January 12, 2024
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 | Yasmeen Khalifa, Audience Engagement Producer |
Best of the Bayou
Today we're talking about Harris County's cash assistance program...
If you read one thing: Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night, Texans could sleep with confidence the Electric Reliability Council of Texas would keep the lights and heat on. Not anymore, writes business columnist Chris Tomlinson.
A polar vortex will dip south next week. The cold snap has the potential to match Winter Storm Elliott, which struck in December 2022, and resemble Winter Storm Uri, which froze Texas in February 2021.
What are the chances of an emergency?
ERCOT, the nonprofit that oversees the grid, says there is a 1-in-6 chance we'll have an emergency next week.
"ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from January 15-17 due to forecasted extreme cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves," a media release announced Thursday.
The grid operator isn't predicting any problems, at least not yet, writes Tomlinson.
When could there be trouble?
The most perilous moments come around 8 a.m. on cold, dark and still January mornings when people climb out of bed, turn up the heat and make coffee, writes Tomlinson. ERCOT warned last year that these are the moments that could create grid emergencies.
During Winter Storm Elliott, electricity demand peaked at 73,963 megawatts, relying on the most expensive fossil fuel plants for three hours. Estimates for Winter Storm Uri, when tens of thousands of Texans lost power for four days, put demand at 76,000 megawatts.
- Read Chris Tomlinson's full column here.
Stay in the Loop
Photo by: Susan Barber
📰 Need to Know
- Feds sue HISD, saying women in vocational education are paid less than men. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Houston ISD on Thursday for allegedly paying some female career and technical education specialists less than their male counterparts.
- RodeoHouston's 2024 concert lineup is here. Here's who's performing. Ten acts will make their RodeoHouston debut this year, and only four return from last year.
- What to pack inside your car for a hard freeze. Winter can bring freezes, severe weather or temperature swings, so here's a rundown of ways to make sure your car is tip-top in Texas.
- Plans to elevate I-10 at White Oak Bayou move forward, with revisions. After facing stiff opposition from residents in 2022, plans to elevate a key portion of I-10 out of the floodplain have been revised to add taller rails and bike lanes.
- How much are HISD superintendent Miles' changes costing the district? Houston ISD's appointed Superintendent Mike Miles has introduced reforms costing millions of dollars this year as part of his New Education System model and other reforms.
💼 Business
- 5 things to know when picking your Texas electricity plan in 2024. In Texas, the electricity market is deregulated, which means there are many retail electricity providers vying for your business.
- Houston dominates national ranking for top-selling master-planned communities. Overall, 12 Houston area communities made RCLCO's list for top-selling communities. Plus, New Dawn Energy is moving its headquarters to the Energy Corridor tower.
🚗 Outside the Loop
- Woodlands' Town Center entrances to get 50th anniversary revamp. Howard Hughes and several community partners will revamp five of The Woodlands' Town Center entrances to achieve a "red carpet look" ahead of the township's 50th anniversary.
- Zebra-patterned Fruit Stripe gum discontinued by parent company. The Ferrara Candy Company has discontinued Fruit Stripe gum.
Point of View
Photo by: Yasmeen Khalifa
Trump was a bully and always will be. Time to rein him in.
It's time this bully is reined in before the 2024 election season gets into full swing, one reader writes.
- The Houston voting rights icon you've likely never heard of. You wouldn't know it from media coverage that Frumencio Reyes Jr., the 84-year-old attorney who pioneered voting rights and redistricting litigation, died Dec. 6, writes assistant op-ed editor Regina Lankenau.
Houston vs. All Y'all
Photo by: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
Astros avoid arbitration with Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez.
Thursday marked the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to agree to salaries for 2024 or exchange salary figures for a potential hearing.
- Texans' Alabama alumni 'shocked' by Nick Saban's retirement. Five Texans players played at Alabama for coach Nick Saban. Pretty much all were shocked when they heard Wednesday that Saban was retiring after coaching 28 years in college football.
- Solomon: DeMeco Ryans to Alabama? No, he has a dream job in Houston. As legends Nick Saban and Bill Belichick move on, it's only natural to speculate on DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio going back to their roots.
Get Out
Photo by: Richard Beland / Contributed Photo
Nickelback is performing at the 2024 Houston Rodeo. Seriously.
Prepare yourself, because we're probably going to hear about this booking at the rodeo for weeks to come.
- Top things to do in Houston this weekend, from MLK celebrations to MATCH Family Fun Day. Our top weekend picks also include comedian Craig Robinson, the Texans game, Houston BBQ Throwdown, Mix-Match: A Mixed Arts Festival and more.
Events at the Chronicle
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Nadya Hassan
Meet the Chronicle's new editor-in-chief at a live event
Curious about the Houston Chronicle's new Editor-in-Chief, Kelly Anne Scott? Join us Friday, January 12 at 12 p.m. for your chance to meet Kelly and ask her your questions. Register now.
My favorite story I read today was a pregnant Mexico City woman who needed a new heart valve. Houston Methodist found a solution. See ya next week, folks!
Puzzle of the Day: Typeshift
Slide the columns of letters up and down to form words in the highlighted row. Score points for each solid letter.
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