Atascocita growing by leaps and bounds!

Business Week:

Tired of reading about how rotten the real estate market is? Here's some good news that shows that even during the worst of the recession plenty of American cities, towns, and suburbs continue to grow.

One such place is Atascocita, Tex. A mostly residential community 20 miles from Houston, it gained more than 1,800 households in 2009, an 8% year-over-year increase, according to new data from Little Rock-based data firm Gadberry Group. Over the decade, amenities that have helped attract residents to this wooded locale include Lake Houston, just east of the city; the school district; and proximity to the city of Houston. With new roads in the area under construction, "we're starting to see major industry start to take a look at the area," says Mike Byers, president of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Migration levels nationwide stayed low last year as homeowners saddled with pricey mortgages stayed put—but there are some positive trends. Research by the Gadberry Group shows that some areas, resisting the effects of the recession, continue to attract both domestic and foreign migrants and, as an effect, bring in new businesses to provide services. While other cities across the U.S. have contracted, these have continued to grow.

Some states are better off than others, though. As thousands of people left places such as New Orleans and Flint, Mich. (the country's two fastest-shrinking cities), in the last decade, communities with the best mix of economic activity, proximity to job centers, and a good environment for families continued to grow. While not entirely spared by the economic downturn (some homes in these areas are now in foreclosure), people continued to move in during 2009.
Texas Grew the Most

Texas came out on top of Gadberry's survey, with four high-growth cities: Atascocita, Katy, Mansfield, and Wylie. The report only included areas larger than 10,000 occupied households that met requirements for growth rate, household income, length of residence, and other factors.

Larry Martin, principal of the Gadberry Group, says many of the places with the biggest housing growth at the beginning of the last decade, such as Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, also saw the biggest drop-off since the economy sank. Texas, however, enjoyed relatively strong housing and job markets over the last 10 years, thanks in large part to the presence of major employers in the robust energy business. As of December, the state unemployment rate was 8.3% (lower than the national rate of 10%), according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also had the largest state population growth between July 2008 and July 2009, according to a December release by the Census Bureau. "New homes are still being built and people are still moving into these homes" in Texas, says Martin.

Part of the state's strength, says Mark Mather, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., is its diversified economy. Main industries include petroleum refining, chemical production, aerospace, and information technology.

Meanwhile, areas that depended on the housing boom are now dealing with high foreclosure rates. Places such as Summerlin South, Nev., which appear in Bloomberg BusinessWeek's slide show of fast-growing cities, gained population but, like the rest of the state, may be dealing with high mortgage default rates.

"If you live by migration, you also die by migration," says Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. "It doesn't guarantee continued growth."
New Business Opportunities

Migration is typically highest among people in their 20s seeking jobs near large urban cores, but employment opportunities are not the only draw. "Amenities are also important in migrational decisions," says Johnson. Many families consider factors such as schools and recreational amenities like scenic areas and parks.

This is a consideration now in Spring Hill, Tenn., which gained 7,645 households since 2000 as many young families moved to the town for affordable housing and work at the General Motors plant, which is now idle. Dustin Dunbar, chairman of the Spring Hill Economic Development Commission, says this has created demand and opportunity for businesses that provide youth activities and entertainment. "We hope to recruit some businesses to cater to our largest demographics," he says.

While migration in 2010 may remain sluggish, "we'll see a continuation of urban sprawl once the economy bounces back," says Mather.

Dr. Conrad Murray to surrender today.

Dr. Conrad Murray is expected to surrender to authorities in Los Angeles this week on charges related to Michael Jackson's death, according to The Associated Press and CNN. Murray arrived in Los Angeles recently from Houston in anticipation of a decision from the district attorney's office, spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik told the AP..

"Dr. Murray is in Los Angeles for a dual purpose — on family business and to be available for law enforcement," Sevcik told the AP. "We're trying to be as cooperative as we can."

"Dr. Murray is more than ready to surrender and answer to any charges," Ed Chernoff, one of Murray's lawers, told CNN, adding that prosecutors have not announced any charges, and Murray has not been told how or where he should surrender.

No official comment has been made about when charges might, come; David Walgren, the deputy district attorney handling the case, declined to comment to the AP on Tuesday (February 2).

Law enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the AP that Murray is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 25 death from an anesthetic overdose. Murray has denied criminal wrongdoing.

"We continue to maintain that Dr. Murray neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed Michael Jackson," Sevcik said.

Earlier this year, TMZ reported that the Los Angeles Police Department had completed its investigation into Jackson's death and was preparing to send the case to the DA's office within weeks.

Murray has told investigators that he administered the surgical anesthetic propofol, as well as other tranquilizers, to Jackson several times in the hours leading up to his death, and the coroner has ruled the singer died of lethal levels of the drug. Involuntary manslaughter charges would require prosecutors to show that Murray engaged in gross negligence in his actions but did not intend to cause harm or death to Jackson.

Cleanup under way in 462,000-gallon oil spill off Port Arthur

CNN) -- Crews removed about 46,000 gallons of oil from waters near Port Arthur, Texas, on Sunday, roughly 10 percent of the oil spilled a day earlier when a tanker collided with two barges, a U.S. Coast Guard officer said.

An estimated 462,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from barrels aboard the tanker, forcing the closure of the port in southern Texas, Petty Officer Larry Chambers told CNN. The Sabine Neches Waterway near Port Arthur also was closed. It was unclear Sunday when the port, about 100 miles east of Houston, Texas, will reopen or when crews will finish the cleanup, he said.

"We certainly want it to be done as soon as possible, but with that said, safety is the main issue," Chambers said. "We're not going to open the port until it's determined that vessels can pass through cleanly, safely and not cause any further damage."

No injuries were reported when the Exxon Mobile-chartered tanker -- the 807-foot Eagle Otome -- collided Saturday with two barges being towed by a tug boat. The tanker was carrying about 570,000 gallons of crude oil to Exxon's Beaumont refinery when it crashed, Exxon Mobile spokesman Kevin Allexon told CNN. The cause of the crash was unknown, but is under investigation, he said.

"We are very concerned about how this could have happened," Allexon said. "We are very concerned about the impact to the environment, to the community. No one wants to see this happen."

The port is primarily for industrial use, but it is not far from wetlands. None of the nearby marshes or sensitive wildlife were adversely affected, Chambers said, but one heron was "oiled." The bird was alive and undergoing treatment, he said.

An evacuation order that was imposed in a 50-block area around the port after the collision was lifted. That area was evacuated Saturday out of caution, as the tanker was carrying a type of oil containing sulfide.

Fifteen skimming vessels sailed the area recovering the oil and workers dropped more than 45,000 feet of boom -- fencing-like material -- to keep the oil from spreading, Chambers said. More than 500 people were involved in containing and cleaning the spill, said Darrell Wilson, spokesman for Malaysia-based AET Tanker Holdings, the owner of the tanker.

The biggest oil spill in U.S. history occurred in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in the Gulf of Alaska, resulting in the spill of 11 million gallons of crude.

Traffic stop yields drug buffet

FRIENDSWOOD, TX - A Friendswood man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of Crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Soma, Xanax, and Hydrocodone at approximately 11:50 p.m. on January 13th.

James Lee Worthy, 45, was stopped in the 1500 block of Windsor after he was observed speeding on W. Parkwood. He pulled into a driveway on Windsor and got out of his truck.

Worthy was arrested after the officer found a "crack pipe" in his front pocket. Once in custody, the officer began a thorough search of Worthy's outer clothing and found some type of illegal narcotic in every pocket. During an inventory of Worthy's vehicle, the officer found more illegal narcotics.

Friendswood officers seized 22.5 grams of power cocaine, 7.2 grams of crack cocaine, 5.5 grams of Soma, 6.7 grams of Xanax and 2.1 grams of Hydrocodone. Worthy was charged with the following:

Manufacture or Delivery of Substance in Penalty Group I (HSC 481.112) - Cocaine
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Soma
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Xanax
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Hydrocodone

Worthy was transferred to the Galveston County jail pending posting of $84,500 bond. Worthy is a parolee with extensive criminal history.

Miles and Edwards are leading teams on hardwood

By Joshua Buckley
The Daily News
Published January 13, 2010

Brook grad Anthony Miles continues to have a strong season at Lamar, averaging a team-high 14 points to go with 5.2 rebounds in 16 games for the Cardinals. Creek grad Coy Custer is averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds for Lamar (8-8, 0-1 SLC).

Friendswood grad Trey Stanton is averaging 8.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15 games for Rice (6-9, 0-2 C-USA). Stanton has started in 10 games for the Owls.

La Marque grad Malcolm Dotson is averaging 7.9 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds for Texas Lutheran (2-10, 0-8 ASC).

Creek grad Lance Pevehouse is averaging 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 14 games for Sam Houston State (9-5, 1-0 SLC).

Friendswood grad Chelsea Edwards has UT-Dallas (10-3, 7-1 ASC) on a three-game winning streak with some strong performances. Edwards had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds in a 67-52 win over Hardin-Simmons and 14 points in a 60-41 win at SUWBB.

For the season, Edwards is averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals in 13 games for the Lady Comets.

Dickinson grad Brianna Hypolite is averaging 4.1 points in 14 games for Rice.

Dickinson grad Marissa Ashton is averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12 games for Texas Tech (12-3, 0-1 Big 12). She is averaging 10.4 minutes a game in her freshmen season.

Dickinson grad LaChandra Johnson is averaging 10.9 points and 2.0 rebounds for Blinn College (6-7). Texas City grad Aprea Booker is averaging 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Lady Bucs.

Blackwell A Prospect To Watch

Creek grad Shawn Blackwell was named by Baseball Prospectus author Kevin Goldstein as a player to watch in the Texas Rangers organization.

When asked which Rangers prospects can potentially move into Goldstein’s “Top 11 Prospects” list in 2011, he mentioned Blackwell.

“Blackwell is a big kid with three pitches, and that is always a good starting point,” Goldstein said in an interview with Baseball Time in Arlington writer Jason Parks. “He has a very impressive arm, and he was a very nice sign for Texas. He’s a guy, much like (Jurick) Profar, who you have to give Texas a lot of credit for identifying and signing.”

Blackwell was drafted by the Rangers in the 24th round (724th overall) of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft last summer after a stellar career at Creek. He signed with the Rangers in August.

Galveston County Alumni notes are compiled by Joshua Buckley. Coaches and parents are highly encouraged to help us keep track of any Galveston County athlete in college or the pros. Contact us at 409-683-5242 or sports.desk(at)galvnews.com.

Friendswood native climbing mountain for cause

By Nick Cenegy
Contributor
Published January 5, 2010

FRIENDSWOOD — Occasionally, humanitarians are accused of being out of touch with the people they serve, trying to use “mountaintop” solutions to solve “valley” problems.

But for humanitarian and Friendswood native Elizabeth Gore and a few international celebrities and activists, mountaintop solutions are the name of the game.

The group will begin a seven-day climb Thursday up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to bring attention to a worldwide clean water crisis.

Joining Gore will be Grammy award-winning artist Kenna, actresses Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas, rapper Lupe Fiasco, water expert Dr. Greg Allgood, and Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

The climb and the events surrounding it, dubbed “Summit on the Summit,” was spearheaded by Los Angeles-based recording artist Kenna, an Ethiopian native.

Gore will serve as an “educator” on the climb, using her experience with the United Nations Foundation and her previous work in the Peace Corps to help convey the importance of ready sources of clean water.

The climb to Africa’s highest point, Uhuru Peak at 19,340 feet, is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, Procter and Gamble’s PUR brand and Eddie Bauer.

It will benefit three water crisis related organizations: Children’s Safe Drinking Water, the U.N.’s refugee agency and PlayPumps International.

The group hopes to raise donations from the public as well.

People can visit the Summit on the Summit Web site at www.sum mitonthesummit.com, to follow live posts from the climbers and sponsor a leg of the climb.

“I’m so excited for the challenge and absolutely honored to represent the U.N. Foundation,” Gore said.

The Texas A&M alumna, who is currently the foundation’s executive director of global partnerships and the Nothing But Nets campaign, has been training near her Washington, D.C., home for about a year.

With temperatures on the mountain ranging from below zero to well into the 80s, “Kili” promises to be a much different experience than her upbringing on a Friendswood ranch.

“I think it’s funny they asked a woman from one of the flattest and hottest parts of the country to climb this mountain,” Gore said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Captured escapee says prison staff helped him

by KHOU.com Staff

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:50 AM

CONROE, Texas—The escaped prisoner who was the focus of a week-long manhunt told a local activist that he had help from the inside. Convicted child rapist Arcade Comeaux said the weapon he used to hijack guards was in his cell for at least three weeks.

Questions still surround the prison system that allowed Comeaux to dupe authorities for years. The supposedly partially-paralyzed man managed to walk away from the guards and right into controversy.
Authorities are asking two questions; why didn’t prison officials realize Comeaux was faking his medical condition, and where did he get the gun?
Local activist Quanell X said Comeaux told him he had help from the inside.

“He named that guard and he also named someone who is involved in medical who had been giving him medical assistance,” Quanell X said.

But prison officials said Comeaux has not shared that information with investigators so there are no arrests at this time.
“This feels like the inmate is running the asylum,” said a former TDCJ staff member who remembers Comeaux clearly.
“He would sit in the food. Of course it would dry and start smelling. He refused to shower, refused to clean himself, basically saying ‘I’m immobile, I need someone to do this for me.’”

The former staff member said Comeaux orchestrated a deliberate campaign of extortion, despite medical reports that he was able to care for himself. He said Comeaux manipulated the system to get health assistance and better housing.
A grand jury on Thursday will hear the case against the convicted sex offender who was captured in northeast Houston Monday morning.
Comeaux is now facing aggravated kidnapping and felony escape charges. He was in custody in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday, awaiting his hearing. Comeaux, who is currently serving three life sentences, was found when a salesman saw him trying to hitchhike in front of a business on East Little York.

The salesman called HPD, who came and took Comeaux into custody without incident.
Investigators said Comeaux escaped during transport from a prison unit in Huntsville to one in Beaumont.
As the prison van passed through Conroe, investigators said Comeaux pulled out a gun, held two transport guards hostage, handcuffed them in the back of the van, drove the van to Baytown, took the guards’ weapons, put on one of their uniforms and escaped.

Officials launched an extensive manhunt, but Comeaux managed to elude them for seven days before he was captured.
He had been confined to a wheelchair since 1997 when a stroke purportedly left him partially paralyzed, but when he was taken into custody, Comeaux was walking.

He has been in and out of the Texas prison system for 30 years.
Comeaux was first sent to prison in 1979 on three 10-year sentences for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child and burglary of a building—all out of Harris County. He was paroled four years later.

His parole was revoked and he returned to prison in 1984 to serve a 20-year sentence on a new charge of indecency with a child out of Harris County. He was paroled in 1991 but was in and out of prison for parole violations until 1996.
In June 1998, he was given a life sentence for aggravated sexual assault in Brazos County.
Comeaux was given two extra life sentences after he was convicted of stabbing his wife and another person in 1999. That attack occurred in the Jester III Unit in Fort Bend County when his wife came to visit him. The other person stabbed was a man who tried to stop the attack.

Still, those at the top want to correct the miscommunication between the workers inside prison walls.

“If you are in charge of a prison, and you see there is a disputes between medical’s and correction’s, come to us and ask for laws that would eliminate the controversy, ”said John Whitmire, chairman of the senate criminal justice committee. He is calling for a full investigation of prison and medical staff.

WATCH KHOU VIDEO REPORT HERE

News Alert: Comeaux now on most wanted list

(CNN) -- A Texas inmate in a wheelchair, who escaped on foot from two armed guards as he was being transferred between prisons, is now on the U.S. Marshals' list of the 15 most-wanted fugitives.
Arcade Comeaux Jr., 49, "produced a weapon and fired upon two correctional officers, took them hostage and forced them to drive to Baytown, Texas," the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement.
He then put the officers in the back of the van and took their weapons and one of their uniforms, the statement said.

Comeaux was serving three life sentences for aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He escaped Monday during transport from Huntsville, Texas, to Stiles, Texas.
The 6-foot, 200-pound man was shackled and in a wheelchair, "which he had claimed was needed for mobility," Michelle Lyons, director of public information for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, said in a statement.

About 45 minutes into the trip, as they were driving through Conroe, 40 minutes north of Houston, the prisoner pulled out a pistol and ordered the guards to drive south to Baytown, east of Houston.
He fired once, but hit no one during the escape about 9 a.m., officials said.
Law enforcement officers found the unharmed officers an hour later.

Comeaux was being transferred so he could be near John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for treatment of the supposed paralysis he had suffered during a reported stroke, officials said.

At least $16,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to Comeaux's rearrest and a task force of more than 100 investigators is searching for him, focusing on the Houston area, where he grew up and has family.
His escape has led the man who oversees Texas' criminal justice system to call for a shakeup of the prison system.
"I just think enough's enough," said Sen. John Whitmire, the Texas Democrat from Houston who is chairman of the state Senate's Criminal Justice Committee.

"We need a complete shakeup of the leadership of our prison system and/or an outside review by third parties," he told CNN by phone Wednesday. "We just can't have security breaches of this nature."
Whitmire said the guards had failed to pat down Comeaux while he was in his wheelchair and before they began the trip.
"Sure enough, he has a firearm," he said. "The question is, are there others (in the prison system)? I think you have to assume that there are until you find out differently."

So far this year, more than 900 cell phones have been confiscated from the 112 locations that house the state's 158,000 prisoners. "It's pretty rampant," he said.

"I want the director to come forward and tell us what it's going to take" to solve the problem, he said.
John Moriarty, inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said such lapses are highly unusual in the state's penal system. "We have no open gun investigations other than this one," he said. "The last one was several years ago."
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston, who has been in the job since 2005, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Snow forecast in Houston area !

On average, once every four years even Houston gets visited by the Snow Gods. Although, this could be the second year-in-a-row for Houston snow. And if snow does indeed fall this Friday as forecasted, it would be the earliest snowfall on record.

Fred Schmud of ImpactWeather said to the Houston Chronicle, “Most of our forecasting data is caught right in the middle, meaning any subtle change in the position of the upper level disturbance will have huge consequences on how much, if any, snow falls across the Greater Houston area."

Right now NOAA is predicting a 70% chance of snow on Friday.

Michael Jackson's doctor returns to work in Houston

Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, who is the subject of an investigation into the death of the singer, has returned to work.

The cardiologist has resumed work at his medical clinic in Houston for the first time since the late singer's death on June 25.

"He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," his lawyer Ed Chernoff told the Associated Press. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family.

"His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him, despite the attention and despite the threats."

Downtown alcohol ban lifted

By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published November 4, 2009

FRIENDSWOOD — Breaking a 46-year dry spell, voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the sale of alcohol at restaurants and grocery stores in the city’s downtown.

Proposition 1, which would allow convenience stores and wine shops to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption, passed with 2,505 votes — 68 percent — for, compared to 1,163 — 32 percent — against, according to complete, unofficial returns.

Proposition 2, which would allow restaurants to sell mixed beverages, passed with 2,648 votes — 72 percent — for, compared to 1,021 — 28 percent — against.

Both propositions allow alcohol sales in a corridor along FM 518 between FM 528 and FM 2351.

The city, founded by Quakers, banned alcohol sales in April 1963, the year Friendswood was incorporated.

Businessman and developer Tony Buzbee, who led a group that argued lifting the ban would lure new business, said the overwhelming victory proved residents were ready for change.

Opponents had argued lifting the ban would undermine the city’s heritage.

“The issue is dear to many people in town; they care deeply about it and I am one of them,” said Janis Lowe, a resident who opposed both propositions.

“Now, all interested parties have spoken. Friendswood will still be here in the morning, but will just be a bit different than it was yesterday.”

Alcohol sales downtown would not drastically change the character of Friendswood, Mayor David Smith said.

“We will still be a family-based, faith-based, education-based community,” Smith said.

READ MORE HERE

Rising jobless rate not as severe here

By JIM MOLONY
Updated: 10.21.09
Just as it did in the rest of the country, unemployment rose locally during September, but the good news for Pearland, Friendswood and greater Houston is that the job market here isn't as tight as elsewhere.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission the Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 8.2 percent in September, up from 8.0 percent a month ago, and continued to trend well below the U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

The Texas Civilian Labor Force continued to increase, remaining above the mark of 12 million workers for the third consecutive month. Total non-agricultural employment in Texas fell by 44,700 positions during September.

"The Texas job market continued to tighten as most industries experienced job losses in September," Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken said. "While unemployment in Texas remains well below the national rate of 9.8 percent, this serious national recession continues to affect us adversely in Texas."

In Friendswood the unemployment rate rose to 6.7, the highest monthly reading in at least eight years, and yet the number may be misleading since a detailed breakdown is unavailable and Friendswood's major employers -- the two school districts and the city -- as well as other key local businesses did not report any significant layoffs.

"I have not seen high unemployment or even business relocations from Friendswood, it's been just the opposite," said Karen Capps, Friendswood's Economic Development Coordinator. "The number is high for us, but when you look at the rest of the country we're doing fine."

Overall in the United States economic growth has slowed, and in Galveston County, in which part of Friendswood lies, unemployment has nearly doubled (from 4.3 to 8.5 percent) during the last 12 months, according to the TWC.

"Galveston is different because of the storm," Capps said, referring to Hurricane Ike which closed scores of businesses and displaced a substantial segment of the work force.

READ THE FULL STORY

Friendswood to Decide Whether to Lift Downtown Alcohol Ban

Friendswood, TX - A forty-six-year-old law banning the sale of alcohol in certain part of Friendswood could soon change.

The downtown area of Friendswood has been "dry" since the 1960's. Unless the business obtains a private club registration, they can't sell alcohol. It could all change if residents vote to ban the old law.

Two propositions are already on the ballot for early voting. Proposition 1 would allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. Proposition 2 would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks. Most people in town agree its time for a change.

"We have many customer who walk in the door asking where is the beer and we have to send them somewhere else," Deanna Law, Kroger Manager.

The Kroger on FM-518 lies in the dry part of town. If the law passes it would allow them to sell alcohol to their customers. Right now, most residents have to buy their beer or wine at other competitor stores down the street in the "wet" parts of town.

"Most of us recognize to jump start and help the development in the downtown area and this is really the last piece to make this happen," David Smith, Friendswood mayor

WATCH VIDEO REPORT HERE

Suspects arrested in Friendswood Burglaries

The Police News
October 11, 2009
FRIENDSWOOD -Three suspects were arrested for burglary Friday afternoon.

A resident of the 15400 block of Wandering Trail called police when she saw two men on her upper deck landing. She notified Friendswood Police of the suspicious activity and officers were immediately dispatched in to the area in marked and unmarked units. Officers observed a vehicle that matched a description provided to police by the caller in the 5100 block of Shady Oaks.

Myra Martinez, 27, of Houston, Jesse Pena, 25, of Houston and a 16-year old boy from Houston were charged with Attempted Burglary. Pena and Martinez were later transferred to the Harris County jail with no bond. The juvenile was released to a parent, pending further juvenile court action.

Man charged with sexual assault

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- A 37-year-old Harris County man is facing charges of sexual assault of a child after police say they found him having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Friendswood police said an officer was on patrol around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed Charles Michael Simmons’ vehicle at the rear of the Oasis Car Wash on FM 528.

Since the business was closed, the officer decided to investigate.

When he approached the vehicle, the officer said he saw Simmons and a teen engaged in sexual activity.

Simmons was taken into custody and later transferred to the Harris County Jail with no bond.

He’s also wanted in Florida for violation of a court order.

Police said Simmons and the teen were acquaintances and they did not meet on the Internet.

Layoffs at NASA begin.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Layoffs have begun at the Kennedy Space Center.
United Space Alliance, a private company that employs many shuttle workers, will lay off 277 people in the coming weeks.
All but 19 voluntarily accepted the loss of their jobs by taking early retirement.
The space shuttle program is scheduled to retire next year.