Paul Ryan campaign flight temporarily stuck Wednesday morning at Hobby Airport

Paul Ryan's campaign flight was temporarily stuck Wednesday morning at Houston's Hobby Airport due to a minor mechanical issue. (CNN)

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mechanical issue Wednesday morning temporarily stranded Paul Ryan's campaign flight at Houston's Hobby Airport.

The DC-9 Romney-Ryan campaign plane had an "minor mechanical issue" according to Ryan spokesperson Michael Steel. They held the place at Hobby Airport, putting them more than 85 minutes behind schedule.

It's believed that a leak in one of the lavatories in the back of the plane is the cause of the delay, but Steel would not confirm this.

The press corp's luggage was taken off the plane and put on the tarmac while technicians attempted to resolve the issue.

Ryan did eventually make it out of Houston in time for a scheduled appearance in Ft. Collins, Colorado on Wednesday afternoon.

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Police investigating campaign sign thefts allegedly by county employee

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Early voting may be going slowly, but we've learned that what's happening with one campaign is now under investigation.

The Spring Valley Police Department is investigating an employee who works for Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack. That employee was seen by an officer allegedly stealing campaign signs for a candidate for county constable Precinct 5.

Investigators tell us the signs belonged to Al Florido. We found him Tuesday at the Spring Valley Police Department talking to detectives, who called him after a plain-clothed officer witnessed the alleged theft.

Detectives say that happened on a roadway not far from the police department earlier Tuesday. The police department has asked the Harris County District Attorney's Office to decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

"Absolutely we are going to press charges. I think it's not only disrespect to the people who support me, who've given money to my campaign and other folks who've given money to other candidates who are running for office to do things right," Florido said. "I think that the cronyism and the Good Ol' Boy system in Houston, Texas, Harris County, it's time for it to come down and I want to be on the frontier of it."

Late Tuesday night, Spring Valley police told Eyewitness News the Harris County District Attorney's Office told them they need to think about whether the case warrants charges. The lead investigator says the Harris County employee was on the clock when the alleged theft occurred.

Radack says he has talked to his employee, who claims he was not supposed to be working at the time.

"I trust the police department not that much, this is a totally political thing," Radack said.

The incumbent constable in Precinct 5, Phil Camus, shows on his own re-election website an endorsement from Radack.

We will stay on top of this story and bring you further information as it develops.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Crime Stoppers wraps up successful campaign targeting child predators

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators call them the worst of the worst -- child predators on the run from the law. Crime Stoppers just wrapped up a month-long safety campaign targeting those fugitives, and Eyewitness News has a sneak peak at the results.

This is the sixth year that Crime Stoppers has done this. A new component was added to the campaign and organizers say it's one of the reasons why it was such a huge success.

Targeting the Houston area's most wanted child predators.

"It's a unique collaboration in the nation to try and protect kids in our community," said Katherine Cabaniss with Crime Stoppers.

With some 1,600 in Harris County alone, Crime Stoppers calls it the largest child safety campaign in the organization's history.

"The amount of predators out there is alarming. Very scary, very scary. Especially when you have little kids, little ones; it definitely heightens your awareness," said parent Damon Barone.

"Within 24 hours of our kick-off press conference, the first fugitive was in custody," said Cabaniss.

Last year, more than 150 child predator fugitives were arrested during the month of April. This April, authorities captured 153 -- roughly the same the number -- and cleared 195 warrants. Eleven of those arrests were based on actual tips from people who visited the organization's web page where photos of more than 850 felons wanted for crimes against kids were featured.

"It's a testament to the partnerships that we have here in Harris County that are strong and productive and they keep our community safe," said Cabaniss.

As part of its campaign, Crime Stoppers partnered with local, state and federal law enforcement to hunt down these fugitives. Crime Stoppers also rolled out more than a dozen giant billboards across the city.

"We need to be informed. I think that's part of the problem. People want to be ignorant concerning these issues. I have five kids of my own, so I want to know if anyone in my neighborhood or anyone around could be a possible danger to my kids," said parent Frederick Banks.

Crime Stoppers will hold a news conference this Friday to go over the results. As always, cash rewards were offered for information leading to arrests in these cases.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Controversial campaign flyer in Sugar Land

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- There's nothing 'sweet' about the Sugar Land City Council election. A flyer being sent to some voters in Sugar Land implies a connection between a candidate and a woman convicted of having terrorist ties.

The mayor of Sugar Land is calling for this case to be decided based on a candidate's qualifications and nothing more.

A flyer being circulated by an unknown source quotes an article written allegedly in the Express Tribune newspaper claiming that Sugar Land attorney Farha Ahmed is representing a woman serving time for attacks on US military and the FBI. The flyer goes on to label that convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui as 'Lady Al Qaeda'.

A representative told Eyewitness News that Ahmed never represented Siddiqui, and she isn't even qualified to practice in federal court.

"Frankly, as an attorney who is NOT a criminal defense lawyer, nor licensed to practice in any state other than Texas, nor in federal court, I would not be retained as an attorney in such a case," Ahmed said in a prepared statement."I do not believe that answering this question will stop the smear campaign against me by those who have a hidden agenda. They will continue to ask questions unrelated to the platform I am running on or the city issues we care about." Ahmed is now worried about her family's safety.

Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson issued a terse statement Friday in response to the flyer, calling this sort of campaigning "unfortunate." He thinks she needs to respond to the allegations in detail.

"Knowing her ... living in our community, I would find it really hard to believe. It's incumbent on somebody to answer those questions," Thompson said.

The flyer says it is paid for by a "concerned citizen" -- someone not affiliated with any candidate or any political party.

Fort Bend District Attorney John Healey notes that Ahmed is not a criminal attorney, and that she only does civil litigation. Healey says this is an attempt to suggest guilt by association.

The runoff in this Sugar Land city council election is set for June 11.

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