Convenience Big Store: Pearland's 10 most expensive homes for sale feature pools, game rooms, zipline

Why basketball and is more than a game to an 11-year old Pearland Paralympian.

Basketball is bigger than hoops for Evan Anderson, a sixth grader at Alexander Middle School in Pearland, plays for TIRR Memorial Hermann's Junior Hotwheels.

Anderson, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair for mobility, said the sport is more than a game to him because he gets to play with players "just like me." Houston Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon detailed the importance of sports for paralympians in a story about the Pearland 11-year-old and his team.

Anderson says he's far from the best player on his team but is working to get better.

Has sports been a big part of your life too? Tell me how the games have impacted you.

Pooja Bhakta, Pearland reporter

pooja.bhakta@houstonchronicle.com

Growing Pearland

New developments lead image (with white lines)

Photo by: Houston Chronicle

20 major developments, including Manvel Town Center, headed for Houston in 2024 and beyond.

These 20 game-changing projects, including the Manvel Town Center, will leave a lasting mark on the Bayou City in 2024 and beyond.

Need to Know

CenterPoint, the Houston-area transmission and distribution utility, has increased its rates for September 2023, leading some to feel sticker shock for their electricity bills.

Photo by: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer

Your electricity bill may have spiked in September. Here's why.

Part of the hike can be attributed to a rate increase from CenterPoint Energy, the Houston-area transmission and distribution company.

Pearland's Ladamion McDowell (4) finds running room into the end zone against Shadow Creek in the first half at Freedom Field, Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 in Iowa Colony.

Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer

Capitalizing on 'little things' pays off in big way for Pearland.

A fumble recovery that set up the game-winner in the third quarter of Thursday's win over Shadow Creek allowed Pearland to grab early control of District 23-6A.

Education

Books at the Audrey H. Lawson Middle School team center are lined up against the wall Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Houston. The school transformed its media center to a team center. The principal said the students can still check out books from the team center.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer

Texas districts ban 625 books during 2022-23 school year, report says.

Texas school districts have banned more books in classrooms and libraries than nearly every other U.S. state during the 2022-23 school year, according to a new report by PEN America.

Openings and Closings

Noodle Master opened a Pearland location two weeks ago at 8201 Broadway Street.

The restuarant offers Japanese ramen, dumplings, baos and stir fry dishes.

Shout out

Rahul Vijayan, an Alvin ISD teen, won an international award for bringing hydroponic farming to Pearland area schools and Krogers last month.

Last week, Vijayan won the 2023 Gloria Barron prize for young heroes, a $10,000 award that is given to 25 young leaders to support their service work or higher education.

Congrats on getting another award for the awesome work, Rahul!

One last thing …

The Houston area had a record-breaking summer with 45 days with high temperatures at or above 100 degrees. Luckily, the forecasters are predicting this winter will be cooler and wetter than normal. Read more about how El Niño will impact Texas here.