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Today on Eyewitness News at 4 we talked about Interfaith Ministries going door to door to make sure people are ready for the conversion to digital television.
The Houston agency has installed more than 500 DTV converter boxes and will continue to do so until March.
To see if you qualify for a converter box from Interfaith, go to their web site:
If your old car is on its last leg you may be in the market to get a new car. One way to save on new wheels is by getting a used vehicle.
Finding the right used car can be a tough task, but Consumer Reports has done some of the leg work for you.
check out the following link for the best used cars around.
Once you pick the right ride, follow these tips to making sure the vehicle is not a lemon.
With the economy slowing down, some folks are considering buying a used computer over a new one. Here is one business in town that can help you do that.
TOP TECH EXPERTS
1821 Bingle Rd.
Houston, TX 77055
(281) 979-7364
www.usedcomputersinhouston.com
If you have been getting phone calls from companies trying to sell you an extended car warranty, you are not alone. Hundreds of Texans have complained to the state Attorney General's Office after getting similar calls.
According to those who get the unsolicited phone sales pitch, the automated voice claims the persons car warranty is about to expire and offers to sell them an extended plan.
If you get the call and are on the Texas or federal no call list, report it.
Here's a link to complain to state officials
www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/complaints/secure/nocallform.cfm:
Here is link to complain to federal officials:
If you need help filling out your taxes, you are in luck. This year the United Way Houston is coordinating more than a dozen tax filing centers. The help is free for those who earn $45,000 a year and less.
Here is a link to the sites and information you'll need.
Check out the abc13.com photos of the Houston Auto Show! It's full of more new, concept and vintage cars/trucks than you can handle.
Homebound disabled senior Betty Hart is afraid her old analog TV set will go dark after she discovered a glitch in the government coupon system.
Hart lives in an apartment complex that the government insists is a business and turned her down for a coupon that would help offset the cost of a converter box. You see coupons are for households only. Without a coupon, Hart can't afford a converter which costs about $50 dollars.
We turned to the CVS Angels and they gladly gave Hart a converter-now these converters go like hotcakes.
Hart's not alone many others are unable to get a coupon or afford a converter box. Girl Scout troop 721 are pitching in by collecting coupons - and Interfaith Ministries, the YWCA, JCC, Catholic Charities, Neighborhood centers, Sheltering Arms Wheels is giving out converter boxes to eligible members of their programs.
Volunteers from Volunteer Houston are trained to install the boxes. If you're interested-here's their web site www.volunteerhouston.org
Also, our angels at the Furniture Bank replaced the furniture Hart lost during hurricane Ike. The Furniture Bank provides good used furniture to eligible people in referring agencies.you can check out them out at: ww.hfbank.orgwww.hfbank.org
AND A NOTE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CELEBRATING AT LEAST 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE OR ARE 100 YEARS OLD- WE'RE STARTING 'GREETINGS' AGAIN- SO PLEASE SEND A PHOTO TO "ANGELS" @ CHANNEL 13 POST OFFICE BOX 13 HOUSTON 77001 WITH A STAMPED SELF ADDRESS ENVELOP OR E-MAIL A PHOTO TO LORI.REINGOLD@ABC.COM
Thanks,LORI
A massive peanut butter recall is underway. So far 125 products have been recalled. Before you eat anything, check the ingredients and if it contains peanut butter, check the list of recalled goods at www.fda.gov to see if it is safe.
The website : http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore_detail.aspx?place=89
Two locations in Houston (note the ALVIN store is still posted on the habitat website but it shut down.)
1: 6161 S Loop E
Houston, TX 77087 Phone: (713) 643-1100
hours M-Fri. 9-6. Sat. 9-5 pm
2.
13572 C State Hwy 249
Houston, TX 77086 Phone: (832) 327-1120
Hours M-fri 9-6 pm
Today a 175 million dollar makeup give away got under way at stores across the nation. In our area Dillard's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Saks 5th Avenue are participating in the give away.
The free makeup comes as the result of a class action law suit that alleges businesses conspired to keep high end makeup prices inflated. The stores admit no wrong doing by giving away the product and according to the terms of the law suit consumers are entitled to one free product from one of the participating stores. There is no policing going on at the stores and today we saw people going from store to store to get the one free product. You have to sign a form to get the makeup. The give away lasts for one week or until supplies run out.
Products from 9 different cosmetic companies are available, but only specific items.
To see the full list of items, and the full terms of the settlement, check out the following link (scroll down a bit to see the products).
At five years old ,Amaya Boutte wants to walk, but she can't. She crawls on her knees to get around. That's because her premature birth affected her legs.
"I want to walk like my classmates"
Her family didn't have the money for medical care so Amaya's grandmother called "The Action 13 Angels"
"If there's some help up there I pray to God she get it"
"If I ever saw my daughter walk , go out and play it would bring tears to my eyes I've never seen her walk.
We turned to Houston Shriners Hospital for help -and CEO Steve Reiter admitted her
"We're hear to help the community and that's our greatest pleasure"
Treatment is free at Shriners for any child from any where up to the age of 18 with bone, joint or muscle problems. If you know a child the Shriners could help call the Houston Shriners Hospital for children at 713-797-1616 for an application or download one at
As for Amaya-Shriners Chief of Staff Dr. Doug Barnes put her in a kiddie walker to see how well she can move on her own. She did surprisingly well. well enough to convince the docs she could benefit from treatment here..
"She has what it take to be more independent and off the walker." said Dr. Barmes
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL - WITH LEG CASTS, BRACES, THERAPY AND SURGERY
"It's like my heart is beating real fast I'm really excited just to see her walking and just to receive help I'm excited about that." said her mother , ande Amaya's school mates at the Kandy Stripe Academy were so excited when they saw Amaya take the biggest step in her life.
Back in September, when we were all dealing with Hurricane Ike, the state of Texas announced anew savings plan for college.
The Texas Tuition Promise Fund locks in tuition at today's rates.
Right now the average tuition and fees at a four year institution in Texas is about $6900.
In 10 years that can go up to 13,500 if tuition continues rising by 7%.
To help offset that cost, the new plan freezes tuition at today's levels.
If this is something that interests you, read all th details for yourself by checking out the Texas Tuition Promise Fund web site.
A new law designed to cut the lead out of kids products may end up killing the craft industry.
READ FULL STORYLocal mom and pop retailers say the products they make, like kids clothes and hair bows, will need to be tested for lead under the new law.
Even if the materials used in the craft have already been tested, the final product must be tested too.
One designer of kids clothes says the rules will cost her nearly one thousand dollars per retail item.
Trevor Thorson says she can't afford the cost of testing products so she is closing her shop.
Resellers originally thought the rules applied to them too, but the CPSC recently said they are not requiring donated items be tested.
However, the CPSC says resellers can not sell items that are surpass the allowed lead level or face a $100,000 fine.
Thorson told us the cost of testing and the potential fines are behind her decision to close her shop.
If you'd like the read the law that goes into effect February 10th, here is a link:
By now most of you probably know that on February 17th TV stations across the nation are going to switch to digital signals. If you have an older TV set and only watch TV using an antenna, you need to have a converter box to keep getting a signal. The DTV switch has left a lot of people angry because their portable TV sets will be useless. The reason? Converter boxes need to be plugged into a wall socket. Well there is a battery operated converter box on the market.
Here are some links to that product:
http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=WDRC-DT09A
You can also buy a device that turns your computer into a TV set.
The Pinnacle PCTV HD mini stick allows you to watch TV signals on a laptop, thus turning your laptop into a portable TV.
The Pinnacle PCTV HD mini stick costs $119.00.
Here's a link to that product:
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