NUECES COUNTY

Commissioners voted in 2020 to demolish and rebuild Bob Hall Pier, which was destroyed during Hurricane Hanna.

After missing two meetings, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez spoke with the Board of Judges about his office's staff shortage.

Neal, a former Nueces County judge and Corpus Christi mayor, was credited as the driving force for multiple major South Texas projects.

The whereabouts of Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez has come in up in the board's two meetings this month.

The massive project to convert U.S. 77 and U.S. 281 to interstate-quality I-69 from the Valley to points north began several years ago. So says Pete Sepulveda Jr., Cameron County administrator and director of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. “We’ll be going to the county judge, county commissioners, mayors, city commissioners, etc.,” he said. The more they hear from us, the better.”The best way for members of the public to submit comments on the I-69 project is to email TxDOT, Sepulveda said. The CCRMA will be in Austin lobbying for the six projects in August when TxDOT finalizes the UTP, Sepulveda said.

Detectives with the Traffic Section Unit received information on a possible suspect from a 2012 fatal hit-and-run.

A severance agreement for Nueces County’s embattled former chief medical examiner cleared him of liability in possible civil litigation.

South Texas had endured a number of droughts over the decades, and in the 1990s it led to the creation of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline.

Two of the people accused in the 2016 killing of Breanna Wood may finally face trials. Here's what happened so far.

A Nueces County grand jury declined this week to charge a U.S. marshal who shot and killed an unarmed Corpus Christi man in October.

Two men were arrested on illegal gambling charges after Corpus Christi police served a search warrant on Tuesday.

The legal notice names 15 families with claims of malfeasance, a significant expansion of the possible lawsuit first hinted at in May.

The Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers will protest a conservative group that aims to influence curriculum and library books in schools.

Conservative groups called for Nueces County to rescind an agreement with a nonprofit that provides sexual health education and resources for youth.

Robert Adler, a successful businessman known for his dedication to the Corpus Christi community, has died. He was 82.

The Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers and the Coastal Bend Trans Alliance distributed LGBTQ+ books to elected officials and businesses.

Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez said he is "disappointed" but "not suprised" by the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Friday.

District Judge Missy Medary declared a mistrial Thursday for a man charged in the 2018 death of Rockport woman Brenda King.

Nueces County's chief felony prosecutor said the staffing deficiencies are in line with a statewide shortage of seasoned prosecutors.

Children between 6 months and 5 years old can now receive COVID-19 vaccines. Here's where to get vaccinated in Nueces County.

In line with a statewide trend, COVID-19 cases have been rising in Nueces County for the past month.

The Commissioners Court approved a list of 11 people to serve on the oversight board, which is aiming to have the office up and running by Jan. 1.

Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez said he is ethically opposed to the death penalty, but an employee wrongfully requested the execution date against his wishes. Gonzalez sought to cancel the execution two days later.

Banquete, Bishop and West Oso schools are hosting Operation Health and Wellness.

The county was awarded more than $7.2 million to establish a mental health public defender's office. The funds will help cover costs for six years.

Nueces County commissioners approved a ban on aerial fireworks over the Fourth of July season due to an elevated fire risk across the area.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 using a home test kit can now report their result to the city health district online and by phone.

In Nueces County, homes for sale had a median price of $186 per square foot, while Texas's was $190

West Oso ISD, the local teachers union and local government have come together for a summer student program.

The system sends notifications on incoming severe weather, traffic alerts, police and fire activity, industry alerts and citywide information.

The commissioners voted to allocate the remainder of the funding needed to move forward with the project, which is still in the design phase.

The commissioners were meeting in a special session to discuss the allocation of American Rescue Plan funds for dozens of projects in the county.

Murphy has worked in environmental affairs for the city since 2009 and is currently the president of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.

After a years-long process, Nueces County commissioners approved new regulations for game rooms. The rules take effect on Oct. 1.

Get live results for Nueces, San Patricio, Kleberg and Aransas counties in the Texas' Democratic and Republican primary runoff election.

According to the job description, he was to obtain certain fire certifications within six months. However, state records showed he had not done so.

The Texas Attorney General's Office filed a letter Friday opposing the Nueces County District Attorney's motion to call off John Ramirez's execution.

Flour Bluff High School senior Julia Gilliam was awarded a "Don't Mess with Texas" scholarship for beach cleanup.

Climate change is here. We want to document where its effects are being felt in Texas, how communities are adapting and what government officials should do to help.

Nueces County officials arrest 19-year-old suspect in Banquete shooting

Despite an admonition from federal authorities, Land Commissioner George P. Bush’s plan still steers aid disproportionately to whiter, inland counties at less risk of natural disasters.

The fire is estimated to have spread over 100 acres as of Thursday afternoon.

The victim was taken to the hospital by HALO-Flight. The person's current condition is unknown.

The fire marshal was required to obtain an array of certifications within six months of appointment to the role.

In a 4-1 vote, Nueces County commissioners postponed the item until the court's next meeting on May 25.

A mother may file a lawsuit against Nueces County alleging the medical examiner's office mishandled her son's body after he died in June 2020.

Dr. Timothy Fagen declined the original offer last month. The appointment would make him the county's highest-paid employee.

The county employee was one of two accused of knowing the former deputy chief medical examiner was not licensed by the Texas Medical Board.

Pablo Castro's children filed an amicus brief in response to Nueces County DA Mark Gonzalez's motion to recall John Henry Ramirez's execution date.

In Nueces County, homes for sale had a median price of $182 per square foot, while Texas's was $176

Fernandez said he would be open to the position so long as he was employed through a monthly contract — not hired as a full-time employee.

Bobby Joe Benavides, a former corrections officer who allegedly was known as "The Punisher," pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate last year.

The court agreed to keep the emergency declaration in place for the purposes of reimbursement for COVID-19-related expenses.

The body of a San Antonio teenager was found on a Port Aransas beach early Friday, two days after his father died as he tried to help him.

A mother and her 1-year-old daughter who police say were kidnapped in Corpus Christi this week have been located.The Corpus Christi Police Department said Thursday morning that Jezabel, 18, and Zaylee Zamora are safe.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, which originated in the United Kingdom, has been identified in Nueces County, according to Dr. Srikanth Ramachandruni, a local health official. Once he returned home, the man was diagnosed with the new COVID-19 variant, Ramachandruni said. Officials say they feel confident that they can contain the spread of the new variant, given that the man has been isolated since he was informed. The state has since allocated 4,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Nueces County area, according to officials. Related: Texas sees 1st case of new variant amid push for more shots

SAN ANTONIO The majority of Padre Island National Seashore will reopen on Thursday after being closed due to damage from Hurricane Hanna. Both north and south beaches, as well as Malaquite Beach, the Bird Island Basin day-use area and boat ramp, will open at 6 a.m., according to the park. At this time, developed campgrounds at Malaquite and Bird Island Basin will remain closed. Primitive camping on both north and south beaches, however, will be allowed. The park says the dock at the Bird Island boat ramp is in the process of being rebuilt.

SAN ANTONIO – Beaches in Nueces County have reopened to vehicles as an order put in place to help stunt the spread of COVID-19 has expired. Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said Friday that the order, which closed vehicle access points at beaches within the county, will end on Monday, according to multiple reports. The newspaper reported that the modified order will restrict access to areas of beaches damaged by Hurricane Hanna. The order was put in place in July as the county asked tourists to stay home for the sake of social distancing. He said enforcing the order “depleted all of our overtime budgets” in providing 24-hour policing.

SAN ANTONIO – The mayor of Port Aransas says the city can no longer afford to implement the county beach closure order that was issued in July to help curb the effects of COVID-19. FYI: The city can no longer afford providing 24 hour day policing of the county beaches closure order. We have depleted... Posted by Mayor Bujan Information Page For Port Aransas Citizens on Sunday, August 9, 2020The mayor said as of Sunday morning, the city would no longer enforce the beach closure order. The order forces the closure of vehicle access points at beaches within the county, which encompasses Port Aransas, Padre Island and Corpus Christi. Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs told KIII in Corpus Christi that the department began to see a diminished outcome.

In mid-July, Corpus Christi made national headlines after a Nueces County health official said 85 babies had tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past two weeks, that number has nearly doubled, City-County Health Director Annette Rodriguez told KIII TV. Since the pandemic began in March, Nueces County has seen a total of 13,062 COVID-19 cases, according to the city’s dashboard. In Texas, nearly 460,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported as of Tuesday. Map: Track COVID-19 cases in Texas, county-by-county updates

The storm, which is the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, was expected to make landfall late Saturday afternoon or early evening south of Corpus Christi, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Live webcam footage showed waves sweeping over popular Whitecap Beach near Corpus Christi hours before the hurricane was expected to make landfall. First responders in Corpus Christi proactively placed barricades near intersections to have them ready to go if streets began to flood, McComb said. More than 9,100 people in the Corpus Christi area were without power early Saturday afternoon, according to AEP Texas. South Texas officials’ plans for any possible rescues, shelters and monitoring of the storm will have the pandemic in mind and incorporate social distancing guidelines and mask wearing.

HOUSTON – Officials in South Texas, hit by the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks, said Friday they’re also prepared to handle any challenges from Tropical Storm Hanna, which was headed their way and expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall this weekend. Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said she understands that the tropical storm would exacerbate already difficult times the county, which has about 362,000 residents, has been experiencing during the pandemic. South Texas officials' plans for any possible rescues, shelters and monitoring of the storm will have the pandemic in mind. In the Mexican city of Matamoros, located across the border from Brownsville, volunteers worried whether the tropical storm would impact a makeshift migrant camp near the Rio Grande River. Greg Abbott has announced that various resources to respond to the tropical storm are on standby across the state, including search-and-rescue teams and aircraft.

Employees with the City of Corpus Christi load sandbags into people's cars as Tropical Storm Hannah approaches on July 24, 2020. Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via Imagn Content Services, LLCCorpus Christi, already beset by a spike in COVID cases, now faces the dangers of Tropical Storm Hanna. The National Hurricane Service issued a hurricane warning for a section of the Texas coast from Baffin Bay to Sargent an area that includes Corpus Christi Bay, Copany Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay and Matagorda Bay. The National Weather Service issued a warning of life-threatening storm surge for the areas that include Corpus Christi, Rockport and Port Lavaca. The city already closed a drive-through coronavirus testing site in Corpus Christi until at least Tuesday, officials said.

HOUSTON Most of the 85 young children in a South Texas county who are known to have contracted the coronavirus tested positive this month amid a surge in the state, a health official said Sunday. But Rodriguez stressed Sunday that although the oldest of the cases goes back to mid-March, most of them 60 infants tested positive from July 1 to July 16. The child who died was less than half a year old and tested positive this month. The first young child from Nueces County was hospitalized in mid-June. One of the infants who tested positive is a recent newborn whose mother also has the virus, she said.

Over the four months of Texas course of the coronavirus, early hot spots Amarillo among them have been eclipsed by new regions in crisis now, South Texas. That behavior, particularly among young people, may be responsible for dozens of new hot spots that will be more difficult to eradicate. Those 123 "red zone" counties are home to some 23 million Texans the vast majority of the state's population. Typically, rural and community hospitals transfer patients to urban hospitals for acute care. Two weeks ago, there were just seven positive COVID-19 patients in the Amarillo hospital; by this week, that had more than tripled to 24.

Eighty-five infants younger than age 1 have tested positive for the coronavirus in Nueces County. REUTERSEighty-five infants who are under the age of 1 have tested positive for the coronavirus in Nueces County, CNN reports. When the pandemic first started ravaging the state, Nueces County stayed relatively healthy while the Amarillo region suffered. We currently have 85 babies under the age of one year in Nueces County that have all tested positive for COVID-19, Annette Rodriguez, director of public health for Corpus Christi Nueces County, told CNN. As The Texas Tribune previously reported, Nueces County Medical Examiner Adel Shaker said last week that a baby boy, less than 6 months old, had tested positive for COVID-19 and died.

Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales on Wednesday issued a new order that limits access and adds curfews at beaches within the county, which encompasses Port Aransas, Padre Island and Corpus Christi. Until 6 a.m. Aug. 1, unless extended or rescinded, vehicle access points will be closed at county beaches and parks, the order states. We need some help: Corpus Christi official asks tourists not to visit beaches amid COVID-19 surgePeople with physical disabilities or disabled veterans will be allowed to use golf carts on beaches. Canales made the plea to out-of-towners Monday during an interview with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi has recorded 70 COVID-19 deaths and 7,532 total cases.

Canales made the plea to out-of-towners Monday during an interview with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. We are not stable we are in a free fall and we need some help from Texas, Canales told the newspaper. In recent weeks, Corpus Christi has become a COVID-19 hotspot, and local officials worry it might be due to tourism. Infant dies of COVID-19 in Corpus ChristiTexas A&M University Corpus Christi researchers analyzed cellphone data recorded over two recent holidays Memorial Day and Independence Day. Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb expressed similar sentiments to the New York Times.

Nueces County officials announced Friday that an infant has died of COVID-19. According to a news release from the city of Corpus Christi, the patient was a boy younger than six months of age but would not release further information due to privacy reasons. Corpus Christi Councilman Ben Molina said the boy was only six weeks old, as did Nueces County Commissioner John Marez. The Health District just received notice of a COVID-19 related death of a six week old infant. My... Posted by John Marez on Friday, July 10, 2020Corpus Christi has been hard hit by the spread of COVID-19, with more than 5,000 cases reported since the pandemic began.

SAN ANTONIO – Medina Lake Park in Bandera County will be closed this Fourth of July weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic. The park, which is operated by the county, will stay closed until Wednesday, July 8, due to the virus, according to officials. The boat ramp at the park will also be closed to the public. Medina Lake Park is just one of the dozens of recreational areas in Central and South Texas that will not be open during the biggest holiday of the summer due to the virus. Cameron County, which includes South Padre Island, has also announced all county parks and county beaches will be closed over the weekend.

NORTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – A Texas boat captain received 17 citations for going over the daily bag limit for red snapper on July 6. Nueces County Game Wardens received a tip that a fisherman was regularly bringing in red snapper in excess of the daily bag limit, which is four fish per person per day, on North Padre Island, according to a spokesperson with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Four San Antonio lakes to be stocked with thousands of rainbow troutWardens located a recreational fishing vessel near North Padre Island with seven anglers on board and discovered 31 red snapper in an ice chest and an additional 14 red snapper in an anchor storage compartment. The boat captain, whose identity wasn’t released, was issued 17 citations for going over the daily bag limit, according to the spokesperson. The captain was convicted in Nueces County court on Nov. 12 and fined more than $26,000, the spokesperson said.