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Community Corner

🌱 Texas Takeout + Dirty Cop

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. Today, we'll dive into:

  • Port Houston on the rise
  • Where to order takeout
  • A former state trooper found guilty of using his authority for sexual favors

But first, today's weather:

A heavy thunderstorm around. High: 76 Low: 53.

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Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. Port Houston set a record for millions of tons moved through the port in 2022 with a total increase of 22 percent in tonnage moved compared to the previous year. Executive Director Roger Guenther said, "The record growth seen over the last couple of years has been supported by continued investments in Port Houston terminals as well as the immense dedication of the Port Houston staff and (International Longshoremen's Association) labor who are committed to moving our region's cargo." As engagement with Port Houston continues to increase, more and more big ship navigators are learning the secret to playing a game called "Texas Chicken." Big ship drivers came up with the lingo due to the Houston Ship Channel being one of the most difficult in the world to pass through, offering drivers very little room for error lest their ships end up beached like a whale. (Subscription: Houston Chronicle)
  2. We've all been there: you want to eat out but can't muster the energy to get off the couch. Next time you find yourself in this common conundrum, pick up the phone and call-in to one of the best delivery joints in Houston. The Burger Joint's Classic Burger Pack offers all of the customizable options you could desire, allowing you to sub a cheeseburger patty for pulled pork, hot dogs, fried chicken, and vegetarian options at no extra charge. Mala Sichuan Bistro on Westheimer offers some of the best catering deals for larger gatherings with Eastern classics like kung pao chicken and spicy pork, chicken, beef and lamb dishes that will make your tongue tingle. Lastly, Goode Company BBQ or The Pit Room will provide you with more BBQ and comfort food than your stomach can handle with all the classic accompaniments it would take hours to prepare yourself. (Eater Houston)
  3. A former Texas DPS trooper was found guilty of using authority to sexually assault women while on the job. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said in a news release, "We rely on our police officers and federal agents every day to serve and protect. This lone officer, however, used his authority to stalk and prey on his victims for his own sexual gratification." The guilty officer was involved in two separate events where he used his authority as a police officer to convince women to perform oral sex on him. One of the women involved was married and originally apprehended while her husband was in the car. The ex-trooper is now awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. (Houston Public Media)
  4. Justice was served for David Castro, 17, who was killed in a road rage shooting incident after an Astros game back in 2021. Yesterday, accused shooter Gerald Williams, 35, pleaded guilty to the charges and will serve 30 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Testimonies from the boy's father, mother, and sister relayed the depressing details of their family's sudden and tragic loss. David's father, middle school educator Paul Castro, said that he wished that he had been shot instead. Williams was a previously convicted felon on parole who served 13 years in prison for an armed robbery in 2008. During initial investigations into the murder, police saw the vehicle involved in the shooting in Williams' driveway but didn't have a warrant. When they returned to the house, the vehicle was gone. Thankfully, it was eventually discovered as a torched wreckage with a matching VIN near Williams' home. (Subscription: Houston Chronicle)
  5. Chicago-based drone company Helios Visions is expanding into Texas with newly planned offices in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Drone services provided by the company include infrastructure inspection, building facade inspection, construction progress documentation, and commercial real estate footage. Co-founder Ted Parisot said, "Moving into the Texas market allows us to best serve the needs of both existing and new clients in architecture, engineering, construction, and commercial real estate." He also claimed that the expansion serves as proof of the success that drone companies can offer to all kinds of businesses. (CultureMap Houston)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Jeepers creepers! Houston museum offers creepy Valentine's Day gift sure to make your skin crawl (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Houston developers unveil 'build to rent' communities as part of national expansions (Houston Chronicle)
  • Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul tour Houston with latest project (Chron)
  • Houston mom who said 4-year-old was 'now in heaven' after fatally stabbing own daughter sentenced to 40 years, DA says (KPRC Click2Houston)
  • Carter's announces Houston 10-month-old boy as 2023 Baby of the Year (Houston Chronicle)

Today in Houston:

  • Clutch City Wednesdays Ice Skating at Discovery Green (5 p.m.)
  • The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience at a Secret Location (5:30 p.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Darkhorse Tavern (6 p.m.)
  • Comedy: $2 Bill Comedy at The Secret Group (8 p.m.)
  • Concert: Cody Canada LIVE at Main Street Crossing (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • A TikTok video of a horse peering out of the backseat of a vehicle sitting in a McDonalds drive-thru is going viral. The driver said that he was planning on ordering the horse ice cream. Too bad McDonalds ice cream machines are always broken. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
  • A Crystal beach visitor found the washed-up corpse of a nightmarish creature during one of their outings. Texas Park and Wildlife identified the animal as a snapper eel: a "somewhat common" animal that people usually miss due to its tendency to burrow into the sand. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • A California woman is claiming that she got cancer from a nail salon after a cut on her finger developed into HPV-related cancer. Grace Garcia said that after being deeply cut on her cuticle at a nail salon, the finger caused her pain for five months before she saw a dermatologist that found cancer cells inside of it. (ABC13 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 tomorrow morning. Peace ✌

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

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