Alyssa Ford

In a pivotal ruling, Senior State District Judge Arturo Nelson declared that Texas inmate Melissa Lucio is "actually innocent" of the 2007 death of her 2-year-old daughter. Lucio, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2008, saw her case reexamined after new evidence came to light. Judge Nelson’s 62-page ruling highlighted that the prosecution's case had been tainted by false testimony and the withholding of critical evidence. Moreover, recent scientific findings, which were unavailable during her trial, challenge the evidence that led to her conviction, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.

The case of the Harris County Jane Doe remains unsolved, with renewed efforts from a Las Vegas nonprofit and a Texas DNA lab working to uncover her identity. According to Click2Houston, the woman was found in 2017 under the bleachers at Bayland Park. She was estimated to be between 43 and 65 years old and was wearing a blue t-shirt, black shorts, and partially covered by a blue and green blanket. Despite DNA and fingerprint analysis, her identity remains unknown, and her death is considered accidental.

The Houston Zoo has announced the birth of a 314-pound female Asian elephant calf named Kirby. Born to mother Shanti after 19 hours of labor last Friday, Kirby was able to stand shortly after birth and began walking soon after. Zoo officials also reported that she began nursing from her mother relatively quickly, which is seen as a positive sign for her development.

A man was shot by Houston police were involved in a tense encounter that left him critically wounded, as authorities were attempting to detain a woman in Downtown Houston last night, according to multiple reports.

The FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force and local authorities are on the lookout for a crew of ATM robbers in east Harris County, known as the "Camo Jacket Crooks." The name stems from the camouflage-patterned jackets worn by three of the suspects during their heist at a CVS store, as they stand accused of swiping a bag of money from an ATM courier on Oct. 7, right before 1 p.m. Their heist at 15411 Wallisville Road was a bold daylight operation, with a fourth accomplice, not in camo, but sporting a distinct black and yellow Iowa Hawkeyes jacket, according to a report by Click2Houston.

Twenty-five years after the tragic collapse of the Texas A&M bonfire that claimed 12 lives, the community gathered to honor the memory of those lost and to show that the tradition. According to a report by FOX 26 Houston, the bonfire debacle that occurred in 1999 has resulted in a revised and safety-conscious practice, now organized by students and unfunded by the university.

Following the Michelin Guide's expansion into Houston's dining scene, Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera has emerged as a new addition to the city's growing culinary offerings. Part of the Tokyo-based Onodera Group, which has earned a notable 15 Michelin stars across its global locations, Kaiten Sushi introduces a unique Japanese dining experience to West Houston with the opening of its new location in the West on West complex last Saturday, according to Eater Houston.

As Houston experienced its coldest morning since late March, residents can expect temperatures to gradually rise throughout the week. Today will be bright and clear, with a daytime high of 69 degrees and light northwest winds, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature will drop to around 49 degrees tonight.

Deer Park is continuing to address the aftermath of a pipeline explosion that occurred in September, with officials still working to determine the full details. According to CW39, it remains unclear whether the incident was intentional, as the Deer Park Police Department is awaiting the Medical Examiner's findings to complete their criminal investigation.

The future of the Astrodome is being reassessed as the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC) has commissioned a study to explore its next steps: refurbishment or demolition. Kirksey Architecture, a Houston-based firm, has been assigned to analyze the costs of two options for the iconic structure—restoring essential utilities, including plumbing and HVAC systems, to make the building operational, or evaluating the expenses involved in its demolition.