🌱 How Galveston teens are welding their way to rodeo glory

Hi there, Galveston! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Galveston teens are welding their way to rodeo glory
• Why Galveston County’s sheriff keeps his badge despite a suspension
• Why a Galveston jury rejected a $9 million storm-drain claim

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Galveston? Post it to Galveston photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 63 and low of 60 degrees.
• Wednesday: Couple of thunderstorms, temps: high: 68, low: 64.
• Thursday: A thunderstorm in spots, with a high of 74 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Galveston College Prepares Ball High School Dual Credit Welding Technology Students for Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Industrial Craft Competition in March 2026 (aframnews.com) — Galveston College is training Ball High School dual credit welding students for the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Industrial Craft Competition, building on their award-winning 2025 performance. Local teens are practicing on campus in Galveston, learning real-world welding, safety, and project management skills that can lead directly to construction, petrochemical, and maritime careers after graduation.
   

2. Galveston County Sheriff Fullen Keeps Job Despite 6-Month License Suspension (dallasexpress.com) — Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen will stay in office with full authority despite a six-month suspension of his peace officer license that was probated and backdated to 2024. After a yearlong dispute with state regulators over omissions on licensing forms, a mediated agreement approved last week ends the case while formally sanctioning him but leaving his role as sheriff intact.
   

3. Litigation Roundup: Samsung Seeks New Trial After $445.5M Infringement Verdict (texaslawbook.net) — Jurors in Galveston County District Court recently cleared Lucas Construction, the city of Dickinson, and an engineering firm of liability after a man claimed a storm drain fall near his home left him with serious injuries and sought $9 million. The verdict, reached after nine days of testimony, is one of several significant Texas cases highlighted, alongside major patent, antitrust, and personal injury rulings statewide.
   

4. FDA warns Target, Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons after recalled ByHeart formula stayed on shelves (houstonchronicle.com) — A Galveston County baby was among more than 50 infants nationwide hospitalized with botulism after consuming recalled ByHeart formula, according to local health officials. Federal regulators say Target, Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons left the recalled products on shelves for days or weeks, and have given the chains 15 working days to explain how they’ll prevent this from happening again.
   

5. Trump wants the U.S. shipbuilding industry to be great again. Here's what it will take, and what's at stake (cnbc.com) — A major Canadian-owned shipbuilder has received U.S. approval to acquire shipbuilding assets at the Port of Galveston and Port Arthur, tying Galveston into a broader national push to rebuild American shipbuilding capacity. The deal is part of a Trump administration strategy that leans heavily on foreign partners, especially South Korean, Italian, and Finnish firms, to expand U.S. yards, workforce training, and Arctic icebreaker production.
   

📸 Around Galveston

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Galveston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 17

• 2025 Good Morning Mainland
  Texas Gun Club , 3270 Gulf Freeway South , League City
  7:20 am

Thursday December 18

• 2025 Membership 101 Orientation Meeting
  Chamber Board Room , 2228 Mechanic St., Suite 101 , Galveston
  9:00 am

Saturday December 20

• Basement to Attic Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
  1892 Bishop’s Palace , 1402 Broadway Avenue J , Galveston
  11:00 am
• Holiday Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
  1892 Bishop’s Palace , 1402 Broadway Avenue J , Galveston
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• Basement to Attic Tours of the 1892 Bishop's Palace
  1892 Bishop’s Palace , 1402 Broadway Avenue J , Galveston
  11:00 am

📣 Galveston Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Winter Wonderland Festival
  Moody Early Childhood Center , 1110 21st St , Galveston
  11:00 am

Saturday December 20

• Holiday Star Party
  Galveston Island State Park GalvestonIslandStatePark Map&Directions
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Holiday Geocache Quest
  Galveston Island State Park GalvestonIslandStatePark Map&Directions
  10:00 am

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Brunch at Moody Gardens Ballroom
  Moody Gardens Attractions Theme Park , 1 Hope Blvd , Galveston
  10:30 am

Friday December 26

• Boxing Day Bird Walk
  Galveston Island State Park GalvestonIslandStatePark Map&Directions
  9:00 am
• Boxing Day Beach Cleanup & Cocoa đď¸
  Galveston Island State Park GalvestonIslandStatePark Map&Directions
  2:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Winter Birding
  Galveston Island State Park GalvestonIslandStatePark Map&Directions
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Last night, my heart melted and made me cry when I saw something Soo BEAUTIFUL!!
  Corner of 19th Avenue K. This beautiful house completely decorated for Christmas and sitting in front was Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Taking pictures with… (Nextdoor Avenue K)
• I'm looking for someone who can update my front porch.
  Any recommendations? Here's the before and after photos for what I'm looking for. (Nextdoor Avenue K)

• UTMB Health posted a job opening for Maintenance Customer Service Manager - Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) in Galveston. Apply here.
• Texas Staffing posted a job opening for Stock Worker and Receiver in Galveston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Galveston here.

Ok Galveston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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