5 things for Houstonians to know for Tuesday, May 11

Tiger spotted on front lawn of home in Fleetwood neighborhood

Here are things to know for Tuesday, May 11:

1. Pfizer COVID-19 shot expanded to US children as young as 12

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U.S. regulators on Monday expanded the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as 12, offering a way to protect the nation’s adolescents before they head back to school in the fall and paving the way for them to return to more normal activities.

Shots could begin as soon as Thursday, after a federal vaccine advisory committee issues recommendations for using the two-dose vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds. An announcement is expected Wednesday.

Most COVID-19 vaccines worldwide have been authorized for adults. Pfizer’s vaccine is being used in multiple countries for teens as young as 16, and Canada recently became the first to expand use to 12 and up. Parents, school administrators and public health officials elsewhere have eagerly awaited approval for the shot to be made available to more kids.

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2. Donald Trump endorses Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection

Former President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection, giving a top ally in Texas an early boost in his bid for a third term next year.

“Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is a great fighter for the people of Texas,” Trump said in a statement. “Texans should re-elect him! He is outstanding and has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Patrick chaired both of Trump’s campaigns in Texas, but he has had to deal with some heat from within his own party lately. After the state House passed a bill last month allowing the permitless carry of handguns, Patrick faced pressure to get it through the Senate despite initially saying the votes were not there. He found an avenue, and the Senate passed the House bill last week — but not before adding amendments that have concerned some backers that the proposal could die on procedural grounds.

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3. But where’s the tiger? Man who fled with tiger arrested, charged with evading arrest, attorney says

The man who was seen fleeing with a tiger in a west Houston neighborhood was arrested at his parents’ house in Richmond Monday evening, according to his attorney.

Victor Hugo Cuevas was charged with felony evading arrest after authorities said he captured a tiger who was caught prowling around the front yard of a home in Fleetwood on Ivy Wall Drive.

Police said Cuevas fled the scene with the tiger in a Jeep Cherokee, leading police on a short police chase before officers lost sight of him.

Cuevas’ lawyer, Michael Elliott, told KPRC 2 that his client had planned on surrendering at the Harris County Jail Monday evening, but was arrested shortly before in the 24300 block of Bella Veneza Drive.

Elliott expressed outrage over the arrest, accusing HPD of neglecting its part of an agreement for Cuevas to turn himself in at the Harris County Joint Processing Center downtown.

Instead, Cuevas was arrested and taken to the Fort Bend County Jail for violating his bond on a 2017 murder charge, and evading arrest.

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4. Security camera shows Tesla owner got into driver’s seat before deadly crash, NTSB says

Home security camera footage shows that the owner of a Tesla got into the driver’s seat of the car shortly before a deadly crash in suburban Houston, according to a government report Monday.

But the preliminary report on the crash that killed two men doesn’t explain the mystery of why authorities found no one behind the wheel of the car, which burst into flames after crashing about 550 feet (170 meters) from the owner’s home. Nor does it conclusively say whether Tesla’s “Autopilot” partially automated driver-assist system was operating at the time of the crash, although it appears unlikely.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it’s still investigating all aspects of the crash. An onboard data storage device in the console, however, was destroyed by fire. A computer that records air bag and seat belt status as well as speed and acceleration was damaged and is being examined at an NTSB lab.

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5. Major 610/59 interchange project closure: KPRC 2′s Anavid Reyes warns of major construction closures that will impact Houston drivers for months

There’s a massive closure coming and it will last for months. Our traffic expert Anavid Reyes met with TXDOT engineers and has the timeline you need to know.

Slowdowns on your normal route into the Galleria are about to get even worse. The Southwest Freeway northbound connector ramp towards the West Loop northbound main lanes will shut down for six to eight months starting June 4.

At the exact time, the northbound connector ramp from the Southwest Freeway southbound main lanes near the Greenway Plaza will also shut down.

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