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Community Corner

🌱 Traffic App Catastrophe + Drinking For Rhinos

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. Let's dive into:

  • Millions wasted on TX traffic app.
  • An EaDo bar keeping the world horny.
  • Opening night of the Harry Potter Yule Ball.

But first, today's weather:

Warmer with variable clouds. High: 67 Low: 61.

Here are the top stories in Houston today:

  1. ConnectSmart is an $18 million traffic app offered as a smarter Google alternative for the Houston area by TxDOT. However, despite the huge investment of taxpayer money into this new navigation app, numbers show that the app only has 3,800 active users after launching in September with downloads trending downwards. TxDOT planners involved with the project maintain that the app was a good idea even though it currently generates no revenue. Meanwhile, Molly Cook, an organizer with Stop TxDOT I-45, shared a common public sentiment by saying, "What I am disappointed by is the constant insistence on trying to 'tech' our way out of decades of racist policy making, decades of poor decisions, poor planning in our transportation infrastructure . . . it doesn't matter as long as there isn't safe infrastructure existing." (KTRK-TV)
  2. Patio bar White Rhino in Houston's East End raises money to monitor and preserve its namesake animals with every drink sold. A portion of the bar's sales goes towards ensuring white rhinos remain protected through the creation and security of anti-poaching zones. While the East End has seen a lot of change over the past couple of decades due to gentrification, bar owner Bobby De La Rosa believes White Rhino embodies this change. Bobby shared, "For us personally, having grown up here most of our lives, it is important to us that we honor our roots and protect our culture. But at the same time, we are very welcoming of the new residents that are coming in and how we are coming together to create this whole new climate. I think the white rhino symbolizes that, an animal that has existed for such a long time and is still withstanding." (KTRK-TV)
  3. Paraiso Maravilla in Houston held the opening night for their sold-out Harry Potter Yule Ball event running through January 20th. The same event is going on simultaneously at cities across the globe including Milan, Mexico City, and Montreal. Houston was chosen as the only United States location for the event due to immense local interest. Event coordinator Kate Poueymirou said, "Guests will experience elaborate decorations and fabrications. Harry Potter fans will get to truly experience something new. They should come dressed up, be ready to interact and have fun." Indeed, opening night saw fans arrive fully dressed in wands, capes, and their favorite house colors. Bars and shops are located throughout the sprawling event, selling Harry Potter themed drinks including The Sword of Godric Gryffindor, The Locket of Salazar Slytherin, and the infamous Butterbeer. (PaperCity Magazine)
  4. Houston realtor Noel Collier is giving kids of single moms new beds for the holiday season. After struggling with the troubles of single motherhood herself, Collier wishes to give back to the Houston community by providing the beds at her own expense. If you know a single mom whose child could use a new sleeping space, you can send a nomination to Noel at admin@sellwithnoel.com. Collier is the owner of Noel Collier Group real estate: one of just five percent of black owned realtors in the United States. Despite only having a history dating back 3 years, the Collier group has managed to clear over $50 million in sales throughout Houston. (Houston Defender)
  5. A deadly shooting in Southwest Houston prompted an hours long standoff between the suspect and police. Responders arrived to the scene of the 4200 block of Knotty Oaks Trail after a caller claimed that a man with a gun had barricaded himself in the area. As police investigated, they discovered a dead body with a gunshot wound nearby. The shooting took place in an abandoned home which the suspect then fled in an attempt to hide from police responders. Thankfully, at around 10:30 p.m. last night, the suspect was taken into custody. (KTRK-TV)

Headlines you need to see:

  • Thanksgiving will be rainy, cold across the Houston region (Houston Chronicle)
  • Houston Rockets, 50 Cent, partner to give away 1,000 Thanksgiving turkeys (Houston Public Media)
  • 10 Houston Experiences to Gift the Go-Getter in Your Life (Houstonia Magazine)
  • Search continues for missing Houston man last seen stumbling out of Heights bar (KHOU.com)
  • ABC13 Renters' Rights: Frustration builds after mailboxes remain broken for months at west Houston apartment complex (KTRK-TV)

Today in Houston:

  • Local Lunch Market Wednesdays at City Hall (11 a.m.)
  • Dungeons & Dragons with Circle of Barhaven at Darkhorse Tavern (6 p.m.)
  • Fitness at Discovery Green — HIIT class with FitMix Communities (6:30 p.m.)
  • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Palace Social (7 p.m.)
  • Concert: Astralace at White Oak Music Hall (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • A TSA officer at JFK Airport in New York was met with surprise when they discovered a living orange cat packed inside of luggage during an x-ray. No cats were harmed in the packing and unpacking of the suitcase. (KHOU 11 News via Facebook)
  • The world record holder for the largest feet on a woman is a local to the Houston area. Tanya Herbert needs a size 18 shoe in order to keep her toes warm. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
  • Excitement for the World Cup this year has hit a fever pitch in Houston as fans begin to imagine what the city will look like when Houston hosts games for the event in 2026. If one thing is for sure, it's that beer will be sold at stadiums. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)

Featured Kitty:

Big Papa is a 4-year-old domestic short hair available for adoption at the SPCA.

Believe me, sweetie, he's got enough cuddles to feed the needy.

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update. Prepare your bellies for Thanksgiving everyone. Tomorrow, we feast! 🍗

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

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