Driver dies in fiery north Harris County car crash A man died after his car crashed into a ditch and burst into flames in north Harris County, sheriff's deputies said.

State education board votes to give credit for sports The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a measure that would allow high school athletes to get four credits toward their graduation requirement for playing sports for four years.

Baylor medical school spreads blame as it axes chief Baylor College of Medicine trustees dismissed Peter Traber as president Wednesday after a tumultuous 5½-year tenure that began with the school splitting with longtime partner Methodist Hospital and ended with it struggling to build its own hospital.

Indicted Morton Ranch cheerleaders could go to jail for 6 months The indictments of seven former squad members have divided the school, with some saying the case is warranted, and others calling the charges an overreaction.

City tightens new-home energy-saving codes New homes built in Houston will have to meet more stringent energy-saving standards starting next October under a new energy code approved Wednesday by the City Council.

Family of slain Sugar Land girl fights possible parole The family of a Sugar Land girl killed two years ago expects to protest the possible parole early next year of a man convicted of helping the killer bury the teen.

Charges reduced against Texas bus driver in fatal crash A Texas bus driver involved in a crash last year that killed four people will face manslaughter charges because there isn't enough evidence to charge him with negligent homicide, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Houston ISD set to mass-produce meals The Houston Independent School District is trying to get school lunch down to a science.

They're not fast, but electric cars drawing Houston fans Under state law, the cars are classified as "neighborhood electric vehicles," limited to 25 mph and banned from roads with speed limits over 35 mph. But the Canadian-built hatchbacks are hardly golf carts.

Texas native, UH poet win National Book Awards Annette Gordon-Reed made history — and on her birthday — Wednesday when she became the first African-American woman to win the National Book Award in nonfiction. She won for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family (Norton), an exhaustively detailed history of Sally Hemings, the slave woman who became Thomas Jefferson's mistress, and Hemings' remarkable extended family.

HPD officers accused of beating NFL player's father The father of a noted NFL player was in critical condition Wednesday, two days after his family said officers from the Houston Police Department beat the man while arresting him on outstanding traffic warrants.

Children slightly hurt in N. Texas school bus crash At least 14 students suffered minor injuries when a school bus went over a curb and hit a telephone pole Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Amber Alert issued for Comal County girl Comal County sheriff's investigators are looking for Tonya Renee Martin, 41, and her daughter, Jewel.

S. Texas judge sets arraignment for Cheney, Gonzales Presiding Judge Manuel Banales said on Wednesday that he will allow them to waive arraignment or have attorneys present rather than appear in person Friday.

Baylor College of Medicine president steps down Baylor College of Medicine trustees parted ways with President Peter Traber today, after a tumultuous 5 1/2-year tenure that began with the school divorcing its historic hospital partner and ended with it struggling to build its own hospital.

Crosby chemical leak sends 2 workers to hospital A leak at a chemical plant in northeast Harris County sent at least two workers to a hospital today and prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order at a local school, officials said.

Former teacher accused of giving boy topless photo Victoria Ann Chacon, 27, allegedly met the boy at their church, where she was teaching Sunday school.

Spring dad gets 6 years for stabbing high school student The father of a teenage girl who lied about being raped was sentenced to six years in prison today for stabbing a high school student implicated in the alleged sexual assault.

City: Pay red-light tix or go without auto registration City Council today approved a measure that will allow the state to deny vehicle registration to drivers who do not pay their red-light camera tickets after repeated warnings. As many as 25 percent of those who receive the $75 citation never pay up. Until now, there was nothing the city could do about it.

Family outraged over early parole hearing in girl's murder The family of a Sugar Land girl killed two years ago is outraged that the teen convicted of helping her killer burn her body will be eligible for parole early next year.

Galveston County boy, father he shot both die A teenager and the father he shot before turning the gun on himself after an argument over a fast food order both died after nearly two days in critical care, a hospital spokesman said today. Robert Lee Mueller Jr., 16, and his father, Robert Lee Mueller, 59, died late Tuesday, Memorial Hermann Hospital spokeswoman Ann Brimberry said.

Morton Ranch teens charged with hazing Charges accuse seven cheerleaders of restraining several junior varsity cheerleaders, blindfolding them, binding their hands and pushing them into a swimming pool on July 25.

Morton Ranch teens accused of hazing other cheerleaders Charges accuse seven cheerleaders of restraining several junior varsity cheerleaders, blindfolding them, binding their hands and pushing them into a swimming pool on July 25.

Harris County deputy fires at fleeing burglary suspect A Harris County sheriff's deputy shot at a burglary suspect overnight, but apparently missed, after the man appeared to be pointing a gun at him while running away, authorities said today.

Houston firefighters stop suspicious blaze from spreading A suspicious fire gutted a vacant building near downtown Houston early today, but firefighters worked for about 20 minutes to prevent the blaze from spreading to a woman's house next door.

Charge to be dropped in UT-OU fans' extreme bar fight Prosecutors today plan to dismiss a felony assault charge against a University of Oklahoma football fan accused of nearly castrating a University of Texas fan during a bar fight in Oklahoma City, attorneys for both sides said Tuesday.

Man uses a bat to take back his cat Police are looking for a man who took his gray and blue short-haired cat from the Dallas Animal Shelter while fending off employees with a baseball bat, authorities said.

Missing Victoria man with Alzheimer's traveled to Mexico A man who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease wandered into Mexico twice before he was found about 400 miles from the Texas border on Sunday, officials said.

Two more cell phones found during searches on death row Two more cell phones were found during regular death row inmate checks and a search for cell phones on Tuesday, officials said.

Condemned Houston killer gets execution reprieve The Court of Criminal Appeals remanded Eric Cathey's appeal to a lower court for a hearing on his claim that he is mentally retarded.

Governor wants to ensure criminals here illegally don't avoid deportation After a series of Houston Chronicle reports, Rick Perry says he was outraged to learn that many illegal immigrant inmates were released after completing sentences.

Mayor White forms task force to bolster electrical grid With a year left in office, Mayor Bill White is turning his attention to the electrical grid.

Goodfellows: Son's illness keeps pressure on family Christian Reynoso recovered, but doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of infant epilepsy, called Dravet's Syndrome.

Women killed in high-speed crash identified The two women killed in a high-speed car wreck on Westheimer early Sunday morning have been identified by the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.

$700,000 worth of opium found at Bush airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered $700,000 worth of opium hidden in two pieces of luggage at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, authorities said.

Tax rate increases on ballots in three school districts Voters in three area school districts — Alief, Humble and North Forest — are going to the polls this week to decide whether they are willing to pay higher property taxes.

Workers' anxieties grow as UTMB begins layoffs (w/video) Six hundred UTMB employes will be laid off every day for five days, reducing the 12,000 work force by 3,000 jobs.

Driver who died after she hit parked truck ID'd The woman who died Tuesday morning after crashing into a parked construction truck on the East Freeway has been identified by police as 47-year-old Jeanie A. Barfield.

Emmett wants more authority to lobby in Austin Fresh from a decisive re-election victory, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is wasting no time trying to build his office's influence as he fights for more authority over the county's lobbying effort in Austin.

Metro seeks Congress aid with deals linked to AIG The move is the latest attempt by agencies nationwide to avoid millions in default payments triggered by the collapse of the insurance giant.