Houston News

A forensic scientist in Harris County, Rochelle Austen, has been terminated from her position after failing routine quality assurance tests. The test results have raised concerns about the accuracy of her work in hundreds of criminal cases, including the A.J. Armstrong murder investigation. Austen’s termination stemmed from her failure to pass a routine quality assurance test, although the Harris County …

The Harris County Jail is facing renewed scrutiny over compliance issues, with recent reports highlighting concerns about inadequate staffing and deprivation of basic necessities for incarcerated individuals. An inspection report dated April 10 revealed that inmates at the Harris County Jail were deprived of mattresses, a violation of state regulations. According to state code, inmates may only be deprived of …

Changes are underway for City of Houston water bills, aiming to address longstanding issues with accuracy and customer communication. During a recent committee hearing at city hall, Public Works revealed plans to tackle the problem of approximately 125,000 households with meters that do not transmit data. To assist affected customers, the May bill will introduce a set rate based on …

A judge has denied rapper Travis Scott’s request to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits filed against him regarding his involvement in the tragic 2021 Astroworld festival, where 10 people lost their lives in a crowd surge. State District Judge Kristen Hawkins issued a brief order on Tuesday rejecting Scott’s motion to have himself and his touring and production company, XX Global, …

The FBI is seeking assistance in locating a Houston woman accused of posing as a nurse and defrauding elderly individuals of millions of dollars. Regina Thomas, along with her son, Isaiah Thomas, faces numerous wire fraud charges. While Isaiah has appeared in federal court and is currently out on bond, Regina remains at large. The FBI’s Houston office is offering …

On Thursday, a judge will weigh whether to grant court orders requested by families of patients who passed away while awaiting liver transplants against Dr. J. Steve Bynon, a transplant surgeon at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Bynon is under investigation for his role in overseeing the hospital’s liver and kidney transplant programs, both of which were recently halted due to reported …

In Houston, there’s been a notable absence of meetings between two key leaders this year. Since John Whitmire took office as Houston’s new mayor on January 1, he and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have yet to convene, despite Hidalgo’s repeated attempts to schedule a meeting. This lack of interaction is concerning for Hidalgo, who emphasizes the importance of collaboration …

The Texans’ offseason moves have garnered such acclaim that the NFL Draft may take on a different significance in Houston. ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum has bestowed an “A-plus” rating on the Texans for their offseason acquisitions, including Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter. According to Tannenbaum, Nick Caserio’s maneuvers have positioned the Texans uniquely for the draft, with any perceived draft needs …

Memorial Hermann Hospital and its liver and kidney transplant programs are facing escalating legal challenges, with three families represented by the Hastings Law Firm seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Dr. J. Steve Bynon. The order aims to prevent the destruction or deletion of evidence related to the transplant program scandal. This follows allegations of patient data manipulation against …

In Houston, a USPS postal worker, Ulysses Wells, described a terrifying incident last summer while on his delivery route. As he tended to his duties, he found himself accosted by a masked individual demanding his universal mail key. Feeling threatened, Wells complied, handing over not just the key but also his cellphone and the mail in his possession. The incident …