Bayou Brief: Bloodsucker boom, ‘Lonesome Dove’ & a new heart in Houston

In our weekly Bayou Brief series, we curate some of the latest headlines, longform stories and other noteworthy pieces that help you explore the ever-changing world of Houston from our wide-ranging media landscape.

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Bayou Brief: July 30, 2024

Recent Headlines

• Vast FBI operation busts a bail bond scheme | Houston Public Media | Sarah Grunau – Last Wednesday, the massive law enforcement operation targeted a wire fraud scheme through a Houston bail bond company.
• Venezuelans in Houston react to contested election back home | Houston Landing | Anna-Catherine Brigida – Nicolás Maduro was announced the winner of a contested presidential election, leaving local Venezuelans feeling a sense of desperation.
• Controversial I-45 project to begin construction in October | Houston Public Media | Dominic Anthony Walsh – The North Houston Highway Improvement Project has faced a federal investigation and local pushback on TXDOT’s looming plans.
• Longtime Second Ward activist Felix Fraga dies | Houston Chronicle | Jhair Romero – The trailblazing community activist’s work at the Ripley House and on Houston City Council helped provide educational programs, citizenship classes and child care for local residents.
• After 40 hours at sea, rescued divers head to Kenny & Ziggy’s | Houston Chronicle | Bao Ong – The husband-and-wife divers make their first meal at the iconic Houston deli, after nearly two days adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Ex-Rocket Chase Budinger steps closer to Olympic gold | Chron.com | Josh Criswell – After defeating France in beach volleyball, the former NBA player will face the Netherlands on Tuesday.

In Other News

• Houston area school districts grapple with post-pandemic absenteeism | Houston Landing | Miranda Dunlap – School districts struggle to keep “chronically absent” students from missing class time in a post-pandemic era.
• Open Call to Latinx Artists for MFAH Fall Festival | Glasstire | Jessica Fuentes – The deadline to apply for Houston-based artists is Monday, August 5 for the November festival.
• Lonesome Dove exhibit opens at Galveston’s Bryan Museum | Chron.com | Chris Gray – The Galveston museum unveils a new exhibit of film artifacts and photography around the CBS miniseries from 1989, based on Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel.
• After a month of storms, Houston mosquitos are out of control | Houstonia | Uvie Bikomo – A discussion with Harris County Public Health reveals the challenges of a booming mosquito population in the Bayou City.
• A new artificial heart shows promise in saving lives | Texas Monthly | Mimi Swartz – The Texas Heart Institute unveiled the medical breakthrough that could change treatment options for millions suffering from heart failure.  
• Recent storms underline Houstonians’ climate concerns | Urban Edge | John Brannen – The 2024 Kinder Houston Area Survey revealed deeply held concerns about climate change prior to the arrival of multiple severe weather events this summer.

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