HISD students' experiment heading to space

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We're counting down to another launch to the International Space Station. And while the launch will be a sight to see, the rocket's cargo is equally impressive. Along with supplies for the ISS, the rocket will carry some experiments created by local students that could lead the way to some major medical advancements.

One of the most impressive things here is the age of these HISD students involved. They are just 14, now freshman in high school. These are winners of a national initiative to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

After successfully proving the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule in May, SpaceX is set to launch cargo and science experiments again to the International Space Station.

Former Pershing Middle School students Allie Burns and her classmates will watch the launch knowing the payload this time includes one of their experiments.

"I think it's kind of crazy. I'm still in shock and in disbelief about the thought of something that I did going up into space," Burns said.

Theirs was chosen from over 1,100 submitted nationwide for 23 spots on board the capsule.

"We put a lot of time into it and a lot of work, and it was just a group effort that got us in," student Ivan Arizpe said.

"If you put effort into your work, big things can happen," student Austin Abbott said.

Their experiment will measure how bacteria reacts to an antibiotic in zero gravity.

"Is there any difference to their susceptibility or resistance to antibiotics in space?" teacher Susan Broz said.

This is the second mission for the student space flight experiments program. Fourteen-year-old Emily Soice had an experiment on the first one and gets to send it up again because of a testing snafu last time. Her experiment may show whether pig liver cells can be grown in space and one day if human organs can be cultivated without gravity weighing the cells down.

"We can use those organs as our own," Soice said.

Both experiments have potentially big payoffs for all of us right back here on Earth.

The SpaceX launch is set for Sunday evening from Kennedy Space Center. The experiments will spend about six weeks aboard the space station before being returned home to be compared to an Earth-bound control.

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

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Houston Schools' Students Get Hands-On Experience at Space Center

Three UH students robbed in one week

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- The University of Houston says it is beefing up security after three students were either robbed, or nearly robbed, in one week.

The university is now putting together a task force to deal with these robberies. The UH police chief has promoted 10 people within the department and on Monday, he will be posting a position for a crime prevention officer.

In the meantime, many students are very scared. They're walking in groups. We talked to one girl who has started carrying mace.

The latest incident happened at an off-campus parking lot Thursday night. Police say a student was walking to his car when a man approached him with a gun. According to police, the student told the man he didn't have any money and then tried to get the gun from the suspect.

Police say the suspect responded by hitting the student in the jaw, getting into his car, and driving off.

Two other armed robberies were reported on campus on Sunday and Wednesday. They both happened in broad daylight. Nobody was hurt, but police say the suspects got away with money both times.

Many students wonder if extra security will even help keep them safe.

"I don't think they can be everywhere at once. I think they're doing a pretty good job right now, but it's just scary that people are robbing people in broad daylight. It's kind of a bad neighborhood surrounding the school, so I don't really feel safe on campus," said student Christine Lado.

"These guys aren't just waiting, like oh there's a cop there we can still do it. They wait until they're gone. So you can hire as many as you want, but I think it can still happen," student Ryan Techmanski said.

Right now, authorities don't believe the three crimes are connected.

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

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UH trading cards big hit among students

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are baseball, football and other collectible trading cards, but have you ever heard of a college card? The University of Houston is using card collecting to increase school spirit, and it's putting money back in students' pockets.

"I started collecting after I found out that I had 22 cards," student Bright Yorka said.

They're called Cougar Cards, and there are 56 in all. Showcasing faculty and top University of Houston alumni. And if a student collects all of them...

"I've had three other friends get the scholarships, just because now they stay on campus," student Samantha Halbert said.

That's right. Collect the cards and get up to a $1,000 in scholarship money. So how do you get those valuable cards? By simply attending on-campus events.

"If you just come to university and then go away out into the city of Houston, you're missing out," said Dr. Simon Botts, the mastermind behind the program.

Dr. Botts has always believed a university education is more than what you get in class.

"You've got to be out experiencing things, learning how to deal with people, learning how to deal with different types of people, developing personal qualities and so on," Dr. Botts said.

"Do you guys fee like this is enhancing campus life in someway?" we asked junior Kelly Underkofler.

"I mean, I live on campus and all the events on campus, they always have cards. People want to come out and want to collect cards -- especially with the freshmen. It's a great way to get freshmen involved," she said.

Last year more than 2,200 events on campus gave out cards. This year, even more events are being added.

"I personally didn't think I was going to be involved in school life. But after I found out about this and you could get a scholarship, I started going to more events," junior Melissa Zayid said.

"You get to see what's going on in school, be a part of it, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," student Lan Nguyen said.

And it's not just campus events -- the Cougar trading cards are even helping with class attendance.

"He used to give some cards out in class also, so you would have to attend class and not skip," junior Disha Jan said.

The UH program is believed to be the only one of its kind, a lucrative way to get college students out of their comfort zone, and in to campus life.

"That made me go to athletic events and also meet other people I possilby would not have met. Going to seminars and workshops, and also build that foundation ... and get that school spririt," sophomore Cindy Sanchez said.

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

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Thieves steal Bellaire High School FFA students' new livestock trailer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Just days before a group of Bellaire High School students were supposed to travel to a big statewide competition and show off their animals, someone stole their expensive livestock trailer and a few other things.

Several of the Bellaire FFA students still plan to compete against others across the state this weekend, but now they have to find another way to get their 11 cattle there. Thieves ripped off their brand new trailer and loaded it up with hay and feed before letting all the cattle out of the fence.

Dusty is preparing for a little scrub down. He's one of six cattle left wandering a busy road after thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment and feed from the Bellaire FFA barn.

"He definitely could have died, if there was a car and they weren't paying attention," student Courtney Gonzalez said.

Less than three weeks ago, the Bellaire FFA acquired a 20-foot aluminum livestock trailer, it still had paper plates on it. It was parked near the barn. Then sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning, thieves broke onto the property, hooked up the trailer and then loaded it with student hay and feed.

"They snapped the lock off the storage container here, opened it up, and from that point, they just helped themselves to the feed and the hay that was in here," Bellaire High School ag teacher Mark Peak said.

They had to immediately restock the hay and feed for the animals to consume. What's even more disappointing, is that whoever stole the trailer, is in the same line of work as the FFA students.

"The bond, the brotherhood has been violated. And that's kind of the most disappointing thing in my mind. Whoever took the trailer, had to be in the industry," Peak said.

A police report had been filed and between the trailer, hay and feed the students are looking at a $16,000 loss. They hope someone recognizes the trailer and calls authorities.

"We're doing this for good and it's not like we deserve to get this stolen from us," Gonzalez said.

They do have insurance. However, the trailer won't be replaced before this weekend, so they are checking with other organizations to see if they can borrow one for the Washington County fair in Brenham this weekend.

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

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Six Pasadena HS students treated for pepper spray exposure

  PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- An incident involving pepper spray at Pasadena High School sent six students to the hospital Thursday.

It happened shortly before 11am during a lunch period. School officials say two female students got into an altercation that required Pasadena ISD police to use pepper spray.

As a result, they say five students were transported by ambulance to Bayshore Hospital for treatment. A sixth student was transported to Bayshore by a parent. One of those taken to the hospital was one of the females involved in the altercation.

School officials say by early afternoon, all six students had been treated and released.

Both students involved in the altercation were cited for disorderly conduct/fighting.

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

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Houston Schools Students Extremely Crowded Due to Bad Air

CA man convicted in student's death to be released

 Convicted sex offender John Steven Burgess (left) pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison for the death of Donna Jou

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- On Thursday morning, the man convicted of being involved in the death of Clear Lake student Donna Jou will be released after serving only two years in prison.

The 19-year-old was a college student in California when she met john Steven Burgess. He answered her Craigslist ad for math tutoring. Jou died while at a party at his home. Burgess says he woke up and found dead from an overdose and then dumped her body in the Pacific Ocean. Burgess got five years for involuntary manslaughter and is being let out for good behavior. Jou's father is so outraged by the release, he plans to be at the Los Angeles prison tomorrow to protest. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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