Officials said both travelers are being transported to the United States on a specialized aircraft equipped with biocontainment units “out of an abundance of caution.”
Patients Headed to Specialized Treatment Centers
According to HHS, the plane carrying 18 MV Hondius passengers will first stop at the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The passenger who tested PCR positive for hantavirus and the symptomatic traveler will undergo medical evaluations upon arrival. The mildly symptomatic patient will later be transferred to a second specialized treatment center.
Health Officials Continue Precautionary Measures
Federal health officials said both individuals will receive clinical assessments and appropriate medical care based on their condition.
The developments come as authorities continue monitoring potential hantavirus exposure linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Officials have not released additional details about the patients or the severity of symptoms.
The complaint, filed in California federal court, seeks at least $15 million in damages. According to court documents, Samsung allegedly displayed a copyrighted photo of the Grammy-winning singer on cardboard TV boxes sold in stores across the United States.
Claims of Copyright Infringement
Lipa’s legal team claims the company used her likeness to help market and sell Samsung televisions. The lawsuit alleges the image was taken during the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Attorneys for the singer said Samsung continued using the packaging despite repeated requests to stop.
The filing also argues the unauthorized image may have influenced customer purchases, citing one consumer who reportedly bought a television after seeing Lipa featured on the box.
Singer Says Brand Partnerships Are Carefully Chosen
The lawsuit emphasizes that Lipa is selective about the brands she works with and would not have approved the alleged endorsement.
Her legal team stated that the singer has built a premium public image through carefully chosen sponsorships and partnerships, making the alleged unauthorized use especially damaging.
Samsung Yet to Respond
Neither Dua Lipa nor Samsung Electronics immediately commented publicly on the lawsuit.
Samsung has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
Community members, elected officials and health care leaders gathered in Pasadena to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Legacy Community Health’s new Southmore Clinic, a major expansion aimed at increasing access to affordable health care in one of the region’s fastest-growing communities.
Located at 1951 Southmore Ave., the new two-story, 37,000-square-foot facility will provide integrated care services under one roof, including adult and pediatric primary care, OB-GYN services, behavioral health care, X-ray imaging and wraparound support services. Dental and pharmacy services are also expected to open later in 2026.
Legacy Community Health CEO Robert Palussek said the clinic represents the organization’s mission to address longstanding health care gaps in underserved communities.
“We’re here for the grand opening ribbon cutting of our new Pasadena Southmore Clinic,” Palussek said during the event. “With this work together, we’re going to hopefully transform the health of this community.”
Pasadena faces significant health care challenges, with nearly one in three residents uninsured. According to Legacy officials, uninsured rates among children in the area are more than double the national average.
“Unfortunately, we also have some challenges here in Pasadena,” Palussek said. “One out of three residents does not have health care insurance. And if you look at the child statistics, they are twice as bad compared to national averages.”
Credit: Daniel Ortiz
The clinic was made possible through a partnership with Houston Methodist, which contributed a transformational investment of more than $50 million supporting new health care facilities in Pasadena and Acres Homes.
“At Houston Methodist, serving our communities is at the heart of what we do,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “The Legacy Pasadena Southmore Clinic represents years of thoughtful collaboration to better meet the needs of families in Pasadena and the surrounding area.”
Boom also emphasized the importance of expanding access to quality care for underserved residents.
“We exist to meet a care need for underserved clients,” Boom said. “That’s why we’re here, to provide care and fill those gaps and give access — and not only access to people who are underserved and need health care — but quality care, quality access.”
The facility was designed by Kirksey Architects and built by Harvey Cleary Builders. Officials said the clinic is expected to handle approximately 80,000 appointments annually and will continue growing as additional services come online. More than 50 staff members are currently employed at the clinic, with plans to expand to more than 80 employees in the future.
The clinic will also serve as a training site for Houston Methodist’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Robert Palussek, CEO Legacy Community Health and Marc L. Boom, M.D. President and CEO, Houston Methodist. Credit: Daniel Ortiz
“We’re very excited that our training program, our family medicine training program at Houston Methodist, has moved here as well,” Boom said. “So not only are we helping people, but we are also helping train the physicians of tomorrow.”
Dr. Rachel Scott, one of the OB-GYN physicians serving the new clinic, said the facility is designed to provide comprehensive care for the entire family in one convenient location.
“Pasadena is an amazing community and it’s a very diverse community, very fast growing,” Scott said. “Right now, Legacy is focusing on health beyond care, meaning providing care for the whole person, for the whole family, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Legacy officials stressed that affordability remains central to the organization’s mission. The clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and most private insurance plans, while also offering a sliding-scale fee structure for uninsured patients.
“At Legacy, we believe healthcare is a right and not a privilege,” Palussek said. “We treat everybody equally, regardless their ability to pay. High quality healthcare services should not be driven by the insurance card that you have in your wallet.”
Legacy Community Health is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas, operating more than 60 locations throughout the Gulf Coast region. For more than four decades, the organization has focused on expanding access to comprehensive health care services for underserved communities.
Officials also highlighted excitement surrounding another upcoming Legacy facility planned for Houston’s Acres Homes neighborhood.
“We are so excited for the upcoming Acres Homes facility,” Palussek said.
For more information about Legacy Community Health and services offered at the Pasadena Southmore Clinic, visit Legacy Community Health’s website.
For Houston‑based visual artist and muralist Jatziri Barron, art is about more than what you see, it’s about connection, memory, and identity. Through bold color, symbolic imagery, and large‑scale murals, Barron uses her work to celebrate culture, honor ancestry, and bring people together across communities.
Based in Houston, Barron’s art reflects what happens when people fully embrace their roots while making space for shared stories. Her murals and paintings invite viewers to see themselves – past, present, and future – woven into the work.
“We are an extension of nature, magnifiers of our culture and identity,” Barron says. Our skin tells stories about our ancestors; we are our colors, we are our roots, and we are proud.”
Barron studied at the Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and has collaborated with institutions like Major League Soccer, Toyota Center, Houston’s East End Cultural District, and the Mexican Consulate in Houston. Her work has been exhibited throughout Houston at spaces including Silver Street Studios, Glasstire Gallery, The POST Houston, Winter Street Studios, the Kinder Morgan Building, and more.
Her connection to culture is especially visible during celebrations like Cinco de Mayo, which she sees through a Mexican‑American lens.
“Cinco de Mayo is really a Mexican‑American tradition, it’s not celebrated in Mexico the same way,” Barron explains. “But that’s what makes it beautiful. It reflects the strength and history of the Hispanic community and how people want to celebrate who we are.”
At the heart of Barron’s work is transformation. Drawing from personal experiences with migration, identity, and relationships, her figures often exist between worlds – grounded yet surrounded by symbolic elements of nature, spirituality, hope, and renewal. Living and creating in a multicultural city like Houston continues to shape her storytelling, blending personal and collective narratives through color and contrast.
Barron currently works out of her studio at Silver Street Studios in the Heights, where she continues to build work that bridges art and community. That mission comes full circle as she has been selected as the featured artist for the 2026 Rooted in Community mural at Finca Tres Robles.
Her upcoming mural will celebrate cultural pride, shared experiences, and community connection, and the unveiling will be part of Finca Tres Robles’ Salsa de Mayo Festival, May 16, 2026.
HOUSTON – BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions is joining the BISSELL Pet Foundation to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its nationwide “Empty the Shelters” event, offering reduced adoption fees from May 1–17, 2026.
The initiative spans more than 335 shelters across 39 states, aiming to connect pets with families while easing overcrowding in shelters.
Lower Fees, More Opportunities
During the event, adoption costs at BARC will drop significantly:
$55 for puppies four months or younger
$30 for dogs five months and older
$10 for all cats and kittens
All adopted pets come spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, along with additional services like flea prevention and city registration.
To increase access, BARC will open daily from noon to 5 p.m., including Mondays — a day the shelter is typically closed. Officials say the expanded hours and lower fees are designed to remove barriers for families considering adoption.
A Nationwide Impact
Since launching in 2016, “Empty the Shelters” has helped nearly 400,000 pets find homes across the U.S. and Canada. Organizers say the milestone highlights the growing need for adoption as shelters continue to face high intake numbers.
Local leaders emphasize that every adoption not only gives an animal a second chance but also frees up space and resources to help more pets in need.
Residents interested in adopting are encouraged to visit BARC in person or check available pets online during the event.
In neighborhoods across Houston, a quiet, often unwelcome visitor moves through the night. The Opossum is frequently labeled “filthy,” “scary,” or a pest. But much of what people believe about this animal is simply not true.
Not Dangerous—Just Misunderstood
Opossums are non-aggressive and solitary. When threatened, they’re far more likely to freeze or “play dead” than attack. Despite common fears, they areextremely unlikely to carry rabies due to their naturally low body temperature, which makes it difficult for the virus to survive.
Their quiet, slow movements and unusual appearance may startle people, but they are not a threat to humans, pets, or neighborhoods.
Nature’s Cleanup Crew—and Tick Control
Far from being a nuisance, opossums play an important role in Houston’s ecosystem. They are natural scavengers, feeding on:
Roadkill and animal remains
Insects and cockroaches
Rodents and small pests
They also groom themselves constantly, consuming large numbers of ticks in the process. This helps reduce tick populations in the areas they inhabit. Fewer ticks can mean a lower risk of tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, for both people and pets.
In that sense, opossums act as an unexpected layer of protection in our neighborhoods.
Why You’re Seeing Them More Often
As Houston continues to grow, wildlife habitats shrink. Opossums adapt by moving into residential areas in search of food and shelter. Seeing one in your yard at night is not unusual—it’s often just passing through.
They do not dig aggressively like some animals, nor do they typically cause structural damage. Most encounters are brief and harmless.
What To Do If You See One
If you come across an opossum:
Keep your distance and give it space
Do not attempt to handle it unless it is clearly injured
Secure trash and pet food to avoid attracting wildlife
If the animal appears hurt, contact Houston SPCA, which operates a wildlife ambulance and rehabilitation center serving the region.
Changing the Narrative
Opossums have lived in North America for millions of years, quietly contributing to the health of ecosystems long before Houston existed. Yet today, they are often met with fear instead of understanding.
Reframing how we see these animals starts with simple awareness: they are not invaders, but neighbors adapting to a changing environment. In a city like Houston, coexistence isn’t optional—it’s part of living here.
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt has been arrested again, this time in Galveston County for a DWI charge, according to records.
Jail records show Wyatt was arrested on Saturday and is being held without bond.
Eyewitness News reached out to the office of Harris County Judge Line Hidalgo for a statement.
According to court records, this is Wyatt’s second DWI charge, with the first incident occurring in 2023. Records show that the charge was dismissed in that case, with Wyatt completing a pretrial diversion program authorized by the Texas Government Code.
Investigators reported that Wyatt denied any wrongdoing and told them she had permission to be in the Toyota minivan. The owner told investigators she did not know Wyatt and did not give her permission.
A grand jury also declined to indict her, authorities said, and returned a no-bill, indicating there was insufficient evidence to proceed.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday that President Donald Trump will determine whether Iran violated the recently announced ceasefire as tensions continue in the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is up to President Trump as commander-in-chief to determine what constitutes a violation,” Waltz said.
Although both Iran and the U.S. accused each other of exchanging fire after the ceasefire announcement, Trump downplayed the incidents, calling the strikes “just a love tap.”
McRaven: ‘There’s No Ceasefire’
Retired Adm. William McRaven disagreed with the administration’s characterization, arguing the truce had clearly been broken.
“When you’re shooting at each other, then you no longer have a ceasefire,” McRaven said during the same program.
Nuclear Talks and Strait of Hormuz Dispute
The U.S. reportedly proposed a 30-day framework that would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz while easing parts of the American blockade on Iran. During that time, both countries would negotiate over Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons, while the Trump administration insists stopping uranium enrichment remains a key objective.
Iranian state media said Tehran has already responded to the U.S. proposal through Pakistani mediators, though details were not released.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed Ukrainian forces committed more than 1,000 violations, including shelling civilian areas and targeting Russian military positions. Moscow said its troops “responded in kind” after the alleged attacks.
In Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine’s Kherson region, Moscow-installed official Vladimir Saldo said two people were injured by Ukrainian shelling.
Ukrainian Officials Report Deadly Russian Strikes
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported continued Russian drone and artillery attacks across several regions.
In southeastern Zaporizhzhia, regional leader Ivan Fedorov said one person was killed and three others injured within 24 hours. In the Kherson region, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported seven injuries linked to Russian strikes.
Another Russian drone attack reportedly damaged a nine-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, injuring five people late Saturday, according to regional officials.
Despite the violence, Ukrainian officials stopped short of formally accusing Moscow of breaking the ceasefire agreement.
Trump Pushes Temporary Truce
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to pause fighting from Saturday through Monday during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Trump also said a prisoner exchange was expected and described the truce as a possible “beginning of the end” of the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made sarcastic remarks about suspending strikes near Moscow’s Red Square during the military parade, comments the Kremlin dismissed as a “silly joke.”
Russia Holds Firm on Donbas Demands
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner may visit Moscow soon for additional talks. However, Russia reiterated that Ukraine must withdraw troops from the eastern Donbas region before meaningful progress can be made in negotiations.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region honored those who served our country in a special way for Mother’s Day.
They spent their morning hosting a baby shower for military moms and those expecting little ones soon.
The main idea behind it is to help mothers and moms-to-be succeed by providing them with support and knowledge about pregnancy and early motherhood. It’s also a way for military spouses to network with each other.
And just like traditional baby showers, they all received gifts like diapers, diaper bags, and other various baby items.
ABC13 spoke with one military family who talked about their appreciation for the Red Cross while they had to attend to a sick family member.
“Red Cross acted expeditiously. They jumped through bells and whistles and hoops to get us home to see her grandmother, and then later, her grandfather had passed shortly, and was able to get our son to see him before he passed. That was like his last dying wish,” Darion Michael, Army Veteran, said. “So just having the Red Cross help us throughout that time, it was immaculate.”
As part of the event, families were also given free lessons, such as a CPR course.
