By Cat DeLaura

Good morning, Houston!

☀️ More sun, but slightly cooler temps today. High of 64; low of 42.

📚 Good to know: Houston Public Library has done away with their late fees. If you already have fees on your record, head to the library by Feb. 18 to have all past fines cancelled.

✈️ And for anyone who, like me, will be catching a flight today, let's hope we don't have a repeat of yesterday.

Let's get to it. Here's Thursday's news.

BEST OF THE BAYOU

Teens and guns

Five young people in matching grey sweaters that say ''project unloaded'' sit at a long table talking.

Raquel Natalicchio / Houston Chronicle

If you read one thing: Teens at Project Unloaded want to save lives and change America's gun culture — starting with young people on social media.

What is Project Unloaded? The group of young activists use social media campaigns in cities across America, including Houston, to share statistics about the risks associated with firearms.

For example: Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death for American children and adolescents; suicide rates are four times higher for younger people with guns at home; families in gun-owning homes are more than twice as likely to die by homicide.

What are young people saying about guns? According to a September report from Project Unloaded, teens and young adults ranked gun violence as a bigger issue than abortion access or climate change. Half of the respondents in the survey said they think about school shootings every week.

The survey also discovered that young people changed their minds about gun ownership after reviewing the facts about firearm risk.

Last thoughts: "There are approaches that we can take that don't rely on elected officials, that don't rely on the courts, but that really put our faith and trust in young people," said Nina Vinik, the organization's founder and executive director. "We think we're proving that, starting here in Houston."

Read the full story from Anna Bauman here.

NUMBER OF THE DAY

Violent crime is down in Houston

By the numbers: 26,454 -- the number of violent crimes reported in Houston last year, down from 28,862 in 2021.

Houston Chronicle

Overall violent crime across the city was down in 2022, according to police. The murder rate dropped by 9 percent, as did robberies. Aggravated assaults were down 8 percent, and rapes were down 18 percent. There were some striking jumps in some crime categories, however, including an increase in kidnappings and property crimes.

Read John Wayne Ferguson's full story on the crime data here.

TEXAS TIES

Tesla comes to Houston

Elon Musk holds a microphone standing in front of a Tesla.

Pool / Getty Images

If you read one thing: Tesla appears to be preparing a large new industrial facility west of Houston, in Brookshire, expanding the electric vehicle-maker's footprint in Texas a year after Elon Musk moved its headquarters to Austin.

What is the facility for? Little is known about Tesla's plans, but the company signed a lease late last year for about 1.03 million square feet in Empire West Business Park in Brookshire, just outside of Katy.

The landlord and developer of the park and Tesla officials did not provide comments.

What is known? Mike Barnes, Brookshire's interim city administrator, said that permits are being processed for a portion of the building but haven't been issued.

But it is not clear what Tesla would do with the facility. It could be used for manufacturing or as a warehouse or logistics facility. Tesla is currently advertising a handful of job listings in the Brookshire area for warehouse and logistics positions.

Is Tesla getting any tax incentives to be there? As of early January, Brookshire officials said they were unaware of any tax incentives in the works for Tesla's proposed plant there.

Tesla was awarded about $64 million worth of tax incentives from Travis County and the Del Valle school district before it moved to Austin.

Read the full story from Marissa Luck here.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle

📝 Jail resignation: The head of the embattled Harris County Jail has resigned from his post, citing overcrowding and staffing issues combined with a new direction in sheriff's office leadership as reasons for his departure. (from Sam González Kelly)

🚨 Crime: Robin Williams, a Missouri City police officer and Houston mayoral candidate, has been charged with continuous family violence, accused of assaulting her boyfriend on more than one occasion, including with a police baton. (from Matt deGrood)

⚖️ Court ruling: Robert Fratta's execution after a last-ditch legal battle over Texas' use of expired pharmaceuticals to kill death row inmates has left little hope for future executions. (from Nicole Hensley)

#txlege: If Texas House Democrats were to stage another walkout this year to stop legislation from being passed, they would be subject to fines, censure or even possible expulsion from the chamber under a new rule adopted by the chamber. Still, House Democrats gearing up for a fight behind their new caucus chair, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer. (from Edward McKinley and Jasper Scherer)

🏫 School board: The Houston ISD board will consider terminating Jack Yates High School principal Tiffany Guillory during a Thursday night meeting, after relieving her of her duties just before winter break. (from Rebecca Carballo)

GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY

Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle

🎨 Get Inspired: Attend the opening reception of "Woman, the Spirit of the Universe" at the Holocaust Museum Houston. The exhibit features stunning bronze collars inspired by 23 American heroines who fought for equality. The artist, Carolyn Marks Johnson, will debut two new collars in the exhibit to honor former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the city's first librarian Julia B. Ideson.

When: 6 p.m. January 12

Where: Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline St.

Cost: Free, although a donation of $18+ is suggested

🧼 Get Crafty: Learn the basics of melt and pour soap making, general techniques and even a little history in this soap making workshop from Love & Make. Participants will make multiple bars and be able to choose a glycerin soap base, fragrance, mold(s) and colors. Your soap can also be infused with your favorite luxurious skincare ingredients like oils, clays and botanicals.

When: 12 p.m. Sunday, January 22

Where: Love & Make, 2516 Times Blvd.

Cost: $59

🚗 Get Involved: Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Sunday at the Black Heritage Society's MLK Gospel Fest & Concert, then head to one of the city's two MLK Day parades on Monday.

Gospel fest: $10+

Parades: free

⛸️ Get Your Kids: The ice rink at Discovery Green will close to the public Sunday and have a special night specifically for skaters with physical or developmental challenges and their friends, caregivers or family members. Guests with special needs skate for free.

When: 6 - 8 p.m. Sunday, January 15

Where: Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green

Cost: $17 for companions, caregivers

🍽️ Get Local: Celebrate Galveston's local cuisine during Galveston Restaurant Week, any time from now until February 5. Two or three-course dinners will be priced $20 to $60, two-course lunches will be priced $10 to $30, and brunches will be priced $10 – $40.

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.

I'll be headed to Salt Lake City to begin the long weekend early tomorrow, but you'll be in good hands. And as always, if you have recommendations for Salt Lake City, please do send them my way.

Cat DeLaura

Cat.delaura@chron.com

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