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Community Corner

🌱 TABC Crackdown + No-Show Victory + Makeup Scam

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. Today, we'll look at:

  • Over 100 businesses sell alcohol to minors.
  • Harris County tax rate vote blocked.
  • A Houston 'influencer' is being called out again for scamming followers.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 90 Low: 72.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

  1. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission recently conducted an undercover operation that ultimately saw over 130 businesses sell alcohol to a minor. The operation is part of TABC's push to bring alcohol regulation back into line in time for the school year. TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said, "Our state's alcohol retailers are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing the illegal sale of alcohol to minors." Retailers caught selling alcohol to minors may be subject to a civil fine as well as the possible suspension or expulsion of their liquor license. Furthermore, employees who sold the alcohol are liable to be charged with a misdemeanor. (KTRK-TV)
  2. Republican members Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey of the Harris County Commissioners Court no showed to a vote to increase the county tax rate yesterday, automatically blocking its passage. By failing to show up to the meeting, both commissioners triggered a state law that forces the county's rate to remain the same. Cagle said the two of them made use of, "a longstanding state law today to force some badly needed property tax relief through Commissioners Court." Ramsey and Cagle insist that increased tax rates would have devastated much of Harris County as people continue to recover from the effects of COVID-19 and recent inflation. Meanwhile, Commissioner Rodney Ellis claims, "The no-show commissioners put politics ahead of the people to recklessly gamble with the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Harris County for their own political payout." Judge Lina Hidalgo is currently considering calling meetings between now and every day up to Sept. 20 to look into the damage to "essential services for public safety, health care, flood protection, pollution control, and others." (Houston Public Media)
  3. Houston nonprofit Crime Stoppers failed to provide Harris County with audit information after claiming that they weren't "legally required" to do so. The audit initially resulted was spurred on by controversial claims that Crime Stoppers of Houston had taken a more vocal political position in recent years. Crime Stoppers of Houston is one of the nonprofit's largest chapters in the country and is held in high esteem across the city for its work in solving crimes and providing solace for the families of victims. Nonetheless, Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia seems to have voiced the thoughts of local government officials aptly by saying, "I hope if we're going to continue this collaboration with this nonprofit we will see compliance be what it ought to be. I would hope this nonprofit would be an open book." (Subscription/Houston Chronicle)
  4. The Texans will be offering jersey swaps in October where you can trade out old Texans gear for brand new threads. The upcoming swap was unveiled during a recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Texans CEO Cal McNair. The CEO also revealed that the Texans might potentially be taking on a new look in the near future. While many NFL teams have taken to routine uniform swaps in recent years, the Texans have remained true to its "Deep Steel Blue" and "Liberty White" uniforms since they joined the NFL in 2002. The Texans played their opening game against the Colts this past weekend with the game ending in a tie. (KHOU11)
  5. Houston makeup artist and influencer "Bennibeauty" has over 150,000 followers on Instagram that he's been scamming with makeup classes for years. The Instagram influencer is in the news yet again for selling online or in-person makeup classes to his followers and then canceling them or failing to show up at all. A change.org petition that has been signed by more than 2,500 people accusing Bennibeauty, or Benjamin Sanchez, of failing to follow through on teaching classes that his fanbase already paid for. Transactions for these classes were made through Cash App or Zelle, both of which rarely reimburse spenders for fraudulent purchases. (KPRC Click2Houston)

Headlines you need to see:

Today in Houston:

  • Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy at PNC Stadium. (4 p.m.)
  • Cloud Computing: MS Office and Google Workspace at Aldine Branch Library. (5 p.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Darkhorse Tavern. (6 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Palace Social. (7 p.m.)
  • Twenty-One Pilots at Toyota Center. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • An 11-foot-long alligator surprised Cinco Ranch residents by leisurely strolling through their neighborhood on Monday. A tow truck had to be used in order to place the incredibly heavy beast in the back of a pickup truck for transport. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
  • The HPD began a 9-day period of training exercises that will take place throughout the city. Police are warning Houstonians not to be alarmed if they hear loud noises or witness low-flying helicopters. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
  • The first multi-story 3-D printed house is being built right here in Houston. The house is being constructed using a concrete 3-D printer. It will be interesting to see how it holds up against a hurricane. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)

Featured Pupper:

Pebbles is a 2-year-old Chihuahua available for adoption at the SPCA.

I wonder if she's fruity or cocoa flavored?

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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. Peace ✌

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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