Tanya Babbar

Houston

Reporter at Houston Chronicle

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Articles

FEMA chief out, NOAA disaster database cut. What it means for Texas

5 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Roberto Villalpando |Tanya Babbar

The interim head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides disaster relief and assists local and state agencies with response and recovery efforts, was ousted Thursday after testifying before Congress that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle the organization.
Donald Trump's USDA cuts leave some Houston food pantries with empty shelves

6 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar |Andrea Ball

More than 1 million people count on Houston-area food pantries, which are staring down empty shelves after losing $11 million in federal funding. Until recently, 100 tractor-trailers full of federally-funded food pulled up each month to the Houston Food Bank’s headquarters just east of downtown. Now, it’s down 60. “It’s been a lot like navigating a disaster,” Houston Bank CEO Brian Greene said.
Houston Police to Get Nearly $1.5B in Salary Raises over Next 5 Years

1 week ago | officer.com | Matt Degrood |Tanya Babbar

Whitmire said the contract, which he believes will help with recruiting and retention, will make Houston police officers the highest-earning law enforcement officers of major departments in Texas. Austin had recently become the highest-paid after their recent contract agreement, Whitmire said, but those salary increases haven't yet led to a noticeable increase in recruiting efforts.
Houston man stole personal info to make $1 million through electricity scheme

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar

A 51-year-old Houston man pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after an FBI investigation found he made more than $1 million through a fake utility company that stole personal information from unsuspecting people. Daniel Rodriguez-Martinez admitted to running a fake utility company with others from March 2021 to May 2024, and stealing people's personal information, including Social Security numbers.
Missing in Southeast Texas Day helps families elevate missing persons cases

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar

The story of Rosa and Robby Calhoun’s daughter didn’t end the way they'd hoped. The remains of their daughter Kay-Alana Turner of Houston were found by Texas EquuSearch in Magnolia over a year after she was reported missing in March 2023.
Houston police to get over 36 percent raises over next 5 years, mayor announces

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood |Tanya Babbar

Houston police officers are set to receive 36.5% in raises over the next five years, in addition to a host of other new benefits, Mayor John Whitmire announced Friday, less than 24 hours after 1,000 employees filled out their final retirement paperwork. The new proposed contract, which will cost the city a total of around $67 million this year and $832 million in five years, is the second major labor agreement Whitmire has reached since taking over as mayor in 2024.
Houstonians gather outside City Hall to protest HPD's cooperation with ICE

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar

Around 250 protesters hoisting signs displaying messages such as “ICE out of Houston” and “Stop Fascist Takeover” demonstrated outside Houston City Hall on Thursday evening to demand police cease cooperation with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
'Cannabis civil war': Texas lawmakers want to boost medical marijuana, end hemp

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar |Isaac Yu

With 15 surgeries, head trauma, a disc replacement and documented post-traumatic stress disorder, former LSU football player Jamal Pack believes he is a perfect candidate for the state’s medicinal marijuana program. But the cost and hurdles to participate are too high, the Houston resident said, especially when the state is awash in hemp-derived THC products that work just as well. Senate Bill 1505, which is being co-sponsored by state Sens.
ICE visiting homes of Houston migrant children as part of nationwide DHS effort

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar

Alexa Sendukas, managing attorney at the Galveston-Houston Immigration Project, said in recent weeks, 18 of her clients sponsoring unaccompanied children have reported ICE officers in plain clothes have visited or called their homes, prompting fear and concern they are being targeted for deportation. The visits have also been reported in recent weeks across the U.S as an effort to crack down on potential human trafficking, The Washington Post reported.
Hardy Toll Road Northbound closed due to hazmat spill, crash at Rankin

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar

A wreck involving 2 vehicles and resulting hazardous materials spill led to the closing of the northbound lanes of the Hardy Toll Road at Rankin Road Saturday afternoon, according to the Harris County Toll Road Authority. The wreck, which was verified a little after noon Saturday on Houston TranStar, has prompted traffic to be detoured at Beltway 8, while southbound lanes are closed for the Ironman Texas North American Championship in The Woodlands.