HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Officials said a fugitive who has escaped Louisiana law enforcement on four separate occasions is now in custody following a search in the Channelview area on Monday afternoon.
According to the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, authorities were searching for an escaped fugitive along Sheldon Road between I-10 and Bear Bayou. Officials said the suspect was found on Monday and identified as Raymond Howard.
The Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office confirmed Howard was arrested shortly before 1 p.m. outside a Family Dollar store on Dell Dale Street in Channelview. Video from the scene shows officers surrounding a vehicle before taking him into custody.
Louisiana officials from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Opelousas Police Department said that Howard has escaped authorities on four separate occasions. Howard first escaped in January 2023 before being caught about a month later, St. Landry Parish officials said.
Howard then escaped a second time in September 2024 after kicking out a window in a transport van while stopped at a red light, Louisiana officials said, adding that he was recaptured a few days later.
Opelousas PD said that Howard then escaped a third time in July 2025 before being taken into custody again. Howard then escaped a fourth time in December 2025 after popping off the glass of a transport vehicle at a stop sign, according to police. Opelousas PD said that Howard was being moved to a different facility at the time due to his prior escapes.
Howard was seen in the Channelview area, according to Pct. 3 authorities, which started the search in the area on Monday and later led to his recapture.
According to authorities, Howard was charged with third-degree rape before accumulating more charges for his multiple escape attempts.
“Well, he’s locked up. I guess that’s a good thing,” Charleston Malveaux, a nearby business owner, added that he hopes the area returns to normal. “Hopefully, he doesn’t escape again.”
Louisiana authorities said Howard will be returned to St. Landry Parish, where he is expected to face charges.
An 86-year-old French woman is being held at a detention facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Louisiana, drawing concern from her family and French officials. Marie-Thérèse, originally from Nantes, was arrested in Alabama earlier this month while awaiting a legal hearing tied to her immigration status, The BBC reported.
Her son told French media she was handcuffed “like a dangerous criminal,” despite her age and health conditions, which include heart and back problems.
A Romance Decades in the Making
Marie-Thérèse moved to the U.S. in 2025 after marrying Billy, an American she first met in the 1960s when he was stationed in France with NATO. The couple lost touch for decades, later reconnecting in 2010 before eventually marrying after both were widowed.
Described as being “in love like teenagers,” the couple began a new life together in Alabama. Marie-Thérèse applied for a green card following their marriage.
Legal Dispute and Sudden Detention
Her situation became more complicated after Billy’s sudden death in January. Reports indicate a dispute arose between Marie-Thérèse and her stepson over inheritance. While there is no confirmed link, she was detained by ICE just one day before a scheduled court appearance related to her case.
Health Concerns and Diplomatic Response
The French government has since intervened, and Marie-Thérèse has received a consular visit. Her family is pushing for her release and return to France, citing concerns over her health and the conditions of detention.
Immigration Enforcement in Focus
Her detention comes amid expanded immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, whose administration has prioritized deportations and increased ICE operations nationwide.
For her family, the ordeal feels surreal. “It’s like a bad American film,” her son said, as they continue efforts to secure her release.
For more on Trump’s anti-immigration agenda and its effects, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The search is on for a suspect accused of shooting and killing a man outside a northwest Houston gas station overnight, according to police.
Houston Police Department officers said they responded to the shooting at the Texaco on Gessner Road near Hardison Lane just after 8 p.m. on Monday.
“When they arrived, what they found was two males were either in an altercation or having a conversation in the parking lot when one of them started firing at the other one,” HPD Lt. J.P. Horelica said.
The man who was shot died at the scene, the lieutenant added.
Police said they’re now looking for a suspect in his 20s with dreadlocks who took off in a small red car.
HPD asks anyone with information on this case to call them at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Humid Gulf air is with us the rest of the week, but another stormy cool front will blow in this weekend to bring higher rain chances and a modest cool down.
Temperatures Tuesday morning will have a tough time dropping below 70 degrees due to the steady Gulf breeze. Rain chances stay below 20% during the day, but we cannot rule out a stray shower. Temperatures will warm into the mid 80s under a partly cloudy sky.
What’s the early outlook for this weekend’s rain chances?
It looks like the cool front will reach Houston Saturday afternoon or evening. Isolated showers are possible ahead of the front, then a broken line of showers and thunderstorms are expected when the front reaches your neighborhood. We currently have rain chances at 40%, but those chances will go up if our confidence increases in the timing of the front. A few showers could linger into Sunday morning, so we are keeping a 20% chance of rain in the forecast for now.
How cool will it get behind this front?
Temperatures should dip into below-average territory behind the front. We expect a couple of days with highs in the 70s and a few mornings with lows in the 50s. The average high this time of year is around 80, and the average low is around 60.
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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — What’s a great way to celebrate Earth Month, offload electronics you no longer use, and help a local business ring in its 30th anniversary?
How about joining ABC13 and CompuCycle for the 19th annual ABC13 Earth Day E-Cycle Drive, an event focused on helping our communities safely recycle electronics.
From 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026, you can stop by CompuCycle at 8019 Kempwood Dr., Houston, TX 77055 to drop off old or unwanted electronics.
1 of 10
Take a look through some of the action (and big equipment donations!) during 2025’s drive at CompuCycle.
CompuCycle, who is celebrating 30 years in business and sponsoring this event, will take care of the rest, and you can leave knowing you’ve played a part in reducing harmful e-waste.
You don’t even have to get out of your car as the CompuCycle team will assist once you arrive.
Each year, the amount of electronic waste dropped off for recycling has grown with the drive hitting 100,000 pounds or more multiple times over the years.
In fact, ABC13’s Earth Day E-Cycle Drive holds the Guinness World Record for the largest single day e-waste collection, set in 2014 when we collected 138,174 lbs. of electronics.
But records were meant to be broken!
We want to top that this year. Will you help us?
Here’s what else to know before the big day.
How much is it?
Free! You can drop off and all will be handled at no cost to you. No appointment necessary.
Is there anything I should prepare?
Yes! Before you drop off electronics, back up any important data and perform a factory reset on devices that store personal information. Remove any accessories like cables and chargers.
What can I drop off?
Old computers and phones are just the tip of the iceberg. CompuCycle accepts various items from fax machines and Wi-Fi extenders to e-readers, MP3 players, streaming devices, and charging cables.
So whether you have one device or several, you can drop them off during the drive.
What happens to my electronics after I drop them off?
Once collected, CompuCycle sorts your old electronics, hard drives are wiped clean for your safety, and all materials are then processed for use in new consumer products.
Goods are also recycled in compliance with their e-Stewards certification, according to CompuCycle’s website, adding that they will guarantee secure data destruction on all devices with storage capabilities to protect your personal information.
Why does safely recycling electronics matter?
Diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of e-waste from Houston landfills promotes a healthier city, preventing the release of toxins in our air, soil and water.
Typically, the impact and response during the drive is great.
In 2024, ABC13 viewers recycled the equivalent of 382 refrigerators worth of electronic waste.
240.92 lbs. of toxic metals diverted
Reduction of 45.37 metric tons of greenhouse gas
Saved 383.72 gallons of oil
Like removing nearly 10 cars from the road
293.60 cubic yards of landfill space saved
3,736,637.20 hours of electricity saved
What if I can’t make it?
We really want to see you on Friday, April 24, but we know things happen.
CompuCycle accepts drop-offs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Business deliveries can be scheduled by calling (713) 869-6700.
In addition, both residential and corporate drop-offs are welcome during the drive.
State takeovers of struggling school districts are expected to expand across Texas in the coming years, intensifying a high-stakes debate over accountability, local control and the future of public education.
Under state law, the Texas Education Agency can intervene in districts that fail to meet academic or financial standards. The most common trigger is when a single campus receives failing grades for five consecutive years, a threshold that can lead to the state assuming control of an entire district.
When a takeover occurs, elected school boards can be replaced or stripped of authority and a state-appointed board of managers is installed to oversee operations. Superintendents are often replaced, and districts may undergo sweeping changes to curriculum, staffing and governance.
The policy is poised to affect more districts as academic accountability ratings resume after pandemic-era disruptions. Several systems, including those in Fort Worth and Beaumont, have faced or are at risk of intervention, while the ongoing overhaul of Houston Independent School District has become the most closely watched example.
The Houston district, the largest ever taken over by the state, has seen rapid changes under state management. Officials say early indicators show academic improvement and fewer failing schools. Critics, however, point to rising teacher turnover, declining enrollment and concerns from parents and community members who say they have little input in decision-making.
Districts across Texas are working to avoid similar outcomes. Some have turned to partnerships with charter operators to manage underperforming campuses, while others have closed struggling schools or implemented targeted improvement plans in an effort to meet state standards.
Supporters of the takeover policy argue that aggressive intervention is necessary to address chronic underperformance and ensure students receive a quality education. Opponents counter that the approach undermines local democracy by removing elected leadership and disproportionately affects low-income communities and students of color.
The length of state control varies, but districts typically remain under oversight for at least two years and must demonstrate sustained academic progress before authority is returned.
As more districts approach the state’s intervention threshold, the debate is expected to intensify, raising broader questions about how far the state should go in reshaping local school systems — and whether takeovers ultimately deliver lasting improvement.
A new wave of private funding is reshaping efforts to restore Texas’ struggling oyster reefs, marking a significant shift in how the state approaches coastal conservation.
State officials and nonprofit groups have ramped up a program to buy out commercial oyster licenses, reducing pressure on depleted reefs. The effort gained momentum in 2025 after private donors joined the initiative, allowing payouts to increase and accelerating participation from fishermen.
In a single year, more than 100 commercial oyster boats — representing over one-fifth of the state’s fleet — were retired, a dramatic increase compared to just a handful of buybacks in previous years.
The initiative is being supported by groups including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Coastal Conservation Association, along with a newer nonprofit, Coastal Preservation & Restoration, which aims to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for long-term reef recovery.
Oyster reefs play a critical role along the Texas coast, helping filter water, protect shorelines from erosion and provide habitat for marine life. But decades of overharvesting, compounded by hurricanes and environmental changes, have led to a steep decline in reef health.
The state’s traditional approach — relying largely on public funding and regulation — had shown limited success. The infusion of private money has allowed for faster action, particularly in reducing the number of commercial licenses.
“This is a major turning point,” said coastal advocates who view the effort as a model for blending public oversight with private investment.
Beyond license buybacks, the strategy includes expanding oyster farming, increasing private reef leases and funding large-scale restoration projects. Supporters say these efforts could help transition the industry toward more sustainable practices.
Still, the approach has sparked debate.
Some in the commercial fishing industry argue the decline in oyster populations is driven as much by environmental factors as by harvesting, and warn that reducing licenses could hurt coastal livelihoods. Others raise concerns about the growing influence of private donors in shaping conservation priorities.
Scientists also caution that measuring reef recovery will take time, and it remains unclear whether current funding levels will be enough to reverse long-term damage.
The effort comes as Texas continues to favor public-private partnerships in environmental policy, a strategy that aligns with broader political priorities emphasizing limited government spending and increased private sector involvement.
For now, early results suggest the model may be gaining traction. But whether it can restore one of the state’s most important coastal ecosystems remains an open question.
LOS ANGELES, California (KTRK) — The Houston Rockets are ready for liftoff with the 2026 NBA playoffs right around the corner.
The No. 5-seeded Rockets will take on the No. 4-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in a best-of-seven series. Houston wrapped up their regular season on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing 52-30.
You can catch the Rockets vs. Lakers Game 1 playoff matchup at 7:30 p.m. on ABC13 on Saturday, April 18.
Eyewitness Sports breaks down the upcoming playoff matchup between the Rockets and the Lakers.
The breakdown
Heading into Game 1 of the West First Round, Houston will be facing off against a short-handed Lakers team.
Lakers star backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, will be unavailable to play in the first-round series against the Rockets due to injuries. For Houston, the team has dealt with the injury bug throughout the regular season, including the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet and backup center Steven Adams.
Nonetheless, all eyes will be on the All-Star matchup between Rockets forward Kevin Durant and Lakers forward LeBron James. Durant and James will encounter each other in the postseason for the first time in seven years since the 2018 NBA Finals. In total, the two all-time greats have had multiple playoff battles in their illustrious NBA careers. Durant, 37, and James, 41, both are still playing at an elite level and continue to defy Father Time.
As of April 2026, Durant became the oldest player in the NBA to achieve 2,000 points in a season and surpassed 6x-NBA Champion Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. James, while being the oldest active player in the NBA as of the 2025-2026 season, is the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer.
The future of the Houston Rockets lies in the hands of the young core: Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith.
The trio is poised to taste the postseason again after their first postseason appearance in last season’s first-round exit against the Golden State Warriors. Additionally, with Rockets guard Reed Sheppard inserted into the starting lineup at times during the regular season, the overall No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft looks to hit the ground running and contribute more to the team’s success in pursuit of a deep playoff run.
Concerning the Lakers, it will be a next-man-up mentality without Doncic and Reaves, two of their top scoring options, in the rotation. Aside from James, the Lakers will look to rely more on their supporting cast, including Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, and DeAndre Ayton.
All in all, Houston will look to take advantage of the injury-depleted Lakers and look to steal Game 1 on the road.
As of Monday, the times and dates for the rest of the Rockets-Lakers playoff series have yet to be determined.
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” in a Truth Social post. The comments came after the pope voiced opposition to U.S. military actions abroad.
The 70-year-old pontiff stressed that comparing religious teachings to political agendas reflects a misunderstanding of the Church’s mission. He reiterated that his focus remains on promoting peace, reconciliation, and moral guidance worldwide.
Ongoing Tensions Over Foreign Policy
The dispute follows Pope Leo’s criticism of U.S. actions involving Iran and Venezuela. In response, Trump defended his policies, arguing they align with his electoral mandate and national security priorities. He also claimed the pope’s appointment was politically influenced—an assertion the Vatican has not addressed.
A Broader Message From the Vatican
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Pope Leo signaled he will not engage in political sparring. Instead, he reaffirmed the Church’s broader mission: encouraging dialogue, avoiding conflict, and building global unity.
His response underscores a clear divide between religious leadership and political authority—one rooted in differing approaches to power, diplomacy, and moral responsibility.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man accused of fatally shooting his soon-to-be ex-wife has now been charged with murder, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said on April 10, shortly after 10 p.m., deputies with HCSO homicide responded to the 14100 block of Cypress Fall Drive after a young boy called police and stated that his father had shot his mother.
Once deputies arrived at the scene, the ex-couple’s 6-year-old and 18-year-old children were interviewed, and it was learned that their mother, identified as Tynice Friday, had recently filed for divorce from Keith Washington, their father.
According to HCSO, Friday’s family said she had been in fear for her life due to Washington’s recent behavior.
Officials said that night, Washington shot out the living room window of the home after firing from his silver truck. According to officials, he then forced his way inside and shot Friday multiple times in front of their children before fleeing the area.
Friday was pronounced dead at the scene.
HCSO said Constable Precinct 4 deputies and the Department of Public Safety helped with the search for Washington. He was located before being cornered at a dead-end road. Officials said during that time, he did not comply with deputies and was firing shots from inside his truck.
The HCSO SWAT Unit was called, and a stand-off ensued for hours before Washington surrendered, officials said.
Washington was booked into the Harris County Jail and made his first court appearance on Saturday. Officials did not provide a bond amount if one was given.
