Past Articles by Pat Hernandez
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New Global Entry Houston Office Helps Expedite International Travelers International travelers passing through U.S. Customs and Border Protection won't have to go to Bush Airport to be processed. The Houston Airport System opened a satellite enrollment center for the global entry office at Houston City Hall |
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The Historic Emancipation Park Makeover Continues The multi-million dollar renovation of Emancipation Park continues. When completed, the 10 acre tract of land founded by freed African-American slaves will have its rightful place in the history of the city. |
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Texas Religious Leaders Go To Austin In Support Of Medicaid Expansion Members of the Texas clergy will travel to Austin this week — hoping to convince Texas lawmakers to support Medicaid expansion. |
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Houston Cruise Couple Happy To Be Home Happy to be home — hundreds of Carnival Triumph passengers landed at Bush Airport on chartered jets, ending the "nightmare." Pat Hernandez talked to a couple marking their wedding anniversary — an occasion they won't soon forget. |
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Private Contractors Proposed By Mayor To Clear Houston's Rape Kit Backlog Thousands of sexual assault kits have gone untested in Houston. But now, Mayor Annise Parker has unveiled a plan that will eliminate the backlog within a year. The city will have private contractors test the kits. |
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Galveston-Houston Archdiocese 'Honored' To Help Choose The Next Pope The head of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese says being one of a select group of clergy charged with selecting a new pope won't be easy. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo urged all Catholics to pray that a worthwhile successor to Pope Benedict will be chosen |
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Houston Reaction To The Pope's Surprising Announcement Pope Benedict's resignation came as a shock to Catholics here and around the world. It's the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years. |
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Census Bureau Considers Combining Race And Ethnicity Question On Form What's in a name? The U.S. Census Bureau is studying the best way to formally classify the country's fastest growing population. The change could be part of the next census count, and the issue is generating a lot of talk. |
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Houston Extends 2013 Amnesty Program For Another Week City of Houston Municipal Courts Department has extended its 2013 Amnesty Program deadline for another week. That means people with outstanding court orders will have an extra week to take care of it |
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Female Bank Robbers Uncommon, But Not Unusual Houston police arrested a woman they say robbed a bank in southwest Houston earlier this month. Meanwhile, authorities have determined that another bank holdup was committed by a woman who tried to disguise herself as a man. |
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Increasing Sexual Assaults In North Harris County Police need you help in identifying and locating one, possibly two rapists believed responsible for a number of sexual assaults in north Harris County. Investigators fear the attacks could get more violent. |
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Boy Scouts Delay Decision On Gay Membership Allowance The Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board has delayed a decision on whether to allow gay scouts and leaders to join. Pat Hernandez has reaction on the latest developments from BSA's Sam Houston Council. |
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Harris County Residents Can Receive Emergency Alerts Via Wireless Phone What's a landline? Many residents are choosing to rely on just wireless phone service for everything they do. The Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Network is recommending residents register their wireless numbers to have the same access as landline phones. |
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Austin Lawmakers Consider Employer Incentives For Jury Service Jury service is a civic duty, yet many people find ways to get out of that duty. Some low wage workers can't afford to stop their job and some companies do not pay their employees while out for jury service. Texas lawmakers will consider legislation that could change that. |
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Ten Years Ago, The Nation Lost Space Shuttle Columbia NASA remembered the Space Shuttle Columbia ten years after an accident took the lives of the seven member crew. |
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GHP Has Lunch With The Governor And His Touring SOS Speech Texas Governor Rick Perry shared his priorities for the 83rd Legislative session with Houston business leaders, which included proposals for improving infrastructure, tax relief and education. |
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One Organization Has Issues With Sheriff’s Office Over Yearbook Photo Requirements A plan by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia to require sheriff's office employees to have their pictures taken for a yearbook isn't going over too well with one organization. Investigators who work undercover could actually help the crooks they're trying to catch. |
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Houston Fire Department Is Looking For A Few Good ... Women Only a tiny percentage of Houston firefighters are women, but an effort started a few years ago by a former fire chief could change that. Camp Houston Fire aims to attract more women to the profession. |
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Report Examines The Effects Of Texas Public Education Cuts Texas lawmakers are hearing how public schools are coping with the $5.4 billion dollar state budget cut during the last legislative session. Comprehensive information on how the cuts affected school districts and the impact on students was lacking — until now. |
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Voters Head To The Polls In A Special Election That May End In A Runoff There are only 31 state Senate seats in Texas, and one in the Houston area is up for grabs on Saturday. Voters will cast ballots in a special election to fill the seat of state Senator Mario Gallegos, who died last year. KUHF’s Pat Hernandez talked to the three leading candidates in the race to become the next state Senator, District 6. |
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Argument Results In Lone Star College Shooting; Three Are Shot Classes resume this morning at Lone Star College in North Harris County. But the investigation continues into a shooting yesterday that left three people injured. |
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Houston Honors Dr. Martin Luther King With Two Parades Houstonians honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, JR with two parades. Thousands lined the streets around Minute Maid Park downtown for the original celebration marking the birthday of the civil rights leader. |
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Survey Being Taken On Downtown Retail Shopping Needs And Habits It's a simple survey, but an organization that promotes Downtown Houston business hopes 20 questions will help them pinpoint how to attract more retailers to the area. The move comes after the loss later this year of a longtime downtown department store. |
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Sen. Cornyn And Cruz Hear How Texas Counties Opt Out Of Social Security Experts say social security faces the real threat of going broke because of longer life expectancy, a large Baby Boomer population entering retirement age and inflation. Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz heard an alternative to the government's plan that's been successful for over 30 years. |
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Ten Year Old Cold Case Solved With Help Of DNA Cherita Thurman was found tied and badly beaten in her north Houston apartment ten years ago. Now, Harris County authorities have announced another cold case murder has been solved. |
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After Military Suicides Hit Record High In 2012, Houston VA Promotes Prevention Pentagon figures show suicides in the military rose to a new record last year, even as the war in the Middle East winds down. While the services recognize the stress associated with returning soldiers, the Houston VA Hospital is working to counter this chronic problem. |
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Flu Epidemic Affecting the Majority of the Country The flu season has arrived early and with a vengeance, as the epidemic is said to be active in all but three states nationwide. Houston area health clinics have been busy vaccinating people and assisted living facilities are making sure their clients are not exposed to the virus. |
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Weather A Big Concern For Runners Competing In The Houston Marathon The annual Chevron Houston Marathon will take place on Sunday, with some of the world's best runners lining up. The big question on the minds of everybody is the weather. |
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Suspect Uriel Landeros Arrested Yesterday; Meanwhile Damaged Picasso Painting Still Being Repaired The attorney representing the man charged with vandalizing a Picasso painting at the Menil last summer could find it difficult to defend him when he returns to Houston, possibly tomorrow. It seems the suspect has already confessed to the crime. |
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Texas Republican Leaders Chart The Course For The Legislative Session Texas Governor Rick Perry says a booming economy and a state revenue windfall should allow lawmakers to cut taxes. He joined lt. Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Strauss in laying out their plans for the new legislative session that is getting underway this week. |
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Janiece Longoria Is First Woman To Chair The Houston Port Authority The Port of Houston Authority has a new leader. Former Port Commissioner Janiece Longoria is the first woman named to the post. |
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Comptroller Combs Estimates State Revenue Is Up The 83rd Texas legislature gets underway this morning, and it sounds like lawmakers will have quite a bit more money to work with than they did in the last session. The state's top accountant, Susan Combs, says revenues are up, which likely means a healthy budget surplus. |
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Legislative Issues Could Last Longer Than Regular Session Texas lawmakers get ready to meet in Austin tomorrow for the start of the 83rd legislative session. They'll be tackling some highly contested issues. Lawmakers anticipate they'll be at the state capitol longer than they'd like. |
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Macy's To Relocate To Remain In Downtown Houston The new year marks a change in downtown department store shopping, as Macy's announced it will close its doors in early spring. It is one of six stores the Cincinnati-based retailer will close this year. While Macy's shops for a new downtown location, preservationists are disappointed the structure will be demolished. |
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Houston Legislators Comment On Fiscal Cliff Bill Not every GOP lawmaker was happy about the "fiscal cliff" compromise, including a Sugar Land Republican who thought it was a bad deal. Meanwhile, a local Democrat says the deal had to get done. But what will the legislation mean down the road? |
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What Happens To The Family When A Service Member Is Deployed? Military deployment can have a profound effect on families, especially children. Researchers want to examine how they have coped, and with the goal of providing help to those finding it hard to adjust. |
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Texas Moves To 40th Place In 2012 America's Health Rankings There is good and bad news for Texas in the annual study done by America's Health Rankings. |
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Houston Firefighters Show That Christmas Is For Giving Many families who couldn't afford to buy toys for their children found a reason to celebrate. They were able to pick up toys at an annual event hosted by the Houston Fire Department. |
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Fireworks Go On Sale With No Restrictions Recent rains in the area have saturated the ground enough that there is no ban on certain types of aerial fireworks, which are all now on sale. Operators anticipate brisk sales for Christmas and New Year's. |
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Lawmakers Suggest Education Reform Measures For Schools In Texas Texas lawmakers unveiled a package of education reforms that includes an effort to help some public school students attend private schools. The announcement was made inside a Catholic elementary school in Austin. |
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Col. Kennedy's Appointment To Port Commission Unanimous In a unanimous vote, Harris County Commissioners appointed retired Army Colonel John D. Kennedy to the Port of Houston Authority Commission to fill the vacancy left by Elyse Lanier. |
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HISD Reflects After Connecticut School Shooting And Plans Forward As teachers and parents here in Houston struggle with how to talk to their children about the school shooting tragedy last week, the state's largest district says its safety plans are always being reviewed. The Houston Independent School District says it practices its crisis plan on a nearly weekly basis. |
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Parker: Houston Gets Largest Donation Of Produce In The World Just in time for Christmas, produce growers, distributors, shippers and retailers combine their resources to make the largest donation ever of fresh produce for hunger relief in Houston. |
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National Recognition For The Way Kelsey-Seybold Treats Patients A Houston based medical group is the first in the country to get a coveted seal of approval, from a group that's trying to change the focus of health care across the nation. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is now an accredited accountable care organization", part of a pledge to focus on patient care, not profits. |
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Nonprofit Uses Bikes To Encourage Literacy In Low Income Schools Volunteers have been busy all week assembling bicycles for thousands of school children who learn to read. It's part of a local nonprofit's mission to provide free bikes and helmets to children from low-income communities who earned them by doing well in school. |
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How Should Houston Control Runaway Pensions? Firefighter pensions were the topic of discussion by members of Houston City Council's budget and Fiscal Affairs committee. It wants local control over how the pension is managed. |
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Protesters Want Congressman Olson To Support Tax Cuts For Middle Class As the pressure to solve the fiscal cliff builds, Republican Congressman Pete Olson's Sugar Land office was the scene of a protest. The protesters want Olson to commit to extend the middle-class tax cuts. |
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UH Robertson Stadium Demolition Starts Monday Major demolition of Robertson Stadium on the UH campus will begin on Monday. The 70 year old structure is being torn down for a new state-of-the-art facility. |
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Coming 2013: New BP Facility To House Largest Commercial Research Supercomputer Oil giant British Petroleum is building a new facility that will house the world's most powerful supercomputer at its North America office based in west Houston. It will go farther, faster and deeper in its search for oil and gas anywhere in the world. |
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Measure To Regulate Parking Along Washington Avenue Shelved One Week A vote on that measure to test a paid parking district along the Washington corridor will wait another week. It was tagged to allow for even more public input. |
