Tuesday, October 14

Breaking News

Latest breaking news and developing stories from Houston Stringer, covering major incidents and local stories across the U.S. and worldwide.

Trump orders flags lowered nationwide after assassination of Charlie Kirk
10Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Washington

Trump orders flags lowered nationwide after assassination of Charlie Kirk

Former President Donald J. Trump announced on Truth Social that all American flags throughout the United States are to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday at 6 p.m. in honor of Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He was struck in the neck by gunfire from a distance of about 200 yards while addressing students shortly after noon. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition but later died. University officials evacuated the campus and canceled classes following the shooting. The FBI and ATF are assisting in the investigation. Trump called Kirk “a truly Great American Patriot” in his statement announcing the half-staff order.
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Governor Abbott Requests SBA Disaster Loan Assistance After Spring Branch Apartment Fire Displaces Hundreds
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

Governor Abbott Requests SBA Disaster Loan Assistance After Spring Branch Apartment Fire Displaces Hundreds

Austin, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has requested federal disaster assistance for Harris County in the wake of the devastating three-alarm fire that tore through the 3 Corners West Apartments on Teague Street in northwest Houston on August 19–20, 2025. The fire displaced more than 300 residents and required a massive emergency response. https://youtu.be/oBoeBylj-Fs According to the Houston Fire Department, crews were first dispatched around 6:20 p.m. on August 19. Within minutes, over 100 firefighters were battling the rapidly spreading blaze, which forced responders into a defensive strategy to contain the flames. Two firefighters were injured in the effort — one was transported to Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center with a shoulder injury, while another suffered a heat-related il...
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Trump, Bondi, parents and students address religious liberty in public education hearing
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Washington D.C.

Trump, Bondi, parents and students address religious liberty in public education hearing

WASHINGTON – The Religious Liberty Commission hosted President Donald J. Trump, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, parents, and students at a hearing focused on religious liberty in public education. Credit: Office of Public Affairs The hearing included several panels where students and parents shared experiences of challenges to their religious freedoms. The event’s stated objective was to examine the historic foundation of religious liberty in schools, identify current threats, and explore strategies to preserve these freedoms for future generations. “Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God,” Trump said. “We are one nation under God, and we always will be.” Bondi highlighted the constitutional protections of wor...
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Bladen County man charged with sexual offenses, held under ICE detainer
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
North Carolina

Bladen County man charged with sexual offenses, held under ICE detainer

BLADEN COUNTY, NC – A Bladenboro man has been charged following a sexual assault investigation involving a minor. According to Sheriff James A. McVicker, Bladen County 911 received a call on September 7, 2025, requesting assistance at Bladen County Hospital regarding a report of sexual assault. Investigators interviewed a minor who disclosed ongoing abuse by a family member over the past several months, with the most recent incident occurring that day. Brayan Velasquez, 21, of Bladenboro, was arrested and charged with indecent liberties with a child (felony) and sexual battery (misdemeanor). He is being held at the Bladen County Detention Center under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer. The investigation remains open. No additional information has been released at...
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Driver arrested on DWI 2nd offense on North Freeway
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Driver arrested on DWI 2nd offense on North Freeway

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A driver was arrested on the 17000 block of the North Freeway after displaying multiple signs of intoxication. The driver was identified as Jose Gonzalez Castillo. Deputies administered a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and determined he was intoxicated. Further investigation revealed that Castillo had a prior conviction for Driving While Intoxicated. According to Constable Mark Herman, Castillo was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail. He is charged with Driving While Intoxicated – 2nd Offense. His bond was set at $100 out of County Court 4.
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Feds charge Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. in stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte light rail, could face death penalty
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
North Carolina

Feds charge Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. in stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte light rail, could face death penalty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte charging Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, in connection with the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s Lynx Blue Line light rail system. Brown is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. According to the affidavit, on August 22, 2025, at about 9:55 p.m., Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officers responded to the light rail after reports of an assault. They found Zarutska inside a rail car with fatal stab wounds. Surveillance footage showed Zarutska entering the car and sitting in front of Brown. Minutes later, Brown allegedly unfolded a pocketknife and stabbed her three times from behind. He was arrested on the light rail platform short...
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DeRidder police are searching for missing 16-year-old
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Louisiana

DeRidder police are searching for missing 16-year-old

DERIDDER, LA – The DeRidder Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Tyler Willis, who has been reported missing. Police said Willis left his residence on August 13, 2025, shortly after 1:30 p.m. He was reported as a missing/runaway juvenile to DeRidder Police on September 9. Willis is described as 6’2” tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair with a blonde patch in the front left. He wears his hair in short dreads or twists. His clothing description is unknown. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the DeRidder Police Department at 337-462-8911.
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Delaware State Police investigating fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash in New Castle
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Delaware

Delaware State Police investigating fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash in New Castle

NEW CASTLE, DE – Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash that occurred on South Dupont Highway. The crash happened around 8 p.m. on September 8, 2025. A pedestrian was walking northbound in the southbound lanes of South Dupont Highway, just south of Pulaski Highway, when an unknown vehicle struck the individual. The impact threw the pedestrian into a wooded area off the roadway, where Emergency Medical Services later located the victim while responding to another call. The pedestrian, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The roadway was closed for about four hours while members of the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated and cleared the area. The investigatio...
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Shell launches fifth year of ‘The Giving Pump’ to support children and families nationwide
9Sep By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Shell launches fifth year of ‘The Giving Pump’ to support children and families nationwide

HOUSTON, TX – Shell Oil Products US announced the return of The Giving Pump, a charitable initiative now in its fifth year, encouraging customers to support local organizations by fueling up at designated purple pumps at Shell stations across the country. From now through October 31, consumers at nearly 6,500 participating Shell stations can contribute to charities assisting children and families, at no additional cost. Station owners and Shell branded wholesalers will donate a portion of proceeds from the purple pumps to causes such as children’s hospitals, schools, youth leadership programs, food pantries, and sports initiatives. The program began in 2021 with 2,900 locations and has since more than doubled in reach. This year, more than 400 charities will benefit, including St...
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