🌱 Concert Cap Off + Bats Return

Good morning, neighbors. It's Wednesday in Houston and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town, including updates on:

• The Waugh Bridge bats homecoming.
• Concerts to end your 2022 with a bang.
• Remembering a local jazz legend.

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But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 76 Low: 65.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

1. The Waugh Street Bridge Bat Rescue Release will occur tonight from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm as Houston Humane Society's Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition Center releases some 700 bats. The bats being released were rescued from hypothermic shock onset from Houston's most recent freeze. Wildlife director Mary Warwick managed to save the bats all on her own by placing foam on the ground to give them a safe place to land and placing them in a collector box by flashlight. The rescued bats were then placed nearby a heat source to warm up before being hydrated with liquids and fed. The Waugh bridge bat colony sees its local bats take flight every dusk as they head out to feast and rid the city of pests like mosquitoes. The Houston Humane Society urges bat fans to donate to their cause in order to fund the construction of a new building with a dedicated bat room. (CultureMap Houston)
2. Cap off 2022 with one of many unforgettable concert experiences coming to Houston before the start of the new year. For starters, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will put on their "Ghosts of Christmas Eve" production at the Toyota Center this Thursday. In case you haven't heard of them before, they're a world-renowned synthesizer band that enjoys a fair amount of pyrotechnics. Up and coming artist and rapper Tobe Nwigwe is performing at 713 Music Hall on Friday after being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist of the year for those interested in seeing what all the hype is about. Lastly, local Latin band and Houston institution for 30 years Los Skarnales is performing at the Heights theater on Friday. (Houston Press)
3. Among the cities with the highest total number of workers, Houston saw the second highest increase in remote workers according to a five-year estimate from 2016-2021. Regardless of gender, age group, income bracket, or industry, the rising tide of remote workers increased across all metrics. Across Texas, the remote workforce more than doubled over the five year period. In 2016, only about 4% of Texans worked from home while over 9% of Texans were recorded as remote workers in 2021. Interestingly enough, the median income of remote workers is also $17,000 higher than the statewide median of area employees. (Houston Chronicle)
4. Houston jazz legend Harry Sheppard passed away at the age of 94 Tuesday morning. Sheppard was a vibraphone virtuoso who played gigs around Houston for decades, bringing the joy of live jazz music to unsuspecting ears in restaurants, parks, non-profit events, and more. Among his accolades, Sheppard also played with big names like Billie Holiday and Bennie Goodman during his career: part of which took place in New York during the golden era of jazz. Vibraphonist peer and former student of Sheppard Jalen Baker said, "Just by himself, he lifted the room. Everybody was so into it. He played so much here, but I think he was still an underrated performer. He had this sense, he knew what people wanted to hear. And more than that, he knew how they wanted to feel." (Houston Chronicle)
5. A courtyard brawl on the 4800 block of Allendale road turned fatal when one of the brawlers whipped out a gun and started firing. After police responded, both men were taken to the hospital for injuries from gunshot wounds. One of the men involved in the brawl later died from his injuries in the hospital. Police are still investigating exactly what caused the shootout. (FOX 26 Houston)

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Headlines you need to see:

• Christmas kidnapping: Smoothie King manager beaten and dragged to ATM in Houston by fired employee, charging docs show (KTRK-TV)
• Rice University professor says ERCOT underestimated Texans' demand despite power staying on during freeze (KTRK-TV)
• Thieves steal more than $50,000 worth of art from Dean Day Gallery near Richmond and Kirby on Christmas Eve, owner says (KTRK-TV)
• Man accused of starting fire at Sawyer Yards took own life while arrest warrant was being served (KHOU.com)
• Takeoff murder suspect's bond expected to be lowered again (FOX 26 Houston)

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Today in Houston:

• Local Lunch Market Wednesdays at City Hall (11 a.m.)
• Theater: A Christmas Carol at Alley Theater (7 p.m.)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Palace Social (7 p.m.)
• In-person French Meetup at Jason's Deli (7:30 p.m.)
• Lightscape at Houston Botanic Garden (8 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• San Antonio police negotiators employed a strange strategy of repeatedly insulting a man who was threatening to kill himself by jumping from an overpass. Insults included calling him a rat, pathetic, and claiming that he must not care about his family. In the end, no one was hurt and the man was rescued from harming himself. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
• Previous Texans heart throb J.J. Watt is retiring from the NFL. Watt was the best defensive player Houston has ever seen as well as a pillar of the local community. (Houston Chronicle via Facebook)
• Two construction workers on the Tomball Tollway have been hospitalized after an errant tire clipped them. The tire supposedly flew off of a passing vehicle. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! Check back with you tomorrow. Have a good one! 😊