A Houston man who’s spent the last 27 years imprisoned for a rape he didn’t commit got one step closer to freedom on Friday.

During a court hearing, a judge granted Michael Anthony Green a personal bond that will let him walk out of jail.

In a season that is going no where for the Houston Astros, one bright spot has been right hander Brett Myers. He picked up his 8th win of the season on Tuesday night, striking out 12 Chicago Cub batters. The win was also his third straight decision that resulted in a win. It was the 10th career complete game for Myers, as his last one came in May.

The Astros got the majority of their offense on one swing of the bat, as Lance Berkman cracked a grand slam to help Houston’s 6-1 win. The grand slam came in the seventh inning off Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner. The score was 2-0 before the grandslam, as Angel Sanchez and Michael Bourn picked up single RBI’s.

Technology vendors bidding for business with the Houston school district gave free tickets to Rockets playoff games, free cell phones and a fishing trip on a yacht to district employees, a law firm hired by the district has found.

The law firm Bracewell & Giuliani, in a recently released memo, outlined the findings of its investigation into allegations of gift-giving that cost taxpayers an $850,000 fine and froze access to the program for a year, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

The Houston Astros were concerned when Wandy Rodriguez lost six of seven starts earlier this season.

After Sunday’s performance, in which he allowed one hit over seven innings for his fifth win in six outings, the team isn’t worried about the left-hander anymore.

Hunter Pence and Chris Johnson homered to back Rodriguez, and the Astros beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.

A Houston man was released from prison Friday after an investigation by the district attorney’s office found he was locked up 19 years for a rape he didn’t commit.

Allen Wayne Porter’s attorney, Casey Garrett, said Porter was released Friday afternoon on a recognizance bond awaiting a final decision in the case by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Hot, hot, hot is the continuing forecast for the Stewart and Houston counties.

According to the National Weather Service, afternoon heat index values – based on temperature and humidity – are expected to be between 100 and 104 degrees, with some spots reaching perhaps 106 for short periods.

Friday is expected to be one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures in the upper 90s and a heat advisory issued through 8 that night.

A Houston husband-and-wife lawyer team is planning to donate more than $3 million this year toward knocking Republican Gov. Rick Perry out of office and helping Democrats win control of the Texas House.

Attorney Steve Mostyn said Tuesday he and his wife, Amber Anderson, are committed to putting a “substantial” amount of money that likely will exceed $3 million into ending hard-right Republican politics in Texas government.

In front of just over 5,000 fans at Robertson Stadium, a mix of regulars and reserves had Houston in the lead 6 minutes in when Lovel Palmer scored. Chivas USA needed 65 minutes to get that goal back, with Jesus Padilla equalizing in the 71st. Though Houston outshot Chivas USA 16 to 6, they only put 4 of those on frame to Chivas USA’s 3. Both teams started backup keepers, with Tally Hall in goal for Houston and Dan Kennedy replacing Zach Thornton for Chivas USA.

In the opening game of Superliga group B play, the Houston Dynamo and Pachuca CF played a close game, but despite the Mexican team’s continuous possession, the MLS franchise took the vital three points.

Two Joseph Ngwenya goals for Houston was enough to beat a tough Pachuca team on a hot and steamy night in Houston, Texas.

This season will be the first for US National Team player Herculez Gomez with Pachuca after an impressive season with Puebla.

For the second time in as many years, an injury to Anthony Rendon’s right ankle has grounded the Rice star junior third baseman for the foreseeable future. To cope, Owls coach Wayne Graham, an avid reader, borrowed a phrase from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

“The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune…” Graham mused Friday.