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Community Corner

🌱 HPD Injustice + Best Gay Bar + Disco Duties

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:

  • A ridiculous HPD policy.
  • A two-time best category bar.
  • Disco returns to Houston this weekend.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy this morning. High: 74 Low: 49.

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Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. While many police departments across the nation supply their officers with everything they need to get the job done, Houston police officers are forced to purchase their own guns, ammunition, and handcuffs. The total cost of these items comes out to over $2,000: no small sum considering first-year officers make around $42,000 starting pay. A $2,000 equipment allowance is supplied to police officers, but it only becomes available after the first year of duty. President of the Houston Police Officers' Union Douglas Griffith explained, "We are unable to bargain for them because it's before they get off probation, and it makes it difficult to recruit and retain, because they know going in, they are given a list of what you are going to purchase when you are in the academy." The HPD is currently understaffed by about 2,000 officers. (KTRK-TV)
  2. Besides being a well-known leather bar, Ripcord was named the best gay bar in Houston. In case you didn't know, a leather bar is a bar where leather outfits are welcome and frequent. You know the kind of leather we're talking about. Ripcord's status as best gay bar was awarded for its welcoming atmosphere, great drag shows on Mondays and Tuesdays, bumping dance floor on the weekends, and spacious back patio. This Halloween weekend is sure to be one of the biggest parties of the year at Ripcord considering Halloween's status as a revered holiday in the LGBTQ community. By the way, have some cash on hand if you want to treat yourself to some late-night food truck hot dogs. (Houston Press)
  3. Disco queens Martha Wash, Norma Jean Wright, and Linda Clifford are bringing 90's dance-pop classics back to Houston with their First Ladies of Disco: Retro Music Box Tour. The show will feature some of the most popular hits from the 70's, 80's, and 90's including songs like Chic's "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," Clifford's "Runaway Love" and, as part of the Weather Girls, Wash's "It's Raining Men." Altogether, there are over 35 all-time hits that these sexy ladies will perform this coming Saturday at the Hobby Center. These ladies may be past their prime, but they're far from done. Wash said, "Yeah, we're women of a particular age, and sometimes that can be a negative, but we're the ones that have really stood the test of time."(Houston Chronicle)
  4. A chase along the North Beltway and Aldine Westfield ended in 6 arrests as police suspect the vehicle was involved in human trafficking. The chase began around 4 a.m. when officers attempted to pull over a truck. Instead of stopping, the truck led officers on a roller coaster ride before ultimately crashing near Aldine Westfield. Unsurprisingly, officers found a 16-year-old driver behind the wheel. When the truck crashed, a clown car full of people poured out of it and began running away on foot. Police apprehended six people in total. (KTRK-TV)
  5. A suspect described as an "aggressive panhandler" was shot to death by an officer in Spring Branch East early this morning outside of a McDonald's. Police had originally responded to reports of a disturbance with a weapon in the area. When officer Matt Slinkard arrived on the scene he found a man armed with a flagpole smashing in the windshield of a car. Slinkard tried to approach the man, but the suspect whipped out a knife and charged him. In response, the officer discharged his weapon. The suspect was given CPR at the scene but was pronounced dead. Slinkard has been placed on administrative leave as HPD investigates the incident. (KTRK-TV)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Unusual surge of flu, RSV puzzles Houston pediatricians (Houston Chronicle)
  • New poll reveals Harris County judge race is close with Mealer ahead of incumbent Hildalgo (KTRK-TV)
  • City Place Houston hosts Day of the Dead weekend activities (Chron)
  • Father of 3 shot in face while in bed in north Houston, HPD says (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Adidas ends partnership with Kanye West over antisemitic remarks (ABC13)

Today in Houston:

  • Taco Tuesday at El Pueblito Patio (5 p.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Rudyard's (6 p.m.)
  • Concert: Andres and Golden Necklace at White Oak Music Hall (6 p.m.)
  • Core-focused yoga at Discovery Green (6:30 p.m.)
  • Concert: Post Malone at Toyota Center (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Senator Ted Cruz had an eventful trip to New York to watch the Astros as he received boos at Yankee Stadium. On Monday, his visit with "The View" to promote his new book Justice Corrupted was also met with shouts as audience members demanded he address climate change before being escorted off of the premises. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
  • The beloved McRib returns for its farewell tour this Halloween night. While the sandwich has a storied history as a seasonal item on the McDonald's menu, the McRib will disappear forever on November 20. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
  • Ticket resalers continue to get the last laugh as World Series tickets are already going for upwards of a thousand dollars. Will the vicious practice of ticket reselling ever be brought under control? (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)

Featured Pupper:

Rowdy is a 2-year-old Catahoula available for adoption at the SPCA.

He's ready for the World Series!

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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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