Christmas in Houston isn't complete without a visit from "Pancho Claus"

https://www.khou.com/article/life/holidays/pancho-claus-carries-on-in-2020-despite-funding-challenges/285-a275728f-049c-4aa7-9e91-954eb86a365a 

Covering Pancho Claus's annual ride through Houston's East End has become my holiday tradition (since I usually work on Christmas).  Richard Reyes created the character 40 years ago and hands out hundreds of toys thanks to lots of help from sponsors and volunteers.  The pandemic impacted some fundraising efforts this year.. But the low riders assembled once again to spread holiday cheer.  It's always a fun and inspiring story.  

Katy high school student self-publishes COVID-inspired textbook

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/katy-isd-student-covid-19-textbook/285-e40f3b5d-bc04-466b-bc1f-5624602bea48 

I'm the education reporter these days.  That's meant a lot of COVID-related school stories.  This one is included.. Yet a little different.  A Seven Lakes High School student reached out to me after a I did a story on her school being temporarily shut down thanks to an outbreak.  Turns out, she had written and self-published her own textbook inspired by the pandemic.  I thought it would make a nice story and her interview turned out better than I expected.  Like Mia (the anchor) says in the tag.. Someone's future is very bright.

Houston Police officer shot and killed on his way to work

https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/houston-police-officer-shot-and-killed-leaves-behind-4-children/285-e1bb367c-bf96-4d04-8847-86b269a32bfd 

I was already at work on a school-related story (my primary beat these days) when we got word of breaking news on the north side of Houston.  A police officer was possibly shot and killed.  I immediately jumped in the car and went to the scene.  Three of our photographers met me there.  I quickly assessed that the officer, a 25 year HPD veteran, was killed while on his way to work.  The circumstances of what may have led to the deadly encounter along the North Freeway remains under investigation.  But Sgt. Sean Rios was not in uniform and was driving his personal vehicle.  The attached live shot is from KHOU 11 News at 6:00.  Editors put the video and sound together back at the station and I ad-libbed my script since a press conference wrapped up just minutes before.  

Houston ISD principal calling it quits after nearly 55 years with the district

https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/houston-isd-educator-dr-albert-lemons-plans-retirement-after-nearly-55-years/285-d7e4a5d8-a3e8-4b0c-a69b-5455d15a8c37 

KHOU 11 News recently "adopted" Atherton Elementary School.  That means we'll do collection drives and other things to help the Fifth Ward area school.  Its longtime principal (30 years) joined us on a morning editorial meeting Zoom call and I instantly knew he'd make a good feature story.  I finally got around to putting it together.  However, I didn't know until my interview with Dr. Albert Lemons that he had just informed Houston ISD that he would retire in early 2021.  He's wrapping up a nearly 55 year career with the same district and three decades leading Atherton ES where he is a legend.

Data shows higher failure rates among at-home learners

https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/high-failure-rates-reported-among-virtual-learners/285-ee43d0ef-7d01-410a-b5dd-4fa9ed554b1f 

I'm covering education stories fairly exclusively now.  This story came about after an anecdotal story from one Houston are school district regarding higher failure rates among students learning from home compared to those who've returned to physical schools amid the pandemic.  I did some research and found that most districts are reporting the same thing.  Brazosport ISD's superintendent was willing to share his thoughts on camera.  I "fronted" this story from a school in Lake Jackson, TX.  That's about 45-hour south of Houston.  Planning and coordination are key these days since my photographer/editors and I are working separately and have to rendezvous for live shots. 

Beta brings lots of rain, minor flooding and memories of Harvey

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/a-lot-of-people-have-had-a-crappy-year-and-it-just-keeps-going-pearland-homes-hit-hard-by-harvey-deal-with-beta/285-a894ef75-f07c-42e4-b2df-42c2206de2b8 

I went from Galveston Island to the Houston suburbs over the course of tropical storm/depression Beta's journey over SE Texas.  Some areas got more than a foot of rain within 24 hours or so.  But it paled in comparison to what Harvey did three years ago.  However, it was enough to spark memories of that devastating storm that will likely become this area's benchmark for decades to come.  This story is from Pearland where a number of homes suffered minor flooding.  We also used one of our drones to get a better look.

Students learning remotely get an in-person boost

https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/aldine-isd-teachers-visit-students-in-cares-program/285-a015934b-2376-410e-93e6-f0ad23d97449 

First post in a while!  Just when I said to myself I was going to pay more attention to this.  Anyway.. I've been designated KHOU's "education reporter" and most of my stories lately are associated with districts going back to school, COVID measures, remote v. in-person instruction.  The attached story is also related to this.  However, it's a positive feature too.  Aldine ISD (a Houston area district) schools created teams to go out and encourage students in person as they learn remotely.  They deliver support, food, awards, etc.  It was a fun ride along. 

"It's like a dream you can't wake up from." Families remember City of Houston employees who've died from COVID-19

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/family-remembers-houston-public-works-employee-who-died-from-covid-19/285-acdeebed-91ef-4cf1-839b-57dfa02086e7

At least three City of Houston employees died from COVID-19 complications in a matter of days.  One was a longtime Houston Fire Department captain.  Two others were Houston Public Works employees.  They're essential workers too.  I used some old school reporter techniques (the white pages) to locate the sister of one of the public works employees.  She agreed to do an interview with me from her home in San Antonio.  She said she never imagined COVID would impact her inner family.  Her sister, who struggled with asthma her entire life, died within a very short time after being tested for COVID following the apparent diagnosis of a supervisor at work.

On the back-to-school beat

https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/tea-guidelines-commissioner-on-new-guidance-for-texas-school-districts/285-b3417c32-a3ba-44cc-b6b1-1b409cc1b544

COVID-19 continues to impact daily life in many ways.  And it's definitely impacting the way children will learn in the coming school year.  School districts across the Houston area (and many around the nation) continue to tweak plans to include mostly online/remote learning.  Here in Texas, districts waited for weeks for new guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  This story capsulizes highlights of the new guidance.  I used a TEA YouTube clip for my soundbite and later got a one-on-one interview with the commissioner to use in later newscasts.  KHOU reporters continue to work mostly from home.. But I was able to meet up with my photographer near my place to shoot stand-ups.

Galveston beaches close on July 4th weekend

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/our-hope-is-that-people-will-just-comply-galveston-island-beaches-officially-close-for-july-4th-weekend/285-f2f3976a-f23c-43bb-9546-347a15f086ed

I've been doing a LOT of Zoom interviews lately.  That includes the one I did for this story on beaches being closed on Galveston Island over the July 4th holiday weekend.  I did it from home.  The chief of the island's beach patrol agreed to Zoom with me and a couple of our photographers went down and shot some b-roll (both ground video and drone video).  It's part of the way we continue to do things at KHOU amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  We do still get out and actually cover events in person on occasion.  As for the story.. closing beaches was fairly controversial given the fact that it means so much money for businesses and so much fun for visitors.

COVID patient returns home after 50+ day hospitalization

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/im-a-survivor-local-covid-19-patient-tied-to-egyptian-river-cruise-released-from-hospital-after-more-than-50-days/285-67407db9-685d-45e3-8971-8fcf53f499b4

We've covered a LOT of negative news as it relates to COVID-19.  But this was a positive story.  Belinda Galindo of Pearland, TX finally returned home after spending more than 50 days in either hospitals or rehab centers.  She was among a cluster of positive cases traced back to an overseas trip, including a Nile River cruise in Egypt.  Sadly, Galindo's brother-in-law lost his battle with the same illness.  But his son and wife joined others in welcoming Belinda home.

Deputy dies from COVID-19

https://www.khou.com/article/news/prayers-turn-to-tears-as-officers-mourn-death-of-hcso-deputy-who-died-from-covid-19/285-b83718ea-0bdf-49d7-bee4-21f4155f397b

COVID-19 has touched many lives across the nation and here at home in Houston.  The Harris County Sheriff's Office has reported a number of positive cases among its ranks.  But Sgt. Raymond Scholwinski was the first casualty.  The 70 year-old deputy had been with HCSO since 1979.  I was assigned to cover his death and wasn't sure which direction I'd go.  I got word that some of his colleagues would gather at the substation where he worked.  One of them was particularly emotional as she recalled Sgt. Scholwinski.

Texas beaches reopen after COVID-19 closures

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/galveston-beaches-reopen-with-covid-19-recommendations-in-place/285-78edf926-ba08-4d56-a497-db3667c6b62a

Texas beaches reopened on the first day of May as the fight to contain COVID-19 continued.  Recommendations were in place to help keep things in check.  And tourism officials were ready to get things moving again, to some degree.  Covering the reopening provided my photographer and me a chance to get out and about for the first time in a while.  We spent a gorgeous day on Galveston Island.  And beach visitors wasted no time hitting the surf and sand.  Time will tell if the decision to reopen the beaches was too soon. 

Longtime field reporter (me) forced to work from home for the first time

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/i-need-these-items-to-stay-safe-ppe-giveaway-attracts-hundreds-in-acres-homes-area/285-434241b4-cf52-478c-9b89-a9f0ddbeb8a1

COVID-19 changed workflow for millions of people.  Unfortunately, it's also meant a loss of employment for millions too.  Luckily, I still have a job.  But I'm doing it much differently.  My station's parent company made a decision to have reporters work from home.  Photographers still go out, in some cases, to gather video and to cover press conferences.  I thought "there's no way I can do this!"  But necessity required me to get out of my comfort zone.  I'm shooting stand-ups and myself "on camera" using the latest iPhone.  It actually works pretty well.  The phone's voice recorder is what I use to "track" packages.  I then text or email materials to the photog who edits pieces for air.  I'm not an MMJ, MSJ, or "one-man-band" as we used to call it.  But maybe I am, after all.. Just in my own way.  The attached story (about a PPE giveaway) features a stand-up I shot in my kitchen.     

COVID-19 patient shares story from his balcony

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/no-one-really-prepares-for-this-houston-covid-19-patient-initially-thought-he-had-the-flu/285-9a6897c8-0d83-4a82-9264-c2f6ab484dd5

We've been swamped with COVID-19 coverage along with every other TV station in the nation.  Many of our colleagues are doing their jobs remotely while my photographer and I remain in the field (while taking precautions).  An acquaintance who contracted the virus agreed to speak with me about how he believes he got it, the symptoms and what it was like to deal with it.  We conducted the interview from afar as he stood on his balcony.  Fortunately, his condition has improved as so many others feel the impact of this potentially deadly condition.

Meeting NASA's newest astronauts

http://www.khou.com/video/news/local/sugar-land-native-among-newest-nasa-astronauts/285-24b0c7ea-501e-47af-8443-b540583114fa?jwsource=cl

It's been a while since I posted a story.. But this was a fun one.  I got to cover NASA's newest class of astronauts as they were introduced during a ceremony at Houston's Johnson Space Center.  I didn't realize that one of them was a Houston-area native.  Fortunately, she gave us a few words in a separate interview and became the "peg" of my story.  Being so close to a NASA facility provides a lot of interesting stories.  We could almost have a bureau there and cover nothing but space-related news.