HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A SWAT scene unfolded on the city’s northeast side in the Songwood area after neighbors reported hearing gunshots on Monday afternoon, POLICE SAID.
Houston Police Department officers arrived in the 10400 block of Dunvegan Road after reports of someone firing a gun.
Harris County Precinct 2 Constable Jerry Garcia said in a Facebook post that the person who fired the gun was identified as Daniel Nobles
Officials learned Nobles reportedly had a warrant out for his arrest and attempted to apprehend him, but he resisted. That is when SWAT was called to the scene.
ABC13’s SkyEye flew over the area, where several police cruisers and a robotic canine used by SWAT could be seen.
The reason for Nobles’ warrant remained unclear.
A short time later, officials were able to take Noble into custody.
Police reported no other injuries.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.
BRENHAM, Texas (KTRK) — A second person has died after authorities said a driver plowed a stolen big rig into a Texas Department of Public Safety office in Brenham earlier this month.
The victim was identified as 63-year-old Cheryl Turner of Brenham and is the second person to die as a result of the April 12 incident, according to the department.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” DPS said in a social media post on Monday.
Clenard Parker, 42, remains in jail and currently faces a $4 million bond for nine charges, including murder, criminal mischief, evading arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault against a public servant.
Parker is accused of stealing an 18-wheeler and intentionally crashing into the Brenham DPS office. Bobby Huff, 78, was injured among several people, but he later died at the hospital.
According to DPS, Turner and Huff were among three victims who were hospitalized following the crash. The third remains alive, but officials said they’re unsure if that victim is still in the hospital.
Investigators said Parker crashed into the DPS office one day after being denied a commercial driver’s license renewal.
Parker initially faced five charges, but four new charges were filed last week, prompting the judge to increase his bond, initially set at $2 million. Officials said it’s too early to tell if Parker’s charges will be upgraded with a second victim dying.
He allegedly stole the 18-wheeler used in the crash from a gas station in Chappell Hill. Law enforcement caught up with Parker in Brenham and briefly pursued him on Highway 290 before they say he intentionally turned the big rig into the DPS office.
According to DPS, the Brenham Driver License Office will remain closed for an undetermined time. Alternative offices are located in Bryan, Hempstead, and Caldwell.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Early voting began Monday for the upcoming election on May 4.
Among the items on the ballot — for the first time, voters will elect three Harris County Appraisal District board members.
The board oversees the group of appraisers, who, in part, decide the amount of property taxes you owe.
In November, a ballot proposition to lower property taxes included adding three elected seats to HCAD’s board.
Republican Houston-area Sen. Paul Bettencourt authored the legislation and says it was prompted by complaints from people across the state about their local appraisal districts.
The new seats are non partisan.
If you live in Senate District 15, and close to a million people in Harris County do, you’ll have the chance to decide who will finish out the term that belonged to now-Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
The last time this was an open seat was 1982, with Whitmire serving in the Senate for 40 years.
Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) and emergency room nurse Molly Cook received 36 and 21% of the vote, respectively, during the March primary, meaning they are now set to compete against each other in this election and in a primary runoff on May 28.
“We need to make sure the person who gets there has experience because Sen. Whitmire, now Mayor Whitmire takes with him 40 years of experience. He takes with him years of relationships,” Johnson said.
“I have a Masters in public health from Johns Hopkins University and the beauty of that is that you can bring it to any committee and any issue,” Molly Cook said of her credentials.
In a significant legislative move, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 360 to 58 in favor of an updated version of the divest-or-ban bill targeting the popular social media platform TikTok. If passed into law, this would mark the first instance of the US government taking action to shutter an entire social media platform.
The bill, championed by Texas Republican representative Michael McCaul, aims to address concerns regarding the alleged influence of Chinese propaganda on TikTok, labeling the app as a potential security threat. McCaul emphasized the importance of safeguarding Americans, particularly children, from what he described as the “malign influence” of Chinese propaganda infiltrating the platform.
The passage of the updated bill was part of House Republican speaker Mike Johnson’s broader foreign aid package, which includes provisions for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
The Senate is slated to vote on the bill next week, with President Joe Biden signaling his intention to sign the legislation into law upon its passage.
Critics of TikTok have long raised concerns about the app’s parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China, alleging potential data privacy risks and censorship of content critical of the Chinese government. These concerns gained further traction after Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, warned about the possibility of Chinese interference in the US’s upcoming presidential elections through TikTok.
In response, TikTok has vehemently denied allegations of data sharing with the Chinese government, asserting its independence as a platform with leadership based in various countries outside China.
However, the House’s move to advance the bill has drawn sharp criticism from TikTok, which expressed disappointment over what it sees as a threat to free speech rights and economic contributions to the US. The platform’s objections were echoed by the president of Signal, an encrypted messaging service, who highlighted broader implications for data privacy across social media platforms.
Despite these objections, the bill’s passage underscores growing bipartisan concerns about the potential risks posed by foreign-owned social media platforms, particularly in the realm of data privacy and national security.
President Biden’s previous commitment to signing the bill, coupled with recent congressional scrutiny of TikTok’s operations, signals a concerted effort to address these concerns through legislative action.
In a recent legal battle concerning Harris County’s pioneering guaranteed income initiative, a state district judge ruled against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit on April 18. The ruling effectively permits the continuation of the Uplift Harris program, enabling over 1,900 eligible households living below 200% of the poverty line to receive monthly funds of $500 by the end of April.
The $20.5 million program, funded through a combination of local and state resources from the American Rescue Plan Act, forms a crucial component of Harris County’s comprehensive strategy to combat economic inequality within the region.
Representing the county in the case, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee emphasized the program’s significance in assisting struggling families. Menefee stated, “Helping families in need is a proper use of government funds. Giving people the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty is both morally sound and good public policy.”
However, the legal dispute isn’t resolved yet. Anticipating an appeal from the state, county officials are prepared for the case to potentially escalate to the Texas Supreme Court.
The crux of Paxton’s lawsuit, filed on April 9, centered on the allegation that the program’s distribution of public funds violates the Texas Constitution. Paxton argued that taxpayer money should be spent lawfully and in the public interest, without mere redistribution lacking accountability or a clear benefit.
In response, Harris County contended that Uplift Harris serves a “public purpose,” a crucial criterion established by Texas courts. Menefee reiterated that the program’s objective is to uplift families out of poverty, thus positively impacting the local economy.
Another point of contention was the selection criteria for Uplift Harris, with Paxton asserting that the process was not “rational” under the Texas Constitution’s equal protection clause due to the use of a lottery system. However, the county defended its approach, emphasizing that applicants had to meet specific income and geographic requirements, and the randomized selection process did not contravene the state constitution.
The decision was hailed as a victory by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who spearheaded the program. Ellis emphasized the significance of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of constituents, underscoring the broader impact of such programs as potential models for other counties grappling with similar challenges.
Zooming out from Harris County, the initiative aligns with broader trends in Texas, with Austin City Council recently approving a contract with nonprofit UpTogether to continue its own guaranteed income program. These efforts reflect a growing recognition of the role of guaranteed income programs in addressing housing challenges and economic disparities across the state.
Houston residents, according to a 2023 poll from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, express support for a range of policies aimed at tackling housing issues, including the provision of a universal basic income for low-income working adults. The growing housing crisis in Houston, highlighted by a doubling of median house prices since 2011, underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to address economic disparities within the city.
In a bid to celebrate Earth Day and promote sustainable practices, H-E-B, the renowned retail grocer across Texas, has announced plans to distribute complimentary reusable shopping bags to its customers. The initiative, slated for April 22, will see shoppers at various H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda outlets across the state receiving one reusable bag each.
The giveaway, scheduled to commence at 1 p.m., aims to encourage environmentally conscious shopping habits among consumers. As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, H-E-B has already distributed over 3 million reusable bags in previous Earth Day celebrations.
As per company officials, this year’s initiative marks the beginning of a three-part series featuring collectible Earth Day bags, each highlighting iconic state parks. The inaugural bag showcases a picturesque postcard design featuring the renowned Big Bend Ranch Texas State Park.
Highlighting the broader environmental agenda of H-E-B, representatives emphasized the company’s dedication to promoting sustainability. This distribution of free reusable bags underscores H-E-B’s ongoing efforts to reduce plastic waste and provide eco-friendly alternatives for shoppers across Texas.
Earlier this April, H-E-B rolled out several initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable practices. Notably, the company’s annual School Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge saw participation from Texas students, who collectively gathered thousands of pounds of plastic bags. This year’s competition witnessed an unprecedented turnout, with 675 schools statewide collecting over 5 million plastic bags for recycling.
Hailing the top-performing schools in different regions of Texas, H-E-B officials recognized the outstanding efforts of students and educators alike. In the San Antonio region, Rose Garden Elementary School emerged as the top collector of plastic bags, closely followed by Pleasanton Primary School and Fields Elementary School, underscoring the widespread community engagement in environmental conservation efforts.
(Houston, TX) Today, Hany Khalil, Chair of New Economy for Working Houston issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of a $249,700,00 million “Solar For All” grant award for Harris County and a coalition of partners in Texas. Details of the announcement may be found here.
“This award has the potential to be a game-changing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the residents of Harris County,” said Khalil. “Today, electricity for millions of residents costs too much and fails too often. Despite living in the energy capital of the U.S., working people are paying far more for electricity compared to the rest of the country while coping with the constant threat of ERCOT grid failures. With this grant, our community may finally have a chance to bring down power costs and increase power reliability by building our own clean energy infrastructure.
“New Houston commends Harris County Commissioners for working closely with the Power Up Harris County coalition, among others, to craft such an innovative, bold proposal that stood out in a large field. However, the work is not yet done to ensure that this opportunity becomes the game-changing reality we know it can be. Harris County officials must ensure that the jobs that will power this project are good union jobs, and that the poor and working class communities of color that are so often disenfranchised from these opportunities are given access to these jobs through recruitment, training, and additional support. We must ensure that the exploitative practices of the old economy are not transferred to the new clean energy economy.
“Workers and the community stand ready to partner with Harris County so that together we can fully realize the potential of this historic investment in our communities.
“I would like to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for following through on their promise to support Harris County and for rewarding the years of hard work by a broad array of local organizers fighting to make life better and more prosperous for Texans.”
Background:
Despite assurances from executives and state officials about the reliability of Texas’ power grid, millions of residents across Houston and the state of Texas are frequently forced to endure anxiety and uncertainty from ERCOT due to the fragility of the state’s grid. Most recently, ERCOT warned of potential failures during warmer-than-expected weather in April – long before the peak heat of Summer. Making matters worse, the lack of reliability has driven up utility bills for ordinary Houstonians already struggling to make ends meet financially. Last year, ERCOT had the most expensive electricity market in America, while every other regional grid had lower electricity prices.
About Power Up Harris County and New Houston
The Power Up Harris County campaign is a coalition of local labor and community organizations working to build an infrastructure for clean, reliable, and affordable energy while creating good paying union jobs. The Campaign Steering Committee includes the Texas Climate Jobs Project, The Workers Defense Project, New Economy for Working Houston, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, and the Texas Organizing Project.
New Economy for Working Houston (NEW Houston) is a non-profit organization that brings together the power of grassroots organizing and public policy innovation to win a just economy for Gulf Coast working families. We seek to build an inclusive regional economy where workers and neighborhoods thrive, and where people of color, immigrants, women, and low-income residents have an equal voice and share equally in regional prosperity.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Charges have been filed against a man and woman in connection to the death of twin infants back in October 2023, according to court documents.
The video above is from the initial Oct. 4 report.
Angelina Belinda Calderon and Fernando Vega, both 21 years old, are charged with two counts each of injury to a child-serious bodily injury.
ABC13 reported on this story on October 4. 2023.
HPD patrol officers responded to a home in the 2100 block of Linden Creek Lane regarding two infants, twin girls, who were found unresponsive.
According to documents, the children’s father, identified as Vega, found them in their crib, not breathing. While on the phone with dispatch, Vega was given instructions on how to perform CPR, but the twins, who were born prematurely, did not survive.
Vega, in an interview with police, said the twins were “fussy” throughout the night, and he put them in a bassinet where they had fallen asleep. The children’s mother, identified as Calderon, said she saw the babies the following day and didn’t wake them because she was on her way to work, documents said.
Vega then took Calderon to work before returning home, where he found the twins.
Officials said the babies were one and a half months old.
Initially, police said officials found no visible signs of trauma on either child. However, a completed autopsy determined they suffered blunt force trauma.
It was also found that the twins hadn’t received check-ups since being released from the hospital, charging documents said. Calderon then told police the twins had been sick, but they did not seek medical care.
Further investigation revealed Calderon and Vega as suspects, who were both arrested on Friday, April 19, without incident.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A beloved Houston-area softball coach has died weeks after he was shot on Easter Sunday by someone who police say was trying to steal his truck, the softball team announced.
The video above is from a previous report.
Ivan Ramirez, 42, was pronounced dead on Wednesday, according to the team.
Ramirez was a coach for Texas Magic Fastpitch Travel’s softball team. He was also a husband and a father of three.
The shooting happened on March 31, outside the victim’s home at an apartment on the South Beltway near Pearland.
Ramirez was home at this apartment complex on Easter Sunday when an app on his phone alerted him that his truck door had been opened.
HPD said when he came outside to investigate, the suspect shot at him multiple times.
Ramirez was transported to Ben Taub Hospital that day. He had undergone multiple surgeries and was in critical condition before he passed away.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Showers and thunderstorms are expected this evening as a Flash Flood Watch was issued for portions of southeast Texas.
The watch is in effect starting at 4 p.m. Saturday for Trinity, Montgomery, Polk, Brazos, and San Jacinto counties.
Showers and storms will begin to develop west and north of Houston in the late afternoon and slowly make their way east through the evening and into the night.
What’s the latest on Saturday’s storms?
Thunderstorms will develop along a stalled front currently located across Hill Country and Central Texas later this afternoon. Those thunderstorms will stay over that region through the early evening before moving into Houston after sunset. That being said, locally heavy rain of up to 2 to 4 inches from Columbus to College Station to Huntsville could lead to area and street flooding in flood-prone areas Saturday evening. Houston and the rest of Southeast Texas will pick up around half an inch to an inch of rain tonight. And some of these thunderstorms could grow and become strong, producing strong wind gusts, small hail and lots of lightning. A brief tornado cant be ruled out either, but generally that threat is low for Southeast Texas Saturday.
How much rain could fall from these storms?
Most will get less than an inch of rain, but where heavy thunderstorms train one after another, 2-4″ of rain could fall in a short period of time with isolated higher amounts. That would lead to street flooding, and these training storms are most likely to set up near the stalled front in Hill Country and Central Texas.
How cool will it get behind this front?
After the front’s passage, highs will drop into the 60s on Sunday, with lows in the 50s for a few mornings. In fact, some of you will wake up to temperatures in the upper 40s on Monday morning. Hopefully, you didn’t put the jackets away just yet! The front should also push the smoky haze away. There will also be a significant break in the humidity, and there aren’t many of those humidity breaks left before the real summer heat and humidity arrive.
Will the smoky haze be gone for good?
No. With the wind flow coming back at us from Mexico and Central America around Wednesday of next week, the haze, humidity, and storm chances should all return for the second half of next week.
