Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Bogus Teacher Certification Scheme Exposed

Investigators with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office uncovered a massive teacher certification cheating ring that provided fraudulent certifications to at least 200 unqualified teachers across the state, including two charged with crimes against children.

District Attorney Kim Ogg charged five alleged ringleaders on Monday, including Booker T. Washington High School basketball coach Vincent Grayson, who is accused of organizing the scheme. Grayson is believed to have made over $1 million.

Other alleged suspects include a proxy test-taker, test proctors who were bribed to look the other way, and an assistant high school principal who recruited nearly 100 teachers to participate in the scheme.

Houston ISD said the employees charged with crimes would be dismissed immediately, and administrators would investigate whether any active teachers had obtained fraudulent certifications.

Article Icon 1Roberson Family Speaks Out On Halted Execution

Family members of death row inmate Robert Roberson and Nikki, his two-year-old daughter he was convicted of killing in 2002, are speaking out on both sides of the ongoing public debate about his guilt and suspended execution

Nikki’s brother, aunt, and grandfather wrote a letter criticizing lawmakers for their role in stopping Roberson’s execution, arguing that the persistent focus on “shaken baby syndrome” has overshadowed other factors pointing to Roberson’s guilt.

Meanwhile, Roberson’s brother released his own letter saying he didn’t believe Roberson was capable of killing someone and that Nikki’s relatives had agreed Roberson should have custody of her when she turned two.

Last Thursday, members of the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence issued a rebuttal to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s statement asserting Roberson’s guilt, while State Rep. Cody Harris—who represents Roberson’s hometown of Palestine—said Nikki and her family deserve justice.

Article Icon 1Oldest Living Person In U.S. Dies In Houston

Elizabeth Francis, a Houston resident who was the oldest living person in the United States, passed away last week at age 115.

Born in Louisiana in 1909, Francis moved to Galveston when she was 11 to live with her aunt after her mother died. She had a daughter at a young age and raised her as a single mother, operating a coffee shop at ABC13 News in Houston for two decades.

In an interview last year, Francis attributed her long life to not smoking or drinking, although she admitted to eating “everything.” She also walked or took a bus, having never gotten a driver’s license.

Francis’ granddaughter described her as a woman of faith whose motto was to “treat people like you want to be treated.”


The Flyover is just like The Texas Flyover, except it covers news from all fifty states. Sign up with one click!

The Flyover

Top Doctor Reveals the Miracle “Master” Antioxidant That Promotes Liver Health

  • Give the immune system a boost: This antioxidant helps strengthen the immune system, aiding in the body’s defenses*.
  • Combat the signs of aging: Touted for its incredible age-defying benefits, it’s been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity*.
  • Get rid of toxins and harmful heavy metals: It’s been shown to aid in removing toxins and heavy metals from the body, promoting overall detoxification*.
  • Boost their metabolism: By reducing oxidative stress and soothing inflammation, this antioxidant plays a role in supporting weight loss. Improved liver function, supported by this antioxidant, also aids in metabolic processes relevant to weight management*.
  • Keep your liver healthy and happy at any age: Forget about liver “cleanses”… This antioxidant is one of the best-known ways to detoxify harmful substances from the liver and support ongoing liver function*.

And so much more…

Learn more

Around Texas

➤ Sen. Ted Cruz leads Rep. Colin Allred 50% to 46% in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College. (See Details)

➤ Katy: The city council rejected a permit for a 500-megawatt battery storage facility after residents cited concerns about safety and environmental risks, as well as the proposed site’s proximity to the high school. (More)

➤ New Braunfels: Police are looking for criminals who used a stolen U-Haul truck to rob a bike shop of e-bikes and batteries worth over $60,000. (More)

➤ Pharr: U.S. Customs officials seized nearly 15,000 pounds of hog plum and passion fruit at the border Sunday. The barred imports can carry destructive pests like fruit flies. (See Photo)

➤ Houston: Several Southwest Airlines flights were diverted from Hobby Airport last week to Austin, San Antonio, and New Orleans after runway construction and an air show featuring the Blue Angels temporarily prevented landings. (See Details)

➤ Padre Island: The National Park Service is asking for public feedback about plans to reduce the feral swine and antelope populations, which are disturbing sea turtles and bird nests along the coast. (See Details)

Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

Texas Sports

Texas A&M moved into the Top 10 in the newest AP Top 25 college football poll. SMU moved up to No. 20, while Texas fell one spot to No. 6 despite winning on Saturday. (See Rankings)

➤ Dallas Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs left the locker room to confront a reporter about a social media post following his team’s 30-24 loss to the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. (Watch Video)

➤ Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene was named the NHL’s third star of the week, an honor awarded to three players each week for outstanding play. (More)

 Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB NBA | NHL | MLS

Flying together with our sponsor

 AquaPure quickly and easily removes dangerous pesticide residues, bacteria, and mold from your fruits and vegetables. You’ll be shocked to see just how dirty your fruits & veg actually were… and even more shocked at how much better they taste, all thanks to AquaPure! (See It Here

The Business Of Texas
The Corpus Christi International Airport unveiled a new $1.5 million patio and bar offering panoramic views of the airfield earlier this month. (Watch Video)

Compete B.P., a high-end baseball training facility featuring advanced biometric tracking systems, is opening this week in Dallas. (More)

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is testing a new tool to deter early boarding. Passengers who try to board before their group will trigger an audible alert notifying fellow travelers they are cutting in line. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

 The Socks That Reduce Foot Pain! My Happy Feet Socks deliver quick relief from all types of foot pain by gradually aligning your toes to minimize the harmful effects of daily foot stress. Do your feet hurt? My Happy Feet Socks can help!

New research from the National Institutes of Health reveals… 

This ‘master’ antioxidant helps detox the liver…

And protects every cell in our body from free radicals and detoxifies the liver by flushing out harmful toxins.

Essentially making your liver worries disappear.

It’s easy to add to your diet and will work for you…

Learn more

Et Cetera

A Central Texas couple was married at the Heart Hospital of Austin earlier this year after the groom had a health emergency on the day of their wedding. (See Photos)

Historic First Baptist Dallas shared renderings of a new sanctuary following a fire that destroyed the 134-year-old building earlier this year. (Watch Video)

The Amarillo Zoo got a 3-month-old female red kangaroo named Rally. She instantly became best friends with Ike, a 2-year-old male kangaroo who arrived at the zoo in June. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

 Naturally cleanse your lungs in just three days! OmniBreathe is an all-natural supplement that helps cleanse and detoxify your lungs. It clears mucus buildup, strengthens bronchial health, and makes breathing easier for anyone suffering from congestion, allergies, or the effects of smoking. (See It Here) 
The Polling Station

Do you think you’ll live to be 100 years old?

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. I’ve already hit 100!
 

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever eaten alligator?

  1. Yes: 60.1%
  2. No: 39.9%
Texas Trivia

Where in Texas can you see a water tower that looks like it’s about to topple over?

Show me the answer

The Texas Flyover

Join The Texas Flyover

Facebook Icon Instagram Icon Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon