May 29, 2024
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 | Yasmeen Khalifa, Audience Engagement Producer |
Best of the Bayou
Today we're talking about the Texas primary runoff election...
If you read one thing: In yesterday's Texas primary runoff election, House Speaker Dade Phelan escaped an embarrassing defeat in Southeast Texas, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales clung to a narrow lead over a right-wing social media personality and Gov. Greg Abbott secured the final GOP votes he has said he needs to pass a contentious private school voucher program through the Texas Legislature.
4 major takeaways:
1. Republican infighting leaves more wreckage in its wake: Although Phelan narrowly survived an attempt on his political life by far-right insurgents, Tuesday night was a difficult one for establishment Republicans in Texas. Phelan, one of the state's "Big Three" legislative leaders, won by just over 300 votes. And four other House Republicans who'd voted against voucher proposals were defeated by Abbott-backed challengers.
2. A close call in South Texas: U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales held an ultra-slim lead over YouTube videomaker Brandon Herrera, known online as the "AK Guy."
3. Fresh attacks on the SBOE: Two GOP members of the State Board of Education narrowly led their own challengers.
4. Nailbiters in Houston: On the Democratic side, state Sen. Molly Cook holds a narrow lead over state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, as the two face off in the race to secure the Texas Senate seat previously held by Mayor John Whitmire. And Democratic state Rep. Shawn Thierry trailed union organizer challenger Lauren Ashley Simmons with votes still trickling in after 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Read Edward McKinley's full story here.
View live election results here.
Stay in the Loop
Photo by: Susan Barber
📰 Need to Know
- Principals of Neff and Herod elementary schools were locked out of their HISD accounts. The principals of Neff Elementary School and Herod Elementary School were reassigned to work from home and locked out of Houston ISD accounts.
- Vivian King won the primary runoff for a Harris County judicial seat. Vivian King, a top staffer for Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, won the Democratic Party nomination for the 486th District Court, which oversees felony cases, in a runoff race against public defender Gemayel Haynes.
- Houston's 2025 police budget falls short of addressing staffing issues. Houston Police Department officials said Tuesday the proposed $1 billion budget will likely only cover 100 new officers, despite the need for 2,000.
- Houston storms left behind a stunning display of rare clouds. After severe storms swept through the Houston area on Tuesday, an eye-catching display of mammatus clouds — a rare and distinctive pouch-like cloud formation — filled the skies over Southeast Texas.
- A judge set a 2025 date for a redo of a 2022 Harris County judicial election. One of Harris County's 2022 judicial races could be back on the ballot next year after a visiting judge from Bexar County ordered a redo earlier this month.
💼 Business
- A judge dismissed a Trump official's lawsuit against a Houston company. A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by a former Trump official alleging that Houston financial tech firm Hello Alice engaged in racial discrimination when it launched a grant program supporting Black business owners.
- Who's responsible for clearing a tree blown into neighbor's yard? If a neighbor refuses to clear trees affecting your property, your HOA might contact them and encourage them to address the situation, writes business columnist Ronald Lipman.
- TJ Maxx is hosting a grand opening in west Houston. TJ Maxx plans to open a new location at Village Plaza at Bunker Hill in Houston on May 30.
🚗 Outside the Loop
- Wesley Doolittle took an early lead over Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson. Early voting results showed former Texas Ranger Wesley Doolittle had the edge over Sheriff Rand Henderson in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff election.
- A new splash pad and cricket field are coming to Missouri City's Sta-Mo Sports Park. The popular park will see $15 million in improvements, with covered pickleball courts, a new splash pad and a cricket field.
Point of View
Photo by: Yasmeen Khalifa
Houston police piled 'insanity on irrationality.' A wrongful arrest victim deserves justice.
A conservative appeals court correctly shredded two Houston cops' qualified immunity defense after they flagrantly lied about a good Samaritan performing a citizen's arrest, writes the Chronicle Editorial Board.
- Bring back Trump's hot air — and hot economy. More drilling, more LNG exports and fewer EV incentives would be great for the U.S. economy, one reader writes.
Houston vs. All Y'all
Photo by: Steph Chambers, Getty Images
Mariners 4, Astros 2: Houston unraveled with a lead in the eighth inning.
Things unraveled on the mound and defensively for the Astros as they lost for the second-straight night in Seattle.
- With coach Ben Olsen sidelined, Houston Dynamo are going for a sweep of Colorado. Because of yellow card accumulation, Houston's head coach will miss the match. Assistant Juan Guerra will guide the team.
- The Astros' Yordan Alvarez might be seeing more duty in the left field. Putting the slugger in left, where he played his second straight game Tuesday at Seattle, affords manager Joe Espada flexibility with the designated hitter spot.
Get Out
Photo by: Jenn Duncan
A French spot is closing in Rice Village with plans to reopen as an Italian-American restaurant.
Local Foods Group is closing Eau Tour to make way for Milton's, where red-sauce favorites will rule.
- Father's Day: When it is and how to celebrate in Houston. Here's what to know about Father's Day and some ideas for celebrating in Houston.
Events at the Chronicle
Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer
Meet Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo at our live virtual event.
Chronicle readers are invited to a private Zoom event with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, including the opportunity to submit questions, on Thursday, May 30.
This is the cutest story I've seen in a while: When a family of whistler ducks found themselves trapped in rushing traffic on the Westpark Tollway Monday, a group of first responders and concerned citizens teamed up to rescue the displaced brood and her ducklings. The videos are to die for. Watch and read all about it here.
Puzzle of the Day: SpellTower
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