By Cat DeLaura

Good morning, Houston!

☀️ Expect sunshine and highs in the low 90s today. We're not done with this second summer yet.

Now let's get to Thursday's news.

BEST OF THE BAYOU

Getting care to kids

Harris County Pct. 3 deputy Greg Roach high fives students in the lunchroom as he works at North Shore Elementary Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 in Houston.

Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

If you read one thing: Educators are teaming up with law enforcement to launch Handle with Care, a program at a Houston-area school district that aims to quickly link students who have experienced trauma or grief with mental health services.

How does Handle With Care work? Officers who encounter a child at a violent or traumatic scene — a domestic violence call, shooting homicide or major car crash, for example — will send an automated notification to the school district.

The brief message will identify the child and advise the school to handle them with care. No details from the incident will be shared, however, in order to protect the privacy of the child and family involved.

Trained school personnel will then look out for signs of trauma or bereavement and refer the student to the school counselor or partnering behavioral health clinics as needed.

Where is this being offered? The program will launch in the Houston-area in Galena ISD, which includes the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City, unincorporated Harris County and a small portion of Houston.

The Handle with Care program was first piloted in West Virginia in 2013, however, and has spread around the country, including to Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Supporters hope it will be widely used across Harris County within a year.

Last thoughts: "Far too many kids are traumatized, go back to school, no one knows for maybe even years that something took place, and by that point the child is already struggling — so that early intervention is critically important," said Julie Kaplow, executive director for the Trauma and Grief Center at the Hackett Center for Mental Health.

PICK OF THE DAY

The county judge candidates debate

Jon Shapley / Houston Chronicle

For the first time, the two candidates for Harris County judge, incumbent Lina Hidalgo and challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer, sat down face-to-face. They answered questions from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board as part of its endorsement process. You can watch the conversation here and read the Board's recommendation here. And learn more about how the Editorial Board works here.

TEXAS TIES

Disasters, the Alamo and oil and gas

Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

If you read one thing: The Texas General Land Office oversees disaster relief funding, the Alamo and oil and gas leases on state-owned land. So how do this year's candidates, Republican Dawn Buckingham and Democrat Jay Kleberg, stand on each of those issues?

Disaster relief: The GLO's handling of billions of federal relief money after Hurricane Harvey has been fraught from the start, particularly in its handling of relief in Houston and Harris County.

Buckingham has said her goal would be to "get these funds to the actual people who need them" but would not support the idea of sending disaster relief directly to large counties, bypassing GLO.

Kleberg on the other hand did support the idea of bypassing the GLO to send aid directly to local governments, in some cases.

The Alamo: The historic landmark is currently in the middle of a $388 million plan for renovations and repairs that has prompted much debate and concern over how to properly represent its history.

Buckingham said she would "fight to protect" the Alamo's history, including from those who argue the landmark should be updated to reflect the findings of "Forget the Alamo," that asserts the common narrative of the battle overlooks the fact that it was waged in part to ensure slavery would be preserved.

Kleberg said that while the Alamo already contains scattered references to slavery, he supports making the issue more visible to "ensure that we're telling the full and factual account of what happened."

Oil and gas leasing: The office also oversees oil and gas leases on state-owned land, collecting royalties that help fund the state's public education.

Buckingham has said she would "protect and expand" the hundreds of millions of dollars in oil and gas royalties the state collects each year and is "committed to unleashing our oil and natural gas economy."

Kleberg, however, has promised to ensure the GLO is "responsibly managing public lands" with the aim of "combating climate change." He's touted expanding renewable energy production on state land and storing carbon dioxide in submerged land off the coast.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle

💲 Commissioners Court: Alexandra del Moral Mealer raised $4.9 million for her campaign over the summer, more than tripling the haul of incumbent Lina Hidalgo in the race for Harris County Judge. Further reading: Harris County's redrawn maps mean longtime incumbent commissioner Republican Jack Cagle will have to fight to keep his Precinct 4 seat in a district that now favors Democrats. (Houston Chronicle)

🌁 Sinking city: Katy, Woodlands and other fast-growing suburbs in the Houston area are sinking at "significant rates," primarily because of groundwater and oil and gas withdrawal pumping, a recent study by a UH professor has found. (Houston Chronicle)

🚧 Construction: After a 20-month long pause, work has begun again on the county's biggest single road project — the $1.3 billion redo of the Sam Houston Tollway over the Houston Ship Channel. Work on the project stopped nearly two years ago after the engineering company that designed it was investigated for its role in a deadly 2018 Florida pedestrian bridge collapse. (Houston Chronicle)

🏘️ Real estate: Home sales in Houston declined for the sixth-straight month in September as rising mortgage rates culled the pool of potential buyers and helped push inventories higher. (Houston Chronicle)

🗳️ Elections: Three more Republicans are coming out in support of Mike Collier, the Democrat running to unseat Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. (Houston Chronicle)

GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY

Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle

🚲 Get Active: The East End Cemetery Gates Bike Ride is returning for its 8th year. They'll be visiting some of Houston's oldest and lesser known cemeteries.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, October 15

Where: D&W Lounge, 911 Milby St.

🕯️ Get Creative: Learn how to create a handmade candle holder at Four Circle Studio's next workshop this coming Sunday. All materials included.

When: 9 - 11 a.m. Sunday, October 16

Where: Asch Building, 825 Studewood St

Cost: $35

🎃 Get Outside: Experience a one-of-a-kind autumn display created with over 20 types of pumpkins, gourds, plants and fall flowers at the George Ranch House's Pumpkin Round Up.

When: October 15 through November 26

Where: George Ranch Historical Park, 10215 FM 162, Richmond, TX

Cost: $10-$15

🍂 Get Local: Get in the fall mood while shopping from 100+ local artists, creatives and makers at the Fall Vibe Market inside the X-Atrium at Post Houston. Plus, enjoy complimentary cocktails by Desert Door and Dripping Springs Distilling.

When: 12 - 7 p.m. Saturday, October 15

Where: Post Houston, 401 Franklin St.

⚽ Get in the spirit: Cheer on the Dash at their first ever playoff game. The team is running its popular 713 promotion ($7 tickets, $1 hot dogs, $3 beer). Plus, ticketholders will get a free metro rail ride to and from the stadium.

When: 4 p.m. Sunday, October 16

Where: PNC Stadium, 2200 Texas Ave.

Do you know of anything happening in Houston next weekend? Send us your events for a chance to be featured in next week's newsletter.

There's not much on my agenda for this weekend other than diving in headfirst into my newest craft project — embroidering. If you have any tips, advice or want to form a sewing club with me, let me know!

Cat DeLaura

cat.delaura@chron.com

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