Houston News

Houston — A city where your closest neighbor may be toxic By Karen Graham Houston - Houston’s lack of zoning restrictions has left many residents with neighbors they don’t want: petrochemical facilities and businesses that handle hazardous materials.

Hurricane Harvey's toxic impact deeper than public told By Karen Graham As first responders and residents struggled to save lives and property during the record-shattering deluge of Hurricane Harvey, the release of toxic chemicals was largely overlooked. But now we are finding out the truth was kept from the public.

As Texas flood waters recede, new health hazards emerge By Karen Graham Houston - Houston residents trying to return to flooded homes after Hurricane Harvey should wear breathing masks against molds and bacteria from the city’s sewers and watch for alligators and snakes, the city fire chief said on Saturday.

Houston folks at risk from toxic chemicals and bacteria By Karen Graham Houston - At least 13 of the 41 Superfund toxic waste sites in the Houston area have been flooded or damaged by Hurricane Harvey, according to the EPA, adding to the worries of health officials already concerned over bacterial contamination in the flood waters.

New Orleans unveils new 'Resilient New Orleans' plan By Karen Graham New Orleans - On Tuesday, just shy of being 10 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and unleashed a chain of events resulting in 1,800 deaths and $135 billion worth of damage, the city released a first-of-its-kind resilience plan.

Michael Dell is raising $100 million to rebuild Houston By Business Insider On Friday, tech billionaire Michael Dell broke his silence on what he plans to do for Houston, his home town that's been devastated by catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey.

Op-Ed: Houston has a golden opportunity to come back as a 'smart city' By Karen Graham Houston - Before Hurricane Harvey hit the southeast coast of Texas, the U.S. had already been through nine weather and climate disaster events that saw losses exceeding $1 billion each, according to NOAA. The big question — Will Houston be smart when it rebuilds?

Nine injured in Houston shooting, suspect killed By AFP Washington - A gunman opened fire in Houston on Monday just before daybreak, wounding nine people before police shot and killed him, police said. The shooter was a Houston-area lawyer, the Texas city's police chief Martha Montalvo told a news conference.

Singer Jae Franklin releases new solo single 'Weary' Special By Adrian Peel Back in school, Jae and her sister were in a band called 'Girls Tyme' with classmates Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland. Digital Journal asked the Houston-born star about her new single and about her memories of that time.

Suspicious fire at mosque on Christmas Day By Kavelle Christie Houston - Investigators with the Houston Fire Department are investigating a possible case of arson at a mosque in southeast Houston on Christmas Day.

Shots fired at vigil for 13-year-old Houston drive-by victim By Brett Wilkins Houston - Gunshots rang out at a Sunday evening vigil for a 13-year-old Houston girl killed in a drive-by shooting the night before.

Op-Ed: Astros exploit Yankees' weaknesses in wild-card game win By Nathan Salant New York - A few days ago, the New York Yankees sounded like they expected to be a factor in baseball's 2015 post-season tournament that began yesterday.

'Good guy with gun' shoots carjacking victim in head, runs off By Megan Hamilton Houston - A "good guy with a gun" attempted to stop a carjacking Saturday night and the whole thing went horribly wrong when he allegedly shot the pickup truck's owner in the head and then fled the scene, Houston police say.

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina dead at 22 By AFP Los Angeles - Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only child of pop legend Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown, has died aged 22, six months after she was found unconscious in a bathtub in her home."She is finally at peace in the arms of God.

Ex-outfielder Darryl Hamilton dead in apparent murder-suicide By Nathan Salant Houston - Former major leaguer Darryl Hamilton, an analyst for the MLB television network, was killed Sunday in what appears to be a murder-suicide.

We Were Wolves: Interview with singer/guitarist Drew Haught Special By Adrian Peel Festival appearances, new EPs, hard-rocking tunes and the challenge of coming up with a name. The singer of this Houston-based band chatted over the telephone with Digital Journal about all of the above and more.

Police investigate boyfriend of Whitney Houston's daughter By AFP Washington - Police have opened a criminal probe into the boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina Brown, US media reported, one week after the 21-year old daughter of late singing legend Whitney Houston was pulled unconscious from a bathtub.

Dogs returned to family after FedEx driver takes them By Megan Hamilton Houston - A FedEx driver in Texas who allegedly stole two puppies off of a front porch has been suspended. Home security footage posted on Facebook caught the driver in action taking the two French bulldogs, Sheila and Bruno from the Correa family.

Interview with country singer Stephen Chadwick Special By Adrian Peel Responsible for one of the top country albums of 2014, the talented Texan's career is deservedly on the rise - and he has even made the first round of Grammy nominations for next year's ceremony. Digital Journal meets him.

Texas man shoots and kills home invader By Ben Morris Houston - A Harris County man shot and killed one of three home invaders early Friday morning while his mother was trying to make breakfast.

Teacher arrested after giving lap dance to student By Sylvannia Soulet Houston - A Houston middle-school teacher faces criminal charges after performing a lap dance on one of her male students for his birthday.

Aerial search for missing plane over, Australia says By Nathan Salant Canberra - An international aerial search involving more than a dozen planes looking for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was called off Monday but high-tech underwater search operations are being expanded, Australian officials leading the effort said Monday.

Search for plane debris on ocean surface ending By Nathan Salant Perth - Authorities investigating the still-unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say their search for debris floating in the Indian Ocean is ending and efforts will shift to the seabed.

'Former Australia defence boss to head MH370 search' By AFP Perth - Former Australian defence chief Angus Houston will take over coordination of the international search effort for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, reports said Sunday.

Video captures Houston worker's daring escape from fire By Michael Thomas Houston - The combination of a Houston construction worker's quick thinking and the expertise of a firefighter crew resulted in a dramatic rescue caught on video that's quickly gone viral.

Two high school students killed at house party in Houston suburb By Layne Weiss Cypress - An 18-year-old girl's birthday party in a Houston suburb Saturday night turned deadly when gunmen opened fire killing two high school students and injuring at least 20 others, authorities said Sunday.

Lone Star stabbing: Multiple victims, 1 suspect By Jonathan Nguyen Houston - The crime rate in Cypress, Texas has been notably low, as the crime rate is lower than 57% of U.S. cities. Houston however has been exponentially higher lately. This Lone Star College campus stabbing is a case in point.

School nurse's aide accused of sex with student in storage room By Eric Morales Houston - After a mother discovers explicit Facebook messages, a nurse's aide at Taylor High School in Houston is charged with having sex with a student on school grounds.

Op-Ed: Lorenzo's Restaurant waiter supports Down syndrome child rights By Elizabeth Parker Houston - In a city that goes the extra mile to support Down syndrome fund raising and awareness, it's hard to believe a waiter actually had to deal with this situation.

TransCanada office in Houston taken over by protesters By KJ Mullins The Tar Sands Blockade have entered the offices of TransCanada in Houston taking over the lobby. The protest is in progress at this moment.

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