Newtown shooting sheds new light on mental health, lack of funding for programs

NEWTOWN, CT -- The shooting in Newtown has also brought up questions when it comes to funding of mental health programs. The shooter, Adam Lanza, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. His family had resources, but many others do not. And in Texas, it can be difficult to get help.

The school shooting has put mental health back on the public policy radar, and in Texas, it is not a pleasant image. In fact, the Harris County Jail is now a symbol of what's become the largest mental health treatment facility in nation's fourth city.

There are about 9,000 inmates at the Harris County Jail, held for everything from misdemeanors to major crimes. But of that number, a fourth are housed in the jail's mental health unit, a psychiatric center of last resort.

"When there are no available treatment resources or facilities outside of the law enforcement correctional environment, then you push the problem over to jails and prisons," Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said.

The cost is huge. The state has cut mental health funding over the years, to the point it now ranks last in the nation, according to several studies. While outpatient mental health services cost less, in jail, when security, housing and medication is added in, it's estimated to have run about $70 million last year.

"We have 2,100 patients right now. We've been up to as high as 2,500 per month, for a long time," said Mona Lisa Jiles, an administrator with the MHMRA

At the county jail, the inmate patients are stabilized, put on medication, and if they aren't a danger to themselves or others, by law they are released. The problem is to what often it's to the streets.

"I think we always worry about them and often times unfortunately we see them back very soon," said Dr. Michael Seale, the jail's medical director.

With what's happened in Connecticut, there will be a call in the upcoming Texas Legislature to restore some of that mental health funding.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more National/World »

Connecticut school shooting, national/world, deborah wrigley

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Woman sought for allegedly setting fire to home health care facility

Enjoli Parker, 27, is charged with arson.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Arson investigators are searching for a woman accused of setting fire to a home health businesses earlier this month.

It happened on September 14 at the business at 8103 Bellaire Blvd. near Waldo. Enjoli Parker, 27, is now charged with arson. Investigators say before the fire she was attending nursing school in Abilene. They say since the fire, she withdrew from the program and is on the run.

Investigators also describe Parker as armed and dangerous. They have not released details on a motive.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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

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Couple sues CenterPoint after electrical shock leaves husband with major health issues

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A family in Katy are prisoners in their own home. They say they don't feel safe after a loved one got a strong electric shock while getting out of the shower.

The homeowner says the shock was so intense, he can't remember what happened right after it. Now, the man's family wants answers and is pushing to stop it from ever happening again.

The Katy-area couple hopes a lawsuit filed in civil court sends a strong message. They say their lives, all their way down to the what appliances they can use, have changed ever since the day the husband was injured.

For 50-year-old James Fivash, there is now a before and after in his life.

"I've had pain ever since. My eyes don't ever stop hurting," he said.

A man who once spoke easily now has trouble

"It's frustrating, I forget a lot of things," Fivash said.

The difference, he and his wife say, came in early 2011, just a few days after CenterPoint did work on the electrical box in their backyard responding to a neighbor's power issue. James says he finished up a shower, reached for the faucet and was shocked.

"And I remember it was bad," he said.

He went to the hospital while CenterPoint went to the house. The Fivashes say every outlet, every appliance was fried and the thing is before the shocking, they knew something was wrong.

"Things would dim and then get bright, dim and get bright," James' wife, Debbie Fivash, said.

The couple have now filed a lawsuit, claiming CenterPoint was negligent. CenterPoint declined to respond, citing the pending litigation.

But the company has sent the Fivashes three letters, acknowledging in one that the neutral wire -- important to complete an electrical circuit -- was loose at the time James was shocked. They say it was repaired and deny any liability.

"They're not owning up to what they should be doing," the couple's attorney, Joe Stephens, said.

Stephens believes the entire house must be re-wired, costing tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention James' ongoing health issues.

For now, they've learned to adjust to life without many appliances or electronics and to life after James' incident.

"It's tough for us," Debbie said.

The couple says they complained to CenterPoint about the surging issues in their house before the incident.

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

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Houston rapper Paul Wall: "Health is the new wealth"

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Rap music comes under fire often for its negative messages to kids, but one local rapper is trying to change all that.

Paul Wall is now singing a new tune that "health is the new wealth."

Behind the diamond-laced, blinged out smile is one of Houston's most famous rappers. But over the years in the spotlight, Paul Wall developed another reputation.

"The partying, the drinking and all that stuff along with eating fried foods every single meal," he said. "I was morbidly obese. I would be out of breath and be getting dizzy."

Before he knew it, Paul Wall tipped the scale at 320 pounds. It was the heaviest he had ever been.

"Celebrity Fit Club. When they asked me to be a participant, be a contestant, that was it! That was the last straw for me," he said.

So he made a big change. Dieting, exercising and then undergoing the Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery. He dropped 100 pounds.

"It saved my life. I feel great! I feel like I am 19 years old. I feel better than I felt at 19," he said. "How much I weigh now, I've never weighed this much in my life, except when I was 12 years old."

His wife, Crystal, began to change too.

"Him losing that weight mentally gave him his swagger, you know? He got to being, he felt sexy, you know? He hates for me to say that he actually felt sexy, but he felt sexier," she said.

But Paul Wall said changing his own life wasn't enough. He wants to spread the word to his fans.

"Too many times in the music, we promote the party or the drinking or whatever, the unhealthy lifestyle in the music," Paul Wall said. "But outside of that, it's time for us to start being role models."

So, along with his new look came a new mission and a new message for fans: healthy can be cool.

"No matter how much money you have, if you don't have your body and your health, then you don't have anything," he said. "Health is the new wealth."

To see more of Paul Wall's story, including videos and health tips, visit www.feelrich.com.

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

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Home health care nurse accused of stealing jewelry from elderly woman

Dusu Fofana, 25, is charged with theft

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A home health care nurse is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry from an elderly person for whom she was caring.

According to court documents, Dusu Fofana was caring for the 80-year-old victim between March 22 and March 27 while the senior was recovering from three surgeries at her residence west of downtown Houston. The victim says after Fofana stopped caring for her, she noticed a large amount of her jewelry was missing.

Police say the found a gold ring that was pawned by Fofana and that an employee of the pawn shop identified Fofana out of a photo array.

According to police, Fofana also stole nine pieces including pearl earrings, diamond earrings, a necklace and a bracelet, with a total value of $12,900.

Fofana, 25, is charged with theft. Bond has been set at $2,000.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Sheriff's deputies protest over health insurance premiums increase

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Retired and active Harris County sheriff's deputies picked up signs in protest, saying promises made a long time ago about their health insurance are being broken.

Sadly, it's something we're seeing a lot more of in this economy. Tough decisions and in this case, it's retirees who helped protect Harris County who are paying the price.

These deputies are standing their ground. Those on fixed incomes struggling to make ends meet say this hits them especially hard.

As sheriff's deputies, they spent decades protecting Harris County; now they're wondering who's protecting them? On Tuesday, a large group of active duty and retired deputies gathered outside the downtown building where county commissioners meet to protest an increase in their health insurance premiums.

"When we were hired into the Harris County Sheriff's Office, we were promised that our benefits would be taken care of for life. We feel like they have reneged on that. They were disingenuous when they told us that," said Lee Bumpers with the African American Sheriff's Deputies League.

"It's not good for law enforcement and it's not good for Harris County," said

Plagued by budget constraints, Harris County commissioners recently voted to require retirees under 65 to pay for a portion of their health care -- $115 per month.

Of the 4,000 plus retirees, over 1,800 are under 65.

"Yes, it's a cost and it's something that I'm sure I wouldn't be happy about if I were one of them, but it's just a reality of the world we live in right now," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

Those on fixed incomes are not happy and fear this change could hurt them the most. Others worry the commissioners are setting a dangerous precedent.

"Now when it comes time to pay the benefits aren't there or they are suddenly eroding and those are the things that trouble us significantly," said Bumpers.

Retirees living on fixed incomes say their health insurance rates have doubled.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Experts meet to discuss health of the Gulf

  HOUSTON -- Scientists, government officials and industry representatives convene in Houston to discuss the health of the Gulf of Mexico and the future of its ecosystem.

The summit titled "The State of the Gulf and a Common Vision for its Future" opens in Houston on Monday morning with a presentation from Lisa P. Jackson, administrator and chair of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The four-day summit concludes on Thursday.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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