December 30, 2025 6:00 pm | Page 8 of 29

Alex Eala claims Kooyong Classic title

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026015 views

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala captured the 2026 Kooyong Classic women’s singles title in Melbourne, Australia, defeating 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia, 6-3, 6-4. Organizers awarded Eala the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy, named after the former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion. Former Australian WTA and Grand Slam player Elizabeth Peers presented the trophy during the ceremony at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. The exhibition event served as a key warm-up for Eala ahead of her Australian Open debut later in January 2026, where she will compete in the main draw representing the Philippines.

PH men’s team drawn with Thailand in ASEAN Championship

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026018 views

The Philippine men’s football team will face Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos in Group B of the ASEAN Football Championship starting in late July 2025. The draw, held Thursday, placed the Philippines against Thailand, which ousted the squad in the 2024 semifinals with a 4-3 aggregate win. The 2024 run marked the Philippines’ first semifinal appearance since 2018. Head coach Carles Cuadrat will again lead the national team as it aims to at least equal its previous performance. Officials will release the full schedule and venue details later.

Greg Abbott enters 2026 Texas governor’s race with staggering $106 million on hand

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026021 views

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott entered the 2026 governor’s race with $106 million in cash on hand after raising nearly $23 million from July through December 2025, according to new Texas Ethics Commission filings, while leading Democratic challenger state Rep. Gina Hinojosa reported collecting $1.3 million in the last 10 weeks of 2025.

DOJ mobilizes 500+ staff for massive Epstein file review

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026024 views

The U.S. Department of Justice has assigned more than 500 staff, including about 80 newly added attorneys, to review millions of pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents for public release. The team is examining records from past investigations and court proceedings to identify sensitive information and apply required redactions under federal law. Officials say the process is extensive due to the volume of files and legal obligations, and they have not set a firm timeline. The review is expected to lead to phased public disclosure of Epstein case materials.

Troy Rosario confirms quad tear after departing Ginebra

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026028 views

Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario revealed that he played through a confirmed quadriceps tear in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals loss to San Miguel Beer, 101-88, in Manila. Rosario detailed how unclear MRI results from St. Luke’s Medical Center left him uncertain about the injury’s severity until hours before tip-off. He still chose to play in the knockout game, managing pain and stress as Ginebra’s title bid ended. Team officials started mapping out his treatment and recovery after the diagnosis.

Austin Police Department updates guidance on working with ICE agents

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026018 views

The Austin Police Department in Austin, Texas, will update its policy governing cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with leadership reviewing and revising guidelines on when and how officers coordinate with federal immigration agents, share information, and document interactions, before issuing new directives to all sworn personnel.

444,000 eggs set for donation to Houston food banks

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026021 views

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a court-approved settlement requiring Cal-Maine Foods and Wharton County Foods to donate 2,160,000 eggs to food banks statewide, including 444,000 eggs for the Houston region. The agreement resolves a 2020 lawsuit alleging excessive egg prices during the COVID-19 disaster and imposes a 10-year injunction on disaster-period egg pricing, with recordkeeping and enforcement provisions.

Houston ISD parents praise schools but question district’s direction, new survey shows

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026018 views

Houston ISD’s winter 2024 family sentiment survey shows parents and caregivers give high marks to their children’s schools while expressing more cautious views about the district’s overall direction. Survey respondents report strong satisfaction with campus-level climate, communication, and staff relationships, but rate student preparedness as the lowest-performing category. District officials say they will use the results to guide planning, inform campus action plans, and compare trends across multiple survey cycles.

Original architect of White House ballroom chosen to review project

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026024 views

James McCrery, the architect originally chosen by former President Donald Trump to design a proposed White House ballroom, has been appointed to a commission reviewing that same project. The commission will evaluate design plans, historic impacts and feasibility for the ballroom concept at the Executive Mansion. McCrery’s dual role as former lead architect and current reviewer focuses attention on federal oversight of changes to the White House. No final decision on construction or modification of the ballroom has been announced.

Bong Revilla hit with new graft, malversation case at Sandiganbayan

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026019 views

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and several DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office officials over an allegedly anomalous infrastructure project in Pandi, Bulacan. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano announced the filing after prosecutors lodged the cases around 2:40 p.m. on Friday. The charge sheets cite alleged violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code and related graft provisions. The Sandiganbayan will raffle the case to a division that will handle arraignment, trial, and subsequent proceedings.