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Governor Abbott directs Texas Rangers to investigate City of Elgin over funding allegations

31Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Governor Abbott directs Texas Rangers to investigate City of Elgin over funding allegations

AUSTIN, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Rangers to open an investigation into the City of Elgin following allegations of financial mismanagement and possible violations of state law. File Photo (September 2025) “There have been serious and potentially criminal accusations made against the City of Elgin that need to be investigated,” Governor Abbott said. “Texans expect their elected officials to be honest stewards of taxpayer dollars and conduct the people’s business openly, and in compliance with Texas law.” Abbott cited concerns of “chronic financial mismanagement,” including inconsistent accounting practices and unreconciled bank accounts that may violate multiple state laws. Under the Governor’s direction, the Texas Rangers will review the city’s budgeting ...

Oakland Police announce arrests in multi-agency operation targeting Sureños gang tied to 31 homicides

31Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

U.S.

Oakland Police announce arrests in multi-agency operation targeting Sureños gang tied to 31 homicides

OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Police Department, in collaboration with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service, has arrested eight suspected Sureños gang members believed to be responsible for dozens of violent crimes, including 31 homicides across the Bay Area, with 24 of those occurring in Oakland. The arrests followed the execution of ten search warrants on Wednesday, eight in Oakland, one in Modesto, and one in Stockton. In total, twelve suspects have been identified. Eight were arrested during the operation, two were already in custody, and two remain outstanding. “These gang members have caused lasting damage to our community for years,” said Assistant Chief James Beere. “Their violent actions have left families mo...

Man dies after medical emergency leads to crash in Victorville

31Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

Man dies after medical emergency leads to crash in Victorville

VICTORVILLE, CA – A 43-year-old man from Apple Valley died Wednesday morning after suffering a medical emergency that led to a crash in Victorville. According to the Victorville Police Department, the collision occurred around 7:47 a.m. near Monte Vista Road and Luna Road. Deputies determined that the driver, identified as Michael Hernandez Gonzales, had just delivered a load of dirt to a local construction zone when he suffered a medical emergency while driving onto the roadway. Gonzales lost control of the truck-tractor, striking a parked vehicle before veering across the road and coming to rest on the dirt shoulder of Monte Vista Road. He was unresponsive at the scene and transported to a nearby trauma center, where he was pronounced deceased. Deputies with the Victorville ...

Texas Secretary of State opposes GOP and Attorney General’s joint motion to close primaries

31Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Texas Secretary of State opposes GOP and Attorney General’s joint motion to close primaries

AMARILLO, TX – The Texas Secretary of State’s Office filed an opposition brief arguing that a joint motion by the Republican Party of Texas and Attorney General Ken Paxton to close the state’s primary elections is unconstitutional and procedurally improper. File Photo (September 2025) Filed in the Northern District of Texas on October 30, 2025, the 31-page brief contends that the proposed “consent judgment” lacks jurisdiction, violates Article III’s requirement for adversity between parties, and infringes on the state’s sovereign immunity. The filing asserts that the motion, brought less than an hour after notifying the Secretary of State, is “collusive” and represents “a fundamental assault on Article III’s case-or-controversy requirement.” The Secretary of State’s counsel argued...

Two men shot during PlayStation sale at Cranbrook Forest Apartments

30Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Harris County

Two men shot during PlayStation sale at Cranbrook Forest Apartments

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Deputies with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office responded to a shooting around 6:15 p.m. Thursday evening at the Cranbrook Forest Apartments located at 13875 Ella Blvd. https://youtu.be/nU0rb5a6J-c Upon arrival, deputies discovered two males suffering from gunshot wounds. A 38-year-old male was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A second male, believed to be about 20 years old, was pronounced deceased at the scene. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation indicates that the shooting occurred during a meeting to sell a PlayStation. During the exchange, a third male arrived, and an argument broke out that led to gunfire. The third male fled the scene and has not been identified. The Har...

Ignite Community School – Beaumont to host celebration honoring TEA A-rating

30Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Ignite Community School – Beaumont to host celebration honoring TEA A-rating

BEAUMONT, TX – Ignite Community School – Beaumont will host a community-wide block party to celebrate its recent A-rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The event will take place October 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10255 Eastex Freeway, Suite 100, in Beaumont. Families and community members are invited to attend and enjoy food, music, games, and giveaways. According to school leaders, guests will have an opportunity to meet the faculty and learn more about Ignite’s personalized approach to education, small class sizes, and commitment to student success. Representatives from Ignite Community Schools’ senior leadership team will also be on-site to discuss the school’s A-rating, academic achievements, and initiatives focused on supporting Beaumont students.

Baytown Police investigating self-inflicted gunshot wound during welfare check at Bayland Park

30Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Baytown

Baytown Police investigating self-inflicted gunshot wound during welfare check at Bayland Park

BAYTOWN, TX – The Baytown Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding a self-inflicted gunshot wound that occurred at Bayland Park in the 2600 block of Business Highway 146. https://youtu.be/HebbudNg1a8 According to police, officers were conducting a welfare check requested by a neighboring law enforcement agency in connection with a mental health concern. When officers arrived, they made contact with the subject, who then sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers provided immediate lifesaving medical aid until Baytown Fire Department personnel arrived. The individual was later transported to a Houston-area hospital for further treatment. Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, the department is...

Arkansas man arrested after double homicide investigation in Ash Flat

30Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Delaware

Arkansas man arrested after double homicide investigation in Ash Flat

OAK GROVE HEIGHTS, AR – The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division, along with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, Paragould Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, have taken Jacob Lowell Smith into custody following an investigation into a double homicide in Ash Flat. According to investigators, Smith was apprehended without incident around 8 p.m. on October 28, 2025, at an abandoned house trailer east of Oak Grove Heights in Greene County. He was wanted as a parole absconder and identified as a person of interest in the deaths of Tonya Stallings, 54, and Ashley Stallings, 33, both of Ash Flat. Deputies with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office responded on October 21, 2025, to a residence in the 300 block of Sweet Clover Lane after receiving a ...

FBI and Oakland police investigating theft of more than 1,000 artifacts from California museum facility

29Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

FBI and Oakland police investigating theft of more than 1,000 artifacts from California museum facility

OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Police Department, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is investigating a burglary in which more than 1,000 historic items were stolen from the Oakland Museum of California’s off-site storage facility. According to police, the break-in occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on October 15, 2025. The stolen collection includes Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, and other historic artifacts. “The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” said Oakland Museum of California Executive Director and CEO Lori Fogarty. “Most of these objects have been given to the Museum by generous donors. We are working in close partnership with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department, and...

Texas investigates security camera company for possible ties to Chinese Communist Party

29Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

U.S.

Texas investigates security camera company for possible ties to Chinese Communist Party

AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation into Lorex Technology Inc. for potentially selling security cameras connected to a system associated with the Chinese Communist Party. File Photo (September 2025) “Texans should never have to worry that the devices protecting their homes could be tied to foreign adversaries,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “Any company that gives the CCP a foothold in American life will face the full force of Texas law.” Lorex, founded in 1991, was acquired by Chinese company Dahua in 2012 and later sold to Taiwan-based Skywatch in 2022. Despite the sale, reports indicate Dahua continues to provide key components for Lorex cameras. Dahua has been designated by the U.S. Department of War as a “Chinese military company,”...