HOUSTON — A worker injured in a fire this week at a Houston-area chemical plant is suing the company that owns the plant and is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday is believed to be the first submitted on behalf of a worker injured in Tuesday’s fire at the KMCO LLC chemical plant in Crosby.

Randy Villaloboz says in the suit he suffered severe injuries and mental anguish, and claims KMCO failed to properly train employees or maintain a safe work environment.

One worker was killed in the fire. KMCO said Thursday that two others are hospitalized in critical condition.

Authorities haven’t released the cause .

KMCO said Thursday it’s focused on caring for workers and protecting the environment and will address legal claims at the “proper” time and place.

 

Artist uses chalk to share bright colors

LONGVIEW — Chalk one up for art on a sunny East Texas day.

The Longview News-Journal reports that was artist Joshua “Lakey” Hinson’s mission Tuesday as he accepted an invitation from Keep Longview Beautiful to bring some color to The Green.

Evidence that the 2005 Longview High School alumnus was in town was spotted Monday on a sidewalk in Lois Jackson Park — pleasant, meticulous, geometric circles, creating blossoms on concrete. Keep Longview Beautiful Executive Director Kim Casey Droege uploaded shots of the art to the group’s Facebook page, along with a request for the mystery artist to step forward.

Hinson now lives in Austin and makes a living making curious, colorful, sometimes complex shapes he also reproduces on sidewalks when he gets a notion. Visiting family, he said he is on his annual pilgrimage to cooler country with the approach of the hotter months.

“Look how precise he is,” Longview artist and gallery owner Paula Davis said as Hinson drew his flower framework next to the Carmen Gadt air balloon sculpture at The Green.

Local home-school parents and students also answered a Facebook all-call Droege posted once Hinson agreed to do his thing for the younger set.

“It’s like a human compass,” Amanda Burke said as she watched Hinson connecting the intricate lines working freehand.

 

Judge: Animal shelter to keep seized tiger

HOUSTON — A judge has ruled that an animal shelter can keep a tiger that was rescued from an abandoned Houston home.

The Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison has looked after the tiger since February, when some people entered the house to smoke marijuana and found the big cat .

Authorities say the 350 pound (160 kilogram) tiger was improperly secured in a small cage, and was sitting on hay and its own waste.

Houston police believe Brittany Garza is the tiger’s owner and have filed a civil lawsuit accusing her of animal cruelty. She refuses to explain how she obtained the tiger.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the judge ordered Garza to pay about $11,600 to cover the cost of the tiger’s care.

Garza’s lawyer declined comment.