Lawmaker may consider allowing some workers to bring weapons on campus

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Even as stores are restricting the sales of certain guns, some state leaders are calling for laws that allow school staff to carry guns on campus.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle says she would consider legislation that would allow teachers with a concealed carry license to take that gun into school but another state leaders says this debate seems to be cast in two extremes and there can be middle ground.

While in the classroom on Tuesday, teacher Elena Saner was thinking of the victims in Connecticut.

"I just wish I could hug them all and make everything better," Saner said.

For 26 years she's been at De Zavala Elementary, but the idea of anyone besides a police officer carrying a gun inside the school makes her uneasy.

"If teachers were to wield their guns, I think they would get in the way of first responders not knowing who the gunman is," she said.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson authored Texas' concealed handgun law in 1995 when he was a state senator. He suggests individuals who are comfortable and trained can provide defense at schools in light of the Sandy Hook shooter's actions.

"He was confronted by a principal and a counselor and he killed them. Had he been confronted by a principal who was competent with a firearm, we might have had a different outcome," Patterson said.

Patterson says that could mean more police officers, administrators or a teacher with a concealed handgun license -- but not everyone.

"You can't just go oh you are the principal, here is your gun," Patterson said.

Riddle says she will consider legislation that would allow a teacher with a concealed carry license to take the gun to school.

Saner believes there's a different way but that school security should always come first.

"Children are the backbone of our society," she said.

The topic is expected to heat up in Austin when the next legislative session begins in January.

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

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Worker's cigarette causes fire that sent thick black smoke into SW Houston sky

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A lot of heavy black smoke caused some alarm in southwest Houston Thursday afternoon.

From SkyEye 13 HD, you could see the thick black smoke billowing into the air from miles away. It turns out it was a transformer that caught fire and spread to nearby trees and a fence.

A Houston Fire Department spokesperson told us that it is a break area for construction workers and that a fire by smoking materials is the only logical thing the commander could come up with.

Crews got that fire out in no time and there were no reports of injuries.

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

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Local TI workers told they soon won't have jobs

  STAFFORD, TX (KTRK) -- Texas Instruments plans to close its Houston-based facility.

Workers at the computer chip factory on Highway 59 and South Kirkwood have received word they would no longer have a job. The Stafford company plans to lay off all 500 employees over the next 11 months. The company says employees will know by April 1 when their last day of work will be.

There is a possibility some employees could work at other TI facilities.

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Trench collapses on two workers in SW Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Officials say one construction worker is dead and another was injured after a trench collapsed in southwest Houston.

The incident happened just after 7pm Friday at a construction site behind an apartment complex on Beechnut near Club Creek.

Witnesses said a group of contractors working on a drainage project came running up to them asking for help.

Houston Fire Department Capt. Ruy Lozano said a slough around a trench pushed a pipe, pinning one worker and burying another under as much as three tons of soil. The construction area is about 12 feet deep and 8 feet wide.

Witnesses said they grabbed shovels and tried to rescue the workers before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters rescued a 28-year-old worker and rushed him to Herrmann Hospital in Medical Center. Rescuers still are working on retrieving the body of the second worker, who is around 30 years old.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest details.

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

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Postal workers make special deliveries to troubled kids

Local postal workers made special deliveries today to a home that cares for troubled children

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Local postal workers made special deliveries today to a home that cares for troubled children.

Postal workers delivered Christmas gifts to the Embracing Destiny foundation in Spring. About a hundred postal employees from the Spring Main and Klein station post offices collected toys for 25 boys.

"The boys are really gonna be elated to know that we provided for them, speaking of the employees, in such a great magnitude," said USPS employee Herlin Hendry.

"Absolutely wonderful to see the community, especially workers that the kids see every day delivering the mail, care enough to bring packages to you," said Kai Lynch, case worker with Embracing Destiny Foundation.

These are kids under the care of Child Protective Services and received gifts they put on wish lists.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Managers accused of hiring illegal workers

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Five managers who work or worked at a Houston seafood restaurant chain have been indicted on allegations of employing illegal workers and falsifying their documents.

Joel Moreno, 36, Alfredo Aguilar Gonzalez, 43, and Alejandro Aguilar Gonzalez, aka Eduardo Martinez, 27, Victor Batz, 49, and Romelia Lopez, 26, are charged with conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to illegally reside in the United States and to harbor the aliens beginning in April 2009 to the present, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement. Each suspect is also charged with one count each of making false statements on employment documents during the existence of the conspiracy. All five suspects managed or currently manage Connie's Seafood Kitchen Inc., which also has the assumed name of Mambo Seafood, according to the statement. Authorities allege the managers knowingly sought to employ illegal immigrants and hired many of them by accepting fraudulently completed I-9 forms and allowing their employees to use several Social Security numbers and identities during their employment. Moreno, Alfredo Gonzalez and Batz were arrested Tuesday, while Lopez was arrested Wednesday. A warrant for the arrest of Alejandro Gonzalez remains outstanding. Authorities also allege that Alejandro Gonzalez himself is illegally in the United States. Lopez is expected to make her initial court appearance by Friday. The court has ordered Moreno, Gonzalez and Batz released on bond pending trial, which has been set for Aug. 9, 2011. If convicted on all the charges, each suspect faces up to 15 years in prison and fines worth up to $1.25 million. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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More city workers laid off Thursday

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- More layoff notices were handed out today to city of Houston employees. Hundreds of workers are being cut, as the city tries to close a budget shortfall.

As a mom to two young children, Carrie Midani is a frequent visitor to Houston parks.

"Having young kids, I really thing that we use these facilities a lot and we want them to look beautiful for my kids and I want it to be pleasant," she said.

The city's parks aren't going anywhere, but soon, there will be far fewer city workers to maintain the city's golf courses, swimming pools and other facilities. Worker after worker showed up at the garden center Thursday, walking out with their layoff papers. Sources say between 100 and 200 people lost their jobs.

"I take it as a blessing in disguise," said laid off worker Dalton Delattibeaudiere. "Other people maybe not, but I'm good to go. Life goes on."

There was a similar situation at the Health Department, where pink slips went out to 84 workers.

"It is very sad," said spokesperson Kathy Barton with the Houston Health Department. "And every person here is important and they do an important job, so it will be a struggle for us to overcome this."

Barton says at least one health inspector was laid off, which means fewer restaurant inspections. The budget and staff cuts would also mean that not every swimming pool will open this summer. And the city could once again consider closing a golf course.

The latest round of layoffs would certainly affect city services, though exactly how much no one knows yet. Houstonians we talked to say it's tough, but admit there are few alternatives.

"I wish we didn't have to do it, but the budget being what it is, we've got to make up for the money somewhere," said concerned Houstonian Bill Sykes.

We also learned the Houston Fire Department laid off 14 civilians, which the fire chief says will save around $1 annually.

More city departments are expected to have layoffs on Friday. The final day city workers are expected to be laid off is next Tuesday.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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BAE Systems in Sealy to lay off 600 workers

  SEALY, TX (KTRK) -- BAE Systems in Sealy is cutting hundreds of jobs, mainly due to the end of some long-term contracts and a tighter defense budget.

The company says that 600 positions will be eliminated through the end of June. This latest round of cuts follows 2,000 layoffs in August after the company lost a major military contract to build military vehicles to a company in Wisconsin. After the cuts, BAE says it will still employ about 1,200 people in its Sealy production plant along I-10. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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