Houston News

Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s announcement of an independent panel to scrutinize the police department’s handling of over 261,000 cases left unresolved due to staffing shortages has shed light on the severity of the situation. Obtaining copies of sexual assault and other incident reports marked with an “SL” code by the Houston Police Department (HPD), which signifies cases suspended due to …

Emergency responders successfully rescued two individuals who became trapped in a trench in southwest Houston on Thursday afternoon. The Houston Fire Department swiftly reacted to the emergency, arriving at the 7100 block of Buffalo Speedway near Maroneal within six minutes of receiving the call. The individuals were extricated from the 10-foot trench, located between two apartment buildings at the Camden …

Houston firefighters are poised to secure their first contract with the city in eight years, marking the end of a lengthy political saga. Mayor John Whitmire, endorsed by the union during his campaign, has fulfilled his promise by reaching an agreement worth over $650 million. This deal aims to prevent costly legal battles and address longstanding issues of low morale …

A man widely regarded as a spiritual leader in Texas now faces accusations of exploiting religion to groom and manipulate boys and young men, with allegations of sexual assault and abuse spanning decades. Daniel Savala, a registered sex offender since 2013, is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Harris County. The suit claims that despite his status, college campus …

Sean Teare, newly elected as the Democrat for Harris County, believes he has a plan to address the county’s longstanding criminal justice challenges. With issues ranging from court backlogs to an overcrowded jail and stretched prosecutors, Teare aims to enact significant reforms. In an interview with Eyewitness News following his victory over two-time incumbent DA Kim Ogg, Teare outlined his …

In Houston, Texas, city leaders have pledged transparency regarding the Houston Police Department’s handling of over a quarter-million suspended incident reports, a promise reiterated by Chief Troy Finner and Mayor John Whitmire at a March 7 press conference. To uphold accuracy and transparency for victims and the public, Mayor Whitmire announced the formation of an independent panel comprising five members. …

A man who survived a shooting outside Lincoln Bar on Washington Avenue nearly two weeks ago revealed that he is now paralyzed from the stomach down. According to Houston police, he is one of four victims who were struck by gunfire. The incident allegedly began when two men engaged in a confrontation inside the bar and were subsequently ejected by …

In response to Mayor John Whitmire’s announcement of an independent panel to examine the Houston Police Department’s handling of over 261,000 uninvestigated cases due to staffing shortages, 13 Investigates has obtained insight into these alleged crimes. Numerous incident reports marked with an “SL” code, indicating suspension due to insufficient personnel, were obtained by. Business owner Javier Cedra, among many affected …

A Houston woman has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities by using stolen personal information, including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, to file over $300,000 in bogus insurance claims. Ariana York, the suspect, is alleged to have possessed information belonging to 21 individuals and submitted claims to three different insurance companies. Despite her arrest in December, …

Terry Rivera, the man accused of fatally shooting a 12-year-old boy last week, made an appearance before a judge on Wednesday and was granted a $2 million bond. Appearing in an orange jumpsuit, Rivera attended the court session following his extradition to Harris County from Mexico, where he had been on the run for a week. Rivera’s arrest took place …