Weekly Roundup: City Alert on Huge Water Bills, ‘The Bench’ Debuts, Auto Dealer Takes Back Car After 1 Year

Houston Public Works, the agency responsible for providing a reliable and safe water supply to the city’s residents, has been receiving numerous complaints about water bills that are significantly higher than expected. The KPRC 2 Investigates team has started looking into this issue, which has prompted public concerns. In a statement released last night, Houston Public Works acknowledged the reported cases and explained how they were working to address the problem.

The issue has arisen as part of the ongoing “DRAINED” investigation by the KPRC 2 Investigates team. The team has received emails from residents, including Claudia Lara, who were shocked to see enormous water bills. Some residents reported receiving bills as high as $23,000. When contacted by the customers, a representative from Houston Water Department apparently informed them that their meters had been replaced and that the high bills were a result of an error on the customer’s part.

As part of the investigation, Amy Davis from KPRC 2 Investigates has explained how older meters may be playing a role in the increased bills. The issue is more significant than initially anticipated, with a large number of clients affected by incorrect water bills.

“The Bench,” a new show from the KPRC 2 Investigates team, has debuted and aims to take viewers inside a major court case. The first episode was focused on AJ Armstrong’s trial who is accused of killing his parents. The show features in-depth discussions with experts about the case and jury selection. Joel Eisenbaum is hosting the show, and viewers are being encouraged to provide feedback on the show’s approach.

In another story, KPRC 2 Investigates has discovered a significant issue involving a Lufkin Carvana customer. Wasim Akram bought a Toyota Corolla from Carvana, but it was discovered that the car’s title was blocked due to false mileage reporting. The customer was unaware of this for over a year, resulting in him having no registration for the vehicle. KPRC 2’s Amy Davis has done some digging and has highlighted the critical points to consider before purchasing a used car.

Mario Diaz, an investigator with KPRC 2, reports on the potential implications of the end of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, which was designed to assist communities and businesses during the COVID pandemic. As the pandemic comes to an end, communities that were relying on these funds, including those that developed new programs with the money, are worried about the long-term sustainability of their initiatives.

Finally, Amy Davis discusses the mobile payment apps that are now commonly used and has raised the important issue of security. While they offer the convenience of paying for items using your mobile, there is an increased risk of fraud and cyberattacks. Amy has highlighted three ways to protect your financial information and reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

The KPRC 2 Investigates team encourages viewers to provide feedback and ideas for stories.

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