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Ax-wielding woman on bicycle attacks couple in NW Harris County: ‘That girl had no soul’

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HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A woman is facing kidnapping and robbery charges after prosecutors say she attacked a couple with an ax, and one of the victims believes jealousy is the motive.

ONLY ON 13, Katelynn Mitcham, 20, told Eyewitness News that she and her 22-year-old girlfriend had just gotten matching tattoos early Tuesday morning when they pulled into the Westbrook Lakes community pool’s parking lot in northwest Harris County.

“We were in the back of the car. We were just talking about life,” Mitcham said.

But according to Mitcham, 47-year-old Loretta Hughes cut that conversation short when she pulled up on a bicycle with knives and what court documents describe as an ax.

“She pulled her hatchet out and started threatening us. Then she just started beating my girlfriend up,” Mitcham said, adding that Hughes “basically said that we’re gonna die together.”

Mitcham said she’d only begun dating her girlfriend within the last week but that her girlfriend had previously dated the suspect.

Fearing for her life, Mitcham said she reached for a pocket knife, which, she adds, only made Hughes angrier.

“As soon as she saw me go and try and get that, she instantly came after me,” she said.

Mitcham told Eyewitness News that she and her girlfriend managed to escape the car and ran toward nearby Owens Elementary School. But her girlfriend’s escape was short-lived. She said Mitcham caught up to her and dragged her back to the car.

“She’s very petite, so it wasn’t hard for this girl to throw her back in the car like that,” she said.

As Mitcham continued to run, she said Hughes started driving after her, forcing her to try to scramble atop the elementary school by way of a tree.

“She had gotten in my car, reversed, and was trying to hit me, so I was getting on top of the building, and then I was like, ‘I’m not gonna be fast enough,'” Mitcham said.

Instead, she said she was able to flag down a police officer posted outside the school. But by that time, she said Hughes had already driven off with her girlfriend.

“My girlfriend said the only way that she got out was by pulling the steering wheel and just punching her as hard as she could, and then jumping out of the vehicle, which she was dragged for a few minutes after,” said Mitcham.

Harris County sheriff’s deputies arrested Hughes later that morning. It’s unclear how they caught up to her since Mitcham said deputies had yet to find her car.

Hughes made her first court appearance Tuesday evening, where a judge set her bond at $100,000. Mitcham hopes she never posts it.

“One-hundred percent that girl would have killed us. There was no doubt in my mind. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Yeah, that girl had no soul that night,” she said.

‘Casualties’ reported in shooting at Georgia high school, suspect in custody

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Casualties were reported in an active shooter situation at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning, according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.

One suspect is in custody, the sheriff’s office said.

The incident is over and a local hospital is “treating multiple gunshot wounds,” according to one source briefed on the situation.

Details on the number of victims and their conditions were not immediately clear, the sheriff’s office said.

Students are seen outside Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., on Sept. 4, 2024.WSB

Senior Sergio Caldera, 17, said he was in chemistry class when he heard gunshots at 11 a.m.

“My teacher goes and opens the door to see what’s going on. Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because there’s an active shooter,” Caldera told ABC News.

He said his teacher locked the door and the students ran to the back of the room. Caldera said they heard screams from outside as they “huddled up.”

At some point, Caldera said someone pounded on his classroom door and shouted “open up!” multiple times. When the knocking stopped, Caldera said he heard more gunshots and screams.

He said his class later evacuated to the football field.

Police are seen outside Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., on Sept. 4, 2024.
Police are seen outside Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., on Sept. 4, 2024.WSB

Apalachee High School was “cleared for dismissal” and all other Barrow County Schools are on a “soft lockdown,” the Barrow County School District said.

“The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office says this is for the safety of everyone right now. Please do not visit your child’s school at this time. We cannot release students during a lockdown,” the school district said in a statement. “We will let you know as soon as BCSO says it is all clear for dismissal.”

Winder is about 45 miles outside of Atlanta.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting. “His administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as we receive more information,” according to the White House.

Agents from the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are at the scene.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he’s “directed all available state resources to respond.”

Kemp said he’s “praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Movies coming to theaters in September

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By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz

September is packed with exciting movie releases, offering something for everyone. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated films hitting theaters this month:

September 6:

  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
    Tim Burton brings back the beloved ghost Betelgeuse in this long-awaited sequel. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) returns to Winter River with her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), only to reopen the portal to the Afterlife. Michael Keaton reprises his iconic role, joined by a stellar cast including Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Danny DeVito.

September 13:

  • Transformers One
    This animated prequel takes us to Cybertron, exploring the origins of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry). Directed by Josh Cooley, the film features an impressive voice cast, including Scarlett Johansson and Laurence Fishburne.
  • Speak No Evil
    In this psychological thriller, a family’s dream vacation turns into a nightmare. Directed by James Watkins, the film stars Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy as a couple whose new friendships take a dark turn.
  • The Killer’s Game
    Dave Bautista stars as a hitman who takes out a contract on himself after learning he’s terminally ill, only to regret it when his ex-girlfriend becomes a target. This action-comedy, directed by J.J. Perry, also features Sofia Boutella, Ben Kingsley, and Terry Crews.
  • Subservience
    Megan Fox stars in this sci-fi thriller as a domestic android that turns deadly. Directed by S.K. Dale, the film follows a man’s struggle when his AI helper develops dangerous feelings toward his family.
  • My Old Ass
    In this comedy-drama, a young woman meets her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza, during a mushroom trip. Directed by Megan Park, the film explores the humorous and heartfelt consequences of their encounter.
  • The Substance
    Demi Moore stars in this body horror film about a woman who takes a mysterious substance to regain her youth, only to face terrifying side effects. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film has already made waves at the Cannes Film Festival.

September 20:

  • Never Let Go
    Halle Berry stars in this survival horror film about a family haunted by a malevolent spirit. Directed by Alexandre Aja, the movie explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her children from supernatural forces.

September 27:

  • Megalopolis
    Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited passion project finally arrives. Megalopolis is a sci-fi drama set in a futuristic New Rome, where an architect (Adam Driver) fights to rebuild the city against a corrupt mayor (Giancarlo Esposito). The film’s star-studded cast includes Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne, and Shia LaBeouf.
  • The Wild Robot
    Based on the popular book series, this animated film tells the story of a robot named Roz, voiced by Lupita Nyong’o, who must adapt to life on a deserted island. Directed by Chris Sanders, the movie features a talented voice cast, including Pedro Pascal and Mark Hamill.
  • Lee
    Kate Winslet stars as the legendary photographer Lee Miller in this biographical drama. Directed by Ellen Kuras, the film chronicles Miller’s journey from fashion model to war correspondent during World War II, with a supporting cast that includes Marion Cotillard and Andy Samberg.

With such a diverse lineup, September promises to be an exciting month for movie lovers. Whether you’re into sci-fi, horror, comedy, or drama, there’s something to look forward to on the big screen.

Holocaust Museum to kick off Latinx Heritage Month with free ‘Day of Action’

Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) is set to kick off Latinx Heritage Month with a Day of Action on Saturday, September 14, 2024. ‘

This event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offers free admission and a day full of activities that celebrate Latinx history, identity, and culture. As the nation’s first fully bilingual Holocaust museum, HMH presents all its galleries and exhibitions in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience.

The Day of Action will feature a variety of engaging activities designed for the entire family. Visitors can explore information booths hosted by local organizations that serve the Latinx community, participate in voter registration, and enjoy drop-in museum tours offered in both English and Spanish. The day’s schedule includes an array of events, such as a film screening of Dolores—a documentary on the life of labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta—panel discussions on pressing issues affecting the Latinx community, and interactive family activities.

A significant highlight of the day is the unveiling of the University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies (CMALS) Latino cARTographies interactive digital board. This exhibit, on view at HMH from September 14 through December 12, showcases the social and geographic landscape of Latino visual art in public and private spaces throughout Houston.

The entertainment lineup at HMH’s Albert and Ethel Herzstein Theater includes opening remarks on HMH’s Latinx Initiatives Program, a performance by the Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, and a lecture titled Fighting on Two Fronts: The Chicano Movement in the West Texas Borderlands by Dr. Jesse Esparza. Other notable events include an Artists-Curator Conversation featuring visual artists Beatriz Bellorin and Carolina Otero, and a panel discussion on Latinos in STEM moderated by Marcela Strane, with esteemed panelists from the University of Houston and LULAC. The day concludes with a student panel titled Claiming the Power in Our Numbers, moderated by Student 2 Government Academy Creator Mario Salinas, highlighting civic leadership among young people.

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In addition to the Day of Action, HMH will continue to offer free Latinx Heritage Month programming throughout September and October. On September 18, the museum will host a lecture by Dr. Mark Goldberg titled Searching for Belonging: Being Jewish and Latina/o/x in Postwar America. This talk will delve into the histories and experiences of Latin American Jewish communities in Miami and Houston. Another key event is the third annual Día de los Muertos Community Altar Workshop on October 5, held in partnership with HTX Art in the Heart. This family-friendly workshop will educate participants on the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos and guide them through the process of creating traditional altars.

For a full schedule of events and more information on how to participate, visit hmh.org/Latinx.

About Holocaust Museum of Houston

Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to providing inclusive programming that honors the rich cultural heritage of the Latinx community. Latinx Heritage Month at HMH is presented by United, with additional sponsorship from Amigos Meat Distributors, LP, and Bank of Texas. Public programs at the museum are supported by Memorial Hermann.

How to get tickets?

Tickets are available exclusively online. For more information, visit hmh.org/visit.

Mega Millions jackpot grows to $681M for Tuesday’s drawing

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NEW YORK — The jackpot for Tuesday night is now a whopping $681 million!

That’s because no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Friday night.

Here are Friday’s winning numbers: the white balls 10, 17, 20, 24 and 54, plus the gold Mega Ball 8.

It would be the seventh-largest jackpot in the game’s history if it’s won next Tuesday.

The jackpot has been growing since someone won $552 million in Illinois on June 4.

In the 25 drawings in this jackpot run to date, there have been almost 17.5 million winning tickets across all non-jackpot prize tiers. These include 49 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more including tickets sold in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, according to Mega Millions.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 for one play.

Top Mega Millions Jackpots

1. $1.602 billion, August 8, 2023 (one ticket in Florida)
2. $1.537 billion, October 23, 2018 (one ticket in South Carolina)
3. $1.348 billion, January 13, 2023 (one ticket in Maine)
4. $1.337 billion, July 29, 2022 (one ticket in Illinois)
5. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024 (one ticket in New Jersey)
6. $1.050 billion, January 22, 2021 (one ticket in Michigan)
7. $656 million, March 30, 2012, (three tickets in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland)
8. $648 million, December 17, 2013 (two tickets sold in California, Georgia)
9. $552 million, June 4, 2024 (one ticket in Illinois)
10. $543 million, July 24, 2018 (one ticket in California)

Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.040 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (one ticket: California)
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (one ticket: California)
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket: Florida)
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets: California, Florida and Tennessee)

5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket: South Carolina)
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket: Maine)
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket: Illinois)
8. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024 (one ticket in New Jersey)
9. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July, 19, 2023 (one ticket: California)
10. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket: Michigan)

Part-time HISD teacher accused of leaving child outside of a home overnight, records show

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A woman whom court documents identify as a part-time Houston Independent School District employee faces a child endangerment charge after investigators say she locked a child outside of an eastside apartment in the middle of the night over the weekend.

Georgette Albert’s court paperwork alleged she “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” placed a child younger than 15 years old in “imminent danger of bodily injury.”

The record shows the alleged offense happened on Aug. 31, and Houston police arrested Albert the following morning on Sept. 1.

Albert’s initial court paperwork didn’t provide many details about what allegedly unfolded, the motive, the child’s age, or how she and the child are related.

An affidavit of financial condition, attached to the charging paperwork, revealed that the 43-year-old supports four children, rents an apartment on East Houston Road, and has worked for HISD for about a year. Eyewitness News is trying to reach district officials to confirm Albert’s employment, including where she works and what she does.

Authorities filed Albert’s charge in the 180th District Court. She’s expected to appear in probable cause court on Monday afternoon.

Cypress mom accused of leaving 2-year-old home alone while she went to a bar, court alleges

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CYPRESS, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities put a mother behind bars, accusing her of leaving her 2-year-old child at home for more than two hours while she went to a bar.

The allegation is alarming, and according to a judge, this isn’t the first time law enforcement has arrested Ashley Dixon for doing this.

Prosecutors said Dixon left her child alone inside their Cypress home for more than two hours while she went to what court documents call a “wine establishment.”

She faces a felony charge of abandoning a child with intent to return.

On Monday, a judge set Dixon’s bond at $15,000.

“Ms. Dixon is currently under supervision in another jurisdiction for essentially the same offense: child abandonment. Since it appears that Ms. Dixon’s current supervision did not stop her from engaging in the same type of criminal behavior, the court finds that she does pose an ongoing threat,” the judge said.

ABC13 searched records in multiple counties for that prior charge but is still waiting for more details.

Heavy rain shifts southwest of Houston, ‘fall-ish’ front now in sight

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A low-pressure disturbance near Corpus Christi continues to fling scattered showers and storms toward the Texas coast. It will continue to bring us rain chances through Thursday, then our attention will turn to a front that will bring our first taste of “Fall-ish” air to Southeast Texas.

Tuesday will bring another chance of scattered showers and storms to SE Texas with even more widespread rain closer to Matagorda Bay. Houston will have about a 40% chance of rain while Matagorda will be closer to a 80% chance of rain. With the lower rain chances, that also means temperatures will warm back up into the low 90s towards Houston.

On Monday, Galveston had a record rainfall of 5.60″ of rain as a band of stationary thunderstorms pounded the east end of the Island for hours. Something similar could happen near Matagorda Bay on Tuesday so we’ll keep a close eye on rainfall totals through the entire day.

SEE ALSO: 13 Alert Radar network expands to College Station with new radar at Texas A&M University

What are the rain chances for the rest of the week?

After Tuesday’s 40% chance of rain, we see the tropical moisture shifting back toward Houston to bring rain chances up to 70% for Wednesday and Thursday. Once again, rain chances and rain totals will be highest in the coastal counties.The video player is currently playing an ad.

Tell me more about this “Fall-ish” front! How cool will it get?

Technically we have two fronts on the way, the first arriving Thursday, the second arriving Saturday night or Sunday morning. Thursday’s front starts pushing the tropical moisture back into the Gulf as the northeast wind picks up. Then sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning, the northeast wind will finally connect with a batch of cooler and drier air to bring some major humidity relief and a few mornings with crisp lows in the 60s! It’ll be our coolest stretch of mornings since the middle of May.

What are you tracking in the tropics?

In addition to the low pressure over the Gulf, we are also monitoring a couple of tropical waves. One now over the eastern Caribbean has a medium chance for development once it reaches the western Caribbean later this week. Then it could find its way into the western Gulf of Mexico early next week. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.

2024 VMAs Host Megan Thee Stallion Will Perform at Awards Ceremony

Hot Girl Summer is lasting just a little bit longer! Rolling Stone can exclusively reveal that along with hosting the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Megan Thee Stallion will perform at the awards ceremony on Sept. 11 at New York’s UBS Arena.

The announcement comes just over a week after she was revealed to be the host of this year’s awards show. Megan is up for five awards at this year’s VMAs, including Best Collaboration for “Wanna Be” with GloRilla and Best Hip-Hop for “BOA.”

Although it has yet to be announced what she’ll perform, she teased fans last week about an upcoming collaboration with BTS member RM after she tweeted, “🐎X💜 👀” and the K-pop group’s account quote-tweeted, “🐎X🦔(🐨).” Will she debut the track at the VMAs? (RM is still on military duty in his native Korea).

Megan has had a massive year after releasing her first indie album Megan in June, featuring “Hiss,” “BOA,” and “Mamushi” with Yuki Chiba. She also had a successful Hot Girl Summer tour with GloRilla.

This year’s performers include Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, Rauw Alejandro, Camila Cabello, Benson Boone, GloRilla, and Lisa from Blackpink. Shawn Mendes, Karol G, LL Cool J, and Anitta are also scheduled to appear. Katy Perry will receive the 2024 Vanguard award as well as perform a career-spanning medley.

Taylor Swift leads the nominations list with 10 nods, almost all of which were for her Tortured Poets Department single with Post Malone, “Fortnight.” She’s also up for Artist of the Year, while the “Fortnight” visual picked up additional nods for Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, and a slew of technical categories.

The 2024 VMAs were originally scheduled for Sept. 10, but MTV pushed the ceremony one day in order to avoid a programming conflict with the presidential debate scheduled for that day.

Titanic expedition yields lost bronze statue, high-resolution photos and other discoveries

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A bronze statue from the Titanic – not seen in decades and feared to be lost for good – is among the discoveries made by the company with salvage rights to the wreck site on its first expedition there in many years.

RMS Titanic Inc., a Georgia-based company that holds the legal rights to the 112-year-old wreck, has completed its first trip since 2010 and released images from the expedition on Monday. The pictures show a site that continues to change more than a century later.

The trip to the remote corner of the North Atlantic Ocean where the Titanic sank happened as the U.S. Coast Guard investigates the June 2023 implosion of the Titan, an experimental submersible owned by a different company. The Titan submersible disaster killed all five people on board, including Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was director of underwater research for RMS Titanic.

The findings from this summer’s trip “showcase a bittersweet mix of preservation and loss,” RMS Titanic said in a statement. A highlight was the rediscovery of the statue “Diana of Versailles,” last seen in 1986, and the statue now has a clear and updated image, the company said.

The bronze statue "Diana of Versailles" from the Titanic was photographed by the company with salvage rights to the wreck site on its first expedition there in many years.
The bronze statue “Diana of Versailles” from the Titanic was photographed by the company wit…Show more

On a sadder note, a significant section of the railing that surrounds the ship bow’s forecastle deck has fallen, RMS Titanic said. The railing still stood as recently as 2022, the company said.

“The discovery of the statue of Diana was an exciting moment. But we are saddened by the loss of the iconic Bow railing and other evidence of decay which has only strengthened our commitment to preserving Titanic’s legacy,” said Tomasina Ray, director of collections for RMS Titanic.

Titanic expedition yields lost bronze statue, high-resolution photos and other discoveries

The crew spent 20 days at the site and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, on Aug. 9. They captured more than 2 million of the highest resolution pictures of the site ever to exist, the company said.

The team also fully mapped the wreck and its debris field with equipment that should improve understanding of the site, RMS Titanic said. The next step is to process the data so it can be shared with the scientific community, and so “historically significant and at-risk artifacts can be identified for safe recovery in future expeditions,” the company said in a statement.

The company said prior to the expedition that it had an especially important mission in the wake of Nargeolet’s death.

The Coast Guard’s investigation will be the subject of a public hearing later in September.

Nargeolet’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Titan sub’s operator OceanGate, which suspended operations after the implosion. OceanGate has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, which was filed in a Washington state court.