Texas AG Ken Paxton says caller made false report to police describing โlife-threatening situationโ at McKinney home
Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking out after a false report was made to 911 by an unidentified caller describing a โlife-threatening situationโ at his familyโs McKinney home on New Yearโs Day.
More than 100 people arrested for DWIs and illegally discharging firearms in Houston for New Yearโs celebrations
Despite the numerous warnings from law enforcement officials, more than 100 people across the Houston area found themselves behind bars for drinking and driving or for celebratory gunfire as we rang in the new year.
Relax and recover like a pro with this full-leg massager for under $170
No matter how much you deny it, the truth is always there. Your leg is in pain and no amount of manual massaging seems to make it feel any better. Now that the New Year is upon us, perhaps itโs time to take this matter seriously and get yourself a new solution. This technologically-advanced leg massager is going to get you right where it hurts (and not in the pocketbook)!
โYou donโt have to close out the partyโ: Houston leaders call for city to celebrate โresponsiblyโ this New Yearโs
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner and Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peรฑa called for residents across the area to bring in the New Year responsibly.
Make your holidays โhappyโ in The Woodlands! Check out the Christmas, New Year lineup
So much to do, so little time - or so it seems - as we race toward 2023. But before we let 2022 get past us, there is still plenty of time to enjoy some fun. Whether it is a fancy night out on the town for two, dinner with friends, or a holiday staycation for the entire family, The Woodlands has everything you can imagine. Check out this list of Christmas and New Year programming. Take a look, then pack up the kiddos, the car and head on down I-45.
3 separate domestic violence-related incidents have occurred over the last 24-hours in the Houston area; Therapist weighs in, urging survivors to get help
Following three domestic violence-related homicides in the Houston area over the past 24 hours, victimsโ advocates called on greater community support for those who are suffering and in need of help.
Azeri president marks Nowruz in retaken cultural city
Aliyev marked the Nowruz holiday by lighting a ceremonial fire outside Shusha, a culturally revered city that Azerbaijan took from Armenian forces in last autumn's war. Shusha, a center of Azeri culture for centuries, came under Armenian control in 1992 in fighting over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. (Vugar Amrullaev, Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)MOSCOW โ Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev marked the Nowruz holiday Saturday by lighting a ceremonial fire outside Shusha, a culturally revered city that Azerbaijan took from Armenian forces in last autumnโs war. Shusha, a center of Azeri culture for centuries, came under Armenian control in 1992 in fighting over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. โToday we are celebrating Nowruz in our ancient city Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan.
Macron calls on Biden for greater US military involvement
(Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)BREST โ French President Emmanuel Macron hoped on Tuesday that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will show a greater military commitment to fight against Islamic extremists in several theaters of conflict and especially in the Middle East. Macron stressed that France has maintained its efforts to fight against the Islamic State group in the region. About 900 French troops are currently taking part in the U.S.-led international coalition. In his speech, Macron also suggested he is considering a partial troop pullout in Africaโs Sahel region, an โadjustmentโ he presented as a consequence of successes achieved by French forces last year and an expected greater involvement of other European countries. The deployment of about 5,100 troops in five West African countries represent Franceโs largest military operation abroad.
Moon urges Biden to learn from Trump's N. Korea diplomacy
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an on-line New Year press conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)SEOUL โ South Koreaโs president on Monday urged the incoming Biden administration to build upon the achievements and learn from the failures of President Donald Trumpโs diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Biden has accused Trump of chasing the spectacle of summits rather than meaningful curbs on the Northโs nuclear capabilities. And while Moon acknowledged that Biden is likely to try a different approach than Trump, he stressed that Biden could still learn from Trumpโs successes and failures in dealing with North Korea. โThe start of the Biden administration provides a new opportunity to start over talks between North Korea and the United States and also between South and North Korea,โ which have stalled amid the stalemate in nuclear negotiations, Moon said.
Germany's Merkel: Trump's Twitter eviction 'problematic'
FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2020 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for photographs after the television recording of her annual New Year's speech at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)BERLIN โ German Chancellor Angela Merkel considers U.S. President Donald Trump's eviction from Twitter by the company โproblematic,โ her spokesman said Monday. Twitter permanently suspended Trump from the microblogging platform on Friday, citing a โrisk of further incitement of violenceโ in the wake of the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the outgoing president. โSeen from this angle, the chancellor considers it problematic that the accounts of the U.S. president have now been permanently blocked.โFacebook on Thursday suspended Trumpโs account through Jan. 20, the day of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, and possibly indefinitely. Merkel herself does not have a Twitter account, although Seibert does and many German government ministers do.
Zimbabwe returns to restrictions amid rise in virus cases
Thousands of people attend a music concert to celebrate New Year's in the Mbare suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe, early Friday, Jan 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)MUTARE โ In response to rising COVID-19 numbers, Zimbabwe has reintroduced a night curfew, banned public gatherings, and indefinitely suspended the opening of schools. โWe are being overwhelmed and overrun,โ Information Minister Nick Mangwana warned, saying the country's hospitals are rapidly reaching capacity with COVID-19 patients. Zimbabwe recorded 1,342 cases and 29 deaths in the past week, โthe highest number recorded so far,โ Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said, announcing the strict measures. Funerals are now limited to 30 people while other gatherings such as weddings and church services are banned for 30 days.
Asia Today: Australian state under fire for slow response
Trace testing has linked the new Melbourne coronavirus cluster to the New South Wales outbreak. The newest occurred at midnight Friday when Victoria closed its border to New South Wales, prompting traffic bottlenecks as people raced to beat the closure. Once in Victoria, COVID-19 testing sites saw long queues as travelers lined up for mandatory testing. South Korea reported 824 new cases, raising the national tally to 62,593 with 942 deaths. โ Thai authorities are planning to launch two levels of restrictions of activities for highly controlled areas where coronavirus cases are on the rise.
The Latest: S Korea extends distancing rules for 2 weeks
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, intensive care units in several parts of Texas were full or nearly full. India and Brazil trail behind the U.S. in coronavirus cases at over 10 million and 7 million, respectively. ___MILAN, Italy โ Italy added another 462 virus deaths on Friday for a known pandemic death toll of 74,621, the highest in Europe. ___BANGKOK โ The Thai capital is shutting down venues including schools and entertainment parks as coronavirus cases continue to spread. China on Friday reported a total of 19 new virus cases, including 10 that were brought from outside the country.
S&P 500 ends at another record high as tumultuous 2020 ends
The benchmark S&P 500 index finished with a gain of 16.3% for the year, or a total return of about 18.4%, including dividends. And the S&P 500 rose or fell by at least 1% on twice as many days in 2020 than it did, on average, since 1950. The electric car maker jumped 743.4% in 2020 for the biggest gain in the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 set 33 record highs in 2020. The S&P 500 rose 24.03 points, or 0.6%, to 3,756.07, an all-time high.
Tokyo trading closed for holiday, other Asian indexes mixed
FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2020, file photo, an employee tolls the closing bell during a ceremony of the last trading day at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday, Dec. 31, while the handful that remained open was mixed. (JPX via AP)Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday while the handful that remained open was mixed. Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea. The Tokyo exchange marked the end of trading for the year Wednesday, with the Nikkei falling 0.5%, and trading will not reopen until Monday next week.
โPlease stay homeโ: Houston doctor issues plea as hospital fills up ahead of new year
HOUSTON โ A Houston doctor whose hospital is packed with coronavirus patients is pleading with people to stay home to ring in the new year. The drive-thru testing site at the United Memorial Medical Center in northwest Houston was busy Tuesday, but itโs the situation inside the hospital that has Dr. Joseph Varon concerned. โItโs not going anywhere, and the fact is that we are getting people that are deadly ill in the hospital. If you can avoid going out this New Yearโs, please stay home.โDr. Joseph Varon has been working 287 consecutive days since the pandemic started. For those hoping for a better 2021, Dr. Varon says this message is simple.
These were the most clicked-on stories of 2020
Some of the biggest stories of our lifetimes were packed into 2020, and KPRC 2 was there through all of it to help keep you informed. You can look back at the 2020 hurricane season and keep track of the 2021 season when it begins at Click2Houston.com/hurricane. Dad saves daughter from alligatorIn League City, news of a dad leaping into action to save his 4-year-old daughter from the jaws an 11-foot-7-inch alligator grabbed national headlines. Rodeo canceledTwo of our most clicked-on stories of the year were about the cancellation of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo because of the coronavirus pandemic. Deadly explosionAnother Houston story that grabbed national headlines this year was the explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in January.
These 15 Houston restaurants are serving up end-of-year menu specials for New Yearโs Eve
HOUSTON โ Ready to kiss 2020 goodbye? Celebrate with the best meals youโve had this year by dining at one of these Houston-area restaurants on New Yearโs Eve. From New American and French to Japanese and Mexican cuisines, these restaurants will be open on New Yearโs Eve and New Yearโs Day to celebrate the departure of 2020 and the arrival of 2021. This list includes information from both OpenTable and 365 Things To Do In Houston. #Lodgestyle Posted by Rainbow Lodge on Monday, December 28, 2020Address: 2200 Post Oak, HoustonAddress: 3755 Richmond, HoustonAddress: 13616 Memorial, HoustonAddress: 807 Taft, HoustonAddress: 309 Gray, HoustonAddress: Multiple locationsDo you know of other restaurants bringing New Years Eve specials?
Thailand imposes new restrictions amid coronavirus outbreak
Thailand generally has been viewed as successful in combating the coronavirus, due partly to its well-regarded public health infrastructure and peopleโs adherence to mask-wearing and other protocols. But cases have jumped significantly since an outbreak was detected last week among migrants from Myanmar working at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province. Samut Sakhon Gov. Weerasak Wijitsaengsri tested positive for the virus after meeting Sunday with senior health officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Samut Sakhon was put under lockdown on Dec. 19, followed by Samut Songkhram and Samut Prakarn.
Asian shares mixed as boost from US stimulus package fades
Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trumps signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trumpโs signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. It is still on track to end the month 7.7% higher, more than twice as much as the S&P 500. The S&P 500 fell 8.32 points to 3,727.04. With two days of trading left in 2020, the S&P 500 is up 15.4% this year, while the Nasdaq is up 43.2%.
Asia Today: Governor of hotspot Thai province infected
Hata was the son of late Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, who headed an opposition-led government in 1994. Prime Minister Yoshihide Sugaโs government has been reluctant to impose tougher restrictions that would further damage the pandemic-hit economy. South Korea on Monday registered 808 new coronavirus cases, raising its national caseload to 57,680 with 819 deaths. Sri Lanka has confirmed 41,053 coronavirus cases, including 191 fatalities. The government also announced 5,854 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the country's total to 719,219 confirmed cases, including 21,452 deaths.
Get lost 2020: Some things to leave behind, with caveats
(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)NEW YORK โ Zoom, Zoom and Zoom. Masks, masks and masks. But not all things 2020 need to be left behind. Practically speaking, Black women, indigenous women and other women of color continued to face stumbling blocks. As one Holocaust survivor put it: Things of importance fade into oblivion when NEVER AGAIN is reduced to a meaningless mantra.
J. Lo, Billy Porter to perform at 'New Yearโs Rockinโ Eve'
NEW YORK โ Jennifer Lopez will help bring in the New Year with a headlining performance in New Yorkโs Time Square for โDick Clarkโs New Yearโs Rockinโ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021." Other performers include Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Jimmie Allen. Lauper and Porter collaborated on the Broadway musical โKinky Boots" and they will join forces for a special performance during the TV special, which will air on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern. โDick Clarkโs New Yearโs Rockinโ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021" will run until 2 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 1. Seacrest is returning to host the event for a 16th year, and he will be joined by Porter and Lucy Hale in New York.
Trials and triumphs in 2020: Houstonians talk about the greatest things that happened to them this year
HOUSTON โ We know that 2020 hasnโt been the best year for everyone, but many, especially Houstonians had a bright moment that shined through this dark year, from getting a new home to scoring a dream job. The year 2020 is almost over, so give yourselves a pat on the back and take a deep breath. We asked our KPRC 2 audience whether anything good came to them this year despite the trying times that came with it. They found a great apartment and are finally able to go on their Costa Rican honeymoon this week!โ - Pam Peymann MoritzโI lost my job only to get hired doing my dream job. !โ - Janice Oden PoeโZoom has breathed new life into our Sunday school class at St. Markโs UMC on Pecore.
Where to watch New Yearโs Eve fireworks around Houston
HOUSTON โ Who doesnโt love to ring in the new year watching a thrilling fireworks display surrounded by their loved ones? We tracked down free family-friendly New Yearโs celebrations featuring fireworks in Houston and hereโs what we found:The City of Houston and the City of Sugar Land wonโt be organizing any New Yearโs celebrations this year. But there are still a few options available in the Houston area to welcome 2020 with a good fireworks show. Cost: FreeWhen: From 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Dec. 31Address: 215 Kipp Ave. Cost: FreeWhen: From 8 p.m. to 12:05 a.m., Dec. 31Address: 250 Assay Street