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Chron •

Whitmire, Jackson Lee clash in heated Houston mayoral debate

The race for mayor of Houston is heating up as Texas State Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee battled it out Monday night over hot-button issues critical to city voters. The heated debate hosted by FOX 26 marked the first Houston mayoral forum since neither candidate reached the 50 percent majority vote required to secure the seat.

In the mayoral election held November 7, Whitmire secured nearly 43 percent of the vote, while Jackson Lee received almost 36 percent. With
Chron •

Houston ISD parents, teachers beg state board to end takeover

Houston teachers, parents and community members went to the Capitol on Wednesday to protest the state takeover of Texas' largest school district – but were snubbed by the Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who left the meeting before the group had a chance to talk.

The Wednesday meeting began with Commissioner Morath presenting a special education resource program and guidance for teachers and parents and answering questions from the elected board. He left the meeting at the end of his p
Chron •

Houston voters just overwhelmingly approved 3 major propositions

Based on county election results, Houston-area voters approved three local propositions Tuesday, with all three proposals impacting city rules, health care and proportional representation on a regional planning group. Here's everything you need to know about the three proposals.

Sixty-five percent of Houstonians voted to approve Proposition B, compelling the city to negotiate for proportional representation on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a 13-county group allocating funding for local pr
Chron •

Rice U suspends campus parties after 'underwear party' fiasco

Rice University officials announced Thursday that all on-campus public parties are canceled through Spring Break after officials had to abruptly end an annual underwear-themed party Saturday resulting in seven students being hospitalized for intoxication and 24 others being medically treated on campus.

According to a letter sent by Dean of Undergraduate Students Bridget Gorman, Saturday's "Night of Decadence" party ended two hours into the function due to an “alarming rate" of intoxicated stude
Chron •

Sheila Jackson Lee blames opponents for leaking nasty recording

“This is a low-handed political tactic meant to discredit a thriving mayoral campaign and distract voters ahead of the early voting period,” Jackson Lee’s campaign said in its statement to the Houston Chronicle. “It’s unsurprising that these attacks have originated from extremely conservative blogs and political operatives backing John Whitmire.”

A spokesperson for Whitmire says "we know nothing about it other than what everybody else does," Sue Davis told the Houston Chronicle. "And to try to
Chron •

Welcome to the Jaiye Room, where the only rule is to move

To them, it seemed like lavish clothes, bottle service, and people showing off their extravagant lifestyles had become more of a priority when going out instead of just having a good time. After witnessing expressive unapologetic dance spaces in other parts of the U.S. and overseas, they believed it was their time to create a space in their hometown that left materialism and outward appearances at the door.

"A dance space, whether it's a club or party, is very integral for a community,” Ohalete
Chron •

Houston residents are willing spending more to improve city parks

Houston residents said they are open to paying more to invest in the city's parks and green spaces, according to a report by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Around 70 percent of Houstonians said they would be open to investing $2 a month if those funds went directly to upgrading and maintaining parks and green spaces in their area, and another 51 percent said they would financially support even more money, around $5 a month.

According to the report, which looked at data f
Chron •

How a Houston-area custodian became the soul of Spring ISD

At Carl Wunsche Sr. High School in Spring ISD, 61-year-old Patrick Francis is known around the campus as the glue to the community—a magnetic and reassuring presence for students and staff alike. One of the first things I noticed as I watched "Mr. Patrick" go about his workday was he bought one student a drink for lunch simply because "he wanted it." In his own words, if he has a dollar, he will give it.

"It's all about choices. I don't have to, but I do," he said. "So when I do something, I do
Chron •

HISD teacher salaries will now be determined by subject

Over the weekend, Houston Independent School District revealed the salary table for educators operating under the district's New Education System School model, including breakdowns of differentiated average pay per employee based on subject matter and grade level. The new pay salary scale differs from previous ones implemented in the district.

Since being appointed by the Texas Education Agency on June 1, Superintendent Mike Miles initially said NES teachers would make an average salary of $85,
Chron •

Houston is vastly underrepresented on this Texas council. Here's why it matters.

After months of knocking on doors and canvassing residents around the city, Fair for Houston organizers submitted over 23,000 signatures from Houston voters on Wednesday—an effort they hope will lead to dramatic changes in the city's ability to secure federal funding and determine its future. The group's grassroots efforts mark the first step toward their push for equitable representation on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which manages federal and state funds for local projects.

Here's eve
Chron •

TEA: New HISD leader won't need state certification

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles is asking the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to waive state certification requirements for himself after being appointed to lead the district this month. Miles was appointed on June 1 alongside nine members assigned to the TEA-selected board of managers, which replaced the locally-elected school board.

As the former Superintendent of Dallas ISD, Miles worked in the state for three years before resigning in 2015. His state certification
Chron •

New HISD leadership hires New York consulting firm to transform district

New Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles confirmed Friday that the district has hired consultants from the New York-based education consulting group Kitamba to help with the transition process in the state's takeover of HISD operations. According to its website, Kitamba is a social impact consulting and products firm headquartered in New York City dedicated to improving learning and life outcomes for all children.

In an interview with Houston Chronicle Reporter Sam Gonz
Chron •

TEA's first HISD community meeting erupts in shouting, chaos

From the moment community members walked into the building, security guards warned the public no opposing picket signs would be allowed inside. All questions for TEA officials were to be submitted using a QR code or written down on index cards for officials to answer at the end of their presentation, which concerned the state's replacement of current democratically elected HISD school board trustees with a TEA-appointed "board of managers."

Tuesday night's meeting occurred one week after Morath
Chron •

Mayor slams state's lack of transparency in HISD takeover

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed concern—though not surprise—on Wednesday afternoon about the impending takeover of the Houston Independent School District by the Texas Education Agency and went on to decry a lack of transparency.

"It's troubling but not unexpected," Turner said at a press conference, just hours after the announcement that the intervention would go forward.

"Parents have a right to say what's going to happen with their schools that their children attend; teachers, cafe
Chron •

'A discriminatory action:' Sheila Jackson Lee blasts HISD takeover

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee joined state lawmakers in Austin Wednesday in a closed-door meeting as the Texas Education Agency announced it would take over the Houston Independent School District in June. After calling for a federal investigation, Lee said she has spoken with the U.S. Department of Education and is waiting to hear about the next steps.

"I've been talking with the Department of Education and hope to speak with them today," Lee said in an interview with Chron. "I believe this is
Chron •

‘An open race’: City Council's Gallegos wants to be next Houston mayor

Houston City Council Member Robert Gallegos has added his name to the list of candidates vying to be the next mayor of Houston in 2023.

"Out of the candidates that have stated that they're running, I'm the only one that actually has nine years of experience actually under my belt at City Hall working on city issues day-in and day-out," Gallegos said in an interview with Chron Friday. His candidacy was first reported by Dylan McGuinness at the Houston Chronicle.

If elected, Gallegos would be th
Chron •

ShotSpotter technology questioned after Houston City Council approval

After a clerical error, Houston City Council members voted to alter the city's agreement with ShotSpotter Technology Inc., a gunshot detection technology company, to $3.5 million and pay a $700,000 past due bill in a Wednesday meeting on Jan. 31.

Local officials said the initial contract was always supposed to be $3.5 million, but wasn't noticed by officials until the Houston Police Department tried to renew the contract in January and was notified of an overdue bill, according to city records
Chron •

Houston community members rally against HISD state takeover

The rally comes after the Texas Supreme Court ruled in TEA's favor by lifting an injunction levied by a judge in the pathway for a possible state takeover. Since 2019, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath has vied for the state to take over HISD citing poor accountability ratings at a number of district schools and allegations of misconduct by trustees.

Despite the cold, frigid weather, dozens of protestors supported HISD and said the local district was moving in the right direction. While holding up s
Chron •

Dancing robots are among the highlights of Blaffer's winter exhibits

Earlier this month, the Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston opened the year with its Winter Exhibition, highlighting three different artists, each offering a window into their personal worldviews. Two of the exhibits will be on view to the public from now until mid-March.

One of them, "The Secrecy of Water" by Leslie Martinez, is a collection of abstract paintings highlighted by colorful ridges of texture. According to Martinez, the work is their attempt to capture the ecological ma
Chron •

Houston's hottest party is a secret moving disco with only one rule

Close your eyes and imagine illuminating red and purple lighting swirling all around you. Disco balls turn slowly overhead and Houstonians from all walks of life envelop you, dancing to Afrobeat and electronic rhythms pulsing from a set of white stand-up speakers. The people here wear bomber jackets, shiny pants, sparkly shoes, and bell bottoms in varying states of vintage, and they've all come to this place, an undisclosed location on a Saturday night, to gather in a semiannual moving party.

N
Chron •

How landlords turned Houston into a city of renters

Houston and Harris County are among Texas’s most rapidly growing metro areas. In just the last decade, Houston has seen a 9.8 percent population increase—a statistic local leaders trumpet as evidence of the city’s economic strength and potential. As Houston and Harris County have grown, so too has the number of residents for whom owning a home has become economically unfeasible or impossible.

A report published by RentCafe shows that six Harris County zip codes have become renter-majority commu
Chron •

Texas doctors issue dire warning ahead of state maternal death report

At a Friday meeting, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee warned Texans of dire maternal mortality statistics to be relayed in a forthcoming report from the Texas Department of Health Services set for release next week.

The committee has reviewed portions of the findings, which encompass data and statewide trends related to pregnancy deaths from 2016 to 2020.

The resulting picture painted by the report is one of unnecessary death and disparity, committee members said, cl
Chron •

Harris County Jail just recorded its most in-custody deaths in 20 years

The Harris County Sheriff’s office reported three more deaths in the county jail earlier this week, increasing the toll this year to 27. That tally is the most in-custody deaths the county has seen since 2006, according to the Texas Justice Initiative, a watchdog group compiling data on fatalities that occur within the state's justice system.

The circumstances of these newly reported deaths, and what's known about them, vary. John Maxey Jr., a 74-year-old Black man detained in the county jail s
Chron •

Whitmire, Jackson Lee clash in heated Houston mayoral debate

The race for mayor of Houston is heating up as Texas State Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee battled it out Monday night over hot-button issues critical to city voters. The heated debate hosted by FOX 26 marked the first Houston mayoral forum since neither candidate reached the 50 percent majority vote required to secure the seat.

In the mayoral election held November 7, Whitmire secured nearly 43 percent of the vote, while Jackson Lee received almost 36 percent. With
Chron •

Houston ISD parents, teachers beg state board to end takeover

Houston teachers, parents and community members went to the Capitol on Wednesday to protest the state takeover of Texas' largest school district – but were snubbed by the Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who left the meeting before the group had a chance to talk.

The Wednesday meeting began with Commissioner Morath presenting a special education resource program and guidance for teachers and parents and answering questions from the elected board. He left the meeting at the end of his p
Chron •

Houston voters just overwhelmingly approved 3 major propositions

Based on county election results, Houston-area voters approved three local propositions Tuesday, with all three proposals impacting city rules, health care and proportional representation on a regional planning group. Here's everything you need to know about the three proposals.

Sixty-five percent of Houstonians voted to approve Proposition B, compelling the city to negotiate for proportional representation on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a 13-county group allocating funding for local pr
Chron •

Rice U suspends campus parties after 'underwear party' fiasco

Rice University officials announced Thursday that all on-campus public parties are canceled through Spring Break after officials had to abruptly end an annual underwear-themed party Saturday resulting in seven students being hospitalized for intoxication and 24 others being medically treated on campus.

According to a letter sent by Dean of Undergraduate Students Bridget Gorman, Saturday's "Night of Decadence" party ended two hours into the function due to an “alarming rate" of intoxicated stude
Chron •

Sheila Jackson Lee blames opponents for leaking nasty recording

“This is a low-handed political tactic meant to discredit a thriving mayoral campaign and distract voters ahead of the early voting period,” Jackson Lee’s campaign said in its statement to the Houston Chronicle. “It’s unsurprising that these attacks have originated from extremely conservative blogs and political operatives backing John Whitmire.”

A spokesperson for Whitmire says "we know nothing about it other than what everybody else does," Sue Davis told the Houston Chronicle. "And to try to
Chron •

Welcome to the Jaiye Room, where the only rule is to move

To them, it seemed like lavish clothes, bottle service, and people showing off their extravagant lifestyles had become more of a priority when going out instead of just having a good time. After witnessing expressive unapologetic dance spaces in other parts of the U.S. and overseas, they believed it was their time to create a space in their hometown that left materialism and outward appearances at the door.

"A dance space, whether it's a club or party, is very integral for a community,” Ohalete
Chron •

How a Houston-area custodian became the soul of Spring ISD

At Carl Wunsche Sr. High School in Spring ISD, 61-year-old Patrick Francis is known around the campus as the glue to the community—a magnetic and reassuring presence for students and staff alike. One of the first things I noticed as I watched "Mr. Patrick" go about his workday was he bought one student a drink for lunch simply because "he wanted it." In his own words, if he has a dollar, he will give it.

"It's all about choices. I don't have to, but I do," he said. "So when I do something, I do
Chron •

HISD teacher salaries will now be determined by subject

Over the weekend, Houston Independent School District revealed the salary table for educators operating under the district's New Education System School model, including breakdowns of differentiated average pay per employee based on subject matter and grade level. The new pay salary scale differs from previous ones implemented in the district.

Since being appointed by the Texas Education Agency on June 1, Superintendent Mike Miles initially said NES teachers would make an average salary of $85,
Chron •

Houston is vastly underrepresented on this Texas council. Here's why it matters.

After months of knocking on doors and canvassing residents around the city, Fair for Houston organizers submitted over 23,000 signatures from Houston voters on Wednesday—an effort they hope will lead to dramatic changes in the city's ability to secure federal funding and determine its future. The group's grassroots efforts mark the first step toward their push for equitable representation on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which manages federal and state funds for local projects.

Here's eve