This was a neat story for a History buff like me (and History major) to cover. The historic Battleship Texas was towed from La Porte (where it's been on display since 1948) to Galveston for much needed repairs in a dry dock. It's the only surviving ship of its kind to have served in both WWI and WWII. I was assigned to do a piece on the ship's history. Fortunately, a 100 year-old WWII veteran who actually served aboard the Texas from 1940 to 1942 showed up to see her off.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Family speaks about deputy constable fatally shot while off-duty
We encounter a lot of sadness in the news business. And seeking out family or loved ones of homicide victims is a necessary evil. In this case, an off-duty Harris County Pct. 3 deputy constable was shot and killed while driving home from getting dinner. Investigators did not rule out road rage. They were still looking for a possible suspect when I filed this report with the victim's family. Fortunately, they were welcoming when I made a cold call on their home.
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Offshore Technology Conference fully in-person for first time in three years
COVID shifted most conventions and conferences to online or cancelled them altogether. That includes the massive Offshore Technology Conference, or OTC. The event started in 1969 and is attended annually in Houston by tens of thousands of people in the energy industry. OTC returned this year in a fully in-person format for the first time since 2019. My photographer and I spent the day at NRG Center covering the event which included a pavilion dedicated to "energy transition" for the first time.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Covering tornado damage in two states
A system of tornadoes struck Texas and Louisiana over a 24 hour period. We spent one day about two hours north of Houston covering the impact on Crockett, TX. Multiple homes and businesses suffered significant damage. A photographer and I were dispatched to the New Orleans area the next day after the community of Arabi was struck by an EF3 twister. The damage there was even more extensive. Attached is one of the numerous stories we filed during a 13-hour work day. Many people from the NOLA area relocated to Houston after Katrina. There's a lot of interest locally in things that happen there.
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Rodeo Houston Trail Rides back in the saddle
Rodeo Houston is back after being cancelled last year. One of the event's most enduring traditions are the official Trail Rides. 10 participated this year and originated in cities across the Houston area. I caught up with a team as they broke for lunch before heading to Memorial Park where teams always spend the night before participating in the Rodeo Houston Parade. I dusted off my cowboy hat as part of our team coverage.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Pizza with purpose
The shooting death of 9 year-old Arlene Alvarez has sparked a lot of outrage and interest in Houston. The girl was on the way to Spanky's Pizza with her family when a bullet allegedly fired by a robbery victim at a suspect struck Alvarez. Spanky's was a favorite of the family. The locally owned restaurant decided to donate 30% of all proceeds from the Monday a week after Alvarez's death to the family. The fundraiser was held at the location where the family was headed. The response was overwhelming.
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Underground jury assembly plaza reopens 4 1/2 years after Harvey
Among Hurricane Harvey's casualties was Harris County's jury assembly plaza. The 85% underground facility is connected to four different courthouses via tunnels. There was discussion about whether rebuilding was worth it. But, in the end, FEMA covered most of the cost and the refurbishment included "flood proof" features like easily hosed down seating and new cement block walls instead of sheetrock. The plaza finally reopened to jury selection 4 1/2 years after the historic flood. I used the station's drone during my tour to help tell the story.
Monday, January 31, 2022
Inside Memorial Park tunnels ahead of partial opening
Big humps arising from a massive project in Memorial Park continue to get a ton of interest. They're part of the tunnels though which Memorial Drive traffic with flow. The tunnels will be underneath a new land bridge and prairie connecting two sides of the park that have long been divided by six lanes of traffic. I got a sneak peek inside the tunnels ahead of a public preview party and partial opening to traffic. We brought out the drone which always makes a story like this much more visually interesting.
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