HOUSTON, Texas – It’s Wednesday, and here’s what’s happening in Houston and around the country this morning.
🎄 Tomball Businesses Brace for Holiday Power Outage
Downtown Tomball shop owners are sounding the alarm as a planned eight-hour power outage is set to hit on Wednesday, Dec. 17, smack in the middle of the crucial holiday shopping rush. CenterPoint Energy says the outage is needed for system upgrades, but businesses worry that losing power during peak sales days could seriously hurt bottom lines after another disruption last week.
🚨 Court Appearance Today: Man Accused of Spring ISD Bus Attack
A 20-year-old man is in court today after court records reveal he boarded a Spring ISD school bus with a gun, blocked it, and tried to pull a student off board, telling her, “I’ll get you later.” The suspect, identified as David Madison, faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault and attempted aggravated kidnapping. During his probable cause hearing, an emergency protective order was issued, and a judge will determine his bail this morning.
🌍 Grief and Anger at Bondi Beach Funeral Services
Funeral services began in Sydney, Australia, for victims of the antisemitic mass shooting near Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead and many others wounded. The accused gunman has been charged with multiple counts, including 15 counts of murder. Mourners gathered to honor family members and friends, while authorities continue a broad investigation into the attack.
🚢 Trump Orders Blockade of Venezuela Oil Tankers
President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers bound for Venezuela, escalating pressure on the Maduro government. The move comes after U.S. forces seized a tanker and signals a tighter grip on Venezuela’s oil revenue, a key part of its economy. Maduro’s government slammed the action as a violation of international law, raising tensions on the global stage.
🏛️ Speaker Johnson Unveils New GOP Health Care Plan
With enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a Republican health care proposal as divisions grow within his party. The plan focuses on expanding access to association health plans and reining in pharmacy benefit managers, but does not extend current subsidies, drawing criticism from Democrats and some GOP lawmakers as Congress races against the clock.