Actor Joseph Marco lauded for kindness to homeless cat

City of Austin resolves 80 civil lawsuits tied to APD

Ken Paxton cites diversity ruling to criticize Cornyn before Senate primary

Phillips aims to write underdog story with Chameleons

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MJ Phillips has joined the Nxled Chameleons from the Petro Gazz Angels in the Premier Volleyball League, bringing championship experience to a young team she described as an underdog. Nxled also signed former Angels Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo and several ex-Petro Gazz teammates in a bid to strengthen its roster ahead of the next PVL conference. Team officials, coaches and league representatives confirmed the multi-player move and said the new recruits will report for pre-season training before the final lineup and schedule are announced.

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ICI urges Ombudsman takeover after finishing mandate

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Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Representative Ronaldo Puno said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure has completed its mandate in probing alleged corruption in flood control projects and may now defer to the Office of the Ombudsman. He explained that the ICI conducted fact-finding, gathered evidence, and submitted its report and recommendations to relevant agencies. The Ombudsman, which holds constitutional authority over graft and corruption cases, can review the commission’s findings and decide on possible administrative or criminal proceedings.

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US envoy Carlson ends mission in the Philippines

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US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson ended her nearly four-year posting in the Philippines, marking the close of a tenure that saw expanded defense cooperation, deeper economic engagement, and wider people-to-people exchanges between Manila and Washington. In her farewell message, Carlson reviewed key diplomatic milestones, highlighted joint security and development initiatives, and shared personal experiences from her time in the country, including a Filipino song she said she would remember. The US Embassy in Manila announced that a chargé d’affaires will lead the mission in the interim as Washington moves to designate Carlson’s successor under standard diplomatic rotation procedures.

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ICC urges Philippine police again to testify vs Duterte

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The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has renewed its call for current and former Philippine police officers and other law enforcement personnel to testify in its ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s antidrug campaign, inviting confidential submissions of testimony and evidence under the Rome Statute framework.

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ICC urges Philippine witnesses to appear in The Hague for antidrug campaign probe

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International Criminal Court prosecutors renewed their call for Philippine police officers, victims, and other witnesses to testify in the ongoing investigation into alleged killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s antidrug campaign in the Philippines. The Office of the Prosecutor invited individuals with direct knowledge of drug war operations to contact the ICC through secure channels and assured potential witnesses of available protection measures. Prosecutors continue to gather evidence on alleged crimes committed between 2011 and 2019, focusing on potential individual criminal responsibility and the court’s jurisdiction despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

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Texas Republican claims military posture sends signal to enemies worldwide

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Texas U.S. Representative Jake Ellzey says Washington’s public threat of possible military action sends a deterrent message to U.S. adversaries worldwide and does not harm relations with allies, describing how American officials coordinate with partner nations, maintain defense agreements, and use military readiness and clear signaling as part of a broader national security and deterrence strategy.

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Planned Parenthood lawsuit vs Texas abortion law moves forward

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A Texas appeals court on January 17, 2026, ruled that three Texas Planned Parenthood affiliates have standing to sue over the 2021 Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans abortions after detection of cardiac activity and relies on private civil enforcement. The decision allows the providers’ lawsuit against Texas Right to Life and others to proceed in trial court, focusing on the law’s private enforcement mechanism and its potential to generate unlimited lawsuits. The ruling does not suspend the law or alter Texas’ near-total abortion ban that took effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

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Houston Housing Authority to open apartments near contaminated site despite earlier concerns

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Houston Housing Authority has resumed leasing at The Pointe at Bayou Bend in Houston, Texas, after Mayor John Whitmire in 2024 ordered a pause over contamination concerns near the complex. Following an environmental review and consultation with regulators, Whitmire announced this week that officials found no risk to residents at the property. The authority is now opening apartments to tenants while city and regulatory agencies continue oversight of the nearby formerly contaminated site.

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Houston-area temperatures to dip near freezing over holiday weekend

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Houston-area forecasters expect temperatures to drop to near freezing over the holiday weekend as a cold air mass moves into Southeast Texas, according to Houston Public Media, with some outlying areas potentially reaching 32 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. Weather officials advise residents to protect plants, pets, and pipes during the brief cold spell. Conditions are projected to improve by Monday, with a warming trend forecast in time for Houston’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade and related holiday events, and no widespread winter precipitation currently expected.

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