THURSDAY TOP NEWS LINKS
Video: KTRK 13 News
Mike Glenn, Houston Chronicle
A caseworker with Child Protective Services remained hospitalized on Wednesday after she was assaulted while investigating abuse and neglect allegations.
Stephanie Vera, 23, was attacked Tuesday while checking on the welfare of a 1-year-old girl living with her parents in an apartment in the 8000 block of Tidwell, officials said.
Troy Davis, 21, apparently became upset when Vera asked that a relative look after his daughter during the inquiry. Vera, 23, then tried to leave but was prevented, Houston police said.
“The suspect closed and locked the door and forced her to stay inside the apartment,” said John Cannon, an HPD spokesman. Davis punched Vera, then began choking and pushing her against a wall, police said. “She said she briefly lost consciousness,” Cannon said.
Vera fell to the ground and saw a man standing over her with a knife in his hand. Police later identified him as Shane Douglas, 21. HPD officers were sent to the apartment to investigate a disturbance. They knocked on the front door several times before it was opened.
The officers saw that Vera had a large bruise on her head and apparent injuries to her neck. They also found the knife, officials said.
Police arrested Davis and Douglas, along with Karissa Ferrigno, 19. Ferrigno, the child’s mother, was in the apartment during the attack but did nothing to help the caseworker, police said.
All three were charged Wednesday with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. They remain in the Harris County Jail with a combined bail set at $30,000 each.
(Read more of this story at Chron.com)
LOCAL AREA HEADLINES:
- City fails to inspect home day care as promised (KPRC 2 News)
- Families prepare early for hurricane season (KPRC 2 News)
- Effectiveness Of Gun Buyback Programs Depends On Objective (KUHF Public Radio)
- Questions raised after 5-year-old shoots his sister (KPRC 2 News)
- National moving fraud campaign kicks off in Houston (Chron.com)
- Houston parents take advantage of best tuition-free education options (KHOU 11 News)
- Census Bureau Begins Biennial Housing Survey (KUHF Public Radio)
- Two local synagogues receive bomb threats (KPRC 2 News)
STATE HEADLINES:
- Hearing on West Fertilizer Explosion Shows Lack of Regulation and
Coordination (State Impact Texas) - Obama expands disaster aid to West (Austin Statesman)
- Outlook Uncertain for Payday Lending Legislation (Texas Tribune)
- House Panel Reviews CPRIT Reform Legislation (Texas Tribune)
NATION & WORLD:
- Justice Dept. to appeal judge’s order on Plan B pill (USA Today)
- New forms in health care’s reform (Marketplace Radio)
- Who Paid For Last Summer’s Drought? You Did (NPR)
- World Bank sees progress in some of the most fragile countries(Reuters)