HOUSTON – Let’s talk about something that we all want: a community where life feels just a little bit easier and a lot more fair. At KPRC 2 Investigates, that’s what we’re working towards every day. Whether it’s tackling big injustices, standing up for families, or solving problems that hit close to home, everything we do begins with people like you.
There were no exactions in 2024. We took on stories that rocked Houston, making headlines, and more importantly, bringing you real results.
One of the toughest challenges we worked on was the suspension of 264,000 incident reports. That includes 4,400 sexual assault reports involving women and children within the Houston Police Department dating back to 2016. The reason? They didn’t have enough officers to investigate all the cases.
Since KPRC 2 Investigates began revealing documents involving the cases, there was a major shakeup within HPD leadership. Officers were moved around, some took retirement, and others resigned. Eventually, Mayor John Whitmire realized the department needed new blood and landed on former Texas Ranger Noe Diaz.
While the department works to clear those cases, it’s also healing from a 2019 black eye. After nearly six years of reporting, KPRC 2 Investigates Mario Diaz was there when a jury convicted former Houston Police narcotics officer Gerald Goines for the murders of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle. Their deaths, along with their dog Star, came as a result of a raid on their Harding Street home. Their story became the focus of ‘The Bench,’ a KPRC 2 Original that brings you inside a trial.
Not every story we do is about high-profile cases. Sometimes, it’s about helping a family get back to normal. Like the Delgado family in Aldine, whose home was taken over by a mixture of 85,000 wasps, honeybees, and African killer bees. Yes, you read that right. KPRC 2 Investigates Bill Spencer and the ‘Spencer Solves It’ team got them all out. Just like they did for two people who got their Zelle accounts drained. Thanks to Bill and the team, $13,000 was returned, and those families got peace of mind.
We also worked with a Kingwood family to save more than $2,000 on their epilepsy medication. Their price drop came by connecting with a Texas online pharmacy called, ‘ScriptCo.’ Same medication, with a dramatically lower cost. It’s a small change that is making a huge impact on the families’ budget.
Then there was the Mount’s family in Deer Park. They were forced out of their dream home after one of their kids broke a jar of mercury the old owner kept in the house. It turned into a hazmat zone fast, and the family was forced to clean everything up on their own. KPRC 2 Investigates Joel Eisenbaum worked with county leaders to make the home livable again. The process took a while, but the Mount’s family finally reclaimed their dream home.
In Northwest Houston’s White Oaks subdivision, Joel uncovered the troubling impact of squatters taking over nearly a dozen homes along a high-speed railroad site – leaving families next door to chaotic events. Project owners tell him they are working to reclaim the houses.
At the border, KPRC 2 Investigates Robert Arnold showed us the rising challenge of human smuggling, with thousands charged in recent years. The offenders keep getting younger. It’s all happening at a time when officials claim they will beef up border security and prevent drugs from reaching American land.
Speaking of Robert, the team picked up two Lone Star Emmys for our true crime docuseries ‘The Evidence Room.’ The episodes ‘Savagery at Corvette Concepts’ and ‘Baby Grace’ took home the honors in November.
Of course, some of the most meaningful changes we’ve seen this year start with tips from you. KPRC 2 Investigates Amy Davis and Andrea Slaydon investigation called ‘DRAINED’ into Houston’s water department is a perfect example. Families hit with sky-high water bills and malfunctioning meters, but because you spoke up, we exposed the mismanagement at the top and got results which included charges on seven people connected to questionable city contracts. This work made us a finalist for the prestigious DuPont – Columbia Award.
We didn’t stop there. Our reporting on the Houston Housing Authority’s misuse of funds paved the way for their CEO David Northern to resign and receive a $210,252.18 settlement. While part of that deal ended the investigation into him, our investigation put a spotlight on how those dollars could better serve the people they’re meant to help.
Every step of the way, your tips and trust fuel our stories. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re doubling down on what matters most: uncovering waste, tackling issues in education and immigration, and being here for you and your family.
Because at the end of the day, we’re not just journalists – we’re your neighbors who want to continue making this community stronger.