Author: Houston Stringer

HOUSTON, TX – Mayor John Whitmire and the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) announced the expansion of the city’s waste collection fleet with the deployment of 25 new vehicles. Photo Courtesy of COH SWMD The announcement was made during a morning news conference, where Mayor Whitmire was joined by District I Council Member Joaquin Martinez. The additions include 16 recycling side loaders, one grappler, three rear loaders, and five tractor trailers. According to Mayor Whitmire, the investment in modern equipment is part of a larger initiative to deploy 50 new solid waste vehicles by the end of October. “Reliable service starts with reliable equipment,” Whitmire stated. “We’re investing in tools that help our employees do their jobs safely and efficiently whil...

AUSTIN, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed fourteen individuals to the Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors for terms set to expire on June 15, 2027. The board is responsible for overseeing the coordination and implementation of health information exchange across Texas. File Photo (September 2025) The reappointed members are: Victoria Bryant, Pharm.D. (Houston): Founder of Ambassadors Caregivers and president of the Faith, Hope and Joy Foundation. She is a fellow with the American Leadership Forum and Leadership Houston Class 31. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston. Shannon Calhoun (Goliad): Chief revenue officer at IV Ensure and former CEO of Southeast Texas Health System. She has held leadership roles with Aledade and Caravan He...

AMARILLO, TX – Two people were injured during a violent altercation that escalated into a shooting and stabbing incident in the early morning hours of October 12, 2025, in the 2900 block of S. Pierce Street, according to the Amarillo Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the scene around 2:21 a.m. following reports of a physical fight. Upon arrival, they located a male lying near a vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital in life-threatening condition. Police said the incident began as an argument between two women that escalated throughout the evening. The dispute turned physical, and during a struggle over a knife, one woman bit off part of the other’s ear. The conflict then extended to the men who were with them, leading to a fight during w...

AMARILLO, TX – One man was injured during a shooting early October 11, 2025, at the Music Box nightclub located at 907 S. Madison Street, according to the Amarillo Police Department. At approximately 12:25 a.m., officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of a shooting and at least one victim being transported to a hospital. Police said a physical fight broke out, escalating when a suspect pulled out a firearm and began shooting. During the altercation, the suspect reportedly argued with an employee, leading to a struggle before gunfire erupted. One man was struck and taken to an area hospital. In response, two individuals at the scene returned fire at the suspect in what police described as self-defense. The suspect fled before officers arrived. One man was arrest...

HOUSTON, TX – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a formal letter to Houston Methodist Hospital demanding clarification regarding its transplant policies, following allegations that the hospital may be denying organ transplants to patients who decline to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. File Photo (September 2025) The letter, dated October 2, 2025, and sent via certified mail to Houston Methodist President and CEO Dr. Marc L. Boom, specifically references the hospital’s Kidney Transplant Program Evaluation and Waitlist Clinical Practice Guideline. The policy, cited from a July 24, 2025 post on X, states that “[t]he kidney transplant will be postponed until the recipient receives the Covid-19 vaccine” and that patients vaccinated elsewhere “must provide valid documentation.” ...