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Harris County Residents Urged to Prepare as 2026 Hurricane Season Begins

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1, and local officials are encouraging residents to take steps now to protect their families, homes and pets before severe weather threatens the region.

Officials Stress Early Preparation

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said preparedness is key to reducing the impact of future storms and disasters.

“We can’t control when disaster strikes, but we can control how we prepare,” Hidalgo said, urging residents to build emergency kits, create evacuation plans and stay informed throughout hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

Four Steps to Stay Ready

The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) recommends residents:

  • Get a Kit: Stock at least seven days of food, water, medications, first-aid supplies, flashlights and pet necessities.
  • Make a Plan: Know evacuation routes, determine whether your home is in an evacuation zone and register for transportation assistance if needed.
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for emergency alerts and weather updates through ReadyHarris and other local notification systems.
  • Be Involved: Consider Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn basic disaster response skills.

Flood Insurance and Emergency Alerts

Officials also encourage homeowners and renters to review their flood insurance coverage before storms develop. Standard National Flood Insurance Program policies typically require a 30-day waiting period before becoming active.

Residents can receive hurricane updates, emergency notifications and accessible alerts in multiple formats and languages through county preparedness programs.

Preparing Before the Next Storm

Emergency management officials emphasize that the best time to prepare is before a hurricane forms. By assembling supplies, reviewing emergency plans and staying connected to official information sources, residents can improve their safety and resilience throughout the 2026 hurricane season.

For more Harris County stories, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Man, woman found dead after hourslong standoff situation in west Harris County, sheriff says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A man and a woman are dead, bringing an end to an hourslong barricaded suspect situation inside a west Harris County apartment complex on Monday, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

HCSO said that a 23-year-old man suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, deputies say they found the woman, who was 20 years old, dead inside the apartment.

HCSO said that deputies responded to the incident in reference to a disturbance when a man was frantic on the phone and said he had accidentally shot his girlfriend at 1:52 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Katy Gap Road on Monday.

SkyEye13 flew overhead the scene, showing a heavy law enforcement presence surrounding the apartment complex.

Deputies said that the man wouldn’t cooperate with law enforcement for several hours, which led to the SWAT team deploying gas into the apartment complex. HCSO said that the man retreated to a balcony of the apartment, where he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities said that no deputies were discharged during the incident.

The sheriff’s office said the circumstances surrounding both deaths remain under investigation.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Scattered storms possible Tuesday, tropical air brings more rain later this week

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Keep the umbrella handy this week! Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible every day, and rain chances really crank up by the end of the week as tropical moisture streams overhead.

Tuesday started off really sticky with a few showers and storms along the coast. Speaking of rain, there are two potential rounds of storms that could soaks some Southeast Texas residents. The first is due to storms bubbling up as temperatures climb into the low 90s. The second potential round of storms is from a front moving this way from Louisiana. A broken line of storms will develop on that front by evening, and then those storms could push through the Houston area after sunset. Some of those storms could even be on the strong side with gusty winds and small hail besides the heavy rain, thunder and lightning.

When are the highest rain chances this week?

At this time we have a peak rain chance of 60% Friday and Saturday when the highest levels of tropical moisture blow through. That said, rain chance are still at 30%-40% each day until then.

Are my weekend plans ruined?

Not necessarily. Some plans may be significantly altered by the scattered, heavy thunderstorms, but it won’t rain all day. Typically the highest rain chances for Houston when tropical moisture blows in occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then rain-cooled air stabilizes the atmosphere in the late afternoon and evening.

Is severe weather possible?

We don’t anticipate any severe weather this week, but there could some tropical funnels that occur in the morning over our coastal counties, and isolated pockets of street flooding are possible for brief stretches of time where the heaviest rains fall.

Now that it’s hurricane season, what are you tracking in the tropics?

There are two things we are tracking right now. The first is the tropical moisture over the Gulf that could bring us storms late in the week. The second is a large plume of Saharan dust currently stretching across the Atlantic from Africa to the eastern Caribbean. For the latest on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our Tropical Update page for our daily tropical weather discussion and forecast.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Russian Missile and Drone Attack Kills 17 Across Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — At least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured after Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack across Ukraine, officials said Tuesday.

Ukrainian authorities reported that Kyiv was the primary target, with six deaths recorded in the capital. Another 11 people, including a child, were killed in the Dnipro region. A residential building in Kyiv collapsed after being struck, raising fears that more victims could be trapped under the rubble.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 73 missiles and 656 drones during the attack. Air defenses intercepted or suppressed most of the incoming weapons, but significant damage was reported in Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for additional air defense support from Western allies, including more Patriot missile systems, warning that attacks would continue without stronger protection.

Several medical facilities in Kyiv were damaged, according to city officials.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted military and infrastructure sites across multiple regions and claimed all intended targets were hit. Moscow also reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight.

The latest barrage is among the largest launched by Russia in recent months as the war continues into its fourth year.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Newark Files Lawsuit to Shut Down Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced Tuesday that the city will file a lawsuit seeking to close the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, citing concerns over detainee treatment, living conditions, and access to medical care.

Baraka and local activists have accused the facility of housing detainees in unsafe and inadequate conditions. The legal action comes after weeks of protests and growing scrutiny surrounding operations at the detention center.

City Raises Concerns Over Conditions

According to city officials, the lawsuit alleges that detainees at Delaney Hall are being held in poor conditions and may not be receiving proper medical attention. Advocates have repeatedly called for greater oversight and transparency at the facility.

The detention center has become a focal point for immigration activists and community groups who have organized demonstrations outside the Newark facility.

DHS Rejects Allegations

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has strongly denied claims of mistreatment and inadequate care. Federal officials have defended the facility’s operations and criticized protests that have taken place outside the center.

DHS maintains that detainees are being housed according to federal standards and that allegations made by critics are inaccurate.

Legal Battle Ahead

The lawsuit sets the stage for a legal showdown between Newark officials and federal immigration authorities. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of Delaney Hall and the broader debate over immigration detention policies in the United States.

As tensions continue to rise, both city leaders and federal officials remain at odds over the conditions inside the Newark ICE facility and whether it should remain open.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

2 families say their student at Spring charter school should be named valedictorian over GPA dispute

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) — Nathan Olivarri, who was standing at the podium for graduation at Legacy The School for Sport Sciences, called himself valedictorian after a judge decided the honor was rightfully his.

The battle over the valedictorian title began in January, when court documents revealed that Olivarri was named top of the class, but that honor was short-lived.

Court records show that by February, the school announced that a junior had decided to graduate earlier and had taken the top spot, with legal paperwork from the school showing a thin margin between the two GPAs. Olivarri had a 4.4547, and the unnamed junior had a 4.6530.

The Olivarri family’s lawyer argued in court filings that the junior made the decision too late in the year for the title to be transferred according to the student handbook and that the GPA was improperly calculated.

A judge agreed with the Olivarri family and ordered that Nathan be named valedictorian and allowed to give a speech at graduation.

“I am thankful to the courthouse for realizing who the true valedictorian is, and I’m thankful for my parents for always supporting me through everything,” Nathan Olivarri said.

The school argues in its legal response that the junior wasn’t the only student who chose to graduate early or change their class ranking, and that, by following state guidelines, GPAs were calculated and announced as they should have been.

The school even had an independent investigation completed and reviewed by its board, which both determined the school was right to name the junior valedictorian.

The Olivarri family thanked the judge for their ruling after graduation this past weekend.

“A lot of this could have been avoided, but it’s the past; we’re putting it behind us,” Nathan’s father, Vincent Olivarri, said.

In a statement from the school, they said their “unwavering focus has always been and will remain on honoring the dedication and hard work of every one of our students.”

The school’s founder told ABC13 the legal process is ongoing.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Family fights for 2-year-old girl’s recovery after near-drowning incident on Memorial Day

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The family of a 2-year-old girl who nearly drowned during a Memorial Day gathering is fighting to keep her treatment options open as she remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Annelise Camp, 2, has been receiving care at Texas Children’s Hospital since the incident, which her father said occurred after the child briefly wandered away from family members at a hotel pool.

Johnston Camp said Annelise was found at the bottom of the pool by her 12-year-old cousin.

“Her 12-year-old cousin found her at the bottom of the pool,” Camp said.

Camp said he performed CPR after rushing to help his daughter.

“She had water coming out of her mouth,” he said.

Since then, family members have remained by Annelise’s side while praying for her recovery. Camp said the first days following the incident were difficult, but he believes there have been signs of improvement.

“The first couple days were very turbulent. Then her vitals started to level out,” he said.

The family has also taken legal action to prevent the hospital from declaring Annelise brain dead while they pursue additional treatment options. A court injunction temporarily blocks such a declaration until Friday, according to Camp.

“The staff has been wonderful, but the legal system gave us certain restraints,” Camp said. “If she would’ve been declared brain dead, it could’ve greatly limited her ability to receive treatment moving forward.”

Camp said he hopes to transfer his daughter to another facility where she could receive hyperbaric and stem cell treatments that he believes are not available at Texas Children’s.

“With all these positive results, you can’t cut her lifeline off four or five days into it and prevent her from additional treatments,” he said.

Attorney Aaron Arenas, who is not involved in the case, said legal disputes involving life-support decisions can arise when families seek additional time or treatment options.

“Is it that common? No,” Arenas said. “It really depends on if you have doctors saying one thing, and usually it’s a child, and you’re not ready to give up on them.”

Arenas said families can communicate with medical providers and seek legal counsel before decisions are finalized. He noted that hospital ethics committees are often involved in evaluating potential next steps.

“What usually happens is there’s an ethics committee working to find out, if we can help, can we move this patient somewhere?” Arenas said.

Camp said his family remains committed to pursuing every available option for Annelise while relying on their faith.

“This is a girl who never gave up when I asked her to do something,” Camp said. “I’m never going to give up on her.”

Texas Children’s Hospital said it is evaluating all viable medical options and working to honor the family’s wishes as Annelise’s treatment continues.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Sabrina Carpenter Seeks Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has filed for a civil harassment restraining order against a man she alleges repeatedly appeared at her Los Angeles home and attempted to enter the property.

According to court documents filed May 29, Carpenter claims 31-year-old William Applegate arrived at her residence uninvited on May 23, bypassed security barriers and allegedly tried to force open her front door before being stopped by a member of her security team.

Repeated Visits Raise Safety Concerns

Police arrested Applegate on suspicion of criminal trespassing following the incident. However, Carpenter’s security personnel allege he returned to the area near her home on May 24 and May 25, parking close to the property and remaining there for extended periods.

Security guards stated they had observed Applegate’s vehicle near Carpenter’s residence on multiple occasions since April, with the vehicle allegedly moving progressively closer to the home over time.

Singer Says She Fears for Her Safety

In her filing, Carpenter said the incidents have caused significant emotional distress and ongoing concern for her safety, as well as the safety of family members living with her.

The requested restraining order also extends protection to Carpenter’s sister, Sarah Carpenter, and Carpenter’s partner, George Smith.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said no criminal charges have been filed against Applegate at this time.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Teen Arrested After 3 Horses Injured at Las Vegas Equestrian Event

A teenage girl has been arrested after three horses were allegedly injured with a sharp object during a major equestrian competition in Las Vegas, authorities said.

Las Vegas police responded to a barn early Saturday and found three horses suffering from non-life-threatening wounds. Investigators believe the suspect, who had access to the barn, may have used a knife to injure the animals.

The teen, a competitor in the National Barrel Horse Association’s Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show, was later taken into custody at a nearby hotel. She faces multiple felony charges related to animal cruelty and property damage.

Horses Unable to Compete

Officials said the injuries are not expected to be fatal but prevented the horses from participating in the weekend event.

The National Barrel Horse Association said it worked with law enforcement and event organizers to address the incident and ensure the safety of all horses.

Owner Calls Incident ‘Devastating’

The owner of one injured horse, named Detail, described the attack as heartbreaking, saying the horse is both a companion and competitive partner.

The owner also alleged the suspect had followed her on social media and met her and the horse at the event shortly before the incident.

The investigation remains ongoing. For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Six Killed in Muscatine Shooting Rampage

Six people were killed in a shooting spree across multiple locations in Muscatine, Iowa, on Monday in what authorities believe was a domestic-related dispute involving family members.

According to the Muscatine Police Department, officers responded to a residence shortly after noon and discovered four victims dead from gunshot wounds. Investigators later found two additional victims at a separate home and a nearby business.

Police identified the suspected gunman as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland of Muscatine. Authorities said he left the first crime scene before officers arrived and was later located on a trail near the Mississippi River.

Suspect Dies During Police Encounter

Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies said officers attempted to speak with McFarland when he fatally shot himself. Emergency responders provided aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Today I simply do not have the words — this act of evil and what it has done to our community,” Kies said during a news conference.

Investigation Ongoing

Preliminary findings indicate the shootings stemmed from a domestic dispute, and all six victims are believed to be relatives of the suspect. Authorities have not yet released the victims’ names or ages.

Police said McFarland had a criminal history but did not provide additional details. Officials emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering evidence and working to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly violence.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.