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City Controller Hollins rejects Whitmire’s claim that he will certify $1.5B firefighter’s deal

Chris Hollins

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — City Controller Chris Hollins’ office has rejected Mayor John Whitmire’s claim that Hollins will certify the Houston Firefighters Union deal with the city.

According to Whitmire, Hollins told the mayor’s staff that he was satisfied with the responses to his questions and intended to certify the agreement.

Hollins rejected this claim Friday evening in a social post on Instagram saying:

“The mayor doesn’t speak for me or my office. I appreciated the meeting with the mayor’s team, which was long overdue. The commitment I made was to review their written responses promptly and to make my decision regarding certification after my office has completed our due diligence. We are working expeditiously to do just that. Our goal is and always has been to protect the taxpayers of the City of Houston. The politics at play have no bearing on the work of the controller’s office.”

READ MORE: Houston City Council passes $6.7 billion budget, $1.5 billion firefighter deal in danger

Hollins’ rejection of the alleged certification comes after weeks of back and forth with Whitmire. On June 5, Hollins declined to certify the agreement. On June 11, Hollins sent Whitmire questions seeking additional information on the agreement.

The deal was made in March 2024 after years of deliberation on firefighter pay. It includes about $650 million in backpay for Houston firefighters who worked for years with no contract with the city, plus 34% raises over the next five years.

READ MORE: Houston city council set to discuss $1B firefighter pay deal on Tuesday after moving item last week

If Hollins intends to certify, the deal that was in danger just two days ago could pass in Tuesday’s council vote.

Hollins’ office said their review of Whitmire’s responses is ongoing.

Man with rifle who shot at deputy also stole from Academy stores, constable says

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Man with rifle who shot at deputy also stole from Academy stores, constable says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A deputy constable has been released from the hospital after being shot at by an armed theft suspect in northwest Harris County on Friday, according to authorities.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the suspect stole from two Academy Sports & Outdoors stores within an hour.

Herman said one of the stores is near the Willowbrook Mall, and the other is at Kuykendahl and the Grand Parkway.

The deputy constable, identified as Deteryon Fontonet, spotted the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to pull it over. The suspect led Deputy Fontonet on a chase that stopped in the 5300 block of Slashwood, according to Herman.

The suspect allegedly shot at the deputy constable before running into a relative’s house, according to the constable’s office. Herman said he counted 16 bullet holes in the deputy’s patrol unit.

Law enforcement surrounded the house and was able to take the suspect into custody on the lawn outside. A gun was recovered near the front door, which could be seen by SkyEye as it hovered overhead.

Herman said the deputy constable was taken to the hospital for injuries from shattered glass.

“Please pray for our Deputy Constable,” Herman said on social media.

Herman said the suspect’s family thanked deputy constables for not killing him after he was in custody.

“From what I’m hearing, (Fontonet) is going to be OK. He just needs surgery on his face. Good Lord was looking out for deputy,” Herman said.

By 8:40 p.m., Herman said Fontonet was out of the hospital.

“Deputy Fontonet will have follow-up doctor visits and will be resting at home,” Herman said.

Herman said the suspect is 23 years old but did not release a name.

#FugitiveFriday 6/14/24

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In an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help locating the following individuals that have active Felony and/or Misdemeanor Warrants.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspects featured. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

All warrants are active at the time this press release was created and is subject to change. Crime Stoppers of Houston and this news organization are not making any legal claims that this is the most current legal status.

The following individuals all have active warrants as of June 13, 2024 at 3:27 pm:
JARVIS KEITH BRAZIELB/M      09-04-79      6’00”/165 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1868829
VIO BND/PRO OR ASSLT/STALK IAT
Last Known location: Houston Texas
JEFFERSON MILLS CHRISTIANW/M      03-09-75      5’10”/150 Lbs.      Bld/Blu
Warrant #: 1866418
TAMPER W/ELEC MONITR DEV ON SU
Last known location: Highlands Texas
ADRIAN ROLAN GONZALEZW/M      10-25-88      5’11”/190 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1861469
ASSAULT IMP BREATH FAM MEM PRE
Last known location: Deer Park Texas
DEWAYNE WALTER GRIGGS JRB/M      12-19-90      5’10”/255 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1868470
THEFT FROM PERSON/ELDERLY
Last known location: Baytown Texas
SAMANTHA SABONNE JILESB/F      07-18-87      5’03”/200 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1817432
PROB VIOL DWI THIRD
Last known location: Houston Texas
SHAMITREA DENISE JOHNSONB/F      08-26-98      5’06”/148 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1816683, 1782872
PROB VIOL EVADING ARREST/DETENTION W/VEH
BURGLARY OF HABITATION  
Last known location: Houston Texas
CLARA LUZ PALACIOS-ALASW/F      10-28-88      5’02”/130 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1869204
CONTINUOUS VIOL AGAINST THE FAMILY
Last known location: Houston Texas
MICHELLE MARIE PHELPSW/F      04-07-85      5’07”/240 Lbs.      Bro/Haz
Warrant #: 1869156
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
Last known location: Channelview Texas
JARRED WAYNE WHITEW/M      10-24-00      5’07”/185 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Warrant #: 1645702
BURG W-INTENT-COMMIT OTHER FEL
Last known location: Houston Texas

Donald Trump Makes Return to Capitol Hill, Energizing GOP Lawmakers

Donald trump Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 13: Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs after delivering remarks at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on June 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump is expected to address Republican congressional members Thursday morning. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2024 — Former President Donald Trump made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill on Thursday, his first visit with lawmakers since the January 6, 2021, attacks. Embraced by energized House and Senate Republicans, Trump was bolstered by his bid to retake the White House.

Despite facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and a recent guilty verdict in an unrelated hush money trial, Trump arrived as the presumptive Republican nominee. He has managed to purge the GOP of most critics, silence skeptics, and attract previously critical lawmakers to his MAGA-fueled campaign.

During a private breakfast meeting at GOP campaign headquarters across from the Capitol, a packed room of House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump. They presented him with a baseball and bat from the annual congressional game. Senators later celebrated with an American flag cake adorned with “45” and “47” candles, symbolizing Trump’s potential next presidency.

Trump boasted that his telephone rallies for lawmakers could draw larger audiences than popstar Taylor Swift, who has yet to make any political endorsements.

The visit underscored Trump’s enduring influence within the Republican Party and his ability to galvanize support among GOP lawmakers as he campaigns for a return to the White House.

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Abortion Pill Mifepristone

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Abortion Pill

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 14, 2024 — In a unanimous decision yesterday, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit aimed at restricting access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The suit, brought by a group of doctors and anti-abortion organizations, claimed that the FDA had failed to adequately consider safety concerns, thereby endangering women’s health.

Mifepristone, which is used in over 60% of abortions in the United States, has been proven safe and effective. However, concerns arose that the conservative-majority court might limit access to the drug following its 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Writing for the court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that the plaintiffs, who do not prescribe mifepristone themselves, were not directly harmed by the FDA’s actions and thus lacked the standing to sue.

Despite the ruling preserving access to mifepristone, the drug remains illegal in 14 states that have enacted total abortion bans.

Implications of the Ruling

The Supreme Court’s decision does not indicate a shift in its stance on reproductive rights. The ruling focused on the plaintiffs’ lack of standing rather than the legality of the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone. This leaves open the possibility that the court may consider future, more robust challenges against the drug.

Anti-abortion groups have already expressed their intention to file new lawsuits. Additionally, the Supreme Court is poised to rule later this month on a separate abortion case involving Idaho’s ban, which permits the procedure only when the patient’s life is at risk. The court appeared divided when it heard arguments for this case in April.

Houston ISD board narrowly passes $2.1 billion budget for upcoming school year

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Hisd

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston ISD board meeting went late into the night to pass the budget for the upcoming school year.

In a rare, split five-to-four vote, HISD trustees voted to pass Superintendent Mike Miles’ $2.1 billion budget. As part of his plan, one-third of the funds, or $684 million, will go toward the 130 “New Education System” or “NES” schools.

Funding has been a controversial topic when it comes to job cuts. There have been 1,500 HISD positions eliminated between November and June to save money.

On Friday, parents will be able to find out how their children did on this year’s STARR testing and will be able to individually look up test results.

Overall results were released earlier this week, showing students are doing better in reading and math. The data shows students at the 130 NES schools have improved more than students at non-NES schools, according to Miles.

Miles said in reading and math, NES schools had the largest single-year increase of any urban district in Texas ever.

However, the data also shows that HISD students are still behind statewide testing rates across all subjects, according to analysis by the Houston Chronicle.

Escaped inmate caught at mother’s house 12 hours after fleeing courthouse in downtown Houston: HCSO

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An escaped inmate who authorities say also tried to carjack a district attorney’s office employee at knifepoint was caught early Friday morning, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.

At about 3 a.m., Nigel Thomas Sanders was captured at his mother’s home in the 1400 block of Force St. by the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force in east Harris County, according to authorities.

There is no threat to public safety, the sheriff’s office said, adding that Sanders will face new charges of aggravated robbery and escape for Thursday’s incident.

Sanders is not the only person who will be charged.

ABC13 has learned two more people, identified as his mother and his sister, were arrested for hindering apprehension, officials said.

The sheriff’s office said during an update Friday morning that Sanders resisted arrest, so officials deployed a Taser and took him into custody. He’s being treated at the hospital.

Authorities added that they received multiple leads and several law enforcement agencies were involved in searching addresses for the suspect.

Sanders’ capture on Friday marked the end of a 12-hour search for a man authorities considered dangerous.

It all started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, when the sheriff’s office received word of an escape, prompting the shutdown of the jail complex, HCSO Assistant Chief Philip Bosquez said.

An inmate count uncovered Sanders was missing. They believed he escaped from 1301 Franklin, which is the building adjacent to the criminal courthouse.

Bosquez said Sanders, who has a lengthy criminal history, was in court for three burglary counts and an unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon charge. After his hearing, Sanders was on his way to the jail when Bosquez said he “facilitated” the escape, even though HCSO didn’t mention specifics.

Sanders got to the building’s sallyport, where an employee was getting into her vehicle. Bosquez said there, he jumped in and held her at knifepoint. The woman crashed into several cars, and Sanders took off on foot again.

Bosquez could only say that Sanders got ahold of the knife outside of jail.

The University of Houston-Downtown earlier issued an alert to students and staff, warning them to “get indoors immediately,” “lock outside doors,” and “avoid windows.” UHD later said there was no longer an emergency, and the situation was cleared.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also confirmed that the employee, held against her will, works in her office.

Grupo Salinas Owes Over 63 Billion Pesos in Taxes, Mexican Authorities Reveal

MEXICO CITY, June 14, 2024 — Grupo Salinas, owned by billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, owes more than 63 billion pesos to Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT), according to SAT head Antonio Martínez Dagnino.

During a morning press conference with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Martínez Dagnino detailed that this sum includes over 53 billion pesos from tax disputes following SAT audits of four companies between 2008 and 2018, and an additional 10 billion pesos in tax credits.

Martínez Dagnino highlighted the enormity of Grupo Salinas’ debt, noting that it surpasses the annual budgets of federal entities such as Baja California Sur (21 billion pesos) and Tlaxcala (18 billion pesos).

Over 90 percent of the debt is linked to fiscal consolidation, a mechanism used between 1982 and 2013 allowing taxpayers to offset group-wide gains and losses, resulting in deferred income tax payments. This mechanism did not absolve tax liabilities, which have since accrued due to updates, inflation, and surcharges, pushing the original debt of 38 billion pesos from 17 lawsuits, including seven tax consolidation cases, to its current figure.

Former Federal Fiscal Attorney and current Undersecretary of Human Rights, Population, and Migration, Félix Arturo Medina Padilla, stated that Grupo Salinas has leveraged its legal and corporate structure to challenge and delay a final ruling, preventing the enforcement of tax payments.

Grupo Salinas encompasses around 20 companies across Mexico, including notable entities like Elektra, Banco Azteca, Seguros Azteca, TV Azteca, and internet service provider Totalplay. Earlier this week, the federal government disclosed that Totalplay alone owes more than 1.5 billion pesos in unpaid taxes.

ERCOT CEO says electricity grid needs to increase capacity to keep up with demand

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Ercot grid

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas just testified before a Texas Senate committee that there’s a 12% chance we will see rolling blackouts in some parts of the state this summer.

Vegas testified that the electricity grid needs to increase 76% in the next six years to properly serve Texans, a much higher estimate than he has previously given.

He blames two industries for more than half of the grid’s added capacity needs: new artificial intelligence data centers and cryptocurrency companies, which use thousands of computers to create digital currency through virtual transactions.

Texas has become a destination for the cryptocurrency business, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is now saying state officials need to look into them, asking if the two industries create enough jobs to justify the amount of energy they use.

“It really is an immediate need. I actually worry more about the transmission delivery,” Rob Gramlich, a former advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy, explained. “There’s already congestion within Texas and an inability to deliver the power sources that already exist to the end user.”

Video Game Rentals Delivered

Who should you contact about storm debris in Harris Co. drainage system?

Harris county drainage

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Frustrated and unable to get answers, a Spring Branch couple contacted Action 13 for help removing a fence from a drainage ditch behind their home.

That fence was knocked into the ditch behind Keith and Sondra Hardy’s home on Soway Street during the May 16 derecho.

With rain in the forecast, the couple worried the debris would cause their property and sanctuary to flood.

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“It’s a playground for all of us,” Sondra Hardy said of the couple’s backyard, which borders the ditch.

The yard is adorned with eclectic finds – colorful street signs and statues. The couple told ABC13 they first started collecting lights to help Sondra Hardy, who has Usher’s Syndrome.

“A syndrome where you lose both your hearing and your vision,” she explained.

Recently, Sondra Hardy, who is legally blind, said she was devastated to learn her 6-year-old granddaughter has the same condition.

“I don’t want anybody to have to go through. So we started really decorating the backyard, really doing things, because I want her to see everything she can,” she explained.

Worried their labor of love could wash away, the couple contacted the county, city, and developer, InTownHomes, asking they remove the fence.

“It seems like they’re just pointing fingers at each other, not taking any responsibility,” said Hardy.

Three hours after ABC13 first contacted InTownHomes, they removed the fence from the ditch.

ABC13 learned that while the property owner is obligated to remove their debris, the Harris County Flood Control District is also responsible. In an email, the Flood Control District told ABC13 they had planned to remove the fence the following day.