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Harris County Flood Bond Reports Show Unexplained $1 Billion Discrepancy
Commissioners voted Thursday to fund all existing secured partnerships and grants tied to Harris County’s 2018 flood bond.
Firefighters Union to Hold No-Confidence Vote Against Austin Fire Chief
The Austin Firefighters Association has accused Chief Joel Baker of withholding water rescue swimmers from assisting in Hill Country flood rescues.
Harris County Jail Hit With Third Noncompliance Notice of 2025
Harris County has resorted to housing hundreds of inmates in other jails to ease overcrowding at its facility.
Acclaimed Denton ISD Choir Director Arrested for Exposing Himself to a Child
Derrick Brookins worked at Braswell High School in Denton ISD.
Local Archive
IDEA Round Rock Admin Accused of ‘Inappropriately Touching a Student’
An administrator at an IDEA public charter school in Round Rock was arrested for inappropriately touching a 15-year-old student while on school property. Aaron Joseph Freeman, 49, was arrested and charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree...
Elementary School Teacher Charged for Having Child Sexual Assault Videos
An elementary school teacher is facing felony charges after admitting he downloaded hundreds of images and videos of very young children being sexually assaulted. Kody Caleb Smith, 35, was charged with three counts of possessing child pornography videos depicting...
Harris County District Attorney Says ‘Nuisance’ Crimes Will Not Be Prosecuted
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the creation of a Mental Health and Diversion Bureau. The DA’s office will be referring what Teare called “nuisance” criminal cases to mental health service providers. Teare announced the changes at a recent Houston...
Blue Ridge Residents Convince City To Pause Muslim-owned Developments
This article was updated on 4/7. A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed Michelle Foster's statement to Barbara Isaacs. After hearing from citizens, Blue Ridge City Council members tabled consideration of two proposed developments while they review...
Major ICE Operation Nets 646 Illegal Alien Arrests in Houston, Including Gang Members
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 646 illegal aliens in the Houston area, including dangerous criminals and gang members, in one of the region’s largest enforcement actions in recent years. ICE announced that from February 23 to March 2, 646...
Belton Middle School Teacher Jailed for Sexually Assaulting a Student
UPDATED March 15. Police have arrested a South Belton Middle School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student in 2021. Logan Michael Demeny, 29, was arrested Monday and charged with sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony. Demeny has been on leave...
Harris County 17-Year-Old Charged Under Texas’ New Terrorism Law
According to Texas prosecutors, Laith Adil Shehzad planned to execute a mass shooting using a Glock semi-automatic firearm equipped with standard, extended, and drum-style magazines. The government claims he was imminently preparing an attack, only to be thwarted by...
Houston Mayor Implements Hiring Freeze To Address City Budget Concerns
In response to results from an efficiency audit, Houston Mayor John Whitmire has implemented a hiring freeze to focus on streamlining city operations and address ongoing budget concerns. The hiring freeze for Houston city employees took effect Monday. A 221-page...
Marlin City Council Approves 6-Month Paid Leave, Pay Raise for Indicted Police Chief
The Marlin City Council has unanimously approved six months of paid leave for Police Chief James Hommel, who was recently indicted on 10 counts of animal abuse. Hommel faces nine misdemeanor charges alongside a third-degree felony charge of cruelty to non-livestock...