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Community Corner

🌱 Magic School Bus + EMS Emergency

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. Read on to find out more about:

  • Electric school buses coming to HISD.
  • An ongoing EMS crisis.
  • Why Zalat pizza is suddenly everywhere.

But first, today's weather:

Heavy thunderstorms. High: 72 Low: 57.

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Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. HISD will be introducing a new fleet of electric and propane buses thanks to $6.2 million in federal funds awarded to cut emissions. The district possesses 1,033 buses in total, 25 of which will be replaced with these new buses. Ten of the buses are propane while the remaining 15 are fully electric. The buses won't officially enter service until 2024. The changes come as Austin Independent School District recently announced a promise to convert every unit of their own 500 bus fleet to electric by 2035. Over the next five years, the fed will supply a total of $5 billion in funding for clean school bus purchases across the country. (Houston Chronicle)
  2. Data from the Houston Fire Department shows that they had to enter resource management due to being short on available ambulances at some point on 84% of the days in 2022. Another statistic shows that 30% of every hour is operated in a state of resource management. HFD Assistant Chief Matthew White explained what resource management designation means, saying, "At that time, a certain number of things begin to happen to try and figure out where our fleet is being utilized, what's their status right now, and how can we get them back into the available status to make emergency runs." In other words, ambulance response times become delayed and people's lives are placed in greater danger. Since 2018, it takes an average of 90 seconds more for the first HFD unit to arrive at an EMS call. (KTRK-TV)
  3. Zalat Pizza has been quietly taking over restaurant space in both Dallas and Houston thanks to owner Khanh Nguyen's ambitious thinking. Across both cities, Zalat Pizza now maintains 20 locations. Nguyen first got into pizza shortly after opening a ramen restaurant called DaLat in Dallas. A pizza place near his ramen restaurant failed, and Nguyen saw an opportunity and took over the restaurant's lease. Nguyen said, "I had never made a pizza before that, but I'm pretty obsessive and meticulous when I take something on. Many will say it's the best pizza they've ever had." Despite these claims though, its Nguyen's different thinking that may have led to the greatest measure of success for Zalat. Nguyen was the first to contact Uber and set up a deal that would eventually become Uber Eats after he began to call Uber drivers to deliver pizzas back in 2016. (KTRK-TV)
  4. Chron's standout dish of the week is wagyu beaf meatballs from Rice Village Italian restaurant Roma. The meatballs themselves can be ordered as an independent appetizer and are made from Texas-raised Rosewood Ranches wagyu beef. They are plated on a cast iron skillet filled with marinara sauce and covered in cheese and pesto. If you're in the mood for a dimly lit, cozy new date spot with a patio that will allow you to enjoy the chill fall weather, look no farther than Roma. (Chron)
  5. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is being heralded as the best large live venue in Houston. The venue offers a large hill that makes a great seating option for families and love-struck music lovers alike. After all, who goes to see live music just to sit in a chair? However, it's arguably the Pavilion's proximity to nearby Woodlands entertainment staples that give the venue that added bit of special sauce. The waterway in walking distance offers a scenic stroll through a number of delicious eateries, and the popular Woodlands market square is just a few hundred steps away. (Houston Press)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Houston crime: Man accused of kidnapping 2 women at gunpoint and sending photos for ransom to loved ones (KTRK-TV)
  • Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Awards Highlight 8 Exemplary Houston Leaders With Notable Honors (PaperCity Magazine)
  • A man was shot in the groin after trying to rob a tire shop in south Houston (Houston Chronicle)
  • Houston Area Adoptable Pets: Dogs & More (Houston Patch)
  • City of Houston Municipal Courts announce fall amnesty program (KPRC Click2Houston)

Today in Houston:

  • Houston Farmer's Market 80th Anniversary Pumpkin Patch (8 a.m.)
  • Spirits of the Bayou Boat Tour at Buffalo Bayou (6:30 p.m.)
  • Texas Zombie Hunt at TANKS Paintball Parks (7 p.m.)
  • Spirits of Spring Ghost Tour at Old Town Spring (7 p.m.)
  • The Riot Presents Friday Night Comedy at Rudyard's (11 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Chick-fil-a is introducing wings as a menu item. The wings will be served as an 8-count item with the option of five sauces and seasonings: ranch, buffalo, honey sweet chili, lemon pepper or Sriracha garlic. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Houston First estimates a $12 to 14 million economic impact per home game during this year's World Series. These numbers are based off of the $10 to $12 million city bonus per game when the Yankees were in town. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Tesla CEO Elon Musk fired several top Twitter executives after taking control of the company Thursday evening. Musk tweeted, "The bird has been freed." after the firings. The deal was originally valued at $44 billion. (FOX 26 Houston 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 on Monday with your weekend in review. Peace ✌

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

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