What a difference a week makes. It'll be in the mid to upper 70s today. It felt like 15 this time last week. A deep freeze hit Texas and dumped snow and ice on areas that haven't seen it in decades. Sub-freezing temps also overwhelmed the state's power grid and left millions without power, water and with nowhere warm to stay. This is among the stories I filed from Fort Bend County (where my photographer and I spent four days chronicling how that area coped). I found a woman, her daughter and two grandchildren sleeping in the lobby of our hotel. They agreed to be part of the story.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Teachers still pushing for COVID vaccine prioritization
This story started with a pitch from the National Education Association (NEA). That's the nation's largest teachers union. The organization's president was being made available for one-on-one interviews regarding the results of a nationwide survey of members. Most said they want the COVID vaccine but had no access to it. Many states, including Texas, did not include teachers in the first phases of vaccine distribution. I reached out to local teachers in order to compliment the story and decided to feature one who DID get the vaccine thanks to pre-existing medical conditions. She said she wishes all of her colleagues could get the vaccine since she considers them frontline workers.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Two UH Air Force ROTC cadets "launching" careers with U.S. Space Force
This story started when I spotted a University of Houston social media post. Two Air Force ROTC cadets are set to be the first from UH to join the U.S. Space Force. A darling of the Trump administration appears to be safe under the Biden administration. I did a joint Zoom interview with both cadets who were excited about the prospects of working for the nation's newest military branch. We used USSF video to help tell the story.
Monday, February 1, 2021
Principal retires after 55 years with Houston ISD
I first met Atherton Elementary School principal Dr. Albert Lemons last year when I profiled him for a National Principals Month piece. He'd been with Houston ISD for more than 50 years and principal of Atherton for 30. He's a legend in the local education community known for his love of kids and dapper clothing. He told me at the time that he planned to retire in early 2021. This story if from a drive-through retirement celebration held outside the school. We used the drone to do a standup in the middle of the story.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Helping a student fulfill his musical dreams
Digital first! We hear that a lot in the news business these days since so many stories are broken on social media and the web before they ever hit TV. Sometimes stories that make digital platforms never make air on TV. I kept that in mind when I pitched this feature about 5th grader Jaron Collins getting a brand new trumpet from an anonymous Spring ISD (a suburban Houston school district) employee. The kid had been noticed on social media by his music teacher pretending to play using toys. His dream is to play trumpet for the Southern University marching band.. One of the premier HBCU bands in the nation. The college reached out to me after seeing the story I wrote up for our website and shared on Twitter. The attached story aired on TV after the band offered an honorary membership.
Monday, January 25, 2021
Second "cancer cluster" concerns Houston neighborhood
I first met Barbara Beal in the Kashmere Gardens area of Houston around this time last year. Her neighborhood had just been included in a newly-identified "cancer cluster" where health officials reported higher-than-normal rates of adult cancers. The Texas Department of State Health Services just revealed information about a second cluster regarding childhood cancers in the same area. I went back to the neighborhood for Ms. Beal's reaction. I also reached out to Union Pacific Railroad.. The entity blamed by many for causing the health issues via a longtime creosote facility that operated across the street from Ms. Beal's home.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Looking back at Presidential Inaugurations
I was a History major and always jump at the chance to do a History-related story. In this case, it was looking back at inaugurations of the past as we approached Joe Biden's big day. Boiling down so many swearings-in to a 1:45 story was difficult. But I tried to hit interesting highlights.. From those who skipped their successor's inaugurations to some of the more unique ones thanks to national tragedies. A UH History professor helped take me through the timeline and offer insight.
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