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Community Corner

🌱 Houston Health + Bayou Trash

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

Chris Stomberg, Neighbor
(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:

  • A charitable team-up.
  • The threat of trash in our waterways.
  • A hopeful grandma matchmaker.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 62 Low: 44.

Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. Houston nonprofit Bread of Life and Quest Diagnostics have partnered up to reduce health disparities and improve access to affordable health care all across Space City. Executive director of Bread of Life and Senior Pastor of St. John's Rudy Rasmus said, "Over these last 30 years we've seen the mission of the Bread of Life evolve into a very comprehensive agency that's now addressing inequities in Harris County." A $3.8 million grant from Quest Diagnostics will bolster multiple Bread of Life programs as well as allow for the expansion of the Bread of Life Academy where community health workers are trained. A program to support healthy eating habits and education on the importance of nutrition is also in the works. (Houston Chronicle)
  2. The Bayou City may receive a new nickname if residents aren't careful about the disposal of their trash. Volunteers at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), which sees to trash cleanup around Houston's waterways, say that trash continues to be steadily dumped into our rivers. Field operations manager Robby Robinson said, "We don't get the majority of the trash. I wish I could say we did but the reality is we don't." Trash that the BBP is incapable of removing ends up polluting our waterways, harboring bacteria, creating blockages that worsen flooding, and harming local wildlife. In 2021, the BBP removed enough trash from Houston's bayous to fill 162 dump trucks. (Houston Public Media)
  3. Houston Astros shortstop and MVP Jeremy Peña will be clocking into a Raising Cane's at noon to work the drive-thru while meeting fans. A long line began forming in the drive-thru lane of the southeast Houston Cane's location in the late hours of last night as excited fans slept in their cars for the opportunity to meet Peña in person. One such fan hopes to make seeing Peña a more common occurrence as she waits to meet the all-star shortstop alongside her 18-year-old sister and 9-year-old granddaughter. The plan is to have her granddaughter, Pressley, ask Peña if he'll become her sister's boyfriend. Sister Charly said, "Hey, there's no harm in asking, right?"(Houston Chronicle)
  4. A driver buried himself underneath apartment building rubble this morning after smashing his car into an apartment complex off of the Gulf freeway. Firefighters responding to the scene had to shore up supports for the apartment building in fear of a possible collapse. Thankfully, no further structural collapse has occurred. The driver was trapped inside of his vehicle for hours before responders were able to dig him out of the buried car. Eyewitness Philip Serna saw the man being removed from his car and said, "They put him on a stretcher. He had a neck brace on, and I'm going to be honest, he wasn't moving very much." The condition of the driver as well as details on if anyone inside the apartments were injured remains to be seen. (KTRK-TV)
  5. Senegal native Mamadou Niang has tried and failed to enter Europe three times, but his past failures won't stop him from making further attempts. Mamadou would prefer to stay in his homeland and work the land he was given like his father before him. However, salinization of the land caused by rising sea levels has pushed saltwater into his fields and made them impossible to farm. Mamadou shared his story with NPR as he puts together plans to make yet another attempt at crossing the pond. See the attached link for details. (Houston Public Media)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Teen author and podcaster discuss 'Teensplaining' (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Almost 60% of Houston households can't afford to buy a typical home in the region, report finds (Houston Chronicle)
  • Houston will feel truly winterlike this week, plus an early look at our Thanksgiving forecast (Space City Weather)
  • Risk of high wind, hail, isolated tornados threaten Houston Monday afternoon (KHOU.com)
  • Two Texas couples 'swap' kidneys, creating lifelong bond (Houston Chronicle)

Patch deals of the day:

The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think you'll love. These limited-time offers are worth a look — especially if you're doing some early holiday shopping.

(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Houston:

  • Pearland Restaurants Week in Pearland (All Week)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Richmond Arms (6 p.m.)
  • Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center (7 p.m.)
  • Inprint Joy Harjo Reading at Brazos Bookstore (7:30 p.m.)
  • Concert: Dacamera presents Meta4 String Quartet at The Menil Collection (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" earned $180 million, making it the second biggest opening of the year behind "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness". What is Marvel doing right that the DC universe can't seem to understand? (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Scientists opening up a python were met with a suprise when they found a whole alligator inside its belly. The 18-foot long Burmese python had ingested a fully grown 5-foot alligator that was almost entirely intact. Check out the pictures if you want some nightmare fuel. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
  • A tragic airshow crash in Dallas where six people died after two vintage airplanes crashed on Saturday is still under investigation by authorities. The dated aircraft were not equipped with flight data recorders, making it more difficult than usual for investigators to discover what went wrong. (KPRC2 / Click2Houston via Facebook)

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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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