HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Located along Interstate 45 between Houston and Dallas, Huntsville has long enjoyed a stable economy built around education, government employment, healthcare, and retail. While many small Texas communities struggle with economic uncertainty, Huntsville continues to benefit from the presence of two major institutions: Sam Houston State University and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). By Alexa Bickerwood Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, USA

Huntsville, Texas, is widely known as the home of Sam Houston State University and the headquarters of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. While the city enjoys a reputation as a growing East Texas community, crime remains an ongoing concern for local residents and law enforcement. By James Lawson Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, USA June 29, 2026 Updated 9:38 a.m. ET Like many communities across Texas, Huntsville faces a mix of property crimes, drug-related offens

For years, the Pearland case sat in a dusty evidence room—a triple homicide so brutal and puzzling that veteran detectives still referred to it simply as "the house." Police officers secure the crime scene outside of the Pearland-area residence. By Alexa Bickerwood Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, USA June 26, 2026 Updated 1:43 a.m. ET On the morning of September 14, 2017, Pearland police officers responded to a welfare check at a modest two-story home near the city's weste

For years, the murky waterways winding through Houston have fueled whispers of something far darker than tragic accidents. Bodies continue to surface in Buffalo Bayou, Greens Bayou, White Oak Bayou, and the maze of drainage canals cutting through the nation’s fourth-largest city. Since 2017, nearly 200 bodies have reportedly been recovered from Houston-area waterways, according to local reporting and records reviewed by investigators. Crime scene investigators process a bod

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — In an era dominated by chain restaurants and fast-food convenience, local businesses remain the heart of many small communities. In Huntsville, one business that has earned a loyal following over the years is Farmhouse Café, a family-owned restaurant known for its home-style cooking, friendly service, and commitment to the local community. By Christopher Todd Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, USA June 22, 2026 Updated 6:10 a.m. ET Located near downto

Pierre Rausini has built an unlikely second act after serving time in federal prison, transforming his life story into a presence in true crime media as a podcast guest, commentator, and subject of a published crime story. By James Lawson Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, USA June 20, 2026 Updated 7:43 a.m. ET Known today for his appearances on crime-focused podcasts and media programs, Rausini draws on firsthand experience from a past that included large-scale drug trafficki

Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russia's energy infrastructure, launching a major drone attack on a key oil refinery near Moscow in one of the most significant strikes of the war. By James Lawson Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 19, 2026 Updated 1:55 p.m. ET According to Russian officials, Ukrainian drones penetrated multiple layers of air defenses and struck the Moscow Oil Refinery, a facility that supplies a substantial portion of the capital's fuel. The

The controversy surrounding Karmelo Anthony did not end when a jury convicted him and a judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison. Instead, a new debate has emerged: what happened to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that supporters donated for his defense? Across social media, critics have questioned whether the money raised in Anthony's name was used in a way that truly served his legal interests. Those critics argue that regardless of how the funds were spent, the outco

Every day, millions of Americans swipe, tap, and insert their debit and credit cards without giving it a second thought. But hidden inside gas pumps, ATMs, and self-checkout machines, criminals are installing tiny devices known as credit card skimmers—and they're making millions of dollars in the process. By David Johnston Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 13, 2026 Updated 8:10 p.m. ET A skimmer is a small electronic device designed to secretly capture information st

For years, investors asked the same question: When will SpaceX finally go public? In June 2026, they got their answer. By Brent Cassity Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 13, 2026 Updated 9:31 p.m. ET Elon Musk’s space and satellite giant made history with the largest initial public offering ever recorded, raising approximately $75 billion and debuting on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX. The offering valued the company at roughly $1.75 trillion before trading

At first glance, the American economy appears to be in solid shape. Unemployment remains relatively low, consumer spending continues to drive growth, and the stock market has recovered much of the ground lost during recent periods of uncertainty. Yet beneath the headline numbers, many Americans say the economy feels far less healthy than government statistics suggest. By David Johnston Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 13, 2026 Updated 8:11 p.m. ET The biggest challe

A routine day of adventure turned into tragedy when a skydiving aircraft crashed in Missouri, killing the pilot and several skydivers aboard. The devastating accident has drawn national attention as federal investigators work to determine what caused the aircraft to fall from the sky. By David Johnston Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 12, 2026 Updated 5:33 p.m. ET According to preliminary reports, the aircraft was carrying a group of skydivers preparing for what sho

Not long ago, a side hustle was exactly what the name implied: a little extra work after hours to help pay the bills. Today, however, side hustles have evolved into something much bigger. Across America, ordinary people are transforming small passion projects, online stores, and freelance services into businesses worth millions of dollars. Economists call it the "hustle economy"—a rapidly growing sector fueled by technology, social media, and a workforce increasingly interest

The Taiwan Strait remains one of the world's most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints, with tensions between China and Taiwan continuing to intensify amid growing military activity and political uncertainty. China's government considers Taiwan a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, operates as a self-governing democracy with its own military, elected government, and independent economy. While Taiwan has

What began as an ordinary high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, ended in a tragedy that captured national attention and sparked fierce debate across the country. On April 2, 2025, 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, a standout student-athlete at Memorial High School, was fatally stabbed during a confrontation at the District 11-5A track and field championship held at Kuykendall Stadium. Authorities alleged that fellow student Karmelo Anthony, then 17 and a student at Centennial Hi

Ireland has long enjoyed a reputation as one of Europe’s most stable and prosperous nations. In recent years, however, a combination of immigration concerns, housing shortages, rising living costs, and political polarization has fueled a wave of public unrest across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The issue dominating public debate is immigration. Ireland has experienced significant population growth through migration, placing additional pressure on an alre

When a fisherman spotted a body floating in Greens Bayou near Interstate 10 on Houston's east side in mid-May, it marked another grim chapter in a story that has increasingly captured the attention of residents, amateur sleuths, and true crime followers across Texas. The discovery, reported to Houston police on May 16, added yet another victim to a growing list of bodies recovered from the city's sprawling bayou system. By Alexa Brickerwood Reporting from Huntsville, Texas, U

For more than a century, Hollywood has been one of California's most powerful economic engines. The film and television industry generates billions of dollars annually, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and attracts talent from around the world. But as production increasingly moves to other states and countries, some industry insiders are warning that California could face significant economic consequences if Hollywood continues to shrink. The warning signs are already

For decades, conspiracy researchers have pointed to a strange pattern: scientists working on advanced aerospace projects, nuclear technology, and cutting-edge physics who died under mysterious circumstances or disappeared altogether. One of the most frequently cited examples involves a series of British scientists connected to defense and aerospace programs during the 1980s. Several researchers associated with military contractors and advanced technology projects died in unus

The strange thing about Joey Merlino's life is not that he survived. It's that he kept finding new acts. For decades, Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino occupied a role that seemed destined for a violent conclusion. He was a central figure in Philadelphia's last great Mafia war, a man whose name appeared in FBI affidavits, courtroom transcripts, and newspaper headlines with such frequency that he became inseparable from the mythology of organized crime in the city. By James Lawson