2025) — City Hall and most municipal offices will be closed on Friday
in observance of Fiesta San Jacinto holiday
Public safety and emergency services will remain in operation
May 5.Other City services will operate as follows:
Gonzalez Convention Center is open at 100% occupancy as of May 17
As our number one priority is the health and safety of our guests
we will continue with many protocols established over the last year to ensure our facility is clean and safe for your return
Please contact your sales or event manager to address any questions or concerns you may have
The Office of Military & Veteran Affairs and Government Affairs Department have moved
Vital Record Services will be closed on Friday
A greater Houston area mother and toddler died after the mother suffered a medical emergency
and her SUV was submerged in a river with her children inside
A Good Samaritan witnessed the incident and was instrumental in saving two children involved, according to reports by local outlets KHOU and KRIV
The man was in Harris County and reported seeing a 2020 Kia Telluriode submerged in a branch of the San Jacinto River just fater 4:40 p.m. on April 25, said authorities and Major Cedrick Collier of the Harris County Sheriff's Office at a press conference
The witness also reported seeing two children on top of the SUV
He then dove into the water and saved the children
Collier said authorities later found out that a mother
Harris County divers recovered the bodies of the mother and daughter from the water
“The car was completely submerged,” Collier said
“The 1-year-old was still found restrained in a car seat in the back seat
Crystal Hall Njepu and the children were in the vehicle traveling westbound on Market Street when the car drifted into the north side of the roadway
“She actually intentionally pulled off the roadway,” Collier said
Authorities added that there was a nearby camera in the area that captured the vehicle moving and then stopping repeatedly
Hall Njepu likely suffered a "medical emergency," causing her to drive off the road and onto gravel on the south side of the road
"The vehicle came to an abrupt stop for approximately 1 minute," the sheriff's office told USA TODAY on April 29
"Moments later the vehicle accelerated forward into the grassy area and into the water
The vehicle began to sink at a rapid rate and was also taken by the current under the bridge."
More news: A firefighter paramedic was fatally stabbed in an ambulance. A patient is being charged.
The man who saved the children, told television station KHOU that he immediately jumped in to help the family once he realized what was happening
He was on his way home from work that day and had a rope in his truck
He tied the rope around his waist and had a second man hold onto it while he dove into the water
He couldn't get the car's doors open but he could hear the children inside yelling for help
were in the front passenger seat and the back left passenger seat of the SUV
Another bystander threw him a baseball bat
allowing him to break a rear window and free the children
"I thank God we were able to save two kids,” he said
“There's sadness in the heart because two lives were lost and we couldn't get it done."
The children are “in good condition,” said Collier
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office's Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating
said in a statement to USA TODAY on April 29 that they have suffered a “terrible situation” in losing the mother and daughter
“Annah was a happy and very smart baby,” Hall said
adding that Annah was able to use sign language at the young age of 1
“Not because she had disabilities but because she was smart and one of the daycares that she attended had some very innovative and forward thinking staff.”
Her mother was a smart college graduate who had “exceptional knowledge of business and finance.”
“She is forever my baby sister and she and Annah are greatly missed,” he said
Loved ones have started a GoFundMe to support memorial services and Njepu's remaining children. As of April 29, they have raised over $12,000 of the fundraiser's $15,000 goal.
His family is trying to understand what happened and why, but the family is relying on their faith, he said. The family also thanked the man who saved two children once the vehicle went into the water.
"There are no words to express how grateful we are that he responded to the call of God … and helped to save our other two babies. We love him and hope to meet him soon.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
The 13-mile-long San Jacinto Tunnel was bored through the mountain in the 1930s by a crew of about 1,200 men who worked day and night for six years, blasting rock and digging with machinery. Completed in 1939, the tunnel was a cornerstone in the construction of the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct. It enabled the delivery of as much as 1 billion gallons of water per day.
The tunnel is usually off-limits when it is filled and coursing with a massive stream of Colorado River water. But recently, while it was shut down for annual maintenance, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California opened the west end of the passage to give The Times and others a rare look inside.
“It’s an engineering marvel,” said John Bednarski, an assistant general manager of MWD. “It’s pretty awe-inspiring.”
A group visits the west end of the San Jacinto Tunnel, where the mouth of the water tunnel enters a chamber. He wore a hard hat as he led a group to the gaping, horseshoe-shaped mouth of the tunnel. The passage’s concrete arch faded in the distance to pitch black.
The tunnel wasn’t entirely empty. The sound of rushing water echoed from the walls as an ankle-deep stream flowed from the portal and cascaded into a churning pool beneath metal gates. Many in the tour group wore rubber boots as they stood on moist concrete in a chamber faintly lit by filtered sunlight, peering into the dark tunnel.
This constant flow comes as groundwater seeps and gushes from springs that run through the heart of the mountain. In places deep in the tunnel, water shoots so forcefully from the floor or the wall that workers have affectionately named these soaking obstacles “the fire hose” and “the car wash.”
Standing by the flowing stream, Bednarski called it “leakage water from the mountain itself.”
Mt. San Jacinto rises 10,834 feet above sea level, making it the second-highest peak in Southern California after 11,503-foot Mt. San Gorgonio.
As the tunnel passes beneath San Jacinto’s flank, as much as 2,500 feet of solid rock lies overhead, pierced only by two vertical ventilation shafts.
“It’s like a Disneyland ride,” said Bryan Raymond, an MWD conveyance team manager. “You’re sitting on this trailer, and there’s a bunch of other people on it too, and you’re just cruising through looking at the walls.”
Aside from the spraying and trickling water, employee Michael Volpone said he has also heard faint creaking.
“If you sit still and listen, you can kind of hear the earth move,” he said. “It’s a little eerie.”
Standing at the mouth of the tunnel, the constant babble of cascading water dominates the senses. The air is moist but not musty. Put a hand to the clear flowing water, and it feels warm enough for a swim.
On the concrete walls are stained lines that extend into the darkness, marking where the water often reaches when the aqueduct is running full.
Many who have worked on the aqueduct say they are impressed by the system’s design and how engineers and workers built such a monumental system with the basic tools and technology available during the Great Depression.
The search for a route to bring Colorado River water across the desert to Los Angeles began with the signing of a 1922 agreement that divided water among seven states. After the passage of a $2-million bond measure by Los Angeles voters in 1925, hundreds of surveyors fanned out across the largely roadless Mojave and Sonoran deserts to take measurements and study potential routes.
The surveyors traveled mostly on horseback and on foot as they mapped the rugged terrain, enduring grueling days in desert camps where the heat sometimes topped 120 degrees.
Planners studied and debated more than 100 potential paths before settling on one in 1931. The route began near Parker, Ariz., and took a curving path through desert valleys, around obstacles and, where there was no better option, through mountains.
In one official report, a manager wrote that “to bore straight through the mountains is very expensive and to pump over them is likewise costly.” He said the planners carefully weighed these factors as they decided on a solution that would deliver water at the lowest cost.
Climate & Environment
Colorado River in Crisis is a series of stories
videos and podcasts in which Los Angeles Times journalists travel throughout the river’s watershed
from the headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the river’s dry delta in Mexico
Those in charge of the Metropolitan Water District
which had been created in 1928 to lead the effort
were focused on delivering water to 13 participating cities
The aqueduct’s design matched the audaciousness of the giant dams the federal government was starting to build along the Colorado — Hoover Dam (originally called Boulder Dam) and Parker Dam
which formed the reservoir where the aqueduct would begin its journey
Five pumping plants would be built to lift water more than 1,600 feet along the route across the desert
water would run by gravity through open canals
buried pipelines and 29 separate tunnels stretching 92 miles — the longest of which was a series of nine tunnels running 33.7 miles through hills bordering the Coachella Valley
To make it possible, voters in the district’s 13 cities overwhelmingly approved a $220-million bond in 1931
the equivalent of a $4.5-billion investment today
which enabled the hiring of 35,000 workers
excavated canals and began to blast open shafts through the desert’s rocky spines to make way for water
workers started tearing into the San Jacinto Mountains at several locations
Black-and-white photographs and films showed miners in hard hats and soiled uniforms as they stood smoking cigarettes
climbing into open rail cars and running machinery that scooped and loaded piles of rocks
Crews on another hulking piece of equipment
used compressed-air drills to bore dozens of holes
which were packed with blasting power and detonated to pierce the rock
A piece of equipment called a drill jumbo is used during construction of the San Jacinto Tunnel
(Courtesy of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) The work progressed slowly
growing complicated when the miners struck underground streams
According to a 1991 history of the MWD titled “A Water Odyssey,” one flood in 1934 disabled two of three pumps that had been brought in to clear the tunnel
an engineer recalled that “the water came in with a big
Miners scrambled up the 800-foot ladder to the surface
and the last man out made it with water swirling around his waist.”
According to the MWD’s records
13 workers died during the tunnel’s construction
including men who were struck by falling rocks
run over by equipment or electrocuted with a wire on one of the mining trolleys that rolled on railroad tracks
The Metropolitan Water District had originally hired Wenzel & Henoch Construction Co. to build the tunnel. But after less than two years, only about two miles of the tunnel had been excavated, and the contractor was fired by MWD general manager Frank Elwin “F.E.” Weymouth
who assigned the district’s engineers and workers to complete the project
Construction was delayed again in 1937 when workers went on strike for six weeks
By the time the tunnel was completed, the Metropolitan Water District had released a 20-minute film that was shown in movie theaters and schools celebrating its conquest of the Colorado River and the desert
San Jacinto the “tallest and most forbidding barrier.”
the narrator declared Southern California “a new empire made possible by the magic touch of water.”
“Water required to support this growth and wealth could not be obtained from the local rainfall in this land of sunshine,” the narrator said as the camera showed newly built homes and streets filled with cars and buses
“The people therefore realized that a new and dependable water supply must be provided
and this new water supply has been found on the lofty western slopes of the Rocky Mountains
clad by nature in a white mantle of snow.”
Water began to flow through the aqueduct in 1939 as the pumping plants were tested
surging through three pipelines up a desert mountain
moving at 3-6 mph as it traveled through pipelines
It entered the San Jacinto Tunnel in Cabazon
passed under the mountain and emerged near the city of San Jacinto
then continued in pipelines to Lake Mathews reservoir in Riverside County
In 1941, Colorado River water started flowing to Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Compton and other cities. Within six years, another pipeline was built to transport water from the aqueduct south to San Diego
The influx of water fueled Southern California’s rapid growth during and after World War II
Over decades, the dams and increased diversions also took an environmental toll, drying up much of the once-vast wetlands in Mexico’s Colorado River Delta
19 million people depend on water delivered by the MWD
which also imports supplies from Northern California through the aqueducts and pipelines of the State Water Project
assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District
walks in a water tunnel near the end point of the larger San Jacinto Tunnel
the agency has continued boring tunnels where needed to move water
44-mile-long conveyance system called the Inland Feeder
involved boring eight miles of tunnels through the San Bernardino Mountains and another 7.9-mile tunnel under the Badlands in Riverside County
The system enabled the district to increase its capacity and store more water during wet years in Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California’s largest reservoir, which can hold about 260 billion gallons of water.
“Sometimes tunneling is actually the most effective way to get from point A to point B,” said Deven Upadhyay, the MWD’s general manager.
Speaking hypothetically, Upadhyay said, if engineers had another shot at designing and building the aqueduct now using modern technology, it’s hard to say if they would end up choosing the same route through Mt. San Jacinto or a different route around it. But the focus on minimizing cost might yield a similar route, he said.
Arizona and Nevada are urging the Trump administration to change course on the Colorado River
The states are calling for fixing infrastructure problems at Glen Canyon Dam
it’s a pretty impressive design,” Upadhyay said
When people drive past on the I-10 in Cabazon
few realize that a key piece of infrastructure lies hidden where the desert meets the base of the mountain
At the tunnel’s exit point near San Jacinto
the only visible signs of the infrastructure are several concrete structures resembling bunkers
those who enter the facility will hear the rumble of rushing water
The tunnel’s west end was opened to a group of visitors in March, when the district’s managers held an event to name the tunnel in honor of Randy Record
who served on the MWD board for two decades and was chair from 2014 to 2018
Speaking to an audience, Upadhyay reflected on the struggles the region now faces as the Colorado River is sapped by drought and global warming, and he drew a parallel to the challenges the tunnel’s builders overcame in the 1930s.
“They found a path,” Upadhyay said. “This incredible engineering feat. And it required strength, courage and really an innovative spirit.”
“When we now think about the challenges that we face today, dealing with wild swings in climate and the potential reductions that we might face, sharing dwindling supplies on our river systems with the growing Southwest, it’s going to require the same thing — strength, courage and a spirit of innovation,” he said.
Ian James is a reporter who focuses on water and climate change in California and the West. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2021, he was an environment reporter at the Arizona Republic and the Desert Sun. He previously worked for the Associated Press as a correspondent in the Caribbean and as bureau chief in Venezuela. Follow him on Bluesky @ianjames.bsky.social and on X @ByIanJames.
Albert Brave Tiger Lee is a Southern California native, son of Korean immigrants, a father and a staff videographer at the Los Angeles Times. His work spans various mediums of visual storytelling and has been recognized for various disciplines including a national Emmy Award for News and Documentary, an RFK Journalism Award, Pictures of the Year International honors, the National Press Photographers Assn.’s Best of Photojournalism Award and Columbia University’s Dart Award.
Sean Greene is an assistant data and graphics editor, focused on visual storytelling at the Los Angeles Times.
Lifestyle
California
Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map
The study recommended two new detention dams be built north of Spring Creek to mitigate downstream flooding in the watershed
Jessica joined Community Impact in 2022 as a reporter covering The Woodlands greater area
She now covers countywide government issues for Montgomery County as well as the cities of Humble
she has previously worked for two local papers covering city and county government
Jessica can be found crafting and caring for her cat
Two maps of the San Jacinto River flood plain — the left one
is the latest denoting the entire area is a cancer cluster for higher than expected incidences of leukemia
The map at right is based on 1995-2012 cancer cases with red denoting census tracts with elevated cancer rates
The Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) dropped their lawsuit against the U.S
Army Corps of Engineers for shortcutting permitting procedures for a barge company
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has agreed that it must conduct a full environmental review prior to approving any future permits related to a controversial dredging and mooring project within the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site’s “Area of Concern.” The decision comes after THEA
filed a lawsuit challenging the agency’s unlawful approval of the project via a “Letter of Permission”—a shortcut that bypassed environmental scrutiny and public input
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Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsHolly Galvan Posey
A man was detained by San Jacinto College police after he was found with a gun in the courtyard of the South Campus on Wednesday
Officials confirmed the man was not a student and is now in police custody
Authorities say there was no active threat to students
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available
***SJC ALERT*** The SJC Police Department has detained an individual with a gun who was in the courtyard of the South Campus
The individual is not a San Jacinto College student and is in police custody
There is no threat to the campus or the College community
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Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024
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Like every city, Houston experiences setbacks. The difference is Houston doesn’t dwell on them. It adapts, rebuilds and always comes back stronger. That’s exactly what the region is doing with biotech
an emerging sector where Houston is determined to lead
The region’s economic development strategy shifted after losing Amazon’s HQ2 in 2019
long-term planning and industry diversification
A leading pharmaceutical company’s decision to choose North Carolina highlighted another critical gap in Houston – the need for a biotech workforce
San Jacinto College (SJC) and Generation Park launched a bold partnership to build a biotech talent pipeline
ensuring the region is ready for the next big opportunity
Learn more about Houston’s life sciences industry and how local colleges and businesses are working together to build the region’s biotech workforce
McCord Development President and the visionary behind Generation Park
had long believed Houston could lead in life sciences
But as biotech investments flowed to other cities
it became clear: infrastructure alone wasn’t enough
While Houston’s life sciences sector has grown steadily over the past decade— recording the second-highest employment growth rate among major markets from 2022 to 2023, according to CBRE’s 2025 Life Sciences Outlook—the region continued to face a shortage of technicians to support critical functions such as laboratory setup
a proven leader in workforce development with a track record of building industry-aligned programs
they launched the Center for Biotechnology
a workforce-first solution to close the talent gap and make Houston a top destination for biotech companies
"San Jacinto College’s Biotechnology Center at Generation Park is the catalyst our region needs to fill the gap in our existing life science ecosystem and accelerate biomanufacturing in Houston,” said McCord in a news release
the Center for Biotechnology offers more than just textbook knowledge
it delivers hands-on training with industry-grade equipment
At its core is a pilot-scale bioprocessing plant where students will gain real-world experience using the same tools found in commercial facilities
To develop the curriculum, SJC partnered with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT)
That partnership makes the center the exclusive provider of NIBRT-licensed training in the southern U.S.
and one of just six institutions worldwide with this distinction
“We also expect to contribute to the global market by training people eager to enter this growing industry from around the United States and beyond.”
The center also offers students exposure to emerging fields like cell and gene therapy
A regional advisory board of life sciences leaders will guide the curriculum to ensure it evolves with industry needs
The center is located within Generation Park, one of Houston’s fastest-growing innovation districts, and sits just steps away from BioHub Two
a 45-acre biomanufacturing campus currently under development
BioHub Two will feature 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art lab
designed to attract life sciences companies to the region
What makes this proximity so powerful is the built-in connection between workforce development and industry growth
Companies moving into BioHub Two won’t just gain access to premier infrastructure
Generation Park is also home to leading institutions like Lone Star College and companies such as TechnipFMC and Apache Industrial Services
the district offers a great quality of life
all just a short drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Port Houston
The partnership between SJC and Generation Park is more than a response to a missed opportunity – it’s a bold investment in Houston’s future
The Center for Biotechnology demonstrates how aligning education with industry needs can unlock long-term growth
and position Houston as a national hub for life sciences innovation and biomanufacturing
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The San Jacinto Monument is undergoing a renovation of its grounds and visitor center
The San Jacinto Monument site is currently planning a significant upgrade that will enhance the historic location for generations of Texans to come
the overall plan is already funded thanks to an appropriation from the Texas Legislature
“This expansion marks a transformative moment for the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield,” Amy Rogers
executive director of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site and Museum
we are not only preserving Texas history but also enhancing how we share the story of the Battle of San Jacinto with future Texans.”
The project will cost $142 million of taxpayer money. Projected completion date is currently unknown, but updates will be added at the museum's official website
Current plans include a re-imagined visitor center
expanded display spaces for artifacts from Texas history
Construction is being handled by the San Antonio firm Lake Flato Architects
best known for building the AT&T Center in San Antonio and the World Birding Center Headquarters in Mission
They specialize in public spaces and plan to modernize the museum to make it more welcoming
“Our design approach will honor the history and significance of the site while incorporating modern museum best practices,” said David Lake
“We are committed to creating a space that seamlessly blends with the existing Monument and enhances the visitor experience.”
The award-winning Lord Aeck Sargent firm will handle the historic preservation aspects of the upgrade
The Atlanta-based company oversaw the preservation of Georgia buildings at Emory University Oxford
and Georgia College & State University
The San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association has already been undergoing an extensive historical landscaping renovation handled by the artists at TBG
Started with a generous donation of $1 million from TxDOT
it aims to restore the battlefield to its historic state by removing invasive and non-native trees that would not have been present at the time
Additional upgrades will include new trials designed in a way to guide the visitor through the battle
“This project represents a bold step forward in how we engage the public with the incredible history of Texas independence,” said Mike Lamb
San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association board chair
“Our goal is to create an experience that is both educational and deeply meaningful
ensuring that the legacy of San Jacinto remains alive for generations to come.”
The San Jacinto Monument commemorates the final battle of the Texas Revolution
escaped the battle but was captured the next day
He signed a treaty withdrawing Mexican forces from the area and paving the way for the establishment of the Republic of Texas
Photo courtesry of Texas Historical Commision
Local and state leaders shared updated plans this month on a first-of-its-kind structure that uses art to generate solar energy
Slated to be located at Mason Park in Houston’s East End
the new "Arch of Time" is a freestanding sundial art installation that will generate 400,000 kilowatt-hours of power per year using 60,000 solar photovoltaic cells on its south-facing exterior
The project will be part of a larger pavilion at the park and is being led by the renewable energy organization Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI)
Architect Riccardo Mariano will design the space
It will be funded by donations and cost $20 million
The project, originally known as "Arco del Tiempo," was announced in 2023
the city shared the installation would be installed at Guadalupe Plaza Park in 2024
The project's latest update was announced during Houston City Hall’s Earth Day 2025
where organizers described it as "a monument to Houston's past
and future leadership as the energy capital of the world."
The 100-foot structure will also serve as a 25,000-square-foot shaded area, or microclimate, during hot days. It will also feature a stage performance space and a power hub for emergencies. Due to the artwork's north opening and south narrowing, it is also expected to help channel the breezes, according to LAGI.
The organization says it is also expected to generate enough power to fuel all of Mason Park
perhaps become the first major park in the country that is powered entirely by the sun,” Houston City Council Member Joaquin Martinez said at the news conference
Former Houston Park and Recreation director Joe Turner selected the East End park as the location of the arch and believes it could be used as a STEM tool for students
“All the STEM education that can come from the way we use the solar collectors, the way it has a water collection system that's going to collect the runoff water, there's so much we can do to teach kids STEM,” said in a Houston Park and Recreation Department video
The project is about two years away from being completed
LAGI says the Arch of Time will be the “first public art project of its scale to stand as a net-positive contribution to a sustainable climate.”
This story originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX
Texans living in a 250-square-mile area of Harris County that includes a hazardous Superfund site had abnormally high rates of certain types of cancer, according to a new assessment from the state’s health department
analyzed cancer rates across 65 census tracts surrounding the San Jacinto River both upstream and downstream of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site
which is contaminated with carcinogenic waste
people in the area had cancer rates above the expected range for cervix uteri cancer
The Superfund site near Houston is contaminated with dioxins, which the Environmental Protection Agency says are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems
The Texas Department of State Health Services said the cancer assessment was not intended to determine the cause of the cancers or identify possible associations with any risk factors
But environmental advocates said the assessment’s findings renewed calls for the cleanup of the Superfund site
an effort which has faced several delays due to disputes over who is responsible
founder and CEO of the environmental nonprofit Texas Health and Environment Alliance
called the state’s new study a wake-up call for state and federal officials
“Our bodies are toxic soup and we cannot ignore that any longer,” Medcalf said Monday at a press conference at the San Jacinto Community Center
The study also reviewed seven types of childhood cancer
Results showed cancer cases were within the range of what is expected based on cancer rates in Texas
The site’s pits were originally constructed in the 1960s to dispose of solid and liquid pulp and paper mill waste from the International Paper Co
During this time the EPA didn’t know the risk of such contamination
As much as 200,000 cubic yards of highly toxic waste was dumped into the pits and later eroded allowing for contaminants to leak into the San Jacinto River
the site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List for cleanup under the Superfund program
which ranks “the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites.”
For decades residents in the area say they unknowingly lived
boated and fished near and on top of a hazardous waste site
Gene Hennigan is a long-time resident of Lynchburg
an unincorporated community located in east Harris County and near the waste site
At the press conference Hennigan said he knows many people in the community who have suffered from cancer
including his wife and son who died of cancer
“We know the area is a cancer cluster by experience not by a study.”
THEA and local residents requested the state to study the area’s cancer rates
Medcalf with THEA said she is frustrated that the EPA hasn't taken stronger action to clean up the site. The agency could take over the clean up. However, she’s hoping the Trump administration will prioritize the cleanup of hazardous waste sites, as she said he did during the prior administration by creating a Superfund Task Force
THEA will be meeting with the state health department Tuesday and with the EPA later this week to discuss the cancer assessment’s findings
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A dynasty is quickly growing in Amarillo as San Jacinto Christian Academy girls tennis team won their third straight team title at the TAPPS Class 2A state tournament on Wednesday and Thursday at the Waco Regional Tennis Center.
The Lady Patriots tallied 19.5 points to outpace All Saints Episcopal School out of Lubbock
who finished with 15.5 points for the title
“It’s an amazing thing to have something this rare,” San Jacinto tennis coach James Wells said. “To get enough girls out of district to state and get enough points to win the title is a testament to our kids during this run and the depth we have had.”
Leading the way for the Lady Patriots was the team of senior Harli Brabham and junior Blayne Robison
After skating through their first three matches only losing three total games
the duo captured their third straight state title by taking down Addy Dally and Emily White from All Saints in a tremendous finals match
The teams split the first two sets with each winning by an identical 6-3 score
That set up a third set super tiebreak where the first team to ten points with a two-point margin is declared the winner
After jumping out to a sizable lead in the tiebreaker
the area netters found themselves down 10-9 and facing match point. With their backs against the wall
they even the scored at ten all and racked up the next two points for a thrilling 12-10 tiebreak win and another state gold
“It’s such a rarity to pull off a state title three straight,” Wells said
“I couldn’t be prouder of them and how they battled back to take the title.”
Sophomore Skyla Brabham and junior Alayna Daniel tried to make it an all San Jacinto finals in girls doubles. The pair won a hard-fought quarterfinals match
(8) over Naomi Sell and Mai Shepherd from Lubbock Kingdom Prep. However
Dally and White took them down in the semifinals
Marlee Brooks picked up some valuable points for the Lady Patriots as the sophomore won a first-round match against Robin Marin of Allen Academy-Bryan, 6-4
(7) before falling in the quarterfinals to Emersyn Cross of All Saints
Another area athlete, Paige Weinheimer of Holy Cross Catholic Academy, also grabbed a first-round win by upsetting Taylor Tompkins of Austin Waldorf School-Austin
before dropping a quarterfinal match to Daniela Villamil of Alcuin School Dallas in a tight 6-2
the Patriots grabbed silver behind All Saints with 12.5 points. Zephan Morgan led the way as the junior cruised to the finals only dropping six games
but the highly touted Noah Ward of Bracken Christian sat between him and a state title
the score was not indicative of how the match went as Morgan battled throughout the match. Wells noted that “Morgan has raised his game to an amazing level and really worked hard to improve his singles game after grabbing gold in doubles last year”
grabbed an opening round win over Ben Waterman of Summit Christian Academy-Cedar Park
6-3 before falling to Jacob Moss of All Saints
Holy Cross Catholic Academy senior Peter Weinheimer was an easy first round winner
over Juan Manuel-Callis of O’Connell College Preparatory Academy in Galveston
was too much for the tall lefty in the quarters notching a 6-1,6-1 win
Press Pass Sports will provide fans a passionate and informed look at high school
college and professional sports impacting the Texas Panhandle
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San Jacinto in Palm Springs7 PHOTOSA Peninsular bighorn sheep grazes on vegetation on the Mt
A pair of Peninsular bighorn sheep pause after spotting the photographer while grazing on fresh plant growth on Mt
A Peninsular bighorn sheep pauses while grazing on the lower elevations of Mt
A Peninsular bighorn sheep looks around while grazing on new plant growth on Mt
A pair of Peninsular bighorn sheep rest after grazing on Mt
A Peninsular bighorn sheep appears to sniff the air likely trying to identify the nearby photographer while grazing on the Mt
A Peninsular bighorn sheep pauses while grazing on green vegetation on the Mt
T.J. Parker
Christian Terry
Michael Horton
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Texas – Firefighters in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties are continuing efforts to control the Pauline Road Fire
allowing residents to return to their homes
confirming the fire has been contained within its boundaries
Local fire crews will begin winding down operations today
while the Texas A&M Forest Service will take over monitoring and managing the fire
Crews will remain stationed in the area for the next several weeks
with officials feeling confident that they have a good handle on the situation
with increasing humidity and decreasing winds
is expected to help firefighters improve containment lines and make further progress in suppressing the flames
residents in the area should expect to see some smoke and smoldering over the next few days
One home in San Jacinto County was reported to have burned
but no injuries or evacuations were reported
who had been keeping a close eye on the fire
said they were cautious but hopeful about the progress being made
The cause of the fire has been confirmed by the Texas A&M Forest Service to be a prescribed burn
which the landowner had permission to carry out with a safety plan in place
The investigation will now focus on how the fire grew out of control
Approximately 130 to 140 firefighters remain in the area to continue battling the flames
officials confirmed that it is safe for residents in Montgomery County and San Jacinto County to return home
“We are very confident based on current conditions and where the fire is
that it is safe to return to their homes,” said Jason Millsaps
Executive Director of the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Millsaps says fire crews will remain on scene overnight to monitor the fire
He says residents can still expect to see some smoke and smoldering from time to time over the next few days
“The weather is on our side for the next few days
with the humidity going up and the winds dying down
that will also allow firefighters to continue to get better containment lines and shore those things up so they can snuff this fire out,” Millsaps said
One home has burned in the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto County overnight
The information was provided in an Thursday update as crews continue to battle the fire
which currently has burned 2,360 acres and is 45 percent contained
RELATED: FEMA approves grant to assist in Pauline Road fire in San Jacinto, Montgomery Counties
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough praised firefighters and first responders for evacuating and protecting homes overnight
“What they did last night was nothing short of remarkable in protecting people
READ: Pauline Road Fire: Officials expect more evacuations as windy conditions continue
Keough also said law enforcement chased down animals to rescue them
moving them to safety as well as evacuating the residents of the affected areas
Officials say approximately 60-80 head of cattle along with horses
4 Commissioner Matt Gray said firefighters did an “excellent job” on containing the fire
Authorities say there were multiple instances where firefighters stood in harms way
building containment lines with no regard for their own safety
allowed crews to drastically slow the forward progression of the fire
Gray said reconnaissance did reveal one home was destroyed by the fire in San Jacinto County
It is currently unknown whether anyone was still at the home or if they had evacuated
READ: ‘We are blessed with the best’: Fire crews protect homes overnight as Pauline Road Fire rages
An official with the Texas A&M Forest Service confirmed the cause of the fire can be attributed to a prescribed burn
“There is an investigation surrounding the circumstances of that prescribed burn
If there is any criminal charges that come out of that investigation
we’ll refer that to the San Jacinto County District Attorney’s Office,” said Josh Mizrany
Assistant Chief Law Enforcement Officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service
It was also noted that the landowner had permission to burn and had even come up with a plan to do it safely
The investigation will be looking into how it grew out of control
RELATED: Red Flag Warning continues for Houston on Thursday
About 130-140 firefighters remain out fighting the fire
Officials say the weather conditions and the efforts last night have caused the fire to slow down dramatically compared to Wednesday
Parker joined KPRC 2 in June 2023 and is happy to be back in Houston
There he covered all things up and down the south Florida coast
News Release > Entergy Texas monitoring San Jacinto County wildfire
Texas – Entergy Texas is actively monitoring its equipment following a wildfire reported in San Jacinto County
Our emergency planning and response teams are working with local authorities to reduce fire risk in the Cleveland portion of our service area
Customers in the high-risk area are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of power outages and follow all local or state emergency orders
We ramp up support when wildfire conditions are present
As extreme weather conditions – such as wildfires – threaten
Our emergency planning and response teams have expertise in the areas of fire risk engineering
and fire prevention and include meteorologists
experienced foresters and vegetation management professionals in the specific regions we serve
We closely monitor many factors that could pose a risk for wildfires – drought conditions
rainfall levels and weather forecasts – so that we can take proactive measures
during and after a storm is important to Entergy Texas
Here are some of the platforms we use to provide updates:
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsAhmed Humble
SAN JACINTO COUNTY
Texas – As wildfires in San Jacinto and Montgomery County rage on—threatening hundreds of homes—emergency crews are urging hypervigilance with ongoing breezy conditions
PREVIOUS: Crews battle 2,000 acre Pauline Road Fire through Thursday morning
the fires have not resulted in a loss of any homes or lives
but what started Wednesday afternoon rapidly spread to 2,000 acres where fire crews worked to fight the flames through Thursday morning
Officials say it has currently burned 2,360 acres and remains at 20 percent containment
noting 20 percent of the flames have since been contained
our law enforcement service—they jumped on this so fast...they are constantly planning for these kinds of scenarios,” he said
“We’re still at 2,000 acres or at 20% contained
so we have seen some improvement but that number is likely to rise in acreage and containment as they put air assets up this morning and get an overview of what happened overnight,” Jason Millsaps Chief of Staff Executive Director for the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management said
MORE: ‘We are blessed with the best’: Fire crews protect homes overnight as Pauline Road Fire rages
the National Weather Service issued a fire weather warning Thursday across SE Texas from 1 p.m
officials are urging people to remain vigilant
but it could continue to push forward and those homes could be threatened and we don’t want anyone back in that area,” Millsaps added
“And if there are additional homes that need to be evacuated
those orders will come as quickly as we understand the circumstances that require it.”
the flames have not crossed into that area yet
but are strongly encouraged to leave the area
“Yesterday we watched this fire move one mile in about 45 minutes—it was very rapidly spreading
you would have very little time to make preparations to leave your home,” he explained
“That’s why you should have done that yesterday—but if you haven’t
this morning is the best time to do it because by this afternoon
the behavior of this fire is going to rapidly change.”
RELATED: Elevated fire weather conditions prompt Red Flag Warning across SE Texas Thursday
San Jacinto County Emergency Services says a command center has been set up at the intersection of FM 1725 and Alsobrooks Road northwest of Cleveland
Helicopters and planes are also being used to fight the fire
but officials said it would return Thursday morning
Evacuations have already taken place in Peach Creek Estates
the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management posted a list of other roads now under mandatory evacuations for an imminent fire risk
A shelter has been set up for residents who have evacuated at the San Jacinto County Shelter located at 255 Live Oak Street in Coldspring
Related Story: 900 homes under either mandatory or voluntary evacuations in San Jacinto, Montgomery counties due to wildfire
Another shelter has been set up in Splendora at the East Montgomery County Community Center
The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management says Caney Creek Cowboy Church located at 17703 Nonesuch Rd
in Conroe is accepting livestock that is displaced due to the wildfires
Cleveland ISD has also made the decision to cancel classes on Thursday citing safety of students
expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer
film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar
Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsChristian Terry
Texas – Officials say mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders have affected a total of 900 homes in both San Jacinto and Montgomery counties
The evacuations come as firefighters continue to battle the Pauline Road Fire
The fire which broke out Wednesday afternoon has currently burned 2,000 acres and is 10 percent contained
mandatory evacuations have taken place in Peach Creek Estates
KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding caught up with Cleveland resident Irisanet Aguilar
who was forced to evacuate from her home early Thursday morning
“I’m hoping to come back to my home,” Aguilar said
Two shelters have been opened up for evacuees
The first one is at the San Jacinto County Shelter located at 255 Live Oak Street in Coldspring
A second one is opening in Montgomery County at the East Montgomery County Community Center located at 16401 1st Street in Splendora
Calvary Baptist Church Cleveland is also serving as a shelter for those displaced
Caney Creek Cowboy Church is accepting livestock that is displaced due to the wildfire
The church says they have accepted 50 livestock animals as of Thursday afternoon
Another livestock shelter has been opened at Bull Sallas Arena located at 21675 McKleskey Road in New Caney
Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up
He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing
San Jacinto College will launch its fourth bachelor’s degree in spring 2026 for students to earn a Bachelor of Applied Technology in global logistics and supply chain management
Haley joined Community Impact in January 2024 as a local education reporter in Pearland
she studied journalism at Texas State University and served as an editor for the student newspaper
When she’s not in the newsroom or at your local meeting
attempting to cook different variations of pasta and spending time with family and friends
Texas – A man who shot and killed five people in San Jacinto County in 2023 will spend the rest of his life in prison after accepting a plea deal
according to the San Jacinto County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
Francisco Oropeza pled guilty to capital murder for the deaths of Sonia Argentina Guzman
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday
The San Jacinto County Criminal District Attorney’s Office says the plea deal was only extended to Oropeza’s defense counsel after several meetings with the families of Oropeza’s victims and the prosecution team
“These meetings were conducted in Spanish and did not conclude until all of the family members questions were answered and until they were able to voice their opinions on punishment to senior members of the District Attorney’s Office
the consensus was that a plea of life without parole would spare the trauma and risk of a trial while assuring that Oropeza will suffer the consequences of his actions until he dies
Follow-up meetings were also conducted in Spanish
to ensure this was the just and desired result,” the district attorney’s office said
“The projected cost of a single death-capital murder trial would have exceeded the county’s annual budget for court-appointed attorneys by 400%
and the financial strain of appeals would continue after the trial.”
Authorities say Oropeza had been shooting his rifle in his yard
and a neighbor asked if he could stop because they had a baby that was trying to sleep inside
The suspect reportedly told the victims he would do what he wanted
Oropeza went into the family’s home and opened fire
Oropeza was located and arrested in the city of Cut and Shoot
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said the suspect was found inside a home
hiding in the closet under a pile of clothes
In June 2023, Oropeza was indicted on a capital murder of multiple persons charge
which would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty
“Oropeza will never breathe another breath of free air for the rest of his life
and San Jacinto county will never have to worry that he is a threat to any of its citizens,” said San Jacinto County Criminal District Attorney B
Authorities are investigating a suspected homicide after a shooting early Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood near Capet Street and the 1000 block of Normandy Court East in San Jacinto
Deputies were dispatched to the scene at 1:11 a.m
following a report of an assault with a deadly weapon
Public Information Officer for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
deputies identified two individuals with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds
One subject was pronounced deceased at the scene
and the second was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” Vickers said
“The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation
visibly shaken as they tried to make sense of the situation
was also transported to the hospital by first responders
with multiple units stationed at the scene as investigators processed evidence
The identities of the victims and details surrounding the shooting have not been released
It will be updated as more information becomes available
Reporter Brian Briggs contributed to this report
The Valley News is made up of local residents dedicated to keeping our communities up-to-date with local issues
Waterfalls are tucked away along Falls Creek
just above the small unincorporated community of Snow Creek Village on Mount San Jacinto and near Palm Springs
The waterfalls are on Desert Water Agency's property and not open to the public
Desert Sun photographer Jay Calderon has seen it from a distance while taking weather photos for the past couple years
but finally took the hike to get closer on Wednesday
It was almost a two hour hike (with a break) — one Calderon does not recommend people try to take
including thorny plants aptly called "cat's claw" that cut into his shins and made him regret wearing shorts
but it ended up being really far and a difficult hike because it wasn't a trail," he said
"So I'm just kind of like going through boulders and brush
The waterfalls can still be seen from Highway 111
He guessed he was still around a mile away from them but couldn't get any closer
Calderon was able to photograph it with a long lens and drone
DWA owns 640 acres at the bottom of Mount San Jacinto and uses some of Snow Creek for its water, according to a 2014 Desert Sun report
This is the reason DWA doesn't allow people to trespass onto the land
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsNinfa Saavedra
HOUSTON, Texas – As fire crews battle wildfires throughout Montgomery and San Jacinto Counties Friday afternoon
KRPC 2 is looking at how the smoke from the fires could impact human health
The Pauline Road Fire
Texas officials sent a notice out to residents that evacuation orders had been lifted and they were able to return to their homes
Pauline Road Fire contained but still smoldering in San Jacinto, Montgomery counties
helped firefighters improve containment lines and make further progress in suppressing the flames
we wanted to make sure residents were aware of the health side effects wildfire smoke could have on your body
Pauline Road Fire: Evacuation orders lifted in Montgomery, San Jacinto counties
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency
wildfire smoke is a complex mixture that consists of other pollutants that have also been shown to lead to a variety of health effects
The health effects of particle pollution exposure can range from relatively minor (e.g.
eye and respiratory tract irritation) to more serious health effects (e.g.
Irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract
FEMA approves grant to assist in Pauline Road fire in San Jacinto, Montgomery Counties
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defined wildfire smoke as a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and plants
They said breathing in the smoke can affect you immediately
Texas – An active wildfire that started Wednesday afternoon in San Jacinto County and crossed into Montgomery County has grown to 2,000 acres and fire crews are still fighting the flames Thursday morning
The Texas A&M Forest Service along with multiple departments are responding to the fire
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service wildfire map
the fire has currently burned 2,000 acres and is 10 percent contained
It has been designated the “Pauline Road Fire.”
Sky 2 Chopper captured images of the smoke
An official at the scene of the fire confirmed it moved into Montgomery County
Helicopters and planes are being used to fight the fire
Air support has stopped at sundown Wednesday
but officials say they will return in the Thursday morning
no injuries have been reported and no homes have been lost
Texas A&M Forest Service Public Information Officer Matt Ford said right now, about 300 homes are threatened by the fire. Montgomery County officials say between voluntary and mandatory evacuations, 900 homes have been affected.
Evacuations have taken place in Peach Creek Estates
we’re going to have active fire throughout the night,” Ford said
Crews have been updated and briefed and a plan is in place for firefighters to work throughout the night
The project will expand the museum and restore battlefield at site where Texas won its independence
Texans and history enthusiasts are invited to attend the official San Jacinto Day Ceremony marking the 189th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto — the decisive clash that secured Texas’ independence from Mexico
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Michael Horton
Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports
He joined the KPRC 2 family in the spring of 2024
from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his M.A
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023
Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsBrittany Taylor
HOUSTON – Gov
Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the state’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties
READ: FEMA approves grant to assist in Pauline Road fire in San Jacinto, Montgomery Counties
“Texas continues to provide all necessary resources to local officials and firefighters currently battling the Pauline Road Fire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties,” Abbott said
“This crucial grant will help Texas fight this wildfire and protect the safety and well-being of Texans
I encourage Texans in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties to heed the guidance of local officials and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe
Texas remains engaged alongside our federal
and local partners to ensure our brave firefighters have the resources they need to protect our fellow Texans.”
RELATED: 900 homes under mandatory or voluntary evacuations in San Jacinto, Montgomery counties due to wildfire
The approval of this Fire Management Assistance Grant makes Texas eligible for 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for costs associated with fighting the Pauline Road Fire
Fire Management Assistance Grants are available to states and local jurisdictions for the mitigation
and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands
which threaten such destruction and would constitute a major disaster
READ: Pauline Road Fire: Officials expect more evacuations as windy conditions continue
the following state emergency response resources remain engaged to support local wildfire response efforts:
READ: Liberty, NE Harris County residents advised to wear N95 masks amid smoke from Pauline Road Fire
University of Houston alumna and Houston-native