Iraq

Cover Story: Mine Fields: Injured Iraq / Afghanistan Contractors Fight to Get Compensated for War Wounds

In the summer and fall of 2004, 58-year-old William Manning was working east of the Green Zone in Iraq. As a labor foreman, Manning, a marine Vietnam vet, was overseeing and escorting other civilian contractors at a work site near the police academy where Iraqi rookie cops were trained. The academy ... More >>

Alleged Election Night Domestic Assault Has Local Attorney and Obama Fan Facing Felony Charge

An alleged domestic assault on election night has a local defense attorney and marine Iraq vet facing a felony family violence charge. According to court records, David Christopher Hesse was drinking beer and watching election returns with his wife Sandra Hesse in their Clear Lake-area home on Nove ... More >>

C.I.T.Y.'s Top 6 Geographically-Based Rap Songs

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -- lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good -- so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? E-mail sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

KBR Chemical Lawsuit: Soldiers' Lawyers Say They Found Smoking Gun

When we wrote about American and European soldiers suing Kellogg, Brown & Root for allegedly exposing them to a cancer-causing chemical at an Iraqi water treatment plant, we thought the company's excuse -- it had no idea the chemical was onsite before boots were on the ground -- was pretty flimsy. A ... More >>

Three Days of Thanks: Rap Round Table

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Not Invited: This Week's Prompt: There are a bunch of things we're responsible ... More >>

Jamie Leigh Jones Finally Gets Her Day In Court Against KBR

Jamie Leigh Jones' fight finally finds a courtroom​After years of delays, today Jamie Leigh Jones is finally getting her day in court against Halliburton and KBR. Jones -- we've done a number of stories on her -- has become famous through her attempts to hold the company responsible for the g ... More >>

Halliburton Sued For Firing Pregnant Employee

Houston's Todd Kelly sues Halliburton again​We've written a lot about lawsuits against Halliburton/KBR, mistly involving horrow stories coming from employees in Iraq. But the latest is from a Dallas woman, Lynda Darden, who is suing because, she says, the company fired her for getting pregnant ... More >>

American Grocers: Joins A Stellar List Of Companies Ripping Off Troops

​This week's cover story in the Houston Press details the case of Houston-based American Grocers and its owner Samir Itani, charged with shipping expired food to troops stationed in the Middle East and ripping off the government with bogus shipping costs. As noted in the story, "the case stretched ... More >>

Greed, Interrupted

Part meltdown memoir, part essential finger pointing, Inside Job will make you seethe.

Texas Rangers: Five Things To Know About Them As They Begin The ALCS

Thanks for the Iraq War, Rangers​If you're an Astros fan, you might be surprised to learn that the baseball season did not end back in July -- that was just when the Astros season was deemed over. Baseball has continued to be played and, for the first time ever, the Texas Rangers are within a step ... More >>

Imprisoned Iran Hikers: Mom Still Has Hope, And Obama, On Her Side

Photos courtesy Ben FellemanShane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fatta: The three hikers​Ben Felleman is almost a typical Millennial or Gen Y young man: a 25-year-old who digs the local Houston music acts, enjoys steady employment as an SAT instructor and his own freelance work as photographer, and ... More >>

Green Zone: Win A Free DVD, And Learn Why Matt Damon Is The Best Of The Ocean's 11 Actors

Thank God Brad Pitt didn't star in this​Green Zone, by shaky-cam master Paul Greengrass, is the latest movie to try to buck the trend of box-office poison that is the Iraq War.Many have tried, but even the most celebrated of the Iraq War flicks, The Hurt Locker, wasn't a blockbuster. (Maybe ... More >>

SXSW Aftermath: A Night Of Ecstatic Peace, White Mice And Courtney Love Singing The Blues

Photos by Craig HlavatyBlack Helicopter​Rocks Off Jr.'s fourth night of SXSW frolicking starting off groggily as we woke from a well-needed nap after what has seemed like a month now pounding the pavements of Austin, seeking out new music from club to club like soldiers kicking in doors in Iraq lo ... More >>

Army Officer Shouldn't Have Taken Those Iraq Bribes, But Dammit, She Needed The Plastic Surgery

​The Department of Justice announced today that Theresa Russell, a former staff sergeant, pleaded guilty money laundering while stationed in Iraq. It wasn't all that much of a surprise, since two years ago the guy who gave her the bribes pleaded guilty to doing so.Russell, 40, was at Camp Anaconda ... More >>

Year in Film: Three Critics, One List, Ten Best

J. Hoberman, Robert Wilonsky and Scott Foundas put their minds together and come up with their favorite films of the year. Let's hear it for teamwork!

Five Decisions That Took Less Time Than Bill White Figuring Out If He'll Run For Governor

​Bill White brought the Texas political world to a standstill yesterday when he convened a press conference to make the momentous announcement that....he was going to take some time to think about running for Governor instead of Senator.In a little over a week, he said, he'll make up his mind.Some ... More >>

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

There are movies, there are films and then there is cinema

Not Bad for Government Work

Spoofing the run-up to war, In the Loop is political satire done right.

Serve 30 Days In Jail To Get Out Of Fighting In Afghanistan? Sounds Like A Bargain

​The sentence has come down in the case of Fort Hood soldier Victor Agosto, who has refused a stop-loss deployment to Afghanistan after doing a stint in Iraq.Agosto, an IT specialist, never saw any up-close combat in Iraq, but he says the Afghan War is illegal and hell no, he won't go.The Army hel ... More >>

Summer of Salvation

The Terminator is back. Plus lots of other movies we can't wait to see this season.

Army Chaplain Has Plenty Of Medals, But Can't Get Insurance For His Kids

When it comes to being covered by your insurance company, years of dedicated service in the Army and all the Purple Hearts in the world don't mean squat. At least that's what one decorated Iraq War serviceman says he's finding out.According to a lawsuit recently filed in Houston federal court, Major ... More >>

Militery Deserters and Tycer's Textile

Amateur Artist's Iraq-War Paintings Stir Passions

Art by Marc LevineThere's something about Marc Levine. His friends and professors at the University of Houston see it. Almost anyone who comes across his paintings sees it. And you can see it for yourself tonight at Rice University. Levine, 21, began painting images of Iraqi civilians from war photo ... More >>

Longtime Cult Band O.A.R. Hopes Top 40 Success Doesn't Leave It "Shattered"

All Sides Now

Asylum Street Spankers

KBR Sued Again, Featuring Dogs Running Around With Human Arms In Their Mouths

If it's not one thing (such as accusations of sexual harassment) with those crazy cats at Kellogg, Brown & Root, it's another.A lawsuit against the company recently filed in Houston federal court accuses its workers of exposing military and non-military personnel in Iraq to contaminated food, co ... More >>

Fanfare For The Area Man

John McCain's Neglected Veterans

The candidate's fame is based on his POW status, but he has abandoned his fellow veterans time and time again

Lonesome Onry and Mean: Kiss My Ass, W

Body of War

A young soldier finds his place in the world after an Iraqi bullet leaves him paralyzed

Striped Donkeys, Hep Pachucos and Defensive Driving

The Kingdom

Peter Berg sends Jamie Foxx to fight the enemy over there in The Kingdom

Welcome Back from Iraq. How's That Boner?

Home of the Brave

This is not what Francis Scott Key had in mind

The Kids Are Not Alright

From Dakota Fanning's rape to John Cusack's daddy issues, Sundance 2007 was all about the kiddie porn.

Getting Schooled

A legendary debate teacher has a lesson plan to knock off Congressman John Culberson

The End of Days

DiverseWorks goes apocalyptic in "Run For Your Lives!"

Film First Thursdays at Dean’s Credit Clothing

This free monthly event screens shorts from the Texas Filmmaker’s Showcase

Letters to the Editor

"I Raq and Roll" vs. "We Can't Make It Here"

Two Houston-connected musicians offer up different takes on the war. One veteran tells Racket which he thinks is better and why.

Who Cares?

Celester Hall went to Afghanistan to help the troops and make his fortune. He came back deaf, in diapers and looking for benefits.

Brave New Art

Artists take on corporations and the government in "Thought Crimes"

Blood, Flesh and Gore

Jordan Blilie and Johnny Whitney of the Blood Brothers are mighty pleased to ensanguine you

Clash Course

Warriors of the right take their battle against the left to the streets of New York

Pretty Please, Tilman

Houston's Donald Trump can't be bothered with paperwork

Spring Thaw

There's actual good news for CITGO's battling refinery union

Die Like an Eagle

Michael Franti and friends fight the hawks with hits

Man with the Mike

Ernie Manouse chitchats with visiting stars

Made With Love

Rosanne Cash is the friend who will say, or sing, what you can't

Feel the Power