08/19/2008 Houstonians ditch big commercial airlines for private air taxis A trip to the airport means long lines, long waits and high prices. But a growing number of local businesspeople are opting out of commercial airline misery and booking air taxis instead.

Humble ISD to sell ad space on buses
The district is expected to make a formal announcement Friday. District officials say they're taking the action in order to generate revenue. Is this a good idea?

Houston plant blast has some asking questions Some southeast Houston residents claim no one warned of the Valero blast earlier this month.

Houston woman attacked called a warrior
Deputies say that the Houston woman wrestled with a man who tried to snatch her purse. It happened in the 15600 block of Liberty Pine Lane in Northwest Harris County.

Police release frantic 911 call from Sugar Land home invasion Sugar Land Police have released the 911 call made after a man was stabbed in the head, allegedly by an ex-employee. The victim's wife used a baseball bat to fend off the attacker.

Cleveland High School teacher arrested in prostitution sting resigns A Houston-area teacher accused of leading a double life as a call girl named “Victoria” has resigned.

Houston elderly wait in rain for chance at affordable homes The fierce competition for affordable housing in Houston had dozens of senior citizens sleeping on the sidewalk in the rain Monday. But tempers flared when others arrived and said they were already on the waiting list.

Funeral set for family killed in plane crash
The Jacomini’s were vacationing in Colorado. Authorities say they took off in bad weather and were flying in a private plane back to Sugar Land on Friday when they crashed near Breckenridge.

Showers to stick around Houston area 11 News Meteorologist David Paul says to expect showers on and off all day Tuesday, with rain totals anywhere from one to three inches.

Ft. Bend associate principal not charged in alleged food fight assault
An associate principal in Fort Bend County accused of assaulting a student will not be charged.

Continental to lay off 140-180 pilots
Houston-based Continental Airlines plans to lay off 140 to 180 pilots.

City Council to vote on $72 million terminal makeover at Bush Intercontinental Airport
The Houston City Council is expected to vote this week on whether a $72 million terminal makeover at Bush Intercontinental will fly.

Firefighters act fast to get blaze under control at Upper Kirby-area apartments
Houston firefighters had to act fast early Tuesday to get an apartment blaze under control.

Suspected copper thieves caught in the act
Three suspected copper thieves were on the loose Tuesday after police caught them red-handed on a Houston roof.

Back to school: Cell phones to be allowed on some Katy ISD campuses
Junior high and high school students in the Katy Independent School District will be allowed to bring their cell phones to class.  But there’s a catch.  Be seen with it – or use it during school hours – and lose it.

08/18/2008 Violent teens adjust to life in state's scandal-plagued TYC lock-ups Is the state doing right by young violent criminals? Critics believe TYC facilities are havens for abuse, but some -- including some inmates -- say they're getting better and getting the job done.

Some Houston area Finger Furniture stores renamed
On Tuesday it was announced that Finger Furniture will become Ashley Furniture Home Stores.

Sugar Land wife uses baseball bat to save husband's life Investigators said 30-year-old Lydia Munoz broke into the couple's home and began stabbing the husband. “I pulled back and I hit her. Yeah, I did hit her,” said Cindy Williamson, a former All-Star softball player.

Teaching Houstonians to save lives
The Houston Texans are helping 1,000 Houstonians learn how to save lives.

Big Houston names join forces in bid to build giant Gulf oil terminal
Some big Houston names are behind a new project to build and operate an oil terminal in the Gulf.

Texans help Houstonians learn to save lives
A group of 1,000 Houstonians will soon learn how to save lives, thanks in part to the Texans.

Residents of Park Memorial Condos forced to vacate
Residents of a condominium building in one of Houston’s nicest neighborhoods are being forced to move out.

Relatives devastated by loss of Houston family killed in plane crash Friends say Tommy Jacomini, Jr. was an experienced pilot, trained in aerobatics, with extensive flight hours in mountainous terrain. Jacomini's other passion was his family. Slideshow: Family photos

Suspicious package prompts shutdown at Bolivar Ferry
A suspicious package sparked a scare on Galveston Island Monday. The Bolivar ferry was closed down for a short time overnight because of the package.

Sugar Land Girl Scouts earn bronze award
A group of junior Girl Scouts in Sugar Land is receiving the bronze award which is the highest honor a junior girl scout can earn.

Get your umbrellas ready: Houston area in for a rainy Monday
Monday got off to a cloudy start in Houston, and the gloomy weather will likely hang around for a while.

Ex-Houston teacher: I had sex with student A former teacher will spend the next eight months on probation after pleading guilty to indecency with a child.

Two college students shot in Houston
Houston police were on the hunt Monday for a suspect in a nightclub shooting. It happened just outside the Roxy Nightclub in the galleria area.

Cops charge La Marque man for allegedly biting cousin's ear off during fight
Police charged a man with aggravated assault after he allegedly bit his cousin’s ear off during a fight about 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

Galveston ISD facing $441,000 budget shortfall
Despite layoffs and other budget cuts, Galveston public school district is still facing a budget shortfall of $441,000.

Posse to police handicapped parking spots
Steve Wood used to carry a stack of cards that said: “You’re parked in a handicapped spot — thanks for making me walk.”

Houston city councilwoman helps pull driver from burning vehicle Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones helped pull a woman from the rubble of a fiery crash on the Westpark Tollway Sunday. Investigators called the whole heroic scene "incredible."

Galena Park ISD to give random drug tests to some high school students
High school students in Galena Park will be randomly tested for drugs this upcoming school year.

08/16/2008 Group wants to convert Astrodome into sound stage, movie studio The idea to convert the Astrodome is similar to one in Austin where the city helped turn the old Mueller Airport hangers into a cutting edge studio. What should be done with the Astrodome?

Robbery suspect: I did it to pay the rent
A special Houston Police Department unit is out to crack down on the unusual rise in robberies across the city. While it's not unusual to see a spike in robberies during the summer, police said this year it is different.

08/15/2008 Tips, devices to avoid forgetting kid in car For most parents, getting their kids in and out of car seats is a part of the routine. So, to many, it seems impossible that a child could be left behind. But according to experts, forgetting a child does happen and more often than you think.

eBay condo deal takes man's life savings Roosevelt Roberts though he had a deal when he purchased a condominium for just $9,100. Just one problem, the condo was condemned.

Remembering Hurricane Alicia: Baytown's Brownwood rises from the ruins
The Baytown Nature Center is a place of serenity and natural beauty, but the facility wasn’t always a sanctuary for rare birds, other wildlife and fishing.

Herbal remedies that can kill you There are dozens of Hispanic herbal stores in Houston that promise a cure for everything from bad luck to cancer. However, some of what they sell can be dangerous and possibly deadly.

Amber Alert lifted after siblings found safe Torris Andre Lee, 6, and Teandre Lee, 4, were supposed to be under a protective order that prevented their mother from even visiting them because of “past violence against the boys,” said the sheriff’s office.

High school bands, cheerleaders may miss road games because of budget cuts Marching bands, cheerleaders, drill team -- they're all part of the experience at high school football games. But high gas prices and budget cuts could cut into the traditional halftime shows.

Former boxer jailed in Houston Former light-heavyweight boxer Reggie Johnson is accused of taking more than $120,000 in grant money for boxing camps that never happened.

Deputies search for carjackers who killed man in NE Harris County
The search is on for four men who, Harris County deputies say, shot and killed a man during a carjacking late Thursday night.

SWAT scene ends with gunfire in Southwest Houston neighborhood
Police say the ordeal began after the 18-year-old man tried to take his family hostage.

Woodlands fire leaves 1 dead, 1 hurt Investigators with the Houston Fire Department’s Arson division are trying to find out what caused a deadly house fire in The Woodlands.

08/14/2008

Netflix glitch delays movie deliveries
A Netflix spokesman says it was able to send out some discs yesterday, but none were shipped on Tuesday and it hadn’t shipped any this morning either.

Cops: 12-year-old drove mom to bar
Police stopped a minivan Wednesday that had turned into a driveway without using a turn signal and then ran into the home at a low speed.

Feds close another charter bus company
Authorities ordered a third charter bus company that is linked to the bus operator involved in the fatal crash that killed 17 Houston-area residents in north Texas last week to cease its operations.

Neighborhoods disappear as Harris County flood buyouts expand
Funding for the buyouts comes from the federal government and the flood control district said it plans to keep applying for grants. That includes $8 million after Hurricane Rita in 2005 and another $4 million within the last several weeks.

Kids' health pioneer Dr. Ralph Feigin dies Dr. Ralph Feigin, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital, died Thursday afternoon from lung cancer. He was 70-years-old.

Another 3-year-old boy dies after being left in hot vehicle A 3-year-old boy died after being left in a hot truck at a northwest Harris County hospital on Thursday. He was found in the parking lot of the North Cypress Medical Center on Highway 290.

Wild chase suspect out on bond A suspect in a pickup truck tried to make a run for it after an hour-long police chase, but he was stopped by a deputy's patrol car.

Missing Rice student found in California, being held as theft suspect Matthew Wilson, 21, disappeared just before Christmas and had been the subject of a nationwide search. Berkeley police said he was found in a University of California-Berkeley classroom with a stolen laptop.

Skull bong suspect headed to jail On Wednesday, Kevin Jones pleaded guilty to credit card fraud. He will serve six months in state prison.

08/13/2008

First lawsuit filed in connection with fatal bush crash that killed 17
The lawsuit names the bus company, Angel Tours, Inc. and the manufacturer of the bus Motor Coach Industries. The family is suing for an unspecified amount in damages.

Growing up with a parent in prison It's visitation time at the Harris County jail and many of those visiting loved ones behind bars are children.

08/14/2008

Residents fight developer's plans to destroy their backyard golf course
The homes lining the Inwood Forest Country Club have been in limbo since last year when investors bought it and shut it down. Now residents are battling the group of developers in court.

08/13/2008 Toddler dies after 10 hours in hot car Police said that the boy's grandmother was supposed to drop him off at day care Wednesday morning, but forgot.

CPS: No evidence Katrina kids were abused Rhonda Tavey had taken in Erica Alphonse and her children in the wake of Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Last week the Houston woman was arrested and charged with kidnapping after she took off with the children a month ago.

Jury to get case in suit against Osteen's wife Passengers and a pilot testified Wednesday they never saw or heard anything that indicated the wife of renowned pastor Joel Osteen assaulted a flight attendant. Slideshow | Blog Did Victoria Osteen do it?

Man accused of burning Missouri City resident is jailed in Colorado Missouri City Police say they have made an arrest in connection with the gruesome death of a man last week.

Digital dashcams on the way for Houston Police officers
Houston Police are using a deal negotiated by Dallas cops for a lower-than-expected price for new digital dashcams.

More surgery for Ron Paul's wife
Spokesman Jesse Benton said in a message on a Ron Paul Web site Tuesday that Carol Paul “is fighting hard and remains in serious but stable condition.”

State senator involved in controversial condos
For three years, Dan Seluk and his wife Andrea have paid maintenance fees to the Park Memorial Condominiums -- the same complex city inspectors now warn is in imminent danger of collapse.

08/12/2008

Feds halt licensing for new bus companies
The head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration told The Associated Press on Tuesday he wants all applications to be checked against a database of bus companies that were given out-of-service orders.

Drug lord accused of running cartel from jail moved to secret location Oziel Cardenas-Guillen is the kingpin of the Gulf Cartel, a drug cartel that authorities believe was moving more than four tons of cocaine into the United States every week.

'Dangerous' form of policing hits Houston
Citizens ask "Is it worth it?" as 11 News finds crooks don't stay in jail long.

DPS official under child porn investigation
Sources said that as many as 10,000 images might have been downloaded on the suspended official's department-issued computer.

Gas wars erupt in Houston; $2.08 a gallon There was no collateral damage in the battle, just plenty of happy drivers who lined up their cars for hours on end as the price of gas dropped by more than a $1 gallon in less than four hours.

Immigrants returning to Mexico in droves A combination of government crackdowns and improving economies south of the border have Mexican immigrants -- legal and illegal -- returning to their homeland seeking a better life.

Death penalty sought for man accused of stomping baby Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Travis James Mullis, the Alvin man charged with capital murder in the death of his 3-month-old son.

High diesel prices has Crosby ISD consolidating bus routes The Crosby School District has provided door to door school bus service for its students in years past, but that won't be the case this year.

Back to school means green along the Texas, Mexico border
11 News found that thanks to shoppers from Mexico, stores in that Texas region are actually seeing a boost in back-to-school sales.

Cold front moves in, brings showers There has been some lightning reported, but it's nothing serious. "None of this is severe, but it's going to make things wet for most of the area throughout the afternoon," said 11 News Meteorologist David Paul.

Flight attendant returns to the stand in Osteen trial A Continental flight attendant is accusing Osteen of giving her an "I hit you because you needed to be hit" attitude on a flight. Slideshow | Blog Who do you believe and why?

Arson suspected in fire fueled by gas line It broke out at a home in the 900 block of Tarrington Court. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they say, the home was engulfed in flames.

2 men on the run after police chase It all started after the men were found driving a Jeep Cherokee that had been reported stolen, police say.

HISD to increase school lunch prices
With the start of school just weeks away, the Houston school board is expected to approve a proposal to hike school meals by as much as 30 percent. Reduced-priced lunches will jump 100 percent under an administration proposal.

11 News Courtroom Blog: Osteen trial
Testimony resumes on Tuesday in the trial of Victoria Osteen where a flight attendant is suing her and her pastor-husband Joel Osteen for a small fortune

08/11/2008 Retired Houston officer shot in drive-by dies A retired Houston police officer who was shot several times in a drive-by shooting last month died Monday night. A Houston police department source told 11 News that Belle Ortega died Monday night at about 6:20 p.m.

Is a special Houston police unit fighting crime or hassling the public? Police e-mails obtained by the 11 News Defenders suggest that the Houston Police Department's Crime Reduction Unit is "running and gunning just to keep their stats up without regard to quality cases."

Charges filed in Hyde Park rape case The rape charges come less than a month after the victim came forward and told her story to 11 News. The 24-year-old suspect has a laundry list of criminal charges.

Body found in waters near Texas City port
Authorities are investigating the death of a 21-year-old Dickinson man who was found in the water Monday morning at Dock 42 in the Texas City port.

Ron Paul's wife hospitalized
Carol Paul was in the critical care unit at an unidentified hospital, spokesman Jesse Benton said in a statement.

Woman accused of kidnapping Katrina children seeks custody
With her attorney at her side, the woman accused of kidnapping five children she took in after Hurricane Katrina, acknowledged that the children aren't hers, but she hasn't stopped fighting for them.

Most bike riders in Houston are lawbreakers Mayor Bill White is among the millions of Houston bike owners who are riding bandit bikes after failing to register them as required.

Teen dies in northwest Houston pool
The accident happened at an apartment complex in the 5700 block of Guhn in northwest Houston at about 4:20 p.m.

WEB EXTRA: Fighting crime or hassling the public?
Find yourself handcuffed for jaywalking lately? Then this elite Houston police squad has been in your neighborhood.

Kidnapping suspect seeks custody of kids, she allegedly took
Rhonda Tavey had been caring for the children who, along with their mother, evacuated New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

Off-duty HPD cop involved in shooting
One man is in custody Monday after a shootout involving an off-duty Houston police officer.

Conroe officer dies in motorcycle crash
Police say that an off duty sergeant was riding his personal motorcycle when he collided with an SUV overnight on Highway 105 near McCabe.

Crime Stoppers: Thieves wanted money, not manicure or massage The search is on for two thieves who police say held up two southeast Houston spas.

Sugar Land home invasion leaves man hurt, wife traumatized It happened at a home on Grassy Knoll Court near Frost Pass in the First Colony neighborhood of Sugar Land in Fort Bend County.

North Texas bus crash leaves scars for survivors Late Sunday night, people who attended that festival began returning home. One group arrived early Monday morning at the Vietnamese Martyers Catholic Church in southeast Houston.

08/10/2008 Brown kicks 4 field goals as Texans down Broncos David Anderson caught six passes for 67 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown from Sage Rosenfels, in the Texans' 19-16 win over the Denver Broncos.

08/08/2008

Safety tips you should know before chartering a bus for a group trip
Schools, churches, community groups and plenty of others regularly look to charter bus companies to help get their groups from Point A to Point B for special events. How can you know whether the bus you are riding is safe?

11 News exclusive: Touring the space station in HD
Consider the International Space Station an office with the best view in the universe.

Venomous viper still missing at Moody Gardens; police investigate The Rain Forest Pyramid is seaching for an African Bush Viper that went missing after someone tampered with the enclosure's lock.

Woman accused of kidnapping 5 young Katrina kids out on bond
The woman accused of kidnapping five children and taking them to Dallas is expected to bond out of jail Friday.

Houston church mourns bus crash victims Hai Le is one of the hundreds who has also made the pilgrimage to the annual Marian Days celebration. He didn't go this time, but his friends did.

What is the Marian Days Festival?
The charter bus that ran off a highway overpass north of Dallas and crashed was headed to the Marian Days Festival in Carthage, Missouri. It is a four day event organized by Vietnam Catholics from around the world in 1977.

Bus crash that killed 15 had improper tire Many of the dead or injured are from the Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church of Houston. Police say the bus slammed onto its side and then skidded off the highway. Slideshow | Offer your condolences

Two years after online sex sting, Houston man goes to prison Prosecutors said Khokhar admitted he was inside his southwest Houston home on his computer and thought he was chatting with a 13-year-old girl.

Attorney: 'This is not a case of kidnapping'
“This is a case of a woman who cares very much for these children, who's been taking care of these children for the past three years,” said famed defense attorney Dick DeGuerin, who is now Rhonda Tavey's lawyer.

08/07/2008

PUMAs want delegates to back Hillary
The political action committee is urging delegates to stick by Hillary Clinton and cast their votes for her at the party's nominating convention.

National Guard providing free healthcare, even to non-citizens
The military doesn’t know how many people are getting served because they don’t require documentation and don't ask questions.

Truck driver cleared in death of deputy; now faces possible deportation
Jose Vieyra had faced criminally negligent homicide charges in the death of Deputy Craig Miller. In February, on a Katy Freeway feeder road, the two collided.

Charges dropped in crash that killed deputy
A man charged with negligent homicide after a fatal traffic accident with a Harris County Sheriff's deputy is free.

Osteen attorney accuses witness of playing 'race card'; pastor's wife called 'diva-like' Houston's most famous preacher is in court Thursday  along with his wife and a flight attendant who's suing them for a small fortune.

Accidental shooting leaves 12-year-old boy dead in north Harris County
Investigators say that the boy's stepbrother accidently shot and killed him at their home in the 1,500 block of Plumwood Wednesday night.

Person of interest sought in body burned case The Missouri City Police Department is investigating a homicide in the 1800 block of Murphy Road at the Quail Valley Apartments.

Adult diapers litter Houston freeway, cause traffic troubles A tractor-trailer accident blocked the West Loop southbound ramp to the Katy Freeway inbound early Thursday morning.