Galveston County redistricting case draws divide among federal appeals court judges
The 5th Circuit expressed skepticism about arguments from both sides in considering whether a coalition of Black and Latino voters should be granted the same protections as a single racial group under the Voting Rights Act.
San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department gets four awards at state conference
The state recognized San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department with four awards at a park conference last month. The department received the awards at the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s (TRAPS) annual conference in Galveston, including a coveted Texas Gold Medal award.
In federal trial, Galveston County challenged on efforts to undo Black and Latino voting power
The coastal county faces a drawn-out trial over claims of intentional discrimination in its 2021 redistricting of commissioners court precincts. The only district in which Black and Latino voters could meaningfully influence elections was dismantled.
Texas man suing over abortion accused of abuse in court docs
A man who filed a lawsuit in Texas against three women he said helped his now-ex-wife obtain medication for an abortion is accused in a new court filing of using the lawsuit as an extension of the manipulative, controlling and emotionally abusive behavior he displayed toward her during their marriage.
A GOP power grab shatters 30 years of political progress for Black voters in Galveston County
Republicans dismantled the only Galveston County commissioners precinct in which voters of color held political clout. It’s a major blow for Black and Hispanic voters who had been building political momentum.
Video: Texas fishing boat gets ‘incredible’ encounter with huge pod of killer whales off Galveston coast
Not only did they see a huge pod of orca whales swimming in the Texas gulf, but some of those orcas swam right up to the boat to check them out. AdHardeman said the encounter lasted about 30 minutes until the group of orcas got bored and swam back to join their pod. Orcas do live in the Texas Gulf but are rarely sighted. Hardeman started his career 17 years ago in Alaska and has been working on offshore fishing boats in the Texas gulf for about 10 years. Hardeman said he’s happy he can share the video of his orca encounter so others can enjoy it too.
Woman refuses to wear mask in Texas, again, gets arrested
Police identified the woman in the video as Terry Wright. GALVESTON, Texas – An Oregon woman who was recorded on police body camera video refusing to wear a mask at a Texas bank last week was arrested Wednesday after declining to wear a mask inside another Texas business. Terry Wright, 65, already had a warrant out for her arrest after she refused to wear a mask in a Bank of America branch in Galveston, Texas, last Thursday. Terry Wright was charged with resisting arrest and criminal trespass last week after refusing to wear a face mask inside a Galveston bank. In the widely seen video of Wright's confrontation with the officer at the Galveston bank, Wright stands in the bank’s lobby, surrounded by other customers, all of whom were wearing masks.
Arrest warrant issued after woman rejects mask at Texas bank
GALVESTON, Texas – An arrest warrant was issued for a woman who refused to wear a mask at a Texas bank, saying to a police officer: “What are you going to do, arrest me?”Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Terry Wright, 65, of Grants Pass, Oregon. Police say they've obtained an arrest warrant on resisting arrest and criminal trespassing charges. In the video, Wright can be seen standing in the middle of the bank’s lobby, surrounded by other customers, all of whom were wearing masks. Wright told the officer she had come to the bank to make a withdrawal. Wright told The Washington Post that she has never covered her face inside stores, even when the statewide mandate was in place.
Mother of ‘Little Jacob’ sentenced to life in prison after 4-year-old son was found dead on Galveston beach
Rebecca Rivera is seen in this mug shot released Feb. 4, 2021. GALVESTON, Texas – A 37-year-old Texas woman has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of her 4-year-old son, whose body was found on a beach in Galveston in 2017. Rebecca Suzanne Rivera was sentenced Thursday following her conviction on a charge of injury to a child by omission, according to court records. The records show Rivera, who had pleaded not guilty, has filed notice to appeal both her conviction and sentence. Prosecutors said the boy's body showed signs of being tortured, malnutrition and pneumonia, and that a cause of death could not be determined.
Texas woman sentenced to life for death of 4-year-old son
This Aug. 7, 2018, photo provided by the Galveston, Texas, County Jail shows Suzanne Rivera. Rivera has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of her 4-year-old son, whose body was found on a beach in Galveston in October 2017. Court records show Rebecca Suzanne Rivera was sentenced Thursday, Fev. (Galveston County Jail via AP)GALVESTON, Texas – A 37-year-old Texas woman has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the death of her 4-year-old son, whose body was found on a beach in Galveston in 2017. Rebecca Suzanne Rivera was sentenced Thursday following her conviction on a charge of injury to a child by omission, according to court records.
Meet the ‘Golden Girl’ of Moody Gardens
Meet Fox, a chinstrap penguin at Moody Gardens in Galveston. This makes her the facility’s oldest chinstrap penguin and the second oldest in North America. Meet our Texas Golden Girls starring “Fox” the Chinstrap penguin. Like Rose and Betty White, she is spunky, loves walking, visiting with her other 37 and 34-year-old Golden Girl gal pals and brings joy to all,” Moody Gardens said in a Facebook announcement. You can visit Fox at the Moody Gardens or through the live penguin webcam.
Black man who police led by rope sues Texas city for $1M
GALVESTON, Texas – A Black man who was led by a rope by two white officers on horseback has sued a southeast Texas city and its police department for $1 million, saying he suffered humiliation and fear during his arrest. Photos of the August 2019 encounter showed Neely being led by the officers on a rope linked to handcuffs — reminiscent of pictures showing slaves in chains. In body-camera video, one officer could be heard twice saying that leading Neely by rope down city streets would look “bad." A Texas Rangers investigation determined the officers didn’t break the law. City officials declined to comment on the lawsuit to news outlets.
Carnival cancels cruises out of Galveston, most 2020 US trips as CDC extends ban
Carnival cruises won’t sail out of Galveston — or most U.S. ports — anytime soon. The company said it is canceling sailings from all ports except its home ports of Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida. The CDC said it knows of 3,689 reported coronavirus cases and 41 deaths linked to cruises in U.S. waters between March and September. Even before the CDC announced its decision, the cruise industry had voluntarily suspended U.S. sailings through Oct. 31. Carnival rival Norwegian Cruise Line said Thursday that it hasn’t canceled any scheduled cruises and remains optimistic it can resume U.S. operations soon.
Portion of fishing pier in Galveston completely detaches as Tropical Storm Beta approaches Texas
SAN ANTONIO – A portion of the 61st Pier in Galveston completely detached and floated away Sunday night due to rising water from Tropical Storm Beta. Here is a video of the end of the 61st Pier breaking off and floating away shortly after 10pm tonight. #HOUwx #GLSwx #Beta #txwx(webcam from @SaltwaterRecon) pic.twitter.com/x2cUUkssxj — NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) September 21, 2020The 61st Pier is located along Galveston’s main strip, Seawall Boulevard, and is about three miles away from Pleasure Pier. You can also find your local forecast anytime - including potential impacts from Tropical Depression Twenty-Two - on the KSAT Weather page. The latest on Tropical Storm Beta:
Biggest unknown with Beta is how much rain it will bring
HOUSTON – As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area. Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimeters). Forecasters and officials reassured residents Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Harvey in 2017 dumped more than 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain on Houston, causing $125 billion in damage in Texas.
Tropical Storm Beta churns slowly toward Texas and Louisiana
Forecasters said Beta was not expected to bring the same amount of rainfall that Texas experienced during either Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda last year. The first rain bands from Beta reached the Texas coast on Sunday, but the heaviest rain wasn't expected to arrive until Monday into Tuesday. If the system makes landfall in Texas, it would be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in 2020. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda. Wilfred, which had been a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression earlier Sunday.
Tropical Storm Beta spurs hurricane worries for Texas
MIAMI – An exceptionally busy Atlantic hurricane season was churning along Saturday as the Texas coast prepared for a tropical storm that could strengthen into a hurricane before breaching its shores in the week ahead. Both the city of Galveston and Galveston County on Saturday issued voluntary evacuation orders ahead of Tropical Storm Beta, as did the city of Seabrook to the north of Galveston. Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning from Port Aransas, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Beta had maximum sustained winds at 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 2 mph (4 kph) Saturday night. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda.
Hurricane Laura in Texas: Storm downgraded to Category 2
A sign in Galveston as Hurricane Laura approached. Credit: Julio-Cesar Chavez/REUTERSThursday's biggest developments:Hurricane Laura downgraded to Category 2Hurricane Laura downgraded to Category 2[7:12 a.m.] After battering the Gulf Coast shortly after midnight Thursday, Hurricane Laura has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as it moves northeast through the Texas-Louisiana border. Cassi Pollock, Matthew Watkins and Brandon FormbyHurricane Laura intensifies and is close to becoming Category 5 hurricane[8:27 p.m., Wednesday] As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, the National Hurricane Center reported that the storms maximum sustained winds had reached 150 mph just 7 mph short of becoming a Category 5 hurricane. The storm is expected to bring "catastrophic" storm surge, winds and flash flooding. The storm, currently a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to hit land just east of the Texas-Louisiana border by Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
These are all the evacuation orders in place in Texas because of Hurricane Laura
GALVESTON, Texas – Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been ordered for several Texas cities and counties ahead of Hurricane Laura. Get the latest tracking on Hurricane Laura here from the KSAT meteorologists, Your Weather Authority. San Antonio is helping out those that may be impacted by the storm. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, 1,458 evacuees have arrived at the city’s evacuation center since it opened at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. San Pedro Manor, a nursing home facility near San Antonio College, also received 57 evacuees from a sister nursing home in Galveston early Tuesday morning.
Laura now forecast to be a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane
GALVESTON, Texas Forecasters Hurricane Laura is now expected to rapidly power up into a 'catastrophic' Category 4 hurricane an even stronger storm than previously expected as it churns toward Texas and Louisiana, gathering wind and water that now covers much of the Gulf of Mexico. Satellite images show that Laura has become a formidable hurricane" in recent hours, threatening to smash homes and sink entire communities. It has undergone a remarkable intensification, and there are no signs it will stop soon, with shear remaining low-to-moderate over the deep warm waters of the central Gulf of Mexico," the National Hurricane Center said in a briefing early Wednesday. Lauras maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph (175 kph) with higher gusts, forecasters said early Wednesday. Homes and businesses will be damaged," said Donald Jones, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which is near the bullseye of Laura's forecast track.
The Latest: Laura becomes catastrophic category 4 storm
The Latest on Hurricane Laura (all times local):GALVESTON, Texas The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Laura has become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane packing 140 mph winds, clocked by an Air Force hurricane hunter airplane flying into the storm. Tropical storm winds reached the coast of Louisiana Wednesday afternoon. Forecasters expect up to 20 feet (6 meters) of storm surge. -GALVESTON, Texas Texas Gov. Abbott said storm surge was going to be a big problem and it was expected to rise 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) in the Jefferson County area.
Texas herd move to higher ground in prep for Laura
GALVESTON, Texas Not only are people preparing for Hurricane Laura in Texas, law enforcement officials closed the High Island Bridge in Galveston County, Texas, in order to allow ranchers to move cattle to higher ground in preparation for the storm. Ranchers on horseback and in pickup trucks moved a herd of nearly 1100 livestock to a location near the town of Winnie, Texas, about 52 miles north of Galveston. Hurricane Laura sets sights on Texas/Louisiana coastForecasters say Hurricane Laura is rapidly intensifying and will become a "catastrophic" Category 4 hurricane before landfall. It's churning toward Texas and Louisiana, gathering wind and water that swirls over much of the Gulf of Mexico. Follow KSAT Meteorologist Justin Horne as he reports from the Texas Coast ahead of Hurricane Laura
Several Texas cities issue mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Laura strengthens in the gulf
The mayor of Galveston called for a mandatory evacuation of the city Tuesday morning after Tropical Storm Laura strengthened into a hurricane and its path shifted westward, increasing the chances that it could strike the Houston area. Galveston residents have until Wednesday morning to evacuate, but city services will be suspended Tuesday at noon, according to a city Facebook post. Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for Chambers County, Galveston County and the City of Seabrook. Laura is bearing down as the coronavirus pandemic remains a major concern in Texas, especially in cities like Houston. Laura could become the second significant storm to impact Texas during the 2020 hurricane season.
City of Galveston orders mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Laura
GALVESTON, Texas – A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for the city of Galveston ahead of Hurricane Laura. Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown signed a mandatory evacuation Tuesday which instructs residents to leave the island and suspends city services at noon on Tuesday. Watch beach cams in Galveston as Hurricane Laura approaches“Overnight models shifted the landfall of Hurricane Laura westward,” according to the evacuation order from the city. Hurricane Laura “is predicted to make landfall late Wednesday to early Thursday as a Category 3 Major Hurricane. Those who do not follow the evacuation order should not expect public safety services once conditions worsen, city leaders said.