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  • Murder conviction reversed over judge’s reasonable doubt comments

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    HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A man found guilty of murdering a man he accused of scamming him had his conviction overturned because of a judge’s comments about reasonable doubt.

    According to court documents, the judge attempted to define reasonable doubt, which judges are not allowed to do under Texas law.

    Defense attorney Doug Gladden said the comment was made in the murder case involving his client, Erick Aguirre, in Harris County’s 232nd District Court.

    Court records identify the trial judge as Josh Hill.

    Prosecutors said Aguirre fatally shot Elliot Nix in Houston’s East End for allegedly running a parking lot scam near a restaurant.

    The defense argued Aguirre should have been acquitted on reasonable doubt since nobody saw him open fire and because the murder weapon wasn’t found.

    A jury convicted Aguirre anyway and he was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

    But on appeal, the focus shifted from the shooting to that comment which records show was made during jury selection.

    According to court documents, the judge told potential jurors that one person’s definition of beyond a reasonable doubt might be 99%, while another’s could be 60% or a gut feeling.

    The defense later argued that statement lowered prosecutors’ burden of proof.

    In its opinion, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals wrote that for more than twenty years, judges have been repeatedly warned not to define reasonable doubt at all.

    “In Texas, it is as clear as a bell that the trial judge cannot give any definition of reasonable doubt, particularly a statistical definition,” said Tom Hogan, Assistant Professor at South Texas College of Law Houston.

    Hogan said most judges know that rule, but he said Texas is actually an outlier, and most states and federal courts provide juries some guidance on what reasonable doubt means.

    “In all the years that I tried cases, the number one question that came back from the jury during deliberation was, what is beyond a reasonable doubt mean?” Hogan said.

    But he said in Texas, jurors are simply told the defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the definition is left up to them.

    The appeals court said it found the judge never corrected the 60% comment, and that failure required reversal.

    “They’re really sending a message to the other judges in Texas,” Hogan said. “Here’s the law. Follow it.”

    The ruling now sends the case back to Harris County for a new trial.

    ABC13 reached out to Judge Hill’s chambers for comment, but we have not heard back.

    The Harris County District Attorney’s Office told ABC13 that at this time, they aren’t commenting on the case.

    For more news updates, follow Sarah Al-Shaikh on Facebook and Instagram.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Sarah Al-Shaikh

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  • Trump says he doesn’t know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs, more

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    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.”

    Trump made the announcement in a social media post hours after he accused former President Barack Obama of disclosing “classified information” when Obama recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real.

    Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I don’t know if they’re real or not,” and said of Obama, “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.”

    In a post on his social media platform Thursday night, Trump said he was directing government agencies to release files related “to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

    Obama, who made his comments in a podcast appearance over the weekend, later clarified that he had not seen evidence that aliens “have made contact with us,” but said, “statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.”

    READ MORE | Obama shuts down alien buzz and says there’s no evidence they’ve made contact

    Trump told reporters Thursday that when it came to the prospect of extraterrestrial visitors: “I don’t have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.”

    Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump suggested this week that he was ready to speak about it, however, when she said on a podcast that the president had a speech prepared to deliver on aliens that he would give at the “right time.”

    That was news to the White House. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded with a laugh when she was asked about it Wednesday and told reporters, “A speech on aliens would be news to me.”

    Public interest in unidentified flying objects and the possibility of the government hiding secrets of extraterrestrial life remerged in the public consciousness after a group of former Pentagon and government officials leaked Navy videos of unknown objects to The New York Times and Politico in 2017. The renewed scrutiny prompted Congress to hold the first hearings on UFOs in 50 years in May 2022, though officials said that the objects, which appeared to be green triangles floating above a Navy ship, were likely drones.

    Since then the Pentagon has promised more transparency on the topic. In July 2022 it created the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO, which was intended to be a central place to collect reports of all military UFO encounters, taking over from a department task force.

    In 2023, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the head of AARO at the time, told reporters he didn’t have any evidence “of any program having ever existed as a to do any sort of reverse engineering of any sort of extraterrestrial (unidentified aerial phenomena).”

    The information that has been made public shows that the vast majority of UFO reports made by the military go unsolved but the ones that are identified are largely benign in nature.

    An 18-page unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024 said service members had made 485 reports of unidentified phenomena in the past year but 118 cases were found to be “prosaic objects such as various types of balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems.”

    “It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology,” the report stressed.

    Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Steve Peoples contributed to this report.

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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    AP

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  • Hole in road closes multiple lanes, delays traffic on SH 146 in Baytown, officials say

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    BAYTOWN, Texas (KTRK) — Several lanes on State Highway 146 in Baytown were closed Thursday afternoon as crews work to repair a hole in the road, according to the police department.

    At 11:26 a.m., authorities stated that the Texas Department of Transportation was on State Highway 146 northbound in the 2900 block of North Alexander Drive.

    All lanes were closed except the for the right lane and outside shoulder, officials said, adding that drivers should use caution when traveling through the area and expect minor traffic delays.

    The hole, which officials said was first reported around 7:45 a.m., measures about 5 feet by 3 feet, but the repaired hole will be 25 feet by 27 feet because crews have to remove the whole panel underneath the bridge and repour that section, TxDOT told ABC13.

    TxDOT also explained that the hole was caused by normal wear and tear that, over time, may have caused stress on the bridge deck.

    Baytown police said that while repairs were expected to be completed sometime Thursday night, they were unable to provide an exact time.

    For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Daniela Hurtado

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  • Amount buyers need to afford typical home falls for 2nd month in a row after 5 years of increases  – Houston Agent Magazine

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    Courtesy of Redfin.

    After five years of worsening, housing affordability has finally started to improve, according to a new Redfin study. 

    The amount Americans needed to earn declined 4% year over year in December, from $115,870 to $111,252, marking the second month in a row of declines after rising in nearly every month for five years in a row. Income needed to buy a home peaked at $122,000 in June. 

    Redfin attributed the improvement to lower mortgage rates and slowing home-price growth. The median home sale price in December was $426,747, up slightly from December 2024, but mortgage rates have fallen from 7% last year to about 6.1% now. Those factors brought the median monthly mortgage payment down from $2,800 to $2,675. 

    “The housing affordability crisis is showing signs of easing as costs come down slightly but meaningfully, opening the door for more Americans to make the jump to homeownership,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research. “While housing remains historically expensive, the trajectory is finally starting to reverse, with the door to buying a home opening a bit wider rather than closing tighter. But while affordability is improving, Americans are contending with other obstacles on the road to buying a home, like nerves about layoffs and economic uncertainty.” 

    Redfin considers a home affordable if a buyer taking out a mortgage spends no more than 30% of their income on monthly housing payments. Redfin based its analysis on median home sale prices, prevailing mortgage rates and property tax payments. 

    Courtesy of Redfin.

    While affordability is improving, the typical U.S. household does not earn enough to afford the median-priced home. The typical American household earns just $86,185, about $25,000 less than needed, according to the report. 

    On a local level, affordability is improving in 37 of the 50 largest U.S. cities, led by Dallas, where required earnings fell 7.4%, and followed by Sacramento, California, and Jacksonville, Florida, where the amount needed was down 6.8% and 5.9%, respectively. 

    On the flip side, the amount homebuyers needed to earn actually increased in some cities, led by Detroit (up 3.6%) and followed by Chicago (3.5%) and St. Louis (3%) 

    The typical household could actually afford to buy a median-priced home in only 12 metros, led by Pittsburgh, where buyers needed to earn $66,168, and the typical household earned $82,188, followed by St. Louis, where $73,984 is needed, and the typical household earned $87,471, and Cleveland, where $66,725 was needed, and the typical income was $76,912. 

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    John Yellig

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  • Sterling Brogan – Houston Agent Magazine

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    What was your most interesting job before going into real estate?
    When I was 20 years old I started my organization company, then we grew to remodeling inside homes which then lead me to real estate.

    Where did you grow up?
    Lancaster, Pennsylvania

    Growing up, what did you want to be?
    Fashion designer

    What do you do to relax when you’re stressed?
    Tons of doggy love or heading to Galveston, where I do a lot of investing with Airbnb.

    If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why?
    Kris Jenner, a genius in brand marketing and business savvy.

    What is Houston’s best kept secret?
    Our food choices are absolutely amazing. I love that if I want any type of cuisine, I can find it in Houston.

    What do you love most about the industry?
    Most people’s biggest dream is to become a homeowner. People work so hard to achieve this and to be apart of it at closings gives me so much excitement for their new chapters.

    What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
    Carrying the weight of my clients’ biggest financial decisions while making it look effortless. Behind every smooth closing is strategy, negotiation, risk analysis and relentless follow-through.

    What’s your best advice for generating new leads?
    Working your sphere and social medias. Open houses play a big part too.

    What are you binge-watching/reading/listening to?
    Bravo anything! I love reading self knowledge books and I’m obsessed with podcasts.

    What’s your favorite meal in Houston?
    The minestrone soup with the eggplant parmesan from the original Carrabba’s.

    Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Houston?
    The Rice Hotel building downtown. I’ve always appreciated architecture that feels built to last.

    What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on the job?
    I’ve had a deal renegotiated from the backseat of an Uber on the way to the airport. Real estate doesn’t wait and neither do I.

    What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
    I have five dogs! Four chihuahuas and one German shepherd.

    What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
    Kas Turkey. Something is super magical there with the sea, the food and the culture.

    In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
    This is a FULL-time JOB!

    Who are your favorite people to follow on social media?
    I love following any architectural digest.

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    Houston Agent

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  • Bachman Realty Group switches to The Real Brokerage – Houston Agent Magazine

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    Dallas-based Bachman Realty Group, a 65-agent team led by Tiffany and Greg Bachman, is now a part of The Real Brokerage.

    The team was previously affiliated with Fathom Realty, where they achieved a sales volume of $245 million across 650 transactions in 2025 and ranked as the brokerage’s top team in the nation for four years in a row.

    Bachman Realty Group has a market reach that extends from the Metroplex to Houston, with a specialty in assisting military members and veterans. The Bachmans cited Real’s technology offerings as a main factor in their decision to switch brokerages.

    “Real’s technology is a gamechanger,” Tiffany Bachman said. “I was incredibly impressed by how intentional Real is about building a platform that actually helps agents grow.”

    In addition to working with military clientele, Bachman Group Realty sends care packages to Texas troops deployed in other countries.

    “Bachman Realty Group exemplifies what it means to build a people-first business that scales with purpose,” Tamir Poleg, chairman and CEO of The Real Brokerage, said in a press release. “Tiffany and Greg have created an environment where agents are supported, mentored and empowered to succeed. Their commitment to service, particularly within the military community, aligns strongly with Real’s values, and we’re excited to welcome their entire organization to the platform.”

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    Emily Marek

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  • A $1.2M Chicagoland castle – Houston Agent Magazine

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    They say a man’s home is his castle. But is his castle his home?

    Complete with towers, turrets and Corinthian columns, the sellers built this Spring Grove, Illinois, property in 2012 and nicknamed it the “castle of love.”

    The property is listed by Sue Miller of Dream Real Estate for $1.2 million (royal crowns not included).

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    Emily Marek

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  • USCG rescue swimmer who saved children during July 4 flood to serve as rodeo parade grand marshal

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    HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s time to dust off your Western heritage gear (although rocking it anytime is absolutely allowed around here) and make sure your cowboy boots are ready for the spotlight as we celebrate the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade.

    Watch LIVE on ABC13 | SATURDAY, FEB. 28 at 10 A.M.

    The festivities will again kick off from downtown Houston, with decorative floats, marching bands, wagons, trail riders and horses all stepping off for the parade on Walker St. at Bagby St.

    The parade will snake around to Travis St., Bell St., Louisiana St., and Lamar St. before finishing there at Bagby.

    The rodeo parade also has a grand marshal, and this year, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan will take on the role.

    Ruskan, 26, executed multiple high-risk rescues, saving 165 children from raging waters during the Independence Day flash floods in the Texas Hill Country.

    Ruskan continues to serve on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he supports search-and-rescue operations across the Gulf Coast.

    You can read more about Ruskan here.

    Where’s the best place to watch?

    Be sure to arrive early downtown to secure a good spot.

    According to the rodeo, the best places to view the parade are on Louisiana, from Bell to Lamar, Lamar, and from Louisiana to Smith.

    Bagby and Walker streets, from Sabine Street to Bagby, will be off limits for viewing.

    Street closures

    Like with many parades downtown, you should expect streets to be closed that morning not only for the parade, but even earlier for the Rodeo Run, which begins at 8:30 a.m.

    A quick note about the Rodeo Run: It will run the entire parade route and can be seen on Allen Parkway from I-45 to Shepherd/Kirby.

    Streets will reopen around 2 p.m. after all events have concluded.

    Parking

    You may want to head for the public parking garages in downtown and the Theater District.

    Keep in mind, each garage will have its own parking fees, and they’re also available to parade viewers.

    Garages include: Alley Theater Garage, One Market Square Garage (Rodeo Mural), Lyric Center, and 1100 Smith Garage.

    You can also use parking available at Texas and Smith, Smith and Preston, Smith and Dallas, Smith and Clay, and Walker and Main.

    Tell me more about the parade

    The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade is a tradition dating back to 1938, officially launching rodeo season in the nation’s fourth largest city.

    ABC13 began televising the Rodeo Parade in 1959, using three cameras to broadcast the sights and sounds of the celebration to viewers across southeast Texas.

    WATCH: ABC13’s first Rodeo Parade Broadcast

    In this news clip from 2014, ABC13 marked the Downtown Rodeo Parade’s 55th year by looking back at the first televised Rodeo Parade in 1959.

    We’ve been broadcasting and livestreaming the parade every year since, solidifying the long-term relationship between ABC13 and RODEOHOUSTON.

    The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world.

    This year, the rodeo runs from March 2-22, 2026.

    WATCH: Scenes from the 1966 Rodeo Parade in Houston

    Can’t wait to rodeo until Feb. 28? Watch the 2025 parade action below!

    The Downtown Houston Rodeo Parade is a tradition dating back to 1938, officially launching rodeo season in the nation’s fourth largest city.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Pending home sales slip slightly in January despite improved affordability  – Houston Agent Magazine

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    Despite a 5.5 million increase in the number of potential buyers who would qualify for a mortgage compared to a year ago, pending home sales in January were roughly flat month over month and year over year, the National Association of REALTORS® said, citing its Pending Home Sales Report.   

    Sales were down 0.8% month over month and 0.4% year over year. The increase in newly qualifying borrowers comes from the slow but steady decrease in mortgage rates over the last year, which are approaching 6%, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. 

    “Most newly qualifying households do not act immediately, but based on past experience, about 10% could enter the market — potentially adding roughly 550,000 new homebuyers this year compared with last year,” Yun said. “Unless housing supply increases, these additional potential buyers becoming active in the market could simply push up home prices. This will put increasing pressure on affordability, which is why it is critical to increase supply by building more homes.” 

    By region, month-over-month pending home sales rose in the Midwest and West and declined in the Northeast and South. Year-over-year pending home sales rose in the South and West and declined in the Northeast and Midwest. 

    While the topline national numbers were down slightly, several metro areas saw healthy annual gains, including Phoenix (up 11.8%), Boston (10.7%) and Miami (6.8%). 

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    John Yellig

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  • Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits

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    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Agrochemical maker Bayer and attorneys for cancer patients announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement Tuesday to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging the company failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller Roundup could cause cancer.

    The proposed settlement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments in April on Bayer’s assertion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should invalidate claims filed in state courts. That case would not be affected by the proposed settlement.

    But the settlement would eliminate some of the risk from an eventual Supreme Court ruling. Patients would be assured of receiving settlement money even if the Supreme Court rules in Bayer’s favor. And Bayer would be protected from potentially larger costs if the high court rules against it.

    Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018, disputes the assertion that Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But the company has warned that mounting legal costs are threatening its ability to continue selling the product in U.S. agricultural markets.

    “Litigation uncertainly has plagued the company for years, and this settlement gives the company a road to closure,” Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said Tuesday.

    The proposed settlement was filed in St. Louis Circuit Court in Missouri, home to Bayer’s North America crop science division and the state where many of the lawsuits have been brought. The settlement still needs the court’s approval.

    Settlement payouts to the sick would vary

    About 200,000 Roundup-related claims have been made against Bayer. That includes more than 125,000 plaintiffs who sued since 2015, according to the settlement documents. Few cases have gone to jurors, with 13 verdicts for Bayer and 11 for plaintiffs, including a $2.1 billion award by a Georgia jury last year. Others already have been resolved through separate settlements, including two recent ones that would take care of about 77,000 claims, the court documents said.

    The newly proposed nationwide settlement is designed to address most of the remaining lawsuits, as well as any additional cases brought in the coming years by people who were exposed to Roundup before Tuesday. If too many plaintiffs opt out of the proposed settlement, Bayer said it reserves the right to cancel it. But Bayer did not specify how many opt-outs would have to occur.

    The deal calls for Bayer to make annual payments into a special fund for up to 21 years, totaling as much as $7.25 billion. The amount of money paid out to individuals would vary depending on how they used Roundup, how old they were when diagnosed and the severity of their non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

    An agricultural, industrial or turf worker exposed at length to Roundup would receive an average of $165,000 if they were diagnosed with an aggressive form of the illness while younger than age 60, according to the proposed settlement. Meanwhile, a residential Roundup user diagnosed between the ages of 60-77 with a less aggressive form of the illness would receive an average of $20,000. And those diagnosed at age 78 or older would get an average of $10,000.

    “No settlement can erase a diagnosis, but this agreement is designed to ensure that both today’s and tomorrow’s patients have access to meaningful compensation,” said attorney Christopher Seeger, who would represent current claimants under the settlement.

    Whether that compensation seems meaningful to patients remains to be seen. Attorney Matt Clement, who represents about 280 Roundup plaintiffs, said he was surprised by the proposed settlement and expects a lot of his clients will opt out.

    The proposed payouts “are exceedingly too small,” Clement said.

    Bayer gets Trump’s backing in court

    Because of lawsuits, Bayer already has stopped using glyphosate in Roundup sold in the U.S. residential lawn and garden market. But glyphosate remains in agricultural products. It is designed to be used with genetically modified seeds that can resist the weedkiller’s deadly effect, thus allowing farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less.

    Though some studies associate glyphosate with cancer, the EPA has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed. The federally approved label for Roundup includes no warning of cancer.

    Bayer contends that federal pesticide laws preempt states from adopting additional labeling for products and thus prohibit failure-to-warn lawsuits brought under state laws. Bayer is making that argument to the Supreme Court in an appeal of a Missouri case that awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden in St. Louis.

    President Donald Trump’s administration has weighed in on Bayer’s behalf, reversing the position of former President Joe Biden’s administration and putting it at odds with some supporters of the Make America Healthy Again agenda who oppose giving the company the legal immunity it seeks.

    The company simultaneously has been lobbying state legislatures to shield pesticide manufacturers from state failure-to-warn lawsuits when their products follow federal labeling requirements. North Dakota became the first state to enact such a law last April. Georgia became the second state to do so in May.

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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    AP

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  • British police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct

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    LONDON — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — formerly known as Prince Andrew and the younger brother of King Charles III — was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, ABC News understands.

    In a statement, Thames Valley Police said they had “arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.”

    “The man remains in police custody at this time. We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance,” the statement said.

    Photos from Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England showed what appeared to be police officers arriving in several unmarked vehicles. Thursday marks Andrew’s 66th birthday.

    Andrew’s arrest on Thursday follows the emergence of documents detailing communication between Andrew and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    Several emails released by the U.S. Justice Department showed Epstein’s correspondence with a Andrew’s aide David Stern and suggest the royal may have planned to use his role as a special U.K. representative for trade and investment to further his own business interests.

    The emails in question date back to 2010. Andrew served as a British trade envoy from 2001 until 2011, when Buckingham Palace announced that he would give up the role following criticism over his friendship with controversial figures, including Epstein.

    Andrew has previously denied wrongdoing with respect to Epstein.

    Thames Valley Police told ABC News last week that they were assessing reports of Andrew’s alleged misconduct in office as trade envoy.

    “We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures,” a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said in a statement on Feb. 9.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

    ABC News’ Angeline Jane Bernabe, James Hill and Melanie Schmitz contributed to this report.

    Copyright © 2026 ABC News Internet Ventures.

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  • Woman charged with stealing thousands after allegedly posing as immigration officer: Court docs

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    HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A woman faces a felony charge after being accused of exploiting families chasing the American dream.

    Investigators said 45-year-old Irma Aidde Hernandez is charged with felony aggregate theft. According to court documents, she posed as an immigration officer and walked away with thousands of dollars after claiming she could fast-track their immigration status.

    Authorities said it started outside the Taco Jeep food truck on Edgebrook in south Houston. At the moment, it is unclear if she worked there or was just visiting. ABC13 went to the food truck, but it was closed and they have not returned our phone call.

    Court documents said last July, a woman, who said she spent a decade trying to secure green cards for herself and her husband, said she met Hernandez there.

    After noticing Mexican license plates on her car, the woman claimed Hernandez allegedly struck up a conversation about immigration status and then claimed she worked at the Houston-area immigration office.

    The woman claimed Hernandez promised to speed up the woman’s citizenship paperwork for $12,000.

    Court documents showed several different payments the woman said she paid Hernandez via Zelle.

    But things took a turn in October, when the victim said Hernandez asked her to drive her to Laredo to pick up the promised documents.

    Instead, she claimed the trip was rerouted across the border to Monterrey, Mexico, where Hernandez allegedly demanded another $300.

    Court records showed investigators later learned two more people were looking for Hernandez at her apartment complex.

    They told police they also met her at the taco truck and believed she was a federal immigration employee who could expedite paperwork. Together, they paid $1,950, according to court documents.

    Authorities said Hernandez claimed connections to both the U.S. and Mexican governments, and even cartels.

    A fourth victim filed a report in early February, alleging she paid $4,565 for the same promised services.

    According to court documents, Hernandez bonded out of jail and her next court date is in March.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Sarah Al-Shaikh

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  • South American theft ring linked to string of break-ins across Houston area, police say

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    HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A South American theft ring responsible for a series of high-dollar burglaries across the country has now been linked to a series of home break-ins in West University Place and across the Houston area, according to police.

    Police say four break-ins and three attempted break-ins reported since January 2025 appear consistent with the methods of the crime syndicate.

    Video from a Dec. 11th break-in at a home on Belmont shows a masked man creeping around a backyard.

    The homeowner says the man used her ladder to access her second-floor balcony before smashing through the balcony door while two of her children were home.

    The break-ins were the dominant topic at West U’s public safety meeting Wednesday evening.

    “I think that is shocking the fact that you have people coming from South America to terrorize Americans,” said West U resident Bill Jones.

    The FBI has spent years investigating the theft ring, which was previously linked to break-ins at the homes of several professional athletes throughout the country.

    Investigators say the group is responsible for more than 60 break-ins in the Houston area. West U police say they’re being investigated in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties as well as in California, Florida, Wisconsin, and New York.

    “Most of these folks, they’re pretty intelligent. They’re using burner phones, they’re using other information that makes it very difficult to follow,” said West U police chief Gary Ratliff.

    Last year, West U police arrested Chilean national Ignacio Castillo Contreras for one burglary.

    On Feb. 2, Houston police arrested another Chilean national, they say used a fake government ID to rent the car investigators believe was used in the latest burglary.

    A common denominator in many of the break-ins is the use of ladders to access second-floor doors and windows.

    “In our home, our second-floor windows are armed quite frankly, but maybe everybody doesn’t do that, and apparently that’s what goes on. The thieves target those areas,” said Jones.

    Police are urging everyone to outfit their second floors with alarm systems and to make sure all doors and windows are locked.

    “Secure sheds and storage areas,” said Ratliff. “Do not leave them unlocked. Keep tools and ladders locked away.”

    Police also said they would be expanding their virtual gate network of license plate readers, which are currently positioned around the perimeter of West U city limits.

    For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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    Luke Jones

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  • Deadly crash involving HCSO deputy leads to DWI arrest of uninvolved off-duty MCSO deputy: MCSO

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    HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — An off-duty Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy was killed Wednesday morning following a crash in north Harris County, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

    The crash reportedly happened at around 2:28 a.m. in the 23000 block of Aldine Westfield Road and Ciderwood Drive.

    The HCSO off-duty deputy who was killed on Wednesday was identified as Deputy Ricky Zaragoza, 33, who was a three-year veteran with the department, according to HCSO.

    According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, an off-duty MCSO deputy was arrested by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and has been placed on administrative leave.

    According to court records, the off-duty MCSO deputy is identified as Aylin Balderas. According to court records, Balderas told investigators that she was Zaragoza’s significant other. Furthermore, the two had had 3 or 4 drinks at a bar and Balderas was following Zaragoza home from the bar, records stated. According to records with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Balderas has been with MCSO since Nov. 25, 2025, and was previously worked for Harris County Precinct 6.

    The off-duty MCSO deputy was traveling in a separate vehicle and saw the crash involving the off-duty HCSO deputy who was killed, according to MCSO. She remained on the scene and awaited law enforcement’s arrival, according to authorities.

    MCSO said that the law enforcement agency has no credible information that the off-duty MCSO deputy was involved in the crash and that she was not involved in Zaragoza’s death in any way.

    For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram.

    Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Michelle Yeoh honored with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘I’m so psyched’

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    HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh on Wednesday was honored with a newly unveiled star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    “This is beyond insane and surreal,” a smiling Yeoh told fans, colleagues and family members who gathered for the late-morning ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard. “I am so psyched.”

    “The path from Malaysia to here wasn’t a straight line. There were moments when I wondered if I belonged. But I was fortunate, fortunate to be part of stories that crossed borders and languages. Stories that reminded us how deeply connected we all are,” she said.

    Yeoh’s career spans more than four decades, and is known for roles in “Wicked,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”

    Michelle Yeoh poses with her new star during a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles.

    Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

    During her remarks she thanked filmmakers Jon M. Chu and Ang Lee.

    “Thank you for discovering that I can actually act,” Yeoh said, addressing Lee with a chuckle. “I love when you used to turn around to people (and say): ‘She’s not just an action (person). Stop calling her an action person.’ Thank you for that.”

    In 2023, Yeoh won the Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role for her work in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

    Sandra Oh, Awkwafina and Ke Huy Quan were also among those in attendance at Wednesday’s ceremony.

    Yeoh’s star is located in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

    Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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  • JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s NYC date spot featured in new Hulu series sees customer surge

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    NEW YORK CITY — A New York City restaurant in the East Village is experiencing a resurgence after being featured in FX’s ‘Love Story’ as the first date spot of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s first date spot.

    Since the actors shared their first date dinner on screen, Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant has seen a surge in reservations.

    Although the two didn’t exactly have their first date at the restaurant, they did frequent the restaurant often during off-hours.

    “Usually before six so they would come before rush hour and be the only ones,” owner Boshir Khan said.

    He said the couple would stay away from paparazzi and hide under the famous lights inside the restaurant.

    Sex and the City and Daredevil were also filmed inside the restaurant.

    After ‘Love Story’ premiered, Khan said business has gone up anywhere from 20 to 70 percent.

    The FX/ Hulu series ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ shares the complex and heartbreaking journey of a couple whose private love became a national obsession.

    New episodes drop on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Hulu.

    Hulu is owned by Disney, the parent company of this station.

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    Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

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  • 2 Harris Co. tax office employees among suspects accused in vehicle registration scheme: Pct. 1

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    HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Two Harris County Tax Office employees are among the suspects accused of running schemes and taking bribes, according to Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen’s office.

    Rosen’s office said this was a scheme by the two employees and two local business owners.

    In a release, authorities said that Renisha Wilkins, Oswaldo Perez, Adriana De La Rosa, and Sarah Anderson are all charged with engaging in criminal activity are charged with engaging in an organized criminal activity. Investigators said the two tax office employees accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from the owners of a South Houston vehicle title service company to approve vehicle registrations and title transfers without meeting the required requirements.

    According to authorities, the suspect company, Bella’s Multiservices, allegedly used social media to advertise how fast they could get paperwork processed. The tax office employees are also accused of fraudulently changing vehicle owner information.

    “This involves public corruption by those who violated the people’s trust in government and abused their positions to line their own pockets,” Rosen said. “This scheme was brazen, and the schemers will now face justice.”

    The alleged scheme ran from November 2023 to April 2024, authorities said. So far, three of the four suspects have been arrested.

    Authorities are still trying to find Oswaldo Perez, who goes by Osvaldo. Anyone with information is urged to contact Precinct One at 713-755-5200 and ask for the special investigation unit.

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  • Downed concrete and pothole issue sparks heavy delays on Southwest Freeway, video shows

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    Wednesday, February 18, 2026 7:39PM

    ABC13 Houston 24/7 Live Stream

    HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Drivers along the Southwest Freeway could face heavy delays on Wednesday morning as there are two separate incidents causing large backups.

    The first incident is along the HOV overpass lanes of the Southwest Freeway at Beltway 8. SkyEye was over the scene, which showed what appears to be a large piece of concrete wall that was struck, sending a large chunk of it onto the northbound main lanes of the freeway.

    Footage of that scene showed traffic backed up for miles.

    The second incident is at Williams Trace. Sugar Land police said that due to a large pothole on the northbound lanes of Southwest Freeway at Williams Traces Blvd., the HOVE and most left lanes are shut down.

    “TxDOT crews are en route to make repairs. We’ll provide updates as they become available,” Sugar Land police said.

    Live traffic map


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  • Maple Development opens models at Aldeana in Bonney – Houston Agent Magazine

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    Maple Development Group opened model homes at Aldeana, its 433-acre master-planned community in the Pearland area.

    Located at 414 County Road 618 in Bonney, Aldeana features 1,363 homesites and 21 acres reserved for commercial space. Builders currently selling in the community include Autograph Homes, DRB Homes and DSLD Homes. Pricing starts in the $290,000s.

    “We’re proud to open these model homes and introduce buyers to what Aldeana has to offer,” Maple Development CEO Itiel Kaplan said in a press release. “By partnering with strong builders, we’re creating an attainable community where first-time buyers and families can find quality homes at approachable price points.”

    Autograph is offering 11 floor plans for 40- and 50-foot lots, DRB is offering 11 floor plans for 50-foot lots and DSLD Homes is offering 20 floor plans for 40-foot lots.

    Planned community amenities include a pool, pavilion and nature trails, plus culinary and wellness programs.

    Aldeana is zoned to Angleton Independent School District.

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  • US star Mikaela Shiffrin wins slalom to break 8-year Olympic medal drought

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin’s turbulent, 12-year Olympic journey came full circle Wednesday when she won the slalom by a massive 1.50 seconds to break her long medal drought at the Winter Games.

    Shiffrin put in two dominant runs in gorgeous conditions amid the jagged peaks of the Dolomites to show, again, why she is regarded by many as the greatest Alpine skier of all time.

    It was the third-largest margin of victory in a women’s Olympic slalom, the event she won as a fresh-faced teenager in Sochi in 2014 to underline her status as a skiing star.

    United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women’s slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

    AP Photo/Marco Trovati

    Twelve years later, she delivered again in her favorite race and the emotions came out in the finish area after being embraced by world champion Camille Rast of Switzerland, who took silver, and bronze-medalist Anna Swenn Larsson of Sweden.

    The 30-year-old Shiffrin pumped her fists to the crowd and then was fighting back tears as she approached her mom and coach, Eileen, for a long hug on the sidelines.

    Shiffrin said it was “really hard to understand and process” her victory.

    “Maybe,” she added, “just today, I realized what happened in Sochi. It’s crazy.”

    For Shiffrin, maybe it was also a release of all the pressure after failing to win an Olympic medal since adding gold and silver to her collection in PyeongChang in 2018.

    A nightmarish 0-for-6 performance in Beijing was followed in Cortina d’Ampezzo this year with an 11th place in the giant slalom and a fourth-place finish with Breezy Johnson in the team combined, in which Shiffrin placed 15th in the slalom portion.

    That’s all in the past.

    Shiffrin has now won three golds and a silver at the Olympics to add to her record total on World Cup wins – it’s 108 and counting, including 71 in slalom.

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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