Convenience Big Store: St. Thomas paid nearly $1M to departing staff as finances buckled

March 20, 2026

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Good morning, Houston.

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

Need to know: Harris County commissioners have approved seizing nine acres of Hermann Park land for a major expansion of Ben Taub Hospital.
Top of the chart: The most-read story on our site yesterday was the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board's take on this year's rodeo.

Here's the rest of the news.

1

A collage showing the entrance sign at the University of St. Thomas with snapshots of different severance agreements with departing staff or faculty.

St. Thomas paid nearly $1M in exit packages for departing staff despite financial woes.

For seven years, Houston's University of St. Thomas was operating in the red. Operating losses piled up. Fundraising was flat or inconsistent. Faculty members were laid off.

Yet even as administrators scrambled to stabilize the private Catholic institution — the university was quietly handing out exit packages to departing executives and staff totaling more than $941,000.

And while packages for outgoing presidents are common, high-dollar payouts to faculty or staff usually stem from a strong desire to push someone out, one expert said.

2

A Houston woman reported a stalker to police. Months later, she was dead.

Tanesha Richards tried for more than a year to hide from the man who stalked her relentlessly after one date in the spring of 2023. She told him she wasn't interested. She filed a police report. She quit her job to avoid him. He found her anyway and killed her.

3

Harris County becomes the first in Texas to allow employees to organize.

Harris County commissioners voted to establish an "employee consultation policy," a move that critics labeled a push to unionize county employees. In other county news, leaders approved a $38 million contract to keep sending inmates to Louisiana and pushed talk of County Judge Lina Hidalgo's actions at the rodeo to the end of the month.

4

Three Houston leaders back a new proposal that would limit ICE holdovers by police.

A trio of Houston City Council members are pushing a plan to change the way HPD officers work with federal immigration agents, sidestepping Mayor John Whitmire's authority a week after he announced a more modest tweak to the same police policy.

Also: Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez is married to an Army reservist and fled Venezuela to seek asylum in the U.S. She's now facing deportation.

5

HISD delays vote to let outside partners manage four top high schools.

If approved, HISD will give the nonprofits control of their school's staff, curriculum, calendar and assessments. The schools could get more state funding.

6

Why grocery bills could rise in Houston as the Iran war continues.

Higher gas prices are just the beginning. Prices for many goods Houstonians rely on are likely to increase in the coming weeks as a result of the U.S. war with Iran, experts said.

7

How these Texas influencers are trying to turn viral fame into votes.

Valentina Gomez has earned more than $30,000 on ad revenue from X, where the right-wing provocateur turned her campaign for Congress into a social media bonanza. She is part of a wave of influencers who have gone from using their platforms to push those already in office to running for office themselves.

TX TAX - Texas Property Tax Protest Tool

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The Houston Chronicle is launching a smarter way to prepare your property tax protest — without having to pay a consultant. Sign up for early access to TX Tax, plus get deadline reminders and helpful coverage throughout protest season.

🍴 Bao's Review

**

Restaurant critic Bao Ong gave Late August two out of four stars in his latest review.

What to order: Mustard green memelitas, tacodillas, 1913 salad, family-style chicken dinner, gumbo, red velvet tres leches, raspberry entremet

Prices: $95 tasting menu. For that a la carte menu: $15-$21 starters, $13-$18 salads and vegetable dishes, $15-$44 large plates, $13-$15 desserts

🏀 Sports

Houston guard Mercy Miller (25) takes a shot against Idaho guard Isaiah Brickner (5) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Oklahoma City, Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Cougars: UH began its NCAA Tournament run on a commanding note, blowing out Idaho to set up a second-round matchup with Texas A&M. Here's what to know about Saturday's game.
Astros: Bench coach Omar López showed he's ready to manage in the big leagues after an emotional WBC win for Venezuela. Also, Peter Lambert, vying to return to the major leagues, is open to working as a starter or reliever.
Aggies: Texas A&M's trademark full-court pressure flustered Saint Mary's for a convincing 63-50 win.
Longhorns: Texas saw a 17-point lead almost disappear but hung on to upset sixth-seeded BYU in the NCAA West regional.

🗣️ Opinion

Since COVID, thanks to TikTok, Houston has become a spring break hotspot. This year, it got way out of control, writes political strategist and guest columnist Shea Jordan Smith.
"I would joyfully attend a concert filled with familiar lyrics sung in my native language. No harm, no foul. Just fun! Which is what the Rodeo is about," writes Carol Godell in a letter to the editor.

🎭 Things to do this Weekend

Part of the cast of 'Choir Boy' at the Ensemble Theater

Photo by: Everett Welch

On the stage and screen this weekend, Ensemble Theatre's "Choir Boy," the Hobby Center's "Some Like It Hot," the Sarah Hanahan Quartet and Center Field Cinema's "Zootopia 2," are some of the top events we recommend.
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is on a U.S. tour and will make three stops in Houston over the next few weeks. First stop, Katy Mills Mall on Saturday.
At the cinema, "Rise of Red Hot Chili Peppers," "Project Hail Mary," and "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come," are some of the new films hitting screens this week.

Is your car dirty? Like, really, really dirty?

The folks at Ocean Express Car Wash are running a dirtiest car competition. The winner with the crummiest car gets free car washes for a year.

There are a few qualifications that must be met and not every vehicle is up for consideration (sorry, dually drivers). More on the contest can be found here.