Good morning, Houston. It's Friday! 🌦️ Temperature check: High of 89; low of 75. Justin's insight: A stalled front provides another day of widespread rain for Houston. Read more here. 📅 Today's calendar: Texas House impeachment managers and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's defense team will make their closing arguments this morning. Follow along here. |
 | Yasmeen Khalifa
Audience Engagement Producer
yasmeen.khalifa@houstonchronicle.com |
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Today we're talking about banned books... |
If you read one thing: Katy ISD has remained silent on the whereabouts of $93,000 in new books held for review and the reasons 14 additional books were removed from shelves, despite a public pledge of transparency on book banning. How are board members responding? Of the seven Katy ISD board members, only Rebecca Fox would discuss her opinion on the move, saying the new policy may need to be revisited if exhaustive book reviews continue.
In August and September, an internal committee found 14 books, including titles by Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and Judy Blume, to be inappropriate for children for reasons the district would not make public. How many books were banned by the district in the past? Prior to enacting the new policy, Katy ISD removed four books in 2022, eight in 2021 and four in the first seven months of 2023.
This year, the district expanded the terms under which a book could be pulled for review, adding "nudity" in the definition of inappropriate material. For the first time, six elementary school books have been removed.
The book "No, David!" — winner of the Caldecott Honor Book and several other national awards — is one of them.
Read Claire Goodman's full story here.
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Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle |
- HISD board takes next step in District of Innovation plans.
The Houston ISD board voted Thursday to lower the tax rate and move forward with the superintendent's plan to turn HISD into a DOI, following public comments from dozens of speakers concerned that the move would exempt the district from certain state laws. Judges in Harris County receive grant to aid in eviction diversion efforts. Justice of the peace judges Steve Duble and Dolores Lozano will use the funds to create new staff positions they hope will aid those in eviction courts. - Beyoncé takeover: Dance parties, disco horses and more in Houston. A full-on Beyoncé takeover welcomes the Renaissance World Tour to Houston, including the Queen Bey Ball, custom desserts, movie screenings and more.
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Pearland Oktoberfest: Schedule, food trucks, beer and more. Oktoberfest, a German festival celebrating Bavarian culture and flowing pints of beer, is around the corner. Pearland residents can enjoy some brews with a few events commemorating the festival. - Healthy drive thru chain Salad and Go expands across Houston. Salad and Go is set to expand its presence in the Houston market by opening multiple new locations in Fort Bend County within the next six months.
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Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle |
UH vs. TCU: 5 things to watch in Cougars' Big 12 debut. The wait is finally over. The University of Houston will make its highly anticipated Big 12 debut Saturday against TCU at TDECU Stadium. Here's what to watch for. Old pals C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson compete anew in Week 2. The quarterbacks got acquainted at a 7-on-7 showcase while in high school. On Sunday, they'll meet as rookie starters when the Texans host the Colts. On Deck: Find more of our sports coverage here. |
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Carolina Ayala / Contributed |
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out these events: Check out our full list of things to do this weekend here. |
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Paxton impeachment trial tests sway of Texas' far-right power brokers. |
Dunn photo: Tim Fischer / Midland Reporter-Telegram; Wilks photo: Ronald W. Erdrich / Abilene Reporter-News |
If you read one thing: Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment is testing the political clout of Texas' most prominent far-right power brokers, Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, at a time when their grasp on state politics may be more tenuous than ever.
Since he was impeached in late May, Paxton has received tireless support from groups funded by the West Texas oil magnates. Their main political arm, Defend Texas Liberty PAC, has threatened to target pro-impeachment Republicans in next year's primary elections and pumped $3 million into the campaign coffers of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is overseeing the trial.
Read Jasper Scherer's story here.
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Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! How are you celebrating this month? Let me know here, and we may feature your response in a future newsletter. Yasmeen Khalifa yasmeen.khalifa@houstonchronicle.com |
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