The Texas Supreme Court announced that they set Feb. 24 for oral arguments in a challenge to the state’s Senate Bill 8 abortion law as the court considers a question about enforcement of the nation’s most stringent restrictions. The question about whether state officials or agencies can enforce SB 8 stems from Whole Woman’s Health vs. Jackson, a case challenging the law that went into effect Sept. 1. The court accepted the case on Jan. 21. Abortion providers have gotten mostly unfavorable rulings in court since their legal challenge began against SB 8, which bans abortions after approximately six weeks. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Yet another North Texas superintendent is leaving her post. On Tuesday, Plano schools superintendent Sara Bonser announced that she will retire at the end of the current school year. She becomes the ninth area superintendent to announce either a retirement, resignation or departure over the past three months. Bonser said in a district press release that she was leaving her role to deal with family matters. “Balancing work and family has always been important to me, but never more so than now that my sister is dealing with a critical illness,” she said. Bonser has served as Plano’s leader since…
A federal judge in Plano has agreed with prosecutors that Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes should remain behind bars for his alleged role in plotting a military-style attack against the government at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly Priest Johnson wrote Wednesday in her order that the evidence against Rhodes was strong, including his use of “armed groups” to support and “further escalate” the violent siege of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Johnson also cited in her order Rhodes’ access to “substantial weaponry;” his ability to finance a “future insurrection;” and his “continued advocacy for violence against the…
Lawyers representing several Dallas strip clubs and other sex-based businesses now ordered to shut down by 2 a.m. every night are suing the city claiming the new rules are unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed in federal court at least two hours after a unanimous vote by the Dallas City Council that will require all sexually oriented businesses in the city to close between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The new rules are a first for the city and went into effect immediately after the council approval, but likely can’t be enforced until the ordinance is published Saturday. The suit seeks a judge’s…
The Biden administration has officially withdrawn a rule that would have required workers at big companies to get vaccinated or face regular COVID testing requirements. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed the withdrawal Tuesday. But the agency said it still strongly encourages workers to get vaccinated. In early November, OSHA announced a vaccine-or-test mandate for companies with at least 100 employees. The rule — which would have impacted more than 80 million U.S. workers — was originally set to go into effect on Jan. 4. But numerous states and business groups challenged the rule in court. On Jan. 13,…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston police are in pursuit of a man who they said is wanted for a sex offense crime involving a child. On or around June 1, 2019, 34-year-old Shaun Gilliard performed indecent sexual acts with a child in the 10500 block of Beechnut Street, according to police. During an investigation, the child confessed they were sexually abused. Police described Gillard as a Black man with brown eyes and black hair. He is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, according to police. As of Tuesday, Gillard has an active warrant for his arrest and is being charged…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — In efforts to increase vaccination rates, the Houston Health Department is now offering a $1,000 incentive. According to the department’s website, between Jan. 29 and March 10, people who get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster shot at one of the eight eligible sites will be entered into the weekly drawings for a $1,000 gift card. The sites include the following: Acres Home Multi-Service Center 6719 W. Montgomery Rd. Mondays, Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center 3810 W.…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — There’s a global rise in autoimmune diseases and the western diet is to blame, according to researchers at the London Francis Crick Institute. The new data shows that in the past 40 years there has been a significant rise in the rates of autoimmune diseases around the globe. Dr. Brooke Goldner, who is an autoimmune disease specialist, told ABC13 that researchers are studying if genetics have anything to do with the rise in cases. They found that genetics aren’t the cause- it is food. The spread of western diets match the spread of autoimmune diseases like…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A new bridge over Brays Bayou has opened as part of a huge project in hopes of reducing the flood risk in southwest Houston. The bridge runs between the 7800 and 7900 blocks of Buffalo Speedway near North Braeswood. The $9.6 million project included the demolishment of the previous bridge and the construction of a higher, longer, and wider bridge. The bridge and its accompanying channel improvements will increase the channel’s capacity, which will allow for more floodwaters to flow throughout Brays Bayou. The replacement is part of the $480 million ‘Project Brays’ which involved widening…
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a pregnant woman in north Harris County. The shooting happened Wednesday evening in the 21500 block of Donata Circle. Harris County Precinct 4 Constable deputies said a man has been detained in the incident. An investigation is still ongoing. At this time, details regarding what led to the shooting were not immediately available.
