A North Texas man has been sentenced to a decade in prison following a fatal street racing crash in 2022 that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Nelson Ramirez, now 21, faced the victims’ families before his sentencing, where he had the opportunity to request leniency. Ramirez was 19 at the time of the crash in River Oaks, where he collided with another vehicle at what police described as an extremely high speed. During the sentencing hearing, family members and friends of the victims—Cindy Griffin, Madison Lake, and Bishop Kline—shared their emotional impact statements. Effie-Sue Bates Kelly, Kline’s mother,…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Reaction continues to pour in nationwide following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Political leaders from North Texas are among those sharing their thoughts on how the incident in Butler County will impact the country ahead of Election Day. The shooting at a Trump rally on Saturday, the first attack on a current or former US president in over four decades, resulted in the death of one bystander and left two others critically injured. NBC News reported on Monday that investigators found over a dozen guns at the home of the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Public Utility Commission is launching an investigation into CenterPoint Energy’s handling of Hurricane Beryl, as fewer than 200,000 customers remain without power. CenterPoint has set a target to restore power to 90% of its customers by Monday, a week after the hurricane hit land. Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor John Whitmire toured the resource staging area at NRG Stadium on Monday, emphasizing the urgent need to restore power to thousands of Houston residents affected by Beryl. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, who was part of the tour, noted that an informal investigation into the power company…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Local leaders are raising concerns about businesses exploiting the Hurricane Beryl disaster. As you shop, officials urge you to be vigilant about pricing. “We’re talking about essentials like food, gasoline, water, and lodging,” Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said. “If you notice prices are significantly higher than usual, you should report it to the county attorney’s office.” With the Houston area under a disaster declaration a week after Hurricane Beryl, businesses are prohibited from taking advantage of the situation. Violators face penalties. Menefee’s office has already received over 180 price-gouging complaints. “I know there are even…
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Ronald Ronnie Palmer Jr., 44, charged with capital murder for the death of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, will remain in jail without bond. Palmer also faces two counts of aggravated assault for an incident earlier that night. During his first court appearance on Monday in the 248th District Court, the judge denied bond for his capital murder charge. The district attorney’s office has filed a motion to hold Palmer in jail until trial, with a decision pending after a proof-evident hearing in September. Prosecutors indicated they are considering the death penalty but will review all evidence…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The FBI has been warning for years about an increase in threats against elected officials. The FBI Houston Field Office informed 13 Investigates that the agency is “constantly intercepting threats” against candidates and politicians. “Unfortunately, these threats against elected officials are not uncommon,” said FBI Houston Spokesperson Christina Garza. Just last month, 24-year-old Isaac Ambe Nformangum from Richmond was convicted for threatening Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Federal prosecutors revealed that Nformangum called the Senator’s Houston office and left a voicemail stating, “You will be found and killed.” In another case last month, 61-year-old Brian Michael…
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A week after Hurricane Beryl struck, many residents are still grappling with power outages and home damage. On Monday afternoon, local officials introduced the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund, which has already raised $3 million. “The funds will be distributed through trusted nonprofits, which will determine the recipients,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Hidalgo noted that over 68,000 homes in Harris County have been damaged, with 142 of those homes completely destroyed. Additionally, FEMA funding has been approved to aid recovery efforts. “There’s short-term assistance available, providing $750 that can be received within 48 hours,”…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Fredrik Sjodin’s Sugar Land neighborhood endured four days without power following Hurricane Beryl. Sjodin shared with ABC13 that he had previously requested CenterPoint Energy’s assistance in clearing vegetation near power lines before the storm, but his request went unanswered. “It’s frustrating when it’s something that could have been easily prevented,” he said. Sjodin, who has faced similar issues during other storms, added, “Instead of addressing this proactively, it becomes a big mess afterward.” Over the weekend, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott echoed Sjodin’s concerns during a press conference. Abbott accused CenterPoint Energy of cutting corners and gave…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Officials, family members, and union representatives are urging the public to leave CenterPoint Energy’s linemen alone as they work to restore power across Greater Houston after Hurricane Beryl. The Houston Police Department has received multiple reports of threats, harassment, and violence against the workers in the past week. Ed Allen, business manager for IBEW Local 66, spoke at a Sunday press conference about the hostile conditions faced by employees, calling the treatment unacceptable. “We’ve had guys with guns pulled on them, rocks thrown at them, and people brandishing AK-47s. It needs to stop,” Allen said. “Several…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It may take weeks to fully understand the death toll caused by Hurricane Beryl. At least 13 people in the Houston area are suspected to have died due to the devastating hurricane, and many fear that more fatalities will occur as residents continue to deal with power outages and damage. While multiple agencies track storm-related deaths, the final count will be determined by the medical examiner, who will consider various factors. The Shaw family has been without power since Beryl hit last Monday. visited the family on Saturday as they surrounded 89-year-old Mary Shaw. Despite being…
