HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Tomorrow is the last day to file a property tax exemption for the storm damage from the derecho back in May.
The exemption could reduce how much you owe. It’s for property owners within disaster areas who had more than 15% of their property damaged.
The deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The form can be found on the Harris County Appraisal District website. By
TEXAS (KTRK) — Texas lawmakers get together once every two years to pass the budget, set new laws and rules, and change old ones. The latest state Legislature met in 2023 between January and May, and some of those laws and rules finally went into effect on Sunday, Sept. 1.
ABC13’s partners at Chron have everything you need to know about the new laws.
SCOPE Act
House Bill 18, also known as the SCOPE (Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment) Act, tightens restrictions for online users under the age of 18. Social media sites will require users to register their age, and minors will be prohibited from making purchases on those sites. Additionally, sites must block and filter harmful material pertaining to suicide, self-harm, bullying, trafficking, and other exploitation, from minors.
Texas will enforce the SCOPE Act through penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.
“Our children are experiencing all manner of harms via overexposure to digital platforms and predatory algorithms, manifesting in increased rates of self-harm, suicide, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and other mental health issues,” wrote state Rep. Shelby Slawson (R-Granbury), bill co-author, in a statement after HB18 was voted out of committee in April 2023. “Testimony from parents and children in committee gave graphic examples underscoring how desperately we need to better protect kids online. The SCOPE Act will do just that.”
Chron reported that the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on Aug. 16 sued the state to block the SCOPE Act, saying that the bad or questionable behavior of some shouldn’t mean blanket protections.
“While these efforts to protect young people are well-intentioned, they lack perspective,” read the lawsuit. “The idea that some types of social network use by some minors under certain conditions might adversely affect some segment of this cohort cannot justify imposing government restrictions on all social network use by all minors.”
The SCOPE Act still went into effect Sunday.
Funding for family violence shelters
Senate Bill 1841 updates qualifications for family violence shelters, which provide housing and care for victims of domestic abuse.
Other
Other items Chron noted include new details regarding when state agencies must submit annual financial reports, and new rules for drug manufacturers when submitting information regarding an unavailable insulin prescription drug.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Three people are dead after at least three separate crashes in Houston overnight Saturday to Sunday.
The first happened along the Gulf Freeway Feeder Road, near Dixie Farm Road around 10 p.m. on Saturday. Houston Police said a cyclist riding in traffic was hit and killed by a driver. As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, the department had no leads on the driver or vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 713-247-4065 or Crimestoppers.
The department is also asking the public for help identifying a driver in a crash about an hour later on the Northwest Freeway near Fairbanks Houston Road.
According to police, an 18-year-old motorcyclist was weaving in and out of traffic when he hit a car and was thrown from his bike. As he tried to get up, a second car, only described as a white Jeep ran him over and did not stop.
Several hours later, around 1 a.m. on Sunday, a 44-year-old man was killed in a crash on the South Loop East near Telephone Road.
He reportedly lost control of his car for an unknown reason. His vehicle crossed the median, rolled, and stopped upside down. His female passenger survived.
ABC13 is still working to learn more about the circumstances surrounding these deadly crashes.
However, Daniel Armbruster with AAA Texas said several factors could contribute to a spike in crashes over a holiday weekend, including increased traffic and drug and alcohol use.
According to TXDOT, in 2023 there were 334 drug and alcohol-related crashes in the state over Labor Day weekend. Fourteen people were killed and dozens were seriously injured.
“The last thing you want to do is start to consume alcohol and then not have a plan,” Armbruster said.
MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee man pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with the homicide of his 12-year-old son, Jacarie Robinson, last October.
Romuan J. Moye pleaded guilty to the following charges on Thursday:
First-degree reckless homicide Chronic neglect of a child (consequence is bodily harm) Failure to report the death of a child Moye was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 20 years of extended supervision for the homicide charge.
He was also sentenced to 7.5 years for chronic neglect of a child, with 5 years of extended supervision, to be served consecutively to the homicide charge, and 1.5 years with 4 years of extended supervision, to be served concurrently, for failing to report the death of a child.
“He was confined to a living room by his own father. A person who is supposed to love him, care for him, raise for him, keep him safe, provide for him, slowly tortured him and killed him,” Deputy District Attorney, Matthew Torbenson explained in court.
Authorities say Jacarie’s body was found malnourished and decomposing at a home on Elmhurst Road near Capitol Drive, on Oct. 10, 2023.
“I don’t understand this at all. It’s unconscionable,” Judge Laura Crivello said in court.
According to a criminal complaint, his body was wrapped in a blanket on the couch and “was extremely malnourished and emaciated, with moderate decomposition of the body.”
“When I read Jacarie’s autopsy, I could not believe it,” Jacarie’s mom, Yalwan Robinson said in court.
Inside the home, there was also an overwhelming smell of mold, feces, and decay, and the kitchen contained a large pile of garbage, according to the complaint.
“In my thirty years, the most vicious and aggravated thing I have ever seen,” Judge Crivello explained.
Police said Moye was Jacarie’s father and was caring for him while his other two children were with their mother.
BELLAIRE, Texas (KTRK) — HISD police confiscated a weapon from a Bellaire High School student Friday, just three days after a similar incident on campus.
The video above is from ABC13’s 24/7 livestream.
Principal Michael Niggli addressed the situation in a statement sent to parents, confirming that no one was injured in either incident.
In response to these incidents, Bellaire High School announced they plan to take immediate action to increase police monitoring on campus. The school also plans to enhance its preventative safety measures.
While officials did not say what happened to the student who brought the weapon on Friday, the student who brought the weapon on Tuesday was reportedly detained and removed from campus.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has recently become an outspoken ally of former President Trump, stated in an interview on Friday that he believes the former president has “changed as a person.”
“If President Trump wins… people are going to see a very different President Trump than they did in the first term,” Kennedy told “All In” podcast host Jason Calacanis. “I think he’s changed as a person. And I’ve known him for, you know, 30 years.”
“But I think he is, he’s focused on his legacy,” Kennedy added later. “He’s said many interesting things to me about what he did wrong the last time.”
The independent candidate also defended Trump against reports linking him to the conservative Project 2025 agenda, unveiled this year by the Heritage Foundation. The former president and his campaign have aggressively distanced themselves from the 900-page agenda.
Contributors to the plan include members of Trump’s previous administration and other allies, which Democrats and Vice President Harris have highlighted in their messaging against the former president.
“He brought this issue up to me,” Kennedy said Friday. “He said, you know, ‘They always tell me I’m on for Project 2025. I never read Project 2025 until they started accusing me of it. That was written by a ‘right-wing a–hole. That’s what he is.’”
“I think he’s interested in his legacy now. He wants to leave behind some accomplishments and he wants to make our country better,” Kennedy continued. “And I think he’s listening to a wider range of voices. He’s preparing to govern right now.”
Kennedy’s comments come just a week after he suspended his campaign in battleground states, throwing his support behind Trump and appearing at a rally alongside the former president. Despite this, he said his name would still appear on the ballot in most red and blue states.
Trump also tapped Kennedy and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (I-Hawaii)—who recently moderated a town hall with the GOP presidential nominee—earlier this month to join his transition team.
“I’ll be on the transition committee picking the people who are going to govern,” Kennedy said in the interview Friday. “There’s going to be a wide diversity of stakeholders, but he’s listening to more than just that narrow right wing.”
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The trains at the Hermann Park Railroad have officially gone electric, the Hermann Park Conservancy announced.
The video above is from ABC13’s 24/7 livestream.
According to the conservancy, the new locomotives were set on the track earlier this week and were unveiled on Saturday.
The biggest difference passengers will notice is a smoother ride and less fumes blowing back.
In celebration of the train’s upgrade, ExxonMobil is sponsoring free rides starting Aug. 31 through Sep. 6.
This marks the first train upgrade since 2008 and is part of recent eco-friendly improvements to the Houston Zoo area.
The development is part of recent eco-friendly improvements to the Houston Zoo area and is the first train upgrade since 2008.
Astros hold the record of lowest opponent average of .185 in a single month of all time in MLB history in the month of August.
After acquiring Yusei Kikuchi a day before the trade deadline, the Astros made the right decision acquiring the Japan native who improved his ERA to 2.57. Yusei Kikuchi shuts down the Kansas City Royals in superb style, delivering 12 strike outs in the 7 innings he pitched.
Kikuchi only allowed 5 hits and only 1 lucky earned run, throwing 101 pitches and 0 walks. He was relieved in the 8th inning by RHP Hector Neris who the Astros recently just signed the previous week on the 24th. Neris allowed 1 run to be scored on him by Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who hit his 29th homerun of the season off Neris.
The 6th inning was where the Astros took over, scoring 5 runs in the inning. The first 2 runs came from Yainer Diaz after hitting a two run single off Royals LHP Cole Ragans.
Afterwards, Jeremy Pena delivered 2 more runs for the Astros after hitting a two run triple, thus later scoring again off of a wild pitch missed by Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez, allowing Pena to steal home. This inning ended up being the last one for Ragans to pitch for tonight, striking out 10 Astros hitters.
Johnny Cash’s voice rang throughout Minute Maid Park, which let everyone know that it was time to put Kansas City out of its misery. Ryan Pressly walked out ready with a mission and of course closed the game off in perfect fashion, allowing not a single hit for his third save of the season.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Family and friends of the 28-year-old man killed in a crash last Saturday held a vigil to call for justice.
Ricardo “Ricky” Resendez Jr. was on his way home from work at the airport at about 1:30 p.m. when Houston police said Rigo Vivar drove his Chevy Tahoe the wrong way on Canal Street. Resendez, who was just a block away from home, was turning onto North Live Oak Street and was hit. The 28-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene.
Vivar was later identified as a Precinct 6 deputy but has since been terminated. At the time of the crash, he was on his way to work in his personal car.
SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: Pct. 6 deputy, who is under investigation for fatal wrong-way crash, has been terminated: Officials
At this time, charges have not been filed against Vivar. Resendez’s family is hopeful that will change.
“Every day that we don’t have an answer, we don’t get to rest any easier,” Brenda Resendez, the victim’s sister, said. “We are trying to be as compliant as possible and put our faith in HPD and all those conducting the investigation that they are taking their time because they are doing the best job that they possibly can.”
About 50 people gathered in the Second Ward, the area where Resendez lived, Saturday night to celebrate his memory.
“He should still be here,” his aunt said.
Through tears, family and friends shared stories about the 28-year-old and chanted “Justice for Ricky.”
His mother, Blanca Estela Marquez, said she is grateful for the support of the community as they continue to fight for criminal charges for Vivar and hopes that the support continues.
“It could be another family in the future, and we want to prevent this for everyone,” Marquez said. “All of us who are out — at any time – we leave our homes healthy, safe, and we want to return because there’s a family waiting for us.”
ABC13 spoke with Vivar outside his home days after the crash. While choking back tears, he said he wanted the Resendez family to know he was sorry.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A former nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital has lost her license and been sentenced for stealing drugs at work, charging documents revealed.
ABC13 first reported on 25-year-old Alexis McNeilly last December after police accused her of stealing drugs like fentanyl and hydromorphone at work.
RELATED: Former Houston Methodist nurse out of jail amid allegations she stole and used opioids while at work
According to District Attorney Kim Ogg, McNeilly would swap the empty drug vials with salt water and return them to be dispensed.
Prosecutors say surveillance video showed her stealing the drugs at least 11 times.
On Tuesday, McNeilly pleaded guilty to two counts of diversion of a controlled substance and was taken into custody. She has been sentenced to 120 days in the Harris County jail, and four years of probation.
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