🌱 Katy Motorist Killed + TPC Group's Petrochemical Plant Opposed

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

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 82 Low: 63.

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Here are the top five stories today in Houston:

1. The Houston Health Department has joined the chorus of voices opposing the proposed expansion of TPC Group's petrochemical plant in the East End, saying that residents nearby already face high levels of toxic air pollution. (Houston Public Media)

2. A motorcyclist killed Saturday morning in a California crash has been identified as Marcos Antonio Lopez, 38, of Katy, Texas, authorities said. The crash occurred at around 10:45 a.m., according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office. (Houston Patch)

3. Minute Maid Park has unveiled its new dishes for Houston Astros baseball season and made some major changes to offer both high-quality and convenient dining options. El Tiempo, a Tex-Mex restaurant with over two decades of history in Houston has joined the fray and The Bartesian cocktail machine is available in suites and on mobile bar carts. (Eater Houston)

4. The Lone Star Flight Museum is the new home for NASA's Space Shuttle Motion Base Simulator. The experience includes the simulator assembly and related artifacts including the trainer’s console and crew procedures, as well as sound and video from the last simulator run of the STS-135 crew in July 2011, according to a release. (CultureMap Houston)

5. Houston's first-ever paid parental leave policy passed in a unanimous vote by City Council on Wednesday. The new policy provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for 22,000 city employees after a birth, adoption or foster placement. It covers full-time employees on the job for at least six months and is set to go into effect in May. (KHOU 11)

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Today in Houston:

• Houston Heroes Awards Luncheon at Royal Sonesta Houston. (11:30 AM)
• HAIS Debate at Houston Academy for International Studies. (3:30 PM)
• River Oaks Speed Networking Happy Hour at Concura. (4:00 PM)
• UHD Thursday Night Concert Series at Discovery Green. (7:00 PM)
• The Riot Comedy Show presents "Comics You Should Know" (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• There is a massive new treehouse patio bar along White Oak Bayou Trail. 🌳🤩✨ Patterson Park officially opens Friday. This dog-friendly bar will feature a rotation of local food trucks, beer & cocktails. (Facebook)
• The District E Redistricting and Capital Improvement Project combined Town Hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1h at Kingwood Park Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Dr. (Facebook)
• Rooftop Cinema Club has revealed the first half of its summer lineup, running May through early July atop BLVD Place. (PREVIEW)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (April 19)
• Online discussion for specialists in the field of alcohol rehab In Kemah, Tx (May 9)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you around!

— 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.