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Texas A&M baseball makes history with College World Series Final appearance

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Texas A&M baseball makes history with College World Series Final appearance

Omaha, Neb. — Texas A&M’s baseball team is making waves as they head into their first-ever College World Series (CWS) final. The Aggies will face Tennessee on Saturday, aiming for their maiden title in a thrilling matchup between two teams that have never won the series.

Two years ago, the Aggies achieved a milestone by finishing among the top four teams in the CWS for the first time. Now, under the guidance of head coach Jim Schlossnagle, they have progressed even further, reaching the final unbeaten through the tournament’s double-elimination phase.

In an intriguing twist, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, a former assistant to Schlossnagle at TCU, will lead the Volunteers against his former mentor. Vitello’s tenure at Tennessee has transformed the team into formidable contenders, making their third CWS appearance since 2021.

Texas A&M’s path to the final has been marked by dominant pitching. Key performances from left-handers Ryan Prager and Justin Lamkin have seen the Aggies through critical games, with Prager’s standout six-inning no-hit performance against Kentucky in the semifinal being particularly noteworthy. Prager, recovering from a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him in 2023, boasts a 2.88 ERA this season with 118 strikeouts over 93 2/3 innings.

As the series approaches, neither team has announced its starters, but it is expected that Prager will start for Texas A&M, while Tennessee’s Chris Stamos, a transfer from the University of California, may take the mound for the Volunteers. Tennessee’s strategy includes saving their top pitchers for the crucial latter stages of the best-of-three series, potentially giving them an edge if the series extends to a third game.

Offensively, the Aggies have had to adapt after losing standout outfielder Braden Montgomery to an injury during the Super Regional. Despite these setbacks, players like Jace LaViolette, who continues to play through a hamstring issue, have stepped up. LaViolette, a first-team Freshman All-American last season, has impressed with 28 home runs this season.

Tennessee, known for their robust and sometimes controversial style under Vitello, enters the series with a reputation as the “bad boys” of college baseball. Vitello, a two-time college baseball coach of the year, is celebrated for his fiery demeanor and successful tenure.

Game 1 of the CWS final is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, broadcast on ESPN, with Game 2 airing on ABS at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Volunteers are the betting favorites, with a -160 money line at DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Aggies stand at +124.

As these two storied programs prepare to clash, fans can expect a high-stakes series filled with compelling storylines and top-tier baseball talent.

Rain chances drop Friday, eyeing another tropical low in the Gulf next week

ABC13 Houston
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Rain chances drop Friday, eyeing another tropical low in the Gulf next week
Rain chances drop Friday, eyeing another tropical low in the Gulf next week

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Now that Alberto is gone, our weather and water along the Gulf coast is starting to return to normal.

Tide levels will continue to slowly drop on Friday, but a high rip current risk remains.

Temperatures Friday morning will be in the mid 70s then warm into the low 90 in the afternoon sunshine. Those warm temperatures will trigger more scattered heavy downpours. These showers will be small by heavy as they quickly move off to the west.

How is our weekend weather looking?

Overall we’re in better shape this weekend than we were this past week. Lows will start in the mid 70s, highs will reach into the low 90s both days. There’s only a 10% chance of a shower on Saturday, but it climbs to 30% on Sunday with moisture levels back on the rise. Tide levels will still be elevated along the coast, and a rip current risk will remain.

What else is happening in the tropics?

We will also be watching the Bay of Campeche this weekend into next week as another tropical low spins up in nearly the same spot Alberto did. Right now there is a 60% chance of development over the next 7 days, but it could send more rain toward Texas, especially South Texas. There is also another area off the coast of Florida near the Bahamas we’re monitoring for development too. For more on that, head to our Daily Tropical Weather Updatepage.

13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:

Southeast Texas

Houston

Harris County

Galveston County

Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties

Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties

Brazoria/Matagorda Counties

UH parting ways with athletics director ‘a difficult but necessary decision,’ school president says

ABC13 Houston
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UH parting ways with athletics director ‘a difficult but necessary decision,’ school president says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Chris Pezman will not get to see the University of Houston’s sophomore season in the Big 12 and beyond.

On Thursday, UH announced it would not retain the athletics director, marking what the university president called a necessary decision.

“He has been a pivotal part of our entry into the Big 12 Conference and championed the success of student-athletes on the field and in the classroom,” UH President Renu Khator said. “This was a difficult but necessary decision as we navigate a paradigm shift in collegiate athletics.”

In addition, the university announced the start of a national search for the next person in charge of intercollegiate athletics.

Pezman, a UH graduate and former Cougars football captain, held the position for six years, with milestones in the men’s basketball and track and field programs as major highlights during his time.

However, success wasn’t across the board. The football program earned one top-25 finish during Pezman’s tenure. He also oversaw two head coaching changes for Cougars football, hiring Dana Holgorsen in 2019 and Willie Fritz this past offseason.

UH also became a Big 12 member but needed to catch up in providing facilities, namely in football, comparable to its new conference mates. A $130 million football facility that broke ground last year is still under construction.

The university also announced Raymond S. Bartlett, senior vice president for administration and finance, will serve as interim director for athletics amid the search.

Persons of interest now charged with murder in 12-year-old’s strangulation, Houston police say

ABC13 Houston
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Persons of interest now charged with murder in 12-year-old’s strangulation, Houston police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The two people detained Thursday in connection with the strangulation of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was discovered in a north Houston creek earlier this week, are now charged with capital murder, police announced.

This comes less than 48 hours after the Houston Police Department released pictures of two male persons of interest in the case.

Thursday afternoon, HPD held a press conference in which it was announced that two men, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, were arrested and face capital murder charges for their alleged roles in the 12-year-old’s death.

Lt. Stephen Hope said surveillance video and other evidence helped them identify the suspects. Hope said the two men started their evening at a Northborough-area restaurant together. They then left the restaurant on foot and were walking southbound, which is when they were first seen on camera. HPD released those images on Tuesday.

The suspects were later seen meeting with Jocelyn and talking for a few minutes on Kuykendahl Road. Later, Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos, along with Jocelyn, walked to a convenience store.

ABC13 obtained surveillance images that appear to show 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray's last moments alive before her body was found in a creek in north Houston on June 17, 2024.
ABC13 obtained surveillance images that appear to show 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s l…Show more

After a few minutes, all three of them walked to a bridge, which is where HPD said the 12-year-old was murdered.

Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos then continued walking to their residence, leaving Jocelyn behind.

After days of investigating, on Thursday, authorities arrested the two men at 13355 Northborough Drive at the Canfield Lakes Apartment. They were detained and taken in for questioning. Meanwhile, crews remained at the apartment complex looking for additional evidence of the crime, which was found, but police would not immediately release those details.

Jocelyn’s body was found Monday off West Rankin Road near the North Freeway, walking distance from where she lives, after investigators believe she snuck out of her home around 10 p.m. on Sunday. Her mother last saw her when she went to bed, according to police.

Houston police said surveillance images of that evening helped lead them to the suspects. Police said both men were seen walking with the y…Show more

Despite the two men’s arrest, authorities are still asking for the public’s help with any information.

“We are still asking for more help from the public for anybody who might have seen something or might know something, however small, to reach out to us,” acting HPD Chief Larry Satterwhite said.

Mayor John Whitmire also took a moment to address the community for their help but also mentioned all eyes are on the court system now.

“We’re gonna be watching you; the rest have taken place, and the charges have been filed. Now, we want the justice system to do its job. If there was ever a circumstance where you do not give someone bail, this is it,” Whitmire said. “There are circumstances allowed if you can prevent bail. Take in consideration flight risk. Take in consideration the severity of this crime. So I’m gonna be monitoring the court system. I want these suspects to have their day in court. I want them to be held accountable and I want it done sooner than later.”

On Wednesday, ABC13 spoke to Jocelyn’s grandmother, who said, “We really want justice for her. We are asking for everyone’s help.”

She describes her as an incredibly kind and loving girl. The family recently came back from their annual vacation at Garner State Park.

Later in the day, ABC13 spoke to the girl’s mother.

“She’s meant to be here. She’s supposed to be here,” Alexis Nungaray said. “She had aspirations for life. She loved everyone, was so kind. Greatest friend. Very goofy.”

Alexis Nungaray doesn’t believe her daughter knew the men caught on surveillance camera.

“She’s not one to be aggressive and be like, ‘Stop talking to me,'” she said. “She is very shy and quiet and keeps to herself. I felt like she maybe didn’t want to be rude, and that’s why she was pacing back and forth and safely get away from the situation. She unfortunately got caught with the wrong people at the wrong time.”

Jocelyn was reportedly talking to her 13-year-old boyfriend on the phone around midnight when he heard her talking with two adults.

Alexis Nungaray added that she tracked her daughter’s phone to a nearby skatepark when she realized she was missing.

RELATED: HPD believes 12-year-old girl may have snuck out of her home before being found dead in creek

Billie Jackson was driving home from dropping her husband off from work on Monday morning when she says she made the disturbing discovery.

“I drove past, and when I looked up the creek, I thought it was a mannequin. I did a U-turn, and I stopped on the bridge, put my flashers on, looked down, and realized it was someone. I parked right here and called 911 immediately,” she said.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Jocelyn died by strangulation.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the girl’s death to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS(8477).

¡Que Onda! Magazine Houston – edición 1301

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¡Que Onda! Magazine Houston – edición 1301

Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la edición 1301 de la revista digital de HOUSTON de ¡Que Onda! Magazine.

Del 20 de junio al 26 de junio del 2024

Why millions of student loan borrowers will have lower payments starting in July

ABC13 Houston
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Why millions of student loan borrowers will have lower payments starting in July

Millions of borrowers will see their monthly student loan payments reduced starting in July, thanks to one of the Biden administration’s biggest changes to the federal student loan system to date.

Last year, following the Supreme Court decision that knocked down President Joe Biden’s signature student loan forgiveness program before it took effect, his administration rolled out a new repayment plan known as SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) that will be fully phased in this summer.

For most borrowers, the SAVE plan requires a lower monthly payment than other federal student loan repayment plans, and it cancels student debt for some borrowers after they make as few as 10 years of payments. More than 8 million people have enrolled in the SAVE plan to date.

Most of the benefits offered by the SAVE plan are already in place, but one significant provision will take effect in July. The change could cut payments in half for some borrowers.

How payments will be reduced

Under the SAVE plan, monthly payments are calculated based on a borrower’s income and family size, regardless of how much student debt they have.

Starting in July, monthly payments on loans borrowed for undergraduate school will be reduced from 10% to 5% of discretionary income.

Borrowers who have loans from both undergraduate and graduate school will pay a weighted average of between 5% and 10% of their income based upon the original principal balances of their loans.

For example, a borrower with $20,000 from his or her undergraduate education and $60,000 from graduate school will pay 8.75% of his or her income, according to a fact sheet provided by the Biden administration.

The payment recalculation will happen automatically and does not require any action from borrowers enrolled in SAVE.

A delay for some borrowers

Even though the Department of Education said lower payment amounts would go into effect in July, the agency is behind and has not finished recalculating borrowers’ lower payment amounts.

But affected borrowers won’t be required to continue to make the bigger monthly payments. If a borrower’s payment is not recalculated by July, he or she will be placed in a forbearance, during which no payment will be due and no interest will accrue. The month will still count toward student loan forgiveness.

“As the department finalizes preparations for the full universe of borrowers eligible for lower monthly payments, some borrowers may be placed in a brief processing forbearance to ensure they can access the full benefits of the SAVE Plan and that their new payment amounts are accurate,” the Department of Education said in a statement.

The delay was first reported by The New York Times.

How the SAVE plan works

Before the SAVE plan launched last year, the federal government already offered several income-driven repayment plans, which tie monthly payments to a borrower’s income and family size. But SAVE offers the most generous terms, especially for low-income borrowers.

There are two main ways the SAVE plan can lower monthly payments for enrolled borrowers. In addition to cutting the payment from 10% to as low as 5% of discretionary income, SAVE also changes the way discretionary income is calculated. It shields a bigger portion of a borrower’s income, resulting in lower payments when compared with other income-driven plans. Payments can be as low as $0, and more than half of borrowers currently enrolled in SAVE are not required to make a monthly payment.

The SAVE plan also prevents balances from ballooning due to interest when a borrower has a small monthly payment. If enrolled in SAVE, unpaid interest does not accrue if a borrower makes a fully monthly payment. For example: If $50 in interest accumulates each month and a borrower’s full required payment is just $30, the remaining $20 would be waived.

Borrowers enrolled in SAVE may also be eligible for student debt relief in a shorter amount of time than under other income-driven plans. Those who borrowed $12,000 or less will see their debt forgiven after paying for just 10 years under SAVE. Every additional $1,000 borrowed above that amount would add one year of monthly payments to the required time a borrower must pay. Under other repayment plans, borrowers must make at least 20 years of payments before receiving debt forgiveness.

Initially, debt relief delivered under the SAVE plan was scheduled to begin this summer. But the Biden administration began canceling some eligible borrowers’ debt early, in February. So far, $5.5 billion has been canceled for 414,000 people enrolled in the plan.

Legal challenges

Two groups of Republican-led states have sued to overturn the SAVE plan, arguing that the Biden administration is overstepping its legal authority.

Some of the states, including Missouri, are among the same plaintiffs that sued the Biden administration two years ago over its sweeping one-time student loan forgiveness program.

“Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress,” reads the lawsuit filed in April by attorneys general in Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.

The estimated cost of the SAVE plan varies, depending on how many borrowers end up enrolling, ranging from $138 billion to $475 billion over 10 years, according to different studies.

2 persons of interest in surveillance photos being questioned in 12-year-old girl’s death, HPD says

ABC13 Houston
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2 persons of interest in surveillance photos being questioned in 12-year-old girl’s death, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Two people have been detained for questioning in connection with the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was discovered in a north Houston creek earlier this week, sources told ABC13.

Houston police are expected to give an update on the investigation at 2 p.m., which you can stream live in the video player above.

This comes less than 48 hours after the Houston Police Department released pictures of two male persons of interest in the case.

ABC13 is working to learn more about the case, but HPD has said there is no further information at this time.

ABC13 obtained surveillance camera images that appear to show Jocelyn’s last moments alive.

On Wednesday, ABC13 spoke to Jocelyn’s grandmother, who told us, “We really want justice for her. We are asking for everyone’s help.”

She describes her as an incredibly kind and loving girl. The family recently came back from their annual vacation at Garner State Park.

Later in the day, ABC13 spoke to the girl’s mother.

“She’s meant to be here. She’s supposed to be here,” Alexis Nungaray said. “She had aspirations for life. She loved everyone, was so kind. Greatest friend. Very goofy.”

Alexis Nungaray doesn’t believe her daughter knew the men caught on surveillance camera.

“She’s not one to be aggressive and be like, ‘Stop talking to me,'” she said. “She is very shy and quiet and keeps to herself. I felt like she maybe didn’t want to be rude, and that’s why she was pacing back and forth and safely get away from the situation. She unfortunately got caught with the wrong people at the wrong time.”

Jocelyn was reportedly talking to her 13-year-old boyfriend on the phone around midnight when he heard her talking with two adults.

Alexis Nungaray added that she tracked her daughter’s phone to a nearby skatepark when she realized she was missing.

HPD released photos of the persons of interest on Tuesday evening.

RELATED: HPD believes 12-year-old girl may have snuck out of her home before being found dead in creek

“There will be a report issued shortly with very bad, horrific circumstances,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said on Tuesday.

Investigators have been searching for surveillance video that will help lead them to the killer.

Billie Jackson was driving home from dropping her husband off from work on Monday morning when she says she made the disturbing discovery.

Stargazers in Texas to witness spectacular Strawberry Moon this week

Que Onda Editorial
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Stargazers in Texas to witness spectacular Strawberry Moon this week
Strawberry moon

AUSTIN, TX — Texans are in for a celestial treat as the first full moon of the summer, known as the Strawberry Moon, will reach its peak illumination around 8:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. This event will showcase the lowest full moon in years.

Astronomical event: Full moons rise around sunset and set around sunrise. During this time, the moon appears opposite the Sun from Earth, fully illuminating its dayside, NASA explains. For a few days, the moon will look full before transitioning to the waning gibbous phase, where its illuminated portion begins to decrease. Notably, this June’s full moon will occur the day after the summer solstice on June 20, the longest day of the year, for the first time since 1985.

The “Moon Illusion”: The summer solstice places the Sun at its highest point of the year, making June’s full moon appear significantly lower and larger in the sky, a phenomenon known as the “Moon Illusion,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. As the moon hovers near the horizon, it often appears larger and takes on a more orange or red hue, due to the longer path light must travel through the atmosphere.

Historical significance: Full moon names traditionally served as a means to track the seasons. The Strawberry Moon gets its name not from its color, but from the short strawberry harvesting season in June. The next full moon, known as the Buck Moon, will occur on July 21.

Stargazers are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to witness one of nature’s spectacular displays.

Louisiana becomes 1st state requiring Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms

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Louisiana becomes 1st state requiring Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms

BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana has become the first state in the U.S. to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms, following a new law signed on Wednesday by Governor Jeff Landry. This legislation is poised to face immediate legal challenges.

Why it matters: The new mandate distinguishes Louisiana from other states like Texas, South Carolina, and Utah, which have attempted but failed to pass similar measures. The push for such laws gained momentum after recent Supreme Court rulings, including Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, suggested a more lenient interpretation of the Establishment Clause, which prohibits state-sponsored religion.

The law’s specifics: The law requires a Protestant translation of the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in all classrooms of schools receiving public funds, extending to colleges and universities. The commandments must be printed on a poster no smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches and must be “the central focus” of the document.

Friction point: Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, have announced plans to file lawsuits challenging the law. In a joint statement, they described the legislation as “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Governor’s stance: Governor Landry anticipated legal opposition. “I’m going home to sign a bill that places the Ten Commandments in public classrooms,” he stated at a recent Republican fundraiser in Nashville. “And I can’t wait to be sued.”

Legislative background: The bill was authored by Rep. Dodie Horton (R-Haughton), who asserts that the Ten Commandments form the “basis of all laws in Louisiana.”

Additional context: The Ten Commandments mandate is part of a broader set of education-focused legislation signed by Governor Landry. This includes a plan to use public funds for private school tuition and HB121, which requires teachers to obtain parental permission to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns and protects teachers from disciplinary action if they refuse to use them.

Tropical Storm Alberto in the Gulf of Mexico becomes first named storm of 2024 Hurricane season

ABC13 Houston
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Tropical Storm Alberto in the Gulf of Mexico becomes first named storm of 2024 Hurricane season

MIAMI, Fla. — Tropical Storm Alberto formed on Wednesday in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, the first named storm of what is forecast to be a busy hurricane season.

Alberto was located 185 miles (about 300 kilometers) east of Tampico, Mexico and 295 miles (about 480 kilometers) south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas. It had top sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm has already created more than 4 feet of storm surge in San Luis Pass, Texas, which is located just south of Galveston Island. Numerous homes along the coast have already flooded.

Alberto is forecast to make landfall in Mexico on Wednesday night with winds near 45 mph and gusts up to 55 mph.

Storm surge will be a problem from Galveston down to Corpus Christi.

Rainfall totals for Texas could reach up to 10 inches. The mountains in Mexico could see up to 20 inches in the next 24 hours. Flash flooding will be possible from Corpus Christi to Laredo and Brownsville through Wednesday.

More tropical activity

Another tropical system is developing in the western Atlantic Ocean, near the Bahamas. This system has a low chance to develop into a named storm. However, forecasters continue to monitor it as it moves west northwest toward the southeastern United States.

The area of showers and storms is currently located several hundred miles east of the Bahamas. It’s expected to arrive on the US coast by the end of the week.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the hurricane season that began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30 is likely to be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast calls for as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

A no-name storm earlier in June dumped more than 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain on parts of South Florida, stranding numerous motorists on flooded streets and pushing water into some homes in low-lying areas.

Difference between hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions

Once a depression sustains wind over 39 mph, it is called a tropical storm.

If a storm develops strong rotation, and the wind speeds exceed 74 mph, we have a hurricane. Hurricanes are classified from categories 1 to 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

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