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Mayor Turner and HDR Engineering Distribute Bicycles to Families Ahead of Holidays
Suspect Arrested, Charged in Shooting at 11666 Gulf Pointe Drive
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Astroworld Festival tragedy: Victims’ cause of deaths revealed by coroner
The victims who died in last month’s Astroworld Festival tragedy all suffered from compression asphyxia, according to a report released Thursday by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.Ten people, ranging in ages from 9-years-old to 27, died after attending the Astroworld Festival, an annual music event organized by headliner Travis Scott.
Compression asphyxia occurs when air is cut off from the body due to external pressure, according to the National Library of Medicine.
In addition to compression asphyxia, the coroner’s report listed a contributing cause of death for one of the victims, 27-year-old Mirza Danish Baig, as combined toxic effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol.
The causes of deaths were released more than a month after the tragedy where hundreds were injured as the massive crowd surged the stage during the first evening of the multi-day music event.
The youngest victim, 9-year-old Ezra Blount, fought for his life for days while in a medically-induced coma at Texas Children’s Hospital. Blount was at the concert with his father, Treston, when the crowd surge crushed both of them.
“I began to be crushed until I couldn’t breathe,” Treston said last month. “I passed out and I woke up my son was gone.”
The oldest victim, Baig, was trying to protect his fiancé from being trampled when he went down, according to his brother at the time.
“I was there and I wasn’t able to save my brother,” Basil Baig said in a Facebook post last month.
Attorneys for victims’ families were quick to react to the report Thursday, including Tony Buzbee, who is representing the family of Axel Acosta, one of the ten people who died.
“The report confirms what the family already knew,” Buzbee said in a statement. “Which is that Axel was crushed and killed that night by the crowd, through no fault of his own.”
“The medical examiner’s findings confirm Bharti’s family’s worst fears,” attorney James Lassiter said. “Their beloved daughter’s last living moments were surely marked with suffering, panic, and terror.”
Lassiter’s firm represents the family of Bharti Shahani, one of the victims.
Buzbee used the moment to lash out at Houston Police Chief Troy Finner over earlier claims that some fans had been injected with drugs.
“Shame on you,” Buzbee said in the statement. “Shame on you for perpetuating and giving credence to a silly rumor that people were being injected at the concert. In doing so, you added more pain to an already unbearably painful situation for Axel’s family.”
The injection claims were made days after the tragedy when Finner gave details of a report that a security guard had felt a prick and believed it may have been narcotics. Those claims were later walked back.
What happened during Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival?
Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said events started to escalate about 9:30 p.m. when a crowd surge took place during one of Travis Scott’s performances.
People were trampled, some went unconscious, and at least a few went into cardiac arrest during the chaos. KHOU 11 talked to several witnesses who reported being pushed and shoved as the crowd of 50,000 festivalgoers rushed toward the stage.
It’s been confirmed at least 300 concertgoers were treated on the scene, and 25 people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Eight people died that night.
Two others later died from injuries sustained during Scott’s show.
Multiple agencies, including Houston Police Department and the FBI, have opened investigations into the cause of the crowd surge and whether it could have been prevented.
Source: www.khou.com
City of Houston Announces First Call for Commissioned Art for the New Mickey Leland International Terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
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54 cases of omicron reported at Houston Methodist since early December
Houston Methodist announced Wednesday that it has detected 54 cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 since early December.
According to the Houston Methodist genome sequencing program, 32% of the hospital’s COVID-19 tests on symptomatic patients are now omicron— an increase from 13% four days ago.
“Given the increase we are seeing in omicron, we could very possibly be at 100% omicron by January. That would be a faster sweep than even the delta variant, which took about a three-month span to sweep prior variants and achieve 100%. It is also possible that delta remains in some equilibrium with omicron over time,” said S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist.
With more than 50 mutations in the omicron variant, studies from other countries where omicron was discovered earlier than in the U.S. shows it may be more likely to cause symptomatic breakthrough infection and may be more infectious than even the highly contagious delta variant.
Experts are asking the community to double down on taking precautions.
Source: www.click2houston.com
6 Houston-area residents sentenced to prison in $50M ‘pump-and-dump’ stock scam
Seven people were sentenced to prison Monday in relation to a more than $50 million securities fraud “pump-and-dump” scheme, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Carolyn Price Austin, 67, Andrew Ian Farmer, 43, Thomas Galen Massey, 51, Eddie Douglas Austin Jr., 71, and Charles Earl Grob, 41, John David Brotherton, 62, and Scott Russell Sieck, 62, all admitted to their involvement in a conspiracy to commit fraud in microcap securities.
Austin, Farmer, Massey, Eddie and Grob are all from Houston. Brotherton is from League City and Sieck is from Winter Park, Florida.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore sentenced Farmer to 12 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the large sum of money lost by the victims in the case and that there were “some people that lost all their money.”
Previously, U.S. District Judge Gilmore ordered Farmer to serve a sentence of 72 months. Brotherton, Grob and Massey were ordered to serve 60 months, and three years of probation, while Eddie Austin and Sieck both were ordered to serve 36-month terms.
All seven suspects must also pay restitution to the victims of their scheme. Farmer and Sieck were each ordered to pay $8 million, while Eddie Austin must pay $6.6 million. The court ordered Grob and Massey to pay $4.5 and $1 million, respectively, while Brotherton must pay $6.2 million. The court held open the amount of restitution Carolyn Austin will be required to pay to enable the parties to submit an agreed-upon amount.
Farmer, Eddie Austin, Sieck, Brotherton and Grob were further ordered to forfeit additional funds to the United States in amounts ranging from $242,907 to $6 million.
During the course of the conspiracy, court records show the suspects obtained control of the stock of numerous companies, then “pumped up” the price of the stock through false and misleading press releases and fraudulent trading techniques. They then “dumped” their shares of stock onto the market for a significant profit.
Farmer and Brotherton are in custody serving their sentence at a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Eddie Austin, Carolyn Austin and Sieck were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date. Grob has completed his sentence and is currently on supervised release.
Source: www.click2houston.com
US Representative Troy Nehls calls on FAA to audit Houston Airport Systems over terminal project at IAH
In August, U.S. Representative Troy Nehls told KPRC 2 Investigates he had questions over how the Mickey Leland International Terminal Program at Bush Intercontinental Airport was being managed by the Houston Airports System and its director Mario Diaz.
“I think there are some serious questions that we need to ask the FAA,” Nehls said.
Nehls is now taking action, expressing his “serious concerns” to the Federal Aviation Administration over the project that the airport and city officials call iTRP.
Nehls, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, wrote the head of the FAA last month with questions focused on a project that has taken over seven years to really get off the ground. Nehls also highlighted a project budget that has soared to as high as $1.7 billion before settling at $1.2 billion in 2019.
In April of that year, during a city council committee hearing, councilmember David Robinson asked Diaz if any more money was needed for the project.
“Nope we’re good,” responded Diaz without hesitation.
Over the summer, KPRC 2 Investigates identified Diaz needing more money after all, with the new budget climbing up to $1.3 billion.
“I think there is an ongoing concern about spending related to this iTRP project,” said controller Chris Brown.
After learning of the letter sent by Nehls to the FAA, Brown weighed in on the request for a federal audit. Brown’s office had been critical of Diaz in the past.
Brown’s office has conducted multiple audits into the iTRP project and welcomes the feds coming in and taking a look at the books. Brown’s office said it will also assist federal officials with any requests they may have.
“We want to also make sure that the cost of this project doesn’t continue to escalate. We want to make sure we can contain that,” Brown said.
The bottom line for Nehls?
“An audit is the only way to restore public faith in the project and verify that PFC money is being properly used,” wrote Nehls.
PFC is Passenger Facility Charges, which passengers pay every time they fly out of the Houston Airport System.
Tuesday evening, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, whose district includes Bush Continental Airport, texted a statement after learning of Nehls’ letter.
“As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee that oversees the FAA, I will continue to monitor this situation.” Jackson Lee wrote.
Diaz did not respond to KPRC 2 Investigates with a response to the request made by Nehls to the FAA.
Diaz has also been quiet for weeks in response to another investigation exposed by KPRC 2 Investigates involving an OIG complaint of sexual harassment and retaliation that includes Diaz and a subordinate he’s been in a cozy relationship with for years, Maricela Kruseman.
The Mayor’s office issued a statement claiming, “Since established in 2014, the project remains on budget and is currently forecasting an early completion in 2024.”
The city also adds an auditor by the controller in June of 2020 and 2021 said the “ITRP appears to run a very tight ship.” But in August, Brown was critical of a budget and project that has undergone a consistent change.
“This is the sixth budget reiteration of the budgeted amount. It’s grown to $1.3 billion after the full design of the project was in fact completed. So, the cost increased,” said Brown
The city also writes: “We have already contacted the regional office of the FAA with whom we meet regularly on a quarterly basis, and pledged to continue to cooperate with any request made by the local, regional, or federal FAA.
KPR2 Investigates did reach out to management at the FAA’s Airport District Office for the region as well as to their spokesperson for comment on the letter by Nehls. The FAA has yet to respond.
Source: www.click2houston.com
Governor Abbott’s Texas Task Force On Concert Safety Holds Second In-Person Meeting In Bryan
Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Task Force on Concert Safety yesterday held their fourth meeting, and second in-person meeting, in Bryan. Hosted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), public safety and industry experts, as well as expert contributors and local authorities, came together to discuss best practices for concert safety. The task force held their previous meeting at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington last week.
The meeting included presentations by Texas Music Office Director Brendon Anthony, TEEX Director David Coatney, and TNT Security Solutions’ CEO Travis Latex. Following the presentations, the task force held a robust discussion that examined the need for a consistent mass gathering permit for Texas’ 254 counties and the viability of a universal document. The task force decided that a designated member will speak to county judges this week about potential changes to current mass gathering permit systems. Additionally, the task force drew together a working set of reference texts that cover all aspects of public safety and best practices that apply to specific circumstances related to mass gatherings and concerts. The task force also discussed best practices for concert safety in a variety of situations and settings, including rural and urban settings. Finally, the task force continued developing recommendations related to guidance, education, outreach, and potential statutory changes.
Governor Abbott launched the task force on November 10 in response to the tragedy at Astroworld Festival in Houston that killed 10 concertgoers and injured over 300. The task force is led by Texas Music Office Director Brendon Anthony and consists of safety experts, law enforcement, firefighters, state agencies, music industry leaders, and others. The task force will hold several roundtable discussions to analyze concert safety and develop ways to enhance security at live music events in Texas. Following these meetings, the task force will produce a report of recommendations and strategies to ensure concert safety and protect concertgoers.
Source: gov.texas.gov
Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Issues Statement On The Senate’s Passage Of The NDAA And What It Means For the Fight For Justice For Spc. Vanessa Guillen
Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act and what this means for getting justice for Spc. Vanessa Guillen:
“I thank the Senate for passing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which, after 50 years, will provide much-needed reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill is now heading to President Biden’s desk and will finally become a vehicle for justice for all victims of sexual assault and harassment in the military while transforming the institution’s culture–it will ensure that what happened to Spc. Vanessa Guillen never happens again to another soldier.
I have said it repeatedly: we owe our soldiers all the protection they need so they can feel safe in the institution they have committed to while serving our country.
I thank the Guillen family for their tireless fight to get justice for Vanessa, Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her leadership and for fighting for Vanessa and all victims of sexual harassment in our country, and all my colleagues in Congress who, from the beginning, joined this fight, united to find justice for her. We are one step closer to justice and protection for our soldiers.”
SUMMARY OF RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ) REFORMS INCLUDED IN THE NDAA PASSED BY THE SENATE
Special Trial Counsel
- Creates an Office of the Special Trial Counsel within each Service and ensuring their independence by requiring they directly report to the Service Secretary. The provision also defines the role and responsibilities of these prosecutors and including their required experience.
- Criminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. All claims of sexual harassment will be required to be investigated by an independent investigator outside the chain of command.
- Establishes judge-alone sentencing and sentencing parameters to increase fairness across the system.
- Increases the notification for Survivors of Sexual Assault by directing the Services to notify survivors of sexual assault about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.
Sexual Assault Response and Prevention
- Requires a study on including a military occupational specialty for Sexual Assault Response Coordinators.
- Authorizes Special Victim Counsel to hire additional administrative support personnel.
- Allows the DoD Safe Helpline to intake restricted and unrestricted reports for eligible sexual assault victims.
- Requires a briefing on implementation of certain recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military.
- Requires the Department of Defense to track allegations of retaliation by victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment and related persons.
Reform and Improvement of Military Criminal Investigative Organizations
- Requires the military services to reform their criminal investigative organizations consistent with the guidance provided and submit a report through the Secretary of
- Defense not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Racial Disparities
- Requires the secretaries of each service to provide detailed demographic information including sex, ethnicity, and rank on both the principal and victim of an offense under the UCMJ. The report will include investigations, nonjudicial punishment, administrative action, and all levels of courts-martial.
City of Houston partners with prominent businesses to help tornado victims Mayor Turner asks Houstonians to support donation drive
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