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☆ How the Houston teacher certification scheme worked
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Ramon Sanchez | Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Robert “Boo Lee” Williams was still seething days after a popular basketball coach and two assistant principals at Houston’s first two historically Black high schools were arrested in an alleged teacher certification scheme. “In fact, when he was caught red-handed in February of 2024 he was logged into one test,” Levine said. A pattern of long drives helps unravel schemeHarris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, left, and felony chief prosecutor Mike Levine announce arrests in teacher certification scheme. They then drove sometimes four or more hours to the Houston area and suddenly they were passing the test,” Levine said. “This ain’t just a Black school in Houston.

Persons: Robert “ Boo Lee ” Williams, ”, Williams, Jack Yates, … I’m, Kim Ogg, “, Vincent Grayson, Booker T, Nicholas Newton, LaShonda Roberts, Yates, Ogg, ” Ogg, Tywana Gilford Mason, Gilford Mason, Grayson, Black, Cheryl Irvin, Irwin, It’s, Mike Levine, ” Levine, Levine, Newton, Feroz Merchant, Roberts ’, Brandon Leonard, we’ve, Roberts, Kirk Sides, Texas Education Agency “, Alexandra Elizondo, ” Elizondo, Houston Jon Shapley, Pearson VUE, ” Pearson, Allison Bazin, “ They’re, Jackie Anderson, KHOU, ” Williams, Roland Martin, Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Vincent Grayson’s Organizations: CNN, Jack Yates Senior High School, Houston Independent School District, Washington High, Prosecutors, Wilhite, HISD, Booker, Washington, Tuskegee Institute, KHOU, Houston Chronicle, Texas Education Agency, Investigators, Washington High School, State, “, Houston Federation of Teachers, Yates, ” Locations: Ward, Texas, …, ” Harris County, Harris County, Harris, Houston, ”, Dallas

☆ Over 200 unqualified Texas educators had someone else take their exam in cheating scandal
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Five people have been charged in Texas, accused of organizing and participating in an illegal cheating scheme that certified more than 200 unqualified teachers and saw the plot’s “kingpin” rake in more than $1 million, prosecutors announced. Investigators noticed a pattern: Numerous teacher certification candidates who previously failed certification exams would drive from faraway Texas cities to the Houston area to take an exam. Then a tip came in that exposed the cheating scheme. He'd pay her about 20% of the $2,500 to allow the cheating, Levine said. “They are going to go over every teacher, I’m sure, and take whatever action they see fit if they believe someone fraudulently obtained a certification,” Levine said.

Persons: proctor, Kim Ogg, Vincent Grayson, Booker T, Tywana Gilford Mason, Nicholas Newton, Nikole, LaShonda Roberts, Ken Paxton, Mike Levine, Texas “, ”, Ogg, —, Levine, proctors, ” Levine, Grayson, Gilford Mason, He'd, Nicolas Newton, Newton, “, Roberts, HTEC, It's, Brandon G, Leonard, I’m, — Grayson, Alexandra Elizondo Organizations: Washington High School, Houston Independent School District, Texas Education Agency, Training, Education Center, DA, Public, Houston Training, Booker, Yates High School, NBC News, TEA, Houston ISD, HISD, Public Affairs, Communications Locations: Texas, Houston, Harris County, Newton, Houston ISD, TACTIX

☆ The North American airports that travelers find the most – and least – satisfying
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And many North American air travelers are still enjoying their time at airports, according to the overall satisfaction scores in the 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study from J.D. In the large airport category, with 10 to 32.9 million passengers per year, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, is this year’s top scorer, followed by Tampa International Airport and Kansas City International Airport. Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest among medium airports with 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year, followed by Jacksonville International Airport and Southwest Florida International Airport. “The Airtrain isn’t complete and that makes accessing the terminals difficult.”Philadelphia International Airport ranks lowest in the large airport category. Matt Slocum/APIn the large airport category, Philadelphia International Airport ranks lowest.

☆ Travis Scott arrested in Paris after hotel fight with his bodyguard, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Saskya Vandoorne | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —American rapper Travis Scott was arrested in Paris early Friday morning after getting into a fight with his bodyguard, authorities in the French capital said. Scott was subsequently arrested for “violence against another person,” according to a police spokesman. Scott, who was in Paris for the Olympic Games, on Thursday attended the men’s basketball semi-final that saw the United States beat Serbia. He was arrested for “violence against a security guard,” the Paris prosecutor’s office said later on Friday. Scott was arrested and booked into Miami-Dade County Jail in June on charges of trespass and disorderly intoxication.

Persons: Travis Scott, George, Scott, Jacques Bermon Webster, Kim Ogg Organizations: CNN, Police, Olympic, North, Tottenham Hotspur’s, Miami, Houston District Locations: Paris, United States, Serbia, Lisbon, Portugal, North America, Europe, London, Dade

☆ Kim Ogg: Super Tuesday voting mix-up throws spotlight on Texas’ most populous county
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ogg and her partner – Olivia Jordan – do not share a last name, and each had to present identification to vote. The incident comes as the county – a Democratic stronghold that includes Houston – remains under scrutiny from Republican state officials. Just last year, the county’s election office was dismantled and its responsibilities shifted to the county clerk and county tax assessor-collector under a law approved by the GOP-controlled state Legislature. Ogg, who faces a competitive primary Tuesday, said it’s the job of election officials to protect the integrity of voting. “I was shocked when they pushed it back on the voter.”“My partner wasn’t trying to commit fraud,” Ogg added.

Persons: Kim Ogg, Teneshia Hudspeth, –, Ogg, – Olivia Jordan –, “, ” Ogg, ”, Jordan “, wasn’t Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republican, GOP Locations: Harris County , Texas, Harris County, Ogg’s, Harris, Houston

☆ American Airlines flight’s hard landing leaves six injured
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Raja Razek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —One passenger and five flight attendants were injured when an American Airlines flight made a hard landing at Kahului Airport in Hawaii on Saturday. “American Airlines flight 271 with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Maui (OGG) experienced an issue upon landing in OGG,” American Airlines told CNN in a statement. The plane was “taken out of service for inspection by our maintenance team,” according to American Airlines. “The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority,” the company added. Hawaii’s transportation department also confirmed to CNN the airline “made a hard landing” at the airport Saturday afternoon.

Persons: “ Organizations: CNN, American Airlines, Kahului, Airlines Locations: Hawaii, Los Angeles, Maui

HOUSTON (AP) — Family members of a murdered 16-year-old girl tried to attack her ex-boyfriend during a court hearing Tuesday after he had pleaded guilty to shooting her nearly two dozen times while she was walking her dog. During a court hearing Tuesday, Alvarez’s mother, Anna Machado, took the witness stand to give a victim impact statement. Video of the court hearing shows Machado finishing her statement and walking toward DeLeon, who was sitting at a table with his attorney. The uncle is quickly restrained, but DeLeon’s mother then comes and starts shoving Alvarez’s mother. DeLeon’s trial had been set to begin this week, but he decided to accept the plea agreement, prosecutors said.

Persons: —, Frank DeLeon, Diamond Alvarez, Alvarez, DeLeon, Alvarez’s, Anna Machado, Machado, “, ” Machado, DeLeon’s, ”, Kim Ogg, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON Locations: Houston, ” Harris County

In an aerial view, burned cars and homes are seen a neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 17, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. A young boy walks through wildfire wreckage Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Search and recovery team members check charred buildings and cars in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 17, 2023. Lahaina, Maui, Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - Homes and businesses lay in ruins after last week's devastating wildfire swept through town. A woman walks through wildfire wreckage Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, Fred Abad, Louise Abihai, Ellie Erickson —, Richard Zubaty, Richard Bissen, Harold, Justin Sullivan, Lynn Ouano, Faias, Jay Ouano, Rick Bowmer, Kuulei Barut, Losano, Leona Castillo, Castillo, Yuki Iwamura, haven't, Erickson, Robert Gauthier, Julie French Organizations: Kahului, AFP, Getty, NBC, Maui, Facebook, Los Angeles Times Locations: Maui, Kahului, Hawaii, Maui County, Instagram, Palm Springs, Texas, Lahaina , Hawaii, Washington, U.S, Pennsylvania, Lahaina, Lahaina , West Maui, Kihei, Australia

☆ How tourism destinations come back from natural disasters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Rich Harrill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The following Q&A with University of South Carolina research professor Rich Harrill, an expert on hospitality and tourism, looks at what’s happened in Hawaii and how other tourism destinations have bounced back from natural disasters. Compared with other destinations, Hawaii is very reliant on tourism – it comprises about 25% of the state’s economy. Maui County has the state’s highest reliance on tourism, with 51% of its jobs falling into sectors directly associated with tourism. This is a process that’s led by groups known in the travel industry as destination marketing and management organizations. Working with their local destination marketing organization, local governments should make decisions carefully about inviting visitors back.

Persons: Rich Harrill, Patrick T, Fallon, who’s, Hurricane Katrina, Iniki Organizations: CNN, University of South, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism, Kahului, Getty, Hurricane Locations: Maui, Lahaina, University of South Carolina, Hawaii, Maui County, Kahului, AFP, New Orleans, Kauai

☆ Airlines add flights to get travelers off of Maui after deadly wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Airlines added flights to get travelers off of Maui after wildfires on the Hawaiian island killed at least 36 people and prompted evacuations. American Airlines , Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines said they were adding service to help customers leave. Hawaiian Airlines discouraged travelers without reservations from coming to Kahului Airport in Maui because of crowding. An American Airlines spokeswoman said the carrier plans to operate all of the scheduled flights to and from Kahului Airport on Thursday. United Airlines said it has canceled Thursday's inbound flights to Kahului Airport, but that it's flying aircraft in empty to pick up travelers on Maui.

Persons: Ed Sniffen Organizations: Kahului, Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, NBC News, Hawaiian Airlines, Kahului Airport, Airbus, Boeing, United Airlines, Maui . Alaska Airlines Locations: Maui, Kahului, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Maui .

☆ Death toll from Maui fires rises to 53, governor says, and more than 1,000 structures have burned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by fires that were still burning, he said. The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. As she assessed the damage Thursday, she came upon a line of burned-out vehicles, some with charred bodies inside them. More than 270 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and dozens of people have been injured, including some critically. A charred boat lies in the scorched waterfront after wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane devastated Maui's city of Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023.

Persons: Josh Green, Matthew Thayer, Green, Tiffany Kidder, couldn't, Winn, Adam Weintraub, they'll, Weintraub, 60mph, Hurricane Dora, Bosco Bae, Bae, Marlon Vasquez, Vasquez, Eduardo, he's, Iiulia Yasso, Patrick T, Fallon, Hale Mahaolu, Louise Abihai, Vierra, Power, Dustin Johnson, Ed Sniffen, Thomas Smith, Mason Organizations: Associated Press, Maui News, Technologies, Getty, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Facebook, Kahului, AFP, Communications, Reuters Tourists, Hawaii Convention, London School of Economics, Political, Reuters Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Waiola, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Banyan, California, Paradise, Maui County, Ankara, Turkiye, Hurricane, Guatemala, Kahului, U.S, Honolulu, Kihei, Maui's

☆ Chief of Texas' largest county takes medical leave for depression
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo addresses the news media, the day after a deadly crush of fans during a performance by rapper Travis Scott at the Astroworld Festival, in Houston, Texas, U.S. November 6, 2021. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer/File PhotoHOUSTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Lina Hidalgo, chief executive of the third-largest U.S. county and the largest one in Texas, has checked in to a medical facility outside the state to be treated for clinical depression, she said on Monday. Hidalgo, a Democrat elected in 2018 to lead the county of 4.9 million residents, has battled Republican state officials over election administration and police funding. Last November, she won re-election as Harris County judge against a well-funded political novice with a slim margin of about 17,000 votes. Reporting by Gary McWilliams in Houston Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lina Hidalgo, Travis Scott, Daniel Kramer, Harris, Hidalgo, Kim Ogg, Gary McWilliams, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: Harris, Houston , Texas, U.S, Texas, Hidalgo, county's, Houston

“In this instance, the grand jury of the 228th District Court of Harris County found that no crime did occur, that no single individual was criminally responsible,” Ogg said. But a tragedy isn’t always a crime, and not every death is a homicide,” Ogg also said. He’s looking forward to getting back home after being cleared by the grand jury,” Schaffer told CNN. The grand jury met for six hours and homicide detectives testified, according to Schaffer. It was unclear at the time what Scott saw from the stage and whether he was aware of the conditions in the crowd.

Persons: Travis Scott –, Kim Ogg, John Junnell, Brett Silberstein, ” Ogg, isn’t, “, Scott, Travis Scott, ”, Ted Anastasiou, Kent Schaffer, Schaffer, ” Schaffer, Troy Finner, Mike Barrow Organizations: CNN, Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, District, Schaffer . Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, Houston Police Locations: Harris County, Harris

With more than 250,000 followers and 2.7 million likes, Chef Way grew to stardom on TikTok for his cooking videos. But now, the social media influencer who is an assistant district attorney in Texas is facing backlash for his previous comments belittling Black women — particularly those with dark skin. In a series of deleted tweets that date back to 2015 from @WaymoTheGod, Chef Way, whose real name is Waymond Wesley, posted demeaning photos and made misogynistic comments about Black women. “To those I’ve hurt with my past tweets that have resurfaced, I am deeply sorry,” he wrote. “Women of color have been too forgiving in the past, which put some of us in undesirable positions and unhealthy situations,” one user tweeted.

The investigation Abbott wants would be on top of an ongoing audit of the county’s election system, begun before Election Day. Texas Democratic Party leaders and the Harris County Democratic Party chair issued criticized Ogg’s planned investigation, calling on her to “stop enabling Texas Republicans' insidious efforts to silence Black and Brown Houstonians. “In 2021, Texas Republicans moved mountains to make it harder for Black and Brown residents of Harris County to vote. It has not gone unnoticed that Democrat-voting Harris County is the target of the state's urgent response. The law Abbott signed last year banned those Harris County initiatives.

☆ Man gets death for killing Texas agency’s first Sikh deputy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

HOUSTON — A man was sentenced to death Wednesday for the fatal 2019 shooting of a law enforcement officer who was the first Sikh deputy in his Texas agency. A Harris County jury deliberated for about 35 minutes before returning the death sentence for Robert Solis, 50, after convicting him of capital murder on Oct. 17 in Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal’s killing. That makes him the worst of the worst, which is why we asked jurors to sentence him to death,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, center, grieves at a memorial for Deputy Darren Goforth in Houston in 2015. “Deputy Dhaliwal was a pillar of this community, and when it came to law enforcement, he set the bar,” Warren said.

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