Plano police have dropped a misdemeanor charge against a Black teen who was arrested last week while walking home from work in a snowstorm. Rodney “R.J.” Reese, 18, had faced a charge of being a pedestrian in the roadway, but Police Chief Ed Drain said that the arrest wasn’t consistent with why officers had been called. Meanwhile, Reese told KDFW-TV (Channel …

HOUSTON, Texas — U-Haul is offering free self-storage and U-Box container usage to Texas residents impacted by the ongoing winter storms and widespread power outages, according to a Feb. 18 media release. The disaster-relief assistance program is being extended at more than 150 company storage facilities in the Lone Star State. Those interested can visit U-Haul’s website to locate a storage facility …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houstonians are in for another long cleanup process in the wake of last week’s winter storm that pushed home power usage and water supplies to the limit. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday announced details of a new Winter Storm Relief Fund, the latest Houston and Harris County joint disaster recovery assistance program. While the inner workings …

After a historic winter storm in Texas knocked out power to millions and left dozens dead, officials who manage the state’s grid, the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, say they aren’t responsible in court because they have sovereign immunity to legal cases. Sovereign immunity is the legal principle that protects some governmental agencies from lawsuits because allowing the suits would …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Tuesday will be almost an exact carbon copy of Monday: A cool start in the 40s but then sunny and in the 70s. You’ll want to enjoy this sunshine while you can because the sky will cloud over Wednesday ahead of our next cool front, and we may not see much of the sun until sometime …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As the Houston area continues to deal with the winter storm recovery, multiple groups have organized free water or food distribution events throughout the city. The list below will be updated with new information as we get it. If you are in the Montgomery County area and need help, find a food pantry on this website. Katy …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed Texans Monday following the deadly winter storm, saying the state’s legislature would begin an investigation this week into the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or as the public has heard it referred to many times over the last several days, ERCOT. Patrick said …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The family of a 95-year-old man who died during last week’s winter storm is now suing ERCOT, according to an attorney. Houston attorney Larry Taylor said Doyle Austin died in frigid temperatures inside of his Acres Homes residence after spending more than two days without power or natural gas. In the lawsuit, Taylor notes several causes …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As that winter storm moved in on Texas last week, the cost of our electricity surged. The cost of electricity shot up from about $.09 per kilowatt hour to $9.00 per kilowatt hour. Jesson Bradshaw with Energy Ogre says customers who use real-time market plans, getting their electricity at wholesale prices from companies like Griddy, will …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Plumbers across southeast Texas report record demand after last week’s historic freeze. Abacus Plumbing told they received 20,000 calls for service on Friday. On average, they receive 500 to 700 a day. We caught up with Christopher Castro on a service call in northwest Harris County. “Today, I started myself in League City, then went to …