Texas jail inmates hungry, shivering during unusual freeze
The Harris County Sheriffโs Office denied it had restricted inmates' access to food and water in the days following the storm. The jail in Harris County has long been the subject of legal action due to overcrowding. Civil Rights Corps won a settlement in a lawsuit to ensure that most misdemeanor defendants in the Harris County Jail donโt languish behind bars because they canโt afford bail. In late January, a federal judge expressed frustration over what she called a lack of progress in efforts to relieve overcrowding at the Harris County Jail during the pandemic. In a court filing, nine inmates described the facility as a โmetal can of contagion.โโA lot of people are just stuck, nothing is moving,โ said Gundu, of the Texas Jail Project.
Pontiac man wearing work uniform in indecent exposure incident quickly identified, police say
PONTIAC, Mich. โ A 20-year-old man from Pontiac was taken into custody Saturday afternoon on suspicion of indecent exposure. According to the Oakland County Sheriffโs Office, it happened just before 12:30 p.m. at a Sally Beauty Supply store in the 320 block of Telegraph Road, just north of Cherry Hill Street. Oakland County deputies located the suspect at the Big Lots store where they said he admitted to exposing himself and was taken into custody. A computer check revealed that the suspect was a missing and endangered person out of Southfield. The man is currently housed at the Oakland County Jail pending charges.
Appeals court declines to ban drive-thru voting in Houston
Victoria Houptman-Bryan joins demonstrators as they stand across the street from the federal courthouse in Houston, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, before a hearing in federal court involving drive-thru ballots cast in Harris County. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON โ A panel of federal appeals court judges has rejected an eleventh hour Republican effort to bar Election Day drive-thru voting in Houston. The court hadn't been asked to invalidate votes already cast at drive-thru sites in the Houston area. โHopefully it's all over now.โAttorney Jared Woodfill, a former Harris County GOP Chairman representing those opposed to drive-thru voting centers, noted that county Clerk Chris Hollins has shut down all but one of the county's 10 drive-thru locations for Election Day. "We have stopped the illegal voting on Election Day because Mr. Hollins has shut down drive-thru voting in all locations but one,โ Woodfill said.
Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON โ A federal judge on Monday rejected another last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston because the ballots were cast at drive-thru polling centers established during the pandemic. Another 20,000 or more voters had been expected to use drive-thru polling locations Tuesday, Hollins said earlier Monday. โI cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk,โ he said. Harris County offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus. More than 40% of Harris County residents are Latino, and about one in five residents are Black.
Despite virus fears, Texas sends most voters to the polls
With an election official looking on an elderly voter uses the drive-thru option to vote outside Richardson City Hall during early voting Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Richardson, Texas. Texas is one of just five states that did not dramatically expand mail-in voting this year because of COVID-19. Long lines were common at polling sites across Texas, as were masks, although voters are not required to wear them inside polling places. Travis County, which includes the state capital of Austin, will also offer extended hours at select locations during early voting. Upping the ante is the chance to flip the Republican-controlled Texas State House of Representatives.
Texas governor restricts mail-in ballot drop-off locations
AUSTIN, Texas โ Texas Gov. Trump has spread falsehoods about mail voting, suggesting without evidence that the process โ which is surging in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic โ was ripe for fraud. Texas is one of just five states not allowing widespread mail-in voting this year, with polls showing unusually tight races in Americaโs biggest red state. โMail ballot voters shouldnโt have to drive 30 miles to drop off their ballot, or rely on a mail system thatโs facing cutbacks,โ said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat. โOur office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations,โ Hollins said.
Houston leaders call for city lockdown amid virus case surge
HOUSTON Top officials in Houston are calling for the city to lock back down as area hospitals strain to accommodate the onslaught of patients sick with the new coronavirus. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both Democrats, said this weekend that a stay-at-home order is needed for America's fourth largest city to cope with the surge of COVID-19 cases. State health officials reported 8,196 new cases Sunday, another 80 deaths and a total of 10,410 people hospitalized due to the virus. On Friday, Abbott extended a statewide disaster order that warned Texans another shutdown might be needed if the virus spread isnt contained. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Discord over deal to settle Houston-area bail lawsuit
But there is deep disagreement on whether a proposed settlement to a lawsuit over bail for misdemeanor defendants in Harris County, where Houston is located, is the best solution. Others states that have passed bail reforms in recent years include Delaware and New Hampshire. In Chicago, changes to the Cook County bail system have prompted criticism from the city's mayor and police chief. Harris County initially spent millions of dollars fighting the lawsuit. "We are all for bail reform as long as it protects the public," Ogg said.
Sandeep Dhaliwal made history as Harris County's first Sikh deputy
Harris County Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot "from behind... at least a couple of times" while conducting a traffic stop, officials said. (CNN) - For the residents of one of the largest communities in Texas, Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was a lot more than a law enforcement officer. This week, Dhaliwal was gunned down in midday during a traffic stop, in "a cold-blooded manner, ambush style," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a press conference. The deputy said he "felt the need to represent the Sikh community in law enforcement." The deputy had a "heart of gold," former sheriff and now Harris County police commissioner Garcia said.
3 siblings overcome by waves drown while swimming in Texas
Google Maps via CNN(CNN) - Three siblings died after they were overcome by waves while swimming in Texas. The four children between ages 7-13 were swimming at Sylvan Beach in LaPorte on Thursday night. One of them resurfaced and the bodies of the other three were recovered from the water, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted. The children, all siblings, likely went beyond a water safety buoy, Gonzalez said. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.
Suspect in Maleah Davis case indicted
Derion Vence, who initially reported 4-year-old Maleah Davis missing, was arrested and booked into the Harris County jail in May on suspicion of tampering with a human corpse, according to police. (CNN) - A grand jury in Texas has indicted a man who was already facing a charge in connection with the death of Maleah Davis, the Harris County District Attorney's Office said Thursday. Derion Vence, the girl's mother's former fianc, was indicted on a charge of tampering with the four-year-old's body, District Attorney Kim Ogg said. Vence, 27, was arrested May 11 on suspicion of tampering with evidence - the same charge he was indicted on. The search for Maleah moved to Arkansas after the suspect allegedly confessed to community activist Quanell X, who visited him in jail last week.
Man accused of firing into car, igniting fireworks during July 4 road rage incident
Bayron J. Rivera, 18, is accused of firing into a car and injuring a family of four during a July 4 road rage incident. (Harris County Sheriff's Office)HOUSTON - Authorities say an 18-year-old man accused of firing a semi-automatic rifle into a car, igniting fireworks in the vehicle and leaving two child passengers severely burned has been charged with assault. Harris County sheriff's officials said Monday that Bayron J. Rivera surrendered to investigators and is charged with four counts of aggravated assault. Officials say Rivera unleashed his attack on the car in a fit of road rage July 4, causing the fireworks to erupt and engulf the car in flames. Rivera is being held in the Harris County jail.