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Posts tagged as “Ed Gonzalez”

Train-truck crash in Huffman kills driver

September 16, 2021
AERIAL VIEW of the accident scene shows remains of the truck, upper left, under the train. The cab of the semi truck was severed, and came to rest in the wooded area at the lower left. (Photo courtesy KHOU)

HUFFMAN, Texas — One person was killed in a collision involving a Union Pacific freight train and an 18-wheeler in the Huffman area early Wednesday, September 8 according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Deputies responded to 12299 FM 1960 Road at FM 2100 before 8 a.m. where the crash was reported.

After the collision, the big rig reportedly burst into flames.

“The driver of the 18- wheeler/flat-bed trailer has been confirmed dead on scene,” Sheriff Gonzalez later tweeted. “No chemicals were being transported, however diesel fuel spilled onto the tracks after the collision. The fire has been extinguished.”

Continue reading...Train-truck crash in Huffman kills driver

County initiates program to help Homeless

June 17, 2021
Homeless Program participants removing Graffiti in East Harris County.

HARRIS COUNTY – Last week, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales launched a workforce development program in collaboration with Harris County Precinct 2 and Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. that supports those experiencing homelessness in east Harris County.

According to the Coalition for the Homeless, nearly 4,000 people in the Houston area are experiencing homelessness. This innovative partnership – rooted in community development – empowers our most vulnerable neighbors with the tools, skills, and support to help them overcome barriers to success. It connects program participants to affordable housing, employment resources, and other critical services through Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. It also allows them to earn an income by completing community development projects.

Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s Office funded the six-month pilot program, which actively recruits participants and provides them with transportation, meals throughout the workday, personal protective equipment, and the necessary training and tools to properly remove graffiti from bridges, roads, and buildings. Weather permitting, participants will have the chance to work on a first come, first served basis Monday through Thursday for about $50 a day.

Continue reading...County initiates program to help Homeless

President nominates Sheriff to head ICE

April 29, 2021

HARRIS COUNTY – President Joe Biden is intent on nominating Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Under the Department of Homeland Security.

Considering the history, it is a sudden change of direction, in that Gonzales took the Harris County Sheriff’s office out of a voluntary ICE program that would have had deputies fulfill the role of federal agents in jails.

Continue reading...President nominates Sheriff to head ICE

Garcia’s motion will bring $3 million to fight violent crime

April 8, 2021

HARRIS COUNTY – By a vote of 5-0, Harris County Commissioners Court approved an item presented by Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia which adds $3 million to the Sheriff Department’s budget to fight specific aspects of violent crime. Remaining Federal CARES Act money is being used to fund this initiative. The funds will be used to protect victims and reduce violent crime, stemming from the pandemic.

The additional $3 million will be restricted to the following areas of investigation:

Murder
Sexual Assault
Aggravated Robbery
Child Abuse
Domestic Violence
Warrants

“While others’ rhetoric on crime usually focuses on making political statements solely to sell fear, I’d rather my office concentrate on action. All too often, the loudest voices you hear on TV would prefer to see themselves acting tough on the 10 o’clock news, rather than do the hard work that actually might make a difference,” said Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “I choose to invest in programs that will actually keep people safe and hold evil-doers accountable. This is a smart use of these funds and even though the full extent of this plan can’t be captured with three words on a posterboard, I’m glad to have sponsored the item.”

Continue reading...Garcia’s motion will bring $3 million to fight violent crime

Heavy voter turnout splits between parties in polls

November 5, 2020

Without a clue concerning the Presidential candidacy except a substantial lead by the incumbent in key toss up states and a lead by the challenger in projected electoral votes local elections are monotonously slow on Tuesday night.

Locally, Precinct 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton has maintained a comfortable 60% to 39% lead over Andre Hines all night.

With less than half of the votes to count in Harris County John Cornyn seems off to a fourth term in the US Senate by over 8% over Democrat M.J. Hagar.

Keeping the House seat for the local District 36, Republican Incumbent Brian Babin was about 62% in Harris County over Dem. Rashad Lewis. That Turns to 80% to 19% in Chambers County in favor of Babin. New face in the Republican Party in the House, Dan Crenshaw a War on Terror veteran won by over 10% over Sima Ladjevardian, who immigrated from Iran. Also in the US House Race, District 29 was won by Dem. Sylvia Garcia about 71% to 27% for Rep. Jaimy Blanco.

Incumbent Democrat Kim Ogg has a nine percent lead over Mary Nan Huffman for District Attorney.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez leads Republican Joe Danna by 15%.

Tax Assessor – Collector Ann Harris Bennett a Democrat has a 10% lead over Chris Daniel and a 50% lead over Billy Pierce.

Newport MUD Proposition for the compromise bond to handle improvements 67% for and 32% against.

Crosby School District Position 5 Heather Barrett at 57% then David Givens 27% and Sharon Mayes 15%.

Huffman School Board Position 4 Kirk Vaughn had 69% Dean Tinnin 31%. Position 5 Preston Tucker 54.5% against Charles Bardwell 45.5%. Position 7 Amanda McGee 47% against Pat Keith 43% and Vernon Reed 10%.

MUD 50 had an election Alice Dangerfield 62% Melody Fontenot 38%.

ESD 80 Chuck Murray had 19.5%, Raymond St. Julian Sr. 29% Derek Elkins 18%, all incumbent.

In the battle for Railroad Commissioner Chrysta Castaneda held 53% for most of the night over James Wright 44%.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas saw Amy Clark Meachum start off ahead in votes then fall far behind Nathan Hecht who took 53% to her 44%.

Continue reading...Heavy voter turnout splits between parties in polls

Early Voting Oct. 13 thru 30

October 15, 2020

Election Day is November 3rd

Early voting started Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Harris County, and will continue through Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is November 3rd. Voters can go to any polling location, which can be located at www.harris votes.com. This year you will not be able to vote a straight ticket, so it will take longer to choose each candidate by name.

Important races include President Trump versus his challenger Joe Biden. Also Texas Senator John Cornyn is running against MJ Hegar, a war-wounded veteran.

U. S. Representatives that face challengers include Dan Crenshaw, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia Garcia, and Brian Babin. All of these represent some part of local districts.

In state races, incumbents Dan Huberty and Briscoe Cain face challengers. Armando Walle, Senfronia Thompson, and Ana Hernandez are running unopposed in their districts.

Continue reading...Early Voting Oct. 13 thru 30

Census count ends Sept. 30th

September 24, 2020
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia speaks about the need for everyone to register in the Census which is soon drawing to a conclusion. Garcia was talking at the BakerRipley center in East Aldine, along with others including East Aldine’s Richard Cantu, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Pct. 2 Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Representative Armando Walle, and BakerRipley president Claudia Aguirre.

Sylvia Garcia, County and City leaders hold Census Caravan

HARRIS COUNTY – U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia has organized an intense public effort to count as many residents of the area as possible, stating that federal dollars that are sent to the state, county, and city are dependent upon the number of people counted and living in the area.

To draw attention to the need to sign up in the Census, Garcia and other community leaders have organized “Census Caravans” that drive through neighborhoods and urge residents to complete their census forms. Garcia says it only takes 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire, and can be done in several different ways.

Last Saturday the Census Caravan drove through the streets of East Aldine. Authorities have noted that this is one of the areas where only a small percentage of the residents have registered.

Continue reading...Census count ends Sept. 30th

Backlog of criminal cases imperils justice

July 30, 2020

By Lewis Spearman

HARRIS COUNTY – Local government is trying to catch up an extreme backlog of cases threatening destruction of the criminal justice system.

While a backlog of felony and misdemeanor cases is nothing new in the county, several factors have made the situation critical. Nearly 81,000 cases are now pending, a doubling of last year.

The criminal courthouse was water damaged by Hurricane Harvey, the COVID-19 pandemic rendered housing inmates, selecting juries, and the halt of trials problematic. Add to that since the 2018 election more than 140 lawyers no longer work for the prosecutor’s office.

District Attorney Kim Ogg discharged some of the lawyers after taking office, others quit citing low pay and the progressive agenda she has initiated. More than a million and a half dollars in compensation and vacation time went with them.

All jury trials and jury selection were stopped by the Supreme Court of Texas due to precautions over COVID-19, that order was extended until September 1. Special permission from regional judges and the state Office of Court Administration can provide the rare exceptions.

A Harris County Commissioners Court meeting invited the Justice Management Institute, (JMI) a nonprofit organization to address the county’s problems over the last five years. Commissioners heard from Thomas Eberly, “inability to handle the volume of felony cases,” causes delays and long pretrial incarceration.

Continue reading...Backlog of criminal cases imperils justice

Run-off election holds surprise results

July 16, 2020

Eagleton in a landslide; Garcia wins tight race

HARRIS COUNTY – Tuesday, the Democratic and Republican Parties held their Run-Off Primary elections and the results in several races were different than had been predicted.

Jacinto City and vicinity had a showdown between Precinct 2 Constable incumbent Chris Diaz against challenger Lt. Jerry Garcia. This was a close race, with Garcia winning by only 229 votes of 9,505 cast. This race had been marked with negative charges of unethical practices and favoritism on both sides.

Substantially more people voted in the Democratic Party in early voting at several Precinct 3 locations. Early voting counts in Crosby were 744 Democratic and 434 Republican most probably due to the hotly contentious local Precinct 3 Constable race between incumbent Sherman Eagleton, and previous constable Ken Jones, and the fact that there were more contests at issue for the Democrats. Over 150,000 votes were cast county wide on the Democratic ticket. The Republicans drew about 60,000 on their ballot.

Voters are no longer designated to specific voting precincts but habitually tend to vote at locations near where they live and with which they are familiar.

Continue reading...Run-off election holds surprise results

Election tight in late hours

March 5, 2020

HOUSTON – The red eye unofficial results in the wee-hours of Tuesday morning showed all races tightening up locally for Harris County and State candidates as the mysterious 20 voting districts that can never get in on time continue their streak.

Firstly, in the Presidential race, Donald Trump commanded 93.94% of Republican votes, Joe Biden took 33.6% Democrat votes, Bernie Sanders 30%, Mike Bloomberg had 14.7%, and Elizabeth Warren also ran for 11.6%.

In the race for the Senate John Cornyn was just 76% of Republicans. It looks like a battle between Mary “M.J.” Hegar 23.12% and Royce West got 14%.

In the battle for Sheriff of Harris County Ed Gonzalez took 72.61% for the Democrats. Democrat

Kim Ogg won back her seat as District Attorney with 55%.

The County Attorney Office replaced Vince Ryan with only 25%, Christian Deshaun Menefee 50% and Ben Rose got 25%.

Precinct 3 Constable showed Sherman Eagleton with 48% Deborah Florus and Ken Jones both had 16% of the votes.

Continue reading...Election tight in late hours