abc13.com Blog

Tears, cheers and laughs for King of Pop

2009-07-07T14:11:32-05:00

Inside the Staples Center there have been tears... cheers... and laughs for the King of Pop. From music to personal tributes there is energy in this celebration of the King of Pop's life, but also sadness. Memorable moments left the...

Inside the memorial

2009-07-07T12:42:06-05:00

Eyewitness News reporter Christine Dobbyn is covering the Michael Jackson memorial in Los Angeles. ________________________________________ Fans were urged to take their seats just a few minutes before the start of the service. Once the Jackson music stopped silence fell over...

Covering the Michael Jackson memorial

2009-07-06T18:52:47-05:00

Eyewitness News reporter Christine Dobbyn is covering the Michael Jackson memorial in Los Angeles. Below is the report she filed for abc13.com on Monday afternoon. ________________________________________ Fans gather outside the Staples Center in what will be their last chance to...

Harris County Urges Residents to Report Flooding

2009-04-28T13:53:13-05:00

Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (OHSEM) is urging residents who are experiencing flooding in their homes to call 713-881-3100 or 713-684-4000 to report damage. This is important in the gathering of information to determine how much...

METRO update

2009-04-28T13:26:12-05:00

METRO is expected to operate full service across the entire system for rush hour. As of noon, buses were operating normally, except for the following routes, which were operating at reduced frequencies due to this morning’s flooding: • 2 Bellaire...

Houston municipal court weather update

2009-04-28T12:18:09-05:00

The city of Houston Municipal Courts are open, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Those individuals who are scheduled to appear in court and are unable to make their court appearance due to inclement weather will have the opportunity to reset case(s)....

Children and Flood Waters

2009-04-28T10:56:21-05:00

A warning from Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management: Do not allow children to play in floodwaters. Hazards can include downed power lines which can electrify the water and missing manhole covers. Fast moving waters could sweep you off...

HISD athletic events, field trips and absences

2009-04-28T10:43:18-05:00

The Houston Independent School District says all HISD student absences will be excused for today and employees that could not get to work will be paid. Plus all HISD athletic events and field trips are cancelled today. SEE MORE HISD...

Houston bayou flood reports

2009-04-28T10:35:24-05:00

Heather Saucier of the Harris County Flood Control District provided Eyewitness News with the following water reports. Out of bank conditions and still rising: -Cypress Creek -Little Cypress Creek -Willow Creek Homes and property in this area could be in...

Shelters will close at 8pm, one stays open

2009-04-28T09:40:08-05:00

The Red Cross opened shelters in Northwest Harris County for area residents affected by today's floods. Two are closing at 8pm: Bear Creek United Methodist Church, 16000 Rippling Water, Houston, TX 77084 at 11 a.m. - 300 capacity. Christian Life...

Cynthia Cisneros in Cuba

2009-04-23T12:35:28-05:00

My first full day in Havana brings much anticipation. We are excited at the prospect to go out in the city and see daily life. We arrived on Wednesday in mid-afternoon and were able to see parts of 'Old Havana'...

American captain reportedly freed

2009-04-12T12:29:45-05:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- US intelligence official: 3 pirates killed, 1 in custody, American captain safe on Navy ship. READ FULL STORY

Nine Galveston PD officers suspended

2009-03-18T18:50:13-05:00

Galveston Police Department tells us nine officers have been suspended as a result of a scuffle at the San Luis Hotel: On October 6th, 2008, Chief Charles Wiley initiated an internal investigation into issues related to an incident that occurred...

Congressman Pete Olson has surgery

2009-03-12T16:49:20-05:00

From Congressman Pete Olson's office: Early this morning, Congressman Pete Olson was brought to the George Washington University Hospital after a fainting episode at the House gym. Hospital physicians determined that the episode was caused by a slow heartbeat, or...

Preparing for grandmother's testimony

2009-01-30T12:48:19-06:00

The grandmother of Riley Ann Sawyers is at the Galveston County courthouse, preparing to testify, tentatively later today, in the ‘Baby Grace’ murder trial. That's the name given to the child whose body was found in 2007, floating in a...

'Rules for Riley' discussed in court

2009-01-29T14:59:56-06:00

Late Wednesday, prosecutors introduced a handwritten note called "Rules for Riley." Today, the document surfaced again, this time as a sample of the handwriting of Royce Zeigler and Kimberly Trenor, both of whom are charged with capital murder in the...

Belts tested in Baby Grace trial

2009-01-29T12:12:53-06:00

FBI DNA analyst testifies in the "Baby Grace" trial this morning.... Rhonda Craig tells the jury that no blood was found on three belts turned over to the sheriff's department that might have been used in the fatal "discipline session"...

Kimberly Trenor trial: 1/29 evening update

2009-01-29T11:27:59-06:00

When the body of the two-year-old girl was discovered in a plastic container floating in Galveston Bay, she had to be given a name - Baby Grace - until her identity was found. It took weeks for her to be...

Kimberly Trenor trial: 1/28 afternoon update

2009-01-29T11:26:51-06:00

Morning testimony in the baby grace murder trial focused on deputies, one of whom took a harrowing statement from the mother of Riley Ann Sawyers and another who helped identify the child’s body that had been dumped in Galveston Bay....

Kimberly Trenor trial: 1/28 midday update

2009-01-29T11:25:57-06:00

Among the spectators in the capital murder trial of Kimberly Trenor today are the attorneys representing her husband, who’s also charged in the horrific beating death of Trenor’s two-year-old daughter, Riley Ann. Trenor's defense is that her husband, Royce Zeigler...

Kimberly Trenor trial: 1/28 morning update

2009-01-29T11:25:08-06:00

After Tuesday's graphic video evidence involving the statement Kimberly Trenor gave police about the death of her daughter, Riley Ann Sawyers, her attorney is trying to make that statement work to her advantage. Attorney Tom Stickler attempted to get one...

Houston police officer hits and kills pedestrian

2008-12-03T20:31:10-06:00

Eyewitness News has learned an HPD vehicle has struck and killed a pedestrian. An officer was leaving the scene of another accident and struck a homeless man picking up cans in the street. It happened at Highway 3 at Brookglen...

City Changes Daily Curfew

2008-10-03T19:26:44-05:00

Today the Galveston City Council voted unanimously to modify the island’s mandatory curfew. The daily curfew has been changed to 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. The new curfew is effective immediately and will be enforced until further notice.

Closed Galveston schools

2008-10-03T15:40:35-05:00

The lowdown on Galveston school openings and closings. FULL LINK Remaining Closed: Burnet Elementary – (bilingual & pre k students report to Oppe Elementary) (other burnet students report to Parker Elementary) Scott Elementary – (last names beginning with "A" through...

Residents Advised to Contact Galveston County Elections Officials to Participate in “Vote by Mail” program

2008-10-02T16:56:10-05:00

With thousands of Galveston residents displaced from their homes, the Postal Service is advising citizens to contact the office of the Galveston County Clerk if they wish to determine their eligibility to participate in the “Vote by Mail” process. “We...

City of Galveston begins testing tap water

2008-10-01T20:30:08-05:00

The City of Galveston began testing samples from the city’s water system this week. A citywide boil water notice has been in effect since September 15th, just days after partial water service was restored to the island following Hurricane Ike’s...

GISD Schools will open on Tuesday, October 7, 2008

2008-09-30T20:18:24-05:00

UPDATED October 1, 2008 GISD Schools will open on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. All GISD Employees need to report to work on Friday, October 3, 2008, unless you were notified by your Supervisor to report by an earlier date. If...

2-alarm Pasadena warehouse fire

2008-09-24T21:47:18-05:00

A small warehouse fire in Pasadena spread to an auto body/paint business Wednesday night. Around 80 to 90 Pasadena and Houston firefighters responded. There were reports of explosions which the fire departments believe were caused by paint thinner. We received...

Judge Emmett Issues Order Suspending Animal Impoundment & Boarding Fees

2008-09-24T17:44:42-05:00

Due to Hurricane Ike and its aftermath, many animals have been displaced and are being housed in impoundment facilities of the Veterinary Public Health Division of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Following a Disaster Declaration by the Governor...

Return to Bolivar Peninsula

2008-09-24T17:29:43-05:00

Residents and property owners will be allowed to return to the Bolivar Peninsula for a “look and leave” visit beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday. “Finally we have been able to get all the pieces in place to have a...

Harris County Toll Road Authority to Resume Toll Collection

2008-09-24T17:28:39-05:00

HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and county Toll Road Authority officials decided today that traffic conditions now warrant the resumption of toll collections on the Harris County Toll Road system. Therefore, drivers should be prepared to begin paying...

Texas Renters May Be Eligible for Disaster Assistance

2008-09-24T16:22:34-05:00

Texas renters who suffered damage to their residences from Hurricane Ike may be eligible for disaster assistance. Federal grants to rent a place to live may be available for renters whose primary residence requires repairs to make it habitable. Eligible...

Shell flaring

2008-09-24T16:20:29-05:00

From Shell: There will be intermittent flaring at Shell Deer Park over the next few days as the company restarts the refinery and chemical plant. The site was shut down last week in preparation for Hurricane Ike. Shell is pleased...

Texas Renters May Be Eligible for Disaster Assistance AUSTIN, Texas

2008-09-24T14:48:53-05:00

Which toll road is charging and which one is not

2008-09-24T14:47:56-05:00

The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) announced it will resume collecting tolls Thursday. Tolls in Harris County are still waived until further notice.

Temporary housing plan for displaced Ike victims

2008-09-24T09:54:09-05:00

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced a rental assistance program that will provide temporary rental payments and case management services to help thousands of families who were displaced...

CenterPoint Energy restores power to 75% of its customers

2008-09-23T21:12:27-05:00

Houston – Sept. 23, 2008 – As of 8:36 p.m., CenterPoint Energy has restored electricity to 75 percent of those customers impacted by Hurricane Ike. Of the 2.15 million customers who lost power, the company has restored power to over...

Pearland ISD update

2008-09-23T21:11:30-05:00

Wednesday, September 24: No school for students or staff. Thursday, September 25: All faculty and staff report to your assigned campuses. No school for students. Students will be notified of district status each day by Connect-Ed, the district Website, School-alerts.com...

Three more HOV lanes open

2008-09-23T17:39:11-05:00

METRO will be opening the US 290, US 59 Southwest and US 59 Eastex HOV lanes at 3 p.m. today, Tuesday, Sept 23, 2008. Because of a continuing power outage at the Pinemont Park & Ride lot (6201 Pinemont), the...

HCPHES Begins Spraying Operation for Mosquitoes

2008-09-23T17:37:41-05:00

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) will conduct the first round of ground-based spray operations (spray truck) on Sunday evening, September 21, 2008 from approximately 8:30pm until 4:00am in the western portion...

RED CROSS Opens Big Shelter

2008-09-23T17:33:55-05:00

AMERICAN RED CROSS OPENS LARGE SHELTER IN HOUSTON TO HOUSE EVACUEES RETURNING BY BUS (Houston, Texas)-- A former Auchan superstore is a Houston Red Cross shelter for returning evacuees who were bused to other Texas cities before Hurricane Ike hit....

Comcast provides outage updates

2008-09-23T17:30:21-05:00

Customers able to Track Progress in their Specific Community HOUSTON - (September 22, 2008) - Comcast, Houston's primary provider of broadband services, has been working around the clock to restore services interrupted by Hurricane Ike to its customers throughout the...

Fort Bend ISD to request waiver

2008-09-23T15:28:35-05:00

From Fort Bend ISD: Update- Sept. 23, 2:30 pm Fort Bend ISD plans to submit a waiver request to the Texas Education Agency to excuse lost instructional days due to Hurricane Ike At the September 22 business meeting of the...

Comcast announces Ike credits for customers

2008-09-23T11:39:40-05:00

Comcast is continuing to work diligently to restore service to customers along the Greater Texas Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Comcast will be providing credits to customers whose service was interrupted. Customers should call us at 1-800-COMCAST...

No classes for Hodges Bend Middle School in Ft. Bend

2008-09-23T07:51:12-05:00

Hodges Bend Middle School Due to problems experienced overnight with water and air-conditioning, Hodges Bend Middle School, 16510 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77083, will not have classes today, Tuesday, September 23. Fort Bend ISD’s School Messenger call-out system will be utilized...

CenterPoint Energy customer outage update

2008-09-22T20:16:29-05:00

CenterPoint Energy customer outage update Total customers with power: 1.54 million (68 percent of total customers) Total customers without power: 713,000 (32 percent of total customers) Total customers restored: 1.44 million Total number of customers in service territory: 2.26 million...

Harris County jury calls cancelled for the week

2008-09-22T16:56:18-05:00

Judge Don Stricklin has advised that, because of the ongoing problems the citizens of Harris County are experiencing in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the jury calls for the entire week of September 22-26, 2008 have been cancelled. Depending on...

Court Resumes Wednesday For Galveston County Residents With Child Support Cases

2008-09-22T16:34:22-05:00

GALVESTON – Galveston County child support court will resume operation at a temporary location on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. Until further notice, child support court will be held at the Jerry Esmond Juvenile Justice Center, 6101 Attwater Avenue in Texas...

Entergy Texas, Inc. outages

2008-09-22T16:23:04-05:00

Outages 392,600 Current outages 54,908* Customers restored 337,692 Percent restored 86%

Humble ISD reopens

2008-09-22T16:06:10-05:00

Humble ISD re-opens for students on Sept. 25th. View updates at www.humble.k12.tx.us. Complete list of school closings