H-TOWN HEADLINES

• 🦷 Houston Dentist Arrested for Huffing Nitrous Oxide While Driving: Christopher Michael Pedlar, a 39-year-old dentist and assistant professor at UTHealth School of Dentistry, was arrested on February 10, after leading deputies on a brief chase in The Heights neighborhood. Upon stopping, deputies discovered 107 canisters of nitrous oxide in his vehicle, with one canister connected to a mask. Pedlar admitted to inhaling the gas throughout the day. This marks his third arrest related to nitrous oxide possession since October 2024.

• 🔪 Woman Found Fatally Stabbed: On February 8, a 31-year-old woman was discovered with multiple stab wounds outside a meat storage facility on Victoria Drive in Houston's Independence Heights neighborhood. Investigators believe her body was dumped in an unused driveway of the facility. The victim's identity has not been released, and authorities are seeking information from the public to aid in the investigation.

• 🚨 Security Alert at the University of Houston: A series of violent attacks on campus has put students and staff on high alert, prompting increased security measures. In just one week, three separate incidents occurred: a female student was sexually assaulted at knifepoint in the Welcome Center parking garage (Feb. 7), a student was assaulted and robbed of their scooter in the same garage (Feb. 5), and another person was attacked and robbed at the UH South-University Oaks Metro Rail platform (Feb. 4). In response, UH has boosted police patrols and is considering additional safety upgrades.

NATIONAL HEADLINES

• 🛩️ Fatal Jet Collision at Scottsdale Airport: On February 10, a Learjet 35A veered off the runway during landing at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona and collided with a parked Gulfstream 200 business jet. The incident resulted in one fatality and four injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause, with initial reports suggesting a failure in the Learjet's left main landing gear. The runway has been closed indefinitely pending the investigation.

• ⚖️ Justice Department Drops Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams: On February 10, the U.S. Department of Justice directed federal prosecutors to dismiss the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams. Adams had been indicted in September 2024 on charges including bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, stemming from allegations of accepting luxury travel and other benefits from Turkish nationals in exchange for political favors. While the charges have been dropped, the possibility remains that they could be reinstated after Adams' re-election campaign. Adams has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that the charges were politically motivated due to his criticism of the previous administration's immigration policies.

• 🚫 Kanye West's Super Bowl Ad Promotes Swastika T-Shirt: During Super Bowl LIX Kanye West aired a self-produced commercial directing viewers to his Yeezy website, which featured a $20 white T-shirt emblazoned with a swastika. The shirt, labeled "HH-01"—interpreted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as code for "Heil Hitler"—has been widely condemned as a blatant display of antisemitism. Advocacy groups have called for platforms hosting West's merchandise to remove the offensive content.

MARKET REPORT

• 🛢️ Oil Prices Decline as Supply Stabilizes: Global crude prices have moderated recently, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) now hovering around $74 per barrel—down from recent highs. This easing is driven by disciplined production cuts from OPEC+ and modest output increases from non-OPEC producers, notably in U.S. shale. Growing global inventories and softer demand amid economic uncertainties have further contributed to the decline. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts a steady price environment in the coming months as geopolitical risks remain limited and market balance gradually restores.

• 🏦 Bank of America Beats Profit Estimates: In its latest quarterly report, Bank of America outperformed profit expectations thanks to a robust surge in consumer banking. The bank saw significant growth in deposit volumes, higher loan originations, and increased fee income from its retail operations. Strong performance in credit card portfolios and a boost in transaction volumes contributed to the earnings beat, while strategic cost controls and digital innovation further enhanced operational efficiency.

• 💵 Fed Holds Rates Amid Cooling Inflation: The Federal Reserve has opted to keep interest rates unchanged as recent data shows a steady easing in inflation. Key consumer price measures have moderated, and robust employment figures alongside consistent consumer spending are supporting stable economic growth.

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