Texas slaves first learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865 on Galveston Island. What's now known as Juneteenth was born. I went to the island to get reaction as the longtime observance became a federal holiday. I had nothing set up when the day began. But, fortunately, the Galveston Historical Commission was able to connect me with a women who's long pushed for recognition and had a great-great-grandmother who lived through emancipation herself. We also got video of a new mural dedicate to telling the story of Juneteenth.
Friday, June 18, 2021
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Freedmen's Town becomes Houston's first "heritage district"
Freedmen's Town is an area in Houston where recently freed slaves settled after news of their emancipation spread across Texas. The week of Juneteenth observations brought news from the Houston City Council that the neighborhood would become the city's first "heritage district.." Allowing groups to preserve, maintain and highlight history in public rights-of-way. The designation is in addition to existing historic landmark statuses or other recognitions. Brick streets laid by descendants of Freedmen's Town founders may be the first restoration project.
Cafeteria workers find pay cut hard to swallow
There was good news recently for many Houston ISD employees when the board of trustees approved pay bumps for teachers. But some food service employees learned days later that their hours would be reduced next school year. The district blamed reduced meal participation rates and a shorter school calendar. But workers were immediately concerned given the hard work put into helping to feed students and families amid the pandemic. One longtime cafeteria worker shared her concerns with me.
Monday, June 7, 2021
Using the drone to cover potential flooding
Two big reservoirs in the Houston area were being watching closely amid weeks of rainy weather. I was tasked with telling the story of how rising levels may impact surrounding roadways. We decided to use "Drone 11" to help keep some good video of the reservoirs. I also did a standup using the drone. It really does add an interesting perspective when it comes to these types of stories. We found a road already covered by water as a place to go live.
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Monitoring the unofficial start of summer on Galveston Island
Galveston Island is our go-to for anything beach-related. More than 60% of island visitors come from the Houston area. In this case, Memorial Day provided an opportunity to see how crowds would be during the first big holiday weekend since mask rules and other COVID measures were relaxed. Galveston didn't suffer as much as many other beach towns.. But businesses and tourism officials certainly anticipate a surge this summer. The return of cruise ships will be a major part of that.
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