📰 This Week in Investigations: Truancy updates, hurricane season is here, and legal battles

🚨 Hey, Crime Buffs — We’re Back! 👀🔍

HOUSTON, Texas – As we dive into the summer months, and most of you get ready for your summer vacations, don’t forget about us. Every Thursday, just in time for lunch, take 10-15 minutes to catch up on some news you need... deal? Deal!

Enough of that, let’s jump right in!

We’ll recap all the exciting happenings today, reflect on the week’s highlights, and give you a sneak peek of what’s coming up next week. Ready? Let’s go! 🚀

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🔦 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: What’s Unfolding Today

Get the scoop on the latest investigation shaking up Houston.

🔥 We’re kicking off this week with a story that impacts you at home!

Robert Arnold continues to work the front lines, keeping up with the truancy laws in our state. It’s a passion he developed since the Uvalde Robb Elementary and Santa Fe High School mass shootings. He’s been diving deep into how our lawmakers and school districts are tackling truancy issues.

• Truancy, chronic absenteeism bills move forward in Texas Legislature

This year, he’s got the scoop on several bills that were buzzing around the Texas Legislature this session. And guess what? He’s ready to spill the tea on which of those bills have passed, which ones have flopped, and how our leaders are stepping up to address truancy!

Remember back in February when we explored how Texas, particularly Houston ISD, reported (or didn’t report) truancy prevention efforts to the TEA over the past four years? Well, Robert’s back with the latest updates, and you won’t want to miss it!

• Houston ISD failed to report truancy prevention to TEA over 4 years despite absences, data shows

💥 Throwback Truth: The Investigations That Keep Echoing

Summer is here, which means hurricane season is also here. With that in mind, Houstonians know just how bipolar Houston weather can be, which can be concerning.

Robert Arnold looked into why the NOAA weather radio signal for Galveston has been down since March due to a fire that damaged the transmitter in Hitchcock. The fire is leaving residents without a critical source of information as hurricane season approaches.

• Hurricane season looms as NOAA Radio in Galveston remains offline. Where to get information

Although there are alternative transmitters, they do not cover the Galveston coast, highlighting the importance of restoring the service.

The National Weather Service has not provided an estimated time for repairs, and without this service, residents are more vulnerable during severe weather events.

Historically, the NOAA broadcasts have been a vital lifeline for residents like Al Clements, Jr., who relied on them for information, and locations for resources during Hurricane Ike.

• As hurricane season approaches, why is NOAA’s weather radio signal for Galveston still down?

Robert is also keeping us updated on Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen’s legal battle with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) over a recommendation to suspend his peace officer’s license for 10 years due to alleged omissions in his personal history statements.

• Galveston County Sheriff sues Texas agency trying to suspend his license

Although both parties attended mediation, no resolution was reached, and the matter has been referred back to an administrative law judge.

Fullen, who was elected Sheriff in November 2024, argues that the suspension is equivalent to revocation, which state law prohibits for elected officers unless convicted of certain offenses.

The lawsuit, filed by Fullen’s attorney Tony Buzbee, claims TCOLE is overstepping its authority, while TCOLE maintains its actions are within the law.

• Galveston County Sheriff heads back to court in battle with state agency trying to suspend his license

Amy Davis is continuing her investigation into exposing the mismanagement of money from the Houston Housing Authority. Six months after the 2 Investigates team uncovered shady contracts at the Houston Housing Authority that cost you millions of dollars, an outside investigation commissioned by the HHA board confirmed our findings.

In part, our months-long KPRC 2 Investigation uncovered misused money and led to the resignation of then-CEO David Northern.

We told you in April that the Housing Authority board hired a third-party law firm to investigate all contracts, agreements, and payouts.

Amid these findings, former CEO David Northern resigned, and new leadership under CEO Jamie Bryant has initiated reforms, including halting funds and terminating key personnel involved in questionable activities.

• ‘Significant lapses’ found during new investigation into Houston Housing Authority, confirming what KPRC 2 first exposed

Joel Eisenbaum confirmed that another inmate died at the Harris County Jail this past weekend.

According to records, Valen Long, 26, died a little after 1:45 a.m. on Sunday at the LBJ Hospital. The report claims Long was “among multiple inmates who were smoking an unknown substance around 12:30 a.m.”

• Investigation reveals inmate smoked ‘unknown substance’ at Harris Co. Jail moments before he died

Hey, have you ever thought about what you would do if someone tried to carjack you?

It’s a scary thought, and it’s something that can happen unfortunately around Houston.

Recently, 2 Investigates Bill Spencer teamed up with Jim Napolitano, a former U.S. Secret Service Agent, to share some life-saving tips to stay calm while handling such a situation.

• How to survive a carjacking

🔍 ON THE TRAIL: What We’re Digging Into Next

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That’s a wrap for this week, folks! We’ll see you next week, same time and place. Can’t wait! 😂