HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities say more than a dozen construction workers were hospitalized Wednesday morning following an improper mix of pool chemicals at the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Webster.
The Webster Police Department confirmed the chemical incident along Great Wolf Way on the indoor water park’s grand opening day.
Webster Fire Chief Dean Spencer said crews responded to a call about breathing problems caused by a chemical reaction in the pool house, which is separate from the hotel and water park.
The chief said first responders learned a contractor had mixed two “unlike” chemicals – sodium hypochlorite and sulfuric acid – resulting in the chemical reaction.
SkyEye flew over the active scene, where multiple ambulances could be seen assisting. The fire chief said 16 employees and contractors working in the immediate area were transported to the hospital, some out of precaution. The City of Webster officials added that five individuals had evacuated the building.
“At this time, there is no issue with the chemicals. They have all been resolved,” Spencer said. “At no time was the hotel or waterpark affected by this event.”
After Great Wolf Resort’s initial response of having to wait until their opening ceremony celebration to release any information, they sent the following statement:
“The health and safety of our guests and pack members is always our priority, and we greatly appreciate the quick actions of first responders from the city of Webster in response to an incident at an external building outside of the main indoor water park and resort caused by an external vendor. We’ve received the all-clear to open the resort and all water park attractions as planned this afternoon from the Webster Fire Department.”
The resort features 532 guest suites, a 92,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 61,000-square-foot adventure park, and nearly 15 dining and retail outlets.
Spencer said construction workers were finishing work on the property, where Hawkins was the contractor.
According to the fire chief, two facilities run the pool. The incident reportedly happened at an outside pool house that runs the outside pool.
Spencer said it was unclear why the chemicals were improperly mixed and added that an investigation would be conducted to determine why it occurred.
“The situation was quickly contained and will not affect the Lodge’s operations (Wednesday). An environmental company is working with Great Wolf Lodge and the contractor to clean the tanks safely,” Webster city officials said in a release.
Team USA is raking in the medals at the 2024 Olympics, with a total of 79 medals earned as of Tuesday, August 6.
It’s the highest medal count at the 2024 Paris Olympics so far, with China in second at 55. China has the most gold medals — at 22 — with the U.S. close behind, at 21.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Brandie Dowda is a veteran teacher who has spent eight years in the classroom. She has a master’s degree and is a library expert who suddenly found herself without a library to work in.
“Because my campus became (a New Education System school), they don’t have staffed libraries, and the libraries were converted into team centers,” Dowda said.
With no job progression in sight, she made the hard decision to leave the district and work elsewhere.
“It was a rough year. I’m really happy in my new position in my new district, but when (Superintendent Mike) Miles leaves, and he will at some point, when we have our autonomy back, I would be happy to come back to HISD to rebuild the library program,” Dowda said.
Dowda wasn’t the only one to make this choice. According to Houston ISD, 2,634 teachers resigned from the district in the 2022-23 school year, a huge jump from the school year before the TEA took over, when there were 1,023 resignations.
Principals are also resigning at an alarming rate; 54 resigned in the 2022-23 school year compared to 30 the year before.
Dowda said these numbers don’t surprise her.
“I’m teaching at a large campus that is fully staffed for the first time in years. A lot of us come from HISD,” Dowda said.
She didn’t name her new district for privacy reasons. Dowda said she hopes to return to HISD one day but said there need to be some major changes before she does.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A federal criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday alleges a Pakistani national came to Houston to recruit people for his alleged plot to assassinate U.S. officials.
Asif Merchant, 46, has been charged with “murder for hire.”
According to the federal arrest warrant, Merchant flew to Houston in April to recruit before eventually heading to New York.
Merchant returned to Texas, and according to FBI Houston Field Office Spokesperson Connor Hagan, FBI National Security agents arrested him in Houston on July 12.
Court records also show that the person with whom he was sharing details of his plot was a confidential informant working for the FBI.
CHARLESTON, South Carolina — Tropical Storm Debby is taking a breather Wednesday over the western Atlantic Ocean but it isn’t done dousing the coastal Carolinas before it slowly marches north.
Debby was expected to restrengthen and turn north toward the South Carolina coastline for a second landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday, weather officials said. The storm carried the threat not only of additional rainfall but also of tornadoes in coastal sections of the Carolinas spreading north into southeast Virginia on Thursday.
The slow-moving storm drenched coastal cities in Georgia and South Carolina late Monday into Tuesday, stirring up tornadoes and submerging streets with waist-high floodwaters. The storm has dropped more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in some places already and could dump staggering rain totals of up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) in places by the time it ends.
Charleston and Savannah, Georgia, were deluged into Tuesday, with curfews set and roads blocked by police. Dozens of roads were closed in the city of Charleston because of flooding similar to what it sees several times a year because of rising sea levels.
As Debby swirls just offshore, the heavy rain is expected to move into parts of South and North Carolina that have already seen two billion-dollar floods in eight years.
In one Savannah neighborhood, firefighters used boats to evacuate some residents and waded through floodwaters to deliver bottled water and other supplies to those who refused to leave.
Michael Jones said water gushed into his home Monday evening, overturning the refrigerator and causing furniture to float. Outside, the water seemed to be everywhere and was too deep to flee safely. So Jones spent a sleepless night on his kitchen table before firefighters going door to door came in a boat Tuesday morning.
“It was hell all night,” Jones said.
In Charleston, Mayor William Cogswell said the road closures have kept businesses and homes from unnecessary damage and avoided the need for any high-water rescues.
“We especially don’t need any yahoos driving through the water and causing damage to properties,” Cogswell said.
Up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain was expected in some places in the Carolinas, totals that are close to what the region saw in a historic flood from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Two years later, many of those records were broken during Hurricane Florence. Both storms killed dozens.
North Carolina and Virginia have both declared a state of emergency.
Several areas along North Carolina’s coastline are prone to flooding, such as Wilmington and the Outer Banks. Virginia could see impacts including strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.
Debby’s center was about 90 miles (145) kilometers east of Savannah on Wednesday morning, according to a bulletin from the National Hurricane Center. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (73 kph) and was heading east at 5 mph (8 kph).
“Tropical cyclones always produce heavy rain, but normally as they’re moving, you know, it doesn’t accumulate that much in one place,” said Richard Pasch, of the hurricane center. “But when they move very slowly, that’s the worst situation.”
There will be lulls in the rain as dry spells appear between bands around the center of the poorly organized storm, forecasters said. But some bands will be heavy and keep moving over the same places.
Green Pond in rural Colleton County, South Carolina, reported the most rain so far, just over 14 inches (36 centimeters). A nearby dam had water run over its top but did not crumble, while trees and washouts blocked a number of roads, county Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief David Greene said.
Close to a foot (30 centimeters) fell down-coast from Charleston to Savannah, where the National Weather Service reported 6.68 inches (17 centimeters) just on Monday. That’s already a month’s worth in a single day: In all of August 2023, the city got 5.56 inches (14.1 centimeters).
Tornadoes knocked down trees and damaged a few homes on Kiawah Island and Edisto Island.
Crooked Hammock Brewery in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, decided to close early Tuesday.
“Flash flooding is super unpredictable, and we’d rather our staff and guests be home and safe,” marketing coordinator Georgena Dimitriadis said.
Far to the north in New York City, heavy storms that meteorologists said were being enhanced by Debby flooded some streets and expressways, stranding motorists. The weather service issued a flood watch until noon Wednesday for the entire city.
Emergency officials warned of potential flash flooding, flying drones with loudspeakers in some New York City neighborhoods to tell people in basement apartments to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
At least six people have died due to the storm, five of them in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport, Florida, whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank, WTSP-TV reported.
About 500 people were rescued Monday from flooded homes in Sarasota, Florida, police said. Just north of Sarasota, Manatee County officials said more than 200 people were rescued.
Officials said it may take two weeks to fully assess the damage in parts of north-central Florida as they wait for rivers to crest.
“You’re going to see the tributaries rise. That’s just inevitable. How much? We’ll see,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday. “It may be that it’s not flooded today and it could be flooded tomorrow.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also warned of more rain and flooding to come, saying, “Do not let this storm lull you to sleep.”
President Joe Biden approved emergency declarations making federal disaster assistance available to Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Debby is finally forecast to pick up speed Thursday, and it could move up the middle of North Carolina, through Virginia and into the Washington area by Saturday.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly announced presidential campaign running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, took the stage to a roaring crowd in Philadelphia Tuesday in their first joint public appearance where, together, they took aim at what they called Trump’s “backward agenda” for America.
Hundreds of supporters waited in lines outside the Liacouras Center at Temple University, which has a capacity of 10,000 people, for the event and packed the arena.
That crowd gave Walz and Harris a lengthy ovation as they took the stage to the song “Freedom” by Beyoncé.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate M…Show moreAP Photo/Matt Rourke
Walz and Harris hit the stage touting an agenda of unifying the country, working for all Americans, and sharing their vision in comparison to the conservative policies being pushed by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance.
“We need to level set; we are the underdogs in this race, but we have the momentum, and I know exactly what we are up against,” she said.
Harris said her campaign is not just a fight against Trump but a “fight for the future.”
Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz appeared together for the first time at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Harris talked up Walz to the crowd and told them about her decision to choose the Minnesota governor as her running mate.
“Since the day that I announced my candidacy, I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future,” she said. “So, Pennsylvania, I’m here today because I found such a leader.”
The vice president focused on Walz’s time as a high school teacher and football coach as she introduced him to supporters, repeatedly referring to him as “Coach Walz,” which prompted the crowd to repeat that title.
“The nation will know Coach Walz by another name — vice president of the United States,” she said of the former high school football coach.
Harris spoke about how Walz while working as a teacher and coach, became a faculty advisor for his school’s student LGTBQ group and how his care for others has been a hallmark of his time in office.
The vice president reiterated that she and Walz are committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights and restoring rights that were taken away after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
“With Tim Walz by my side when I am president of the United States, [and] we win majorities in the United States Congress, we will pass a bill to restore reproductive freedom, and I will proudly sign it into law,” she said.
Harris noted that she and Walz “may hail from different corners of our great country, but our values are the same, and we both believe in lifting people up, not knocking them down.”
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate M…Show moreAP Photo/Joe Lamberti
“When we look at folks, we see in our fellow Americans neighbors, not enemies,” she said.
Walz touted Harris’ experience as a prosecutor, senator and vice president during his speech. stating that she “fought on the side of the American people.”
“She took on predators and fraudsters, took down transnational gangs, stood up against powerful corporate interests, she’s never hesitated to reach across the aisle if it meant improving people’s lives. And — she brings joy to everything she does,” he said.
The governor spoke highly about his time as a teacher and how that pushed him to run for office.
“It was my students. They encouraged me to run for office. They saw in me what I was hoping to instill in them – a commitment of common good, a belief that one person can make a difference,” he said.
“These same values I learned on the family farm and tried to instill in my students, I took to Congress and the state capital, and now, Vice President Harris and I are running to take them to the White House,” he said.
Walz took several shots at Trump, contending the former president’s policies while in office hurt Americans.
“He drove our economy into the ground. And make no mistake, violent crime was up under Donald Trump. That’s not even counting the crimes he committed,” he said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was in the running for the vice presidential spot on the ticket before Walz was chosen, received a huge ovation from the crowd as he took the stage before Walz and Harris spoke.
“I want you to know I am going to continue to pour my heart and soul into serving you as your governor,” he said.
He also touted Harris’ record, contending she is “battle-tested and ready to go.”
Shapiro went on to criticize Trump for his role in dismantling reproductive rights and warned that if the former president is re-elected, more restrictions could come.
“Let me tell you something: I am not going back,” he said to the crowd.
Shapiro also lauded Walz, calling him a “great patriot” and “dear friend.”
“I think it is fitting and special for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to launch their campaign here in Philly, the city of brotherly love, and importantly, they chose to launch their campaign right here in the birthplace of real freedom,” he said.
Walz, during his speech, praised Shapiro as a “visionary leader” and a “guy who cares deeply about his family, a man with compassion [and] vision.”
“There is no one you would rather go to a Springsteen concert in Jersey with than him,” Walz said as the audience shouted, “Bruce.”
Tuesday’s Harris-Walz event kicks off a five-day campaign road trip that will visit seven crucial swing states.
The vice president and Walz are scheduled to visit Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas this week.
Why pick Walz?
Harris likes Walz’s executive experience and a his “strong record of accomplishment for middle class families that models what we want to do nationally,” according to a source close to the selection process. Specifically, a Harris-Walz campaign will highlight his fight for expanded child tax credits, junk-fee ban, paid-leave policies, gun safety legislation and codifying Roe v. Wade protection, the source said.
As governor, he’s implemented a bevy of progressive policies, including paid family leave, universal school breakfast and lunch, legalization of recreational marijuana use, state codification of abortion rights and gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws.
Harris and her campaign love his bio, the source told ABC News, adding that it “will appeal in key Midwest states we must win.” As a veteran, football coach, hunter and gun owner, Walz has a “deep connection to rural American,” the source added.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz appears with presidential nominee Vice…Show moreAP Photo/Matt Rourke
Also, Walz has a record of winning in a Trump-voting district as a House member.
Harris’ team loves the “weird” line he came up with in his attacks against Trump and Vance — and think that it’s a line that will stick against their opponents, the source said.
And this person cites a “strong personal rapport and confidence in his ability to be a governing partner” as a key reason Harris made the selection.
Harris spent this past weekend interviewing the top contenders on her vice presidential shortlist, meeting in person at her Washington, D.C., home with Walz, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
It was just 16 days ago that President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and Harris and her vetting team — led by former Attorney General Eric Holder — were operating in a truncated time frame. The vetting team initially cast a wide net, with more than a dozen people in consideration. That list quickly got shorter, with nine people being formally asked to submit vetting materials.
It’s a process that is extensive and one that would typically take months – but Holder, along with his vetting team led by former White House counsel Dana Remus, campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, campaign chief of staff Sheila Nix, and Harris’s brother-in-law Tony West — wrapped up their work on Friday, turning it over to Harris for a final decision.
Harris met with her vetting team on Saturday and was provided with extensive briefings on each candidate under consideration. She then interviewed the top choices.
Following Harris’ interview with Shapiro, there was a sense among Shapiro’s team that the meeting did not go as well as it could have, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. Later Sunday — after the interview — Shapiro placed a phone call to Harris’ team indicating he had reservations about leaving his job as governor, sources said.
Walz, on the other hand, had an indication Monday evening that he would be chosen as Harris’ running mate, sources familiar with the matter said.
Harris came to her decision on Monday and told a small group of staff, sources said. She did not place a phone call to Walz until Tuesday morning.
Walz as a Harris surrogate
As a surrogate for Harris these past few weeks, Walz has praised her for reenergizing Democrats and defended her record against Trump’s attacks claiming she is “ultra-liberal.”
“He’s going to roll it out, mispronounce names, you know, to try and make the case,” Walz said of Trump attacking Harris during a recent appearance on CNN. “The fact of the matter is where you see the policies that Vice President Harris was a part of making, Democratic governors across the country executed those policies and quality of life is higher, the economies are better, all of those things, educational attainment is better.”
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We are in the middle of our hottest stretch of weather so far this summer, and it’s also having a negative impact on our air quality.
Ozone levels are once again expected to reach unhealthy levels on Wednesday just like we observed on Tuesday. This invisible gas is a lung irritant that can trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. The pollution levels will peak between about 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Wednesday will start off warm with lows in the upper 70s, then temperatures should rise into the low 90s by noon and the upper 90s between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. While we can’t rule out a stray sea breeze shower, it will likely stay dry for all.
How many days will ozone pollution be a concern?
At this time we think the ozone levels could reach concerning levels each afternoon through Saturday. We’ll monitor the pollution sensors for you and let you know where any issues pop up.
Just how hot will it get this week?
We expect the temperature in Houston to top 100 degrees Thursday through Saturday with the hottest day being Friday. That’s when we predict a high of 101.
When will rain chances return?
This weekend! A weak summer front will slide into Southeast Texas early in the weekend, which could help usher in a few showers and storms Saturday and Sunday. The highest chance for rain looks to be Sunday, and even then it’s only 30%. Otherwise it will simply be hot this weekend with highs in the upper 90s to low 100s.
What are you tracking in the tropics?
Tropical Storm Debby will move at a slow pace up the east coast bringing heavy rain and flooding to that part of the US. There is another tropical wave we’re monitoring that’s currently in the central Caribbean. This wave has a 10% chance of development over next 7 days and could eventually get into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.
ARLINGTON, Texas (KTRK) — Only one out separate Houston Astros hurler Framber Valdez from a history-making second career no-hitter. Unfortunately, the hard-hitting reigning World Series MVP, Corey Seager, crushed those hopes in the ninth inning.
Valdez threw 107 pitches through 8.2 innings, striking out five batters and allowing three walks and a two-run homer to Seager in Houston’s 4-2 victory on Tuesday.
Valdez had a perfect game heading into the sixth inning when an Alex Bregman throwing error gave the Rangers their first baserunner of the night, Jonah Heim. Valdez quickly erased the blemish when Robbie Grossman hit into a double play.
No. 59 followed that up with a seventh-inning walk to Marcus Semien, who became stranded after a Seager popout and a Josh Smith groundout.
Rangers were threatening in the ninth when Valdez allowed a Grossman walk, but that was erased again when Ezekial Duran grounded into a double play. So, with an out away, Valdez walked Semien again, setting up Seager’s homer to right field.
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against t…Show moreAP Photo/Albert Pena
Valdez could have earned Houston’s second no-hitter of the season following Ronel Blanco’s April 1 gem and third since Aug. 1, 2023, when Valdez tossed his first no-hitter. Valdez also could have joined Don Wilson as the only Astros with multiple complete game no-hitters. The Astros sit on 17 no-hitters in franchise history.
As for the run support, Astros outfielder Jake Meyers capitalized with runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings, driving in a Jeremy Peña run each time. Yordan Alvarez, who was quiet at the plate in recent games, launched a two-run homer in the ninth inning to reach 150 career round-trippers, which produced the go-ahead scores..
The Astros victory ties up the Silver Boot Series at 6-6, setting up a winner-take-all game on Wednesday afternoon.
Harris County Commissioner Precint 4 Lesley Briones announces details on millions in funds to improve District Criminal Courts on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. Photo by Que Onda Magazine.
By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz
The Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a comprehensive reform package spearheaded by Commissioner Lesley Briones to enhance the District Criminal Courts on Tuesday.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with judicial stakeholders, aims to modernize courtroom technology, improve court appearance rates, increase mental health support, expand judicial staff, and streamline case management with a $10-$13 million investment.
Harris County Commissioner Precint 2 Adrian Garcia expresses his support towards the reform package led by Commissioner Lesley Briones. Photo by Que Onda Magazine
“We are taking action to keep advancing justice in Harris County,” said Commissioner Briones. “By investing in much-needed resources for criminal district courts ranging from technology enhancements, improved procedures, and enhanced services, we will make our justice system more just and efficient for victims, defendants, and their families.”
Key aspects of the reform include:
– Upgrading Technology: Replacing outdated audio/visual equipment and server systems.
– Improving Court Appearance Rates: Expanding bilingual text reminders and support programs.
– Increasing Mental Health Services: Enhancing therapeutic services and competency evaluations.
– Sustaining Judicial Staff: Extending the Associate Judge Program.
– Streamlining Case Management: Implementing efficient case tracking and management systems.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia praised the initiative: “I will be proud to support former judge and now Commissioner Briones’ thoughtful proposals to improve the efficiency of the operation.”
Judge Te’iva Bell emphasized the importance of the technological upgrades: “Imagine sitting in a trial and having to ask a child victim testifying to yell so the jury can hear because the microphone doesn’t work.”
Judge Lori Gray highlighted the mental health support: “Expanding mental health support in Harris County with the Jail Based Competency Restoration Program will address current system challenges and result in a reduction in recidivism, jail population, wait time, and most importantly become a real resource to our community.”
Since taking office in 2023, Commissioner Briones has secured additional courts, increased law enforcement pay, advocated for higher juror pay, and expanded various community programs.
“We will continue collaborating and fostering dialogue with our judges, law enforcement officers, community members, and other agencies as we continue to deliver progress,” Briones concluded.
Monterrey, N.L. – En un operativo de rescate realizado ayer por la tarde, elementos de Fuerza Civil liberaron a 18 migrantes, originarios de India y Ecuador, que se encontraban encerrados en una vivienda de la colonia Alianza, al poniente de Monterrey.
La oportuna intervención de las autoridades se dio gracias a una denuncia anónima que alertó sobre la presencia de personas en dicha vivienda, quienes pedían ayuda. Al llegar al lugar, los oficiales observaron que una de las víctimas solicitaba auxilio a través de una ventana, lo que confirmó la veracidad de la denuncia.
Los migrantes, entre los que se encuentran una mujer y un menor de edad, habían permanecido encerrados durante dos días sin acceso a agua ni alimentos. En total, 16 personas son originarias de India y dos de Ecuador.
Una vez liberados, los migrantes fueron puestos bajo el resguardo del Instituto Nacional de Migración, quienes se encargarán de brindarles la atención necesaria. Además, debido a las condiciones en las que fueron encontrados, recibieron atención médica, alimentos y agua.
Las autoridades continúan investigando este caso para dar con los responsables de mantener encerrados a estas personas. Se presume que el grupo de migrantes tenía como objetivo llegar a la frontera norte con Estados Unidos, pero fueron abandonados en la vivienda donde fueron rescatados.
Este hecho pone de manifiesto la vulnerabilidad de los migrantes y la importancia de denunciar cualquier situación que ponga en riesgo sus derechos humanos.
