Bayou Brief: Storm Resources, True Texan Checklist & River Oaks Reno

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.

Sign up for our free newsletter to get a new collection of articles to your inbox every week.

Want to pass along something interesting you read? Reach out to info@365houston.com and we may share it in a future post.

Bayou Brief: May 21, 2024

Storm Recovery & Resources

• Latest Updates – Track the latest on storm recovery and power outages through breaking news trackers from Houston Chronicle and Houston Landing.
• Centerpoint Outage Tracker – Find the latest on energy recovery efforts and when to expect power to return in areas across Greater Houston.
• Emergency & Recovery Resources | Houston Landing | Angelica Perez – The Landing has answers to many questions you may have following Thursday’s storm, including where to find cooling centers, who to call for help, and how you can help other neighbors in need.
• FEMA Federal Assistance Now Available | Chron.com | Timothy Malcolm – Those impacted by the storms can now file for disaster relief through FEMA and receive grants that help cover temporary housing, home repairs, uninsured property losses and other situations.
• Assessing Thursday & Preparing for a Hot Week | Space City Weather | Eric Berger – After a weekend of recovery, SCW‘s Eric Berger takes time to assess what happened on Thursday, and how this week’s weather is expected to be hot and humid.

Recent Headlines

• Early Voting Opens for Primary Runoffs | Houston Landing | Paul Cobler – From Monday to Friday, voters can cast early ballots for who will represent their party in the November General Election. Election Day is next Tuesday, May 28.
• Some HISD Schools Reopen with No A/C | Chron.com | Kennedy Sessions – In the wake of storm recovery, several schools in the Houston area faced problems with air conditioning and food service, forcing mid-day closures.
• Mike Miles Releases HISD Budget Proposal | Houston Chronicle | Sam González Kelly – The budget comes as a recent report has raised concerns about Texas education dollars being shuttled to out-of-state charter schools formerly run by Mike Miles (Houston Public Media; Kristen Cabrera).
• 2024 Kinder Survey Results Released | Kinder Institute for Urban Research – The 43rd annual survey provides unique insights to what issues are on the minds of Houstonians.
• First Look at the River Oaks Theatre Renovation | Houston Chronicle | Amber Elliott – Visitors took a hard hat tour of the 84-year old theater, getting a glimpse of in-progress construction.
• Lawndale Art Center Announces The Big Show Artists | Glasstire | Jessica Fuentes – The 40th edition of the annual summer show brings 140 works from within a 100-mile radius of Houston, on view from Friday, June 7 to Saturday, August 17.

Deep Dives

• 5-Minute Tour: The Houston Brick Archive at Julia Ideson Library | Glasstire – Take a virtual tour of Houston’s history through salvaged bricks, on view at the historic Downtown library. The exhibition closes on Saturday, June 1.
• Artist David Adickes at 97 | Houstonia | Daniel Renfrow – The Houston creator discusses his long legacy of artmaking, including his sculptures of presidents, Sam Houston, the Beatles and that iconic “We love Houston” sign.
• The True Texan Checklist | Texas Highways – See how you score on a checklist of 50 quintessential Texan must-dos.

In Case You Missed It

• The Legacy of Reverend William “Bill” Lawson | Houston Chronicle | Joy Sewing – The Houston civil rights icon and founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church passed away last week. Chronicle Columnist Joy Sewing recounts his legacy in helping desegregate Houston and a lasting personal impact.
• KPRC Weatherman Frank Billingsley Announces Retirement | CultureMap | Ken Hoffman – The beloved Houston weatherman closes out more than 30 years of a career in late June.
• Love Buzz Pizza Pub Closes Abruptly in Montrose | CultureMap | Eric Sandler – The late night favorite on Westheimer struggled to overcome a series of recent challenges.
• Mayor Whitmire Releases 2025 City Budget | Houston Public Media | Lucio Vasquez & Colleen DeGuzman – The proposal outlines the Mayor’s priorities while navigating long-term budget problems.
• Video: Why Are This Year’s Runoffs So Important? | Texas Monthly | Alex Samuels – Across the state, the primary runoffs taking place right now will have consequential effects on the Texas legislature.

---

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!