Convenience Big Store: Inside Houston’s quiet shift to police the homeless

September 11, 2025

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Good morning, Houston.

Here's what you should know to start your day:

Need to know: Tavores Henderson, who ran over and killed Nassau Bay police sergeant Kaila Sullivan as he fled a 2019 traffic stop, will serve 58 years in prison.

Top of the chart: The most-read story yesterday was radio host Kenny Webster calling for the full legalization of THC in Texas, adding that "pro-weed is pro-MAGA."

Now, the rest of the news.

1

Houston Public Library's Julia Ideson Building is seen Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer

Houston's debate over homelessness is heading to court.

Houston, a Democrat-led city that has long believed government interference should be limited (it's famously zoning free), has not been immune to increasing regulation of public spaces.

Since the early 2000s, city hall has passed a slew of regulations. More and more sidewalks have laws limiting when you can sit on them. People can be fined for asking for money (or even for standing on a median or taking food out of the trash).

They can also be ticketed for living on public property, though the city's playbook for "decommissioning" an encampment no longer requires an offer of housing.

However, the city's struggle to balance public safety with the promise of public resources and personal freedoms dates back almost a century. And the outcome of a current lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of one restriction may help determine the future of public spaces.

Texas State University fires associate professor for 'controversial statements.'

The university fired associate history professor Thomas Alter for "controversial statements" at a conference that they said advocated for inciting violence.

Texas A&M Turning Point USA chapter plans Charlie Kirk vigil after shooting.

The vigil was originally planned for Wednesday, but was moved to Thursday, the organization said on social media.

New Census numbers show income levels fell in Houston area, bucking trend.

The Houston area's median household income fell to roughly $81,000 between 2023 and 2024. Why did other big cities fare better?

Houston Avenue Bridge repairs prompt multiple weekend road closures. See where.

Repairs are scheduled to begin Friday at 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. Monday, causing several closures on the Interstate 10 Katy Freeway and Interstate 610 West Loop, according to TxDOT.

Bernie Sanders backs Hilton Americas-Houston strike.

The Vermont senator on Wednesday joined the growing list of politicians backing striking workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

Nearly 1M Houstonians have gone 190 days and counting without a voice in Congress.

Gov. Greg Abbott has blamed Harris County for the delay. When he set the special election date, he said the county's history of having election problems made him want to give them extra time to prepare.

🍴 Bao's Review

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Restaurant critic Bao Ong gave Credence three out of four stars in his latest review.

What to order: Deviled crabs, pan de campo, Gulf shrimp dip, dry-age "sweetwater" whole duck, cornbread gnocchi, pork rib schnitzel, hearth-roasted whole fish, heirloom blue crab rice, buttermilk soft serve.

⚾️ Sports

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz celebrates his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during ninth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Photo by: Nathan Denette, Associated Press

Astros: Houston had blown a two-run lead for the second straight night before Yainer Diaz's timely homer rescued the team over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Injury update: Starter Luis Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, a day after the right-hander left his second start back from Tommy John surgery with an elbow injury.
'Relax and reset': Jose Altuve, who has a .163 average in his past 26 games, will be back in the lineup Thursday after being out of the lineup Wednesday, manager Joe Espada said.
Cougars: Houston's non-conference men's basketball schedule includes a trip to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival and neutral-site games with Auburn and Arkansas.

🗣️ Opinion

The bromance between President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit a high mark in 2019 at a celebration hosted by Houston immigrants. Trump should listen to Houston's Indian community again, writes Raj Mankad.
Unfortunately, it takes a student to be injured crossing Westheimer or someone to be killed trying to cross N. Shepherd Drive to get the city to install a proper red-light crossing signal, one reader writes in our Letters to the Editor.
"I am worried about my faculty colleagues," writes former UT professor Richard Cherwitz.

⚽🏆World Cup Round Up

The first application for the FIFA World Cup is now open. Here's how to apply.
Tickets for the World Cup will be split into four categories numbered one through four. Category 1 will be the most expensive tickets and Category 4 will be the least expensive tickets.
The U.S. won't play in any competitions until the World Cup next year. But that doesn't mean the USMNT won't play any important friendlies.

In what should come as a shock to no one, Blue Bell, Buc-ee's, Dr. Pepper, Whataburger and Shiner Beer ranked in a new survey at the top of a list of beloved Texas brands.

MarketBeat, an online stock market data and research media outlet, tallied the bragging rights of every state when it comes to home-grown products.

The survey asked more than 3,000 Americans to list their favorite in-house brands and accumulated which ones people from each state were most attached to.

Those five were the favorites, according to locals. I can attest, since I swear by each one of them.

Yvette Orozco has a full breakdown.