HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A man is recovering after being hit by gunfire during a fight at his neighbor’s house. Houston police said the victim was not involved in the fight at all.
The shooting happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday on Madera Road on Houston’s northeast side.
According to HPD, a woman in her 20s and two of her friends or relatives showed up to her ex-boyfriend’s house. Police said she called him out of the house, and that’s when a fistfight broke out.
From there, HPD said the two men who drove her to the house got out of the car and started shooting. Police don’t believe they were aiming at anyone specifically — just firing shots to try to get them to stop fighting.
It was around that time that HPD said the next-door neighbor stepped outside to see what was going on and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The neighbor who got shot heard all of the commotion, stepped outside to see what was going on, and actually got hit in the torso,” Lt. R. Willkens said. “So he’s at a local hospital. Prayers for him.”
HPD said the victim is around 40 years old. He is expected to survive.
The woman and the two shooters got in the car and took off.
The shooting happened in the Glenwood Forest/Kentshire Place neighborhood — which, according to our ABC13 Neighborhood Safety Tracker, is an area of town that has had around 6,400 assaults in the past 12 months. That number is trending higher than what was reported in 2022, but still lower than the 4-year average.
Investigators said they know who the suspects they are looking for, it’s just a matter of tracking them down. Police did not immediately release the suspects’ or victim’s names.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.
The anticipation surrounding the return of Houston Astros’ star pitcher Justin Verlander is finally coming to an end.
Verlander, who has been sidelined with shoulder inflammation since Spring Training, embarked on a rigorous journey to recovery. Over the past two weeks, he has undergone a minor league assignment, making appearances with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Though the statistical outcomes may not have reflected his illustrious career as a three-time Cy Young Award winner, Verlander managed to build up his pitch count to the mid-70s during his rehab stint, signaling a positive step forward in his recovery process.
“I feel like I’m ready to step on the mound again,” Verlander affirmed on Monday, leaving the decision of his return to the Astros’ management.
Verlander showcased his progress with a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park in the presence of Astros manager Joe Espada ahead of Tuesday’s game.
“That went really well, stuff looks good, see how he feels tomorrow and then let you guys know tomorrow which game, either game one or game two against the Nationals,” Espada commented. He emphasized the importance of assessing Verlander’s physical and mental readiness for his comeback.
The Astros’ rotation has been plagued by injuries, with five members, including Verlander, Framber Valdez, José Urquidy, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers, sidelined. To address the gaps, Forrest Whitley was called up from the Space Cowboys to bolster the bullpen ahead of Tuesday’s clash with the Atlanta Braves.
Blair Henley was previously summoned when Valdez experienced discomfort in his elbow, while Spencer Arrighetti filled in for games against the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves before being reassigned to the minors.
A federal judge has mandated that Texas health and human services officials face daily fines of $100,000 for chronically neglecting investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect within the state’s troubled foster care system, according to a recent court order issued on Monday.
U.S. District Judge Janis Jack found Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Cecile E. Young in contempt of her previous court orders aimed at rectifying deficiencies in the state’s handling of complaints by children under its care.
This marks the third instance where the state has been held in contempt of court orders since the initiation of a lawsuit in 2011 concerning the conditions of foster care within the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
The judge’s ruling was prompted by what she termed “continued recalcitrance” on the part of the HHS’s Provider Investigations unit to conduct thorough, accurate, and timely investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving children in DFPS custody, as stated in the 427-page decision.
The fines imposed on Texas will be rescinded upon demonstration of compliance with investigation standards. A hearing regarding this matter is scheduled for late June.
In response, the state has filed an appeal and a motion to stay the contempt order, contending its commitment to safeguarding children in its care and complying with court orders. However, Jack swiftly denied the motion, and the appeals process is set to proceed.
The contentious relationship between HHS, DFPS, and Judge Jack has persisted since her initial condemnation of the state’s foster care system in 2015, a ruling upheld by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals three years later. Despite subsequent directives from Jack and court-appointed monitors overseeing DFPS since 2019, the state has faced ongoing criticism for its failure to fully adhere to remedial measures.
Attorneys representing foster children involved in the lawsuit lauded Jack’s ruling as a resolute message, emphasizing the urgent need to address systemic deficiencies jeopardizing children’s safety within the foster care system.
The legal battle underscores the plight of approximately 9,000 children in permanent state custody, many of whom endure complex mental and behavioral challenges exacerbated by inadequate supervision and responses to abuse allegations.
Concerns raised during recent hearings have spotlighted deficiencies in investigating complaints of sexual abuse among children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, reflecting broader systemic shortcomings in protecting vulnerable youth in state care.
Despite strides in staff training, persistent weaknesses persist in the state’s responses to abuse and neglect allegations, prompting calls for systemic reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of children under state guardianship.
Caitlin Clark, the record-breaking NCAA basketball star, was selected first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. However, her rookie salary with the professional league has sparked outrage over pay disparity in women’s basketball.
According to Spotrac, a website that tracks sports contracts, the 22-year-old athlete is expected to sign a contract with the Fever worth $338,056 over the course of four years. She will earn $76,535 in her rookie season this summer, and is projected to earn an annual salary of $97,582 by the end of her four-year contract.
Unsurprisingly, many fans were quick to point out that Clark’s rookie salary is far less than her male counterparts in the NBA. In fact, Victor Wembanyama – the first pick in last year’s NBA draft – signed a four-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs worth $55m, per Spotrac. He earned more than $12m in his first season alone.
“Greatest player in college basketball history just got an entry level project manager salary,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“This is bogus, they have made more headlines than any man that is currently playing,” another person pointed out. “Pay women what they deserve in sports.”
“The statistically greatest college basketball player in history is getting paid a five-digit salary in a professional sports league. Ridiculous,” said someone else.
Meanwhile, some people pointed out that Clark is likely to make an even bigger profit than her WNBA salary simply from her various endorsement deals. In October 2022, Clark inked a major deal with footwear brand Nike, as well as her sponsorships with State Farm, Gatorade, Buick, H&R Block, and Bose. From brand deals alone, Clark is estimated to make more than $3m per year, according to her NIL valuation.
“This is so bad. She’ll make probably make 50x this in endorsements,” said one fan, as another person wrote: “I know she is going to make a bag off endorsements but Caitlin Clark’s WNBA contract is straight up disrespectful.”
Even Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson called for Clark and her fellow WNBA players to make higher salaries, as he responded on X: “These ladies deserve so much more… Praying for the day.”
Throughout her time as point guard on the University of Iowa’s Hawkeyes, Clark has been lauded as one of the most successful players in the women’s NCAA. She holds the NCAA’s all-time scoring and assist records for both men and women, and is credited with helping increase viewership for NCAA women’s basketball. This year’s final championship game between Iowa and South Carolina attracted 24m viewers, topping the men’s D1 final audience by millions and attracting the most viewers of any college basketball game since 2019.
The WNBA currently makes an estimated $60m annually from selling its media rights and licensing deals with Amazon, CBS, and ION, Front Office Sports reports. In comparison, the average NBA team is worth approximately $3.85bn – with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers each worth more than $6bn, according to Forbes. The NBA is expected to strike a media rights deal this summer worth between $60bn and $72bn, Sports Business Journal reported in February, while the league’s previous TV deal with Disney and Turner in 2014 was worth a combined $24bn.
In an announcement that may cause concern among patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed on Wednesday that the majority of doses for Eli Lilly’s popular weight loss medication Zepbound and its diabetes counterpart Mounjaro will remain in short supply throughout the second quarter of this year due to surging demand.
The shortage encompasses all variants of Zepbound and Mounjaro except for the 2.5-milligram formulations, exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals seeking these treatments. This update follows a previous notification indicating limited availability of some doses until April.
Despite concerted efforts by Eli Lilly and its primary competitor Novo Nordisk to ramp up production, the demand for these sought-after weight loss and diabetes drugs continues to outpace supply. These injectable treatments, known as incretin drugs, have witnessed a surge in demand for their ability to facilitate significant weight loss over time by mimicking gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar levels.
Eli Lilly, which aims to double its production capacity for incretin drugs by the end of 2023, affirmed its commitment to accelerating production efforts throughout the current year. Significant enhancements are anticipated in the latter half of the year, with projected production levels expected to surpass those of the second half of 2023 by at least 1.5 times.
The pharmaceutical giant also disclosed plans for a new manufacturing facility in Concord, North Carolina, slated to commence production by year-end, with products expected to be available for shipping in 2025. Additionally, Eli Lilly plans to establish several other facilities in the coming years, including a site in Germany and two new plants in its home state of Indiana.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk is undertaking similar initiatives to address shortages in its weight loss drug Wegovy and its diabetes medication Ozempic, both of which are also experiencing limited availability, according to information on the FDA’s website.
Efforts by both pharmaceutical companies underscore the persistent challenges faced by patients in accessing these crucial medications amidst soaring demand, highlighting the pressing need for sustained production expansions and supply chain optimizations. Eli Lilly has yet to provide comment on the FDA’s latest update.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Years after a young boy’s skeletal remains were found in a Harris County apartment where his brothers were living alone, the man accused of beating the child to death is headed to prison.
Brian Coulter, 34, has been convicted of capital murder and will serve life in prison for killing Kendrick Lee. Coulter pleaded not guilty but opted for a bench trial without a jury present.
After deliberating for about 20 minutes, Judge Kelli Johnson of the 178th Harris County Criminal District Court convicted Coulter.
The judge addressed Coulter, calling the case “the most horrific set of facts” she’s ever heard.
“Sir, those children have haunted me this last week,” Johnson said to an impassive Coulter. “I hope, sir, when you’re in prison, those same boys that have haunted my mind haunt yours.”
Coulter, who did not testify during his trial, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, still wearing a yellow jumpsuit as he did throughout trial, after Johnson’s ruling Monday afternoon. Coulter’s attorneys said they planned to file an appeal. They declined to comment after the verdict.
“The death of Kendrick Lee was so tragic, and the fact that for so long there was no one to speak up for him, we felt like we had a duty to be his voice,” Celeste Byrom, the Harris County assistant district attorney, said as she addressed the media.
The three surviving brothers of the 8-year-old boy, whose decomposing body was found in October 2021, told their story in court Thursday of what life was like living with their mother’s alleged abusive boyfriend.
In the capital murder trail for Brian Coulter, 8-year-old Kendrick Lee’s surviving brothers testified on Thursday.
One by one, the siblings, now ages 17, 12, and 9 years old, took the stand on the trial’s third day, testifying for hours about how Coulter kicked, hit, and punched Kendrick for months leading up to his death. The two younger brothers said Coulter abused them as well.
The 9-year-old, who was 7 at the time of Kendrick’s death, told Judge Johnson he was in the room when Coulter killed Kendrick.
“I saw (Coulter) beat (Kendrick) up,” the child said. “(Coulter) used his fists.”
He explained that Coulter used the children’s toys to beat Kendrick, specifically a Spider-Man figurine and model jet. The 9-year-old said Kendrick “stopped moving,” and then Coulter “put the blue blanket on top (of him).”
The 12- and 9-year-old brothers described how they were often locked in a bedroom at the family’s Alief-area apartment. Prosecutors showed photos of the bedroom door with an exterior deadbolt lock replacing the knob. The children told the judge they weren’t allowed to come out and were forced to go to the bathroom in the bedroom.
Deputies discovered Kendrick’s body was just a skeleton when HCSO found it under a blue blanket on Oct. 24, 2021.
The eldest brother called 911. He was 15 years old at the time. Prosecutors played the call during closing arguments.
“My brother is dead, and he’s been dead for a while,” the teen can be heard saying. He explained to the dispatcher that his mom and her boyfriend moved out. “It’s just me and my two other brothers here.”
The teen, now 17, was the only one of the three brothers to testify in the same room as Coulter but did not look at the man he once thought of as a “father figure.”
The two younger brothers testified via video from another room after a Texas Children’s doctor, psychologist, counselor, and their adoptive mother testified that being in the same room as Coulter could resurrect the trauma they’ve suffered, creating a significant setback.
ABC13 is not identifying any of the boys, per strict orders from the court, who were all minors when the alleged abuse occurred.
Gloria Williams, the children’s mother, is also charged in connection with her son’s death. She’s expected to stand trial in the coming months for injury to a child and tampering with a corpse. Though, Williams is not charged with murder.
Much of last Wednesday’s time in court was spent looking at text messages the state said were shared between Coulter and Williams.
Williams was accused of telling Coulter that Kendrick had feces on him and wasn’t moving. She went on to say her son “looked dead,” asking Coulter to clean him up.
Other texts show Coulter allegedly told Williams that “it was in God’s hands” and “not to worry.”
These messages were sent a year before Kendrick Lee was found dead by authorities.
The trial began last Tuesday with testimony from multiple state witnesses, including an investigator.
HCSO investigators described the scene they found inside the apartment as horrific, with one testifying it was one of the worst scenes he’s ever worked. Prosecutors played body camera footage on Tuesday, showing two shocked deputies as they pulled back a blue blanket, exposing Kendrick’s skeleton on a bedroom floor.
More crime scene photos taken that day showed the then-10-year-old brother with a swollen jaw. Investigators said the boy was beaten so severely he needed surgery.
The boys lived in the apartment without electricity and beds to sleep on, with roaches everywhere and, as one investigator recalled, a distinct smell.
On Nov. 23, 2020, Coulter was arrested in Luling, Texas, for unlawful possession of a weapon. Investigators believe he had killed Kendrick days before that arrest.
Months later, in March 2021, court records show Coulter and Williams moved out of the apartments on Green Crest Drive and abandoned the children.
According to the boys, Williams and Coulter would return every few weeks to drop off some food. Coulter allegedly beat the younger two during those trips.
By around September or October of that year, the electricity was cut off to the apartment.
On Oct. 26, 2021, two days after deputies found Kendrick Lee’s remains, Coulter and Williams were arrested outside the Robinson-Westchase Library on Wilcrest, where they were captured on surveillance video.
Sources said they were at the library searching for news articles about the case. By this time, Williams’ sons were in Child Protective Services custody.
The medical examiner ruled Kendrick died from “homicidal violence.”
The state rested its case on Thursday. Coulter’s attorneys opted not to present a defense and rested their case Monday.
Public health officials in Stark County revealed alarming statistics on April 12 during the second Maternal and Child Health Conference, hosted by Harris County Public Health and other local agencies. Shockingly, 1 in 8 babies born in Harris County are born prematurely, with the county receiving an “F” letter grade from the March of Dimes national report card. The report also highlighted disparities, with Black babies being one and a half times more likely to be born preterm and three times more likely to die compared to white babies.
Alicia Lee, the director of maternal and child health collective impact at March of Dimes, emphasized the importance of addressing racial inequities and access to resources to combat the rising pregnancy-related deaths, especially among Black birthing individuals. County health officials echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of addressing social determinants of health such as food insecurity and economic instability in improving birthing outcomes.
In light of these challenges, Harris County Executive Director Barbie Robinson introduced the Maternal Health Bill of Rights during the conference, aimed at addressing the maternal and infant mortality crisis. The bill outlines various rights related to prenatal care, family planning, breastfeeding, and pregnancy complications, aiming to provide better support and resources for expectant mothers.
Attendees, including Alysia Greer from the Houston nonprofit Civic Heart, shared personal experiences highlighting the need for improved maternal care, with Greer recounting her own uncomfortable birthing experience more than two decades ago. The conference shed light on the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure equitable access to quality maternal and child health care services.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A retired teacher was identified as the 74-year-old woman found shot to death inside a senior living facility in west Houston.
According to the Houston Police Department, Carol Webber was found shot to death on the floor of her apartment at the Treemont Senior Living Community at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Police said there were no suspects or a motive.
Several people who live at the senior living center and family members told ABC13 this was the first time they heard of a shooting, and management has not notified them.
One woman told ABC13 she knew Webber, who claimed someone knocked on her door during late hours.
Residents and their family members demanded answers with a suspect on the loose and little transparency.
Brandy Demeris, whose mother lives there, said she trusts the facility.
“If there was actually a shooting here and they are aware of it, and they would have to be, I would be incredibly upset and would consider moving my mother, hearing they wouldn’t let families know or the residents,” Demeris said.
ABC13 contacted Treemont Senior Living about whether security was increased, the concerns about someone knocking on doors late at night, and why residents weren’t notified. A spokesperson said they have no comment.
“The majority of people I have come into contact with, who live here, are alone and are borderline needing assisted living, more or less someone to check on them,” Demeris said. “I would say Treemont has been pretty good with keeping up with them, but this could be completely swept under the rug without these people knowing.”
ABC13 has requested calls for service at the location over the last few weeks.
According to the victim’s family, Webber’s siblings haven’t spoken to her in years, but they also want answers about what happened.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Caitlin Clark, the standout shooting guard from Iowa who shattered NCAA scoring records and captivated audiences with her remarkable play, made history on Monday night by being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.
The 22-year-old native of West Des Moines, Iowa, known for her exceptional shooting range and playmaking skills, joins a Fever team looking to revitalize its performance after missing the postseason for the past seven seasons. Teaming up with 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, Clark aims to bring her electrifying talent to the professional stage.
Clark’s selection marks a significant moment not only for her but for women’s basketball as a whole, with other notable prospects such as LSU’s Angel Reese and Stanford’s Cameron Brink also making the leap to the professional ranks.
Having led the Hawkeyes to consecutive national championship game appearances and earning numerous accolades along the way, including the AP Player of the Year and Wooden Award, Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has sparked unprecedented excitement among fans and teams alike.
With anticipation building and venues selling out tickets in record time in anticipation of her debut, Clark’s transition to the professional league promises to be nothing short of sensational, setting the stage for a new era in women’s basketball.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — This week brings a preview of the summer heat and humidity to come. When you pair temperatures climbing toward 90 with high humidity, Houston will definitely have that early-summer feel until a cool front arrives this weekend.
Temperatures Tuesday morning will again only dip into the low 70s for Houston with some outlying communities dropping into the upper 60s. We will again have a mostly cloudy sky, which is good enough for a 20% chance of a quick shower or sprinkle. High temperatures will manage to climb into the mid 80s, and when you factor in the humidity it will feel closer to 90 degrees.
When is our next chance for thunderstorms?
Our weekend cold front will bring the next opportunity for thunderstorms. Right now the timing for the front’s arrival with those thunderstorms is late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Could the storms this weekend turn severe?
We cannot rule out severe weather at this time, but it’s too early to make a call on that.
How cool will it get behind this front?
After the front’s passage, highs will drop into the upper 70s with lows in the upper 50s for a couple of days. More importantly, there will be a significant break in the humidity, and there aren’t many of those humidity breaks left before the real summer heat and humidity arrive.
Are we done with oak pollen season?
Not entirely, but we are well past the peak of oak pollen season. Oak usually still registers low to moderate counts through early May. Grass pollens and mold spores are now climbing as we journey deeper into spring.
