HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A program aimed at reducing crime in the hot spots of unincorporated Harris County has wrapped up its first month. Commissioners approved $2.6 million to fund Harris County Safe on Nov. 30. The initiative splits up 96 deputies between seven areas that have been identified as having high crime. They are patrolling during specific times that the sheriff’s office has identified as being problematic. Working the program would be overtime for the deputies. During the commissioner’s court meeting, both Commissioner Jack Cagle and Commissioner Tom Ramsey stated they hoped the constables would be involved. “I…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Thursday marked nearly 119 years since the first group of Korean immigrants arrived in the United States and settled in Hawaii. The date, Jan. 13 is now known as National Korean American Day to recognize their significant contributions and celebrate their culture and heritage. According to the Migration Policy Institute, approximately 14,000 Korean Americans live in the Greater Houston area. But their lived experiences are all different and individually unique. Some immigrated to the U.S., while others were born and raised in Texas. Hyungja Norman gets emotional when she thinks about the Korean immigrants who first came…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A new livestream camera showing off Lovett Hall at Rice University was set up during Christmas break. Since then, the camera has stirred up some controversy as students say they have safety concerns. “It’s not just that they are not communicating with us. It is also that they are minimizing and brushing off the safety concerns that we have,” said Sammi Johnson, a senior at the university studying English. Johnson said she would like to see the new addition to the roof of the Fondren Library taken down. “The whole idea behind it was just to show off…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A heavy truck accident on the South Loop westbound lanes at I-45 is slowing down freeway traffic, and drivers should try to avoid the area if possible. All westbound lanes of the South Loop at I-45 have reopened after a hazmat spill closed it for several hours. The lanes were closed just after a single-vehicle wreck just before 1 p.m. Thursday. The heavy truck accident involves a hazmat spill. The afternoon and evening rush hour commute were impacted. In a 7:33 p.m. update, TxDOT provided the update that all lanes had reopened. has real-time traffic data…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Omicron is the most contagious variant to date with more than 143,000 active cases reported in Harris County and in the city of Houston. Local health experts said as the infection rates increase, so do cases and hospitalization numbers. “We’re getting a sense from a lot of the data we’re seeing from the hospitals, from wastewater, and from other data sources, that the new cases look like they’re peaking,” said Dr. James McDeavitt with Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. McDeavitt also said the new cases are a result of community spread and predicts Houston-area hospitals will…
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for a man who left a trail of destruction in his wake following two robberies Wednesday night. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said it began with a robbery at an Exxon gas station off the Eastex Freeway and Little York. Surveillance video shows the suspect used a gun to threaten the clerk, demanding he place cash and cigarettes into a trash can. The man is then seen loading up on scratch-off tickets as a customer walks up to the counter and confronts him. “I look like that, and I…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston police are searching for a husband accused of beating and stabbing his pregnant wife before trying to set her on fire. Emmanuel Earl Mallard, 27, is charged with aggravated assault of a family member, arson, and violation of a protective order. He has a lengthy criminal history of family violence, theft and burglary. On Wednesday, police said Mallard forced his wife into his vehicle and drove her to his father’s house on Talton Street in northeast Houston. There, he threatened to kill her in order to prevent her from testifying against him, police said. He…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — You can enjoy one more day of spring-like temperatures before a strong cold front arrives this weekend ! After a chilly start, Friday will be another warm one with highs in the mid 70s. A strong cold front moves in Saturday morning bringing a chance for a few showers, cold temperatures, and windy conditions! The National Weather Service Houston confirmed a total of seven tornadoes touched down Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. They were reported in Humble, Kingwood, Montgomery, near IAH Airport, Dayton, and in Spring Branch. When is our next cold front? Our next cold…
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — With less than two months away from the primary election for governor of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott made a stop in Houston Wednesday at the Houston Police Officer’s Union headquarters, picking up their endorsement and the endorsement of several other local law enforcement associations. During the event, Abbott, who is seeking his third term, spoke about his commitment to supporting law enforcement and bail reform. He also spoke about the challenges at the border and said the drug and human smuggling problems there are impacting local law enforcement. “Beto O’Rourke was to the left of Joe…
Southlake’s COVID-19 mobile testing site was closed Wednesday until further notice after experiencing significant delays in results from the lab processing more than 1,000 tests administered over the weekend, the city said. “The contractor was having difficulties keeping up with the supply and demand, so we have closed the site for now until they can process what they have already taken in and can show improvement,” said Amanda Meneses, emergency manager with the Southlake Fire Department. The city initially said Cleburne-based Advanced Medical Diagnostics of Texas was processing the lab results, but its consultant decided to switch labs, which led…
