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Community Corner

🌱 MLK Day Celebrations + Southern Indian Food

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

Chris Stomberg, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Hi there, Houston! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including updates on:

  • Celebrating MLK Day.
  • Inflation developments.
  • Where to find a new type of Indian cuisine.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine. High: 63 Low: 40.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

  1. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated across Houston over the weekend with celebrations, parades, and observances. Monday would have been his 93rd birthday. MLK Jr. was assassinated at the age of 39 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Children's Museum of Houston is holding their 27th annual MLK Day Celebration with all day with musical performances, a speech reenactment, Black heritage food and more. There's also the MLK Jr. Dream Catch Bike Ride that travels 20 miles through Houston visiting sites the Reverend passed through during his final trip to our city. On Monday, the 45th "Original" MLK Day Parade will be led by Mayor Sylvester Turner while the 29th Annual MLK Grand Parade also marches off at 10 a.m. A celebration will be held all day downtown at Hermann Square in MLK's honor. (KPRC Click2Houston)
  2. Data from the federal bureau of labor statistics shows that inflation is trending downwards, but Houston has yet to see much relief. Average prices on everything in the country dropped by 0.1 percent in the month of December bringing the yearly price hike in 2022 to a grand total of 6.5 percent. In comparison to the national average, the prices on items in Houston and the surrounding area dropped a total of 1.5 percent over November and December. However, it's still not enough of a difference to be considered meaningful change for many Houston families struggling with the increased prices of living. Nonetheless, trends in the right direction point at the Federal Reserve slowly chipping away at inflation. (Houston Chronicle)
  3. Southern Indian cuisine is leaving a mark on Houston's restaurant scene for the first time ever. Historically, the only Indian food Houston has served up has been cuisines from the northern regions of India. However, more rice-centric dishes from the south of India are popping up around Westheimer. Southern Indian fare trades the thick curries and plump naan bread for which most Indian restaurants are known for spicy and sour soups with heavy sides of rice. You can try out the regional difference at restaurants such as Flying Idlis and Kumar's. (Chron)
  4. The wife of a man from Waller County was decapitated by her own husband. The couple had just married this past October and neighbors say the husband suspected of the killing "protected those he loved." Sheriff Troy Guidry shared details on the scene, saying, "A portion of the body was dismembered, and the residence was covered in blood. Gruesome scene at best. Evidence shows the suspect used a kitchen knife." Investigators are currently looking into the possibility that drugs may have influenced the husband's sudden erratic behavior. (ABC13)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Houston to have its coldest night of 2023, and then we'll swiftly warm up (Space City Weather)
  • Houston rent-a-chicken program lets people bypass expensive egg prices (Houston Chronicle)
  • Gridlock Alert: Sugar Land traffic will be detoured due to US 59 southbound and northbound lane closure this weekend (KTRK-TV)
  • Tesla snaps up Houston-area property for unknown facility (Chron)
  • 'Mo' a Netflix show shot in Houston, about Houston, beloved by Houstonians gets renewed (Houston Chronicle)

Today in Houston:

  • Concert: Monarch Chamber Players at Czech Museum Center (6 p.m.)
  • Theater: Opening Night - The Marriage of Figaro at the Wortham Center (7 p.m.)
  • Music Trends Through the Decades - DJ Mohawk Steve at Discovery Green (8 p.m.)
  • Concert: Quarter Life Crisis at Warehouse Live (9 p.m.)
  • Comedy: "You Look Like" Roast Battle at Rudyards (11 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, has died after being rushed to the hospital yesterday. She was 54 years old. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • Alperen Sengun, 20, of the Houston Rockets just became the youngest center in NBA history to record a triple-double. He finished the game against the Kings last night with 10 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. (Houston Rockets via Facebook)
  • Nasa scientists discovered a planet located in the habitable-zone of its star that they believe could be hosting water. The planet is 95% the size of Earth and mostly rocky. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. Have a great weekend. See you all next week!

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