HOUSTON, Texas – Happy Friday-YAY!

As you wrap up another busy week, take a moment and enjoy your favorite deep dive.

Catch important stories and insights you won’t find anywhere else.

Here’s everything you need to know in this week’s issue of the Investigates newsletter:

What’s coming?

DNA data security has been called into question amid 23andMe financial struggles. What’s next?

Have you heard of 23andMe? Genetic testing company? If you are and will be a customer, you might want to know that 23andMe is facing financial difficulties, reporting a net loss of $667 million last fiscal year and laying off 40% of its workforce. These struggles have raised concerns about the security of DNA data among its 15 million customers, especially in light of potential bankruptcy or acquisition scenarios that could involve the sale or transfer of personal information.

Home Page Title Theft

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, Houston families are increasingly vulnerable to home title theft, a silent but devastating crime. Scammers take advantage of the chaos by falsifying documents to steal home deeds and drain equity, often leaving homeowners unaware until eviction notices arrive. On Wednesday, November 20, KPRC 2 Reporter Gage Goulding speaks with Matthew Cox, a former deed theft felon and attorney who now trains homeowners to protect their properties from such sophisticated scams.

History of the Chicano Team

KPRC 2 sat down with three of the five original members of the Chicano Squad to discuss the impact the task force had on Houston in the 1980s and how it continues to impact solving crimes in Hispanic communities today. Their success in solving more than 40 murder cases in just 90 days stunned the entire Houston Police Department.

A look back… or last week

Deer Park family discovers a mysterious bottle in their new home, necessitating evacuation

The Mounts family in Deer Park faced a crisis when they discovered mercury in their new home abandoned by the previous owner; This led to health risks and temporary evacuation.

Despite financial burdens and difficulties in obtaining county assistance, they undertook extensive renovations and testing, ultimately lowering mercury levels, and returned home safely with ongoing support from local authorities.

The top 3 areas with the most residential burglaries in Houston

KPRC 2 Investigations reporter Joel Eisenbaum identified the top three burglary hotspots in Houston. Is your neighborhood considered a theft hotspot? If so, we spoke with Retired Detective Greg Shelton about how residents in these hot spots can protect their homes or whether they just want to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Home buying uncertainty

Are you in the market to buy a home? Should you be? KPRC 2 Anchor Andy Cerota takes a look at the housing market in Houston. He spoke with a local real estate agent who talked about the inventory in the city and what it would be like for someone looking for a new home in this market.

How can Houston residents make more money with the money they have?

In Houston, residents like Debbie and George Simpson are considering moving their savings from traditional banks that offer minimal interest to online banks with higher returns.

Their son Alex and financial expert Ted Rossman highlight that online banks like Synchrony, Brio Direct and Forbright Bank offer attractive rates of up to 5%, compared to 0.01% at banks like Chase. With the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes, these online banks are competing by offering higher interest while still providing FDIC insurance. After researching, Debbie and George plan to transfer their funds to maximize their earnings.