Here is a look at improvement projects in the Westchase District
You may have noticed a lot of roadwork by the West Beltway and Westpark Tollway in the Westchase District. Most of this construction kicked off in 2019 with the new reconstruction of Walnut Bend and then the work came on Westheimer, which carries METROโs busiest local bus route. Most recently, a small but crucial bike connection was finished.
St. Lukeโs United holding public vigil to honor 500,000+ lives lost to COVID-19
HOUSTON โ St. Lukeโs United Methodist Church is hosting a vigil in memory of the more than 500,000 Americans who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Church members honored those lives with 500 luminarias placed on the front lawn of both Westheimer and Gethsemane campuses. On Friday, the Westheimer campus located at 3471 Westheimer in Houston will have the final vigil from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.โLent is a time when the church comes face-to-face with our own mortality, and the COVID-19 pandemic made this reality unavoidable. During this season of Lent, we are devastated by the loss of more than 500,000 lives to this virus and want to honor the memories of those who passed with 500 luminarias lit around the front lawn of the church,โ the church stated. The community is free to come to walk among the luminarias to pray, reflect, and keep the memories of those we lost this year alive.
HPD officers face possible chemical exposure following Chase Bank robbery in west Houston
HOUSTON โ Houston Police Department responded to a robbery at Chase Bank in west Houston on Thursday night. Officials said officers may have experienced possible chemical exposure. The incident occurred at 10400 Westheimer Road. FBI Houston Division confirmed that members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force are on the scene in response to the incident. Please check back for updates.
Man fatally struck while crossing the street in west Houston, police say
HOUSTON โ A man is dead after he was struck while crossing the street in west Houston Sunday, police said. Officers said it happened around 10:55 p.m. near the Westheimer and Dunvale intersection. According to investigators, the driver who hit the victim said that he didnโt see the man walking. Witnesses said the driver was speeding but police have not confirmed that. The driver stayed at the scene until police arrived, investigators said.
Couple dead after argument ends in apparent murder-suicide, police say
HOUSTON โ A man and woman were found dead in a vehicle following what police are calling an apparent murder-suicide. The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Woodlake Townhomes on Westerland Drive and Westheimer. Investigators said the man and woman had been dating on and off for about a year and had a โsomewhat volatileโ relationship. Police said the womanโs roommate heard the couple screaming at each other prior to shots being fired. When she went to check, she found both of them dead inside a Ford Mustang with gunshot wounds to their heads, police said.
Accused drunk driver arrested after woman fatally struck near Uptown, police say
HOUSTON โ A woman accused of driving while intoxicated is in custody after a deadly accident Friday, police said. Police said the victim, a woman, was crossing Westheimer near Stoney Brook just after 1 a.m. when she was hit. The victim, who investigators said was not in a crosswalk area, died at the scene. Officers said the driver was arrested after failing her sobriety test.
Man killed after gun accidentally goes off in west Houston, police say
HOUSTON โ A 28-year-old man is dead after a gun accidentally went off inside a residence in west Houston Wednesday, police said. Officers said it happened just before 9 p.m. in the 15100 block of Richmond Avenue. Houston Fire Department paramedics transported him to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police say based on surveillance footage, it appears the gun discharged after the man sat it down on a table or counter. According to investigators, two other people who were inside the home at the time are cooperating with investigators.
Ask 2: What are crews doing on Fountain View Drive between Westheimer, Richmond?
HOUSTON โ At KPRC 2, weโre dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: George asks, What are crews doing on Fountain View Drive between Westheimer, Richmond? Answer: Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes reached out to the City of Houston, and according to Houston Public Works, crews are will be installing sanitary sewer lines, manholes, reinforce concrete pavement, improving curbs, and adjusting water and sanitary sewer lines. Fountain View Drive constructionThe project has two phases:Phase 1: Fountain View Drive from Gulfton to Schumber Lane - Spring 2020 to Spring 2021Phase 2: Fountainview from Schumber Lane to Westheimer - Spring 2021 to Spring 2022
Katzโs opens new Heights location with plenty of new, and classic food items
HOUSTON โ Katzโs brand new Heights location on Shepherd just opened this week, this and itโs completely different than the original location on Westheimer and Montrose. All of your favorite items are still on the menu, plus some new menu ones like the salmon salad, Reuben Klassic, 7 Layer, fried pickles, and grilled shrimp sandwich. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate social distancing, and itโs pet friendly! The bar features some unique new adult beverages, and plenty of Texas wines to choose from. Watch Lauren Kelly chat with owner Barry Katz about the new location.
Get your 'vampire chickenโ: Korean fried eats coming to Houstonโs Westheimer Road
HOUSTON โ A โwildly popularโ Korean-style fried chicken restaurant is making its way to Westheimer, Eater Houston reported. BB.Q Chicken, based in Austin, is famous for their spicy items such as Soy-Grilled Chicken, Spicy Spicy Vampire Chicken and Gangnam Style Wings. Other popular menu items include the โCupbobโ which is a bulgogi and short rib bibimbap (beef, rib and rice) bowl, according to their Facebook page. The new BB.Q Chicken location will replace the now-shuttered Texadelphia restaurant at 8383 Westheimer Suite 114, between Fondren and Hillcroft. The chain plans to open more than 55,000 locations across the globe, including the one on Westheimer, according to Eater Houston.
WATCH: Street racers shut down Westheimer and Sage intersection overnight
HOUSTON, Texas A group of street car racers shut down the intersection of Westheimer and Sage in the Galleria area overnight to donuts and other stunts. Cellphone footage showed the stunts as traffic came to a standstill around them. Police were called to the scene and cleared the intersection. Its unclear if anyone was arrested in connection with the incident. The Harris County District Attorneys Office said it is considering charges in the incident.
Woman dies in wrong-way crash in southwest Houston: Police
HOUSTON Police said a woman was killed in a wrong-way crash in southwest Houston Wednesday. Officers said the incident happened around 12:30 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the Beltway near Westheimer. According to investigators, a woman was driving and going the wrong way. Police said the woman slammed head-on into a man driving a pickup truck. Police said the man she crashed into was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
When will construction be finished on Westheimer?
HOUSTON Westheimer Road is operating at normal speeds during the day as the paving operations are complete. However, there is some work to complete such as median repair, finishing the loops for the signal lights and some final striping. Crews have been working 24 hours a day to get the work done, covering Westheimer Road from the West Loop to Dairy Ashford. They started with repaving the area between the West Loop and Fountain View and continued working their way west until reaching Dairy Ashford. The Texas Department of Transportation tells me theyve finished all left-turn lanes on this major corridor except one.
Community seeking prayers for priest hospitalized with mysterious injuries
HOUSTON โ Neighbors of St. Anne Catholic Church along Westheimer are praying for the recovery of a beloved pastor. Father Al Sinasac is in the hospital recuperating from head trauma. According to the church, he was found injured near the front gate of the rectory Tuesday evening. โNot a nicer person youโll ever meet: kind, gentle, just a wonderful person. Always has a smile," said Cindi Ray, who lives near the church.
Highly-traveled entrance ramp to 610 from Westheimer Road closed indefinitely
According to TxDOT officials, the 610 West loop southbound enterance ramp from Westheimer closed Friday at 9 p.m. The closure will be indefinite until further notice as crews continue their work to reconstruct the interchange between 610 and the Southwest Freeway. Drivers trying to access the West Loop southbound are advised to take the Southwest Freeway outbound to the Chimney Rock Road exit, make a U-turn onto IH 69 northbound frontage road, take the entrance onto 69 and then take the 610 southbound connector. TxDot officials also said the Hidalgo Street curve will be permanently closed. To access Hidalgo Street, drivers are advised to use the West Loop southbound exit ramp to Hidalgo Street and Richmond Avenue.