Morning Roundup: Us vs. the skeeters edition

Good morning, Houston. Noticed a sharp increase in the number of mosquitoes this summer? You will, observers say — and now, Harris County's first confirmed 2007 human case of West Nile virus has been reported. Break out the insect repellent, check up on the West Nile symptoms and do your best not to get stung — although, these days, we guess that's about like saying "stay out of the humidity."

>>A break in Gearen case?: Galveston County investigators finally have what might be a lead in the case of Bridgette Gearen's murder: A witness told police that Gearen got into the back of a dark-colored SUV with dark tinted windows. Gearen was seen entering the SUV by a group of people around a bonfire on Crystal Beach, not far from the beachhouse where she vanished July 14; they said they heard a woman screaming from the area where the vehicle was located, but didn't know whether Gearen had gotten in the SUV on her own or was forced in. Though investigators don't know who sexually assaulted, beat and killed Gearen — or why — one thing is very clear: "She died a miserable death, a violent death," Galveston County Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Hansen told the Chronicle. "On something like this, you're fearful of the motive. This person or persons may have done this before and may do it again."

>> Paid parking on the Seawall? Not yet: In a crushing defeat for fans of paid parking, the Galveston City Council decided Thursday to scrap a plan to assess a fee for parking along the Seawall. Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas floated the idea a couple of weeks ago as a way to raise money — $1 million, according to estimates — for beach reconstruction and beachfront restrooms and shower facilities. But the idea didn't go over well with residents and visitors: "The feedback I keep getting is negative," Thomas told The Galveston County Daily News. "If anyone wants it on the ballot, I would like them to come forward and let us know." Chances seem good she won't be hearing much support for the plan: The last time Thomas brought the idea up, in 2005, public outcry also shot it down.

>> Texas: No. 1 in another thing we shouldn't brag about: According to an analysis by the AP, Texas leads the nation in the number of kids who die after being left in hot cars. Since 1998, at least 41 Texas youths have died after being left in (or getting trapped in) hot vehicles; that's more than the numbers from any other state, and 12 percent of the national total. The AP reports that charges were filed in just over half the incidents, and the results may surprise you: Of the 27 people charged, 20 were convicted and just six were sentenced to any jail time. That's because, in most of the cases, the children were left in, or got in, the cars by accident — like in the case of 6-month-old Mika Terry, whose father left her in the back seat of his truck two summers ago. Mika died, investigators decided it was an accident and no charges were filed, but that doesn't help Mikey and Michelle Terry, her parents. "I think about my daughter every single day," Michelle Terry told the AP. "The more our story is told, the better."

>> This week's weather: We won't be totally out of the woods when it comes to the rain chance this week, though things do look a little more sunny as we go: Expect a fairly good chance of storms today, tapering off to a reasonably good chance around Thursday. What, you want to know when it'll rain and when it won't? Go outside and see for yourself. Meanwhile, expect a high around 90 today, with the heat index climbing above 100. Tonight, skies should clear a bit as temperatures drop to around 76.

We may not know when it's going to rain, but we know that, at Houstonist, there's always a 100 percent chance of headlines. Check 'em out ...