Houston ISD put out a press release announcing that journalist and TV host Roland Martin would be establishing two new scholarships at his alma mater, Jack Yates High School. I didn't realize Martin was from Houston or went to Yates (from where a number of notable folks graduated). I reached out to Martin via social media and caught up with him while he happened to be in town for an event. We met outside the school where a number of passers-by stopped to take photos with him after we chatted about the reasons why he wanted to give money to communications students and others.
Monday, March 22, 2021
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Vaccination volunteers play big role in getting shots into arms
I was looking for stories to do during Spring Break (since most education/school-related stories wouldn't easily come together) and discussed this story with a producer. She knows a nurse who works a regular job at a hospital before volunteering at one of the Houston area COVID vaccination sites. I got in touch with Harris County Public Health which has a team of volunteers helping out. The agency hooked me up with a certified EMT who donates his time giving shots and doing whatever else is needed. The process would move a lot more slowly without the assistance of volunteers.. Both those with or without medical backgrounds.
Friday, March 12, 2021
Jobless claims dip as vaccinations and re-openings rise
I sort of became the unemployment reporter back when COVID really took hold of the economy. I've since become my station's education-focused reporter. But this story provided an opportunity to revisit jobless issues thanks to the latest US Department of Labor report showing claims reaching a four-month low. My photographer and I hit up a local unemployment office and found a man still struggling to find work.. And found another man at a business next door who'd landed on his feet. His boss also explained how she's hiring. I also interviewed a suburban school district about jobs it's hoping to fill. Education is among the sectors seeing job growth.
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Restaurants divided on protocols as statewide COVID mandates end
This week brought big news in Texas. Statewide mandates regarding mask requirements and occupancy levels in restaurants (and other businesses) ended. I was tasked with finding restaurants on both sides of the issue since many remain committed to COVID protocols. One with whom we've visited before said he's received threats over the issue. Meanwhile, I found a restaurant in the suburb of Pearland that decided to do what it's now allowed to do.. Scrap mask requirements and open with 100% occupancy.
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Lease dispute puts landmark River Oaks Theater in jeopardy .. again
The iconic River Oaks Theater in Houston is my personal favorite place to see a movie. It dates to 1939 and is like going back in time. I knew it had been in jeopardy before due to redevelopment all around it. Now a lease dispute between the theater operator and building's owner threatens it once again. I was able to get an interview with the theater operator who said business dropped 95% during the pandemic and paying rent at the same level isn't possible. The owner said the theater hasn't paid rent since March of 2020. Meanwhile, Preservation Houston, which helped save the theater years ago, is willing to launch a similar effort to try and preserve it again. Unfortunately, demolition isn't prohibited even as a designated City of Houston landmark.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Katy ISD holds livestock show despite COVID and cold weather setbacks
I take any chance I get to hang out with animals. In this case, it was a story about Katy ISD's (large suburban Houston school district) annual livestock show. It had to be adapted due to COVID and was pushed back a week because of the freak winter storm. The rodeo component was scrapped. But 500 students vying for awards, including money, weren't dissuaded. I got to interview a few of them.. Including a young lady with a pig named "Georgia." This Georgia native quickly became a fan.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
School districts among those dealing with ruptured pipes after winter weather event
As if power outages and a lack of water wasn't enough to deal with.. the weird winter weather that struck Texas also resulted in a wave of ruptured pipes. Leaks erupted in thousands of homes, businesses and institutions. Those include school districts who had to scramble to make repairs so campuses could reopen. Cy-Fair ISD (Texas's third largest district) showed me around one of more than 60 campuses that suffered some sort of damage. We noticed an extremely long line outside a plumbing supply store on our way to the school. We circled back and weaved that into this story as well.
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