Rapper Drake and Apple file motion to dismiss Astroworld lawsuit
Rapper Drake and Apple Inc. have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit related to the Astroworld tragedy. Both parties deny involvement in the planning of the concert and emphasize that they were not responsible for the disaster. As the trial approaches, all involved parties are preparing for a courtroom battle. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing case. #Astroworld #Lawsuit #JusticeInProgress
Black Heritage Day at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo celebrates culture, entertainment and education
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is gearing up for Black Heritage Day! ๐ค KPRC 2 is live from NRG Park this morning ahead of tonight's concert with rapper 50 Cent! #BlackHeritageDay #HoustonRodeo ๐
Rapper Travis Scott is questioned over deadly crowd surge at Texas festival in wave of lawsuits
Rap superstar Travis Scott is being questioned in a deposition he's giving in connection with hundreds of lawsuits filed against him and others over the deaths and injuries at the 2021 Astroworld festival.
Officials celebrate NRG Parkโs new historic sustainability and energy efficiency project
Harris County officials and leadership from NRG Park and Johnson Controls will celebrate the kickoff of a historic sustainability and energy efficiency project at the sports and entertainment complex Wednesday.
Texas rapper Bun B offers thousand dollar reward for lost poncho he wore during RodeoHouston performance
Famous Texas rapper, and orchestrator of one of RodeoHoustonโs biggest performances to date, is offering a huge reward for a very valuable piece of clothing he says went missing down at NRG Park.
Black Heritage Day, Bun Bโs Southern Takeover and more: Inside the Houston Rodeo on March 3
Happy Wednesday, yโall. Youโre in for a real treat at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today as itโs a weekday and that means youโre likely to miss the crazy crowds that usually come on the weekends.
Your ride to the rodeo: Things to know about parking and transportation
We kicked off the party early last week with a KPRC 2 Houston Life Rodeo Special, covering everything from the rides, performances, and clothes! But what about your ride to the rodeo? Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes helps break down all of your options!
RodeoHouston, NRG Park correct ADA violations for people with disabilities ahead of 2023 season, US Attorney says
The U.S. Attorneyโs Office announced Thursday that an investigation into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeoโs compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been completed.
New RodeoHouston bike lane could help cyclists beat traffic: Hereโs how it works
A new bike lane is up and running to help you beat the rodeo traffic and get to all the funnel cake and turkey leg fun much faster! Hereโs how it works: If you can get to Brays Bayou, you can now get to NRG Park all on a bike.
LIVE BLOG: KPRC 2 Investigates discusses accountability probe into Astroworld Tragedy
In a live discussion on the KPRC 2+ livestream at 6:30 p.m. CST Wednesday, KPRC 2 Investigates will answer your questions about the tragedy at the 2021 Astroworld Festival and what officials are doing to prevent another deadly concert.
Overcoming questions of jurisdiction and permitting that led to the city, county agreement following Astroworld tragedy
Months after 10 people died during a crowd crush at the Astroworld festival, there was still a back-and-forth over responsibility, authority and permitting for large events at NRG Park.
Astroworld Tragedy: New agreement details NRG Park mass event planning after deadly festival
The fallout of the Astroworld Festival garnishes a new potential agreement between Harris County and the City of Houston over their responsibilities at NRG Park.The consensus comes a little more than a year after 10 people lost their lives because of a crowd crush at the Astroworld Festival in 2021. For the last year, families watched as city and county leaders fumbled for answers to their questions of accountability.
โHellcatโ driver fired at by officers after doing donuts at NRG, crashing into vehicle; still gives police the slip, HPD says
Houston police are trying to track down the driver who managed to ditch officers during a potentially dangerous series of events, causing an officer to discharge his duty weapon.
Houston has another World Series...
Houston has another World Series on the way... but this one is for the dogs! Friday at 3:00 p.m. on Houston Life, the entire team (including Tex) is going on the road to NRG Park for the Houston World Series of Dog Shows! Weโll meet some of the top dogs in the country; meet the Houston Police department canine officers and see how the โprosโ train. Weโll give you a look inside the high speed world of Flyball and weโre shopping for practical, strange and over the top merchandise for all the dogs in your life! Thatโs Friday at 3:00 p.m. on KPRC2.
Lawsuit: Couple seeks more than $1M in death of unborn child after pregnant mother trampled at Astroworld Festival
A woman who said she was pregnant while attending Travis Scottโs deadly Astroworld Festival is suing Scott, Live Nation and other event partners, claiming the crowd surge caused her to lose her baby.
Questions over Astroworld permitting continue following Gov. Abbottโs Task Force on Concert Safety report
Days after the governorโs Task Force on Concert Safety released its report following the tragedy at the Travis Scott concert on the opening night of Astroworld, questions are being asked about the permitting process.
Parents sue Travis Scott, Live Nation after they say 27-year-old son died trying to save fiancรฉe at Astroworld Festival
A Dallas law firm has filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, rapper Travis Scott, and other defendants on behalf of the family of Danish Baig, 27, who they say died fighting to save his fiancรฉe during the crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival.
โWeโre not going to leave any stones unturnedโ: Houston police chief says investigation into Astroworld festival tragedy could take weeks or months
Key questions remain unanswered after at least eight people were killed and hundreds more were injured in a massive crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival held Friday at NRG Park.
Attorneys for those injured at deadly Astroworld Festival inspecting scene at NRG Park
Attorneys of those injured at Travis Scottโs Astroworld Festival went to NRG Park Tuesday to inspect the scene. Their goal was two-fold: First, to get drone footage for a birdโs eye view of the scene. Second, to get a digital scan so that they map it and recreate events that unfolded.
NRG Community Vaccination site to remain open for 4 more weeks, Hidalgo says
After receiving requests for an extension from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Mayor Sylvester Turner and other officials, FEMA and the Texas Division of Emergency Management have agreed to extend the duration of the vaccination site at NRG.
Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo request extension for vaccine clinic at NRG Park
HOUSTON โ Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are requesting an extension of the FEMA supersite at NRG Park. The COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which opened on Feb. 24, was scheduled to remain at NRG Park for eight weeks. Now, Turner and Hidalgo are asking for the site to remain open through at least May 31. โOn Monday, the eligibility is going to extend to everyone in Houston, Harris County, and across the state of Texas. That mass vaccination site is needed even more so now, so the request is to extend that vaccination site, pretty much indefinitely,โ Turner said during a news briefing Wednesday.
Second doses of Pfizer vaccine coming to NRG. Here is what you need to know.
HOUSTON โ The Houston Health Department and Harris County Public Health announced Tuesday that scheduling will begin for the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at NRG Park. Those who do not respond or provided a landline instead of a cell phone will receive a phone call to schedule the second dose. Anyone who does not receive a call or text 48 hours before the second dose due date is asked to contact (832) 393-4301. Harris County Public HealthThose in this group will receive a phone call, text or email the day before the second dose due date to schedule their second dose. AdPeople will be able to schedule an appointment for the second day or in the next three consecutive days following the second dose due date.
Houston Health closes waitlist for Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
HOUSTON โ The Houston Health Department announced Wednesday that it opened a new waitlist for its initial allotment of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine but closed it Tuesday, March 9. The departmentโs original vaccine waitlist is for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which require two doses. The waitlists are used to schedule the departmentโs allotment of appointments at the FEMA community vaccination center at NRG Park and its other vaccination sites. The Houston Health Department received half of a 12,000 dose allotment of Johnson & Johnson vaccine that arrived at NRG Park and administered it at Bayou City Event Center and its other vaccination sites two days later. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not being provided at NRG Park.
Houston Nutcracker Market Spring announces in-person shopping: Hereโs how organizers want it to work
HOUSTON โ The Nutcracker Market Spring said Tuesday that it is planning an in-person event for April 16-18, 2021 at NRG Center. COVID-19 prompted the cancellation of in-person shopping for both Nutcracker Market and Nutcracker Market Spring in 2020. The market will be spread through four halls, as compared to the two halls used for the 2019 Nutcracker Market Spring. While Novemberโs long-running Nutcracker Market serves as Houstonโs holiday season kick-off, Nutcracker Market Spring celebrates all things spring and summer โ from unique graduation and wedding gifts to everything needed to accessorize for the beach, backyard BBQโs, and warm weather fun. Along with the annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market held in November, Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market SPRING is a fundraiser that allows shoppers to give back to the community.
Hereโs how to sign up for coronavirus vaccine waitlists in the Houston area
HOUSTON โ Nearly a quarter-million first vaccine doses are headed to the nine-county Houston area this week, including the first Johnson & Johnson shipment, according to state data and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Finally, 42,120 Pfizer doses and 12,000 J & J doses will go directly to the FEMA site at NRG Park where residents on the Harris County and Houston waitlists will be vaccinated. Joining a waitlistThere are 13 vaccine hubs in the Houston area and there are waitlists for each of them. Go to vacstrac.hctx.net or call 832-927-8787 to join the Harris County version of the waitlist. To find information about all of the waitlists for the 13 vaccine hubs in the Houston area, go to dshs.texas.gov.
Gov. Abbott shares when he expects Texas to expand who can receive COVID-19 vaccine
According to Abbott, President Joe Biden said the state could expect about a million or more doses of the vaccine very soon. โThe good news is there is going to be a record amount of vaccines available across Texas this week,โ Abbott said. We will be increasing the immunity that Texans have.โA single-shot dose of the COVID-19 vaccine could bring much-needed relief to millions of people. The panel made their initial decision for people 65 and older because they are most vulnerable to COVID-19, Abbott said. AdHowever, Abbott said as the vaccine availability improves he expects the criteria of those who can be vaccinated will also expand.
FEMA supersite at NRG Park continues to administer thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses
HOUSTON โ The FEMA supersite at NRG Park became fully operational Wednesday. The site plans to administer 126,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine over a three-week period. โThe vaccination site here at NRG Park is the largest operation we are running in Texas,โ said FEMA spokeswoman Carmen Castro. FEMA said many of the technical issues experienced Wednesday were fixed ahead of Thursdayโs opening. However, this, whatever is broken here at NRG, needs to be repaired.โAccording to the woman, workers told her others have experienced similar issues.
FEMA vaccine mega-site aims to vaccinate most vulnerable communities
HOUSTON โ A small number of people were allowed inside NRG Parkโs new mass vaccination site for its soft-opening Tuesday. The mega-site is set to open to those on the city of Houston and Harris Countyโs waitlists. Once the site is open, the goal is to have 126,000 people that meet eligibility requirements get vaccinated. City and county leaders say the focus will be on the elderly, vulnerable and high-risk zip codes. Sunnyside falls within the 70051 zip code, which is among a list of 35 zip codes with the highest risk for COVID-19.
Turner, Hidalgo explain who will get priority at COVID-19 vaccination super site at NRG Park, how it will work
HOUSTON โ Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner explained certain people will receive priority at the NRG Park COVID-19 vaccination super site to soft launch on Tuesday and go into full operation on Wednesday. Hidalgo explained officials are looking for โfair, efficient and equitableโ vaccination using the Harris County and City of Houston vaccination waitlists. AdTo register for the Harris County waitlist visit the vaccination link on ReadyHarris.org or call 832-927-8787. The NRG Park site is expected to begin vaccinations for eligible members of the public on Wednesday. AdThe site is designed to serve 6,000 people per day, seven days a week for three weeks before transitioning to second doses for three weeks.
NRG Park named a FEMA COVID-19 vaccination super site; Hereโs what you need to know
Vehicles wait at a drive-thru vaccine clinic held at NRG Park in Houston on Jan. 15, 2021. HOUSTON โ Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Friday that a Federal Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 vaccination super site will open Tuesday at NRG Park. Read more about vaccination super sites. Hidalgo said in a tweet that the site will vaccinate 42,000 people a week for three weeks. People will be selected from the Harris County waitlist and the City of Houstonโs waitlist.
5 things for Houstonians to know for Thursday, Feb. 11
Here are things to know for Thursday, Feb. 11:1. Between them, the Texas sites will offer 10,000 vaccine doses per day, seven days per week, for the foreseeable future. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the Houston site will get 6,000 doses per day in addition to the weekly state allotment. The Houston site is expected to being vaccinations on Wednesday, February 24th, representatives for the Governorโs and Leeโs office said. For CVS Pharmacy locations that will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on Feb. 12, appointments were supposed to become available for booking as early as Feb. 9 as stores receive shipments of the vaccine.
Houston one of five U.S. cities chosen as FEMA โsuperโ vaccination sites
Between them, the Texas sites will offer 10,000 vaccine doses per day, seven days per week, for the foreseeable future. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the Houston site will get 6,000 doses per day in addition to the weekly state allotment. The โsuper sitesโ in Houston, Arlington, Dallas and two others in New York are part of a FEMA pilot program to vaccinate vulnerable populations throughout the country. Lee and the governor also said the pilot program may expand to other vaccination sites in neighborhoods throughout Greater Houston in the coming weeks and months. โFEMA now has a large role in ensuring mass vaccinations and mass immunity across the nation,โ Jackson Lee said.
โMy face started tingling.โ Houston woman suffers reaction after receiving Moderna vaccine
HOUSTON โ Dorinda Beal, 73, received the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 17 at NRG Park in Houston. She said about 14 minutes after being vaccinated she started seeing my adverse effects. โThey were concerned because my blood pressure went so high and my heart rate went so high,โ said Beal. Since Dec. 29, 2020, nearly 250,000 vaccines have been administered in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. โFor perspective, early data showed that approximately one-of-100,000 people that got Pfizer got anaphylactic reactions and one-in-400,000 people in Moderna.
What itโs like to go through a drive-thru coronavirus vaccine clinic
HOUSTON โ On the second day of drive-thru vaccinations at NRG Park, KPRC 2 Investigates got an inside look at the lifesaving process. Arthur Broussard was able to get the vaccine during the Memorial Hermann clinic. โThe fact that we are making it easy by having drive-thru facilities, it is likely to bring more people to get vaccinated,โ Varon said. RELATED READ: About 14,500 people vaccinated during Memorial Hermannโs drive-thru clinicVaron understands logistics with drive-thru operations. Varon also admitted that the characteristics and demands of a drive-thru site make the process more challenging.
About 14,500 people vaccinated during Memorial Hermannโs 4-day clinic at NRG Park
Vehicles arrive on the opening day of Memorial Hermann's drive-thru coronavirus vaccine clinic at NRG Park in Houston on Jan. 14, 2021. HOUSTON โ About 14,500 people received their coronavirus shots during a four-day clinic held by Memorial Hermann Hospital at NRG Park. George Kovacik, spokesman for Memorial Hermann, said the drive-thru clinic went smoothly and most people were in and out within 30 minutes. CONTINUING COVERAGE: Follow the latest vaccine news in our special sectionKovacik said everyone who received their vaccine will return to NRG Park in 28 days to get their second dose. Organizers had originally said they hoped to vaccinate about 13,000 people during the event.
UPDATE: Appointments for Memorial Hermannโs vaccine clinic at NRG Park this weekend are full
Vehicles arrive on the opening day of Memorial Hermann's drive-thru coronavirus vaccine clinic at NRG Park in Houston on Jan. 14, 2021. HOUSTON โ Memorial Hermann officials said the additional 2,000 appointment slots they opened Friday for the hospital systemโs vaccine clinic this weekend at NRG Park were filled in a little more than an hour. Previous story:Memorial Hermann Hospital started vaccinating thousands of people in the areaโs first drive-thru mass vaccination clinic at NRG Park on Thursday. I havenโt seen my grandkids in a long time and Iโm ready to go see them,โ said Joslin. Memorial Hermann initially invited only people 65 and older who had relationships with the hospital, such as previous patients.
Texas COVID-19 cases top 2 million since the pandemic began
EL PASO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: A 'Stay Home' sign is taped to a vehicle participating in a car caravan of nurses calling for people to stay inside amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in El Paso on November 16, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. Texas surpassed 20,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths today, the second highest in the U.S., with active cases in El Paso now well over 30,000. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)HOUSTON โ Texas coronavirus cases have now topped 2 million since the pandemic first struck the state in early March, state officials reported Wednesday. The 26,808 new cases reported Wednesday raised the total case count to 2,022,635, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported. The newly reported deaths raised the COVID-19 death toll since the pandemic first struck Texas in early March to 30,624.
Appointments for Memorial Hermannโs vaccine clinic at NRG Park are full
HOUSTON โ Memorial Hermann will open a coronavirus vaccine clinic at NRG Park on Thursday, but appointments for the clinic are full. Kathryn Williams, of Memorial Hermann, said Tuesday that the drive-thru clinic will be open Thursday through Sunday and officials are hoping to vaccinate about 13,000 people. All of the appointment slots were full within a few hours of registration being opened to the public Wednesday, officials said. Only people who fall into Phase 1B and are 65 years old or older are eligible to receive the vaccine at the clinic. Only people who have registered for an appointment will get the vaccine at this clinic.
Ask 2: What is the status of the Astrodome?
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: What is the status of the Astrodome? Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in 2019 that she wants the county to focus on criminal justice reform and flood control. The status of the project remains in โdemoโ mode and no other updates have been posted at this time. To read more on Harris Countyโs plans to renovate the Astrodome, go here.