Harris County Commissioners Vote In Favor of Unions

This is News Radio 740, KTRH, Houston, and IHeart radio station, guaranteed human. Now, the latest news, weather, and traffic. It's more of what matters to you from the John Moore Services Studios. Well, good morning. Happy Friday. 5 a.m. our time here in Houston's morning news. I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett, among our top stories of the Sampar. At Commissioner's Court yesterday, no Lena resolution. Yes, to a union. J.P. George's case is in the hands of the jury. Then coming up at 508, this is why they call it March Madness. Details in the minutes ahead first. We're checking out that morning drive for the first time to Skymike. Good morning, Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett. We've got West Sam, northbound a beach night. It's a stall. He's in the right lane. We're pointing at things. No big whoop. Just watch out because after that interchange, kind of a sticky spot right. This is northbound after 59. Just checking around here. You're Katie Freeway looking from Highway 6. Pretty shot there. Thank you, Transtar. And we look nice. 26 minutes from. I've been Oak Road in the president's heads. Southwest Freeway checking up the canyon, pardon. We look good between six and from Southwest Freeway from the Loop all the way northbound up to where it merges with 288. I'm Skymike from the generator supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH, top tax defenders 24-hour weather center, partly cloudy, very warm today with high temperature right about 85. Stays dry all weekend, stays. unseasonably warm as well. We'll talk to Terry Smith about all this in about nine minutes. Right now, 57, at your official, severe weather station, News Radio 740KTRH. It's time now for the news. Here's Cliff Saunders. And we're sponsored by Shop as Farm Supply, our top story. We start to talk about it again when she returns. Her having missed the last three meetings, I'm not sure when she's coming. Aris County Precinct 3 Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey there. His resolution calling for Judge Lina Hidalgo to resign after her antics at the rodeo last week was punted on by Democrats led by Rodney Ellis. But those Democrat commissioners also voted to give county workers the ability to organize, in other words, unionize. That'll start October 1st. Ramsey was the only vote against it. Another soft-on crime judge exposed in Harris County, a woman facing nearly 40 different felony theft charges, managed to get $75,000 bond from Judge Nata Cornelio. Many, understandably, outraged. We as a society have to determine are we going to continue to enable and condone this criminal behavior? And this is what you're going to get. Retail industry and shambles, stores, closing. That shouldn't be the norm. Andy Conn with Houston Crime Stopper says this is a prime example of why we need to strengthen penalties for theft convictions. The jury in the money laundering trial of Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George has the case after closing arguments yesterday.

George is facing two felony money laundering charges tied to how prosecutors say he handled campaign funds. Prosecutors argue he used those funds for personal items, a down payment on a house and property taxes. If convicted, he faces between two and 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine as well as probation. T.J. Parker with our TV partner channel 2. 503. If you're flying out of Bush, get there early. The airport says standard TSA lines will only be open in terminals A&E. Precheck only in A and C. Some white times already over an hour and a half. How much time did you allow yourself to get down here and make sure you get through this line? We gave it about an hour and a half, two hours. All due to the Democrat shutdown of DHS. The nomination of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead that department clears committee. It will now head to the full Senate. But don't look for the Dems and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to end this madness anytime soon. They're focused on. unleashing ICE brutality and acting massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors and spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in the Middle East. Fact check. One, you voted for deportations. Two, the big beautiful bill is leading to bigger tax refunds. Three, Iran since 1979, is responsible for the murder of hundreds, if not thousands. of Americans. Democrats are also doing nothing to pass the Save America Act, but some think Senate Republicans aren't fighting hard enough for the bill. Aaron Evans is the president of Washington-based winning Republican strategies. We've seen a lot of politics as usual, and we've seen a lot of excuses, but ultimately we need bold leadership happening to ensure that this gets passed. And if they don't get it passed? If we can't pass this, the American people are going to be asking this November, why the heck do we need a Republican majority to begin with? And if that's the case, there's going to be real electoral repercussions. He credits Louisiana Senator John Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for stepping up. and trying to lead. Jeff Andy Biggs News Radio 740, K-tier H. 505, the U.S. reportedly is sending more ships and Marines to the Middle East for Operation Epic Fury. CIA director John Ratcliffe says our involvement is totally warranted. Iran possesses at least 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to weapons grade 60%, which doesn't have a civilian use. The only use for that would be the development of nuclear weapons. John Ratcliffe and other intelligence officials testifying at the House yesterday. The president met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanakitaiichi at the White House yesterday, was asked by a reporter.

Why he didn't let the Allies know about Operation Epic Fury before it began? We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay, why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor? We'll have more on the Middle East at 530, 506, closer to home, and update to the court battle over Texas's ban on drag shows for kids. The ban on sexually oriented performances on public property or in front of kids was passed back in 2023 by State Senator Brian Hughes. Children shouldn't be exposed to sexually explicit material. A federal judge declared the law unconstitutional, but last month an appeals court ruled that the state can start enforcement as the trial plays out. So as of this week, it's now in effect. Business owners who host drag shows face a $10,000 fine and a possible Class A misdemeanor charge. KTRH's Rex O, it's the state launches a new agricultural defense program to help farmers and ranchers deal with pests and predators. species. That impacts everyone. It's feral hogs. The Farm Bureau says their impact on agriculture has only gotten worse over the last decade. NCAA tournament UH beats Idaho 78 to 47. They'll play the Aggies who beat St. Mary 63 to 50 and UT Top BYU 7971. They earn a round two matchup against Gonzaga. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's News Weather and Traffic Station News Radio 740, KTRH. It's one policy. Going to take our capital back. We're taking it back. After another. You burn a flag, you get one year in jail. On News Radio 740, KTRH. All right, how's your bracket look after day one? Well, it's not really day one. You had the first four in, but after the first, you know, the first, what I call the real games. First real games were yesterday, and there were a few surprises. Look out for the number 12 seed. Isn't that what they always say? Look out for the number. The upsets are usually the 11 and 12 seeds, taking on the much higher seeds. And that is exactly what happened yesterday. Raise your hand if you know where High Point is. I only know because I have friends in North Carolina and I vacation in North Carolina quite frequently. High Point is in North Carolina. And they are, they've just, I think, in the last year or two, have become a Division I school as far as basketball is concerned. And they beat Wisconsin from the Big Ten. They move on. That's a big upset. You've got VCU from Richmond, Virginia. They beat North Carolina in overtime. They move on. That's a low seed being a high seed. You've got, let's see, what else we got here? It might qualify as a bit of a surprise here. Well, you've got Texas A&M beating St. Mary's by 13 points. Less of a surprise, 10 seed beating a seven seed. But now you've got this interesting matchup. Texas A&M has to play Houston who beat Idaho yesterday. So we move on today, too. You ever wonder what the rules are?

For players who participate in the NCAA, did you know you can make your own bracket if you're a player? As long as there's no money involved, anybody who violates the betting rules, that, well, that's a different story. That's gambling and that's a problem. Jewelry is not allowed. Headwear is limited. There are specific rules for headbands, and barrettes and bobby pins are not allowed. I think that affects the women more, doesn't it? At least I hope it does. Men have to tuck their jerseys into their shorts. Women don't have to. Why is that? It's a double standard. Fingernails must be clipped and cannot be excessively long. They can be painted, however. Again, these are more women's rules than men. Players cannot lift or carry their teammates. Why would you make a rule about that? There's a strict code for sportsmanship. Players must be respectful or they could receive an infraction. Well, I think that's one that's getting ignored. And tobacco use is prohibited. Those are the rules for the players. 510, time for traffic and weather together. We're checking it. You follow in the NCAA tournament? I absolutely do not. I mean, I don't have anything. You don't care about that? Yeah, I don't have anything against it, you know. I'm not mad at it. It's just never been something I did. And the March Madness thing, I know. I don't even know how to do a bracket. You're going to have to show me what they look like, Jimmy. Oh, we can help you with a bracket. It's too late to do a bracket. Oh, it is? Next year we can help you. I mean, do you have yours here? I want to see what it looks like. Don't have it with me. It's at home. All right, Terry, if you're online, we're doing the home game here. What you're looking at right now. Oh, there you is. 503. Yeah. Oh, very nice. You're looking at the canyon, pardon. And look at all those freeways. Be honest with me. Be honest with me. Because can you tell which lanes or which freeway? No. I can barely tell when I'm Scott Mike. So this is what it is on the side here. These are the 288 lanes that come up from the south side and then going down. See all these people going the other way. They're going from downtown, from the buildings through that way. That's the Southwest Freeway. All this merge stuff gets crazy later in the morning. And for now, if it looks this good, we're moving nice all over town, posted speeds all around. I'm Sky Mike. It's your generator supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH, top tax defenders 24-hour weather senatories here, but even you have a bracket. You guys have a NCAA fool over there at the Weather Channel, don't you? Oh, I'm sure they do. I haven't been paying too much attention. You were not participating? No, I follow it kind of on the periphery. Alabama's playing my daughter's school, so she'll follow it and I'll follow it with her. But FSU's not in it. And Florida is the number one seat. So I guess you're rooting for Prairie View to pull off the major upset. But who doesn't want Prairie View to win? True, 16 seat upsetting to one seat. You always love that. Oh, my goodness. So, yeah, I'll be following it, but not very closely. What she is following is the first day of spring. Can you believe it? Isn't this nice? Yes. And, yeah.

And for the first day of spring, we've got summer heat. Spring starts later on this morning at 9.46 just in case you want to be outside and witness it happening. It's spectacular. It's really going to be a fine stretch of weather, except that it's a little warm for this time of year. We're in the low to upper 80s today. We're going to continue to do that through the weekend into Monday and Tuesday. There is no rain. I'm on the search for some rain. I think. All right, we'll keep looking. It might take you a while. Right now, the current temperature is 57 at your official, Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740 KTRH. I live in Katie. I live in Edo. Your reliable forecast next on the 10 on 740 KTRH. So the confirmation hearing for Markwayne Mullin continues to be the new head of... the Department of Homeland Security. It's pretty clear that there's a major feud between him and Rand Paul. We were talking a little bit about it on our show yesterday. Yesterday, Rand Paul had an opportunity to directly question Markwayne Mullin, and he focused in on that feud. And the audio is really quite amazing. I'll share that with you coming up next. But first, let's do this. Aha! A discovery already, Skymikes. Normally this time of morning, you know, we're playing slinky, popping bubble wrap. No, I got something here. Something is squished up downtown. On I 45, your Pierce elevated. I'm looking from Bastrop here. Let me zoom that a little bit. I've seen a bit of a slowdown. Let's go a little further north here on the... I'm just doing this as we go at Dallas Street to squeeze. The other way, we're fine. Something is northbound. Let me call that Louisiana Street there. And I'm looking from San Jacinto. Oh, there's something there. Pierce elevated downtown. I'll bet you money. Mark from spring tells me what's up in the next break. I'm Scott, 10 minutes away. I'm in the Ability Tree Experts, Traffic Center. From our KTRH, top tax defenders, 24-hour weather center. Partly-Claughty, very warm. Looks like about 85 for the height today. Partly-Claughty, near record highs, about 90 tomorrow, and then Partly-Claughty 86 on Sunday. Current temperature is... Let me see here, 57 at your official, severe weather station, News Radio 740KTRH. Time to check in with Cliff. He has an update on some of our top stories. The body of missing American college student Jimmy Gracie is found in Barcelona. Texas death row inmate James Broadnecks files an appeal in his capital murder case. He's supposed to be executed on April 30th. And this is the final weekend at the rodeo. Conroe native Parker McCollum performs tonight. Get the latest news anytime at KTRH.com. Our next update is at 5.30. The human experience. Human history happens here. I have tears of my eyes. I can just screen this life that we live. On News Radio 740, KTRH. Guaranteed Human. 523, our time here on Houston's morning news. We got a little feud going on here between Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin Bullen, and neither one is backing down. Rand Paul is upset.

Because of comments that Markwayne Mullin made about the guy who attacked Rand Paul and has never apologized for what he said. Here is their exchange yesterday, and Rand Paul bringing up some audio of Markwayne Mullin being, well... Let's just say driven by an overabundance of testosterone, not just in his case, the Rampal case, but in other cases as well. Haven't heard the word apologize, haven't heard the word regret, haven't heard I misspoke, and it was heated, and I made a mistake. I haven't heard any of those words. Sir, actually, it wasn't heated, and I'm not apologizing for pointing out your character. Good, good. So you're jolly well fine, and you went to American public, and the people up here to vote, the may or may not vote for you, to know that you supported the felonious violent attack on me from behind. I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There's a difference. So that means you really didn't approve of it, just completely understand it. What do you think most people would interpret, completely understand to be support for or a condemnation of the violence? Sir, as I said, we can have our differences. It's not going to keep me from doing my job as Secretary of Homeland Security. I'm going to secure Kentucky and take care of Kentucky as much as I am. If this were a one-off, it would be one thing. If you just disliked me so much that you approved of violence against me, people could just write it off. Well, maybe they hate each other. But really, there's a pattern of this. Let's go ahead and roll the tape. You know where to find me, any place, anytime cowboy. Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You want to run your mouth. We can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here. Okay, that's fine. Perfect. You want to do it now? I'd love to do it right now. Well, stand your butt up then. You stand your butt up. Oh, hold it. Oh, stop it. Is that your solution? No, no, sit down. Sit down. Look at you. No, you're a United States senator. Actively. Okay. Sit down, please. All right. Can I respond? Hold it. If he got up too. Would you have gone at it right there in the hearing room? I would have probably jump over the dais at that point. You have to be called on us. Not this guy continues to get away with this stuff. And it's just, you know, it's silly, it's stupid, but every now they need to get punched in the face. Well, go back to the 1800s and 1700s. They used to have canies. And duels. And they used to have duels. Yeah. And there's a way that many used to settle their differences. Ignorting four times be part of that. And people say, yes, you're supposed to ignore it. Well,

You know, I'm not a very good Christian. I try to be a good Christian, and I know people say you're supposed to turn the other cheek. I prefer the David method. But we need to move from an almost fight. By the way, I'm not afraid of biting. I will bite. I will bite. Markwayne Mullin. Yeah, he ain't afraid of a fight, and he's more unhappy to fight. I mean, a throat down on the floor of the United States Senate. I don't know about that. But clearly Rand Paul is trying to paint a picture of a guy who cannot control his emotions. So it's going to be seeing how this, interesting to see how this vote turns out. Now, John Fetterman, who's a Democrat, of course, supports him wholeheartedly. So he doesn't need Rand Paul's vote in order to get the nominations. He probably will be confirmed. 527. Let's take a look at your money. Good morning. Three weeks of conflict have upended the entire energy supply chain and has shaken up the markets. The price of global crude has gained around 50% this month, and the S&P 500 is on track for a third week of losses. Yesterday, the Dow closed down 204 points. I'm Courtney Dunahoe, Bloomberg Business on News Radio 740, KTRH. This is news that you are no. Houston's, news, weather, traffic, plus breaking news 24-7. This is News Radio 740, KTRH. Live everywhere with the IRAF. More of what's happening now from the John Moore Services Studios. It's 530. Here on Houston's morning news, I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett. Among our top stories this hour. Our allies finally step up to protect the Strait of Hormuz. James Talarico calls illegals patriotic. And coming up at 538 on today's episode of Arrested Development, assaulting a willy mammoth. Details in the minutes ahead. First, what in the world are you doing, Skylight? I told you I would have lineage. This is I-45, the Pierce elevated and northbound. We knew the wreck was there. Now we've got it on camera 103 if you're playing along at home. This is going to be 45 through downtown right at San Jacino. That's going to mess up the suicide squeeze ramp that comes off the East Tech's elevated. If you're doing that, it looks like you can get by. There's a ninja sitting right there. And it's also messing up the Gulf Freeway from Scott Street inbound. Stay the course. I think he's. going to get this done fast. Sky Mike in the ability tree experts. Traffic Center. From our KTRH generator super center, 24-hour weather center, partly cloudy, very warm today with a high temperature right about 85. The weekend stays dry and hot and muggy. We'll talk to Terry Smith about all this on this first day of spring in about nine minutes. Current temperature is 57 at your official severe weather station. News Radio 740 KTRH. It's time for the news. Here's Cliff Saunders. It is 531 on KTRH. Our top story. It is less dangerous today after just 21 days, and it is not at its weakest yet. President Trump has created the conditions, though, keep Americans safe for decades to come. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today, day number 21 of Operation Epic Fury. Our allies are finally helping us with the Strait of War moves, and the EU finally says something about what's been happening.

condemning Iran for attacking its neighbors. Meantime, the Pentagon wants another $200 billion in supplemental funding for the Middle East. We've had over 100 incidents where they've come in American troops. Hamas is their surrogate army. They've killed Americans. And at what point do we say enough is enough? Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, their oil futures are up to $96.78 a barrel this morning. And the latest rise in gas price. to over 350 a gallon across Houston has revealed yet another mainstream media double standard. Stories about high gas prices are suddenly everywhere since the start of the Iran war, even though prices were much higher for much longer under the Biden administration with far less coverage. Fox News media analyst Joe Concha says this was predictable. I think we can safely come to one incontrovertible fact that if it's good for Trump and therefore good for the country, legacy media will reflexively be against it. It's the reflex. for the press to greatly exaggerate the negative while applying the bias of admission to the positive. The left also praised high gas prices in the past because it would get drivers off of fossil fuels and into electric cars. Cory Olson, News Radio 740, KTRH. Trump may be busy with Iran, but he's also looking at Cuba. Mike Gonzalez served in the George W. Bush administration, and we asked him if Trump can pull off Iran and Cuba. Well, what would his legacy be? I think his legacy will be assured in the annals of history. Trump may be the first president to be able to walk in a free Tehran, free Caracas, and a free Havana. Nothing compares to that. If historians are not far left to Loonies. Gonzalez says the time for the U.S. to act in Cuba is now. 534, another day, another jaw-dropping comment from Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico. I taught a lot of undocumented students. Those students tended to be my most patriotic students. Yeah, let that sink in from that interview in Dallas this week. And then there's the video from 2022 that resurfaced this week, you know, in Talariko in Texas, said he and a staff. Well, they were giving up meat. I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign, not just policymakers, but everyone has to take personal responsibility in this effort. Despite this, proving that he's going to play both sides, posted pictures of himself appearing to eat a turkey leg at the state fair. Four Muslim schools have been added to Texas's new school choice program. The move confirmed by the state controllers' office, which couldn't comment because of an ongoing lawsuit. The application period ends on March 31st. 535 Dow futures are down 300 points this morning after another down day on Wall Street yesterday. Despite the doom and gloom that you get from the mainstream media, there's this. February home sales were up. Mortgage rates. We're down. Home sales are up almost 2% with over 4 million in sales according to the NAR's February report. Financial advisor Derek Kenny says buyers are dismissing the noise focused on the bottom line. The home you've been putting off is now more affordable and they feel like their job is secure and there's a couple extra bucks left at the end of the month. With rates just under 6% last month. That can be a green light.

for people who want to buy, and that means good news for the economy as well. Kenny says not to let worry and hesitation slow you down. I'm Erica Smith, News Radio 740, KTRH. Almost half of Americans saving for retirement don't have enough to last them through retirement. That's according to the Federal Reserve. They just give us a reality check of are we on track for fulfilling our retirement goals? Financial strategist Bill Dendee 536. There's a new study. that says nearly 40% of Americans, both secular and religious, all believe we're headed for the end of the world. Rabbi Brian Strauss with Beth Yesherun Synagogue says social media is making this worse. You see a video that promises the end times are here, and you're going to get 20 more later that day because you watch that video. Pastor Aaron Wright with Grace Family Baptist Church says Christians should avoid cycles of doom and gloom. Whatever difficulty we may experience in life, God will use it for our good and our call is to be faithful, not to fret and worry over what we see on the news. Strauss echoed that sentiment saying the focus should be on making the world a better place, not panicking over an apocalypse. Ethan Buchanan, News Radio 740, KTRH. The rockets host Atlanta tonight pregame at 630 on KTRH. The Astros lose to the Mets in spring training 6 to 2. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's news weather and traffic station. News Radio 740, KTRH. Traffic and weather, when you need it most. Every 10 minutes on the tens. This is Houston's Morning News with Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett and the Houston Morning News team. Yes, it is. 537 now here in Houston's morning news. We have two guys in Missouri. And if you're old enough, Missouri, whichever you prefer, who are facing felony charges. After they went to a museum attraction in the Ozarks, they decided for some reason, because they're kind of goofy. By the way, they're 45. I only mention their age. I don't normally mention ages. They come in news stories because I don't know what point is the age. In this case, it's important to mention their age because there's a point to this. Two 45-year-old guys. facing felony charges after they damaged a woolly mammoth fossil at a museum attraction in the Ozarks. The man, Brett Howard, is that like Mo Howard? Is he related to Mo Howard or Curley Howard or Shev Howard? Because he's kind of acting like this. And Todd Azavado. One of them told the other to grab the tusk of a woolly mammoth fossil and lifted him onto his shoulders so he could reach it. The other guy grabbed the tusk and attempted to hang from it. Was this like a picture they were trying to take for social media? There must be an extending wing circumstance here. Why would you do something like this? Just because you could? Because you wanted to grab a picture or maybe do a video. Anyway, they didn't go so well. It's a fossil, after all. It's not a real woolly mammoth. While attempting to hang from it, the tusk fell, causing it to shatter and fall to the floor in pieces. They tried to run off, but the whole thing was caught on security cameras. The tusk weighed about 200 pounds.

But probably the most important thing to them is it was worth about $200,000. I'm guessing they didn't realize that. Both men were arrested. They're each looking at up to four years in prison if convicted. Or at the very least, I'm thinking they're on the hook for $200,000 worth of woolly mammoth tusk. 540, time for traffic and weather together. Man, I thought I've done stupid stuff. At 45, you should know better, shouldn't you? Have you ever heard of a drunk trophy? You know, like they have some blow-up thing on top of a business, a gorilla or a pig or something. Yep. Somebody get dared to go up and get it. I don't have a friend that did that. All right, let's go downtown. Jerry, you're playing the home game with me again. I am. You're looking at... 103. Okay, there it is. That's right. This is I-45. Freeway at San Jacino. We found it first. San Jacino. It goes northbound here. This is right when you merge. See where the fire truck is there on the right? Yeah. That is the ramp that comes in from the suicide squeeze ramp that goes, yeah, you got to go down the East Tech's elevated and it's gnarly. You get on that ramp. You're either going to make it or not. Now you can't go anywhere because the HFD guy is keeping us all safe. So ramps closed. What are you going to do? Oh, I know. Let's read. route to 10 downtown and come around the other way on 45. This is also blocking a right lane of the Gulf freeway. See those people just getting by on the left lane there. So that is a smudge on the Gulf Freeway and we're backed up from the University of Houston. You were the first to know about that. Rest of your freeways for now we look good. I'll hit the I'll hit the east side at 550. The ability treat experts traffic center. From our KTRH generator super center 24 hour with this there Terry Smith here on the first day spring what time did you say spring gets here Spring starts at 9.46. Okay, 946 this morning until then it's still wintered. That's right. And it feels like it. Not really. It really feels to me like this isn't the spring equinox. It's the summer solstice because it's going to be warm, even warmer than yesterday. Yesterday was actually a fairly nice day, but the southerly winds are still with us. And as they continue, the humidity, you know, slowly ramps up. So we do have a little bit of fog or sp. drizzle and spots not widespread this morning. But we're going to turn out with sunshine and temperatures today. If you're near a body of water, it'll be a little bit cooler like low 80s, but the rest of us are in the mid to upper 80s this afternoon. And we'll do that again. Tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, no change. Temperatures stay in the 80s into early next week. Temperature right now, 57 at your official severe weather station, News Radio 740KTRH.

I live in Katie. I live in the woodlands. Next on the 10. Your reliable forecast on 740 KTRH. You know, it's very interesting to me how many reports of the mainstream media you see these days about the high price of gasoline. Where were all these reporters during the Biden years when the high price of gasoline was like this all the time? Not just because of a temporary conflict, but all the time. We'll talk to Joseph Asquez about that. He's an associate editor in business reporting at the Media Research Center. He's coming up next. First, we've got traffic and weather together and problems in the canyon, skylight. Oh, we got trouble, partner, what we really have. is a three-headed monster downtown. This is I-45, so that Gulf Freeway wreck at San Jacino is messing up. The Gulf Freeway from Lockwood, U of H. It's also messing up the East Tech. The ramp is now closed southbound, and it's messing up the canyon. Partner 288 is all crammed up now right before the merge with 69. It's northbound. Skymike and the Ability Tree Experts Traffic Center. Gromar, KTRH, generator's super center, 24-hour weather center, partly cloudy, very warm, about 85 today. Partly cloudy near record highs around 88, maybe 90, for tomorrow. Few of you will get to 90. And then partly cloudy, 86 on Sunday. Currently, it is 57 at your officials, severe weather station, news radio 740, KTRH. Sit back to our newsroom where Cliff is standing by with an update on some of our top stories. The DOJ subpoena's former FBI director, James Comey, over his role in the Russia hoax. The White House reportedly will give Congress its suggestions for regulating AI today. An archaeologist at the Alamo have uncovered a fully intact cannonball, believed to date back to the battle. of the alabot. Get the latest news anytime at KTRH.com. Our next update is at 6. 59 inbound at the loop is always a problem. KTRH time-saving traffic. Next on the 10. 5.52s are time here in Houston's morning news. All right. Well, to me, I guess whether you're going to call this the high price of gas or not, it's all in how you consider gasoline prices high. I drove past my little bellwether gas station this morning. It was down from like 3.49 to like 3.39. So he was down a dime over what it was the day before. That's the thing you see so much of right now is just the fluctuating price of gasoline. And yes, it's a lot higher than it was, no doubt about it. But it was like this all the time during the Biden years. Joseph Asquez joins us, Associate Editor in Business Reporting at the Media Research Center. The price of gasoline has become a big story for the mainstream media. It wasn't during the Biden years, Joe.

Well, as our colleague, Charles Gasparino over at Fox business pointed out, commodity traders trade off of headlines. So the media know that whatever scare, what scaremongering that they put out on the internet, traders are looking at this. They want Trump to lose. They want the oil prices to go up because it undercuts one of Trump's key. um you get you know one of his key messages you know that he was going to bring the price of gas down that inflation was going to go down and things like that so they continue to put out all the scare mongering like they know what's going to happen in a volatile market like oil and just to think about it You mentioned in 2022 when the price of gasoline was over $5. You're right. The media didn't give it nearly as much of a problem as they are now doing because of Trump. And think about it. The price of gas is going up now because of an international conflict. It went up to over $5 without an international conflict. There was a regional conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But other than that, there wasn't anything systemic that should have been causing gas to go over $5. But do you think the media cared? Absolutely not. I remember. a few days ago. Politico came out with a story saying that Trump keeps on getting away with putting the economy in jeopardy, right? Like with, you know, and that the attack on Iran is going to threaten Trump's favorite political barometers, which are gas prices. Which was funny was that the author of that piece had written another piece in August of 10, August 10, 2022. And this is when gas prices were, I think, around $4, all right? Higher than they are right now. This is what the headline that this author had written back then, quote, gas is suddenly cheaper. That could help Biden. You see the disconnect? Oh, yeah. When gas prices were almost $4, that could help Biden. But prices are going up, you know, like $3.49, 3659 or whatever, because of an international war, oh my gosh, the world is ending. But they know that when they push this, that traders are looking at it. And they're trading off of anxiety, not based on market fundamentals. And this is what Charles Gasparino were pointing out. So they know they have this power. Here's the other part of it, too, is gasoline, the price of gasoline affects the price of many other commodities as well. It affects how much you're paying at the grocery store for food because all that stuff has to be trucked around. So if you can, if you can create a situation where the price of gas is going artificially up due to a... panic situation, you can affect all kinds of prices.

That's exactly right. And you know, the interesting point about that was that the founder of freight waves who analyzes freight economics had pointed out on March 15th, which happened to me on my birthday, by the way. He said, no sign that oil spikes are hurting the domestic economy. The signal coming from freight is that activity in the domestic goods economy is strengthening, not slowing. If recent oil spikes were on a drag on domestic consumption, it would show up in the high frequency trucking volume data. So think about it. That's the stuff that the media do not want you to know because it undercuts their narrative that Trump is leading us into like an energy Armageddon, which is ridiculous. If you look at West Texas intermediate for all of the bluster, yes, for CNBC's Jim Kramer predicting, oh, we're going to see over $200 a barrel and gas. Meanwhile, the prices on West Texas Intermediate is still underneath $100 for all of the convection that would go to $150 and $200. I'm saying, wow, who knew? That's the problem. You can't, they literally, in the inflation numbers, they separate food and oil and energy because the markets are so volatile. You can only really address them on a day-to-day, but trying to predict the long trend is ridiculous, especially because we don't know what's going to happen day-to-day as it comes to the war. tomorrow. Who knows? And what will happen to oil? If we gain operational control over the Strait of Hormuz, oil is going to plummet. But they do not want that to happen because that would mean that Trump was successful. So they're never going to give him an inch. They're trying to make a crisis happen. Thank you. Appreciate your time. That's the Associate Editor for Business Reporting, I should say, at Media Research Center Joseph Asquez. It's 557.

This is News Radio 740, KTRH, Houston, and I Heart Radio Station, guaranteed human. Now, the latest news, weather, and traffic. It's more of what matters to you from the John Moore Services Studios. It's 6 a.m. now here in Houston's morning news, I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett. Among our top stories this hour, J.P. George's case is now in the hands of the jury. At Commissioner's Court, they talked about a Lena resolution, but they tabled that. They said they wanted to wait until she got back. And coming up at 608, just in time for our 250th, a gold Trump coin. Details in the minutes ahead. Can I take a business trip, quote marks? Sure. Where would you like to go, Stan Mike? Business trip to Europe. You talk about trade? Yeah, a trade. That said, a trade trip. I'll trade you this car for. Maybe you'll do a swap shop in Europe. Tell you what we've traded now, Gulf Freeway. We traded this country here northbound at San Jacino. It's cleared. The ninjas have taken care of that. Now, that's messing up your Gulf Freeway. Still, we have the suckage from U of H. Northbound. It also missed up the canyon, both 69 and 288, squished coming up to 45. We traded that for a brand new problem. Southbound. Looks like the Dallas Street Squeeze. Are you a stall? What are you? We'll know at 610 in the generator supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH. Top Tax Defenders, 24-hour weather center. Part of the cloudy, very warm. Looks like about 85 for the high temperature today. We'll be thwarting with 90 by tomorrow. We'll talk to Terry Smith at the weather channel about the weekend. First weekend of spring in about nine minutes. Current temperature is still 57. Add your official severe weather station, News Radio 740 KTRH. It's time for the news. Here's Close Saunders. Good morning. It's 601. We're sponsored by U.S. Coins and Jewelry. Our top story, soft on crime judges strike again. A Harris County woman facing 37 theft charges is walking on our streets. Free from jail on $75,000 bond, and this was after spending months as a fugitive from justice. De Quavia Rogers managed to pick up four of those charges while on parole for other crimes. One would think if you're on parole and you're charged with four felony theft charges, perhaps you should go back to prison. But that didn't happen. Andy Conn with crime stoppers says this is why we need to impose stricter punishments for theft charges. They're spending a little time in county jail or they're being put back on probation. to be consequences for habitual fees. Con added that cases like this are exactly why we keep seeing products locked up at convenience stores. Ethan Buchanan, News Radio 740, KTRH. The jury in the money laundering trial of KP. George continues deliberations after getting the case yesterday. The outgoing Fort Bend County judge faces between two and ten years in jail if he's convicted. Harris County Commissioners pass a plan to create a union for county employees. Commissioner's also delayed a resolution against Judge Lina Hidalgo for her antics at the rodeo. She's out of the country on a trade mission. Do you expect her to resign before the end of her term? People are asking, well, this is it. Why she leave now? I will not try to.

define my expectations when it comes to Judge Hildago. Precinct 3 Republican Tom Ramsey with our TV partner channel 2. It's now 603. Plan ahead. Make sure you have a little cushion, but just be patient. Yeah, you better get to the big airport early if you're flying today. Standard TSA lines are only open in terminals A and C in wait times. As of now, could be about an hour and a half. It's all due to the DHS Democrat shutdown. The department, though, is a step closer to getting a new leader. The nomination of Markwayne Mullin, the Oklahoma Senator, cleared committee, and goes to the full Senate. Don't look for the Democrats and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to end the shutdown anytime soon. Ten agencies are affected by all of this. One of those agencies, just one of them, is Customs and Border Patrol. It's the largest federal law enforcement agency in America. They are trying to defund it. House Speaker Mike Johnson says this is about the left putting illegal aliens first. Still no vote on the Save America Act in the Senate. A former Senate staffer says the GOP needs to make this a fist fight. Aaron Evans with winning Republican strategy says that's not hyperbole. The urgency of this cannot be understated. Maybe not a fist fight per se, but it definitely needs to be something that is top priority. This is not politics as usual. I mean, there's no piece of legislation right now that is more important to the future of our country. He says Republicans have the majority and need to find a way to get it done. It is 604. Today is day number 21 of Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. Tensions remain after Iran fired on the oil fields of its neighbors in the Gulf. The Raslofen oil facility, the largest liquefied natural gas facility in the world still burns. The Qatari Prime Minister left the door open for diplomacy. The Saudis don't feel the same after taking several strikes from Iran. The foreign minister said any trust that existed with Iran has been shattered and the Saudis might join the fight. That's Fox's Mike Tobin in Tel Aviv. The U.S. reportedly sending more ships and Marines to the Middle East, and the regime may be closer to collapse than the mainstream media claims it is. It doesn't get reported here in the U.S. very well, but we are transcing them from the air, and the regime will probably collapse within itself. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at a meeting between Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister yesterday. We'll have more on the Middle East at 630. 605, a Texas law banning drag. shows for kids finally goes into effect. It was passed back in 2023 by State Senator Brian News. Drag shows are sexually explicit and exposed children to issues of sexuality and identity that should be reserved for adults. A federal judge declared the law unconstitutional, but last month an appeals court ruled the state can start enforcement as the trial plays out. We've been saying it for years, and now there's even more proof. New polls find more Americans feel college is just not worth the money anymore.

A degree hasn't helped with job searches. Plus, people are fed up with nonsensical agendas. Ever since college campuses became hotbeds of activism, they've lost support among parents. Retired Professor Dr. Carol Swain says college has become about indoctrination over education, and it's part of why vocational schools are on the rise. They are equipping themselves for the future. They can bypass all of that, and a number of people are realizing that they have an option. She says another problem is... colleges admitting students for meaningless majors. Andre Barard News Radio 740, KTRH. At the NCAA tournament, the Coogs beat Idaho 78 to 47. They will face the Aggies tomorrow as Texas A&M beat St. Mary 63 to 50. The Longhorns, they edge BYU, 79 to 71. They've got a second round matchup against Gonzaga tomorrow. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's News Weather and Traffic Station, News Radio 740, KTRH. I live in Conroe. I live in Deer Park. Next on the 10. Your reliable forecast on 740 KTRH. Just in time for our nation's 250th birthday, there's going to be a Trump gold coin. Are you aware of this? It's interesting. I'm not sure what this gold coin is going to be valued at. It's not... I guess it's more of a collector's coin. It's not really, and he's done by the U.S. mint, but it's not really currency. In fact, you're not allowed to put a living president on currency. That's part of the rules. That's probably part of the ways they got around, you know, some issues in the past of people who probably wanted to be on coins and weren't on coins. But the authority. allows coins to be issued in accordance with designs and inscriptions as the Secretary may prescribe from time to time, according to the statute cited by Treasury officials. The Treasury State also noted that the Citizens' Coinage Advisory Committee, we have one of those? Declined to review the proposed designs while the Commission of Fine Arts has taken every opportunity to review it thus far, and they have approved a design. The approved design features troup in a suit and tie with a stern expression. Leaning forward with his hands resting on a desk. Hmm. The coin includes Liberty across the top, which is pretty traditional for U.S. coins. And the date 1776 to 2026, marking our semi, I was going to say sesquicentennial. The rear side is expected to pick a bald eagle in flight, along with the traditional inscriptions including United States of America and E. Pluribus Unum. The Commission of Fine Arts approved the design without objection during its March meeting. Officials said the coin will be part of a limited production run with final details on size and denominations still into consideration. Oh, okay. So they haven't decided what the coin's going to be worth yet. So maybe we can help with that. If there's going to be a trump gold coin and it is, if it's going to be. Considered legal U.S. tender, what denomination should it be? What denomination should a Trump gold coin be? You go to the IHare Radio Up, KTRH, first name where you're calling from.

And by the way, if you would like to make any additional suggestions of what you would personally like to see on the Trump gold coin as far as design, I'll take those as well. Again, the IHRRH, first name where he's calling from, hit the talk back button. You get up to 30 seconds. 610. Time for traffic and weather together. Is it legal to like drill a hole in money and wear it around your neck? I heard you're not supposed to deface money. Well, you're not supposed to do things like burn money. Can't put a mustache on George Washington. People doodle on dollar bills all the time. I don't see anybody getting prosecuted for that. I would put a hole in that Trump coin and like wearing it around my neck. Not if it's worth a million dollars. Oh, oh, no. Well, you wouldn't see me with it, especially in the ghetto house. All right. So I got the Southwest Freeway at the West. Holy wow. Look at this inbound wreck. I'm looking from, are you inbound or outbound? That is inbound, northbound. Okay, this is messing everybody. That is a major smudge from Fountain View. It's going to be Hillcroft in just a minute. For some reason, I was not the first one to find this one. Yeah, so my new tail, Sky and Mike stopped bumping his gun. I know. I must have been bumping my gums. That's already a 12-minute delay. Let's start rerouting now to the Cady Freeway. You could do the Most City Expressway. It's kind of a secret now, Alt-90. Take the Fort Bent toll way. Do the belt if you have to. Just don't go. stuck in that. I'm having a feeling about this one. Check 249, the Forgotten Freeway, Cypress Wood. I don't have that roadwork there. Can't wait for Lance from Magnolia to weigh in. Luetta, you look good. You're actually moving now. Posted speeds to the Beltway. North Freeway, are you serious? We're actually moving. All right, southbound, 22 minutes, Woodlands. Skymike, in the bowels of the generator, supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH, Top Tax Defenders, 24-hour Weather, Senator, Smith is here. She has the forecast. is the first day of spring. Spring will be here in just a couple of hours, and we're going to celebrate with temperatures that are almost like summer. Summer, exactly. Who needs spring anyway, right? Let's just get down to business and get the summer going here, and that's what we got. So big high pressure system. has anchored itself over the southwest. Lots of record heat in that part of the country, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado. And we're getting some of that heat. We're seeing our temperatures on the rise. But they'll... kind of level out. So today we're in the low to upper 80s and we'll stay like that through the weekend into early next week. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a few 90s. But at this point, no rain, just sunshine and a very warm weekend. Right now at 57 at your official Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740 KTRH. 59 inbound at the loop is always a problem. KTRH time saving traffic. Next on the 10. All right, more Houston judges behaving badly in this case. A 31-year-old who's a convicted thief with 37 felony charges out on a $75,000 bond. That means $7,500 is really all you have to put up in order to get out.

We'll talk to Andy Con at Crime Stoppers about this coming up next. First, though, traffic and weather together. And that starts with you, Sky Mike. I've got to help the rest of the media again. Got a wreck reported on the Gulf Freeway just past telephone. I know it's there. We'll get you some laneage at the bottom of the hour. We still have that Southwest Freeway. I wonder if Andy Khan will use the term Scootry. There's a wreck on the Southwest Freeway out 610. It's a lot of scootery back up now from Hillcroft. I'm Sky Mike. It's your ability. experts traffic center. I don't know, but I bet we hear the wrath of Andy Khan. No, that would be awesome. From our KTRH, top tax defenders, 24-hour weather center, partly cloudy, very warm, 85 today. Partly cloudy high is around 90 tomorrow. 86 on Sunday with partly cloudy skies. The current temperature is 57. And your officials, severe weather station, news radio 740, KTRH. Cliff is here. He's ready with another update on your top stories of the morning. Helps if you turn the mic on. Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico keeps exposing himself for the radical that he is. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warns he'll cancel recess. That starts on March 30th of the DHS shutdown doesn't end. And an anchorage man is facing charges after allegedly robbing a bank while armed only with, quote, the power and authority of Jesus Christ. When he was arrested, he asked if he could keep the money. Get the latest news anytime at KTRH.com. Our next update is at 6.30. Learned how to listen from you. I don't miss the show. Talk about it here. I cannot help but listen to you all the time. News Radio 740, KTRH. Yeah, we have ourselves another repeat offender here, 622 here in Houston's morning news. She's 31 years old. Her name is Dequavia Denise Rogers. Arrested after months as a fugitive during which she allegedly committed additional crimes. Well, of course she did. Across multiple counties. 37 felony theft charges. And despite being on parole and probation and facing 11 pending felonies, a Harris County judge has set her bond at $75,000. Andy Kahn joins us from Crime Stoppers. I know how frustrated you have to be because this just keeps happening over and over and over again. Who's the judge in this case? It's the 351st District Court, Jimmy, and yes, the wrath of con is in full vogue on this. You know, in 2025, we identified over 50 offenders who were charged with more than five felony thefts in the same year. One of them was actually charged with nine felony thefts in 2025. So basically what we're seeing is the same offenders being continuously released. offending again, released again, and back again. And you wonder why the retail industry is in shambles is because we don't treat anybody who's convicted of felony theft with any consequences. Nobody ever goes to prison.

You know, I have to wonder, and I'm sure that you've done some studies on this. I know there's studies have been done. I just don't know the figures myself. If we were to literally round up all the people who have previous convictions or who are out on bond after committing yet another felony, do we have any idea how would impact the crime rate if we actually kept these people in jail? Yeah, I mean, we're saying it right now by keeping people. We used to actually release on bond, and that's why the crime rate has dipped a bit. So, yes, it does have an effect. But there is zero, if any, consequences for what we call nonviolent offenders. And I hate that term because a felony theft affects everybody. You wonder why prices are going up? because retail industry has to because they have to accommodate the fact that people will actually walk into stores and they will walk out with products because nobody can stop them. And even if they're caught, you're not going to do any time. What I am proposing... Next legislative session is we enhance penalties for repeat habitual felony theft offenders. So for example, Jimmy, let's say in 2026, you were charged with, let's say, over five felony theft convictions. Instead of just getting a little jail time or even probation, what I am saying is we have to bump it to a third-degree felony punishable by two to ten years in prison. Maybe then the offenders who basically know that they can steal without any impunity will recognize that if they are caught convicted, they'll go to prison. Right now, they're winning the game. Okay. I'm a play devil's advocate with you here for just a second here because I know that because I've heard him a million times all the excuses about why we shouldn't do it. And they've always tried to appeal to conservatives under the idea that, well, you know, we'd have to build a whole bunch of more jails and we don't have the capacity to do this. And it costs a lot of money to put people in prison. That's why we don't jail these nonviolent offenders. What do you say to that, sir? I think if we don't do that, then this is what we're asking for. When you walk into a retail store these days, you notice that certain products are locked up. You have to wait for a clerk to open the gate to basically hand you a pack of toothpaste or a razor blaze. If you want this to be the norm, this is what you get. I don't think we should be able to live like that. And again, I'm only strictly tailoring it for those that commit... X amount of thefts in the same year. So in other words, someone who's charged with a felony theft here and there, they're not going to go to prison. But if you're clearly demonstrating in the same 12-month time period that you're going to steal from stores, yet you need to go to prison. Well, this woman, she did just steal in Harris County. She stole in Montgomery County for Ben County. She's been all over the Houston Metro.

No, you've got her, she got 37 charges. Here's the strange quirky thing. She was actually on parole and probation at the same time that she became a fugitive. How on earth can you justify having two taxpayer entities, quote, supervising her? It makes absolutely zero sense. It simply defies logic. A lot of the felony theft cases that we have studied are not singular to Harris County. Basically, they take their tribe to multiple different counties. So this is the situation that's not just Harris County, but the state of Texas. All right, sir, thanks as always. Good to talk to you. That's Crime Stoppers Andy Kahn. It's 627. Let's take a look at your money. Good morning. Wall Street is carefully watching every headline out of the Middle East. Sentiment is sensitive to the escalation in the war. Investors are searching for direction in trading this morning as we head to a third straight week of losses for stocks. I'm Courtney Dunahoe, Bloomberg Business on News Radio 740, KTRH.

Houston's news weather traffic plus breaking news 24 7 this is news 740 KTRH live everywhere with the IRF more of what's happening now from the John Moore Services Studios 631 our time here in Houston's morning news I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett among our top stories this have our James Talarico says illegals are the most patriotic people he knows Our allies finally step up to protect the Straits of Hormuz. And coming at 638, what would you like to see on that gold Trump coin? Details in the minutes ahead first. Let's check out that morning drive again. Here's Sky Mike. All right, hardworking east side. You've got a wreck on I-10. This is outbound, not inbound at Garth Road. Where the hell did Sanjus and Omaha go? We're backed up from Buckkees on the outbound. Scott from Wallaceville. He is on I-10. Also, he's a little closer out. Good morning, Sky, Mike. Dude. Just passed 555 in code. There's an accident. Uh-huh. It is off the right shoulder, but... It's starting to back up. All right, watch out from the bridge. I'm dying for some crawfish. Oh, Southwest Freeway inbound. Big wreck. It's a big backup, too, from Hillcroft. Skymike and the Ability Tree Experts Traffic Center. From our KTRH, Generator Supercenter, 24-hour weather center. Part of the cloudy, very warm 85 for today. Stays up warm and muggy all weekend long and dry, too. We'll check it all out with Terry Smith through the weather channel in eight minutes. Right now, it's 57 at your official severe weather station. News Radio 740, KTRA. It's time now for the news. Here's Cliff Saunders. Good morning. It's 632. Our top story, the mainstream media, wants you to think that James Talarico, the Democrat, Texas, U.S. Senate candidate, is moderate. But take a listen to what he said about DHS and ICE during an interview this week. I would be a no on any potential secretary who is not willing to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that's actually focused on public safety. Oh, it gets worse. James Talarico is getting ridiculed for what he said in 2022 about eating meat, you know, here in Texas. It's, as all of you know, necessary to fight climate change. It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society. Yeah, back then, he said his campaign had gone vegan. Despite that, his spokesperson really posted a photo of James Talarico recently at the state fair eating a turkey leg. A handful of Muslim schools have now been added to the state's new school choice program. The application period ends March 31st, no comment from the state because there's a lawsuit going on. Revelations that labor leader Cesar Chavez was abusing girls as prompted efforts to wipe his name off streets across the state. For instance, in San Antonio, there will be community hearings about what to do. It's not only important from a business standpoint, but I also think it's important from a...

healing standpoint. Trish DeBerry with the group Centro, San Antonio. There's also an effort at the state capital to rename Chavez Street and remove a statue of him from UT Austin. H-I-S-D also announced it will no longer recognize the Chavez Day holiday. It's now 634. They had 114 rockets shot at a certain location and out of a hundred, highly sophisticated rockets, out of 140 sophisticated rockets, Every single one of them was shot down. President Trump yesterday at the White House, his Operation Epic Fury continues. The Pentagon is asked for $200 billion in supplemental funding from the Middle East. Let's queue up the Democrat meltdown machine starring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. To have the audacity to come to Congress to fund a war that we have not even voted for, not only is it illegal, it is insulting. Just like her Green New Deal, right? You know, that passed during the Biden administration. Oil futures this morning are trading $496 and 47 cents a barrel. Then there they go again, by the way, the left and legacy media pounding the Trump administration over high gas prices. They've been doing this for three weeks now. But Vice President JD Vance says the critics have some memory problems. Under the Biden administration, the gas prices were high for four years. Gas prices are higher right now. And frankly, they're not even as high as they were during certain parts of the Biden administration. It's not going to last forever. We're going to come back home. And when that happens, you're going to see energy prices come back down to reality. In fact, the national average and Texas average hit their all-time highs in 2022 under Biden, although that surge received far less. mainstream media coverage. The collapse in Cuba continues with growing calls for President Trump to take action. Mike Gonzalez, who served under President George W. Bush, tells KTRH he agrees. Yes, it's the closest the regime has been to ending in its 67 years in power. An Iran-Cuba combo would add even more to Trump's legacy. Trump is able to do things that his predecessors weren't able to do. Look, I love Reagan. I served on the Joe of the Bush, but Trump is unlike any of his predecessors. He gets things done. And we'll continue to do so. Jeff Andy Biggs News Radio 740, KT or H. It is now 636. A new report shows a troubling trend in Texas when it comes to traditional families. Nearly half of Texas children are growing up with parents who are divorced. JP DeGance with a non-profit ministry known as Communio says that's leading to ripple effects across society. The entire loneliness epidemic is really the effect of our nation's flight from marriage. And he says kids with a mom and a dad get better grades instead of trouble. They're teaming with Texas Baptist to get more people attending church as a way to save their marriage. That is KTRH's Michael Bored. The Rockets host Atlanta tonight at 6.30 here on KTRH. Spring training baseball, the Astros lost to the Mets 6-2. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's newsweather and traffic station, News Radio 740, KTRH. Learned how to listen. From you. I don't miss a show. Talk about it here. I cannot help but listen to you all the time. News Radio 740, KTRH.

All right, there is a Trump gold coin coming out in time for the 250th birthday of our country. By the way, 24-carat gold. And a $1 circulating coin. Okay, so one is, I guess, a commemorative coin. And the other one is one that can actually circulate. That'll be worth $1. Seems like it should separate itself. We already have a dollar coin, right, with Eisenhower. Why do we do something different? You know, if you were in charge of the Trump coin, Joe, what would your design ideas be? What would you want to see on the coin and what denomination would you want it to be? You go to the iHeart radio app, KTRH, first name where you're calling from, and your thoughts on the Trump gold coin. This is Jeff and Madagorda. It should be worth $1,000. Hey, how's going there, Jimmy? I think that Trump coins should be worth $250 to celebrate the 250th year of our great nation. Dave on Lake Congo. The Trump coin, it should be worth $250, and they should put the cannon on there with come and take it. Taxify that sucker just a little bit, huh? Okay, $250 for one coin. That's not bad. It wouldn't be hard to, well, here's the thing about the 24-carat gold. Clearly not a solid gold coin. I don't, is the, they're not talking about a solid gold, 24-car gold coin, are they? Because how much would that cost? How much would that weigh? What's the price of gold this morning? Last time I checked it was just under $5,000 an ounce. So I'm sure it would be a gold-plated coin. But, hey, here's the other thing about it. They've already approved the design. That's not going to change it. But I'm not sure that the design is that good. I mean, it makes it. He looks angry. in this thing. He's kind of leaning over his desk. It's a very menacing looking pose. When I think of Trump, I, you know, I don't think of the menacing. I mean, he can, obviously, he can look menacing, but I don't think that's the look he has most of the time. Again, your thoughts on the Trump Gold Coin, you go to the IH Radio app, KTRH. First name, where are you calling from? Don't forget to hit that microphone button. 640, time for traffic and weather together. Put an oil Derek on it. Drill, baby, drill. Dave, I like on the backside. Instead of the bald eagle, I like that idea. I really like Dave's come and get it. All right, let's do I-10 East, hardworking east side, Billy from Jersey Village on the Iheart Radio app. Good morning. It's got Mike, about a mile past Garth, west of Garth, where we are at a dead standstill. We had a wreck on the outbound side that looks like they've... mentioned that already. I think give it a few minutes. That'll get a lot better. Also, Scott from Wallaceville this morning's first banana sticker found a wreck at Cove. That's now clear. We've got some suckage coming over the Lost and Old River Bridge. I think that'll be gone shortly, too. Let's stay the course. Golf Freeway. Aha. We got laneage. We had it first. That's a wreck at Tillipson. And we've got, I said we had laneage. And that is, okay, two right lanes backed up from the Home Depot and Southwest Freeway. I did. not get this one first. Inbound at the West Loop 610. Look at all that scutory. This is the ramp. Oh, he's overturned, too. Good Lord. This is right in the main lanes. We're messed up from Hillcroft. It's also packing up the ramp to the gallery. I'm Skymike. It's the ability tree experts traffic center. From our KTRH Generators Supercenter, 24-hour weather center. Terry Smith is here on the first day of spring, and we're going to have a nice, warm day and see a little bit of sunshine, too.

Yeah, I think we'll have a fair amount of sunshine today through the weekend. You might have a little bit in the way of some clouds briefly in the morning, not going to hang around very long. High pressure is... keeping us dry and very, very warm for this time of year. Typically, our temperatures during the afternoon would be in the mid-70s. Well, we're running mainly in the mid-to-upper 80s today through the weekend into early next week. Near the bay, near the coast, low 80s this afternoon. No rain. And we'll just have to see if we're setting records over the weekend. Temperature right now, still 57, here at your officials, Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740, KTRH. I'm sure that New York Governor Kathy Hochul would love all the wealthy people to come home for Christmas, and if not for Christmas, by New Year's Day, please, because we don't have, we've lost $11 billion in tax revenue. Well, what did you think was going to happen? when you made all those changes, when you elect a socialist mayor, I'm sorry, communist mayor for New York City. What in the H.E.L. did you think was going to happen? Here she is yesterday begging for the wealthy to come home. I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state. Right. Now, there are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. Okay, cut me the checks. I mean just if you want to be supportive, but maybe the first step should be go down to Palm Beach and see we can bring back home because our tax base has been eroded. So I feel so we don't have a problem. It is like I have to look at the fact that we are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals. And I would say remote work changed everything. There were people who could only work in an office in Manhattan and work in New York State. And they were captives to our state. They were going to stay. We saw that that's not the case. I mean, you know, Wall Street, businesses looking at Texas, they're not going there because they have a nicer governor. I know that for sure. Do you? They're going there. Well, you're right. They're coming here because we don't have a state income tax. And they're coming here because our other taxes are. fairly reasonable, especially compared to a place like New York City. If you know what the problem is, then change it. But of course, no. She wants she wants patriotic, wealthy people to come back to her state and stroke checks for programs they don't support. That's not how it works, Governor Hokel. All right, time for, well, the timeline's coming up here in a few minutes. Time night now for traffic and weather together. Here's Sky Mike. They've uprighted that overturn on the Southwest Freeway inbound on the main lanes. Just one little left lane getting by at the West Loop 610. Big spackle now from Fondren and also the ramp to the Galleria is affected. 288 much better since they cleared the problem on the Gulf Freeway downtown. If you're over 50 and you could afford the toll lanes, you might be retired. Thank you, Scott, man. And you've got the Gulf Freeway north.

found they just cleared that wreck around telephone still some uh still some backup now from griggs you lose about four or five stay the course it gets better i'm sky mike in the ability tree experts traffic center from our kTR h generator super center 24 hour weather center partly cloudy very warm today right about 85 then near record high temperatures in fact i think if we get to 90 tomorrow we will break the record Partly cloudy, and then Sunday, partly cloudy with the high of 86. Today is the first day of spring, and spring arrives in about two and a half hours. Current temperature is 57 at your official severe weather station. News Radio 740KTRH. Thiff is here, ready to update some of our top stories on a Friday. Man that led Galveston County deputies on a chase through Laporte is in the hospital. We don't know what started the chase, but we do know he had a gun in his car. Five Mexican illegal aliens are indicted after a bust uncovered 3,000 pounds of meth. And so much for AI, huh? A dancing robot goes viral for malfunctioning. Busting moves and dishes at a restaurant in California. Get the latest news anytime at KTRH.com. Our next update is at 7. I live in Pasadena. Sharptown, Southwest. Next on the 10. Time saving traffic on 740 KTRH. President Trump remembered Pearl Harbor the other day. Japan's prime minister. By the way, this is pretty amazing. We've got a whole slew of allies who now all of a sudden are cooperating to help protect the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom is in France. Yes, even those French-Frenchy French, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and also Japan. Because after all, they have an interest in, you know, they have to import all their oil. They have an interest in all this stuff. Here is President Trump with Japan's prime minister when he made a comment about Pearl Harbor. She looked a little, I don't know if she was uncomfortable. She looked like she couldn't decide whether she should laugh or what she should do. So here is the comment from Trump and reaction from Dana Perino on the Five. We went in very hard and we didn't tell anybody about it because we wanted. Surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor? Okay? Giorgia Meloni in Italy, she's got a great face for reactions. Have you ever seen? Like, there's all these memes about her. The Prime Minister of Japan, a little bit more subtle. In a way, I felt like she kind of wanted to laugh. But she, like, 10,000 thoughts went through her mind at the same time. We're sort of like, that's funny. I shouldn't laugh. Everybody's watching me. I don't know what to do. But I also think she's super smart.

She knew that she wasn't going to go into her first meeting with the president at the Oval Office without something to give. Yeah. And they're working on it. And I also think that the White House in some ways, and I think maybe behind the scenes, they were a little bit more understanding that all of these leaders also have constituents. Yeah. And they have to figure out a way to talk to people. own citizens about why they would do this, how it would work, et cetera. So I think that got underway today. I would mention one other thing. The media coverage has been what it is, right? If you're looking at media coverage, as you and I understand it, everybody at this table, right? We're here. We're doing a show. We grew up, we were just talking about the McLaughlin group. We know that there's social media. I think that... The scales have tipped so much when it comes to mainstream media versus how people are typically getting their news now. They're almost all on social media. Sometimes that can be great. But for a lot of it, it's really bad. And that's not just here in America. That is in those countries too. And so the complaints about the media. I just, they land where they land. They're fine, but I think that the bigger ball game right now is the communications writ large around the world, especially attacking a lot of the disinformation. All right. Thank you, Dave Prino. All right. Time for the timeline. We have a pair of tickets for Santana. Also, the Doobie Brothers, August 21st of the Woodlands Pavilion, tickets are on sale right now at Ticketmaster.com that you can win a pair from us. Just tell us what year today's timelines from. The guy who grabbed Terry Anderson is kidnapped in Beirut. He waved his pistol at me as if to go away. I have my veto pen drawn and... Ronald Reagan warned his political foes. I have only one thing to say to the tax increases. Go ahead. Make my day. I don't know. I think you're pretty cute. I like guys with red hair. At the movies, Cher, starred in Mask. You're my mother. Yeah, well, you're not my warden. You're a doctor. Your mom's a lawyer. Brand new to the top ten on TV. See you. The Cosby Show. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. And number one on the radio.

One more night. What year was it? If you know, 713-212-58-74, that is 713-212-K-T-R-H. Good luck. All right, hey, we have a winner. That'd be Ron, Rock Island, 1985. It was the guest, and he was absolutely right. You get a pair of tickets, Ron, to go see Santana and the Doobie Brothers on August 21st at the Woodlands Pavilion. Enjoy the show, and thank you for listening to Houston's Morning News. This is News Radio 740, KTRH Houston, an I-Heart radio station, guaranteed human. Now, the latest news, weather, and traffic. It's more of what matters to you from the John Moore Services Studios. It's 7 a.m. on Houston's morning news. I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett, among our top stories this half hour. Harris County Commissioners give the go-ahead to unionize. Guilty or innocent, the jury is still out on KP. George. And coming up at 7.0. A bridge for butterflies. And cougars details in the minutes ahead. Which kind of cougars? I'll let you guess it. Or just stick around for nine minutes. I'll tell you, Scott Mike. It's a break right right here. Clear the Southwest Freeway. That wreck is gone. The suckage will be there for a little bit now from Fondren on the northbound. Should you stay or should you go? Let's go to Alt 90, the Most City Expressway or your Katie Freeway, which is looking pretty good. North Freeway, I can't believe it. We don't even have a wreck at the Shepherd Curve. Jeff from Conroe is having an easy ride. Any one timeline. Outstanding. I'm in the generator supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH, top tax defenders 24-hour weather center. For today, we're looking at plenty of sunshine. Well, actually, partly cloudy, so we will see a few clouds today. But it's going to be nice and warm with a high temperature right about 85. The complete forecast is coming away from Terry Smith at the weather channel in eight minutes. Right now, still 57 at your official severe weather station, news radio 740 KTRH. I'm now for the news. Here's Cliff Saunders. 702. We're brought to you by the Texas Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, our top story. We certainly talk about it again when she returns. Her having missed the last three meetings, I'm not sure when she's coming. Oh, shot fired by Harris County Precinct 3 Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey. His resolution, though, calling for the judge to resign after her stunt at the rodeo last week was delayed by Democrats at Rodney Ellis. Ellis and the Dems also voted three to one to give county workers the ability to organize, in other words, unionize. That'll start October 1st. Ramsey was the only vote against it. Another soft on crime judge exposed as a woman facing nearly 40 different felony theft charges. managed to get out on just $75,000 bond from a jump named Natta Cornelio in Harris County. This has many people outraged.

We as a society have to determine are we going to continue to enable and condone this criminal behavior? And this is what you're going to get. Retail industry in shambles, stores, closing. That shouldn't be the norm. Andy Kahn with Crime Stopper says it's a prime example of why need stronger penalties for theft convictions. The jury in the money laundering trial of Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George now has the case. After closing arguments yesterday. George is facing two felony money laundering charges tied to how prosecutors say he handled campaign funds. Prosecutors argue he used those funds for personal items, a down payment on a house and property taxes. If convicted, he faces between two and 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine as well as probation. TJ Parker with our TV partner channel 2. It is now 703 on KTRH. If you're flying out of Bush Intercontinental Airport today, you better get there early. Airport says standard TSA lines are only open on terminals A and C. And right now we're looking at some delays of over two and a half hours reserved right now. How much time did you allow yourself to get down here and make sure you get through this line? We gave it about an hour and a half, two hours. All due to the Democrat DHS shutdown. The nomination of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin clears committee and heads to the full Senate. If confirmed, he'll replace the fired Christie Gnome. But don't look for the Dems and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to end the stalemate any time soon. They're focused on unleashing ICE brutality and acting massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors. and spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in the Middle East. Fact check. One, you voted for deportations. Two, you're getting bigger tax refunds because of the big, beautiful bill. And three, Iran since 1979, is responsible for the murders of hundreds, if not thousands of Americans. Democrats are also doing nothing to pass the Save America Act, but some think Senate Republicans aren't fighting hard enough for the bill. Aaron Evans is the president of Washington-based winning Republican strategies. We've seen a lot of politics as usual, and we've seen a lot of excuses, but ultimately we need bold leadership happening to ensure that this gets passed. And if they don't get it passed? If we can't pass this, the American people are going to be asking this November, why the heck do we need a Republican majority to begin with? And if that's the case, there's going to be real electoral repercussions. He credits Louisiana Senator John Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for stepping up. and trying to lead. Jeff Andy Biggs News Radio 740 KT-R-H. 705, the U.S. reportedly sending more ships and Marines to the Middle East for Operation Epic Fury. CIA director John Ratcliffe says our involvement there is warranted. Iran possesses at least 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to weapons grade 60%. which doesn't have a civilian use. The only use for that would be the development of nuclear weapons. John Ratcliffe for the House testifying yesterday, Trump meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sinai Takeichi at the White House and asked by a reporter why he didn't let allies know about what was going on with the Middle East before it began. We wanted...

Surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor? We'll have more on the Middle East at 730.706 closer to home. The state has launched a new agricultural defense program to help farmers and ranchers deal with pests. and predators. There's one species that impacts everyone. It's feral hogs. That's Tracy Thomasick with the Texas Farm Bureau. He says their impact on agriculture has only gotten worse over the last decade. NCAA tournament date to today. Yesterday we saw UH beat Idaho 7847. They will play Texas A&M after the Aggies beat St. Mary, 63 to 50. And then there's UT topping BYU 79 to 71. That gets them a date with Gonzaga tomorrow. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's News Weather and Traffic Station News Radio 740, KTRH. What's started in your car now works on your phone with the new I Heart Radio app. The new presets are fantastic. Get Houston's news, weather, and traffic. That's how I listen to KTRH. Instantly. No, no, no, Mark. I meant the roaring cougar. I didn't mean that kind of cougar. They're building a bridge for cougars in California. Oh, and butterflies too. So far. It's at $114 million and it's not done yet. It is a bridge with a natural habitat that's supposed to entice butterflies and cougars to cross the interstate there so that they don't end up being roadkill because it's a very busy California highway. Yep, that's what Governor Gavin Newsom likes spending the money on. It's way over budget and way over the timeline, not done yet. Here's Greg Gutfeld having fun. California's bonkers bridge to nowhere. Joe, Gavin Newsom burned through $114 million, building a wildlife bridge for butterflies and cougars. And those aren't even euphemisms. To cross an L.A. freeway. Now it's 20 million over budget behind schedule and still unfinished. Is this like the most California thing ever? It's amazing. If you look at the picture, you can see it looks nice. There's no way to get on or off of it. Yeah. So it's just sitting there wasting money. And they said it's supposed to minimize dangerous collisions between animals and U-Hauls fleeing for Texas. It'll never work, even if they finish it, even if they spend a zillion dollars, because the cougars aren't going to want to be there because it's going to turn it to a tent city for drug addicts and crazy people. And the big cats are going to say, could you at least bury your turds? You know what the main point is here? And you touched on this in the last segment. It's not just California. Yeah. Like this is one of Gavin Newsom's phenomenally dumb ideas. This is a hundred million dollar project. He says there need to be a hundred more wildlife overpasses built in the state. And he wants to be your president. That means all of this stuff is going to be national policy in 2028. If this.

gets elected. Yeah. Let's hang on to this, just in case he's the Democrat nominee, and he may very well be 7-10, time for traffic and weather together. Wow. What are those that's pretty... What's going on, Skymike. Oh, well, I'm just pushing buttons bumping my gums here. Let's check out that North Loop 610. You just never know. Jimmy just might come to you right there on time. 610 North. I got some trouble here. Mike from Willis, hit it. Skymati, right at the Yale North Main exit. There's a two-car accident. the number two lane. No ninjas, nobody else on site at the moment. Probably a little bit of a sprint. Oh, so well said. Extra points. Hit him, Kitty. Burbage. All right, Cindy from Dayton talking to us. I'm like Hewlenberg Festival. Please, you've been dumb bumping about that traffic on the Southwest Freeway inbound. Being it in person, wow. What have been to a pretty white light. I don't think people in this. cars are feeling the same. Have a great Friday. All right. We cleared that, but the scrunch is still there now northbound. And Chapel Hill, Ray, he's checking out 2.9 for me. Good one is the sky. Mike. It's a little foggy out here. It's in this Friday on a good note. Terry, could you hear what he was saying at the last part? He said it's foggy out there and let's end this Friday on a good note. Oh, see, you got to give me some good sound quality, folks, because I might hear you wrong. You know, I might hear you say farm to market road. And then, Terry, what do you think they think? Party Monkey Road. You could be saying. Party Monkey Road. So be sure giving me good sound quality, y'all. All right, I'm in the Ability Tree Experts Traffic Center. That and turn up your bell tone. From our KTRH, top tax defenders, 24-hour weather center. Terry is here. You've got any buttons you'd like to push this morning? How about the spring button? Let's push that this morning. We are pushing the spring button. 946, folks. That's the time spring begins. The Vernal Equinox says it. it is known in proper society. But we're not doing spring. To heck with spring. Let's just get on with summer because it is going to be a warm day today. Warped through the weekend early next week, not a drop of rain. Temperatures for the most part will be in the mid to upper 80s. We might see a few 90s. If you're near the coast, it'll be just slightly cooler in the low 80s closer to the coast. Temperature right now, we're still at 57, here at your official Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740, KTRH. I live in Pasadena. Sharptown, Southwest. Next on the 10, time-saving traffic on 740 KTRH. Well, I'm, if you listen to the program on regular basis, you know, I'm very pessimistic about the Save America Act and the ability to get that passed, and I think that one of the biggest people standing in the way right now is John Thune. the Republican head of the Senate, and I don't see that changing. At least so far, he's not willing to do anything on the filibuster. He's not willing to fight. Very few Republicans are willing to fight, unfortunately. So what happens next? We'll have Aaron Evans join us in a moment. President of winning Republican strategies, see how he feels about whether or not GOP senators are willing to make this a fist fight in order to get the save of America Act passed. First, though, traffic and weather together, starting with you, Skymike. I'm going to be short for Aaron Evans. Let's do Southwest Freeway this time. All right, so we cleared that wreck that was on the inbound at 610. They picked up the overturn. There's something behind it now at Hillcroft. I see that. Look at the skunch coming up right before Hillcroft, Fondren, and now outbound. You've got a wreck. You've got north loop, westbound. That's a wreck at Maine. I'm Skymike from the generator supercenter.com traffic center. From our KTRH, top tax defenders, 24-hour weather center.

Partly cloudy, very warm, about 85 today. Partly cloudy near record highs, 88, maybe even 90 in a few spots tomorrow. And then partly cloudy 86 on Sunday. Current temperature 57, period your official's severe weather station. News Radio 740 KTRH. We're ready to update you on some of our top stories on a Friday. Here's clip. The body of missing college student Jimmy Gracie has been found in Barcelona. If you thought that Washington was liberal, here's proof. Washington State, the governor there just signed off on a new law banning law enforcement from wearing face masks. And today is the final weekend of the rodeo. Conradative Parker McCollum. is taking the stage tonight. Get the latest news anytime at kTRh.com. Our next update is at 7.30. The app that puts the app in happening. We have some breaking news. You ready? Make KTRH your number one preset on the new and improved free iHe hard radio app. Here's the question, can Trump save the Save America Act that he so desperately wants past without the cooperation of John Thune? Not looking good, is it? 722. Let's talk to Aaron Evans, President of winning Republican strategies. It's pretty clear who's in the way right now. So how do we go about convincing John Thune? He needs to do the right thing. Yeah, look, you know, I think when we step back and look at what the Democrats do nonstop, I mean, they will fight and resist. And, I mean, right now we've not even had the government fully funded. And, I mean, we've had four terror attacks on American soil. And the Democrats are so stubborn. They haven't even funded Department of Homeland Security, which exists, you know, four. the purpose of preventing that stuff from happening. And they're still sticking to their guns on this immigration battle that most people aren't even talking about anymore. So that's the result we see on their side. I mean, they'll imperil the entire country while we're getting attacked by terrorists to make a point and to get their agenda done. And on the flip side, you know, as Republicans... The party works hard and gets a majority. And then, you know, we can't, in 2016, we couldn't defund Obamacare and repeal Obamacare. And now here we are with... arguably the most important act of the entire you know presidential administration and and we can't get this thing pushed through but look we've got to get serious and it's got to be beyond politics as usual we have to not just talk and not just you know give platitudes on Fox News but we actually need action and

You know, we've already got, I mean, this needs to be one of those things where no Senate bill passes the House unless until this happens in the Senate. This needs to be something where any bill that the Democrats want to push through in the Senate needs to have this tied to it. I mean, you know, across the board, there's multiple strategies that the Democrats do to us all the time when they have power. And, but this is something that the American people want. It's overwhelmingly popular with American voters. And, you know, it seems to be that the only people that don't feel as passionate about it are on the hill. Well, and let's talk about that for a second because I think that's what the problem is. And I think what's your siding are all things that we've talked about ad nauseum before. So why don't we just be honest with each other and say that the John Thune of the world, the John Cornyn of the world, even though John Cornyn says he supports this, the rhinos, the rhino Republicans, they don't really want the Save America Act. Because I have a sneaking suspicion. They want to be able to steal and cheat just like the Democrats do. You know, it's really hard trying to figure out sometimes the why of the swamp. But, you know, I think that the bottom line is, you know, anyone who wants to get reelected needs to understand that the Republican base is not only wanting this, but demanding this. It's one of President Trump's top priorities. And it's just a fundamental core of what we need to do to fix. you know, some of the things that are wrong in America right now that voters elected President Trump to fix. And so, you know, this is this is not a time for politics as usual. This is a time for bold leadership to show America, you know, that Republicans are fighting for them and that the Republican Party is advancing what they were elected to do. And if we fell to do this, it's going to be very hard to make that argument in November. Yep. And you're worried about that. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Aaron Evans, President of Winning Republican Strategies. It's 726. Time to take a look at your money. Good morning. Three weeks of conflict have upended the entire energy supply chain and has shaken up the markets. The price of global crude has gained around 50% this month, and the S&P 500 is on track for a third week of losses. Yesterday, the Dow closed down 204 points. I'm Courtney Dunahoe, Bloomberg Business on News Radio 740, KTRH.

Houston's news weather traffic plus breaking news 24-7. This is News Radio 740 KTRH. Live everywhere with the IRRF. More of what's happening now from the John Moore Services Studios. It's 730 here on Houston's morning news. I'm Jimmy Amy Coney Barrett, among our top stories this F hour. Trump changes their minds about helping us in the Strait of Hormuz. You think that illegals are more patriotic than you? And coming up at 738, pay no attention to those who say that things aren't going well in Iran. Details in the minutes ahead. First, we're checking out that drive again. Here's Sky Mike. Southwest Freeway Beach Nutt, Southbound. Sure enough, you got multiple vehicles. One, two, three, left lanes. Four cars. Big smudge coming down from Fondrent. Clear the north loop at Maine, westbound. Usual squeeze at 45. Dustin from the north side. Morning, Sky, Mike. Seems like there's a fire off the North Freeway, inbound. Right after Parker before Tidwell smoke all over the freeway. People are slowing down. Let's check on Mac. Right, inbound, I see that skunch. I'm Skymike. It's your ability, tree experts, traffic center. From our KTRH, generator super center, 24-hour weather center, partly cloudy, very warm. It looks like about 85 degrees for the hide today. We'll check out the rest of the weekend forecast. First weekend is spring. When we talk to Terry Smith at the Weather Channel, in nine minutes, right now 56, at your official severe weather station. News Radio 740, KTRH. It's time for the news. Here's Cliff Saunders. It is 731, our top story this morning. It is less dangerous today after just 21 days, and it is not at its weakest yet. President Trump has created the conditions, though, keep Americans safe for decades to come. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as Operation Epic Freedom is now in day 21. The EU finally says something about what's been happening, condemning Iran for attacking its neighbors. Meantime, the Pentagon is looking for another $200 billion in supplemental funding for the Middle East up. We've had over 100 instances where they've come in American troops. Hamas is their surrogate army. They've killed Americans. And at what point do we say enough is enough? Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett. Oil futures are down this morning to under $95 a barrel. The latest rise in gas prices has revealed yet another. Mainstream media double standard. Stories about high gas prices are suddenly everywhere since the start of the Iran war, even though prices were much higher for much longer under the Biden administration with far less coverage. Fox News media analyst Joe Concha says this was predictable. I think we can safely come to one incontrovertible fact that if it's good for Trump and therefore good for the country, legacy media will reflexively be against it. It's the reflex for the press to greatly exaggerate the negative while applying the bias of the initiative to the positive.

also praised high gas prices in the past because it would get drivers off of fossil fuels and into electric cars. Cory Olson, News Radio 740, KTRH. So Trump has Iran on his mind, and he's also watching Cuba. Mike Gonzalez, who served in the George W. Bush administration, was asked if Trump can pull off Iran and Cuba. What would his legacy be? I think his legacy will be assured in the annals of history. Trump may be the first president to be able to walk in a free Tehran, a free Caracas, and a free Havana. Nothing compares to that. If historians are not far left, Loonies. In the meantime, Gonzalez says it's time for the U.S. to act in Cuba. 733, closer to us, another day, another jaw-dropping comment from Democrat, Texas, U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. I taught a lot of undocumented students. And those students tended to be my most patriotic students. That was James Talarico in an interview that took place in Dallas. And then there's the video from 2022 that has resurfaced when James Talarico said he and his staff, mind you, this is Texas, we're no longer going to eat meat. I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign, not just policymakers, but everyone has to take personal responsibility in this effort. Despite this, it looks like he posted pictures of himself feeding a turkey leg at the state fair, so yeah, trying to play both sides. Four Muslim schools are added to Texas's new school choice program. The move confirmed by the state controllers office, which can't comment because there's a lawsuit going on over this. The application period ends on March 31st. 734 Dow futures down 147 points after another down day on Wall Street yesterday. But despite the gloom and doom that you get on the economy from the Main Street media, there's this. Home sales in February were up. Mortgage rates. Down. Home sales are up almost 2% with over 4 million in sales according to the NAR's February report. Financial advisor Derek Kenny says buyers are dismissing the noise focused on the bottom line. The home you've been putting off is now more affordable and they feel like their job is secure and there's a couple extra bucks left at the end of the month. With rates just under 6% last month. That can be a green light. for people who want to buy, and that means good news for the economy as well. Kenny says not to let worry and hesitation slow you down. I'm Erica Smith, News Radio 740, KTRH. Almost half of Americans saving for retirement don't have enough to last them. That's according to the Federal Reserve's numbers. They just give us a reality check of are we on track for fulfilling our retirement goals? Financial strategist Bill Dendi there. 736, a new study says nearly 40% of Americans. both secular and religious, all believe we're headed towards the end of the world. Rabbi Brian Strauss with Beth Yesherun Synagogue says social media is making this worse. You see a video that promises the end times are here, and you're going to get 20 more later that day because you watch that video. Pastor Aaron Wright with Grace Family Baptist Church says Christians should avoid cycles of doom and gloom.

Whatever difficulty we may experience in life, God will use it for our good and our call is to be faithful, not to fret and worry over what we see on the news. Strauss echoed that sentiment saying the focus should be on making the world a better place, not panicking over an apocalypse. Ethan Buchanan, News Radio 740, KTRH. The Houston Rock is host the Atlanta Hawks tonight. We'll have the pregame on KTRH starting at 6.30 and the Astros in spring training. Lose to the Mets, the final there, 6 to 2. I'm Cliff Saunders on Houston's News Weather and Traffic Station, News Radio 740, KTRH. U.S. News. You shut down the government. That means no money for FEMA. And global views. Beautiful armada, floating beautifully toward Iran. On News Radio 740, KTRH. Well, we continue to bomb Iran, so does Israel. We're not getting help from allies on that. That's okay. That's all right. We don't need Japan to bomb anybody. Last time Japan bombed somebody, they started our involvement in World War II. But the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada. Yeah, even Canada. Say they're going to help us secure the Strait of Hormuz. So Trump has managed to flip their minds about being involved, at least to that extent. I'd love to know exactly what happened. They get all of them back in line. I'm glad they're back in line, but I'd love to know exactly what it is. He did or said. But, you know, the mainstream media, you continue to watch the progressive media. If you watch them, you think we're getting our butts kicked over there. This thing is dragging on. We're not making any progress. Victor Davis Hansen. I'm a Sean Hannity last night said, well, let's take a look at the evidence. You know, we don't have people on the ground to tell us what's really happening in Iran, except, you know, captive news people like CNN that are there only with the permission of the theocracy. But there's enough evidence to see. how things are really going. Europeans would never agree to go anywhere near around unless they thought the tide was turning and they think that we're going to win. Otherwise, they would keep still. And the reason that the pectoral nations of the Gulf survive is they have their finger in the wind and they're very attuned to the climate. And when you have Al Jazeera praising the United States bombing campaign and saying that it's been underestimated and it's brilliant and effective, you get the feeling that they think not only should the United States finish the job, but it can and will finish the job. And then when you start to see tactical aircraft like ward hogs and Apaches, that means that they're offering almost ground and sea support to hit targets. There's nothing. There's no defense at all when you have that type of aircraft flying at will in Iranian airspace. So you put it all together. And I think it's pretty clear that

This rope-a-dope strategy that they have that we're going to tire before they are is dependent on just public opinion, the midterms in the United States. And if Trump sees it through, and I think he will, I think they're going to fall pretty soon in two, three, four weeks. And I think they know it. And I think the Europeans know it. And I think the Middle East knows it. And their only hope, the Iranians only hope is that somebody will call Donald Trump off before the job is finished. I think that makes all the sense of the world to me. I think that's a perfect assessment of what's going on. All right, 740, time for little traffic and weathered together. What do you got, Skymike? I got Southwest Freeway craziness. All right, we had the deal with the loop. It's been gone forever. You had a second wreck behind that around Chimdy Rock. That's gone. We're scoched from Hillcroft, inbound, and then outbound. The hoopla is still there from Fondren, but they've cleared the wreck at Beach Nutt. Let's take the KD. Let's take all Alt 90. You got that light at 610 again. Dadgummit. All right, you got 610 north, squeezed at 45. Reports of a wreck. on the ramp that goes up, back up to north line. And then you've got the smush up now from, let's call it, almost LBJ Hospital that way. The other way, slow from T.C. Jester. Rubin from Springs on 45. It's a guy, Mike, definitely a big kerfuffle here on 45 north, right past 99. I haven't seen it yet, but I've been passed by about four fire trucks. Oh, dude, were you in the woodlands yesterday? Horrible southbound. This time it's northbound. Grand Parkway, I believe the wreck. is there and southbound i got some breaks at shepherd i understand there's smoke across the freeway terry i am so confused there's equinox there's solstice one of them you have cabbage with your family and kiss under the holly and the other one you dance naked around fires which one are we talking i'm the ability tree experts traffic center solstice please don't tell them to get naked please please i've never been invited to any of those parties the ghetto house it's on i'll start a fire Yeah, clothing optional at the ghetto house, just so you know, Terry. Okay, okay. Well, um... Oh, I should give you your official introduction. Yeah, let's do that. That's probably my best way out of this from our KTRH generator super center, 24-hour weather center. Terry Smith is here. Yes, I'm here and I'm here to talk about the vernal equinox. Okay, it's the equinox. Equinox. Equal day and night and equal nox, equal night. It's supposed to be something like that. It's not actually completely equal, but what it is is sun rays are hitting directly at the equator. And thank goodness because if they were hitting any hotter, oh, these temperatures would be even hotter than they're going to be. It's going to be a very warm weekend. Low to upper 80s all weekend long, most of us mid to upper 80s, a few 90s sprinkled in there. There is no rain. There is no change in this pattern, at least no change of any consequence through Tuesday. Right now, 57, here at your officials, Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740, KTRH.

I always hit traffic on 59. Next on the 10. Your faster commute on 740 KTRH. 750s are time here in Houston's morning news. They have finally found a missing University of Alabama student in Barcelona. He went to Spain on a trip and didn't come back. And they finally found his body. He's dead. They're trying to figure out exactly what happened. But it's a cautionary tale. of, you know, your son or your daughter, and I hate to sound like a chauvinist, but daughters in particular, how you worry about them going to a foreign country, especially if they're not going with a group that they're going to be with all the time, because guess what? Spain is just as dangerous as the United States. All these European countries, they're not the same as they were 10 years ago. More on that story coming up next. But first, let's do traffic and weather together, starting with Skymike. It's the North Freeway, Jimmy, south outbound at the Hardy Toll Road. Man, we had it just a minute ago, and the camera moved. All right, I'm going to call this two, maybe three right lanes. Saw somebody sideways. That wreck is a big mess up, big pack up now from Luetta, and it's getting worse by the minute. This is outbound, not inbound, 20-minute wait here. God, the woodlands was a disaster yesterday. yesterday. West Loop, up to uptown, slow from Beech Nutt, down to Uptown slope from 290. Oh, bonfire party at my house, Jimmy. I'm Sky Mike. It's the Ability Tree Experts Traffic Center. Robar KTRH Generator Super Center, 24-hour weather center. Partly cloudy, very warm, 85 for today. Partly cloudy near record high temperature tomorrow somewhere in the upper 80s to maybe close to 90. And then partly cloudy, mid-upper 80s again on Sunday. Current temperature is 57. And your official, Severe Weather Station, News Radio 740, KTRH. We've got some top stories, at least a few top stories, to check out. Here's Cliff. Senate debates the Save American Act today. The DOJ, apparently subpoena's former FBI director, James Comey, over his role in the Russia hoax. And you don't have to worry about this price going up. Costco says it's $1.50 hot dog and soda combo will remain. $1.50. Get the latest news anytime at KTRH.com. Our next update is at 8 o'clock. What has happened just yesterday? What's happening today? Happening right now. What happens? The things are happening. Stop right here. On News Radio 740, KTRH. All right, would you let your daughter go to Spain unchaperoned? Because, you know, bad things can happen in Spain or England or anywhere else. They found the body that missing University of Alabama student, his name Jimmy Gracie, Gracie, pardon me. Here's international private investigator James Armaz. It's not as safe in Europe as it used to be. Hang on. Here he comes now. When you're dealing with a situation like this where you've got a nightclub environment, tons of people that are from the local community, and then you have people like Jimmy who were probably international tourists on vacation. What they need to do is they need to go frame by frame of every camera in that nightclub to try and identify who came through the door. And more importantly, who was in contact with that young man while he was in the nightclub.

One of the ways that you can do that is you compare the footage of the people coming through the door, seen if they pay a covered charge. Did they pay with cash? Did they pay with a credit card? Did they make any charges while they were inside the nightclub at the bar? And you try and tie their credit card to their identification to try and hopefully give you the ability to try and track those people down and question them as to what their interaction with that young man was. What our spring breakers and our children don't understand is the world is not the same as it was 10 years ago. This is a completely different world. And when I hear about people traveling overseas, you know, college students traveling overseas, young girls going backpacking by themselves after they graduate from college, it's disturbing. It's scary because more and more I've seen just based on the calls that I'm receiving from people who travel and are being attacked on vacation. I'm seeing it happen more and more in Colombia. where Americans are being targeted. They're being dosed with scopolamine, which the bad guys call it the devil's breath. A little bit too much of that scopolamine, and it can kill the victim. But you're seeing people that are being drugged, robbed, and unfortunately, if they're drugged or dosed too highly, it can lead to their death. But you are definitely right when you say that we should be concerned about travel overseas because this is a completely different world now. You know, I'm trying to think back to when I was young and kind of stupid. And when you're young, you have this feeling of being, you know, bulletproof that nothing's going to happen to you. Sure, something bad may have happened to somebody else, but that's not me. I can take care of myself kind of a thing. And we have a tendency to not do the things we need to do when we're super young to protect ourselves, you know, to be. observative things going on around us of making sure that we've got other people there who are willing to help take care of us so that nothing bad happens. I'm not saying that you shouldn't let your kids go overseas, but if you do, please make sure that they realize it can be just as dangerous there as anywhere else. All right, y'all have a great day. Have a great weekend. See you Monday morning, bright and early 5 a.m. Hope to see you this afternoon at 4 on AM 950, KPRC.