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Thursday, June 4, 2026

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Kerr County Officials Caught Off Guard by Deadly Flooding

Internal emails and texts obtained by ABC News reveal Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) officials were initially confused about the severity of the July 4 flooding in Kerr County.

Early morning messages expressed surprise at rising river levels, but within half an hour, the tone shifted to alarm as floodwaters swept through the region.

Tragedy Strikes at Camp Mystic

As water rescues unfolded, officials worried about the safety of campers at Camp Mystic. Initial reports suggested everyone was safe, but later messages showed uncertainty. The camp’s president and UGRA board treasurer, Dick Eastland, was among the more than 130 people killed, many of them children.

Warning System Plans Fell Through

Records show the UGRA knew of the area’s flood risks and had applied for a $1 million state grant in 2023 to install high-water detection systems. The project was dropped in 2024 over funding terms, replaced by a smaller $70,000 system that had not been implemented before the disaster.

Calls for Accountability

Staffers predicted angry public reaction and questioned how to explain the lack of an effective warning system. Some expressed hope the tragedy would push flood preparedness to the forefront, though they noted funding, bureaucracy, and technical challenges remain obstacles. State legislators are now investigating the events leading up to the flooding.

For more on the tragic Texas Hill Country floods, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Texas Democrats Plan Return for Second Special Session

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House Democrats are set to return to Texas for the upcoming special legislative session, our news partner ABC13 sources confirm.

While the exact date of their arrival at the Capitol in Austin remains unclear, party members say they have achieved their goal of ending the first special session and raising national attention on mid-decade redistricting.

Focus on Hill Country Flood Relief

Democrats say they will push for Hill Country flooding relief to take priority in the next session. In a statement to ABC News, the Texas Democratic Caucus said their decision to return depends on whether Republican leadership prioritizes flood victims over redistricting plans.

“Members are still assessing their strategies going forward and are in a private meeting to make decisions about future plans currently,” he wrote. “If and when Texas House Democrats breaking quorum decide to go home is squarely dependent on the actions the Governor, Speaker, and Texas Republicans in charge make with regard to prioritizing flood victims over redistricting that hurts Texans.”

Redistricting Dispute Continues

The first special session collapsed without a quorum for two consecutive days, with only 95 members present. Hours later, the Senate passed a Republican-favored redistricting map that had prompted more than 50 House Democrats to leave the state earlier this month. Senate Democrats walked out in protest but maintained quorum.

Stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine for more updates on the Texas Democrats’ blocking redistricting attempts.

Scattered downpours Wednesday and tropical moisture moves in Friday

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As more students head back to school Wednesday, another round of downpours could put a damper on those afternoon recess and afterschool activities.

We are starting the day mostly dry but isolated rain in our coastal counties will be a possibility. Widely scattered showers and storms will again develop in the afternoon and could slow down your evening commute. The threat of lightning could also change some after school plans too. These storms will linger through sunset tonight before conditions dry out overnight. High temperatures will peak in the mid-to-upper 90s with things cooling down into the upper 70s or low 80s where it rains.

How does the weather look for the rest of this week?

We’ll see more rounds of afternoon downpours through the weekend. It will be hot with highs near averages in the mid-90s, and every afternoon there’s a 40%-60% chance for showers and thunderstorms. These storms could impact afternoon recesses and afterschool activities. Rain chances will climb a little more on Friday as a tropical disturbance clips South Texas.

With this rainy pattern, how are we doing in terms of rainfall or drought conditions?

Drought conditions? None for us here in Southeast Texas! One thing to note about our daily downpours, though, is that they haven’t been equal in bringing rain to everyone. There are a few spots that are about 5 inches behind in rainfall that’s needed to saturate the soil, so if a hotter and drier pattern were to settle in over the next few weeks, then we might start to see more drought conditions locally. Also, we know the daily downpours have not reached everyone equally, so some lawns might be looking a little worse than others right now.

What’s happening in the tropics?

Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the deep tropics and is forecast to become the first major hurricane of the season in the Atlantic. We are also keeping an eye on a tropical wave that’s expected to cross the Yucatan and move into the Gulf this evening. Right now it has a low chance of development, but could increase our rain chances for the end of the week. 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.

Hermann Park Golf Course, Trail to Undergo $30 Million Renovation

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The Hermann Park Golf Course and its two-mile walking trail will close this fall for a $30 million renovation aimed at modernizing the century-old facility and improving its environmental sustainability, city officials announced Aug. 8.

The project is a partnership between the Astros Golf Foundation, the Hermann Park Conservancy and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Construction is expected to begin in September and last until October 2026.

Plans include upgraded drainage and stormwater systems to reduce reliance on potable water, the relocation of large oak trees to add shade along the walking trail, and the expansion of the driving range. The redesign will feature a par-3 front nine and a par-36 back nine, along with a new clubhouse and maintenance facilities.

An adaptive training facility, developed in partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital, will also be added for players with medical conditions.

The course, first opened in 1923, is notable as one of the first in Houston to be fully desegregated, in 1954. It is currently managed by BSL Golf, but the city plans to take over operations after the renovation.

Mayor John Whitmire called the project an example of “improving quality of life through collaboration,” while Hermann Park Conservancy President Cara Lambright said the are about “elevating golf players’ experience and delivering environmental improvements.”

“Parks belong to the people of Houston, and I am excited about this collaboration to improve the Hermann Park Golf Course, while preserving public access.” Whitmire said.

The course has faced recent financial challenges, reporting $9.3 million in expenses against $8.4 million in revenue in 2024. Officials said the overhaul is intended to improve both the user experience and the course’s long-term financial health.

Texts Show Houston Mayor Privately Opposed Austin Street Bike Lane Before Removal

Newly released text messages, obtained by the Houston transportation advocacy group A Tale of Two Bridges, reveal that Houston Mayor John Whitmire privately opposed the city’s protected bike lane on Austin Street months before it was removed, contradicting the administration’s public explanation that the dismantling was tied solely to a drainage project.

The protected, two-way lane in Midtown was taken out earlier this year as part of what city officials described as a $2.5 million drainage and street rehabilitation project. But messages from 2024 show Whitmire told a senior adviser he was “resurrecting the fight” against the lane, calling it a “mess” and criticizing cycling advocates and city planners as “bullies.”

Cycling groups, including BikeHouston, condemned the decision, arguing it compromised safety and undermined the city’s efforts to expand multi-modal transportation.

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, whose office provided about $2 million for the original lane, also voiced frustration over the change.

City officials have since announced a revised plan for the corridor, replacing the two-way protected path with a one-way, paint-only bike lane for northbound traffic. The redesign also adds street parking, a move supporters say will address resident concerns about parking loss, trash collection, and fire station access.

Critics note that only about 20 percent of the drainage project area currently shows active construction, fueling skepticism about the official reasoning for the lane’s removal.

The dispute underscores a broader debate in Houston over how to balance car-centric planning with growing demands for safe cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

HISD begins third year of school under state control

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Tuesday marks the first day of school for the largest school district in the State of Texas, and there will be some changes on Houston Independent School District campuses.

Changes include no cell phones in the classroom, which is a state law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, a partnership with METRO that allows high school students to take a bus to and from school, and an updated communication system known as ParentSquare.

The system, which delivers information such as weather-related closures to parents, has been described by Superintendent Mike Miles as a “streamlined” way to send messages to the HISD community.

“Continuously improving communication remains a priority,” Miles said.

Miles has also recently addressed the issue of teacher vacancies in the new year.

He said last week that it’s possible they won’t be able to fill every one of them, but said they expect to enter the year with a similar number to what they had this time last year.

Miles said they had 28 teacher vacancies going into the 2024-2025 school year.

Eyewitness News has asked the district for an updated number of teacher vacancies as the district begins its first day of school, but we are still awaiting a response.

ABC13’s news partner at the Houston Chronicle found that more than 2,300 teachers left the district in June, adding that overall employee departures were twice as high this year as they were in June 2022.

The state’s takeover of the district started in June 2023, which means this is the third year of the controversial arrangement — one that has been extended until at least 2027.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Miles said.

Miles said Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath will decide in two years whether or not to start the transition back to an elected school board.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

More rounds of scattered storms are expected Tuesday

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s back-to-school week for so many kids across southeast Texas. But Mother Nature could put a damper on those morning back-to-school pictures and after school activities.

We will see another round of downpours and storms Tuesday. A few showers and isolated storms possible mainly along and south of I-10 for the morning commute with isolated showers and storms possible across Southeast Texas in the afternoon.

How does the weather look for those going back to school this week?

We’ll see multiple rounds of showers and storms develop this week. It will be hot with highs near averages in the mid-90s, and every afternoon there’s a 30 to 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms. These storms could impact afternoon recesses and after-school activities.

Any potential extreme heat on the way?

Not necessarily, though high temperatures could be back close to the triple digits next weekend and the following week, and even though it might not be as hot as it was in August of 2023, don’t forget the afternoon heat index can make it feel like the triple digits every day.

With this rainy pattern, how are we doing in terms of rainfall or drought conditions?

Drought conditions? None for us here in Southeast Texas! One thing to note about our daily downpours, though, is that they haven’t been equal in bringing rain to everyone. There are a few spots that are about 5 inches behind in rainfall that’s needed to saturate the soil, so if a hotter and drier pattern were to settle in over the next few weeks, then we might start to see more drought conditions locally. Also, we know the daily downpours have not reached everyone equally, so some lawns might be looking a little worse than others right now.

What’s happening in the tropics?

Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the deep tropics and is forecast to become the first major hurricane of the season in the Atlantic. 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.

Explosion at Pennsylvania Steel Plant Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Missing, 10 Injured

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One person is dead, another unaccounted for, and 10 are injured following an explosion Monday at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh, officials said.

Rescue Efforts Underway

The blast, reported at 10:51 a.m. inside a battery operating area, caused multiple secondary explosions and trapped workers under rubble. Injured employees have been taken to local hospitals, with most injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Victim Identified

Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi identified the deceased as Timothy Quinn. Search-and-rescue teams are still working to locate the missing individual.

Community Response and Safety Precautions

Governor Josh Shapiro praised first responders and offered prayers for the community. County officials advised residents within a one-mile radius to stay indoors, close windows, and limit outside air intake. Air quality monitors have not detected pollutant levels above federal standards.

Investigation Ongoing

U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said the company is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the explosion. Nearly 1,300 people work at the Clairton facility each day.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more on Que Onda Magazine.

Three Dead in Austin Target Shooting, Suspect in Custody

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Three people are dead after a shooting outside a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday afternoon.

Police said the suspect, a 32-year-old man, is now in custody.

Shooting and Getaway

Officers responded to the Target on Research Boulevard at 2:15 p.m. to reports of gunfire. One of the victims was the owner of a car the suspect hijacked in the parking lot before fleeing the scene.

Car Thefts and Arrest

Police said the suspect crashed the stolen car, then stole another from a dealership. He was later located in southern Austin after a bystander alerted authorities. Officers subdued him with a Taser before taking him into custody.

Investigation Ongoing

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Austin-Travis County EMS initially reported four victims, but police later confirmed three fatalities.

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

Tropical Storm Erin Expected to Become First Hurricane of Season

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Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season by Wednesday and could reach Category 3 strength by the weekend.

No Current U.S. Threat

As of now, Erin is not expected to directly impact the United States. Long-range models show the storm tracking between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast from Aug. 19 to Aug. 21.

Close Monitoring in Bermuda and East Coast

Because Erin’s path is still more than a week away, meteorologists are closely monitoring it. Even slight shifts east or west could bring significant impacts to Bermuda or coastal areas.

Peak Hurricane Season Underway

The National Hurricane Center has predicted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. August, September, and October are typically the most active months, with the season ending Nov. 30.

For more updates on Tropical Storm Erin, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.