Houston-area

Michael Butler, 44, was charged with manslaughter after his Tesla Model 3 crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. Butler claimed the vehicle was in autopilot mode at the time, and Avila's family has sued both Butler and Tesla.

Two Houston-area residents pleaded guilty to falsifying wastewater testing results that showed illegal levels of ammonia, E. coli, and phosphorus. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported the case.

A Houston-area man is accused of selling fake accessible parking placards online. Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen warned that using these illegitimate placards can lead to misdemeanor charges, including fines and jail time.

A 41-year-old man from Mont Belvieu, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating a Ponzi-style investment scheme involving wire fraud. The scheme defrauded victims through fraudulent stock investment promises.

Rep. Christian Menefee defeated Rep. Al Green in a Democratic runoff for Texas' 18th Congressional District, a result of redistricting. Green, a vocal Trump critic and impeachment advocate, lost to Menefee, a former attorney running on a platform of bringing new leadership to Congress.