Cancer Clusters: New developments continue to pop up in Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens despite contamination concerns
Cancer Clusters: New developments continue to pop up in Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens despite contamination concerns. Learn more about the ongoing situation and the residents fighting for accountability. #CancerClusters #EnvironmentalJustice #StayInformed
Community Advisory Group formed from 5th Ward cancer cluster neighborhoods to communicate with EPA
People who live in neighborhoods known as the Fifth Ward cancer cluster voted in 21 members of the community who will be liaisons between people who live in the affected areas and the environmental protection agency.
Mayor Whitmire says he needs more time to sort out plan to help residents move out of Fifth Ward cancer cluster
During a city council meeting on Wednesday, newly-elected John Whitmire decided not to vote on a major agenda item this week, which involves a $2 million investment to help Fifth Ward residents being impacted by cancer clusters.
โWhat are we waiting for?โ Tense moments during city council meeting over $5M Fifth Ward relocation fund proposal
Last year, the Houston Health Department said it found cancer-causing chemicals in the soil around the Union Pacific Railroad yard. The soil contained dioxin, a highly toxic chemical compound associated with cancer and other severe health risks.
Houston ISD families blast the stateโs takeover of the district as an intervention that wonโt improve student learning
Parents and students of the Houston Independent School District decried the stateโs decision to take control of the school system. Despite the news, many questions remain about how it would affect them.
Union Pacific solidifies agreement to increase testing in Fifth Ward neighborhood, part of area where cancer cluster identified
Union Pacific Railroad has announced a collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and community partners in an agreement to move forward with additional environmental assessment and testing at the former Houston Wood Preserving Works site in Fifth Ward.
Proposal unveiled to provide relief from stalled trains in Houstonโs Fifth Ward
Many Fifth Ward residents are seeking some sort of relief, complaining that stalled trains in the area have become a major nuisance, sparking safety concerns. Federal officials were touring the area with city leaders on Wednesday in an effort to stop the proposed merger of two rail lines which, they said, could worsen the problem.
THEA calls on state to conduct in-depth studies on the health of residents living in Kashmere Gardens and the Fifth Ward
The Texas Health and Environmental Alliance (THEA) held a press conference Thursday to call on the state to conduct in-depth studies on the health of residents living in Kashmere Gardens and the Fifth Ward.
Have you seen this vehicle? 2 men in red Dodge Charger sought in shooting outside Fifth Ward convenience store, police say
Houston police have released photos of a possible suspect wanted in connection to a shooting that left one man dead and another injured outside a convenience store in Houstonโs Fifth Ward area Saturday evening.
Negotiations begin on cleanup plans for Union Pacific contamination impacting 5th Ward, Kashmere Gardens
The City of Houston, Harris County, and nonprofit Bayou City Initiative have started negotiations with Union Pacific related to its remediation plan for the creosote contamination at the Houston Wood Preserving Works Site (HWPW) impacting the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods.
Houston-area authorities discuss โnext stepsโ for Kashmere Gardens, Fifth Ward environmental justice efforts
Houston and Harris County will be joined by environmental experts and Kashmere Gardens - Fifth Ward residents to announce the next step in seeking justice for families living in near the cancer cluster.
5th Ward residents rejoice over county, city plans to sue Union Pacific
Tuesdayโs announcement that both Harris County and the city of Houston each plan to pursue legal action against Union Pacific Railroad over long-standing contamination in Houstonโs Fifth Ward was welcome news among residents who have long fought for accountability.
Have you seen him? Family asks for help in search of missing man diagnosed with Autism
A family is asking for the publicโs help in locating a man whoโs been missing since Saturday after leaving a residence in the Fifth Ward area, according to the Houston Police Department Missing Persons Division. The family says he has been diagnosed with Autism.
Sunshineโs Vegan opens in Houstonโs historic Fifth Ward
Family, friends, and loyal customers attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of Sunshineโs Vegan restaurant. Sunshineโs Health Food Store & Vegetarian Deli has served the Houston community for over 30 years and opened its second location, located at 1202 Lockwood, on Saturday.
Fifth Ward residents living in cancer cluster call out Mayor, state senators over campaign contributions from Union Pacific
Ever since the first Fifth Ward cancer cluster was confirmed by the state department of health in 2019, numerous city and state elected officials have shown up to meetings declaring support for residents and promising to hold Union Pacific accountable for the decades-long contamination at its nearby rail yard.
Business owners in Houstonโs East End, Fifth Ward say stalled trains are costing them money
Residents and business owners in Houstonโs East End and Fifth Ward communities vented their frustration Thursday over stopped trains blocking major intersections, creating traffic jams as drivers wait โ sometimes over an hour โ for a train to clear the crossing.
Fifth Ward residents asks city to reject bid for special designation by property owner they claim is avoiding contamination clean up
Pleasant Hill Village Retirement Community was built in 1998, but decades before, the land was occupied by an auto repair shop, washateria and a dry cleaner. Three businesses that left behind toxic chemicals that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed have contaminated the soil and groundwater.
Did they go too far? Questions arise after popular figure in hip hop community fatally shot by bounty hunters in Fifth Ward
The death of a man who was shot and killed by bounty hunters Wednesday night is raising questions on the rules that apply when it comes to what those - who are not the typical law enforcement officers - can and canโt do while trying to apprehend a suspect.
EPA announced sweeping measures to improve the environmental health of communities in the south
The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced sweeping measures meant to improve the environmental health of communities throughout the south, including parts of Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens, overwhelmed by a long-known cancer cluster.
Fifth Ward residents demand answers from Union Pacific Railroad about cancer cluster found in neighborhood
The Environmental Protection Agency has given United Pacific Railroad until the end of the month to respond to a request for an action plan regarding the cleanup of a contaminated site in Houstonโs Fifth Ward, which is believed to be the source of a cancer cluster.
Meet Daisy Stiner, the director of one of the oldest community centers in Houston
HOUSTON โ Daisy Stiner has spent her career trying to bring support and relief to underserved communities. Established in 1943, the Hester House is one of the oldest community outreach centers in Houston. โIt started out as a hub, a meeting place for community residents,โ Stiner said. AdโTo family members who are unemployed, we have our referral services where they can get the services they need to provide stability to their families,โ Stiner said. โWe are proud to be a part of that and to be a beacon to the community,โ Stiner said.
Stronger Houston: Fifth Ward โtransformationโ takes a village
HOUSTON โ If it takes a village to raise a child, the Center for Urban Transformation in Houstonโs historic Fifth Ward is part of the new โvillageโ headquarters. We are teammates, and we enjoy the work weโre doing,โ said Henry Clemons, pastor at the nearly century-old Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in the Fifth Ward and one of the โvillageโ leaders. Pleasant Hill Ministries, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, Houston Habitat for Humanity, Legacy Community Health and the Berg and Androphy law firm founded and sit on the Board of Directors for CUT. โItโs not enough to deal with them in the courtroom and get them out of a particular legal system,โ Clemons said. Those partners include: Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, Houston Food Bank, Houston Furniture Bank and Salvation Army; Houston Public Library, Camp Cardiac, Workforce Solutions, Harris County Dispute Resolution Center; The Harris County DAโs Office, Legacy Community Health, Big Brothers Big Sisters, several churches and many others.
State health report finds alarming rate of cancer diagnosis among children in 5th ward
In 2020, a state health and human services report found higher rates of lung, esophagus and throat cancer among adults in the area. Now, a new report released earlier in January shows children sickened with Leukemia at nearly five times the expected rate. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is calling on Union Pacific and state agencies to get involved and care for these families. Both cancer clusters are near legacy creosote contamination at a facility now owned by Union Pacific. โI am requesting that Union Pacific help to relocate affected residents and create a buffer between contaminated areas and homes in the neighborhood.
Lucilleโs 1913 to hold MLK Day food drives in Fort Bend, Fifth Ward
Lucilleโs 1913, a non-profit run by Lucilleโs chef-owner Chris Williams, will donate thousands of meals at food drives in Fort Bend County and Houstonโs Fifth Ward on Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, according to a release. At 11 a.m., Lucilleโs 1913 will host two Food Distribution Drives in partnership with Fort Bend County. At 2 p.m., Lucilleโs 1913 will distribute an additional 1,000 meals at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1510 Pannell St. in Houstonโs Fifth Ward. Those who wish to pick up a meal at the Fifth Ward food drive must register and reserve their meal in advance on Eventbrite. Williams founded Lucilleโs 1913 last year in response to the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
Analyzing 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic
Kroger pharmacists conducting COVID-19 tests at a testing site in the Fifth Ward in Houston on June 27, 2020. Here are a few of my columns from the long, long months of COVID-19, from the government responses to the human toll. But more are issuing advisories as the new coronavirus pandemic spreads in Texas. Muted holidays in Texas, as pandemic threatens and vaccines raise hopesVaccines and antibody therapies raise hopes of combatting the coronavirus. COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Texas, along with a ranking of whoโs most essentialGreat news: The COVID-19 vaccines are coming.
Mother claims her autistic son was abused at Jefferson Elementary School
HOUSTON โ A young mother from Houstonโs Fifth Ward is angry and concerned for her children and others after she says she witnessed a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School physically abusing her 5-year-old autistic son just as she arrived to pick him up for school. Worst of all, she said it appeared her son was having trouble breathing. โIt was as if he was gasping for air, it was as if he was having trouble breathing,โ Renee said. Houston Independent School District released the following written statement:โAllegations of improper handling of a student have been made against a staff member at Jefferson Elementary School. Please know that HISD places great value on our students, and their safety and well-being are of the utmost importance.โ
$10M grant awarded to assist in Buffalo Bayou Park transformation
To help achieve a transformation of the Buffalo Bayou Parkโs east sector, local nonprofit Houston Endowment has granted $10 million to Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) for the project to take place over the next 20 years. The grant dedicated towards the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan will fund the addition of new bayou parks and trails, dynamic recreational and cultural destinations, as well as bikeways and โgreen fingersโ into surrounding neighborhoods, according to a news release. In addition to extending the western network of Buffalo Bayou parks, trails and open space, the master plan will also create a connection between the Fifth Ward and Greater East End neighborhoods to the bayou and to each other, the release said. โThe grant from Houston Endowment is another exciting step forward in the creation of a more equitable city for all Houstonians,โ Turner said. โWe are grateful to both Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Houston Endowment not only for their inclusive vision of a better Houston, but their commitment to making it a reality.โ
Police searching for gunman who killed well-known store clerk in Fifth Ward
HOUSTON โ Several members of the Fifth Ward community gathered to seek the publicโs help finding the killer of a well-liked store clerk. Itโs not safe for you in Fifth Ward. The image was captured by cameras at the A-to-Z Food Mart. The image was captured by cameras at the A-to-Z Food Mart. (KPRC)A shrine was set-up in front of the A-to-Z Food Mart to keep Lawrenceโs memory alive and serve as a reminder a killer is on the loose.
Group works to combat โfood desertsโ in Houston with gardening classes
HOUSTON โ More than 500,000 Houstonians are living in โfood desertsโ-- parts of town where fresh, nutritious food are not immediately accessible. Thursday afternoon, Mattie Sterling took a virtual gardening class on Zoom, hosted by the Julia C. Hester House. The Hester House provided participants with fertilizer, soil and vegetable plants. A spokesperson for the Hester House said theyโre trying to help neighbors be self-sufficient in areas that donโt have grocery stores. โYou can just walk outdoors, pick it, clean it up and put it on.โThe Hester House plans to have more of these classes.
Get the 411 on โ5th Ward,โ drama series set and filmed in Houston
HOUSTON โ The Urban Movie Channelโs โ5th Ward: The Seriesโ is a show based on fictional characters living in Houstonโs Fifth Ward -- which is one of the cityโs 6 historic wards. Mya as Mina in 5th Ward: The Series (Urban Movie Channel)Carter, who is a native Houstonian is proud of showcase the city to the rest of the country and work with local talent. Most of those people are from Houston or maybe even from the Fifth Ward neighborhood. You can stream Season 1 and 2 of โ5th Ward: The Series'โ here. And to see the trailer for โ5th Ward: The Series,โ watch the video below.
Get the 411 about โ5th Ward: The Series,โ a drama set and filmed in Houston | HOUSTON LIFE | KPRC 2
Get the 411 about โ5th Ward: The Series,โ a drama set and filmed in Houston | HOUSTON LIFE | KPRC 2Published: September 30, 2020, 3:51 pmThe Urban Movie Channel's "5th Ward: The Series" is a show based on fictional characters living in Houstonโs Fifth Ward -- which is one of the city's 6 historic wards. Greg Carter -- who created, wrote and produced the show -- and veteran actor Reginald T. Dorsey, shared details about this production that just wrapped its second season and was filmed in Houston.
Houstonโs Third and Fifth wards designated as cultural districts
HOUSTON โ The Third and Fifth wards of Houston have been designated cultural districts by the state. โI am so excited to see the State recognize the Fifth Ward community for its rich history and heritage while also acknowledging its continued commitment to arts and culture,โ Harrison Guy, Director of Arts & Culture at the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, said in a written statement. โThese neighborhoods have created, nurtured and celebrated arts and culture over generations,โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a written statement. The other five are the Arts District Houston, the East End Cultural District, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, the Museum District and the Theater District. For more information about Houstonโs cultural program, go to houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs.
Prairie View A&M University president gifts Fifth Ward non-profit with $100,000 donation
HOUSTON โ The president of Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Ruth Simmons, has gifted the Fifth Ward community with a major boost in an effort to help a non-profit founded 77 years ago. Simmons presented the Julia C. Hester House, a long-standing community center in the Fifth Ward area, a donation in the amount of $100,000 on Saturday. Simmons said the gift will help the organization continue to serve residents with a variety of programs, including child development, education, community swim classes, senior services and meal distributions. โMy siblings and I owe a great deal to Julia C. Hester House," Simmons said. โWe were both surprised and elated with gratitude when we received the news of this thoughtful donation.
Homeowner opens fire on would-be thief trying to break into his home, police say
HOUSTON โ A would-be thief is injured after police said a homeowner opened fire when he caught the man trying to break into his home in northeast Houston. The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. Thursday at a home on Capron Street and Rawley Street in the Fifth Ward, authorities said. Police said the homeowner heard a noise, and when he went to investigate, he saw a hand reaching in near where the AC unit is. At that time the suspect runs around, confronts him and shots were fired.โDetectives said the would-be thief was shot once in the back. I have an 11-year-old.โBuzby has this message for the would-be thief she says that violated her neighborhood: โGo to work, go to school get your own, you canโt take other peopleโs things and not expect to receive some kind of consequences for it."
Cancer clusters cause concern as congresswoman leads town hall in search for answers
Sunday on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) talks about the challenge of finding answers for the community. Jackson Lee said that while she is back in her district, she is still connected to the House effort in Washington. Baylor St. Lukeโs trains to identify human trafficking victimsKimberly Williams, Baylor St. Luke's Project Coordinator, Human Trafficking Initiative (KPRC)A recent study estimated that tens of thousands of victims of human trafficking are in Southeast Texas. Kimberly Williams is the project coordinator for the Human Trafficking Initiative at Baylor St. Lukeโs Medical Center and said they are often on the front lines of the human trafficking battle. Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall airs Sundays at 10:30 a.m.More informationU.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) 18th Congressional DistrictKimberly Williams, Human Trafficking Project Coordinator, Baylor, St. Lukeโs Medical Center
City health officials survey families in โcancer clusterโ neighborhoods
Why the Survey MattersโWe know that the contaminants in the groundwater plume are carcinogenic and we know that this community has a cancer clusterโthat means elevated cancer casesโand the TCEQ actually requested the cancer cluster analysis,โ Dr. Lauren Hopkins, the Houston Health Departmentโs Chief Environmental Science Officer, said. Hopkins said they know that there is a carcinogenic chemical plume contaminating underground water underneath approximately 110 homes in Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens. A Community in ActionThe study sparked a fiery response from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, as well as Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the Houston Health Department and community groups. IMPACT Greater Houston and the Houston Health Department informed residents about the community meetings on January 13 and February 10, when the Houston Health Department plans to release the results of Saturdayโs survey. Jackson-Lee is also working with the state and federal officials and planning a large-scale stakeholder meeting on January 21 in the Fifth Ward at 7 p.m.
I-10 East Freeway reopens after 18-wheeler hits bridge
HOUSTON โ A section of Interstate 10 East Freeway that was closed Tuesday morning after an 18-wheeler hit a bridge in Houstonโs Fifth Ward has reopened. The crash was reported about 3:30 a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway near Waco Street. By 7:40 a.m., all westbound lanes had reopened to traffic. Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Tuesday, December 17, 2019Houston police said the big rig hit the bridge causing concrete and debris from the damage to fall onto the freeway. Officials from the Texas Department of Transportation conducted an inspection of the bridge before reopening the area to traffic.
Cancer cluster found in Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens
HOUSTON โ A report conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a cancer cluster in northeast Houston. Significantly higher than normal diagnoses of the deadly disease were found among residents of the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods, the study confirmed. The report analyzed data from the Texas Cancer Registry over a 17-year period, from 2000 to 2016. โOur neighborhood is contaminated from Union Pacific,โ Edwards insisted. Cantu represents Impact Fifth Ward and its push for answers about creosote cleanup and cancer.