Former President Bush to remain in hospital

  HOUSTON -- Former President George H.W. Bush spent Christmas in a Houston hospital with his wife, Barbara, and other relatives who planned to treat him to a special holiday meal.

Bush's son, Neil, and his wife also visited on Tuesday, and one of Bush's grandsons was planning to stop by as well, said Jim McGrath, Bush's spokesman in Houston.

The 88-year-old has been in the hospital since Nov. 23 with a lingering, bronchitis-like cough. A hospital spokesman had said Bush was likely to be released to spend Christmas at home, but then McGrath said the former president developed a fever.

Doctors remain "cautiously optimistic" Bush will recover, but want to keep him in the hospital while they help him build up his strength and balance his medications, McGrath said.

On Christmas, the Bush family normally eats at Gigi's Asian Bistro in Houston's Galleria neighborhood, McGrath said. There were plans to pick up food at the upscale restaurant and bring the meal to the hospital.

Bush has been receiving visitors for weeks, including two by his son, former President George W. Bush, and one by Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida.

Bush and his wife reside in Houston during the winter, and spend their summers at a home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The former president was a naval aviator in World War II -- at one point the youngest in the Navy -- and was shot down over the Pacific. He achieved notoriety in retirement for skydiving on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House in 1992.

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No timeline for ex-President Bush leaving hospital

  HOUSTON -- Former President George H.W. Bush remains in stable condition more than two weeks after entering a Houston hospital for treatment of a bronchitis-related cough.

Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik (koh-VAH'-chik) said Saturday the 88-year-old Bush continues to improve, but doctors are being cautious with his care.

Kovacik says physicians have provided no timeline for when the 41st president will be discharged. Bush was admitted to the hospital the day after Thanksgiving. He had a weeklong stay for the same illness earlier in November.

Bush and his wife, Barbara, divide their time between their residences in Houston and Kennebunkport, Maine.

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Sen. Mario Gallegos resting peacefully at Houston hospital, family says

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on a state senator currently in a Houston hospital.

The family of Sen. Mario Gallegos said he was resting peacefully Sunday evening.

He was first reported at Methodist Hospital in grave condition on Friday.

According to his family, he had a lot of visitors this weekend, including friends and colleagues. The community has also rallied around him in a show of support.

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for updates on the senator's condition.

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FBI arrests seven people, including president, connected to Riverside General Hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Law enforcement sources tell Eyewitness News the FBI has arrested seven people connected to a local hospital.

A federal strike force has charged 91 people in seven different cities. All of them are in the medical industry and they're all accused of Medicare fraud schemes.

We watched 12 six people involved in that health care fraud crackdown appear in federal court Thursday afternoon. Seven of them have ties to one of the city's oldest hospitals, in Houston's Third Ward, and the most prominent is the facility's own president.

Riverside General Hospital has had its fair share of problems lately, even some "difficult times" as its president, Earnest Gibson III, puts it on the hospital's website. But perhaps there's no time more scandalous a time than now.

Riverside General's at the center of a nationwide health care fraud investigation.

"Charges have been brought against 91 defendants, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals for their alleged participation in fraud schemes involving nearly $430 million in false billings," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said.

In Houston, investigators allege Gibson, his son, Earnest IV, William Bullock and five others linked to the hospital and its satellite offices were part of an elaborate Medicare scheme involving programs connected to the treatment of mental illness.

They're accused of money laundering, submitting false claims to the government for services that weren't needed and bribing Medicare beneficiaries with cigarettes and food.

"It's a shame, it's injustice to this community. That's what it is," Gibson told us.

"Are you guilty of Medicare fraud?" we asked.

"Absolutely 1,000 percent no," he replied.

"Why would they charge you then?"

"Because this is crazy accusation."

Court documents allege Riverside General's director and co-conspirators submitted approximately $158 million in fraudulent claims between 2005 and 2012.

"Such activity not only siphon precious taxpayer resources, drive up health care costs and jeopardize the strength of the Medicare program, it also disproportionately victimizes the most vulnerable members of our society, including the elderly, disabled and impoverished Americans," Holder said.

The judge has set the Gibson's bond at $75,000. Also as part of their bond condition, the judge requested that all the defendants get jobs not related in the health care field. But Gibson's attorney Catherine Baen says her client has helmed Riverside General Hospital for three decades and they will fight that stipulation.

"There was an investigation done on this long ago, an internal investigation I believe, and it showed no wrong doing and Mr. Gibson is not guilty," Baen said.

Many of the defendants will return to court next week for a hearing, though for long time community activists like Pastor James Nash, they are hoping the historic hospital survives.

"That hospital is an icon, and in that community it's very much needed," Nash said.

A spokesperson for Riverside told us, "The hospital is waiting on legal counsel at this time. We do support Mr. Gibson and his leadership for 30-plus years."

All the defendants are scheduled for another hearing in a week.

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Man pulled from burning home, rushed to hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was rushed to the hospital Sunday after firefighters pulled him from his burning home in northwest Houston.

Flames ripped through the home on Ashmole Lane at Esther Drive. The Houston Fire Department received reports that someone was trapped inside, but officials said burglar bars slowed firefighters' efforts to get to the victim.

"They tried to make entry," said J. Evans with HFD. "This house has burglar bars on the front door, on all the doors. It also has a bar on the inside of the doors."

Firefighters eventually gained entry, but they said it was difficult to navigate through the house because of thick smoke.

Rescuers made their way into the master bathroom where they found the man in the shower with the water running. He was unconscious and not responding, officials said.

The man was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with CPR in progress. At last check, his condition was unknown.

Firefighters believe the blaze started in the kitchen. They are working to determine the exact cause.

Neighbors tell us the injured man was a relative of the homeowner, who was not home at the time.

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Horse-drawn carriage crash sends 2 to hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A car hit a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Houston overnight and sent two people to the hospital.

It happened on Smith near Clay around 11:30pm Saturday.

A car rear-ended the carriage and both of the passengers inside the carriage were hurt.

Most of the damage was concentrated on one rear wheel. The carriage driver and horse were not injured.

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Boy found in pool rushed to hospital

A child was rushed to a hospital Thursday afternoon after he was found in a pool at a northwest Houston apartment complex.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are investigating an accident at a swimming pool in northwest Houston.

A young boy was spotted in the pool of an apartment complex on Antoine and Tidwell Thursday afternoon.

The child was rushed to a hospital with CPR in progress, but his condition wasn't immediately known.

Neighbors say the boy is seven years old.

Apartment complex management says the pool has had locks on its entry doors since last week.

Police are questioning the mother to figure out what exactly happened.

No other details were immediately available.

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Baby delivered after mom killed crossing the street dies in hospital

Investigators say 30-year old Rice University teacher Jennifer Young was crossing the street at Main and Cambridge Tuesday morning when she was hit by a car. She died at a hospital and doctors were forced to deliver her unborn child.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The baby delivered by doctors after its mother was fatally struck crossing the street earlier this week has died in the hospital.

Doctors at Memorial Hermann Hospital performed emergency surgery to deliver the unborn child on Tuesday. The baby had been in critical condition at the hospital since then, but died Thursday.

Police say the mother, 30-year-old Jennifer Young, was trying to cross the street at the intersection of Main and Cambridge at about 9:20am Tuesday when a vehicle hit her.

The driver of the vehicle was questioned and released at the scene. The investigation continues.

Young was a teacher at Rice University. According to university officials, she taught computational and applied mathematics. She had been working at the university of two years.

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Driver crashes through fence at Women's Hospital of Texas

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An air ambulance was almost hit while parked on the helipad at The Women's Hospital of Texas off OST and Fannin this morning.

Investigators say a man driving a new Dodge Challenger crashed through a fence on the hospital grounds around 2:30am.

The car was going so fast it didn't stop until it ran into a guard rail along the helipad. The car stopped only 50 feet from the air ambulance parked there.

The man and the woman riding with him were taken to a hospital to be treated. A police spokesperson says the driver is in serious condition, but the passenger suffered only minor scrapes and bruises. Police say they found a container of alcohol in that car.

They also estimate the damage to the hospital grounds to be in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

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Two of Perkins sextuplets allowed to go home from Texas Children's Hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Perkins sextuplets have reached a milestone, as two of the babies have been allowed to go home.

You'll remember Lauren and David Perkins had the six babies at Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women back in April. The hospital says one boy and one girl were strong enough to go home.

The four others are still in the neonatal intensive care unit. Two are breathing on their own and should be able to go home within the next week and a half.

The other two still need to grow more before they are allowed to go home.

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2 children airlifted to hospital after ATV crash

  BAYTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- Two children were injured Sunday evening in a four-wheeler crash near Baytown.

It happened around 5:45pm at David G. Burnet Park, officials said.

According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, a seven-year-old and 13-year-old were both taken by Life Flight to an area hospital in unknown condition. Their injuries were reported to be minor.

No other details were immediately released.

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FBI raids Westbury Community Hospital in southwest Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Federal agents raided a local mental health clinic in southwest Houston, shutting the place down for the day without any notice.

FBI agents surprised employees and patients of Westbury Community Hospital on Hornwood Thursday. And it looks like they were after the company's records.

The entrances to the parking lot here have been sealed off. Federal agents spent much of the day there. Stunned employees and patients were turned away Thursday morning, and they left with a lot of questions.

The doors of the Westbury Community Hospital outpatient facility may be open, but the hospital is not open for business.

"I showed up for work and the place was surrounded and it caught me off guard," said Jeanette Tingle, who has served as Director of Intake at Westbury Hospital since 2006.

She watched in disbelief as federal agents loaded boxes and boxes of what appeared to be files onto a truck parked near the hospital's entrance.

"I don't know what they are being accused of. Nobody has told me anything. I think they are just investigating to see if we are doing what we're supposed to be doing," Tingle said.

Several doctors work at the hospital, which offers same-day outpatient therapy to patients with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and then bills Medicare for it. Tingle not only stands by the quality of the services provided here, she says everything is done by the book.

"We're so thorough and we go backwards and forwards. We have a large medical records department and they make sure that every note for every group is documented," Tingle told Eyewitness News.

The FBI stopped short of calling this an investigation with a spokesperson telling us, "We are lawfully and legally present at the location conducting law enforcement activity. No arrests have been made."

"Places like this are all these people have," said Tingle.

And she says she's committed to helping those who need it and dedicated to her employer, no matter what happens.

"It is ethical because it's a Christian-oriented company. I wouldn't be with any other company," Tingle said.

Westbury has another clinic in Baytown. We contacted the hospital administrator and are awaiting a response.

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Sons sue hospital alleging ants in dad's larynx

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The sons of a Houston area man are suing the hospital where he spent some of his final days.

Keith and Kirk Simmons say their father Willie Lee Simmons was treated at Selection Specialty Hospital - Houston West in July of last year. Simmons was treated at the facility after his lungs collapsed.

According to the lawsuit, the family claims ants and gnats crawled in Simmons' trachea tube and into his larynx. The family claims gross negligence on the part of the hospital.

A spokesperson for the hospital says, "We can say, emphatically, that Select Specialty Hospital - Houston West keeps its rooms and equipment clean and sanitary."

The hospital spokesperson also says they responded immediately and appropriately to address any concerns the Simmons family had.

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School bus crash on I-45 sends 5 to hospital

  HOUSTON -- Five children have been hospitalized after a school bus crashed on a Houston freeway.

Aldine Independent School District spokeswoman Leticia Fehling says the accident occurred Monday morning on Interstate 45.

Fehling says no serious injuries were reported. She says all five children on the bus were taken to Texas Children's Hospital as a precaution.

She says the ages of the children were not immediately known. The children attended two elementary schools and an early childhood center.

Details on the crash weren't immediately available.

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Missing doctor discovered in another hospital

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Bay City doctor who vanished 10 days ago after checking himself into Memorial Hermann Hospital as a patient for a brain tumor has been found. The family of Dr. James Rorig confirms he is actually in another hospital now.

Dr. Rorig had been diagnosed with a brain tumor on January 6. He was to begin treatment at Memorial Hermann Hospital, but he walked out of the hospital the next day without a cell phone, money or ID. His friends and family didn't have a clue where he went. Now they have some answers.

Two days ago, Dr. Rorig was checked into Ben Taub Hospital after he was discovered in someone's yard, not far from the hospital. His sister, Liz Marzen, told Eyewitness News the details aren't yet clear, but she believes he was unresponsive at the time.

Someone at Ben Taub Hospital saw the story on Eyewitness News and recognized Dr. Rorig as a patient. That person called Rorig's office manager, Melody Cadenas.

Marxen is grateful to all who helped the family locate her brother. She says he is in critical but stable condition.

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Patient vanishes after walking out of hospital

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Bay City doctor vanished more than a week ago after checking himself into Memorial Hermann Hospital as a patient for a brain tumor. The family of Dr. James Rorig fears for his safety after his disappearance.

Nine days ago, Dr. Rorig walked out of the hospital wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, and he hasn't been seen since. His family and friends are worried sick. They fear he could be jeopardy because of a life threatening medical condition.

A Chicago native, Dr. Rorig launched his medical practice in Bay City eight years ago. Since he knew no one, through the years his colleagues, patients and friends became his family.

Office manager Melody Cadenas said, "He's a brilliant, genius doctor and has a lot of patients that love him."

Friends say over the past several months Dr. Rorig's personality began to change. Ten days ago, on January 6, he received some bad news. Doctors told him he had a brain tumor and on that same day, they arranged for LifeFlight to take him to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center for treatment.

"He was very clear he didn't want any treatment if it was something major that he didn't think he could recover from," said Terry Stewart, a friend of Rorig's.

Less than 24 hours later, on Saturday, January 7, at around 5pm Dr. Rorig walked out of the hospital without his cell phone, money or ID and simply vanished. His family filed a missing persons report with police. Friends believe he's not thinking clearly and may be in desperate need of medical attention.

"We don't care anymore if he does the treatment or not. His family just wants to take him home and take care of him," Cadenas said. "We just want him to come back."

Dr. Rorig also left the hospital without his seizure medicine.

The hospital issued the following statement:
"On Friday, January 6, James Rorig, M.D., was admitted to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. On Saturday, January 7, following an afternoon check, hospital personnel promptly recognized Dr. Rorig was no longer in his room.

A hospital video confirms he exited the hospital at approximately 4:15 p.m., nine minutes after he last had contact with a Memorial Hermann nurse.

Hospital personnel immediately notified family, physicians, hospital security, Texas Medical Center police and the Houston Police Department to alert them to Dr. Rorig's disappearance.

The health and safety of our patients are of upmost priority to Memorial Hermann. We will continue to work with HPD and the Rorig family upon request."
- Alex Rodriguez, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center

Friends and colleagues have checked some of the local homeless shelters. They've already passed out dozens of flyers.

If you see Dr. Rorig, you're asked to call Houston police.

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Bay City mom shot by husband is out of hospital

  BAY CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A Bay City mother shot by her husband in a murder-suicide that left her four children dead is out of the hospital tonight.

Laura Gonzalez has been hospitalized since the November shootings. Investigators say Jose Avila shot Gonzalez and the couple's four young children before turning the gun on himself.

Avila and the children, ages 2 through 5, died from their injuries.

A fund has been established for Gonzalez and children of this tragedy. The fund has been setup at Wells Fargo Bank in Bay City Texas under the name of Bay City Tragedy Benefit. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund may do so by contacting Michael Gonzalez at 979-241-3736.

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Trapped driver rescued, rushed to hospital after crash

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- At least one person was injured in a crash on Interstate 10 at Gessner on Saturday morning.

It happened around 4am at the intersection of the I-10 feeder road and Gessner.

Emergency responders found a two-vehicle collision with a trapped driver in one of the vehicles.

Firefighters worked to free the man. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.

There was no word on fault or injuries.

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Pit bull attack sends Crosby boy to hospital

  CROSBY, TX (KTRK) -- A dog attack in Crosby has sent a boy to a hospital.

It happened Thursday evening on Elk Drive near Crosby Huffman Road. Witnesses say the boy, who's been identified as 10-year-old Mario Lopez, was riding his bike when a pit bull and a lab mix attacked him. Neighbors pulled the dogs off of him. Lopez was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. The owner says the dogs were in a kennel and must have dug themselves out, but neighbors say the dogs were never secured. The Harris County Sheriff's Office says the owner will most likely be charged with a crime. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Giffords returns to rehab hospital after surgery

  TUCSON, AZ -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been transferred back to her rehabilitation hospital in Houston.

The 40-year-old Arizona Democrat had been recuperating at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center since last Wednesday's surgery. That was to implant a synthetic replacement for a portion of her skull that was removed Jan. 8 when Giffords was shot through the brain in an assassination attempt in Tucson.

During that same surgery, doctors gave Giffords a permanent shunt to relieve fluid buildup in her brain.

The Arizona Daily Star says Giffords now is back at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Memorial Hermann rehabilitation hospital, which is in the same complex as Texas Medical Center.

She's been undergoing intensive therapy at TIRR since late January to recover speech and movement that was affected by her brain injury.

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