🌱 HISD Drops Mask Mandate + 'March On Crime' Initiative Focus

Good day, people of Houston! It's me again, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Houston Daily.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and beautiful. High: 71 Low: 47.

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Here are the top five stories today in Houston:

1. Promise @ San Jac is a last-dollar scholarship covering 100 percent of tuition and books after federal and state aid, grants, and other scholarships. Promise is expanding to every in-district high school senior beginning with the class of 2021-2022. MacKenzie Scott's $30 million donation to the college last spring is helping to fund a student success endowment that makes this expansion possible. (SJC)

2. Houston Independent School District has announced that masks were no longer required on campuses, buildings, or buses beginning March 1. Students and staff will still receive tests, masks, and COVID information from their school, but some parents said it's still too soon to make masks optional. (ABC 13)

3. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joined the Heritage Society and descendants of Rev. Jack Yates to make a significant announcement about three historic house sites located in Sam Houston Park. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the Kellum Noble House, the Reverend Jack Yates House, and the Fourth Ward Cottage as part of its "Slave Route Project." (Style Magazine)

4. The FBI has announced that James Smith will serve as the special agent in charge of its field office in Houston. Smith's experience includes work with the MS-13 National Gang Task Force Unit at the FBI's headquarters and the International Violent Crimes Unit, Violent Crimes Against Children Squad, and more. (Houston Chronicle)

5. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner announced the focus for this year's "March On Crime" initiative at a press conference on Tuesday morning. This year will focus on "road rage, domestic violence, homicides, shootings, theft of firearms from vehicles and other crime issues that affect the community." (ABC 13)

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Today in Houston:

• B&H Presents Film Production Gear at HCC Central Performing And Visual Arts. (12:00 PM)
• HAIS Theater Collective at Houston Academy For International Studies. (3:30 PM)
• FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 Public Meeting at City Of West University. (6:00 PM)
• Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo 2022 at City Of Houston. (6:45 PM)
• Houston Rockets Vs. Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The 62nd annual St. Patrick's Day parade is back in Downtown Houston for 2022. Join it on March 12 for the eclectic parade, live music, and green beer, followed by a Downtown Block Party in the Historic District. (Instagram)
• The Conrad N. Hilton College at University of Houston has changed its name to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. In the last 50-plus years, the college has evolved into more than just a hotel and restaurant management program. (Facebook)
• Saturday, March 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Houston Library Foundation is hosting its first book sale of 2022 at the Friends of HPL Warehouse, located at 6510 West Little York Rd., Houston. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Online Discussions on the Effectiveness of Drug Addiction Treatment in a Houston Addiction Treatment (March 31)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.