The Pearland area is no stranger to invasive animals, from muscovy ducks to black leatherleaf slugs, the place is seemingly crawling with them. But during a weekend drive near the Southbelt Hike & Bike Trail, I encountered a non-native creature I hadn’t spotted in the area before. It looked like a cross between a beaver and a capybara, with soft-looking, dark-colored fur; webbed feet; and a long, sparsely-haired tail. A “capybeaver,” my sister lovingly called it after I later told her about the encounter. “Cute,” I thought, that is, until it flashed its large, hideously orange buck teeth at me. Then it dawned on me that I’d previously heard the name of this mysterious animal with menacing-looking incisors, and there was no longer anything cute about it: Nutria.
I followed the rodent until it made a dash for the water and quickly swam below the culvert to the connected pond on the other side of the road. There, I found it feasting on a pile of lettuce and limes, likely left on the sidewalk for the resident muscovy ducks, which didn’t look too pleased to be sharing their meal. When I approached to grab a photo, a rustling of leaves caught my attention. I turned around and found six more nutria of varying sizes hiding in a bush. Not only was this the first time I’d seen the huge rodents in the area after living nearby for almost a decade, but the creatures appeared totally settled in. “The beavers are so cute,” a pair of teenagers walking past told me.
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Hailing from South America where they are known as coypu, the semi-aquatic rodents—which measure up to 2 feet and can weigh up to 20 pounds—are far from home. Nutria were brought to the U.S. in the late 1800s for the fur trade and have since dispersed across much of the southern and eastern parts of the country. They’ve been found in a least 20 states, most recently in California. The beaver imposters were first detected in Texas in the early 1940s, their spread later aided by a hurricane. Experts say the populations of the swamp rats are increasing, and are especially common in the eastern and southern parts of the state. What’s more, they can multiply at astonishing speeds, producing multiple litters per year.
In the Houston area, nutria have most recently been sighted in places like Memorial Park and Woodland Park, according to iNaturalist. Last year, the giant river rats wreaked havoc in neighborhood communities in Katy. Along the Gulf Coast, nutria sightings have also frequently been reported in Quintana, Galveston, and Jamaica Beach. While “cute” to some, their increased presence in the region is alarming.
CLEVELAND, Texas (KTRK) — More than a dozen Cleveland ISD middle school students were taken to hospitals after two of the district’s school buses were involved in a crash on Wednesday morning, the district said.
In an update on Facebook, the district said 17 students were transported to hospitals as a precaution for further evaluation.
Those transported had minor injuries such as bumps and bruises, the district told ABC13.
The district is also contacting the families of those involved, but said there were no major injuries.
Students who were evaluated and cleared were taken to Cleveland Middle School, where they will be monitored by the nursing staff.
The school bus accident happened at TX-105 and TX-321.
It wasn’t immediately known what led to the crash.
The district said it’s working with authorities to investigate and will share updates as needed.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — With every free agent contract handed out, the price for Alex Bregman appears to go up. Juan Soto got $765 million from the New York Mets. Pitcher Max Fried just signed with the Yankees for a reported $218 million over eight years. Now, the attention turns to Bregman, one of the top targets left on the free agent market.
The Astros’ third baseman has been linked to teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies.
General manager Dana Brown told reporters at baseball’s winter meetings he’s “optimistic” the Astros will find a way to keep Bregman in an Astros uniform.
However, the team is also holding high-level meetings to plan for a future without Bregman if he decides to sign with another team.
“We have to, right? Alex Bregman is going to do what’s best for him, his career, and, his family,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We’ve got to keep that in mind.”
Astros star Kyle Tucker won’t become a free agent until the end of the ’25 season, but already many are questioning his long term future in Houston. Soto’s massive contract has many believing Tucker will sign for $350 million to $400 million next winter. That’s far beyond any contract the Astros have ever handed out, so it might make sense to trade Tucker for a considerable haul now rather than get nothing in return if he leaves in free agency.
The Astros counter any thoughts of an immediate rebuilding project with a commitment to win again in the upcoming season.
Espada admits the team is “exploring every avenue.”
“Our objective is to win the division and take this team back to the World Series,” Espada said.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A suspect was killed and a deputy was injured in a shooting Wednesday morning in Magnolia, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies responded to the 26000 block of Aberdeen Drive after receiving a call about a disturbance between family members, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies arrived, they encountered the suspect, who officials say refused to comply with verbal commands.
Officials say that when deputies tried to detain the man, he punched one of them in the face. That led to the deputy pulling out a Taser, but that still didn’t work on the suspect.
When a second deputy stepped in to help, authorities say the suspect grabbed that officer’s gun and tried to pull it from the holster.
The deputy who had been punched then pulled out his weapon and shot the suspect, the sheriff’s office said, adding that officials performed life-saving measures until EMS arrived.
Both the deputy and the suspect were transported to an area hospital for injuries.
The suspect died.
The deputy has since been released from the hospital and is expected to be OK.
The sheriff’s office said this is an isolated incident with no threat to the public.
A brush fire that broke out on Monday evening in Malibu Canyon has led to mandatory evacuation orders in parts of Southern California, authorities said.
The Franklin Fire began approximately 3 miles north of the Pacific Coastal Highway in Malibu on Monday and has spread to over 2,700 acres with 0% containment.
Crews are battling the fire amid dangerous Santa Ana wind conditions in the area, which are expected to remain a threat.
Vegetation around the Phillips Theme Tower at Pepperdine University is scorched by the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tues…Show more
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
City officials said the Los Angeles County Fire Department is on scene and trying to control the “rapid rate of spread.”
The Franklin Fire was initially estimated at just about 10 acres but officials said it has grown to at least 100 acres, according to sister station KABC in Los Angeles. A high volume of dry brush in the area and strong Santa Ana winds means there is potential for the blaze to continue to spread rapidly.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a press conference Tuesday that the cause of the fire remains unknown but arson is being investigated as a possible cause.
“The L.A. County Fire Department and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department are going to join forces with our arson investigators because it’s going to be critical that we learn why this fire started,” he said.
A brush fire in Malibu Canyon has led to authorities issuing mandatory evacuation orders in parts of southern California.
Evacuations were ordered in the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road as well as the Serra Retreat, KABC said.
The fire’s flames were visible overnight from Pepperdine University’s campus.
“Normal operations on the Malibu Campus are suspended for Tuesday,” the university said in a statement on social media. “This includes canceling classes and finals for the day. Critical support personnel should connect with their supervisors about whether they are needed to physically report to the Malibu campus for their regular work shift. All other staff should connect with their supervisors and work remotely if possible. The Pepperdine community continues to shelter in place in Payson Library and the Tyler Campus Center.”
There are no immediate reports of injuries or structure damage and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pepperdine University cancels classes
Pepperdine canceled classes and finals for Tuesday and there was a shelter-in-place order as flames could be seen from the campus.
The wildfire was not immediately encroaching on Pepperdine but the university was reporting power outages on campus. It appeared the flames were heading south in the direction of Santa Monica but Pepperdine suspended normal operations on campus on Tuesday.
“Normal operations on the Malibu Campus are suspended for Tuesday,” the university said in a statement on social media. “This includes canceling classes and finals for the day. Critical support personnel should connect with their supervisors about whether they are needed to physically report to the Malibu campus for their regular work shift. All other staff should connect with their supervisors and work remotely if possible. The Pepperdine community continues to shelter in place in Payson Library and the Tyler Campus Center. The Franklin fire has grown to 814 acres and flames are visible from the Malibu campus. There are numerous LA County Fire Department engines on campus and their helicopters are using the lakes in Alumni Park to pick up water to drop on the fire from above.”
“The University understands the worst of the fire has pushed past Pepperdine,” they continued. “However, there are smaller spot fires on campus that are not threatening life or structures, and fire resources remain on campus to address these spot fires as they occur. Additionally, power remains out for much of Malibu and therefore, to ensure the safety of our community, we will maintain the shelter-in-place protocol until at least daylight. The EOC will continue to update the community.”
The map on the Los Angeles County Fire Department website reflected the mandatory evacuation order that covered the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area.
A damage estimate in the Malibu area was not available, but “it’s certain some number of homes are definitely going to be badly damaged,” said Matt Myerhoff, a spokesperson for the city.
The US Environmental Protection Agency on Monday banned the use of two ubiquitous cancer-causing solvents that activists have been targeting for decades.
The ban involves trichloroethylene, or TCE, a cancer-causing chemical that is common in manufacturing and can be found in water sources and properties around the world, as well as all consumer uses and many commercial uses of perchloroethylene, or PCE, a solvent used in industries such as dry cleaning, manufacturing and automobile repair.
“It’s simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist,” Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in a news release.
The trouble with TCE
Since the 1920s, TCE has been one of the most frequently used solvents in industry. It’s a colorless volatile organic compound that manufacturers use as a cleaning agent and degreaser, mainly for metal. It is nonflammable, so it can also be used in paints, sealants, coatings and some auto products like brake cleaners. Companies that make refrigerants also use TCE.
Because it was so widely used, TCE has also become a significant contaminant in drinking water in the United States. Between 4.5% and 18% of the drinking water sources in the US that are tested on a yearly basis by the EPA have some TCE contamination, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The water systems serve about 19 million people.
Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps base in North Carolina, is one community that was significantly affected by TCE contamination. From 1975 through 1985, a period in which the water at the base was known to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds, tests showed that TCE levels in the water were 70-fold higher than the permissible amount, a study found.
Marines who were stationed at at Camp Lejeune in this period had a 70% higher risk of Parkinson’s disease than those who served at a post across the country, research showed. The illnesses resulted in hundreds of thousands of claims against the federal government.
Even at small concentrations, TCE exposure is also known to cause cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, problems with the nervous system and the immune system, reproductive problems, liver and kidney damage and other significant health issues.
Most people who are exposed to the chemical get it through their drinking water. Those who work with TCE can also face major health issues, according to the CDC.
Under the new ban, most uses of TCE will be prohibited within one year, though the EPA is still finalizing some of the details. There will be a limited number of situations in which workplaces will get more time to phase it out, but those workers will have rules in place for safe handling. Those exceptions will include some uses of TCE to clean aircraft parts and medical devices; its use in manufacturing battery separators and refrigerants; and in transportation, security and defense systems.
Some of the time frames were adjusted after the government received public comment suggesting that the phaseout would take extra time in some industries.
The problem with PCE
PCE is a human-made volatile liquid solvent used by dry cleaners, fabric finishers and metal manufacturers. It can be found in water repellents, silicone lubricants, spot removers, wood cleaners and glues.
It’s a popular cleaner because it is not flammable, but scientists have known for decades about its health concerns.
PCE, also called PERC or tetrachloroethylene, can cause a variety of cancers including brain, kidney, liver and testicular cancer. It can also damage the liver, the kidneys, the immune system, the nervous system and the reproductive system.
Most PCE exposure happens when it evaporates in the air, according to the EPA; it can also leak into the ground and contaminate drinking water, like TCE. People who are most likely to be exposed to it are those who work with it like dry cleaners, but those who live near work sites also are exposed to air with higher background levels of PCE.
More than 5% of the US population uses water from community systems that have a PCE concentration that exceeds government standards, according to government data.
The EPA is finalizing a 10-year phaseout of the solvent in dry cleaning in most cases. Compliance dates are dependent on when the dry cleaner bought the machines that use the chemical, with older machines being phased out sooner than newly bought ones.
The EPA said that many dry cleaners have already started to make the transition to other chemicals and that using PCE in “newly acquired dry-cleaning machines” would be banned after six months.
The EPA will require companies to rapidly phase out use of PCE in many industrial and commercial uses, most of which will be fully phased out in less than three years. The agency said most companies can use alternative products that are already on the market.
Workplaces that are important to national security, aviation and critical infrastructure will be allowed to use PCE in controlled situations, according to the EPA, but there will have to be strict worker protection rules in place.
Rules passed in the final days of a presidential administration are subject to the Congressional Review Act, which would allow the incoming Senate to overturn the new regulations.
The Environmental Working Group, an organization that has been advocating for a ban on TCE for years, said the ban is a “crucial victory” in efforts to tackle the health harms it can cause.
“The EPA’s final rule will help to finally end most uses of this dangerous chemical,” said Dr. Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist with the organization.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A strong cold front is sending a chill through Southeast Texas, and those strong winds could bring freezing temperatures north and west of Houston tonight.
Temperatures will fall through the 50s the rest of this afternoon as low clouds and a brisk north wind linger behind the front. The wind gusts will increase above 30 mph this evening as even colder air blows in tonight. A Wind Advisory is in effect along the coast until midnight with winds gusting up to 40 mph.
The strong wind could blow the freeze line to our northern and western counties, but we’re not forecasting freezing conditions for Houston at this time. That said, the wind will make it feel like the upper 20s and low 30s across most of Southeast Texas near sunrise. The chilliest mornings will come Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the upper 30s for the Bayou City. Frost will be possible both mornings, especially outside the city.
The Freeze Warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. Wednesday morning for Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Houston, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Washington Counties. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees will be possible.
What cold weather precautions do I need to take this week?
Consider protecting any cold sensitive tropical plants and giving outdoor pets a warm shelter. Your interior pipes will be just fine. Lastly, dress warmly, especially Wednesday morning when the wind chill factor will drop into the upper 20s and low 30s.
What’s in store for the weekend?
This weekend will be considerably warmer than last weekend. Instead of temperatures in the 40s and 50s all weekend, we’ll enjoy highs in the 70s both Saturday and Sunday. That said, there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, but only a 20% chance for isolated showers on Sunday.
When could we get our first freeze in Houston?
If this week’s cold front comes in a little stronger than expected, a light freeze is possible north of I-10. Otherwise, we see no signs of freezing temperatures over the next 10 days. Long range projections indicate we’ll have to wait until the last days of December for a decent chance of a freeze. On average, Houston’s first freeze occurs during the second week of December.
The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election rattled the country and sent shockwaves across the world – or were cause for celebration, depending on who you ask. Is it any surprise then that the Merriam-Webster word of the year is “polarization”?
“Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday’s announcement. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.”
The election was so divisive, many American voters went to the polls with a feeling that the opposing candidate was an existential threat to the nation. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, about 8 in 10 Kamala Harris voters were very or somewhat concerned that Donald Trump’s views – but not Harris’ – were too extreme, while about 7 in 10 Trump voters felt the same way about Harris – but not Trump.
The Merriam-Webster entry for “polarization” reflects scientific and metaphorical definitions. It’s most commonly used to mean “causing strong disagreement between opposing factions or groupings.” Merriam-Webster, which logs 100 million pageviews a month on its site, chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage.
Last year’s pick was “authentic.” This year’s comes as large swaths of the U.S. struggle to reach consensus on what is real.
“It’s always been important to me that the dictionary serve as a kind of neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everybody,” Sokolowski said. “It’s a kind of backstop for meaning in an era of fake news, alternative facts, whatever you want to say about the value of a word’s meaning in the culture.”
It’s notable that “polarization” originated in the early 1800s – and not during the Renaissance, as did most words with Latin roots about science, Sokolowski said. He called it a “pretty young word,” in the scheme of the English language. “Polarized is a term that brings intensity to another word,” he continued, most frequently used in the U.S. to describe race relations, politics and ideology.
“The basic job of the dictionary is to tell the truth about words,” the Merriam-Webster editor continued. “We’ve had dictionaries of English for 420 years and it’s only been in the last 20 years or so that we’ve actually known which words people look up.”
“Polarization” extends beyond political connotations. It’s used to highlight fresh cracks and deep rifts alike in pop culture, tech trends and other industries.
All the scrutiny over Taylor Swift’s private jet usage? Polarizing. Beef between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Polarizing. The International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip American gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal after the Paris Games? You guessed it: polarizing.
Even lighthearted memes – like those making fun of Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s performance – or the proliferation of look-alike contests, or who counts as a nepo baby proved polarizing.
Paradoxically though, people tend to see eye to eye on the word itself. Sokolowski cited its frequent use among people across the political spectrum, including commentators on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN.
“It’s used by both sides,” he said, “and in a little bit ironic twist to the word, it’s something that actually everyone agrees on.”
DALLAS (AP) — Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets agreed Sunday to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press, a deal that could escalate to $805 million and is believed to be the largest pact in team sports history.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical.
While there are no definitive records in sports beyond the United States, Soto’s deal is thought to eclipse those in all other team sports. The deal, spurning the New York Yankees’ attempt to retain the star who helped them reach the World Series, was reached on the eve of the first full day of baseball’s annual winter meetings.
He would have the right to opt out of the contract after the 2029 season if the Mets don’t at that time increase the average annual value by $4 million annually. Soto will get a $75 million signing bonus, payable upon the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office.
The Yankees’ final offer to Soto was for $760 million over 16 years, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced. That offer had a $47.5 million average annual value.
A four-time All-Star at age 26, Soto is the most accomplished free agent at that age since shortstop Alex Rodriguez agreed to a record $252 million, 10-year contract with Texas in December 2000 at age 25.
Soto was 19 when he made his major league debut with Washington in 2018 and helped the Nationals win the World Series the following year, when he hit .282 with 34 homers and 110 RBIs.
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks, hitting second in the batting order ahead of Aaron Judge to power an offense that led the major leagues with 237 homers. He hit a go-ahead homer in the AL Championship Series opener against Cleveland and a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the 10th inning that won the pennant against the Guardians in Game 5.
Soto has a .285 batting average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs are accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at an after-party following the 2000 Video Music Awards, according to an amended civil lawsuit filed Sunday.
“Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor,” the lawsuit said without naming the celebrity.
In a statement posted to the Roc Nation X account on Sunday, Jay-Z denied the allegations made against him in the filing.
Jay-Z was added to the lawsuit that was originally filed in October as one of several anonymous complaints by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee.
Many of the lawsuits did not survive because the plaintiffs declined to be named; however, in this case, the judge said the then-13-year-old showed sufficient cause to continue anonymously.
Carter was identified in the original complaint as Celebrity A.
The plaintiff alleged she was noticed by a limousine driver who invited her to the after-party where Combs and Carter raped her.
In his statement, Jay-Z claimed Buzbee had sent his lawyer a “demand letter” ahead of the filing.
“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z wrote.
“No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!” he added in the statement.
In his response, the music mogul questioned why the filing was a civil lawsuit rather than a criminal filing.
“Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case,” Jay-Z wrote.
Jay-Z went on to address the fact that his family, including his children, may be affected by the filing.
“My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” he wrote.
In a statement to ABC News Buzbee said, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”
Buzbee also took to his personal Instagram account on Sunday, saying he would not be “bullied or intimidated,” without mentioning the specific lawsuit, Jay-Z or Diddy by name.
“People will see through this effort to discredit me and my clients and the truth will be revealed,” Buzbee wrote. “I also won’t allow anyone to scare my clients into silence. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and I am quite certain the sun is coming,” he added.
Combs’ legal representatives responded to the filing in a statement to ABC News on Sunday, saying, “This amended complaint and the recent extortion lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee exposes his barrage of lawsuits against Mr. Combs for what they are: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.”
“As his legal team has said before, Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor,” Combs’ representatives said in the statement.
