As another round of severe weather moves toward Southeast Texas, renewed power outages across the Houston area are reviving concerns over the region’s electric grid and CenterPoint Energy’s storm preparedness ahead of hurricane season.
Strong thunderstorms this week left roughly 133,000 customers without power across the Houston region, according to reports from utility officials and local media. Although most outages were restored within a relatively short period, the disruptions quickly reignited public frustration lingering from Hurricane Beryl’s devastating impact on the area last year.
Houston-based CenterPoint Energy said it activated emergency operations ahead of additional storms expected during Memorial Day weekend, positioning crews, contractors and equipment throughout the region to respond more quickly to outages.
The latest outages come as residents and local officials continue scrutinizing the utility company’s response to Hurricane Beryl in 2024, when millions of Texans lost power and some Houston-area residents remained without electricity for days during extreme summer heat.
Following widespread criticism over communication failures, outage maps and storm preparation, state regulators and elected officials launched investigations into CenterPoint’s response. Residents also raised questions about infrastructure investments, including underground power lines and vegetation management near electrical equipment.
Since then, CenterPoint officials say the company has invested billions of dollars into strengthening the grid through projects such as installing storm-resistant utility poles, expanding tree trimming operations and adding automated grid technology designed to isolate outages more quickly.
Still, utility officials have acknowledged that major hurricanes and severe flooding could continue causing widespread outages despite the upgrades.
The renewed debate comes just days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1 and as Houston prepares to host major international events expected to bring increased tourism and attention to the city over the coming years.
For many residents, concerns remain centered on whether the region’s infrastructure can withstand another major storm without prolonged outages during dangerous summer temperatures, particularly for elderly and medically vulnerable populations.
Concerns over flood preparedness are once again at the center of discussion across Texas as forecasters warn that another round of heavy rain could bring flash flooding to parts of the state during the Memorial Day weekend.
The renewed focus comes nearly a decade after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston region and prompted billions of dollars in proposed flood mitigation projects aimed at reducing future storm damage.
Meteorologists warned this week that Southeast Texas could receive several inches of additional rainfall over already saturated ground, increasing the risk of street flooding, rising bayous and dangerous travel conditions. Emergency management officials across the region have urged residents to monitor weather alerts and avoid driving through flooded roadways.
The latest storm threat has revived longstanding questions about whether Texas communities — particularly the fast-growing Houston area — are adequately prepared for increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
After Harvey struck in 2017, Harris County voters approved a multibillion-dollar flood control bond program intended to fund drainage improvements, detention basins, channel expansions and neighborhood mitigation projects. County officials say dozens of projects have either been completed or are currently under construction.
Still, some residents and advocacy groups argue that progress has not moved quickly enough for communities that continue to experience repeated flooding during heavy rainfall events.
Critics have also pointed to rapid urban development across Southeast Texas as a contributing factor. As new subdivisions, roads and commercial developments replace open land, less ground remains available to naturally absorb rainfall, increasing runoff into streets, creeks and bayous.
Flood preparedness has increasingly become both an infrastructure and political issue in Texas. Some local leaders and environmental advocates are calling for stronger statewide flood planning standards and additional investment in drainage systems and resiliency projects.
Others argue flood control decisions should remain primarily under local authority, with counties and municipalities best positioned to determine their infrastructure priorities.
The debate arrives as emergency officials warn that even moderate rainfall totals can create dangerous conditions in areas where drainage systems are overwhelmed or soil is already saturated from previous storms.
With millions of Texans expected to travel during the holiday weekend, state and local agencies are continuing to monitor weather conditions and prepare for possible flood response operations.
Texas’ Republican Senate runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has become one of the nation’s most closely watched political contests, exposing growing divisions within the Republican Party ahead of the November election.
The race intensified this week after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, a move that political analysts say could significantly influence conservative voters in the May 26 runoff.
Cornyn, who has represented Texas in the Senate since 2002 and previously served as the Senate Republican whip, has campaigned on his experience in Washington and record of delivering federal resources to Texas. He has also emphasized his longstanding ties to Republican leadership and national security issues.
Paxton, meanwhile, has positioned himself as a more aggressive conservative aligned with Trump’s political movement. During the campaign, he has criticized Cornyn as part of the Republican establishment and argued that Texas voters want a senator who will more directly support Trump’s agenda in Congress.
The runoff follows a competitive Republican primary in which neither candidate secured the majority needed to avoid a second round of voting. The contest has since attracted national attention and millions of dollars in campaign spending from political action committees, donors and outside groups seeking to shape the future direction of the Republican Party.
The race is also being viewed as an early test of Trump’s continued influence over Republican voters in Texas, a state that has long been considered a GOP stronghold but where some recent statewide races have narrowed.
Political observers say the outcome could have implications beyond Texas. Some Republicans believe Cornyn would be a stronger general election candidate because of his broader appeal among moderate and suburban voters. Others argue Paxton’s alignment with Trump could energize conservative turnout.
Democrats are also closely watching the runoff, viewing the increasingly contentious Republican battle as a possible opportunity to compete more aggressively in November, particularly if divisions within the GOP continue after the primary concludes.
Early voting has already begun across Texas, with turnout expected to increase significantly over the Memorial Day weekend ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.
Waymo announced its self-driving vehicles are now off Texas’ streets.
The company says it has paused service in the state because of the potential for severe weather.
“Safety is our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution for the forecasted severe weather, we have temporarily paused service in Texas. We continue to closely monitor forecasts, alerts, and live weather conditions, and we will resume serving riders soon,” a Waymo spokesperson said.
Waymo’s announcement came after a video surfaced of one of its vehicles stranded in high water in Atlanta.
It happened during storms on Wednesday, and Waymo says no one was inside that car.
Earlier this month, the company announced it was recalling 3,500 self-driving vehicles over fears they could enter flooded streets.
The decision marks another major development in the high-profile immigration case involving the Maryland resident, who was deported to El Salvador despite a prior court order protecting him from removal.
Judge Sides With Defense
The U.S. Department of Justice had charged Abrego Garcia with human smuggling after he was returned to the United States in June 2026. He pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in Tennessee next year.
However, the judge granted the defense’s motion to dismiss the charges, agreeing that the prosecution appeared retaliatory.
Abrego Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, argued that the government pursued the case to avoid admitting mistakes tied to his deportation.
Deportation Sparked National Attention
Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his wife and children when he was deported to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison in March 2025. The Trump administration alleged he had ties to the MS-13 gang, accusations he has repeatedly denied.
His deportation drew scrutiny because a 2019 court order barred his removal to El Salvador due to fears of persecution.
DOJ Actions Questioned
Court records released in December revealed that a senior Justice Department official reportedly labeled the prosecution a “top priority” shortly after Abrego Garcia’s deportation. The disclosure raised questions about whether federal officials influenced the case beyond local prosecutors.
The ruling is expected to intensify debate over immigration enforcement policies, wrongful deportations, and the government’s handling of high-profile criminal cases involving migrants.
As early voting gets underway in Harris County, Teneshia Hudspeth sat down with Que Onda Magazine to discuss what voters need to know before heading to the polls for the May 26 primary runoff election.
Hudspeth shared key dates, explained how runoff elections work in Texas, and encouraged residents to make their voices heard during what she described as a critical election cycle.
What’s Different About the Runoff Election?
Hudspeth explained that runoff elections are much smaller than the March primary elections because most races were already decided.
“In March, you had about 110 to 114 different races,” she said. “Now that you’re in the runoff, there’s only a small amount of races on each ballot because most of those were determined in March.”
She noted that several important contests remain undecided on both party ballots, including statewide and local races.
“By law, if you get 50% plus one of the vote, you move on to the next stage,” Hudspeth explained. “So this is the last opportunity to make your voice heard to determine who those individuals will be on the November ballot.”
Hudspeth also reminded voters that Texans who participated in the March primary must remain with the same political party for the runoff election.
“If you voted the Democratic ticket in March, you have to vote in the Democratic primary runoff,” she said. “If you voted Republican in March, you have to vote in the Republican primary runoff.”
However, residents who did not vote in March may choose either party ballot.
Important Dates and Early Voting Information
Early voting in Harris County began May 18 and runs through May 22. Election Day is Tuesday, May 26, the day after Memorial Day.
Hudspeth encouraged residents planning holiday travel to vote early.
“If you’re going to be traveling during Memorial Day weekend, we encourage you to go vote early,” she said.
Polls are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during early voting and on Election Day.
Voters in Harris County can cast their ballots at any vote center countywide during both early voting and Election Day.
“There are 48 vote centers during early voting and more than 100 locations on Election Day,” Hudspeth said.
“If for some reason you don’t have one of those photo IDs, you can fill out what is called a RID form and cure your vote later,” Hudspeth explained.
Why Midterm and Runoff Elections Matter
Hudspeth emphasized that local and midterm elections often have the biggest impact on everyday life.
“These are the elected officials that impact the state of Texas, your county and cities most closely,” she said. “Everything from your school board to your local entities impacts your everyday way of life.”
She also described the current political climate as especially significant heading into November.
“Our country is in a very interesting place,” Hudspeth said. “This midterm election is really going to show what the people care about.”
Resources for Spanish-Speaking and ESL Voters
Hudspeth highlighted the county’s multilingual voting support services, noting that ballots in Harris County are translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
“Spanish is a second language in Texas,” she said. “You can vote on the ballot with that language.”
She added that translators are available at voting centers and that voters may also bring a trusted family member or friend for assistance, as allowed by law.
Hudspeth praised Que Onda Magazine’s efforts to connect Spanish-speaking communities with election information.
“I think Que Onda is a great platform where voters, specifically voters who speak Spanish, are able to get information from a trusted source,” she said.
A Final Message to Harris County Voters
Before closing the interview, Hudspeth encouraged residents not only to vote but also to participate in the election process as poll workers.
“Don’t just get registered and go vote,” she said. “Maybe sign up and become an election worker. We need more folks to help guard the purity of our elections.”
She added that election workers are compensated for their time and play an important role in ensuring voters can cast ballots “free from intimidation.”
Early voting continues through May 22, with Election Day set for May 26 in Harris County.
For more resources on Harris County elections, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A multi-day stormy weather pattern could bring the daily risk for street flooding across Southeast Texas though Memorial Day. The combination of daily rainfall plus a stormier pattern this weekend could lead to the potential for more widespread street flooding late Saturday, which is why we have an ABC13 Weather Watch for Saturday.
Temperatures Friday will start off in the upper 60s, then warm into the mid 80s with rain and storm chances firing up this afternoon, but holding at just 30-40%.
A Flood Watch is now in effect until 7 a.m. Monday for Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Fort Bend and Wharton counties. Communities here picked up on average 4 to 6 inches of rain Wednesday with some locations receiving upwards of 9 inches. And given that more rain is in the forecast, the risk for flooding is higher for areas within the Flood Watch. That said, the National Weather Service is prepared to add more counties to the watch once we have more confidence in where the heaviest rains will fall Saturday and Sunday.
Should I cancel my outdoor plans?
Because these jet stream disturbances and storm complex are tricky to time out more than 24 hours in advance, it’s wise to stay weather aware as you consider your plans for the holiday weekend ahead. We are not advising anyone to cancel plans, but we strongly recommend folks also have an indoor “plan B” option just in case your original plans get rained out.
What weather should we prepare for Memorial Day weekend?
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible every day, so make sure that if you have outdoor plans you also have a place to run for cover should you cross paths with a heavy thunderstorm. When it is not raining, it will be warm and humid. We have highs in the low-to-mid 80s and lows in the upper 60s and low 70s all three days. An upper-low will spin up over Central Texas Saturday, sending a wave of heavy thunderstorms toward Southeast Texas sometime late Saturday and early Sunday. That is why we have a Weather Watch for Saturday due to the potential for street flooding, which could also be a concern for early Sunday too. The good news is we are seeing signs the flood risk will decrease Sunday into Memorial Day, and we have dropped Monday’s rain chances down to just 40%.When will this storm pattern come to an end?
We will have lower rain chances both Memorial Day and Tuesday, but another upper-level storm is expected to swing through with a high chance of rain on Wednesday. After the middle of the week, we should turn hotter and drier for the final weekend of May.
The family of Caleb Vazquez, one of the teenage suspects in the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, says they are “deeply sorry for the pain and devastation” caused by the attack.
In a statement released through family attorney Colin Rudolph, the family condemned the violence and said the alleged actions “do not reflect the values we raised our family with.”
Three Victims Remembered as Heroes
Authorities say three people were killed in Monday’s shooting before the two suspects, ages 17 and 18, died by suicide in a nearby vehicle.
The victims were identified as Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad.
Community members praised Abdullah, a security guard, for helping stop the suspects near an area where about 140 children were gathered. Kaziha reportedly made the first 911 call, while Awad rushed to assist during the attack.
Hate Crime Investigation Continues
Investigators are treating the shooting as a possible hate crime. Authorities are also reviewing alleged writings connected to suspects Cain Clark and Vazquez that reportedly promoted white nationalist and extremist views.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, searches connected to the suspects uncovered multiple firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, and electronic devices.
Police are also investigating how the teenagers obtained the weapons used in the attack.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that major cruise companies including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corporation, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises can face lawsuits over their use of a Havana port seized by Cuba’s communist government in 1960.
In an 8-1 decision, the court said Havana Docks Corporation has the right to seek damages for the cruise lines’ use of the Havana port between 2016 and 2019.
Case Tied to U.S.-Cuba Tensions
The ruling centers on the 1996 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, which allows Americans to sue over property confiscated during the Cuban Revolution.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that companies using confiscated property may be held financially liable, even decades later.
The case gained momentum after Donald Trump activated a section of the law allowing such lawsuits during his first term.
More Cuba Cases Ahead
Justice Elena Kagan was the lone dissenter, arguing the company’s original rights to the docks had expired years earlier.
The Supreme Court is also expected to rule soon in a separate Cuba-related case involving ExxonMobil and property claims tied to Cuban-owned businesses.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — People in several areas of Harris County reported smelling gas odors, prompting multiple agencies to investigate, according to officials.
Reports began flowing in from across Harris County on Thursday afternoon, according to several agencies.
On social media, the Channelview Fire Department said it was aware of the smell and was actively investigating the source, adding that CenterPoint was also looking into it.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, CenterPoint said the odor reports were not related to any issues with its infrastructure and that it detected no major issues in its systems.
Harris County Constable Precinct 4 Mark Herman said that areas like Champions, Cypress, Vintage Park, Tomball, and Spring in northwest Harris County and areas like Pasadena, Kingwood, and east Houston, all in east Harris County, were reporting the odor.
Earlier on Thursday, Lone Star College – Houston North Fallbrook in north Harris County reported that it evacuated the building after reports of a gas odor, but investigators declared an all-clear less than 15 minutes later.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said it received several reports of gas odors, but couldn’t find a source. Eyewitness News reached out to the county’s Pollution Control team and is awaiting a response.
