Helene becomes a hurricane. Helene has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph max sustained winds as it makes its way into the southeastern Gulf. Helene is expected to intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida Thursday evening. Life threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains are anticipated across parts of Florida with hurricane force wind gusts possible all the way north into Atlanta, Georgia.
Helene remains a strong Tropical Storm Helene as it brushes the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is expected to move north into the southeastern Gulf Wednesday nearing hurricane strength. It looks to most likely make landfall in the Big Bend or Panhandle area of Florida Thursday as a major category 3 or higher hurricane. No impacts are expected for Texas.
September 24, 10 a.m.
The system in the Caribbean has organized and is now classified as Tropical Storm Helene. Helene should enter the southern Gulf tomorrow as a strong tropical storm or a cat. 1 hurricane. It then looks to move north towards the Florida coastline… most likely making landfall in the panhandle or Big Bend region of Florida. Helene will have the capability to become a major hurricane before making landfall. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect for the western coast of Florida.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — On Tuesday, Houston residents in some areas may have noticed a large presence of law enforcement, but don’t be alarmed – authorities said there is no threat to the public.
According to FBI Houston, this is all part of a “sweeping court-authorized operation” being conducted at multiple locations throughout the city. The FBI said law enforcement will be at the locations for several hours on Tuesday.
In a statement, the FBI told ABC13 it’s working with the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Houston Fire Department, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
“Due to the ongoing nature of the federal investigation, we are unable to provide additional details at this time,” the FBI wrote.
According to law enforcement sources, ABC13 is being told this has ties to potential public corruption, though the FBI would not comment.
ABC13 was there when about a dozen gaming machines were removed from Star Video on Broadway near Joplin Street. The box truck operators told Eyewitness News’ field crew they’ve been to about 15 locations to collect gaming machines.
The FBI has not said when they will be able to share more information on the operation.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A jury found former HPD officer Gerald Goines guilty of felony murder for his role in the 2019 Harding Street raid that killed a couple.
On Wednesday, jurors were convinced Goines lied to obtain a no-knock warrant, leading to the botched drug raid at 7815 Harding Street that ended with the deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas and four officers injured in 2019.
During the trial, defense attorneys admitted that Goines did lie but said he did not kill the couple. They focused on what happened when officers arrived, telling the jury Tuttle was the first to fire on officers, which led to the deadly return fire.
Defense attorney Mac Secrest said during closing arguments that public pressure forced the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to charge the former officer with felony murder in the first place.
“This case is overcharged. It should never have been charged with felony murder,” Secrest said while his fingers pointed at prosecutors. “It got amped up to it because of the politics in their office, because of the media outcry, the pressure.”
No matter the outcome that jurors arrive at, the Gerald Goines case has already impacted policing in Houston and set wrongfully accused people free.
Prosecutors, however, focused on the fact that it was Goines’ lies that started it all, saying had he not lied to obtain that warrant, both Tuttle and Nicholas would still be alive.
“Everything that happened in that house, everything, flowed directly from that warrant – is a direct consequence,” Keaton Forcht, one of the prosecutors, said. “But for Gerald Goines, those two individuals are now dead.”
The jury heard lengthy closing arguments on Tuesday and only had about three hours to deliberate. Jurors didn’t need the full day of deliberating on Wednesday to come to a verdict.
The judge sent jurors home after the verdict but ordered them to return at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday to start the penalty phase.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, who became the prosecutional face of the case, withheld comment about the verdict, electing to wait until after a punishment comes down.
Concacaf Reveals Host Cities and Stadiums for 2025 Gold Cup
Concacaf has officially announced the host cities and stadiums for the 2025 Gold Cup, its premier men’s national team tournament, which will be held across the United States and Canada. Among the 14 stadiums selected, Houston’s NRG Stadium has been confirmed as one of the host venues.
The tournament, scheduled to run from June 14 to July 6, 2025, will feature 16 teams from the North American, Central American, and Caribbean regions. This edition of the Gold Cup marks a significant opportunity for teams and fans alike, as it takes place just one year before the FIFA World Cup 2026, also being hosted in North America.
Key Venues
Fourteen stadiums across 11 major metropolitan areas will host the matches, including three venues making their Gold Cup debut: BC Place in Vancouver, PayPal Park in San Jose, and U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Other prominent venues include AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which hosted the 2023 Gold Cup final.
NRG Stadium, a frequent host of past Gold Cup matches, will once again welcome soccer fans in 2025. The Houston venue has a long history with the tournament, having hosted games in multiple editions, including 2005, 2007, 2009, and most recently, 2023.
Concacaf Leadership Remarks
Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming tournament, calling it the “flagship event” for men’s national teams in the region. He emphasized that the 2025 Gold Cup would provide vital competitive experience for teams preparing for World Cup qualification.
“The 2025 edition is certain to be highly competitive and a great opportunity for fans to engage with the sport at such a pivotal moment in its growth,” Montagliani said. He also thanked the 14 host cities for their support and commitment to promoting the game in the region.
Looking Forward
The 2025 Gold Cup will feature 16 teams, with Mexico, the reigning champion, looking to defend its title after defeating Panama 1-0 in the 2023 final at SoFi Stadium. Mexico has won a record nine Gold Cup titles, followed by the United States with seven and Canada with one.
Further details, including match-specific venue allocations and ticket sales, will be announced at a later date. Fans can sign up for updates and ticket information at GoldCup.org.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — On Tuesday, Galena Park ISD shut off the air conditioning at multiple campuses after the district said CenterPoint Energy asked it to conserve energy.
According to the district, the utility company called administrators to request that the air conditioning be shut off to reduce power consumption.
However, a spokesperson for the energy company told Eyewitness News that GPISD wasn’t asked to shut off the A/C but to reduce its usage as part of a voluntary program.
In a message to parents, Superintendent John Moore said the A/C was turned off from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the district’s “social awareness” to help eliminate rolling blackouts.
ABC13 heard from parents who were not happy with the district’s decision.
“No, it’s not a great idea. I think it’s dangerous,” Tammy Harris, whose daughter came home not feeling well, said.
“I felt really hot, and I had a big headache, and I just laid down,” Bethany Harris, an 11-year-old Cobb 6th Grade Campus student, said. “It was hot.”
Galena Park ISD reassured parents that typically, campus buildings remain cool for two to three hours after the air conditioning shuts off.
“At this time, all students are safe, and classes are continuing as normal,” Moore’s message said in part. “We do not anticipate any disruptions. However, we will continue to monitor this situation and will address student needs as necessary.”
The district said it didn’t impact any after-school activities, and everything resumed as scheduled.
“Do you want the district to do it again?” ABC13 asked Tammy Harris.
“No. I mean, if they want to do it again, do it when the kids are not there. Have at it. Knock yourself out,” she responded.
CenterPoint Energy sent Eyewitness News the following statement:
“CenterPoint Energy deployed a test of our load management programs, which are designed to reduce demand during peak energy usage periods. When conducting a load management test, participants receive a 30-minute notice to curtail their energy usage if they decide to participate. Participation in each test is completely voluntary and is determined by the participant. Those participants chose to be part of the program and have load curtailed.”
A spokesperson for the energy company said participants may earn up to $40 per kilowatt of verified curtailed load each year and can choose how they conserve their power.
“This program is available to non-residential customers within the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric service territory. Each participant can determine how they want to curtail their energy use,” the spokesperson told ABC13. “There are no penalties for opting out of the test or unscheduled event.”
According to CenterPoint, those who volunteer for the program must abide by the following rules:
Shed a minimum of 50 kilowatts when called after a 30-min notification during program events
The availability period for curtailments is limited to June 1 through Nov. 30
Participants are required to be capable of curtailing at least 50 kilowatts, but they don’t have to curtail the full amount during an event
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Seattle Mariners rocked Astros ace Framber Valdez with eight hits and three earned runs, but Alex Bregman, Jason Heyward, and Kyle Tucker launched home runs to do away with Houston’s closest American League West challenger on Tuesday and lock up the ballclub’s fourth straight division title.
The Astros dropped the Mariners, 4-3, to qualify for the postseason, which Houston will start in the AL Wild Card Series against the team with the third-best wild-card record. Houston had a chance at a bye into the AL Division Series and needed the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians to lose their remaining games beginning Tuesday. But the AL Central champs defeated Cincinnati to deny the Astros.
Houston Astros’ Jason Heyward gestures to the dugout as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the Mariners on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.AP Photo/Michael Wyke
Houston might not know its first playoff opponent until the final day of the regular season. The Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers currently hold the second and third wild-card spots, but the Minnesota Twins, Seattle, the Boston Red Sox, and the Tampa Bay Rays are still in contention. Five games separate these teams.
The best-of-three AL Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The Astros host all series games, including a winner-take-all third game, if necessary. The winner advances to the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Guardians, which begins Saturday, Oct. 5, in Cleveland.
A column of water more than 30 feet tall sprayed across the southbound lanes of Broadway at 59th Street Wednesday morning and stalled traffic to the causeway.
There is a 2-inch water line break connected to a 20-inch water line in the median near 59th Street and Broadway, Galveston spokeswoman Marissa Barnett said. It’s unclear what caused the apparent water line break sometime before 7:30 a.m., but city staff suspects it could be from the line’s age, Barnett said.
The column of water was taller than the famous live oaks that line Broadway, shooting diagonally from the median at 59th and Broadway almost to the sidewalk beside Burger King.
The water line break and subsequent repair work will likely affect businesses in the area, Barnett said.
Workers at the Shell gas station attached to the restaurant said they weren’t sure what caused the leak.
Traffic was stalled from the intersection all the way to the causeway about 3 miles away before 8 a.m.
Drivers should expect delays while crews work to repair the line, Barnett said.
The maker of the popular party game Cards Against Humanity is accusing Elon Musk’s SpaceX of trespassing on and damaging a plot of vacant land the company owns in Texas.
In a lawsuit filed this week at a Texas court, Cards Against Humanity alleges SpaceX has essentially treated the game company’s property — located in Cameron County — as its own for at least the past six months.
The lawsuit said SpaceX, which had previously acquired other plots of land near the property, has placed construction materials, such as gravel, and other debris on the land without asking for permission to do so.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cards Against Humanity, which is headquartered in Chicago, had purchased the plot of land in 2017 as part of what it said was a stunt to oppose former president Donald Trump’s efforts to build a border wall.
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The company said 150,000 people had each contributed $15 towards the effort.
Over the years, Cards Against Humanity says the land has been maintained in its natural state. It also says it contained a “no trespassing” sign to warn people they were about to step on private property.
The company is asking for $15 million in damages, which it says includes a loss of vegetation on the land.
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushing final decisions until after the November election.
Lawmakers have struggled to get to this point as the current budget year winds to a close at month’s end. At the urging of the most conservative members of his conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had linked temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote. But Johnson could not get all Republicans on board even as the party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump, insisted on that package. Trump said Republican lawmakers should not support a stop-gap measure without the voting requirement, but the bill went down to defeat anyway, with 14 Republicans opposing it.
Bipartisan negotiations began in earnest shortly after that, with leadership agreeing to extend funding into mid-December. That gives the current Congress the ability to fashion a full-year spending bill after the Nov. 5 election, rather than push that responsibility to the next Congress and president. In a letter to Republican colleagues, Johnson said the budget measure would be “very narrow, bare-bones” and include “only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.”
“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson wrote. “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.” Rep. Tom Cole, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, had said on Friday that talks were going well. “So far, nothing has come up that we can’t deal with,” said Cole, R-Okla. “Most people don’t want a government shutdown and they don’t want that to interfere with the election. So nobody is like, ‘I’ve got to have this or we’re walking.’ It’s just not that way.” Johnson’s earlier effort had no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate and was opposed by the White House, but it did give the speaker a chance to show Trump and conservatives within his conference that he fought for their request. The final result – government funding effectively on autopilot – was what many had predicted. With the election just weeks away, few lawmakers in either party had any appetite for the brinksmanship that often leads to a shutdown.
Now, a bipartisan majority is expected to push the short-term measure over the finish line. Temporary spending bills generally fund agencies at current levels, but some additional money was included to bolster the Secret Service, replenish a disaster relief fund and aid with the presidential transition, among other things.
HOUSTON, Texas — A Texas man with a long history of mental illness who has repeatedly sought to waive his right to appeal his death sentence faced execution Tuesday evening for killing his 3-month-old son more than 16 years ago.
Travis Mullis, 38, was condemned for stomping his son Alijah to death in January 2008. His execution by lethal injection was set to take place at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.
Authorities say Mullis, then 21 and living in Brazoria County, drove to nearby Galveston with his son after fighting with his girlfriend. Mullis parked his car and sexually assaulted his son. After the infant began to cry uncontrollably, Mullis began strangling his son before taking him out of the car and stomping on his head, according to authorities.
The infant’s body was later found on the side of the road. Mullis fled Texas but was later arrested after turning himself in to police in Philadelphia.
Mullis’ execution was expected to proceed as his attorneys did not plan to file any final appeals to try and stay his lethal injection. His lawyers also did not file a clemency petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
In a letter submitted to U.S. District Judge George Hanks in Houston, Mullis wrote in February that he had no desire to challenge his case any further. Mullis has previously taken responsibility for his son’s death and has said “his punishment fit the crime.”
In the letter, Mullis said, “he seeks the same finality and justice the state seeks.”
Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady, whose office prosecuted Mullis, declined to comment ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled execution.
At Mullis’ trial, prosecutors said Mullis was a “monster” who manipulated people, was deceitful and refused the medical and psychiatric help he had been offered.
Since his conviction in 2011, Mullis has long been at odds with his various attorneys over whether to appeal his case. At times, Mullis had asked that his appeals be waived, only to later change his mind.
Shawn Nolan, one of Mullis’ attorneys, told the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals during a June 2023 hearing that state courts in Texas had erred in ruling that Mullis had been mentally competent when he had waived his right to appeal his case about a decade earlier.
Nolan told the appeals court that Mullis has been treated for “profound mental illness” since he was 3 years old, was sexually abused as a child and is “severely bipolar,” leading him to change his mind about appealing his case.
“The only hope that Mr. Mullis had of avoiding execution, of surviving was to have competent counsel to help the court in its determination of whether he was giving up his rights knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily and that did not happen,” Nolan said.
Natalie Thompson, who at the time was with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, told the appeals court that Mullis understood what he was doing and could go against his lawyers’ advice “even if he’s suffering from mental illness.”
The appeals court upheld Hank’s ruling from 2021 that found Mullis “repeatedly competently chose to waive review” of his death sentence.
The U.S. Supreme Court has prohibited the application of the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, but not for people with serious mental illness.
Mullis would be the fourth inmate put to death this year in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, and the 15th in the U.S.
Mullis’ execution is one of five set to take place in the U.S. within a week’s time. The first took place Friday when South Carolina put inmate Freddie Owens to death. Also Tuesday, Marcellus Williams was scheduled to be executed in Missouri. On Thursday, executions are scheduled for Alan Miller in Alabama and Emmanuel Littlejohn in Oklahoma.
