Roger Franco

Now, Congressman Randy Weber is pushing for answers, emphasizing the importance of radio communication for critical updates during severe weather.

With only one and a half days left in Kenya, the clock was ticking and we were starting to feel the pressure of coming all the way to Africa without seeing a lion. Then, the call came.

Between our morning safari and our afternoon/evening one, we spent more than eight hours driving around Samburu National Reserve with members of the Ewaso Lions team. They spotted lion tracks, but we didn’t find the lions themselves.

We went from home to home in the Sasaab village with a veterinarian team from the Ewaso Lions organization that treated and assessed several animals. Their goal is to mitigate the spread of disease between pets, livestock, and wildlife. Several diseases have impacted wildlife, including rabies and distemper.

The warriors work with the Ewaso Lions conservation group to spot signs of lions and then notify local villagers if a lion is in the area. This effort allows the village to protect their livestock and reduces the risk of people hurting the lions over lost goats and camels.

We first had the honor of meeting the women of the Mama Simba team. They work under the direction of the Ewaso Lions organization based in what is known as the Westgate Conservancy here in northern Kenya. They are a dedicated group of women who are on the front lines trying to restore the grasslands in the Samburu region in Kenya.

Within ten minutes of entering the reserve, we came across wildlife that were simply amazing to witness in their natural habitat. We saw a huge bull elephant, multiple giraffes, ostriches, a number of impala and antelope, & several species of birds. It was a fantastic way to start our time inside Samburu!

Our KPRC 2 team is once again partnered with the Houston Zoo to spotlight the Zoo's global conservation work that Houstonians make possible. On this trip, we will be tracking & observing the lion prides that exist in Samburu with the Ewaso Lions organization!

This outage leaves a gap in receiving vital emergency and weather updates, which are especially important during severe storms when other communication methods may fail.

As hurricane season approaches, residents of Galveston and surrounding areas face a critical challenge: the NOAA Radio frequency, a key source for lifesaving weather updates, remains offline after a transmitter fire in March.

High school athletes in Texas may soon be able to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), a game-changing development similar to recent shifts at the college level.

Leaders at Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston are concerned that recent layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services could lead to cuts in the program. The need for food assistance in Houston is significant, with hundreds of individuals currently on a waitlist for help.