🌱 I-45 Expansion + Land Bridge Staircase

Hi all. It's me, Chris, your host of the Houston Daily. Hope you had a relaxing weekend, but that's all over now. Back to the grind. Today's briefing includes updates on...

• The new I-45 expansion.
• A daring police chase that discovered a human smuggling operation.
• Improvements to Memorial Park's Land Bridge.

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But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 50 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories in Houston today:

1. Mayor Sylvester Turner provided updates on the controversial new expansion of I-45 which will displace families and businesses. Turner said that TXDoT is committed to net zero housing loss over the course of the project and are setting aside $30 million to provide compensation and new housing to families affected in the area. Turner also claimed that the highway expansion would not negatively impact neighborhood connectivity in the area nor would it destroy or take away from existing parks. In fact, TXDoT promises to expand green space in the area once the highway expansion is finished. TXDoT is also making flood mitigation a key component of the project. Turner also said that this expansion is one of the largest highway construction projects Houston will take on in a generation. (KPRC Click2Houston)
2. A police chase on the west side of Houston near Gessner and Westpark Tollway led to the discovery of a human smuggling operation. The chase began after police realized that a truck nearby had stolen plates. Once they flashed their lights, the truck took off, drove into a nearby field on Clarewood drive, and saw 9 people exit the vehicle and make a run for it. Thanks to the help of a helicopter, all nine escapees were successfully tracked and apprehended. Eight of the fleeing suspects captured were illegal aliens from Mexico and Guatemala who had previously been deported. If the eight illegal aliens are not wanted for any other crimes, the police will reach out to local non-profits to find housing for them. Meanwhile, the driver is being charged with smuggling and evading arrest. (KHOU.com)
3. Despite being one of Houston's best horror writers, Susan McCauley is receiving praise for recently publishing a children's book. "Trooper at the Beverly Hills Hotel" is a story based on the real life events of a golden retriever enjoying the luxury lifestyle while his owner underwent surgery. The story follows golden retriever trooper in his journeys via private jet to Hollywood where he sees the best pampering hotels can offer but, mostly, worries about how to help the failing health of his friend and owner Andrea. While Trooper was alive when the book was conceived, he unfortunately passed in January of this year before the tale saw publishing. The golden retriever is eulogized in the book's final pages according to his owner's wishes. (Houston Chronicle)
4. Memorial Park's relatively new Land Bridge has been further accessorized with a large stone staircase thanks to a donation from the Clay Family. The staircase is called the Emily Clay Family Scramble and provides a route for visitors to access the Land Bridge from the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail. Emily Clay said in a statement, "I'm so happy to be a part of making Memorial Park even better for Houstonians looking for fitness and fun outdoors! I've been out on that trail hundreds of times, and it's nice to see something that goes up, especially in Houston. We don't have hills here." (CultureMap Houston)
5. Over a dozen alleged members of rapper Sauce Walka's 'The Sauce Factory' were arrested in Houston on illegal firearm and drug charges. All members taken into custody are residents of Houston and arrest documents claim that the majority of those involved are being charged with possession with intent to deliver meth. The illegal firearm found on one of the men was something known as a "Glock auto switch": a Glock with a device attachment that turns the weapon from semi-automatic to a fully automatic firearm. The men face up to life in prison and could be charged with fines up to $10 million. (FOX 26 Houston)

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Headlines you need to see:

• A prolonged hard freeze is coming to Houston just ahead of the Christmas holiday (Space City Weather)
• Houston crime rate: Murder, aggravated assault, vehicle theft on rise (Houston Chronicle)
• Harris Co. jail saw record number deaths in 2022 after new case reveals 31-year-old died by homicide while in-custody (KPRC Click2Houston)
• Pretty Woman: The Musical Coming to Broadway at the Hobby Center (Houston Press)
• A Costa Rican baby had just days to live before heart surgery at Texas Children's Hospital (Houston Chronicle)

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Today in Houston:

• Cheap Skate Nights at Discovery Green (5 p.m.)
• Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Brass Tap (6 p.m.)
• Theater: The Nutcracker at Wortham Theater Center (7 p.m.)
• Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center (7 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• A poll created by Elon Musk showed that more than half of 17.5 million users who responded think he should step down as the head of Twitter. The poll follows many controversies since Musk became acting leader of Twitter including rampant layoffs and, most recently, widespread bans of reporter accounts. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
• A Houston homeowner sent a shout out to a delivery driver after his front door camera caught the driver fixing Christmas decorations that had fallen down. Now that's what we call holiday spirit. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
• Argentina won the World Cup final yesterday in a game for the ages against France. After each team scored three goals in regular and overtime, Argentina secured the win during penalty kicks. 🇦🇷 (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)

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That's it for today. Enjoy getting back into the weekday swing. I'll see you tomorrow!