Strong winds cause exploding transformers, power outages around Houston area

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The strong winds overnight led to exploding transformers and power outages across town.

We caught several explosions from our Tower Cam HD above the ABC13 studios in southwest Houston. You'll need to watch out for intersections that do not have lights because of power outages.

CenterPoint Energy reports just under 14,000 homes and businesses are without power as of 9:45am. That's down from a peak of close to 61,000 at around 3am.

Those outages are scattered from southeast Houston to The Woodlands.

Meteorologist Casey Curry says wind advisories are posted across our area today. Look for widespread 40-50mph wind gusts. One wind gust was clocked in at 61 miles per hour at around 3:45 this morning in Bayou Vista.

Be careful on the roads this morning as you may run into road debris throughout your morning drive.

Some ABC13 viewers have sent us photos of the power outages and wind damage across the area. We've seen tree branches in the Heights near the North Freeway and North Main, as well as a downed tree in a neighborhood off Beechnut in southwest Harris County.

You can send your photos to news@abc13.com, but please don't put yourself in harm's way to get the shot.

Many of you are also talking about the outages from the wind on Twitter and Facebook. One of our viewers writes that electricity went out at around 4:30am in Spring. Another says the power remains out in Magnolia. There are also reports of outages on our Facebook page from Friendswood and the Gulfgate area.

We want to hear from you about conditions where you are. Post to our Facebook page or Tweet your report with the hashtag #abc13.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Squatters cause problems for former homeowner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One local woman is locked in a real estate headache. She moved out of her home to avoid foreclosure and now she says someone is squatting in her former house. That's causing big problems with the mortgage company.

Days after she moved out, Katrina Collins says she got a call from her mortgage company, questioning her as to who she let move into her home. She had no idea what they where talking about. Now she knows. They're squatters refusing to leave.

Collins moved out of her home of 14 years last month. Days later, she discovered a squatter had settled in and refused to leave.

"She said, 'I'm not going to argue with you, but I'm not going anywhere. If you want me out you need to evict me.' That's what she said to me," Collins told Eyewitness News.

Collins was in a financial bind and to avoid foreclosure she agreed to a "deed in lieu." The mortgage company paid her $2,000 to relocate and they took possession of the home. After she moved out, the mortgage company learned someone else moved in, and even brought the family pet.

"I got a call from the mortgage company asking me had I leased out the property because there was someone living here that said that they were leasing the property from me," said Collins.

The squatter wouldn't come to the door, but claimed to Collins she filed adverse possession on the home. It's a real law, but doesn't allow for someone to just move in.

"There is such a doctrine, such a law in Texas, and if you live somewhere for 10 years adverse to somebody else's interest, you can acquire an interest in the property, but you have no right to simply live there during that period," said Richard Alderman, The People's Lawyer.

The squatter has changed the locks and is in the process of being evicted. Collins says they're not squatters, just thieves.

"I think that they are fraudulent and they are stealing a place to stay. They don't have any rightful ownership to this property. They don't have the right to be here. They saw an empty house, they took advantage of it and they just moved in," Collins said.

The mortgage company has settled with Collins and she has moved to a different area. As for the squatters, they still refuse to move out, so the mortgage company is having to legally evict them.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Houston Dynamo players shave heads for good cause

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston Dynamo players said goodbye to their locks for a good cause.

The team invited children from local hospitals to shave their heads at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Sport Clips helped in shaving the heads of Tally Hall, Brian Owmby and Brad Davis.

It's all an effort to raise awareness and money for Children's Cancer Research. (Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Sports »

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Shuttle replica move may cause some traffic delays today

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The full-size space shuttle replica is about to complete the last leg of its journey to Space Center Houston. A barge finished towing it across the Gulf from the Kennedy Space Center yesterday.

Today, it will go under the bridge near the Kemah Boardwalk and then dock in Clear Lake.

You won't be able to miss the 122-foot long shuttle replica. It's on top of a barge right now scheduled to make it to the NASA dock this afternoon and to Space Center Houston on Sunday. That means that the Seabrook-Kemah bridge will be closed to drivers and boaters from 12:30pm to 1:30pm this afternoon.

Several lanes of Nasa Parkway will be closed for most of the day today, starting at 11am and going until around 10pm.

Festivities begin at 2pm at the Johnson Space Center and continues into the weekend. Many people have been looking forward to this for a long time.

"Seeing it on a barge and having seen it from your helicopter, it's really weird seeing it on the water," said resident Jason Fennelly.

"History -- you know, just something we've never seen before," said resident Julie Harris.

Of course, many people are upset that this isn't a real shuttle. But they'll all get a chance to see it as it makes its move later this afternoon.

"Shuttlebration" schedule of events:

Friday, June 1:

* 2:00 PM - Event Area Open to Public
Transportation to and from Johnson Space Center will begin. Street party area will include NASA space exploration exhibits, music and entertainment from 2pm - 9pm.
* 3-5:00 PM Shuttle Replica Arrives at NASA Dock with Fire Boat Water Arch
* 4:30 PM Welcome Ceremony & T-38 Flyover
* 6:30 - 8:30 Music by Max Q, the all Astronaut Band
9:00 PM Fireworks Display on Clear Lake
10:00 PM Final Tram Returns to Parking Area
* Schedule subject to change

Saturday, June 2:
The space shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to SCH. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. There are no public events planned for this day.

Sunday, June 3:
5:00 - 8:00 AM - Replica transported along NASA Parkway from JSC dock to Space Center Houston. NASA Parkway and NASA 1 Bypass will be closed from 5 AM - 9 AM
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Following the arrival, there will be a free, family-oriented public celebration in the Space Center Houston parking lot, offering viewing opportunities of the replica, NASA space exploration exhibits, fun activities for the entire family and much more. Discount admission to Space Center Houston is available online.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Electrical problem may be cause of apartment fire

The apartment fire in southeast Houston is being blamed on an electrical problem.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Fire crews were called out to an apartment that caught fire on the southeast side.

It happened around 4:30am at the Casa Cruz apartments on Telephone Road at Drouet. Smoke was coming from the attic when they arrived and crews quickly put out the flames they found there.

No one got hurt. It appears an electrical problem was to blame for the small fire.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Art Car Parade to cause road closures

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- As you make your weekend plans, be aware of some road closures because of the Art Car Parade.

The parade begins at 1pm Sunday on Allen Parkway (inbound) at Taft Street and proceeds east on Allen Parkway (inbound), north on Bagby, west on Allen Parkway (outbound) and concludes Allen Parkway (outbound) at Taft Street. Staging for the parade is on Allen Parkway (inbound) between Shepherd Drive and Taft Street and disbanding will happen on Allen Parkway (outbound) between Taft Street and Shepherd Drive. Closures on those streets are from 8am to 3pm Sunday. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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