Breaking News - Houston Stringer

Sixth Circuit affirms dismissal of lawsuit by Kentucky football players falsely accused in fraternity party incident

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Kentucky, Ohio

Sixth Circuit affirms dismissal of lawsuit by Kentucky football players falsely accused in fraternity party incident

CINCINNATI, OHIO — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by five University of Kentucky football players who were falsely accused of crimes after being racially harassed and assaulted at a fraternity party in Lexington. The plaintiffs, Reuben Jelani Adams, Robert Jutahn McClain, Andru Jackson Phillips, Devito Cyn’cer Tisdale, and Joel Dandre Williams, sued the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and multiple Lexington police officers in their individual capacities, alleging violations of their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, as well as state-law claims for malicious prosecution and defamation. The lawsuit stems from a March 2021 incident at a party hosted by the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity...

Governor Abbott activates wildfire and flood response resources across Texas

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Governor Abbott activates wildfire and flood response resources across Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Governor Greg Abbott has activated additional state emergency response resources to address heightened wildfire threats across much of Texas and potential flood risks in West Texas through the weekend. The Governor also amended and renewed the state’s wildfire disaster declaration to now include 179 counties. File Photo (August 2025) “Elevated wildfire conditions and flood risk continue to pose a threat across the state of Texas,” Governor Abbott said. “Today, I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy additional resources in preparation for potential wildfires in the eastern half of the state and severe flooding in West Texas. Texas will remain vigilant and continue to provide all necessary resources to protect Texans from wildfire and flood thre...

One suspect arrested, another sought in July homicide on Sherwood Lane

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Houston

One suspect arrested, another sought in July homicide on Sherwood Lane

HOUSTON, TEXAS — Charges have been filed in connection with the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Angel Chavira outside an apartment complex at 4603 Sherwood Lane on the night of July 5, 2025. https://youtu.be/48ZLIrdKaOM Octavio Garcia Cruz, 48, has been arrested and charged with murder in the 184th Criminal District Court. He was taken into custody on October 8 by members of the Houston Police Department's Gang Division Crime Reduction Unit and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. Cruz has been booked into the Harris County Jail. A second suspect remains at large. He is described only as a Hispanic male seen wearing a Barcelona t-shirt in surveillance video released by investigators on August 27. (shown towards the end of the above video) He is considered armed and danger...

Former store manager arrested in Jasper County burglary investigation

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Former store manager arrested in Jasper County burglary investigation

JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS — A former store manager has been arrested in connection with a September burglary at Tackle Addict, a fishing supply retailer located at 3755 Sam Rayburn Parkway. On September 10, 2025, Jasper County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a burglary at the business. Upon arrival, deputies determined that two small safes containing approximately $8,000 had been taken from the premises. The case was assigned to Investigator Calvin Starkie. Following what authorities described as a “lengthy and thorough investigation,” Investigator Starkie obtained an arrest warrant on October 8, 2025, for Amber Williams, who was employed as the store’s manager at the time of the incident. Williams is charged with Theft of Property valued between $2,500 and $30,000, a stat...

Tenth Circuit revives lawsuit against Salt Lake City School District over disability placement practices

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Utah

Tenth Circuit revives lawsuit against Salt Lake City School District over disability placement practices

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has reversed a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by two students with intellectual disabilities and the Disability Law Center against the Salt Lake City School District and its Board of Education. The plaintiffs allege the District’s special education “hub” system violates federal law by failing to make individualized educational placement decisions. File Photo (November 2022) According to the appellate ruling, the District allegedly categorizes students based solely on IQ and assigns them to designated “hub” schools without assessing whether a more inclusive general education setting with supports would be appropriate. Plaintiffs contend this blanket approach disregards the requirements of the Individual...

Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos condemns Governor Abbott’s deployment of Texas National Guard

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Illinois, Texas

Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos condemns Governor Abbott’s deployment of Texas National Guard

AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos (D–Richardson) issued a statement this week condemning Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to deploy the Texas National Guard to Illinois, calling it an “illegal, out-of-state military operation” that diverts resources from pressing needs within Texas. File Photo (September 2025) In her statement, Rep. Rodríguez Ramos criticized the Governor’s actions as politically motivated and harmful to working families already struggling with rising costs, healthcare inaccessibility, and underfunded schools. She stated that nearly 5 million Texans, including 13 percent of children, lack access to necessary healthcare while the state remains the most uninsured in the nation. “Instead of addressing these crises, Greg Abbott is demanding Te...

Three men arrested in June shooting death of Christopher Parsley

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Maryland

Three men arrested in June shooting death of Christopher Parsley

QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY, MD – The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff has arrested Kamryn Andrews, 19, James Lawson, 20, and Travis Lissau, 27, in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Christopher Parsley. On June 1, deputies responded to the 1500 block of Centreville Road in Queenstown for reports of multiple gunshots and victims. Upon arrival, deputies located Parsley with an apparent gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit launched an investigation with assistance from federal, state, and local partners, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Chesapeake Bay Safe Streets Task Force, and multiple law enforcement agencies in Maryland and Delaware. Following ...

Eaton Rapids man killed in single-vehicle crash in Onondaga Township

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Michigan

Eaton Rapids man killed in single-vehicle crash in Onondaga Township

INGHAM COUNTY, MI – A 44-year-old Eaton Rapids man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Kinneville Road in Onondaga Township, according to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the crash at approximately 2:30 a.m. and determined that the westbound vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and struck a ditch. The driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Assisting agencies included the Onondaga Township Fire Department, Mobile Medical Response (MMR), and the University of Michigan Survival Flight. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Kevin Stalzer at 517-676-8444, extension 1939.

Beaumont Police arrest two in Orange Avenue homicide

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Beaumont Police arrest two in Orange Avenue homicide

BEAUMONT, TX – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Joseph Bihm, who was found deceased inside a vehicle in the 1400 block of Orange Avenue. Beaumont Police responded to the scene at approximately 7:28 a.m. and located Bihm inside the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead by EMS. Patrol officers and detectives quickly identified a suspect vehicle, which was later stopped. The driver was detained as a person of interest. Further investigation led to the identification of multiple suspects, and arrest warrants were obtained for the charge of murder. Lamond Hines, 46, was arrested by the Beaumont Police Special Assignment Unit and detectives. A second suspect, 31-year-old Murry Gibbs, turned himself in the following evening and was ...

Driver arrested for human smuggling on Interstate 69

10Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Driver arrested for human smuggling on Interstate 69

SPLENDORA, TX – A driver was arrested on federal human smuggling charges following a traffic stop conducted by the Splendora Police Department’s Criminal Interdiction Unit on Interstate 69. Photo Credit: Splendora PD The vehicle, displaying New Mexico license plates, was stopped based on intelligence provided through an ongoing partnership with federal law enforcement agencies. Officers determined the driver was actively engaged in smuggling undocumented individuals across state lines. Among the occupants was an individual who had been deported in August and had illegally reentered the country just four days before the stop, having evaded U.S. Border Patrol. All occupants were turned over to federal custody. The driver is facing federal charges related to human smuggling. The S...