America 250: Yosemite National Park continues providing inspiration for artists
Home to lush landscape, towering granite walls and free-flowing falls, Yosemite National Park has provided inspiration for generations of artists.
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Driver overrode Tesla's autopilot seconds before crashing into Katy-area home, killing woman: Docs
Records show the 44-year-old man, whose Tesla crashed into a Katy-area home and killed a woman, was given a $150,000 bond.
Houston SPCA opens walk-in foster program to help 100+ nursery kittens
The Houston SPCA is making it easier for people to step in and help during peak kitten season, opening its doors to walk-in fosters after an urgent call for assistance drew a strong community response.With more than 100 vulnerable kittens ready to leave the nursery, the organization says getting ...
Venezuelan security guard pulled alive from building basement 8 days after twin quakes
Rescuers pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from a collapsed basement early Thursday, ending a grueling days-long operation that became a symbol of hope after the devastation of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela eight days earlier.
Houston man accused of spraying homeless, disabled people with high-powered water gun, posting videos online
A man was arrested and charged after allegedly taunting disabled and homeless people by spraying them with a high-powered, motorized water gun, according to the Houston Police Department.Christopher Cayce, 34, was charged with assault causing bodily injury.Police said Cayce specifically targeted ...
Couple charged with felonies for Empire State Building climb-turned-proposal
A skyscraper-scaling daredevil told police that he and his girlfriend climbed the Empire State Building’s antenna and unfurled a banner about love and peace because he wanted to “do something special” for their engagement, prosecutors said Thursday at the couple's arraignment on felony reckless e...
Alex Ovechkin returning for a 22nd NHL season after re-signing with the Capitals
Alex Ovechkin is returning for a 22nd NHL season after re-signing with the Washington Capitals on Thursday."I’m back!” Ovechkin said.The league’s career goal-scoring record holder inked a deal with a $1 million salary and bonuses worth an additional $8 million. He receives a $3.25 million signing...
Man sentenced for giving THC-laced candy to migrant children, smuggling them
A member of an organization that smuggled unaccompanied children into the United States from Mexico, sometimes using THC-laced candy, has been sentenced to federal prison.
Permit obtained by AP shows schedule for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Friday at New York's Madison Square Garden and could last until 4 a.m. the next morning, according to a copy of a city permit obtained by The Associated Press.The application — for a “Special Event at MSG" — was approved Wednesd...
New map solves urban mysteries of NYC's co-named streets
A team of interns is sorting through the city's vast archives to create a digital interactive map of all the honorary streets co-named after someone.
Soccer fans are into this year's World Cup, but the US still isn't a soccer nation, new poll finds
This World Cup has given U.S. soccer fans plenty to cheer about - even if a new survey shows most Americans are still on the sidelines.
Rescue teams in Venezuela cling to hope as US rebuffs criticisms of government earthquake response
Black smoke from fires in flattened buildings and the smell of decomposing bodies spread across ruins Thursday, eight days after Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes, while rescue teams pulled on a thread of hope that they might still find survivors trapped beneath the rubble.As officials carried ...
Cyclospora is showing up in Texas again — and your salad could be part of the story
Cyclospora — a parasite that can cause a miserable stomach illness — tends to make headlines in the warmer months, and this summer is no exception.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking cyclosporiasis nationwide, and its season-to-date map ties Texas with Illinois, with ...
Average 30-year US mortgage rate falls to 6.43%, its lowest level in seven weeks
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell this week to its lowest level since mid-May, easing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.43% from 6.49% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate...
Summer heat remains with rain chances creeping up in July
Increasing moisture levels will lead to higher rain chances as we head into July.
Harris Co. judge wins lawsuit accusing husband's former girlfriend of accessing personal info
Judge Tamika Craft said her personal information was accessed by a Guardant employee, who she says was her husband's former girlfriend, over the course of six months in 2023 without her consent.
Congressman Menefee presses EPA for answers on Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens contamination investigation
Congressman Christian Menefee is demanding answers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its handling of the long-running investigation in Houston’s Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens, saying residents deserve transparency, accountability, and timely information about potential health r...
American woman arrested at border with 57 pounds of meth
The woman, who was not named, was attempting to enter the United States from Mexico at the Paso del Norte point of entry when her vehicle was selected for a second inspection.
America 250: Yosemite National Park continues providing inspiration for artists
Home to lush landscape, towering granite walls and free-flowing falls, Yosemite National Park has provided inspiration for generations of artists.
'Awesome.' 'Sad.' 'Let's keep democracy going.' Americans weigh in on state of a 250-year-old nation
Across the United States, many Americans are celebrating their country's 250th birthday by closing their ears to all the partisan shouting. All the fingernails-on-chalkboard screeching out of Washington. All the clamor of social media agitprop.Instead, in varied ways, they are tuning into their o...
Liberty County pastor accused of sexually abusing a child
A Liberty County pastor has been arrested on multiple charges, including allegations of sexually abusing a child.
Texas Rangers, Budweiser aim to shatter Guinness World Record for largest glass of beer
The Texas Rangers and Budweiser are building a 12-foot tall, 600-gallon stein at Globe Life Field to break the Guinness World Record for the largest glass of beer this Saturday.
Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, arrested in Colorado in Philadelphia shooting of Penn State student Billy Schmidt; Kaiseem Smith at large
Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, was arrested in Colorado in the Philadelphia shooting of Penn State student Billy Schmidt; Kaiseem Smith is still at large.
13 Alert Traffic: Rollover crash shuts down portion of I-10 East in Chambers Co.: sheriff's office
All I-10 eastbound lanes are shut down at mile marker 831 due to the wreck, according to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office.
Fort Bend County confirms first human case of West Nile Virus in 2026
The Fort Bend County Health & Human Services (FBCHHS) Epidemiology Division announced Wednesday the county’s first human case of Neuroinvasive West Nile virus (WNV) for 2026. The infected patient resides in ZIP code 77478. No other additional information will be released to protect their privacy....
Former tax-assessor for Tomball ISD accused of stealing $1M from families and district, FBI says
Kristi Williams is set to make her first court appearance this month on charges of allegedly stealing $1 million from Tomball ISD families and the district itself.
Finding freedom from the heat on July 4th will be a challenge in eastern US
Heat as oppressive as British colonial rule is bearing down on the eastern U.S. heading into the long Fourth of July weekend, prompting some communities to cancel, postpone or otherwise alter their Independence Day plans.Dangerous, record-breaking heat will continue across much of the central and...
Houston weather: Storms fire up Thursday before a hot and humid Fourth of July weekend
Houston’s summer pattern is not going anywhere, but rain chances are trying to sneak back into the forecast over the next few days. It means our classic July setup is back: warm and muggy mornings, hot afternoons, and a few scattered storms bubbling up during the peak heating of the day.Thursday’...
Heat adds to strains on areas with data centers, raising the temperature on AI debates
Eileen Castle's swimming pool, one of the only ones for blocks around, was once a refuge for neighborhood children on hot summer days.But even as temperatures soared this week, Castle, 82, said she won't be filling the pool — not with the data center behind her house buzzing with the sound of its...
'Almost like quicksand': Porretto Beach closes for first time in 70-year history amid city drainage dispute
A beloved Galveston beach that has welcomed families for generations will sit empty this Fourth of July, and likely through the rest of the summer, marking the first closure in its 70-year history.The owners of Porretto Beach say a city drainage project at Stewart Beach has made parts of the beac...
What celebrating U.S. soccer — and American independence — means for these fans in Houston
As the United States won its first World Cup knockout stage match in more than two decades, local fans said the moment was one to mark with celebrating 250 years of U.S. independence.
Why California's 'sell by' label ban could spread nationwide
California has become the first state to standardize food date labels, banning terms like "sell by" on most consumer-facing food packaging in an effort to reduce food waste.
Albanian police use tear gas and pepper spray as Tirana protest turns violent
Albanian police clashed with protesters Thursday as an anti-government demonstration — part of protests triggered by plans for a luxury development linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner — turned violent. Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at protesters who were pel...
Houston boy born with disfigured eye moves family to tears after eye transformation
An 11-year-old boy from Houston was born with a disfigured eye and, with the help of a local optometrist, he's found a way for both eyes to look the same.
Tesla driver charged with manslaughter after fatal crash into Houston-area home
Michael Butler, 44, told authorities in the aftermath of the June 19 crash that his Tesla Model 3 was in autopilot mode when it slammed into a home in Katy, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. Her family has sued Butler and Tesla.
How daredevil lovebirds climbed onto Empire State Building spire
The NYPD believes the duo who climbed the Empire State Building Wednesday entered through a locked maintenance hatch on the 102nd floor observation deck.
Soccer fans are into this year's World Cup, but the US still isn't a soccer nation, new poll finds
This World Cup has given U.S. soccer fans plenty to cheer about — even if a new survey shows most Americans are still on the sidelines. New polling from Ipsos Sports, provided exclusively to The Associated Press, shows that the World Cup has excited soccer fans and piqued many Americans’ interest...
Goal of higher voter turnout remains elusive in California as changes have extended ballot counting
California is finally nearing the end of the ballot counting from its June 2 primary, a tediously slow process that is largely the result of multiple changes over the years intended to boost turnout by making voting easier and more accessible.State data and experts who study voting trends suggest...
Rapper .idk. on connecting culture, music, and history on a global scale through 'Son de L'amour'
'Son de L'Amour,' was a first-of-its-kind cultural experience celebrating Juneteenth and Fête de la Musique with rapper .idk. and Indigo.
Texas leads nation in proposed power plants for data centers, which would emit large amounts of air pollution
Nearly half of the power plants planned to supply electricity for data centers would be in Texas. Experts warn they will emit significant pollution that could harm the health of communities nearby.
16 children rescued from Ohio home: 'Livestock kept in better conditions'
Authorities serving a search warrant at a dilapidated Ohio home found 16 children living in deplorable conditions, surrounded by human waste and confined to one room for the past several years.