Tag

Houston

All articles tagged with #houston

Houston postal carriers tied to $23M stolen-check scheme
crime7 hours ago

Houston postal carriers tied to $23M stolen-check scheme

Five people, including three Houston postal carriers, have been federally charged in a six-year scheme that allegedly stole and sold more than $23 million in checks. Recruited carriers allegedly removed checks from the mail and advertised them on Telegram in a group called 'Slips and Chips,' with the largest identified check at $1.5 million. Stolen checks were shipped to buyers via FedEx; Alyssa Bryant is accused of selling a stolen check for $25,000. All defendants face federal charges and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Five indicted in Houston stolen-check scheme tied to USPS routes
local19 hours ago

Five indicted in Houston stolen-check scheme tied to USPS routes

Five people, including three USPS mail carriers, have been indicted in a federal case accusing them of stealing roughly $24 million in checks from mail on Houston routes and selling them via a Telegram channel called 'slipsandchips'; Vaughn recruited Kilpatrick, Alexander and Joubert to steal checks and Bryant to purchase them, with shipments sent by FedEx. The scheme spanned roughly Oct 2022–Sept 2024 and targeted banks including Chase, Amegy, Citibank, BMO and Stellar. They face conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple bank-fraud charges, with potential asset forfeiture if convicted. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Abbott Targets Airport Grants Over Muslim Ablution Facilities
politics10 days ago

Abbott Targets Airport Grants Over Muslim Ablution Facilities

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to claw back state and federal funding from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston airports after plans for ablution facilities used for Muslim prayer surfaced; he sent letters to airport chiefs and to the U.S. Transportation Secretary seeking investigations, arguing the facilities discriminate based on religion. DFW canceled its planned station, while Houston’s facility has existed since 2024. The move fits a pattern of anti-Islam rhetoric in Texas GOP politics, with Abbott spotlighting funding leverage to press issues favored by his base.

Apple Opens Houston Manufacturing Hub for AI Servers and Mac Minis
technology11 days ago

Apple Opens Houston Manufacturing Hub for AI Servers and Mac Minis

Apple opened a Houston Advanced Manufacturing Center with U.S. officials, saying the site will manufacture AI servers now and Mac Minis later, while also offering training programs and highlighting domestic chip sourcing as part of a broader push to boost U.S. manufacturing. The move comes as Tim Cook transitions toward executive chairman, with leadership changes on the horizon at Apple.

Houston-area cyclosporiasis cases rise as county tally hits 54
health20 days ago

Houston-area cyclosporiasis cases rise as county tally hits 54

Health officials report 54 cyclosporiasis cases in Harris County and 34 in Houston (10 new in the city this week), with Galveston County also reporting cases; 2026 totals are tracking similarly to this point last year. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss; prevention focuses on washing fresh fruits and vegetables and washing hands before handling or eating food. Seek medical care if symptoms develop.

Texas DA: Van contents from fatal Houston ICE shooting were not drugs
state-watch1 month ago

Texas DA: Van contents from fatal Houston ICE shooting were not drugs

The Harris County District Attorney said substances found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van after a fatal ICE shooting in Houston tested negative for narcotics or illicit drugs. The FBI obtained a search warrant because small bags in the van appeared to contain meth, though the ACLU suggested they could be electrolyte mixes. Salgado Araujo’s family has been notified and the investigation remains pending, with Rep. Sylvia Garcia noting Salgado Araujo was not the intended target and urging independent, transparent inquiry.

Testing clears substance in Houston ICE shooting van of drugs, DA says
crime1 month ago

Testing clears substance in Houston ICE shooting van of drugs, DA says

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that testing found the substance collected from the van involved in the Houston ICE traffic-stop shooting was not drugs. The FBI had previously indicated the presence of a white substance in the vehicle in a warrant application, while Salgado Araujo’s family argued it was likely salt or an electrolyte mix. The unsealed warrant drew backlash and renewed scrutiny of ICE tactics, though investigators note the shooting is under review and the involved agents were not wearing body cameras.

Bertha Nears the Texas Coast, Triggers Storm Watch and Prep in Houston and Galveston
weather1 month ago

Bertha Nears the Texas Coast, Triggers Storm Watch and Prep in Houston and Galveston

Tropical Storm Bertha is approaching the Texas coast, prompting a Tropical Storm Watch for Galveston and much of the Upper Texas Coast. Forecasts call for sustained winds of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and increasing rainfall, especially along the I-10 corridor toward the coast. Officials say impacts are not expected to be widespread, and the storm could bring relief from recent heat, but residents are urged to review hurricane plans, stock supply kits, and prepare for a more active season.

Passengers allege ICE rammed their van before shooting in Houston
national1 month ago

Passengers allege ICE rammed their van before shooting in Houston

Two passengers in the van involved in the July 7 Houston shooting say two unmarked ICE vehicles struck the van from behind and the side before an ICE officer fired, challenging the agency’s claim of self-defense; their handwritten statements were released in federal court as part of detention petitions and describe gun switching, treatment after the shooting, and the absence of body or dashboard cameras. The case has intensified scrutiny of ICE tactics, with officials defending unmarked vehicles and calls for body cameras, while FBI investigations continue and a court weighs detention and deportation issues.

Judge blocks deportation of Houston ICE shooting witness as petitions move forward
immigration1 month ago

Judge blocks deportation of Houston ICE shooting witness as petitions move forward

A federal judge ordered DHS not to deport Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a passenger in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van, while his habeas petition seeks release from ICE detention after the July 7 Houston shooting; the order also bars transferring him outside the Southern District of Texas without the court’s permission, and two other passengers have filed similar petitions as ICE says it will comply.

Unsealed warrant in Houston ICE shooting triggers smear-claims against prosecutors
politics1 month ago

Unsealed warrant in Houston ICE shooting triggers smear-claims against prosecutors

After a Houston ICE shooting, an FBI search of the van reportedly found baggies that investigators described as meth, but a search warrant filed under seal was suddenly unsealed while the case remained active, prompting criticism that federal prosecutors are smearing the deceased and his passengers. Family attorneys and local officials dispute the drug claim, questioning the investigation and transparency, while the FBI has not confirmed testing results or released all evidence. The controversy centers on the unsealing move and its potential impact on the ongoing investigation.

Salt, Not Drugs, Allegedly Found in Van After Houston ICE Shooting
crime1 month ago

Salt, Not Drugs, Allegedly Found in Van After Houston ICE Shooting

Family attorney says the substance found in the van tied to the Houston ICE shooting was granulated salt, not drugs, and urges expedited testing to clear Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s brother, Victor Salgado Araujo; authorities maintain the substance’s identity does not affect whether the use of force was justified and note the ICE agents involved did not wear body cameras.