Houston News

Houston Chronicle

• Friedman drops guv bid, seeks ag job

  Houston Chronicle – Mon Dec 14, 2:50 pm ET  

  Humorist Kinky Friedman dropped out of the Texas governor's race today and announced he would switch to the race for Texas agriculture commissioner. Full Story »

• Police searching for robber of postal truck driver

  Houston Chronicle – Mon Dec 14, 2:50 pm ET  

  U.S. Postal Service officials are seeking the public's helping in finding two men who are suspected of robbing a postal truck driver at gunpoint late last month in southwest Houston. Full Story »

• Review: CPS workers not with kids' families enough

  Houston Chronicle – Mon Dec 14, 1:19 pm ET  

  Caseworkers in the Houston area fail to follow procedures for dealing with families, the review says. Heavy workloads are partly to blame. Full Story »

• High court to take drug suspect's deportation case

  Houston Chronicle – Mon Dec 14, 11:49 am ET  

  The defendant was a legal U.S. resident who had been in the country more than 20 years, with a fiancee and four children who all are U.S. citizens. Full Story »

• Feds reject Army snub of Texas plant

  Houston Chronicle – Mon Dec 14, 11:19 am ET  

  The decision is raising hopes that as many 10,000 jobs can be saved at the BAE Systems plant in Sealy and surrounding suppliers. Full Story »

11 News Houston

• NASA launches survey explorer to study comets, asteroids

  11 News Houston – 7 mins ago  

  NASA launched a Delta Two rocket carrying a wide-field infrared survey explorer Monday morning. HOUSTON—NASA launched a Delta Two rocket carrying a wide-field infrared survey explorer Monday morning. The device will search for hidden asteroids, comets and other celestial objects. It’s a $320 million mission NASA believes will produce the most thorough map of the cosmos ever. What the explorer ... Full Story »

• Harris County DA puts unclaimed restitution database on Web site

  11 News Houston – 22 mins ago  

  Crime victims can find out if they have money coming to them with a click of the mouse.   Click here to check the database. HOUSTON—Crime victims can find out if they have money coming to them with a click of the mouse. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has added an "unclaimed restitution" feature on its Web site where victims can search a database. The DA’s Office said since they’ve ... Full Story »

• Obama gives himself a 'good solid B-plus' for his first year in office

  11 News Houston – 1 hr 52 mins ago  

  President Barack Obama, in an interview that aired Sunday, gave himself "a good solid B-plus" grade for his first year in office. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama, in an interview that aired Sunday, gave himself "a good solid B-plus" grade for his first year in office. Speaking with fellow Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey, the president claimed progress on economic and international fronts. Obama ... Full Story »

• GAO orders review of $3 billion Army contract

  11 News Houston – 2 hrs 7 mins ago  

  The U.S. Government Accountability Office wants the Army to re-evaluate its $3 billion contract award to the Oshkosh Corp. HOUSTON -- The U.S. Government Accountability Office wants the Army to re-evaluate its $3 billion contract award to the Oshkosh Corp. Two companies that lost in bidding on the contract, BAE Systems and Navistar Inc., protested after Oshkosh won the contract in August. The ... Full Story »

• Precinct 6 Constable: Harris County budget cutbacks should start at the top

  11 News Houston – Mon Dec 14, 1:55 pm ET  

  Imagine having to cut your household budget by 16 percent – you'd have to give up a lot. Other items, you'd fight to keep. That's the situation facing Harris County. HOUSTON—Imagine having to cut your household budget by 16 percent – you’d have to give up a lot. Other items, you’d fight to keep. That’s the situation facing Harris County. The county’s financial outlook is tight. Even the sheriff ... Full Story »

Galveston County Daily News

• Bolivar blueprint meeting Thursday

  Galveston County Daily News – Mon Dec 14, 6:27 am ET  

  BOLIVAR The Bolivar Blueprint Steering Committee is having a community workshop Thursday. Full Story »

• County closes small immunization clinics for now

  Galveston County Daily News – Mon Dec 14, 6:26 am ET  

  The Galveston County Health District will be consolidating all immunization activities at its headquarters in La Marque. Full Story »

• Suspect shot in drug raid

  Galveston County Daily News – Mon Dec 14, 6:26 am ET  

  DICKINSON A Galveston County sheriffs sergeant shot a suspected crack cocaine dealer as the man fled on foot during a drug bust Saturday night. Full Story »

• Shriners mark hospitals return with parade

  Galveston County Daily News – Mon Dec 14, 6:26 am ET  

  GALVESTON Shriners Hospital for Children celebrated its reopening Sunday, more than a year after Hurricane Ike closed its doors. Full Story »

• Kids Christmas wish lists shorten in hard times

  Galveston County Daily News – Mon Dec 14, 6:26 am ET  

  Rough economic times mean Santa won't be leaving as much under the tree this Christmas. Full Story »

ABC 13 Houston

• Postal truck driver held up at gunpoint

  ABC 13 Houston – Mon Dec 14, 11:39 am ET  

  The truck driver was picking up mail at the back dock of the Alief Post Office when he was approached by two men, one who had a gun Full Story »

• Choking robber appears in court

  ABC 13 Houston – Fri Dec 11, 5:54 pm ET  

  Man accused of choking his victims until they lost consciousness so he could rob them appeared in court Friday morning Full Story »

• BARC names new director

  ABC 13 Houston – Fri Dec 11, 5:54 pm ET  

  David Atencio was announced as the new director of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care Full Story »

• Houston police identify suspect dubbed the 'Choker'

  ABC 13 Houston – Thu Dec 10, 8:24 pm ET  

  Houston police have released the name of a man suspected of being 'the Choker,' a robber who choked his victims to unconsciousness before stealing their money Full Story »

• Missing Spring man found safe by rookie dog

  ABC 13 Houston – Thu Dec 10, 12:39 am ET  

  David Pritchard, 57, disappeared on Tuesday night from his Spring home Full Story »

KPRC Local 2 Houston

• Woman, 77, Robbed Outside Home

  KPRC Local 2 Houston – 7 mins ago  

  A 77-year-old woman is attacked outside her home and the robber gets away with her SUV, KPRC Local 2 reports. Full Story »

• 2 Arrested In Robbery Outside Mall

  KPRC Local 2 Houston – 52 mins ago  

  Two teenagers are arrested in connection with a robbery outside of a mall, but five more people are still wanted, KPRC Local 2 reports. Full Story »

• Woman's Body Found In Bushes

  KPRC Local 2 Houston – 1 hr 7 mins ago  

  A woman's body is found in bushes behind a car wash at a southwest Houston gas station, KPRC Local reports. Full Story »

• 8 Arrested In Prostitution Sting

  KPRC Local 2 Houston – 1 hr 37 mins ago  

  A bachelor party was not as it seemed -- it was really a prostitution sting, KPRC Local 2 reports. Full Story »

• Dozens Of Guns Taken In Burglary

  KPRC Local 2 Houston – 2 hrs 22 mins ago  

  A Montgomery County gun store is broken into and the thieves get away with more than 50 guns, deputies tell KPRC Local 2. Full Story »

FOX 26 Houston

• Family Thankful for Wheelchair Lift

  FOX 26 Houston – 19 mins ago  

  A terminally ill young man now has freedom he never had before, thanks to 'Take it to Akin.' Full Story »

• Prostituion Sting Nets 9 Arrests

  FOX 26 Houston – 49 mins ago  

  A prostitution sting netted nine arrests after undercover investigators lured the suspects to a fake bachelor party in north Harris County. Full Story »

• $3 Billion Army Contract to be Reviewed

  FOX 26 Houston – 1 hr 19 mins ago  

  The U.S. Government Accountability Office wants the Army to re-evaluate its $3 billion contract award to the Oshkosh Corp. Full Story »

• Review: CPS Inconsistent with Policies

  FOX 26 Houston – Mon Dec 14, 2:28 pm ET  

  A review of the Houston CPS region was ordered in July by the state, after several deaths of children who had a history with CPS. The results from that review were released on Monday. -- Read full CPS review report Full Story »

• Woman's Body Found Behind Fuel Station

  FOX 26 Houston – Mon Dec 14, 1:28 pm ET  

  A woman is found dead outside a convenience store in southwest Houston. Full Story »

KIAH-TV Houston

• State Amphibian Named By Local Students

  KIAH-TV Houston – Sun Dec 13, 11:36 pm ET  

  We all know the state flower, the bluebonnet, and the state bird, the mockingbird, but you probably did not know that Texas has a state amphibian (not to be confused with the state reptile, the Texas Horned Frog). It didn't, until just recently, thanks to some local elementary students. Full Story »

• Let the Feast Begin!

  KIAH-TV Houston – Sun Dec 13, 11:06 pm ET  

  4th Annual HEB Feast of Sharing Let the feast begin! More than 8,000 meals were served to Houston families in downtown Houston on Sunday, all thanks to HEB. Full Story »

• Santa at the Ensemble

  KIAH-TV Houston – Sun Dec 13, 11:06 pm ET  

  At the 9th annual "Santa at the Ensemble" dozens of children were all smiles. They did it all from drinking egg nog, taking pictures with santa, and watching a play. Full Story »

• Fans React to Texans Beating Seahawks

  KIAH-TV Houston – Sun Dec 13, 11:05 pm ET  

  Slim Hope of Making Playoffs Still Alive The Texans appear to be getting their "mojo" back after forcing the Seahawks to accept an embarrassing 34 to 7 defeat Sunday afternoon. But before the home team secured the win that ended their four game loosing streak, the pressure to possibly save their coach and to keep what little playoff hope alive was definitely intense. Full Story »

• Girl with Brain Tumor Dies

  KIAH-TV Houston – Sat Dec 12, 10:35 pm ET  

  They Came to Celebrate the Short Life of Delaney Starcher Hundreds gathered at Gateway Baptist church in Spring on Saturday to say goodbye to 5 year-old Delaney Starcher, who lost her life earlier this month to a brain tumor. Full Story »

Baytown Sun

• Feds to spend $13 million to fight carp invasion

  Baytown Sun – 51 mins ago  

  TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Federal officials say they'll use $13 million in Great Lakes restoration funds to step up the fight against invasive Asian carp. Full Story »

• Falling-TV deaths remain concern even amid LCD fad

  Baytown Sun – 51 mins ago  

  PHILADELPHIA — The number of children killed or injured by falling television sets appears to have risen even as more consumers replace their clunky old TVs with lighter flat screens, studies suggest. Full Story »

• Anonymous donors take care to hide their identity

  Baytown Sun – 1 hr 21 mins ago  

  CHICAGO — The gold coins have arrived in much the same manner every year for the past four years: An anonymous donor dropped each one into a Salvation Army kettle somewhere in Fort Myers, Fla. Full Story »

• Ga. man sentenced to 17 years in terror case

  Baytown Sun – Mon Dec 14, 12:40 pm ET  

  ATLANTA — A Georgia man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiring to support terrorists by videotaping U.S. landmarks. Twenty-three-year-old Ehsanul Islam Sadequee could have received as many as 60 years in prison at the hearing Monday. Full Story »

• Ill. suspends program that released inmates early

  Baytown Sun – Mon Dec 14, 12:25 pm ET  

  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has suspended a prison program that allowed repeat drunk drivers, drug users and even people convicted of battery and weapons violations to serve less than three weeks' total time behind bars. Full Story »

Fort Bend Herald

• 1,400 Bike Giveaway

  Fort Bend Herald – Mon Dec 14, 12:41 pm ET  

  Brand Fletcher, 3, tries out his new set of wheels at the Rosenberg Civic Center Saturday while ABC Dental president and CEO Dr. Iraj Jabbary and grandmother Benetta Nichols watch during ABC Dental's 1,400 bicycle giveaway. Full Story »

• The "Christmas Carol" at Needville Junior High

  Fort Bend Herald – Mon Dec 14, 12:41 pm ET  

  Needville Junior High student Gary Smith dressed as Tiny Tim a character from Charles Dickens’ novel “A Christmas Carol” for his literature class. After a six week study of the book, teacher Karen Murph had her students sketch the characteristic activities of the age and dress as characters Friday. Full Story »

• County distributing H1N1 vaccinations

  Fort Bend Herald – Mon Dec 14, 12:40 pm ET  

  Residents wanting to get an H1N1 vaccine may get one at several clinics this week. Full Story »

• Court to address pay for swine flu expenses

  Fort Bend Herald – Mon Dec 14, 12:40 pm ET  

  Fort Bend County Commissioners on Tuesday will consider an item that ensures money for labor costs in relation to the swine flu epidemic. Full Story »

• Fulshear to discuss height zone ordinance

  Fort Bend Herald – Mon Dec 14, 12:40 pm ET  

  Before its regular meeting Wednesday, Fulshear City Council will hold a public hearing regarding a proposed zoning property ordinance that details how certain properties in the city can be used. Full Story »

West University Examiner

• Kinky now wants to be agriculture commissioner

  West University Examiner – Mon Dec 14, 2:28 pm ET  

  Kinky Friedman will end his second bid for governor, this time as the Democratic nominee, to pursue a bid for agriculture commissioner. Full Story »

• Victorious Parker meets the media

  West University Examiner – Mon Dec 14, 1:28 pm ET  

  Mayor-elect Annise Parker greeted the media the day after her historic victory with frank talk ranging from the significance of her win for the gay community to what she will be looking for in a police chief. Full Story »

• Victorious Parker meets the media

  West University Examiner – Sun Dec 13, 5:13 pm ET  

  Mayor-elect Mayor Annise Parker greeted the media the day after her history victory with frank talk ranging from the significance of her win for the gay community to what she will be looking for in a police chief. Full Story »

• Exit for 2 HISD trustees, new campus for Carnegie Vanguard

  West University Examiner – Sat Dec 12, 1:58 am ET  

  For two women of educational passion, this was a bittersweet evening. Full Story »

• HISD lands 6 high schools on national ‘best’ list

  West University Examiner – Sat Dec 12, 1:58 am ET  

  Six high schools from Houston ISD have made U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s best. Full Story »