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Community Corner

🌱 Organized Catalytic Crime + Preschool Shooter Guidance

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Houston.

Chris Stomberg, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Wake up, Space City! It's me, Chris, your humble servant of the Houston Daily — coming right back at you with the plug on what's happening.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 98 Low: 80.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

  1. Houston police believe they've caught a piece of a widespread organized crime operation after seizing nearly 500 catalytic converters in a raid last Thursday. The converters were spread across multiple locations, but more than 400 of them were found at the residence of Armando Martinez Sr. Court documents revealed that investigators had watched as people would show up to his home and unload up to 10 converters from their cars. It is believed that Martinez would then organize the shipping and sale of these stolen goods out of state. All in all, investigators estimate that the busted ring is responsible for more than $11 million in damages. (KHOU11)
  2. The staff of 31 southwest Houston schools met on Monday to train themselves and discuss training their preschoolers on what to do in an active shooter situation. The meeting was organized by Head Start programs from BakerRipley preschools. Cimberli Darrough, the senior director of Head Start, explained that preschoolers will be shown age-appropriate guidance. In one such example of the guidance, she said, "If you hear 'pop pop,' hide." These drastic security measures come in the wake of the Uvalde shooting which left 21 dead. Ruth Raudales, a parent whose 4-year-old child attends one of the schools involved, shared, "It's something we don't want to think about happening at our kids' schools, but I feel better knowing the school will know what to do if something happens." (Subscription/Houston Chronicle)
  3. Noteworthy Houston poet Outspoken Bean was awarded the 2022 official Poet Laureate Fellow for Houston. As a part of being selected for the award, Bean will receive $50,000 to support his local poetry efforts. Bean's next project is called "Space City Mixtape" and will be recorded at the Houston Public Library for the next six to eight months as he hosts bi-weekly poetry sessions to collect stories from Houstonians. If you've got a particular Houston story that you think might be worthy of the mix tape, keep an eye on the Houston Public Library website for more details. (CultureMap Houston)
  4. Houston teen Olivia Julianna raised $2.2 million for abortion funds in the past week after Florida Republican Matt Gaetz body shamed her on Twitter. "I expected to raise a few thousand dollars, a few thousand turned into $50 (thousand), $50 (thousand) turned into $100 (thousand) and now here we are at $2.2 million raised," Julianna said. In the tweet that started it all, Gaetz posted, "Why is it that the women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having abortions? Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb," along with a picture of Julianna. Since then, Julianna seems to have turned into an overnight social media star. (KHOU11)
  5. Summer isn't over yet, and there's still time for kids to enjoy a number of local indoor art experiences. Free events include the Contemporary Art Museum Houston's drop-in experience exploring identity, where kids will create an abstract portrait of themselves, as well as the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's fantastical creature puppet creation. For less than $40, there's also the kids plays put on at Stageworks Theater, Children's Museum Houston's Hip Hop Hooray event for introducing kids to rap and DJing, and the interactive artwork installations at Color Factory. (Houstonia Magazine)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Spicy Chicken McNuggets are back at Houston-area McDonald's (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Houston is the 5th-buggiest city in the U.S., according to extermination data, and Dallas is No. 1 (KTRK-TV)
  • City of Houston Awards $90,900 to Artists and Organizations Promoting Tourism and Resilience (Houston Style Magazine)
  • 'Jackass' star Steve-O spotted at Buc-ee's outside Houston (Houston Chronicle)
  • Spirit Airlines seeks to fill about 200 flight attendant positions in Houston; here's what to know about hiring event (KPRC Click2Houston)

Today in Houston:

  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Dark Horse Tavern. (6 p.m.)
  • Taxes in Retirement Seminar. (6:30 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Palace Social. (7 p.m.)
  • Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. (7:10 p.m.)
  • Miller Outdoor Theatre — Shakespeare Festival: "King Lear." (8:15 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Taco Bell's notorious Mexican pizza will return to its menu on Sept. 15. The popular food item has come and gone from the menu twice before. Who knows how long it will last this time. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Over the weekend, a U.S. drone strike killed Ayman al-Zawahri: a man who helped Osama bin Laden plot the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Nearly two decades later, the hunt for vengeance against the perpetrators of one of our country's most terrifying memories seems to be coming to a close. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • A Texan who was found guilty of partaking in the storming of the U.S. Capitol with body armor, a helmet, and a holstered handgun at his side was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday. His sentencing marks the longest sentence doled out to an individual who participated in the event thus far. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)

Featured kitty:

Selina Kyle is a 9-week-old domestic short hair available for adoption at the SPCA.

With a name like that, she's sure to grow into a majestic Catwoman in no time.

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Now you're armed with current events and ready to throw down in H-town! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with the word. Peace ✌

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