WEST RUTLAND, Vt. (NEWS10) — A Castleton, Vermont, man was arrested on Thursday and is accused of sexually assaulting a minor under 13. Sean Seguin, 37, turned himself in and faces multiple charges.
According to Vermont State Police, an investigation with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) looked into a report of possible child sexual abuse first reported on February 12. The suspect, Seguin, turned himself in on Thursday.
Charges:
Aggravated sexual assault
Lewd/lascivious conduct with a child
Seguin was processed by Vermont State Police at the Rutland Barracks and was brought to Rutland Criminal Court for arraignment. he is held without bail at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility.
SPRING BRANCH – Spring Branch Independent School District has started Phase III in reductions to help close the district’s $35 million general fund budget gap for the 2024-2025 school year.
Over the past several months, the district has taken action on the first two phases to save a projected $12.5 million in savings. These budgets include, but are not limited to, closure of two schools, discontinuation of the SKY partnership with YES Prep Public Schools and KIPP Texas, Inc., change in secondary staffing ratios and alignment of schedules, increase in pre-K tuition for non-employees, and restructure of the SPIRAL gifted and talented program.
Superintendent Jennifer Blaine said the district was forced to take these actions after the 88th Legislative Session and four special sessions of the Texas Legislature concluded without the educational funding challenges of Texas public school districts being addressed.
“They haven’t acted on public funding, public education funding,” Blaine said. “They’ve tied funding to vouchers and the absences of having vouchers they won’t fund public education. So, there’s been no new funding since 2019. We have 19 percent inflation and that has created a budget issue for lots of school districts.”
Blaine explained the third phase of general fund reductions, for which she says impacted staff, including school librarians, have been notified. These are largely central office budget cuts and personnel and program model changes.
The district said it has done everything it could to minimize direct impact on its classrooms and student learning, however, with the magnitude of reductions and adjustments, all schools will be impacted.
“These sweeping cuts absolutely feel like a crisis. It feels like we were unprepared,” said Ben Drews, a parent with a third grader in the district. “Nobody said anything about firing every librarian in this district.”
Drews, who is running for a role on the board of trustees, feels the district didn’t appropriate plan for this moment.
“Obviously, nobody wants to make any cuts. Nobody wants that,” he said. “We all understand that these cuts now have to happen in order for our district to move on. But could we have been doing things five years ago? Could we have done things six years ago? That’s the question I have, was their leadership and planning going into that?”
Blaine told KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun they were hoping for additional funding from lawmakers in the face of inflation.
She said her team along with families in the district continue advocating for the district with state leaders.
With the latest announcement, the district anticipates losing 304 personnel through their three-phase budget reduction equating to about $22.5 million.
“Many of those staffs in Phases I and II are being deployed to different positions in the system,” Blaine said. “And our goal is to do that with all 304 of those positions that were listed in the phase three budget reduction.”
“Our goal is to take those highly trained individuals and slide them into a vacant position that will be open. So, as somebody leaves, retires, exits the system, decides to go into a different profession, any number of reasons we have people leave every year we have attrition, Blaine said. “Our goal is to have people in positions into which they’re certified so they can continue to serve our kids.”
The district will also restructure their athletic trainers by removing them from each school and making the roles more centralized.
“We reworked their job description and then those staff members will be deployed to athletic events to cover those games,” said Blaine. “We’ve eliminated very little out of the system, but we have thought different about how to provide services which you know can make people uncomfortable when you’re used to a certain thing.”
The district shared a summary of Phase I, II and III Budget Reductions for 2024-25 school year:
HOUSTON – Today’s cover photo arrived on Click2pins yesterday with fog engulfing those wind turbines down in Mathis, Texas. If you don’t know where Mathis exactly is, just take Highway 59 south to I-37 and turn left — it’s a few miles from Corpus. And while fog down there won’t surprise you, perhaps all those wind turbines will!
I always think of California or the fields of Iowa as having all the wind turbines in this country but they aren’t even close to what we have in Texas.
In fact, the largest wind farm in the country is the Roscoe Wind Farm out near Abilene — I’ve circled them both for easy reference:
Google Maps
Texas leads the way in this country for wind farms and, thus, wind energy with enough to power 3.5 million households.
Occasionally, we create so much wind energy we can’t use it all and ERCOT has to throttle back on production!
You can see below that we are way ahead of second-place Iowa and even California comes in 3rd.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Credit: Caroline Covington
All this puts Texas in a World Class given that the United States is in second place only to be outdone by China, which generates almost three times the wind turbine energy that the U.S. does.
Of course, the reason Texas is so far ahead is pretty obvious — we have a lot of land and lot of wind with a pretty good tax-structure incentive. Turbines can create wind at only 6 mph speeds and we get plenty of that!
Credit: Electricrate
While most of the wind farms are in the Hill Country and West Texas or south toward the Valley, get ready for more wind projects including one near Galveston, which we reported on last year.
You may also note that Texas is second in SOLAR Energy falling only behind California.
To that end, expect a lot of sunshine in the forecast through the weekend and into next week and with an approaching front tomorrow, it’s going to get a bit breezy! More power to us!
POLK COUNTY, Texas – The body of missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, the Livingston girl at the center of an AMBER Alert, was found in Trinity River on Tuesday, according to KPRC 2 sources and a family friend of the girl.
During Tuesday’s news conference, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons confirmed investigators found Audrii’s body at the Trinity River Boat Ramp off U.S. 59 after lowering water levels. The AMBER Alert has officially been discontinued.
Audrii’s body will be transported to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine what happened to her and the cause of death.
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety said this case has now turned into a criminal investigation.
Several emergency vehicles were at the scene Tuesday morning, including officials from Liberty County, The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas EquuSearch, and a dive unit from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
JUST IN: An active crime scene has now been set up where search crews having been looking for 11 yr old Audrii Cunningham. DPS says they plan to provide an update this afternoon. We will keep you posted @KPRC2pic.twitter.com/pAV9lE2jq5
Caution tape was placed around the area and media was kept far away from the scene.
Lyons said they were able to locate Audrii’s body with the substantial amount of evidence provided by witnesses’ cellphone video, several points of interest provided by the person of interest and surveillance videos.
He said investigators also used evidence collected from cellphone analysis and information they received from 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal.
“We start talking about how we link in evidence to McDougal and linking evidence to this case. We want to be very careful of how we do that and will feel safe to say there is substantial evidence through the evidence that we’ve gathered,” Lyons said. “And so that evidence was even gathered by the wonderful witnesses and wonderful folks out there in the social media who sent those videos, who sent those pictures. So that even that evidence helped us to be able to come up with these locations, as well as the evidence from cellphone videos.”
What happened
Audrii was reported missing on Thursday, Feb. 15, and investigators said Don Steven McDougal was likely the last person who saw her alive that day.
McDougal was named as the main person of interest in Audrii’s disappearance, although investigators said they haven’t ruled anyone out as a suspect. He is currently in the Polk County Jail on an unrelated charge.
Investigators said McDougal admitted to leaving the house with Audrii last Thursday morning, but he hasn’t said whether or not she made it to her school bus. But the sheriff said he provided some clues that led to them finding her body.
“He agreed to work with us and has taken us to certain locations,” Lyons said.
McDougal lived in a camper behind Audrii’s father and grandmother’s home and sometimes took her to the bus stop or school if she missed it.
“He was a friend of the family, a friend of the father, and he was allowed to live there in a trailer behind the house,” the sheriff said.
McDougal, who has a lengthy criminal history, was previously convicted of enticing a child in Brazoria County, records obtained by KPRC 2 show.
In March 2007, McDougal allegedly attempted to engage in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 17.
According to a grand jury indictment, McDougal removed another female from the bed where the victim was sleeping before he got in the bed with the victim and “(pulled) her pajama bottoms and panties down.”
A Brazoria County grand jury indicted him in July 2007 and his bond was set at $25,000 at the time.
Charges in the case of Audrii’s disappearance have not been filed at this time.
What’s next?
Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said that based on the evidence that has been gathered, they are preparing an arrest warrant for McDougal.
Capital murder charges against McDougal are pending as the District Attorney’s Office waits on the medical examiner’s office results.
“Based on all the evidence that law enforcement has collected, they are in the process of preparing the appropriate arrest warrants for Don Steven McDougal at this time,” Sitton said. “We believe the appropriate arrest warrant is going to be for capital murder in the death of Audrey Cunningham. He is currently still in jail under an unrelated felony charge here. I understand that this is a very difficult time for Audrey’s family and for our community.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Along with the rides and tents being assembled on the fairgrounds, an iconic display is stepping out.
The Reliant Big Boot was pieced together Monday morning, which is a staple for rodeo-goers. The boot stands 25-feet-tall, and weighs 23,000 pounds from spur to bootstraps!
Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages flock to this spot to wrangle a great selfie.
MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — GlobalFoundries will be building a second chip FAB plant in Malta, following a $1.5B grant awarded from the federal government. According to Senator Chuck Schumer’s Office, the company in the Captial Region will make an estimated $12B investment over the next 10+ years.
The new plant is expected to bring in 1,500 new jobs in the area. According to the Office of Chuck Schumer, the new state-of-the-art computer chip factory will grow GlobalFoundries’ current chip manufacturing fab for the automotive industry in Malta, strengthen GlobalFoundries’ Vermont operations, and add secure capacity for essential chip manufacturing for big markets.
“New York State is becoming the best place on earth to build a business,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to our pro-business policies, commitment to innovation, and best-in-the-nation workforce, green jobs and high-tech manufacturers are flocking to the Empire State. This $11 billion investment from GlobalFoundries is a game changer, and with the partnership of the Biden administration, New York’s congressional delegation, and all of our local stakeholders, the best is yet to come.”
LIVINGSTON, Texas – Investigators are looking for a vehicle in connection to the disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, of Livingston, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The vehicle is a 2003 dark blue Chevrolet Suburban. Several persons of interest are also being investigated after an Amber Alert was issued for the girl.
During a news conference Friday afternoon, DPS officials said the Lake Livingston dam is the location of interest for their search and will be secured from the public as investigators patrol the area. The public is being asked to stay away from the area.
Deputies will be protecting the location overnight as investigators leave the scene Friday night and will be back Saturday.
Additional resources will be provided during Saturday’s search for Audrii.
All agencies, including the FBI and Texas Rangers, have joined the Livingston Police Department in the search for Audrii who was last seen at her home in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive in Livingston on Feb. 15 at 7 a.m.
On Friday, a search was launched in San Jacinto County near the Lake Livingston dam. Investigators would not give details on why they are searching in this specific area but says they are actively following leads in this case.
The location of the dam is several miles away from where Audrii was last seen.
DPS, local officials search dam in San Jacinto for missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
Audrii was reportedly wearing a black hoodie, with white lettering, Hello Kitty backpack, black pants, and black high-top tennis shoes. She has blue eyes, blonde hair and is 4′1″ tall.
Deputies said Audrii was supposed to have caught the school bus but did not. She also did not report to school.
At 5:30 p.m., her parents alerted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and DPS and an Amber Alert was issued.
KPRC 2 reached out to Audrii’s school to see if an alert system is in place to notify parents when a child does not attend homeroom first thing in the morning.
According to Creekside Elementary, school officials have a parent notification system and a message was sent.
Neighbors join search for Audrii
Neighbors spoke with KPRC 2 Reporter Rilwan Balogun and said nearly 200 people searched the area Thursday night.
Nearly 200 neighbors joined search for missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham on Feb. 15, 2024. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
Persons of interest and leads being investigated
During Friday’s news conference, DPS said they have several persons of interest being investigated. They are also following leads in this case.
Officials are working with Crime Stoppers to get an reward issued.
DPS officials said there are no ongoing threats to the community.
FBI Dallas also confirmed their CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) team has been deployed to assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
HOUSTON – Several middle school students at Keefer Crossing Middle School were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after ingesting THC-laced gummies, according to officials with New Caney Independent School District.
The seven students were taken to Texas Children’s Hospital and Kingwood Hospital.
New Caney ISD police said the gummies were brought to the school by a student. The gummies have tested positive for THC.
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, THC is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties.
Parents and guardians of the students involved were notified, police said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 20 at 6 p.m. at Saratoga Springs City Hall regarding short-term residential rentals in the City. The proposed legislation looks to regulate short-term rental uses in the city.
Under the new legislation, for short-term residential rental properties, only owner-occupied properties will be eligible for short-term rentals and require valid inspection and permit records from the city fire department and accounts office. It would also require compliance with occupancy limits and property maintenance codes and mandate registration of all short-term rentals with the City.
The new legislation would require all short-term rental owners to have a revocable permit before renting out their property. Applicants must provide proof of ownership, comply with safety standards, pay applicable fees, and submit a detailed application including information, property details, insurance, and inspection reports.
The proposed legislation can be viewed in full below.
NEW WAVERLY, Texas – Several students at New Waverly Intermediate were checked out by EMS and firefighters after they reported feeling sick, according to Waverly Independent School District.
About 40 students were in first-period gym class when they started to complain of an odor, officials said. The staff also smelled the odor.
Students described the odor as a “super bad” or “poop” smell and suffered from scratchy throats and nausea.
Superintendent Darol Hail said less than 10 students were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. He said “a couple” of students were taken to the hospital by their parents.
Firefighters ran carbon monoxide and gas detector tests. Both came back negative, Hail said.
Montgomery County officials bought a portable air quality test machine and those results also came back negative.
An electrician and plumbing company did not find anything as well.
Hail said there’s no evidence but it is possible a student set off some type of stink bomb as a prank.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The American Cancer Society is presenting Daffodil Days. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, participants can order daffodils and tulips by Sunday, February 18 online to help save lives, celebrate lives, and share hope for a world without cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, the daffodil is a symbol of hope, being the first flower of spring. A bunch of tulips for $15, potted mini daffodils for $15, and a gift of hope donation for $25 are all available, as well as additional donations anyone would like to make.
All daffodils and tulips will be available for pickup from 1 Penny Lane in Latham the week of March 18. For more information, you can email Brendan Egan at brendan.egan@cancer.org, or call (518) 504-3931.
HOUSTON – A Pasadena woman was sentenced to 40 years on Monday after she entered a guilty plea on two charges to injury to a child, according to court records.
The couple were accused of beating and burning both Aust’s 2-year-old toddler in 2019 and newborn son earlier in May 2019.
Aust was sentenced to 40 years for each charge. According to the docs, the sentences are concurrent — so she will serve 40 years total.
What happened
Aust’s 2-year-old son, by another man, was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital after being left alone with Reid, according to court documents. He reportedly told police he’d left the little boy in a partially filled tub and came back to find him unconscious. The problem with that story, according to prosecutors, was that the child wasn’t wet when medics found him and his injuries were extensive.
“(He was) found to have brain bleeds and extensive bruising all over this body, including his head, arms legs, genitals and he also had large amounts of cigarette burns all over his body,” said Assist. Harris County Attorney, Gilbert Sawtelle.
The child died after three days of being on life support.
Police were still investigating that case when Aust gave birth to a second son late last year.
Then, the new baby was severely injured, prosecutors said. Reid claimed the infant was injured when he stuck his arm through a laundry basket. But doctors discovered the baby’s elbow was broken and dislocated.
“That baby also had burns on its fingertips and high liver enzymes indicative of abdominal trauma,” Sawtelle said.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
CONROE, Texas – Documents released by the city of Conroe shows multiple calls made to the Conroe Police Department that involved the woman tied to the deadly Lakewood Church shooting on Sunday.
Neighbors complaints to police about suspect
Neighbors spoke with KPRC 2 Corley Peel on Monday about the red flags they noticed while living next to Genesse Moreno, 36.
Several neighbors said Moreno harassed and threatened them for four years.
On Sunday morning, hours before the shooting, Moreno placed a blue tarp over her vehicle in the driveway and was placing items she couldn’t see inside the car, according to a neighbor. They said they also noticed Moreno as carrying a trench coat in her arms that police said she was believed to be wearing when she walked inside the church.
A neighbor who lived across the street from Moreno said she filed a police report in July 2022 when she pulled a gun on her. She said Moreno was not arrested.
Between the group of neighbors, they have called police dozens of times and filed multiple police reports about Moreno’s behaviors.
Conroe Police Department reviews calls for service related to suspect
Conroe Police Department responded to KPRC 2, stating that it has reviewed calls for service related to Moreno. The review included calls that Moreno was either the “complainant” and/or a “suspect.”
The review reportedly revealed that the police department’s personnel “handled the calls appropriately and according to law.”
Conroe PD stated that “nothing relayed to officers would have given authority to arrest or require health emergency detention; nor would any of the information have been an indication that the suspect would commit such a heinous crime. The Conroe Police Department has no further information to share at this time.”
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
HOUSTON – Three people were shot, and two are dead in what Houston Police believe is a murder-suicide at a Westchase apartment complex Monday afternoon.
It happened at Westchase Forest Apartments inside the leasing office on Richmond Avenue in west Houston.
Christian Velasquez told KPRC 2s Deven Clarke that he was in the leasing office with his wife and 4-month-old son when the gunman stormed inside and chaos broke out.
“We were discussing about how we like this apartment and everything and all of a sudden the guy comes rushing in,” he said.
Velasquez said the gunman immediately targeted the woman who was helping him find an apartment and one of her coworkers.
“He told that lady to come over here come over here he ended up pointing a gun at here and telling her to come on and he grabbed her by the hair,” he said.
Velasquez said he forced the woman and her coworker inside another room.
“Once we left we got through the first gate after we got through the first gate that’s when I heard the gunshots. It was like three or four maybe — I couldn’t remember I was just so in a rush to get my wife and my son out of there,” he said.
Police said the gunman killed the woman, shot and injured the man, and turned the gun on himself.
“It’s some trying times but there are a lot of resources in there and I just encourage everyone to seek out help,” Velasquez said.
He added that he and his family do not plan to move to the apartments anytime soon.
Police are still seeking a motive in this case, and the investigation continues.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
HOUSTON – Lights, camera, construction chaos! ✨🎥👷♀️ Brace yourselves, dear viewers, as KPRC 2 has unleashed a visual extravaganza with the debut of our dazzling new studio set Monday evening.
Now, we know you’ve been waiting for these on-screen alterations, and we’re here to spill the beans. 🫘 Behind the scenes, the creative wizards at KPRC 2 have conjured up pure magic 🪄 —a brand-spanking new set that’s about to steal the show!
The countdown is over for a grand unveiling that promises to be nothing short of spectacular! 🌟✨
Our brand-new studio by the numbers
Hold onto your remotes, because we’ve got some juicy tidbits about KPRC 2′s swanky new studio set that will make your inner tech geek do a happy dance! Here’s the inside scoop on the high-tech wonders awaiting you:
Size matters: The set spans a cool 70 feet in width and 25 feet in depth, providing ample space for all the on-screen magic. It’s not just big; it’s grand!
LED wonderland: Brace yourself for a spectacle of LED goodness. The Big Feature LED Wall steals the spotlight at 27.5 feet wide and 7.75 feet tall, while the Cube Wall LED and Slab LED bring their own flair at 19.68 feet wide x 6.64 feet tall and 3.93 feet wide x 8.83 feet tall, respectively.
Weather center extravaganza: The Weather Center is no less impressive, with a setup featuring nine curved 55″ displays and a giant 100″ interactive touchscreen monitor. It’s where meteorology meets high-tech wizardry.
Interactive playground: A 65″ interactive touchscreen monitor can switch between portrait and landscape modes, adding an interactive twist to the storytelling experience.
Pixel powerhouse: Drumroll, please! With a mind-boggling total of 17,224,704 pixels spread across the displays, the set is a pixel powerhouse ready to showcase graphics and videos in stunning detail.
Chameleon backdrops: The set is not just about pixels; it’s about ambiance. LED backdrops can change colors, bringing sunrise vibes in the morning and creating a nighttime allure. It’s like having your own personal lighting designer.
Desk on the move: The desk isn’t just a piece of furniture; it’s mobile! Ready to switch up the vibe? Just move the desk to a new position and watch the magic unfold.
With these tech wonders, KPRC 2′s new studio set isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a high-tech playground!📺🚀
Innovative design and forward-thinking flexibility
Behind this door lies the magic! Join us at 6 p.m. on Monday as we swing it open to unveil the all-new, dazzling Studio A set at KPRC 2. (KPRC 2)
Bernice Kearney, the maestro behind the scenes as KPRC 2′s News Director, unveils the vision behind the new studio set—a space designed not just for delivering news but for igniting the flames of creativity and innovation.
“I think the studio is a great playground for innovation,” Kearney remarks, emphasizing the transformative potential of the new set. It’s not merely a stage; it’s a canvas where producers, anchors, reporters, photographers, directors—everyone involved in crafting KPRC 2′s content—can stretch their creative thinking to new heights.”
As Kearney explains, the design process was a meticulous journey focused on one key aspect—flexibility. “When we were working on the design for the studio, it was very important to those of us on that team that it was flexible,” she notes. The goal was to break free from the mold of a typical TV newscast set, creating a space that transcends traditional boundaries.
The new studio isn’t just another stage; it’s a multi-platform hub where content comes to life. Kearney underscores the importance of adapting to the diverse platforms through which KPRC 2 connects with its audience. “It wasn’t just another TV newscast set or space; it was really designed to be used for all the platforms that we provide content for,” she explains.
In essence, KPRC 2′s new studio set is more than a backdrop; it’s a creative haven, a space where ideas come to life, and storytelling takes on new dimensions. 🚀🎥
Beyond the news desk: The authentic essence of KPRC 2′s new studio set
Anticipation is building! We can’t wait to unveil our stunning new studio to you. (KPRC 2)
Ever wondered how a new studio set can redefine the way news is delivered? Well, Erica Young, one of KPRC 2′s Executive Producers, explains how our brand-new set is not just a backdrop; it’s a platform for authenticity and storytelling.
When asked about the station’s engagement with its audience and community, Young unveils the philosophy behind the new set: “Our goal with this new set was to show our authenticity. We feel like the days of a traditional newscast and traditional newscasters are long gone. We are real people, who live in this community, who are sharing stories with our neighbors.”
The new set, according to Young, is a space where authenticity takes center stage. It’s not just about delivering the news; it’s about being real and connecting with the viewers on a personal level. “This new set will give us a space to be real and authentic with our viewers. By the way, this is our philosophy for all things. It’s not just the new set. We are stretching ourselves in all areas, and we hope the audience is noticing that,” she adds.
But how does the new studio set elevate our storytelling capabilities? Young paints a vivid picture: “Our anchors, reporters, and producers all strive to be great storytellers. This new set will help us reach that goal on a daily basis. From the large monitors to touchscreen technology, we are integrating several new tools into our newscasts with these changes to our studio.”
The integration of cutting-edge tools isn’t just for show; it’s about enhancing the storytelling experience. The weather team gains the ability to track storms from multiple areas of the studio, while the sports team gets more space to play and cover your favorite teams.
As KPRC 2 steps into this new era of broadcasting, the commitment to authenticity and compelling storytelling shines through, and Young is at the helm, steering the ship toward a more engaging and genuine news experience for you, the viewers.
Cutting-edge features of KPRC 2′s upcoming studio set unveiled
Brian Perry, KPRC 2′s Manager of Streaming & Creative Content, has played a pivotal role in shaping the vision of the upcoming set. This transformative project promises a dynamic and unconventional approach to news broadcasting, with Perry sharing insights into the exciting elements that will define the new studio.
“One of the things that we wanted to do is we wanted to be able to showcase different venues. That’s why we have a lot of video walls,” Perry explains.
The new set boasts a significantly larger cube wall, with two sides dedicated to telling captivating stories. Another noteworthy feature is the corner “Slab,” a non-traditional dimension wall perfect for displaying graphics. A “BFW,” or big feature wall, stands as a 32 by 9 aspect ratio giant, ready to showcase stories and graphics in a visually stunning manner.
Within the weather center, a hundred-inch touchscreen steals the spotlight, allowing meteorologists to interact and present weather updates with a telestrator function for sports. Perry emphasizes the strategic placement of weather workstations behind the cube, providing meteorologists with an efficient workspace to plan forecasts while easily transitioning to on-air presentations.
The studio is equipped with interactive monitors, including a tablet-like display, turning the set into a dynamic space for storytelling. Perry highlights the innovative use of LED panels that can change colors, creating a visually captivating backdrop that adapts to the mood and tone of the content.
Perry expresses excitement as months of planning come to life, stating, “I’ve been involved with it for eight months and this is an exciting time. Seeing our ideas go from the drawing board to the actual construction phase and then completion, was a rewarding experience for all involved. I am very proud of the hard work that the team put into the set and and I am looking forward to the big reveal.”
HOUSTON – A search warrant has identified the suspect who was killed in the Lakewood Church shooting as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36.
The shooting was reported on Sunday around 2 p.m. inside the lobby of the mega church, located at 3700 Southwest Freeway.
According to the warrant, Moreno walked into the church with an AR-15 rifle.
NBC News reports that the rifle had the word “Palestine” written on it, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. The person also made several statements during the course of the incident but the officials declined to describe them.
An off-duty HPD officer and TABC officer engaged with the suspect during the incident, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. The suspect reportedly told the officers that they were in possession of a bomb.
One of the officers said they saw the suspect in possession of a “yellow in color rope and substances consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices, which appeared to be a detonation cord.” Investigators have not been able to determine whether Moreno’s threat of having a bomb was credible.
When Moreno pointed their weapon at the first responding officers, they shot and killed Moreno in self-defense, according to the document.
Pastor Joel Osteen said a 5-year-old boy was shot and another man was struck in the leg during the shooting. It is unknown if the victims were shot by Moreno or officers.
Police said the child was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
During the search warrant on Monday, investigators seized all electronic devices that belonged to Moreno in hopes they will reveal information or a motive related to the shooting.
Officials are investigating a wide range of possible motives given the writings on the weapon but cannot yet conclusively say what led to the shooting. They have not ruled out terrorism or hate crime related motives.
RELATED:
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Pastor Joel Osteen says he is devastated about the deadly shooting at his Houston megachurch but grateful — stating that it could have been a lot worse.
“We’re devastated, we’ve been here for 65 years and had somebody shooting at our church,” Osteen said. “We don’t understand why these things happen but we know God is in control.”
He also thanked the quick actions of local law enforcement and their response to the scene.
“I can only imagine if it was going on through the 11 o’clock service, we were in between services,” the pastor said.
Osteen asked for prayers for the child who was critically injured in the shooting and the man who was also injured. He also asked for prayers for the family of the shooting suspect who was killed by officers.
“We’re going to pray for that 5-year-old little boy and we’re going to pray for the lady that’s deceased and her family; and the other gentleman.”
Osteen said they are all “kind of in a fog” but moving forward and going to stay strong through these times.
“If there’s any good of it, she didn’t get in there and do a lot worse,” he said. “We thank God for that and watching over us.”
Osteen later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the shooting:
Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time.
“Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time.
In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember evil will not prevail. God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another.
In times like these, our faith is tested, but it is also strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like this happen, but we know that God is in control.
Please join me in continued prayer for healing and peace.”
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
HOUSTON – Do you know the safest things you can do for yourself and your family should a tornado strike near your home?
A basement is the safest place to be during a tornado, according to weather.com, but most homes in the Houston-area don’t have basements. So, where do you go in a case like that?
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even though all buildings must be built in accordance with modern building code requirements, they may still not be able to withstand winds from extreme events. Because of that, it’s smart to consider what room may be safest for you in the event of a tornado.
Also, if you spot a tornado, we want to see your pictures. Please, make sure to be cautious. Go to Click2Pins .com and share your photos. It’s easy, just log in or create an account and then go to upload a pin button, find your photo on your phone and tell us about it. Choose the category under channel and then click upload and you’re done.
🌪What if you don’t have a basement or cellar?🌪
Find the safest room in the building — one with a small interior on the lowest level — and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
Once you’ve found the safest spot, beware of flying debris that could cause injury or death. Crouch as low as possible, facing down, and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
Try to avoid seeking shelter next to any heavy objects that could fall on you.
Wear shoes and if possible, utilize a bike or football helmet if you have one lying around your house.
🌪What about mobile homes?🌪
According to the National Weather Service, nearly 40 percent of tornado deaths have historically happened in people’s mobile homes. These can be one of the most dangerous places, should a tornado hit.
Mobile homes are simply not designed to withstand a tornado or strong winds in severe storms.
Find shelter elsewhere. Some mobile home parks provide storm shelters to residents.
If you’ve run out of time to seek other shelter, leave your mobile home and find the lowest-lying area near you. Lay down and cover your head with your hands.
🌪What if I’m driving somewhere?🌪
DO NOT try to outrun the tornado.
If you can, get to the nearest building for shelter.
If there are no buildings nearby, despite what you may have heard in the past, ready.gov says you should not get under an overpass or bridge. Find a low, flat location instead, and try to watch out for flying debris that could cause injury or death.
The time to find shelter is when you are under a tornado warning, so while all of this is helpful information, the best thing you can do is know the signs before a tornado hits.
Does your community have a warning system? You can stay up-to-date with the latest breaking weather news by signing up for Click2Houston’s weather alerts here. In addition, the Emergency Alert System and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio provide emergency alerts.
Keep an eye on the weather. Meteorologists can predict when conditions could be just right for a tornado.
It may sound cheesy, but being prepared is the best thing you can do. Identify your safe spot ahead of time and practice what you might do in the event you encounter a tornado.
Stay weather aware, check out our weather articles on click2Houston:
HOUSTON – District Attorney Kim Ogg provided an update on the county’s murder and capital murder cases and convictions since the creation of a specialized homicide division.
The division was implemented after the state law required trial courts to make murder trials a priority.
Ogg created the homicide division in 2022, assigning 12 veteran prosecutors and six skilled investigators to a unit dedicated to capital murder cases and pending cases. In addition, Ogg and her senior leadership secured the funding to create an overtime program in which prosecutors meet after hours and on weekends to review more than 30,000 nonviolent, mostly victimless misdemeanor and state jail felony cases. Those cases are then considered for solutions other than incarceration.
Ogg was joined by Leticia Ybarra, mother of murder victim Jessica Perez, and members of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Division.
During the news conference, Ogg said that the county has made great strides in 2023 by sending more killers to prison and for longer years in decades.
During the height of the pandemic, only 37 people charged with murder or capital murder were sent to prison due to prosecutors’ limitations and court closures, according to the district attorney.
In 2013, Ogg announced 271 killers were sent to prison for a total of 7,903 years.
“That is a lot of dangerous people taken off the streets for a long time,” Ogg said.
Leticia Ybarras thanked the District Attorney’s Office for sending away the man who she says brutally murdered her daughter, Jessica Perez. She said while the resolution of the case will never make their family whole again, it has allowed them to move on from ever seeing the suspect and just grieve.
Here’s how many murder cases have been filed by the DA since 2016:
By the numbers
225 murders in 2016
171 in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey)
364 in 2022
301 in 2023
Here’s how many murder and capital murder convicts were sent to TDCJ since 2017:
By the numbers
114 in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey)
125 in 2018
98 in 2019
37 in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic)
110 in 2021
187 in 2022
271 in 2023
“I want to give the courts credit,” Ogg said. “They’re trying more cases, we’re resolving more cases, we need to do even more.”
Chart shows how many murder and capital murder convicts were sent to TDCJ since 2017. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)
Watch the full news conference below:
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
ALBANY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — During the Big Game weekend, many New Yorkers are planning to go to watch parties and bars to celebrate, with many driving to get to those places.
According to a recent survey from Statistica, 41% of Americans plan to serve or drink beer during the Big Game on Sunday, Feb. 11, even though some need to drive home afterward. That’s why a local law firm is offering an incentive for those drinking on Sunday.
Harding Mazzotti, LLP, a local legal practice with a strong focus on personal injury, negligence, and wrongful death cases, is offering 1,000 Uber vouchers to celebrate the Big Game responsibly in Albany, Syracuse, Utica, and Plattsburgh.
On the day of the Big Game, the law firm of Harding Mazzotti is providing $20 vouchers for Uber rides, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This is a time to root for your favorite team and have a good time with loved ones,” stated Paul Harding, managing partner at Harding Mazzotti. “By providing these vouchers, we hope to encourage safe transportation choices and prevent drunk driving accidents, whether you are coming home from a friend’s house or a bar.”
The law firm hopes this will curb drinking and driving and ensure New Yorkers can enjoy a festive and worry-free night by Ubering instead of driving.
“While we hope you have a great time watching the Big Game, remember to always prioritize safety,” added Harding. “If you’ve been drinking, use a designated driver, call a cab, or take advantage of our Uber voucher program. Make sure the night ends on a happy note.”
The Uber voucher program will run on gameday from 6 p.m. to midnight. Interested New Yorkers can visit any of the Harding Mazzotti social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn) on Feb. 11 to claim their voucher.
For more information on Harding Mazzotti, click here.
