The wave of mass shootings over the Fourth of July highlights the challenges police face
A rash of shootings as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July is spiking fears in communities across the U.S. and highlighting the challenges police face at preventing such violence as temperatures warm and festivities move outside.
CAPTURED: Boyfriend accused of murdering Alief ISD teacher in domestic violence incident arrested in Louisiana, police say
A man accused of murdering a beloved Alief ISD teacher in Sugar Land during a domestic violence incident was arrested in Louisiana Wednesday, according to the Sugar Land Police Department.
UH Coogs head to Independence Bowl to face Raginโ Cajuns
University of Houston Football makes its 30th bowl appearance all-time when the Cougars face off against the Louisiana Raginโ Cajuns in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at 2 p.m., CT on Friday, Dec. 23, from Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Southern exposure: Cold wreaks havoc on aging waterworks
A 2018 survey by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated $473 billion was needed over 20 years to maintain and improve water infrastructure. In Texas, more than 2 million remained under boil water notices Wednesday and 40 public water systems are โnonoperational,โ affecting 25,000 people, state officials said. At the height of the problems last week, at least 7 million Texans were told to boil their water. AdโThe wealthy taxpayers left, so they left Jackson to suffer,โ the retired public works department employee said. The persistent freezing temperatures exposed problems at pumping stations and other parts of the system, some of which dates to the 1930s.
Students write inaugural poems for poetry academy contest
The official inaugural poem will be read during Wednesday's ceremony by Amanda Gorman, the countrys first Youth Poet Laureate. The 17-year-old has won a contest organized by the Academy of American Poets for which students under 18 wrote their own inaugural poems in anticipation of Wednesday's swearing in of President-elect Joe Biden. Applicants for the Inaugural Poem Project were urged to submit work that reflects โon the countryโs challenges, strengths, and hope for its future," according to the guidelines. Knight will receive $1,000, and her work โ along with the poems of two runners-up โ will be featured on Poets.org and in American Poets magazine. The official inaugural poem will be read during Wednesday's ceremony by Amanda Gorman, the countryโs first Youth Poet Laureate.
Louisiana adviser sentenced in fraud with megachurch pastor
โ A Louisiana investment adviser was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for his part in a $3.5 million fraud in which customers invested money with a Texas megachurch minister who had counseled two presidents. Smith "persuaded multiple victims to invest approximately $3.5 million with his co-defendant, Kirbyjon H. Caldwell," the statement said. Caldwell, like Smith, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and agreed to a sentence of five to seven years. When Caldwell pleaded guilty, prosecutors said he used about $900,000 to maintain his lifestyle and pay down personal loans and mortgages. That earlier news release said Caldwell had made partial restitution to the victims and agreed to pay the remaining $1.95 million before sentencing.
4 Louisiana police officers charged in Black manโs death
(AP) โ Four police officers in northwest Louisiana have been charged with negligent homicide and malfeasance in connection with the death last April of a 44-year-old Black man following a video-recorded altercation, a prosecutor's office announced Friday. The statement said there was evidence of excessive force used on McGlothen, and that officers failed to summon medical help for him. The district attorney's statement said officers used unnecessary physical force and violated department policy regarding use of Tasers. Friday's announcement of charges marks the second time in recent months that a group of Shreveport officers has faced indictment over use of force. In June, eight officers were charged with malfeasance for the use of force against two men following a traffic chase.