Apollo 11 inspired park in need of a makeover

https://www.khou.com/video/tech/science/aerospace/apollo-11/rescue-mission-for-park-honoring-apollo-11/285-3505dc16-0ec8-4411-a82d-e70c69e41e83?jwsource=cl

This is a story prompted by my own observances.  Tranquility Park (named after the Moon's "Sea of Tranquility") is in my neighborhood in downtown Houston.  I've noticed its disrepair.. Particularly since Hurricane Harvey.  It became a story worth pitching even more as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing.  What better excuse for a makeover?  A friend of the original architect was among those who shared concerns about the park with me.

Presidential hopefuls in Houston, again

https://www.khou.com/video/news/politics/10-democratic-presidential-hopefuls-address-educators-at-downtown-houston-forum/285-32cd8a71-fc70-4ad9-9a1a-ce279440d1d5?jwsource=cl

It's not surprising that 10 of the Democratic candidates running for president would jump at the chance to appear before the nation's largest labor union.  The National Education Association held its annual convention in Houston this year.  Part of the days-long event was a forum with the candidates.  This is the second such forum featuring a number of Democratic candidates that I've covered here in recent months.  Many expect other visits by Democratic candidates as Texas turns more and more purple.

Road rage murder victim's widow speaks about crime

https://www.khou.com/video/news/crime/we-werent-finished-living-our-lives-together-widow-talks-about-deadly-road-rage-shooting-in-katy/285-680a82f4-1264-4c7e-a1b6-9e66d8fd10ad?jwsource=cl

Getting exclusive interviews is always a goal when you know it's a story other stations are also working.  But there's a fine line between getting an interview and exploiting a very sad situation.  In this case, the family of a road rage murder victim wanted to share their thoughts about the father, husband, and son.  The man's widow got very emotional during the interview.. understandably.  It makes for powerful TV.  I just hate that we have to cover such senseless stories.

Split shift Saturday

https://www.khou.com/video/news/crime/two-deadly-shootings-involving-officers-in-houston-area/285-8a1dff69-ed29-439b-9d03-ae1e0c0dd9b2?jwsource=cl

This is just a quick clip of me anchoring during a split shift Saturday.  I was filling in for the normal anchor and it's a looooong day.  It means anchoring a two-hour morning show from 7:00a-9:00a and then returning later in the day for 6:00p and 10:00p newscasts.  The good thing is that it's guaranteed overtime for me.  The regular anchor gets a three-day weekend in exchange for working it. 

Going back in time at NASA's Johnson Space Center

https://www.khou.com/video/news/local/mission-control-renovated-to-look-like-moon-landing-era/285-04c409e2-48bb-49cb-be80-cfa67456bb50?jwsource=cl

I always like nerding out at NASA.  In this case, it was to cover the unveiling of a major restoration project at Johnson Space Center in Houston.  The historic Apollo Mission Control Center was refurbished to look as it did during the first moon landing in 1969.  The years-long project was completed in time for the 50th anniversary.  This is the room where the Apollo missions were managed.  But it fell into disrepair following its closure in the 1990s.  Most of the money spent on painstaking renovation came from donations. 

What a sale! Texas icon Whataburger sold to a Chicago company

https://www.khou.com/video/money/consumer/whataburger-buyout-should-not-be-surprising/285-36d09dc3-51ec-46ce-b1eb-0143c21c11a2?jwsource=cl

Texans love their Whataburger.  But the family-owned Texas-based chain has been sold to a Chicago investment firm.  The news broke as I waited on a call back on another story.  I was switched around 1:00p.  They wanted a hit at 4:00p!  That means making things happen quickly.  We found a Whataburger location and got some quick interviews with customers.  Fortunately, a retail expert at the University of Houston was also available on short notice.  I deserved the milkshake I used in my tag.

Students spend summer repairing Harvey homes

https://www.khou.com/video/news/investigations/stands-for-houston/teens-spend-summer-break-rebuilding-homes-damaged-by-harvey/285-62bb4db7-0864-4b12-a1b6-c204d3292ef7?jwsource=cl

I can't believe August will mark two years since Hurricane Harvey destroyed much of Houston.  Many people are still recovering.  But overdue repairs on some homes are finally getting done with help from students who come to town from all over Texas.  I did a number of stories with BOUNCE Student Disaster Recovery in the months after Harvey.  I was able to catch up with a new group of kids for this story on repairs being made to a Navy vet's home.