Convenience Big Store: Houston-area school board approves a daily prayer period

February 19, 2026

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⛅ Temperature check: High of 81; low of 66. Forecast: Things will feel like April today, even though the calendar reads February. Get those outdoor activities done in the next couple of days, unless you like being out in the cold (I don't).

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Good morning, Houston.

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

Need to know: Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee has filed a lawsuit against a Grammy award-winning norteño group on behalf of a man who alleges he was sexually assaulted while working for the band.
Top of the chart: One of the most-read items yesterday was about Kevin Durant and allegations that he used a burner account to disparage current and former teammates in private group chats.
Texas Elections 2026: The Texas primaries are fast approaching. Our elections-focused newsletter is here to help you prepare. Sign up today.

Here's the rest of the news.

1

This is a building mug, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.

A Houston-area school board approves a daily prayer period under a new Texas law.

West of The Woodlands, 15,000-student Magnolia ISD has become one of the became one of the first school districts in the state to approve a daily period of prayer under a new state law.

Magnolia has taken a different approach to the law compared to other districts in the area. Houston, Conroe, Cypress-Fairbanks and Katy ISDs, have declined to establish a new prayer period, citing logistical challenges and that students are already allowed to express their faith under state and federal law.

The law, if you'll recall, tasks school boards with voting on whether to establish a district-wide period of prayer and "reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day" for students and employees.

Find out what the district will have to do now in Ashley Soebroto's article.

2

Husband of Tony Gonzales aide breaks silence about affair.

For more than five months after his estranged wife died after setting herself on fire, Adrian Aviles declined to speak publicly about allegations that she'd had an affair with her boss, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales. This week, Aviles broke his silence.

3

Ken Paxton says Dow is polluting Texas' waterways with plastic pellets.

The Attorney General's lawsuit alleges the company discharged nurdles and other material from their chemical complex near Corpus Christi. Also, a Houston anti-fascist organization denied allegations that it violated Texas law after Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he was suing the group over claims it incited "violent terrorism."

4

HISD's Mike Miles creates a new position, names a 'deputy superintendent.'

In the newly created position, Kristen Hole will oversee both the academics and schools offices at HISD, effective Tuesday.

5

Colbert show drama comes at the right time for Talarico.

There is zero doubt who is already the winner of the first week of early voting in Texas, even if a single ballot hasn't been counted yet. Meanwhile, the interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico continues to fuel drama among the FCC, Stephen Colbert and CBS.

6

UH closes several gender-neutral bathrooms, in compliance with a Texas bill.

The restroom at the Graduate College of Social Work was one of three changed on campus to comply with Texas' new bathroom bill, according to UH officials familiar with the matter.

7

How Texas is using $150 million in funding to fuel its space push.

The Texas Space Commission announced a $14.2 million grant for Rice University to create a new center for space technologies, marking the final recipient of the $150 million the commission received from lawmakers in 2023 to stimulate the state's space ecosystem.

🍴 Bao's Review

***

Restaurant critic Bao Ong gave Agnes and Sherman three out of four stars in his latest review.

What to order: Chilled noodles, rangoon, cheeseburger fried rice, beef fajita chow fun, Taiwanese disco fries, jian BLT, egg foo young, rice cakes, sundae, pandan french toast, congee, crab Thai omelette.

Prices: Lunch is a smaller menu with dishes between $12-19. For dinner: $9-$17 starters, $13-$40 shareable entrees, and $6-$14 desserts. At brunch, dishes range between $12-$30.

⚾ Sports

Houston Astros Zach Dezenzo takes part in a base running drill during Spring Training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle

Astros: The team will get a look at outfielder Zach Dezenzo early in spring training before he leaves to play for Team Italy in the WBC.
Cougars: Cedric Lath came to the U.S. at 15 to play basketball. He's made a family at UH but daily calls home to the Ivory Coast keep him connected.
Aggies: Rashaun Agee scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Texas A&M's rally from 13 points down in second half against Ole Miss.
Olympics: Hockey and freestyle skiing are just some of the events on TV today.

🗣️ Opinion

Houston ISD is proposing closing or co-locating 12 schools. Houston Chronicle editorial writer Leah Binkovitz asks why.
Texans know that not all Christians are pedophiles and should show the same respect to Muslims and stop anti-Islam bigotry, writes columnist Chris Tomlinson.
"Are educated and aware students such a dire threat to Texas that they must have their education restricted to what is approved by the hierarchy?" writes John M. Blocher in a letter to the editor.

🍽️ Restaurant Roundup

Arizona-based Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles will open its first Houston location on the Gulf Freeway this weekend. Lo-Lo's will host a soft opening Friday, followed by a grand opening this weekend.
Keens Steakhouse in New York City, owned by Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, is displaying the American flag that was draped over Abraham Lincoln's casket.
After five years selling sauces, pickles and barbecue at Houston farmers markets and food halls, chef Reginald Scott will debut Coarse, his first standalone brick-and-mortar.
Mr Gatti's, the pizza brand headquartered in Fort Worth, is looking to grow its presence in the Houston area after being acquired by the private investment firm OneRyan Global.

As you should well know by now, early voting is underway for the March primaries.

Some races follow a geographic boundary like the county or state line.

Then there are the congressional districts. Its boundaries look like crumpled leaves.

Did all this redistricting affect you? Maybe it did, maybe it didn't. Find out for sure, by using our interactive map to search for your address to see both your new and previous congressional district.