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Community Corner

🌱 Talking Dog Goes Viral + Co-op Solar

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)

Hello again, friends! It's me, Chris, your humble servant of the Houston Daily — ready to guide you through the holiday season. Today, we'll look at:

  • An Australian Shepherd that communicates with buttons.
  • Mayor Sylvester Turner pushes a new solar program.
  • The East Freeway near Baytown closed all morning after crash.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds breaking. High: 81 Low: 67.

Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. A four-and-a-half-year-old Australian Shepherd from Houston named Flambo is taking over TikTok thanks to his ability to communicate with his owner through buttons. Owner Abba Adams was first inspired to use the talking buttons during the COVID-19 pandemic. She explained, "When COVID hit and we had lockdown, Flambo and I were both extremely bored. So in my attempts to try and keep us both sane, we were learning a new trick every day. That's when I found Christina Hunger, a famous speech pathologist, and she slowly developed this method with her dog Stella. The method is very similar to those used for nonverbal students of hers." One viral TikTok involves Flambo repeatedly pressing the 'Yes' and 'Play' buttons after taking a decorative toy from a shelf while Adams continues to hold the toy up and press 'No'. She says it was their first argument. (Chron)
  2. Texas Solar Switch is a new solar panel program Mayor Sylvester Turner is touting that can be purchased cooperatively by groups of people or businesses. The program is supposed to make solar energy easier to access by allowing customers to "aggregate their purchasing power and save on installation costs," according to Turner. Hanna Mitchell, the Texas Program Director for Solar United Neighbors, said, "By going solar as a group through Texas Solar Switch, participants can expect to save between 15 to 20% over going solar on their own, while receiving additional support through each phase of the process." You can register with Texas Solar Switch for free today to receive a no strings attached price quote. (KTRK-TV)
  3. The East Freeway in Baytown was closed for over 7 hours this morning due to a crash that led to an oil spill. A woman driving on the wrong side of the road around 3 a.m. hit a 2007 Freightliner with semi-trailer head-on. The woman was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital for immediate medical attention though her current status remains unknown. The driver of the freightliner was unharmed. Hazmat crews finished cleaning up the oil spill around 10 a.m. and the freeway was reopened. (KTRK-TV)
  4. A person lying on the tracks of the METRORail near Texas Medical Center was struck and killed by it around 7 p.m. last night. Though the METRO driver spotted the person and pulled the emergency brake, the train did not stop in time to avoid a collision. Police confirmed the person dead at the scene and closed off Fannin between John Freeman and University. (Houston Chronicle)
  5. Missing 29-year-old Alejandro Torres was found dead in Buffalo Bayou near 11 Pinehill lane. He was last seen on the block of 5300 Washington Avenue operating a White 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. Police dive teams discovered that the truck Torres was last seen inside was sunk in the bayou as well. The truck cannot be moved out of the waterway at the moment, so it will remain there for the time being. Any individuals with information about Torres' actions before his disappearance are encouraged to contact the police. The investigation into his death is pending autopsy results. (Houston Chronicle)

Headlines you need to see:

  • $5K reward offered for 'armed and dangerous' homeless man wanted in robbery of north Houston cellphone store: FBI (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Family flies from Costa Rica to Houston for life-saving heart surgery for newborn (KHOU.com)
  • Farmers of color sue government for promised federal aid (Click2Houston)
  • Very warm conditions will persist for Houston through the weekend (Space City Weather)
  • Surveillance video: Woman punched in face during robbery for $20 bill outside convenience store (KHOU11)

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Today in Houston:

  • Taco Tuesday at El Pueblito Patio (5 p.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Rudyard's (6 p.m.)
  • Movie: Elf at Rooftop Cinema (6 p.m.)
  • Core-focused yoga at Discovery Green (6:30 p.m.)
  • Theater: WHAT-A-CHRISTMAS at Alley Theater (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Cy Young winner and one of the key pitchers for the Astros in the World Series Justin Verlander is reportedly signing with the New York Mets. He signed a two year deal for $86 million. (KPRC2 / Click2Houston via Facebook)
  • WalletHub looked at several factors of sinful behaviors, "including anger and hatred, jealousy, vices, greed, and lust," determining Houston to be 4th most sinful city in the U.S. 😈Houston was also ranked 3rd most lustful and 6th most jealous and vain. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
  • Florida man Chad Mason went on a crime spree in Clearwater by attempting to steal a police vehicle, destroying a nativity display, and having sex with a goldendoodle in front of adults and a child. Police originally attempted to arrest Mason for the sex crime which led to him fleeing and committing the other crimes. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)

Featured Doge:

Mohoboke is a 3-month-old Catahoula available for adoption at the SPCA.

Very cute eyebrows if I might say so myself.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

You're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning. See you then!

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

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