Cable channel names Houston one of 'emptiest' cities

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- So far this year, we've been named one of the nation's fattest cities and one of the nation's dirtiest cities, though not as dirty as Dallas. And now, the Houston hate continues with another list, this time from the folks at CNBC.

The cable business news channel just ranked Houston as the eighth 'emptiest city' in the U.S.

This might have you scratching your head. After all, the greater Houston area has a population of more than five million. Our rush hour traffic is some of the worst nationwide and festivals and concerts regularly sell out in the Bayou City.

But CNBC gave us the title based on the number of empty homes and apartments here. There aren't many empty homes, less than two percent. But nearly 16 percent of apartments go un-rented.

The top five emptiest cities were:

No other Texas city made the list. (Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Group names top schools in Houston area

HOUSTON -- For the sixth year, Children at Risk evaluated and ranked 144 high schools, 265 middle schools, and 589 elementary schools in the Greater Houston area, released in partnership with the Houston Chronicle.

Greater Houston is comprised of the following counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller. Children at Risk also identified a Gold Ribbon School, or the top urban, comprehensive school, at each level (elementary, middle, and high school).

Greater Houston's Top 10 High Schools DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD)Carnegie Vanguard (Houston ISD)KIPP Houston High (KIPP Inc. Charter)Eastwood Academy (Houston ISD)Kerr High (Alief ISD)YES Prep-Southeast Campus (YES Prep Public Schools)High School for the Performing & Visual Arts (Houston ISD)Clements High (Fort Bend ISD)Harmony Science Academy (Harmony Science Academy)Memorial High (Spring Branch ISD)Greater Houston's Most Improved High Schools Eastwood Academy (Houston ISD)Alvin High (Alvin ISD)East Chambers High (East Chambers ISD)Sweeny High (Sweeny ISD)Hardin High (Hardin ISD)North Forest High (North Forest ISD)Hull-Daisetta High (Hull-Daisetta ISD)Columbia High (Columbia-Brazoria ISD)La Porte High (La Porte ISD)Texas City High (Texas City ISD)Greater Houston's Top High Schools in Science and Mathematics DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD)Carnegie Vanguard (Houston ISD)Clements High (Fort Bend ISD)Memorial High (Spring Branch ISD)Kerr High (Alief ISD)Cinco Ranch High (Katy ISD)KIPP Houston High (KIPP Inc. Charter)Taylor High (Katy ISD)Bellaire High (Houston ISD)Stratford High (Spring Branch ISD)Greater Houston's Best Urban, Comprehensive High Schools Spring Woods High (Spring Branch ISD) *Gold Ribbon School*Dobie High (Pasadena ISD)Galena Park High (Galena Park ISD)Pasadena Memorial High (Pasadena ISD)Cypress Springs High (Cypress-Fairbanks ISD)North Shore Senior High (Galena Park ISD)Waltrip High (Houston ISD)MaCarthur High (Aldine ISD)Austin High (Houston ISD)Taylor High (Alief ISD)Greater Houston's Top 10 Middle Schools T. H. Rogers Secondary (Houston ISD)Energized for Excellence Middle School (Houston ISD)Fort Settlement Middle School (Fort Bend ISD)Project Chrysalis Middle (Houston ISD)YES Prep-Southwest Campus (YES Preparatory Public Schools)Westbrook Intermediate (Clear Creek ISD)Sartartia Middle (Fort Bend ISD)Beckendorff Jr. High (Katy ISD)Lanier Middle (Houston ISD)Berry Miller Jr. HighGreater Houston's Top 10 Elementary Schools Walker Station Elementary (Fort Bend ISD)Commonwealth Elementary (Fort Bend ISD)Tough Elementary (Conroe ISD)T. H. Rogers Elementary (Houston ISD)West University Elementary (Houston ISD)Houston Heights Learning Academy (Charter)Alief Montessori Community School (Charter)J. P. Henderson Elementary (Houston ISD) *Gold Ribbon School*Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary (Katy ISD)Hamilton Elementary (Cypress-Fairbanks ISD)

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Dynegy names interim CEO

  HOUSTON -- Power producer Dynegy Inc. said Monday it named one of its directors, former railroad executive E. Hunter Harrison, as its interim president and CEO.

E. Hunter Harrison, 66, was named as a director in March backed by Seneca Capital, one of Dynegy's biggest shareholders, which has been jockeying for more control over the company.

Harrison will replace director David Biegler, an independent director who was serving as interim CEO and president after Bruce Williamson left the roles in March under pressure from Seneca.

Williamson left in a shakeup after billionaire investor Carl Icahn's $665 million bid for the company -- opposed by Seneca, which thought the bid too low -- expired in February. Icahn has a nearly 15 percent stake in the company while Seneca holds a 9 percent stake, according to Fact Set.

Harrison was formerly president and CEO of the Canadian National Railway company.

Dynegy has been hurt by lower power prices over the last two years. It owns power plants that burn natural gas, coal and oil. It sells electric energy and related services to grids and utilities in the Midwest, the Northeast and the West.

Its shares rose a penny to $5.74 in morning trading Monday.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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