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Protesters Boo Vance and Hegseth During DC Guard Visit

Michael Esparza
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Protesters Boo Vance and Hegseth During DC Guard Visit

Jeers at Union Station

Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller were met with loud boos and chants of “Free D.C.” during a visit with National Guard troops at Union Station on Wednesday.

The officials stopped at a Shake Shack to buy lunch for the troops, but much of their appearance was overshadowed by demonstrators.

Officials Defend Deployment

Vance praised the troops, saying, “You guys are doing a hell of a job. I’m proud of you and we’re grateful.” He and Miller brushed off the protesters, labeling them “crazy” and “communists.”

When asked why troops were stationed at Union Station, Vance argued the site had become unsafe due to homelessness: “This should be a monument to American greatness.” He added that official crime data fails to capture the full extent of problems on the streets.

Bowser Pushes Back

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser disagreed, noting crime in D.C. has dropped sharply over the past two years thanks to local reforms. She argued the National Guard should not be used for law enforcement, only for specific federal missions.

“Crime has gone down in our city and it has gone down precipitously,” Bowser said, crediting community-driven efforts.

Police Perspective

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said her department has worked closely with federal agencies and acknowledged mixed but sometimes helpful feedback from both officers and community members about the Guard’s presence.

For more on the federal government, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

What to Know Ahead of Houston City Council’s 1st Evening Public Session

Indira Zaldivar
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What to Know Ahead of Houston City Council’s 1st Evening Public Session

Houston City Council will hold its first-ever evening public comment session on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

The evening session is part of a new pilot program designed to make it easier for Houstonians to participate in local government. Traditionally, public hearings are scheduled at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, limiting access for residents juggling work, traffic, and family responsibilities.

“This is about meeting people where they are,” said Council Member Mario Castillo, who proposed the change. “We want to hear from more Houstonians—not just those who can take off in the middle of the day.”

How the Pilot Program Works

  • Schedule: The last Tuesday of each month, from Aug. 26 through Dec. 16, will feature an evening session.
  • Time: Public comment begins at 6 p.m. instead of 2 p.m.
  • Goal: To expand civic engagement and allow more residents to share their concerns and ideas.

While the first session will take place at City Hall, officials are considering rotating future evening sessions to community spaces such as libraries and cultural centers. Bringing back hybrid meetings that were first implemented due to COVID-19, were also discussed in prior meetings to encourage both in-person and virtual comments. Furthermore, staff also acknowledged potential costs, including security and broadcasting, but emphasized the value of community accessibility.

“This is a small but meaningful change,” Castillo added. “We’re hoping it opens the door for more voices to be heard.”

How to Register to Speak

If you want to address City Council during an evening session, you must register by 3 p.m. on the Monday before the meeting.

Residents can sign up by:

  • Calling 832.393.1100
  • Emailing speakers@houstontx.gov
  • Visiting the Office of the City Secretary, City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101

What’s Next

The pilot will run through Dec. 16, after which City Council will review participation numbers and public feedback to determine whether evening sessions should become permanent in 2026.

The dates of the 5 evening public sessions are the following.

  • Tuesday, Aug. 26
  • Tuesday, Sept. 16
  • Tuesday, Oct. 28
  • Tuesday, Nov. 18
  • Tuesday, Dec. 16

“This is a step toward more inclusive civic participation,” Castillo said. “We’re making space for voices that have too often been left out.”

Stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine for weekly coverage of Houston City Council.

Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages joins FIFA World Cup 26 Houston effort

Que Onda Editorial
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Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages joins FIFA World Cup 26 Houston effort

Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB) has been named an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host City.

The company will take part in Houston’s tournament programming, including the FIFA Fan Festival in East Downtown, and plans to roll out community-focused activities before, during, and after the matches. Custom-branded delivery trucks and other citywide promotions are already in place.

CCSWB leaders said the partnership is about tapping into Houston’s passion for soccer while building programs that last beyond 2026. Host Committee President Chris Canetti added that Coca-Cola’s long history with the sport makes it a natural fit for Houston’s role in the tournament.

Houston is one of 16 host cities across North America for FIFA World Cup 26, which will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches in June and July 2026.

For more on the FIFA World Cup 2026, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

DNA evidence points to father as sole suspect in suffocation deaths of three daughters

Indira Zaldivar
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DNA evidence points to father as sole suspect in suffocation deaths of three daughters

Authorities in Washington state say Travis Decker is the only suspect in the suffocation deaths of his three daughters after new DNA evidence was confirmed.

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that DNA found on plastic bags and cable ties matched Decker. Each victim—5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 9-year-old Paityn—was discovered with multiple bags over their heads near a Cascades campsite. No other DNA was recovered at the scene.

The Tragedy Unfolds

The girls were reported missing in late May when Decker failed to return them after a court-ordered visit. Days later, their bodies were located about 100 yards from Decker’s abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground. Investigators also recovered plastic bags, zip ties, and a bloody fingerprint.

A Challenging Manhunt

Decker, an Army veteran with survival training, vanished into the rugged wilderness with a three-day head start. Search teams have used drones, cadaver dogs, and swift-water crews, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

“We do not have any evidence to suggest Travis Decker is either alive or deceased,” the sheriff’s office said.

Reward for Capture

The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Decker’s arrest. Authorities hope that with more hikers and campers in the area during summer, someone may spot him.

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

Houston Speeds Up I-69 Beautification and Major Reconstruction Ahead of World Cup

Edward Saenz
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Houston Speeds Up I-69 Beautification and Major Reconstruction Ahead of World Cup

A long-planned makeover of Houston’s I-69 corridor is moving forward faster than expected as the city prepares to welcome visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Texas Department of Transportation has accelerated a beautification project near Hazard Street that includes repainting walls, removing graffiti and invasive plants, and replanting fig ivy along the freeway. Officials say the upgrades will give a fresh look to one of Houston’s most traveled corridors.

The work is part of the broader North Houston Highway Improvement Project, a multibillion-dollar effort to modernize I-69 and its connections to downtown. Major construction is already underway on Segment 3B, which stretches from Texas 288 to I-45.

A $121 million drainage system along St. Emanuel Street, now under construction, will help funnel storm runoff into Buffalo Bayou. Once complete, TxDOT will begin a $695 million rebuild of about 1.5 miles of I-69. The plan calls for three signature arch bridges at Elgin, Tuam and McGowen streets to reconnect neighborhoods split by the freeway.

Other changes include widening lanes to as many as 12 in each direction, adding express lanes for transit and high-occupancy vehicles, and lowering sections of the freeway. TxDOT also plans to install “caps” over depressed portions of I-69, creating space for parks and plazas near the George R. Brown Convention Center, Midtown and the Museum District.

Supporters say the upgrades will not only improve traffic flow but also help stitch together neighborhoods long divided by highway construction. The improvements are also designed with flood control and green space in mind, addressing issues that have grown increasingly urgent in Houston.

TxDOT officials have said the beautification near Hazard Street should be completed before the World Cup, while the larger reconstruction effort is expected to continue for several years.

Texas Mexican Mafia Leader Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

Edward Saenz
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Texas Mexican Mafia Leader Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

A high-ranking leader of the Texas Mexican Mafia has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking ring, federal prosecutors said.

David Botello, 54, of San Antonio, was sentenced Aug. 14 by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced.

Botello, who went by the nicknames “Torito,” “Bully” and “Bully-Man,” served as a “lieutenant of lieutenants” in the gang, overseeing meth distribution operations in the San Antonio area. Prosecutors said he was arrested in July 2020 after a traffic stop in which police found 150 grams of methamphetamine, nine new cellphones and cash.

A 2021 indictment charged Botello and 11 others with meth-related crimes and weapons offenses. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of meth distribution conspiracy.

Botello has previous convictions for murder and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, court records show.

“This sentence demonstrates our office’s commitment to dismantling dangerous criminal organizations that fuel violence and drug trafficking in our communities,” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said in a statement.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the DEA, FBI, San Antonio police, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Botello was among several Texas Mexican Mafia members targeted in recent federal prosecutions aimed at weakening the gang’s grip on narcotics distribution in South Texas.

‘Give me my money:’ City of Houston retirees demand their pension payouts months after city deal

ABC13 Houston
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‘Give me my money:’ City of Houston retirees demand their pension payouts months after city deal

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A ticket to early retirement is landing some people in debt after they report not receiving their pension payments from the city.

The City of Houston offered about 3,000 employees a retirement buyout package, which they said was to address the city’s $330 million projected budget shortfall.

The city confirmed that about 1,000 people took the deal in April. Now, months later, some retirees told ABC13 that they haven’t received a dime.

Retirees say they were told it would take 30 to 60 days to get their money, but it hasn’t been the case.

“I strongly regret retiring. I strongly regret it, and I’m sorry, I’m getting ready to cry. I don’t want to, but it’s a lot. It’s a lot. It’s a lot. I need help. I need my money,” retired City of Houston employee, Kathy Caldwell said.

Caldwell is a few months into retirement as she tries to focus on her health. However, the bills are piling up, and she’s growing anxious because her pension hasn’t kicked in.

She met Eyewitness News outside of Workforce Solutions, saying that while she now tries to find a new job, she wishes she could take back time and have her old job.

“I wasn’t just a seat filler. I was an employee to the max. I did my job. Now the City of Houston needs to do theirs. Give me my money,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell worked for the city for two decades in parks and recreation and took police reports for 18 years at the Houston Police Department.

“For 18 years of taking police reports outside of the other three and a half years. Well, Houston, now I have a report: Where’s my money?” Caldwell questioned.

She says it wasn’t an easy decision to leave, and now her livelihood is being challenged because of that decision.

Eyewitness News asked Mayor Joh Whitmire’s office what was going on.

His office sent ABC13 the following statement:

“The delay in processing pension payments is unacceptable. The mayor and other city representatives notified the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System in advance, and the pension system is in control of the payments. Mayor Whitmire shares the retirees’ concerns and is addressing this issue with the pension system. He expects better.”

“I expect better than that!! Even though they’re saying they’re a separate entity, they’re hand in hand. They’re interlocked somewhere,” Caldwell said.

ABC13 has reached out to the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System for a timeline of when retirees will start receiving their payments, but they have not responded.

As for Ms. Caldwell, she says she’s praying for a miracle to keep the lights on and the roof over her head.

For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

ABC13 Weather Watch for strong storms Wednesday evening

ABC13 Houston
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ABC13 Weather Watch for strong storms Wednesday evening

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We now have an ABC13 Weather Watch for late Wednesday afternoon and early Wednesday evening. The setup look similar to what brought the Houston area severe hailstorms Monday night. Temperatures will again peak near 100 degrees in Houston, and that heat energy will feed into storms generated by a disturbance passing overhead. Any thunderstorm that pops late Wednesday could produce wind gusts over 50 mph, pea-to-quarter size hail, frequent lightning, and a quick 1-2″ of rain.

Rain chances then climb a little higher Thursday when a summer front reaches Houston.

How will Thursday’s front impact our weather?

This front doesn’t really cool us off much, but the combination of widespread rain clouds and thunderstorms will keep high temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s rain chance is at 70%, then it drops to 40% Friday as drier air aloft filters in behind the front. We’ll actually get a light northeast winds with this front for a few days, which will bring the humidity down over the weekend. That drier air still heats up quickly under the August sun, so we are in for a dry heat as highs reach into the mid-to-upper 90s.

What is happening in the tropics?

Erin continues churning through the western Atlantic as a category 2 hurricane and will bring big swells and rip currents to the East Coast all week. We are also tracking two tropical waves in the eastern Atlantic, but their future impacts to land, if any, remain uncertain at this time. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Julio César Chávez Jr. Deported and Jailed in Mexico

Edward Saenz
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Julio César Chávez Jr. Deported and Jailed in Mexico

Former world boxing champion Julio César Chávez Jr. has been deported from the United States and taken into custody in Mexico. Arrest records show he was transferred Monday from a border checkpoint to police custody in Sonora.

Arrest Warrant and Charges

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Chávez Jr. faced an active arrest warrant tied to an investigation dating back to 2019. The warrant, issued in 2023, alleges links to the Sinaloa cartel and involvement in trafficking weapons and explosives.

Chávez Jr. was first arrested in Los Angeles in July, shortly after his loss to influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The Department of Homeland Security said he had entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and later applied for residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen, who was also accused of cartel connections.

Legal Troubles in the U.S.

In addition to immigration violations, Chávez Jr. was arrested in January 2024 for illegal possession of an assault rifle. His lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, said he was granted mental health diversion and had complied fully, calling the cartel allegations “outrageous.”

Family Response

The Chávez family issued a statement expressing support, saying they trusted in his innocence and hoped both the U.S. and Mexican justice systems would uphold his rights.

For more sports news, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Sheinbaum Denies DEA ‘Project Portero’ Agreement

Indira Zaldivar
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Sheinbaum Denies DEA ‘Project Portero’ Agreement

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed claims of a new cross-border law enforcement initiative with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Sheinbaum rejected the DEA’s announcement of “Project Portero,” which the agency described as a major operation to disrupt networks smuggling drugs, firearms, and money across the U.S.-Mexico border.

No Formal Agreement

“The DEA put out a statement yesterday saying that there is an agreement with the Mexican government for an operation called Portero,” Sheinbaum said. “There is no agreement with the DEA. The DEA puts out this statement, based on what we don’t know. We have not reached any agreement, none of the security institutions (have) with the DEA.”

Limited Cooperation

Sheinbaum noted that the only ongoing interaction involves a workshop in Texas attended by four Mexican police officers. The DEA had referenced this workshop as part of its intelligence training, alongside U.S. prosecutors, defense and law enforcement officials, and members of the intelligence community.

This is a developing story. Updates will follow on Que Onda Magazine!

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