Free Republic

(1/18/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) We're just 18 days into 2006, and Houston's murder rate is skyrocketing. According to Chief Harold Hurtt, 21 homicides were reported in the first 17 days of the year. Last year during the same period, the total stood at 14. That's a 50 percent increase. Even now, five months after Hurricane Katrina, law enforcement officials in Houston are still trying to identify the criminal element from New Orleans -- more specifically, gang members. It's a segment of the population that Chief Hurtt was warned about early on. The warning came months ago from Louisiana's lieutenant governor. "When...