HOUSTON, Texas \u2013 Here\u2019s a look at your top stories to help start your day.<\/p>\n
Houston schools scramble to fix heating issues amid cold snap<\/a><\/p>\n As temperatures plummet, several Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools are racing to resolve heating issues that left students and staff in the cold. HVAC crews are on-site this morning to address the problems that plagued campuses yesterday, including Wheatley High School, which previously made headlines over the summer for air conditioning failures. The Texas Education Agency has cited Wheatley\u2019s ongoing infrastructure issues as a key factor in its decision to take control of the district. Multiple parents opted to pick up their children early, noting that the cold environment made it difficult for students to focus.<\/p>\n Traffic alert: Alabama Street lane closures begin<\/a><\/p>\n Houston commuters should prepare for lane closures on Alabama Street westbound from Chenevert Street to Almeda Road today. The closure, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is part of the preparations for the demolition of the I-69 Alabama Street Bridge, set to begin as early as next week. Drivers are advised to plan alternative routes to avoid delays.<\/p>\n Execution scheduled for Houston killer after decades on death row<\/a><\/p>\n Charles Thompson, a Houston man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Dennise Hayslip and her new boyfriend Darren Cain in 1998, is scheduled for execution in Huntsville tonight. After nearly three decades on death row, Thompson\u2019s case is set to close, marking the end of a long judicial process.<\/p>\n