State Senator Mario Gallegos reportedly gravely ill

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A leader, not only in the Hispanic community, but for all of Harris County, is fighting for his life. State Senator Mario Gallegos is in grave condition at Methodist Hospital.

Known for being tough when it comes to issues he cares about, family and friends are hoping that toughness will help him recover.

Out of intensive care now, Senator Gallegos is in his own room at the Methodist Hospital with family, friends and colleagues never far away. He's reportedly having complications from a liver transplant he had five years ago.

His campaign office called his condition grave, but the atmosphere not necessarily somber.

"He's responding to people and laughing told a couple of jokes and obviously his circumstance is a tough one and he probably recognizes that," said State Rep. Garnett Doleman (D) of Houston. "But it being a tough one, the time we all have, you don't waste the time talking about that. You make sure you talk about the good times."

Rep. Coleman visited with Gallegos on Friday. The two have been friends for 20 years.

"Mario is a man with a big heart and superior spirit," said Coleman.

Coleman spoke to us, not to disrespect the family, but to honor his friend.

Once a longtime Houston firefighter, Gallegos entered the political arena 22 years ago, first as a state representative, then since 1994 as a state senator representing District 6. In fact, he was the first Mexican-American state senator elected in Harris County.

And as a politician, private matters are public. In 2006, he acknowledged he spent a month in residential treatment for alcoholism. The next year, he announced he has cirrhosis of the liver. A few days later, he received a liver transplant.

Gallegos ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, but faces Republican R.W. Bray in the November election.

A statement released Friday afternoon on his behalf read in part, "Senator Gallegos' family is at his side during this difficult time, and they have asked me to respectfully request that they be allowed their privacy, so that they may devote their undivided attention to their loved one."

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

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Harris County cut off from state funds after refusal to purge voters suspected to be dead

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade is withholding more than $700,000 from Harris County; it's money that was supposed to be used for voter registration efforts. That comes after a dispute over the effort to purge so-called dead voters.

A spokesperson for Texas secretary of state said that Harris County had been warned it would be out of compliance with the state's new voter registration law. On Friday, the state lowered a very expensive hammer.

At the Harris Co. tax assessor's office Friday, people were filling out voter registration forms.

"It's one of my treasures. It's a right that we have to vote and we need to exercise. I think it's important," said Merle Ozenne.

Tommy Thomas was here to check that his family members are on the list.

"I think a lot of them just want to make sure they got the opportunity to vote," he said.

All this in the midst of a showdown between the county and the state over the purging of dead voters' names from the registration rolls. It's part of a new state law to cut down on voter fraud, which the county attorney says is not a problem.

"And it just doesn't happen very much. All this effort supposedly is intended to clean up the roles of dead people who can't vote anyway," said Harris Co. Attorney Vince Ryan.

By order of the state, a letter was sent out to voters asking them or their families if they were dead and to inform the county of their status. But the Harris County tax assessor said the roles would not be changed for the upcoming election because of a matter of time.

On Friday, the secretary of state's office responded by locking the county out of the state's website and freezing $702,000 intended for county voter registration efforts. And that's a problem.

"It would slow dramatically the processing of voter apps at this point in time which of course have to get done by October 7 in order for those people to be on the official voter roll," said Don Sumners, Harris Co. Tax Assessor.

The funding affects only voter registration, not the election itself.

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State Rep. Legler of Pasadena dies

State Rep. Ken Legler passed away Friday.

  PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Sad news to report about a local politician. We learned today that State Rep. Ken Legler of Pasadena died, reportedly from a heart attack. He was 54.

The Republican lawmaker is a third generation Texan, who represented District 144 in the state legislature. Legler had served in the state House since 2008, but did not seek re-election this year. He served on the Texas House Environmental Regulation and Pension Committees.

"Ken was a dedicated public servant who enthusiastically represented the people of his district throughout his time in Austin," said Governor Rick Perry in a statement on Friday. "He knew the value of hard work and was always ready to take on the issues that were important to his constituency. Anita and I extend our sincere condolences and prayers to his wife, Barbara, their three children and his extended family and friends."

Gov. Perry ordered Texas and U.S. flags statewide to be lowered to half-staff.

Legler leaves behind his wife, Barbara, three children, Joseph, Krystina and Kathryn, and grandson Brenden.

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State Rep. Reynolds denies barratry allegations

State Rep. Ronald Reynolds is denying charges he tried to illegally approach potential clients

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- State Rep. Ronald Reynolds is denying charges he tried to illegally approach potential clients.

The Missouri City lawyer was in court earlier Monday to face barratry charges. According to court documents, an attorney filed a complaint saying she received a call after a car accident recommending she go to a southwest Houston chiropractic office. Once there, prosecutors say the woman was asked to sign an attorney-client contract that was allegedly traced to Reynolds.

"The district attorney's office has charged me with barratry and that is simply not the case. I never contacted nor attempted to solicit the individual who is the subject of these allegations," Reynolds said.

Two others are also charged iin the case. Adriene Anderson is accused of making the initial call, and Dr. Tony Ha is the chiropractor accused of sending the patient information to Reynolds.

Read Adriene Anderson's statement about the allegations

Read Dr. Tony Ha's statement about the allegations

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State fire marshal's office probing Houston firefighter's death

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The state fire marshal's office is now investigating the death of a Houston firefighter.

Daniel Search, 27, was at work at Fire Station 16 in the Montrose area on Friday. The next day, he was found dead at his home.

Search was a rookie firefighter, and his father told us his job was his passion.

The medical examiner has yet to determine how he died. The state fire marshal's office investigates all firefighter deaths to see if they are job related.

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

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State orders North Forest ISD to close

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A state education commissioner has ordered North Forest ISD to close its doors by next year.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott sent the school district a letter on Friday outlining its intent to close the district July 1, 2012. North Forest ISD can still operate for the upcoming school year, and it is being given the option to appeal the state's decision. The district's acting superintendent, Edna Forte, says North Forest ISD is in the process of filing that appeal now. But as of now, the state is planning to annex the district to Houston ISD, which would then determine whether to keep the campuses open or place current North Forest ISD students at HISD schools already open. The state's decision comes after years of financial and academic issues plaguing the school district. The district will have a substandard financial rating statewide for the fourth straight year, and North Forest High School will be given an academically unacceptable rating for the sixth year. Last year, only 31 percent of ninth graders passed the TAKS test. Of the 8,000 public high schools in Texas, North Forest High School is the worst-performing school. "We think it's time to close North Forest and give somebody else a chance to educate these kids because this district has consistently failed the kids," Texas Education Agency Spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said. The TEA says the district has dug itself into a deep financial hole it simply can't dig itself back out of. North Forest ISD released a statement late Tuesday afternoon in response to the TEA's decision, which read in part, "We acknowledge the troubled past of the district and many of the challenges we face to get back on solid footing, but we're also encouraged that the innovative academic opportunities and the 2011-2012 financial forecast provide evidence that our strategic plan is taking us in the right direction. "It took years to get to this point and we will not come out of this overnight; but we will come out of this with the North Forest Independent School District intact and able to provide the quality education our students deserve." Houston ISD also issued a statement late Tuesday stating it did not advocate for this proposal, but it is ready to welcome North Forest ISD's students if the state's order becomes reality. "We know it's going to be a challenge. We believe there should be an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school. We are realizing the positive results from those beliefs and we are looking forward to sharing our academic achievement with every student, teacher, and community member joining Team HISD," HISD Board President Paula Harris said in the statement."We look forward to working with Commissioner Scott to ensure that HISD receives adequate financial resources to tackle this unique challenge." Since the closure is being forced by the state, the Department of Justice will have to approve its closure. Meanwhile, residents in the area are heartbroken. "For this area to continue to thrive and to make it better, we have to make sure our children are educated and there are jobs for people in the community," resident Jerry Davis said. "I think this is a wakeup call. I think it's time for the community to get more involved than it has been in the past and truly pull behind North Forest because I don't think it's a truly broken situation," former North Forest ISD student Bryan smart said. While some hope the north forest name still has a future, others side with the state and believe a drastic change is the only solution. "I think it was the best thing they could have ever done," parent Anna Brooks said. "I feel like the children have a better chance of getting a better education, through somebody else."

Sheila Jackson Lee wants to keep district open

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee wants to keep the district open and could ask the federal government to step in.

She released a statement that encourages "parents and community leaders to use all legal action to prevent this school district from being shut down." She calls it "a civil rights issue."

The congresswoman plans to hold an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss the closing.

Past troubles of North Forest ISD In 2009, the state had kicked out all of the school board's elected trustees because of a $12 million budget deficit, academically unacceptable rankings. The Texas Education Agency then took over the entire school district but returned control to a locally elected school board last year. Then in March, North Forest ISD placed its Texas Education Agency-appointed superintendent Dr. Adrain Johnson on administrative leave amid concerns over continued financial issues and the district's graduation rate. A13 Undercover investigation also exposed serious mismanagement in their special education department. The Harris County District Attorney's Office never did anything about it, but hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for special education kids went misused at North Forest until 13 Undercover stopped it. Ruth Watson used to be head of the north forest special education department. In 2008, we exposed hundreds of thousands in state funds wasted on unqualified consultants. As it turned out a lot of folks on the payroll were kin folks or special friends to Watson. She was on the spring school board at the time but was eventually voted out. It's hard to forget Watson. Among her allegations is that 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino sexually harassed her during a spring school board meeting by tickling her hand when he shook it. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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State: Kemah mayor owes taxpayers money

KEMAH, TX (KTRK) -- More trouble for Kemah's embattled mayor tonight.

The state says Mayor Matt Wiggins has built piers and structures along the coast of Galveston Bay without the proper permits and without paying the state taxpayers. The mayor owes more than $60,000. This comes just weeks after 13 Undercover told you the mayor was delinquent on taxes on dozens of properties, and some of his bed-and-breakfasts in Kemah were in violation of safety codes. This latest trouble comes just two days before the mayor's election in Kemah -- one we'll be watching closely. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more 13 Undercover »

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State redistricting means Harris Co. could lose a rep

 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The battle lines are being drawn as critical decisions that will affect your voice in the Texas House of Representatives for the next decade. As things stand right now, Harris County could wind up losing a representative.

A proposed map might not be the final one when all of the district lines are drawn in pen, but it is significant in that it suggests Harris County, despite growing in size, should lose a seat in the Texas House -- going from its current 25 seats down to 24. In the Texas House of Representatives, Republicans hold a huge majority and they are using it to their advantage. "The growth is occurring in Republican strongholds, so I think ultimately the Republicans are going to benefit," said Jared Woodfill, Harris County GOP Chairman. While they are working this decade's redistricting map to their benefit, Harris County could actually lose out with the current proposed map combining the districts of State Representatives Hubert Vo and Scott Hochberg. Both are Democrats who represent minority districts. "There was an argument ten years ago that we should have only had 24 seats, not 25. We are entitled to 24.4 something seats. Same as ten years ago," said Dick Murray, KTRK Political Consultant. It is a plan that obviously does not sit well with Democrats. Nobody representing the Harris County Democratic party could go on camera today, but State Representative Sylvester Turner did say, "It is deeply troubling that this map would apparently violate the Voting Rights Act in an attempt to silence the voice of our minority communities by combining two districts of incumbents in Houston." And State Representative Carol Alvarado said she believes, "There is a major deficiency in taking Harris County down from 25 districts to 24 districts. It is important that Harris County be able to maintain its 25 House districts in order to best represent our constituents." Will this map be the final one voted on before the end of May? Even Republicans think that is unlikely. "Probably. I think we'll end up with 25 districts. I don't think any Republican or Democrat in Harris County is supportive of a plan that reduces the representation in the county," Woodfill said. If legislators do not agree on a final map before the end of May, a redistricting board will redraw the lines. Either way, the map will need Justice Department approval, and chances are one side or the other will take the map to court at some point. As the state wrestles with redistricting, the city of Houston is going through its own redistricting battle. The city is adding two new council seats: J and K. The current proposed maps would significantly change the way districts are drawn both west and southwest of downtown. Hispanic community leaders want more leadership on City Council and say the changes would make it nearly impossible for a Hispanic candidate to win in either of the two new districts. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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