HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Just two days after the application portal for Texas Rent Relief reopened, the state announced that it’s closing again because it has been inundated with applicants who are desperate for help. More than 70,000 applications were submitted just within the first 24 hours, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs said. The agency said previously the …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 17-year-old is facing a capital murder charge in the shooting death of a transgender woman eight months ago. Marisela Castro was found shot in the middle of Centerwood Street in the North Shore neighborhood at about 2 a.m. on July 29. Houston police detectives do not believe the teen, who was 16 at the time of …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The oldest animal at the Houston Zoo is also its newest father. At 90 years old, an endangered radiated tortoise named Mr. Pickles and his mate Mrs. Pickles welcomed three new little ones: Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeño. The eggs were a surprise to the staff. A herpetology keeper happened to stumble upon Mrs. Pickles as she laid …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An H-E-B receipt appears to be the key to solving the case of two men murdered in the Heights area in January. Kathy Vu was recently arrested and charged with tampering and fabricating physical evidence in the murders of Dana Ryssdal and James Martin III. Charging documents state she concealed a firearm and “blood evidence” in connection …

AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) — Two important bills that can make an impact on the court system are making their way before the legislature in Austin this session. The first bill is Senate Bill 402, the sponsors’ goals are to prioritize murder and capital murder court cases. The other is House Bill 130, it’s the push for more courts to alleviate the backlog in Harris …

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (KTRK) — The No. 1 Houston Cougars didn’t play their best game on Thursday night, but they avoided an embarrassing 16-versus-1 upset against Northern Kentucky. The Coogs came out with the 63-52 win despite 17 turnovers and losing star senior Marcus Sasser, who started the game with a nagging groin ailment. Sasser played in the first 18 minutes of …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Aaron Rodgers came out of the darkness and shined a light on his near future on Wednesday when he revealed his intention to continue his nearly two-decade NFL career elsewhere other than with the Green Bay Packers. During a nearly one-hour-long interview streamed live on former NFL punter Pat McAfee’s YouTube broadcast, the 19-year NFL veteran explained that …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We are in for a major temperature drop, gusty winds, and chilly showers to greet you out the door Friday morning. A cold front is here for St. Patrick’s Day. Hear how temperatures will change in this latest update from ABC13’s Elita Loresca. A strong cold front will sweep through Houston Friday morning and leave the …

HARA: The heads of Spain and Portugal welcomed Wednesday Morocco’s move to join their bid to host the 2030 World Cup, saying it boosted their chances of hosting the event. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI announced on Tuesday that his country had joined the bid by the two European countries, apparently replacing war-torn Ukraine in a three-way alliance. Spain and Portugal …