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Community Corner

🌱 Metal Beer + Land Ban

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. This beautiful Tuesday morning, we'll talk about ...

  • An unrepentant con artist
  • A metal brewery
  • Protest against a bill that would prevent land ownership based on ethnicity

But first, today's weather:

Rain and severe t-storms. High: 62 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. A supposed Houston "repeat con artist" was sentenced to 28 years in prison after he stole over a quarter-million dollars from a 68-year-old man with autism over 90 days. Despite the victory putting Paul Yonko behind bars, the prosecutor is frustrated that Yonko didn't get life in prison. During the case, the prosecutor attempted to prove that Yonko is a repeat criminal that refuses to be rehabilitated. Investigators have been monitoring the Yonko family and their associates on suspicion of organized criminal activity over the past five years. Furthermore, Yonko chose not to testify during the legal proceedings. (KHOU.com)
  2. Brash Brewing has been called Houston's "most metal brewery" by many in the beer industry. Despite a leadership change last summer, the brewery is continuing to move forward with their already established metal image. Owners of Equal Parts Brewing Nick Sorenson and Matt Peterson bought Brash but retained Brash's head brewer Vince Mandeville as director of brewery operations. Peterson explains, "We bought Brash because we felt like it was a great brand with solid recipes, and a rabid following, but that it could use additional support and structure in terms of leadership and brewing." Some of the brewery's most recognizable beers include German gose "Ghost," West Coast IPA "Cali Green," and American pale ale "EZ-7." Of course, we would be remiss not to mention the newly named signature America IPA "The Mystik" which previously went by the somewhat controversial title "Pussy Wagon." (CultureMap Houston)
  3. Texas land ban SB147 met with heavy protest yesterday from Asian Houstonians who say the bill is discriminatory, exclusive and unjust. If it passes, SB147 would prevent Chinese, Russian, North Korean, and Iranian citizens and companies from purchasing land in Texas. As the story goes, the bill was initially proposed in order to meet concerns about rival governments buying huge plots of land. State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), spoke at a rally he organized outside of City Hall yesterday, calling back to historic United States laws that discriminated against Asians including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the use of Japanese internment camps during World War II. Wu said, "This type of legislation is what we're facing all over again. That we're unable to separate the people who fled countries from those countries themselves, and we cannot stand for this."(Houston Chronicle)
  4. Houston Botanic Garden is home to a handful of new sculptures from renowned 9/11 artist Steve Tobin. The pieces include steel, bronze, ceramic, and glass sculptures which twist and wind their way through the beautiful natural flora on display at the garden. In true artist fashion, Steve Tobin told CultureMap, "I'm the guy with my nose in the sand and my butt in the air, looking deeper than most people. I think I see more. I think it's part of my DNA." The greatest of Tobin's new structures is over 30 feet tall and took at least 2,000 hours to weld. The collection, called "Intertwined: Exploring Nature's Networks," will officially debut on Jan. 28. (CultureMap Houston)
  5. Imperial Wine SLTX is a brand-new wine shop in Sugar Land that seeks to supply for followers of the burgeoning naturally grown wine craze. Owners Chad Starrett and Clayton Taylor are Sugar Land natives who pivoted from their old day jobs after COVID-19 brought uncertainties to their supposedly comfortable gigs that made them want to chase their dreams instead. Starrett said, "We love that natural wine 'converses' with the drinker. Wine is to be shared and when the wine has something to say, conversation between friends will flow!" While the store is currently only licensed for retail sales, visitors can enjoy their newly purchased bottles on a scenic patio out back overlooking Oyster Creek. (houstonfoodfinder.com)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Texas winter storm bringing high winds, possible tornadoes to Houston today (Chron)
  • City Council to begin adoption of 2023 Sugar Land Mobility Master Plan in February (Community Impact Newspaper)
  • Houston woman convicted of using Instagram to commit fraud (Woodlands Online)
  • Houston-based series Mo Returns to Netflix For Season 2 (Houstonia Magazine)
  • RECOGNIZE THEM? 3 suspects accused of breaking into mailboxes, stealing mail in west Houston, police say (KPRC Click2Houston)

Today in Houston:

  • Free Vaccines for Children at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (9 a.m.)
  • Happy Hour at Water's Edge Winery & Bistro (3 p.m.)
  • Auto Show Houston 2023 30th Anniversary at NRG Center (5 p.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Rudyards (6 p.m.)
  • Comedy: T&A Tuesdays at The Secret Group with $2 wells (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • It's the law of gravity and gambling: what goes up must come down. Local celebrity and sports better Mattress Mack lost $2 million on a bet he had placed on the Cowboys after they fell to the 49ers. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
  • The California shooter who killed 10 people over 60 years old at a Lunar New Year celebration was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. The 72-year-old shooter had visited a local police station twice earlier this month alleging family members had poisoned him and stolen from him decades ago. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is offering a FREE TICKET for all guests until noon on March 8. The free opportunity for admission is being spurred on by organizers who want to provide the entire community a chance to enjoy the rodeo. The free admission event is being aptly called Community Day. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)

Featured Doge:

Joey is a 2-year-old Siberian Husky available for adoption at the SPCA.

What a sweetheart.

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That's another newsletter down the drain. Hope you enjoyed it! Catch you tomorrow morning for your hump day breakfast.

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

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