congressional District Race Heads to Runoff

The crowded special election field for Texas’ 18th Congressional District did not produce a candidate with more than 50% of the vote. Early tallies show Democrat Christian Dshaun Menefee leading, followed by Amanda Edwards, with Jolanda Jones, Carmen Maria Montiel, and Isaiah R. Martin trailing. A runoff will determine the winner once final vote totals are certified.

9th Senate District Election Likely Headed to Runoff

In the race for the vacant Texas Senate District 9 seat, Democrat Taylor Rehmet is currently in the lead but has not reached the majority needed to win outright. The race appears likely to continue to a runoff.

For more on Texas election results, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Mother’s Bid for Bail Denied in Teen Neglect Case

Indira Zaldivar
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Mother’s Bid for Bail Denied in Teen Neglect Case

A wealthy Floreat mother who was jailed for recklessly neglecting her severely underweight teenage daughter has been denied release on bail while she awaits an appeal. The 48-year-old is serving a five-year sentence handed down in January after the 17-year-old was found weighing about 60 pounds due to lack of nutrition, medical care, and emotional support.

Father Also Jailed

The girl’s father received six and a half years in prison for his role, which included forging her birth certificate to make her appear younger. Both parents, who cannot be named, have appealed their convictions, with hearings expected next year.

Bail Request Rejected

The mother argued her trial should have been paused when she fell ill and had to watch remotely. However, Justice Robert Mazza ruled there was no evidence this affected the case’s outcome and denied bail.

Concerning Weight and Health

The teen, an aspiring ballerina, stood about 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed just around 60 pounds before her 17th birthday. Teachers and parents raised concerns, eventually prompting intervention by Western Australia’s Department of Communities. A doctor later urged the parents to seek immediate emergency care.

Hospital Treatment and Recovery

At Perth Children’s Hospital, doctors diagnosed severe malnutrition. The girl stayed for 50 days, during which she gained about 15 pounds and grew more than an inch.

Staff reported she was emotionally treated as though she were much younger, watching children’s shows like The Wiggles and receiving a Barbie doll for her 17th birthday.

Court: Parents Denied the Obvious

Judge Linda Black said the parents showed “wilful blindness”, refusing to acknowledge their daughter was starving. The parents tightly controlled her diet—strict vegan—and limited her social interaction and medical care.

Daughter Asked Court Not to Jail Her Parents

During sentencing, the teenager pleaded for leniency, saying she feared being left homeless and blamed herself for the situation. The court ultimately decided the neglect was too severe to overlook.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Warming trend takes over, but bigger cool down on the way next week

ABC13 Houston
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Warming trend takes over, but bigger cool down on the way next week

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It may not feel like it yet, but a warming trend has begun in Southeast Texas. Just as it feels like summer is returning, a stronger cold front will blow in this weekend to bring our coldest-feeling air so far this season.

Wednesday morning will not be as chilly as previous mornings. Instead of widespread lows in the 40s, we’ll have widespread lows in the 50s, closer to the seasonal average of 55. Patchy fog is also possible on the morning drive. We’ll still enjoy abundant sunshine on Wednesday, allowing temperatures to warm into the low 80s across just about all of Southeast Texas.

What’s in store for the rest of the work week?

After Wednesday, we’ll have more mild, foggy mornings with lows in the 60s and warm, humid afternoons with highs in the 80s. Friday could be especially warm with high temperatures climbing into the upper 80s, approaching the daily record of 89 degrees observed just last year on November 7. Saturday will be similarly warm, and then our cold front arrives.

When does our next cold front arrive?

Our next front gets here around sunrise Sunday morning, and it now looks a little stronger. The core of the cold will still miss us to the east, but we will get brushed by this winter-like air descending into the eastern third of the nation. That means we’ll have lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s and 70s for a couple of days next week.

What does the weather forecast look like for Veterans Day?

It looks amazing! Temperatures will be a little chilly in the morning with lows in the 40s, but sunshine should warm those temperatures toward 70 in the afternoon. The sky will be filled with sunshine, and we have no rain in the forecast at this time.

Any more rain on the horizon?

Not really. We are out of the main storm track over the next 7 to 10 days, so the best we can muster right now is a 10% chance of rain when the front arrives over the weekend. And even that might be generous. Therefore, more drought-building conditions are expected for the first half of November.

What is happening in the tropics?

There are no tropical developments expected in the Atlantic Basin over the next 7 days. 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.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

UN Report: World Still on Track to Miss Paris Climate Goals

Indira Zaldivar
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UN Report: World Still on Track to Miss Paris Climate Goals

A new United Nations report warns that the planet remains on course to exceed the temperature limits set by the Paris Agreement, despite modest progress since last year.

Global Warming Could Reach 2.3–2.5°C

If countries meet their current national climate pledges, global temperatures are projected to rise between 2.3°C and 2.5°C (4.14–4.5°F) above preindustrial levels. That’s a slight improvement from last year’s estimate of 2.6–2.8°C but still well above the Paris goal of limiting warming to 2°C.

If nations only follow their existing policies — which often fall short of their stated goals — the report projects an even steeper rise of 2.8°C (5.04°F). The warming figures reflect global averages, meaning land areas could experience even greater temperature increases.

U.S. Withdrawal Expected to Raise Estimates

The report also notes that the Trump administration’s formal withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will take effect next year, raising the global temperature estimate by about 0.1°C (0.18°F). The U.S. State Department said it “does not support” the UN’s findings, reiterating that environmental agreements should not “unduly or unfairly burden the United States.”

Global Stakes Remain High

Scientists warn that exceeding the Paris targets could lead to increasingly severe droughts, floods, and heat waves worldwide. While the report reflects some progress in emissions planning, it concludes that current commitments still fall short of what’s needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Transportation Secretary Warns of Possible Airspace Closures Amid Shutdown

Indira Zaldivar
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Transportation Secretary Warns of Possible Airspace Closures Amid Shutdown

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that parts of U.S. airspace could be forced to shut down if the ongoing government shutdown continues into next week.

‘You Will See Mass Chaos’

Duffy said the Department of Transportation may have no choice but to close certain areas of airspace due to severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. “If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy said. “You will see mass flight delays, mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it.”

Air Traffic Control at a Breaking Point

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly half of the nation’s major air traffic control facilities are facing critical staffing shortages. Controllers are currently working without pay due to the shutdown.

Duffy told ABC’s This Week that safety remains the top priority despite the disruptions. “We will delay, we will cancel any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe,” he said, noting that a ground stop was already in effect at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Safety Risks Rising

“There is a level of risk that gets injected into the system when we have a controller that’s doing two jobs instead of one,” Duffy warned, emphasizing that the situation will worsen if Congress fails to end the shutdown soon.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Australian Mother Pleads Guilty to Criminal Neglect After Daughter’s Malnutrition Death

Michael Esparza
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Australian Mother Pleads Guilty to Criminal Neglect After Daughter’s Malnutrition Death

An Australian woman has admitted to the severe neglect of her children that led to the death of her 6-year-old daughter, who died from cardiac arrest caused by malnutrition.

Child Found Malnourished and Infested with Lice

Crystal Leanne Hanley, 49, pleaded guilty in South Australia’s Supreme Court to the criminal neglect of three of her children. Prosecutors said her daughter, Charlie Nowland, was found unresponsive at their Munno Para home on July 15, 2022. The child weighed only 39 pounds and died of “cardiac failure associated with anemia and severe iron deficiency.”

Emergency nurse Angela Dente testified that Charlie’s head, ears, and nose were covered in lice eggs, and her hands and feet were so caked with dirt that staff had to scrape it off.

“I kept looking at her little sweet face,” Dente said in her victim impact statement.

Pattern of Neglect and Missed Warnings

Before her death, Charlie had lost the ability to walk, yet Hanley failed to seek medical care. Prosecutor Kos Lesses said Hanley displayed “callous disregard” for her daughter’s worsening condition during phone calls with the child’s father.

Hanley finally called emergency services at 1 a.m. on the day Charlie died, telling dispatchers the child had fallen off a makeshift bed and stopped breathing.

Family’s Heartbreaking Testimony

During the hearing, Hanley’s surviving children condemned her neglect. “I had to be a parent to Charlie because you weren’t,” one child said.

“You were selfish. All you cared about was drugs when you should have cared about us.”

Hanley faces sentencing at a later date.

If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit childhelp.org. Calls are confidential and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.

For the most pressing headlines around the globe, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Election Day in Texas: Voters to Decide 17 Constitutional Amendments and Key Special Races

Edward Saenz
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0
Election Day in Texas: Voters to Decide 17 Constitutional Amendments and Key Special Races

Texans are heading to the polls today to weigh in on 17 proposed changes to the state Constitution and fill vacant seats in Congress and the state Senate. The off-year election is expected to draw lower turnout despite high-stakes measures on taxes, water, and criminal justice.

18th Congressional District Special Election

Voters in Houston’s 18th Congressional District are selecting a successor to the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March. With 16 candidates in the crowded field, a runoff is almost certain. Leading Democratic contenders include Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards, and State Rep. Jolanda Jones.

The heavily Democratic district, known for producing political figures like Barbara Jordan and Sheila Jackson Lee, could see its dynamics shift after redistricting moves much of its territory to southern and northeastern Harris County.

Senate District 9 Special Election

In North Texas, voters will fill the state Senate seat vacated by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. Republicans Leigh Wambsganss, backed by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, and former Southlake Mayor John Huffman are the leading contenders in the solidly conservative district. Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a union leader and Air Force veteran, is running an uphill campaign centered on working-class issues.

If a Republican wins, as expected, the state Senate will have 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats, with one vacancy remaining in a Conroe-area district.

Key Constitutional Amendments on the Ballot

Seventeen proposed amendments could reshape Texas policy on taxes, infrastructure, and criminal justice. Several aim to lower property taxes, including Proposition 13, which raises the homestead exemption for school taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 — a change that could save the average homeowner nearly $500 annually.

Proposition 4 would allocate $20 billion over 20 years to fund statewide water projects, while Proposition 3 would require judges to deny bail for certain violent felonies if public safety is at risk.

Proposition 12 seeks to restructure the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, granting Gov. Greg Abbott a majority of appointments, and Proposition 14 would create a $3 billion Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Low Turnout but High Impact

More than one million Texans cast ballots during early voting, but overall turnout is expected to remain modest. The election’s results will determine not only who fills key vacancies but also the direction of Texas policy for years to come.

Follow every update of Election Day with Que Onda Magazine.

Dick Cheney, Former Vice President and ‘Darth Vader’ of the GOP, Dies at 84

Indira Zaldivar
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0
Dick Cheney, Former Vice President and ‘Darth Vader’ of the GOP, Dies at 84

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, long known as one of the most influential and polarizing figures in American politics, died Nov. 3 at the age of 84.

Architect of Post-9/11 Wars

Cheney helped direct the Persian Gulf War as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush and later shaped U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq as vice president to George W. Bush following the Sept. 11 attacks. His defense of waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation” methods drew widespread condemnation, with critics labeling the practices as torture.

Praised by Bush, Vilified by Critics

George W. Bush hailed Cheney as a “calm and steady presence” who prioritized America’s security during turbulent years. But Cheney’s justification for the Iraq War and interrogation tactics left a lasting mark, solidifying his reputation as one of the most divisive vice presidents in U.S. history.

Embracing the ‘Darth Vader’ Image

Frequently compared to Darth Vader for his secrecy and hardline views, Cheney leaned into the nickname. “After all, Darth Vader is one of the nicer things I’ve been called recently,” he quipped in 2007. He even displayed a trailer hitch modeled after the “Star Wars” villain, proudly declaring, “I’m rather proud of that.”

Falling Out With Trump’s GOP

In later years, Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, broke ranks with Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Both condemned Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and Liz Cheney joined the House committee investigating the attack.

Their criticism drew Trump’s ire, with the former president branding Dick Cheney “irrelevant” and Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk.”

A Legacy of Power and Controversy

From shaping post-9/11 national security policy to becoming a rare Republican voice against Trump, Cheney’s career spanned eras of war, reform, and political upheaval. Once reviled as the GOP’s Darth Vader, he ultimately stood as a symbol of conviction—unyielding, combative, and unapologetic to the end.

For more political news, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Beautiful weather for Election Day, near record warmth returns Friday

ABC13 Houston
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Beautiful weather for Election Day, near record warmth returns Friday

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Election Day brings more amazing weather to Southeast Texas.

If you’ll be heading to the voting booth when the polls open at 7 a.m. you’ll likely need a jacket with temperatures in the upper 40s for most. After the chilly start, our bright sunny sky will push temps into the upper 70s and low 80s for highs..

What’s in store for the rest of the work week?

The weather looks great! After Election Day, the Gulf breeze brings back moisture Wednesday and beyond to bring lows up into the 60s and highs into the 80s for the rest of the week. Overall it should still feel pretty nice. Friday could be especially warm with high temperatures climbing into the upper 80s, approaching the daily record of 89 degrees observed just last year on November 7.

When does our next cold front arrive?

Our next front gets here early Sunday morning, but it doesn’t look particularly strong for us. Saturday will be similar in its warmth when compared to Friday, but we’ll cool off nicely behind the front arriving early Sunday. That will set the stage for seasonally cool weather on Veterans Day with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s under a sunny sky.

Any more rain on the horizon?

No. We are out of the main storm track over the next 7 to 10 days, so the best we can muster right now is a 20% chance of rain when the front arrives over the weekend. And even that might be generous. Therefore, more drought-building conditions are expected for the first half of November.

What is happening in the tropics?

Now that Melissa has moved on, there are no tropical developments expected in the Atlantic Basin over the next 7 days. 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.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Man Charged After Alleged Social‑Media Threats Against President Trump

Michael Esparza
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Man Charged After Alleged Social‑Media Threats Against President Trump

Suspect arrested and detained

A suburban Chicago man, 57‑year‑old Trent Schneider of Winthrop Harbor, was federally charged after prosecutors say he posted a video on Instagram threatening to kill President Donald Trump. Schneider was arrested Monday and a federal judge ordered him held in custody pending a detention hearing later this week.

Alleged threats detailed in complaint

According to a criminal complaint, Schneider’s “selfie‑style” video from Oct. 16 included statements about obtaining guns and executing Trump. Prosecutors say the same video and a caption calling for execution were posted roughly 18 times between Oct. 16 and Oct. 21.

Tip leads to law enforcement action

A concerned viewer in Florida reported the video to authorities on Oct. 16, which prompted the investigation and Schneider’s arrest. He faces a federal charge for making a threat in interstate commerce and could receive up to five years in prison if convicted.

Schneider is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. Attorney information was not immediately available.

For more on this case, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

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