🌱 Patch AM: Why can Houston’s newly elected school trustees serve but not vote?

Good morning Houston! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why can Houston’s newly elected school trustees serve but not vote?
• Which Houston-area master-planned communities are selling homes the fastest?
• Why gunfire erupted between two riders at a Houston METRO stop

Also on today's calendar: The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Houston, TX (January 2026) and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Cloudy, a shower and t-storm, with a high of 77 and low of 52 degrees.
• Saturday: Cloudy, windy and cooler, temps: high: 58, low: 43.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Newly elected Houston ISD trustees sworn in even though they can't vote (houstonpublicmedia.org) — Newly elected Houston ISD trustees were sworn in Thursday but still have no voting power because of the ongoing Texas Education Agency takeover, now extended to at least 2027. Community advocates and trustees say they’ll keep pushing for accountability, student-focused policies, and local control. Residents are encouraged to stay engaged as HISD’s governance remains in state-appointed hands.
   

2. Houston Leads Nation for Master-Planned Communities (realtynewsreport.com) — Houston continues to dominate the nation in master-planned communities, with 10 local developments ranking among the top 50 for 2025 home sales and several on the city’s west side cracking the top 10. For Houston-area buyers, the report highlights where new homes are selling fastest, how prices and sales are shifting in Katy, Cypress, Fort Bend County and beyond, and why strong construction is helping moderate prices.
   

3. Houston shooting: 2 suspects fire shots at each other near METRO bus stop, police investigating (fox26houston.com) — Houston METRO officials say two suspects got off a bus at Grassmere and Scott and then opened fire on each other Thursday evening, striking an uninvolved vehicle but causing no reported injuries. Police have located one possible suspect and are reviewing surveillance video, while still withholding detailed suspect information as they investigate what led to the shooting.
   

4. Family seeks justice after security guard killed in SE Houston (fox26houston.com) — A Missouri City father working security outside Connie’s Seafood in southeast Houston was shot and killed Wednesday night, and the gunman is still at large. Houston police are investigating and asking anyone with information to contact HPD or Crime Stoppers. The victim’s family is mourning his loss and urging the community to help bring the shooter to justice.
   

5. Why Houston's Avelo Airlines is ditching ICE deportation flights — and what it means for the airline (houstonchronicle.com) — Avelo Airlines, headquartered in Houston, is ending its contract to operate ICE deportation flights and closing its Arizona base as part of a broader operational shake-up. The move follows protests outside the airline’s Houston offices and a national advocacy campaign, even as Avelo’s passenger counts and financial position have remained strong, according to recent reports.
   

📸 Around Houston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Houston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 17

• The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Houston, TX (January 2026)
  1 Fannin St, Houston
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday January 9

• Lin's Grand Buffet - Houston Highway 6 Grand Opening Celebration
  Lin's Grand Buffet - Houston Highway 6: 5402 Hwy 6, Houston, TX 77084
  10:45 am
• Destiny's Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute Houston
  The Bell Tower on 34th 901 West 34th Street Houston, Texas 77018
  8:30 pm

Saturday January 10

• Time Travel Half-Marathon (and 5k/10k) - Houston
  John Paul Landing Park , 24202 West Rd
  9:00 am
• The Supreme Good Heart of Bodhichitta
  2500 Yale St , Houston
  10:00 am
• Bingo Loco: The Ultimate Bingo Party
  NOTO Houston , 3215 McKinney St , Houston
  6:00 pm
• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Houston, TX
  Hilton Houston Plaza , 6633 Travis St , Houston
  6:00 pm

Sunday January 11

• The Change: Unleashing the Wild Woman
  The Health Museum , 1515 Hermann Dr , Houston
  2:00 pm

Thursday January 15

• Make Epic Gnocchi With Chef Will - Cooking Class by Classpop!
  Axelrad Beer Garden , 1517 Alabama St , Houston
  7:00 pm

Friday January 30

• Led Zeppelin 2
  House of Blues Houston , 1204 Caroline St , Houston
  7:00 pm

📣 Houston Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday January 9

• Chill & Play: Teen Game Day
  Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library , 22248 Aldine Westfield Rd , Humble
  1:00 pm
• Pickleball Open Play Fridays - (50+)
  West University Place Community Building and Senior Center , 6104 Auden Street , West University Place
  1:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Gourd'gous Glass Pumpkin Patch
  Glassblowing Houston , 17442 FM 2920 Rd , Tomball
• Tomball Farmers Market Weekly All local farmers market
  Greater Tomball Chamber of Commerce , 205 W. Main Street , Tomball
  9:00 am

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Eagles Trace Resident Leads Classes Based on His Experiences —Elizabeth Fabiano Read on Patch

• Food distribution for tomorrow, January 8th.
  Hope this helps some people. PATRICK HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL 8:00am 10702 E HARDY RD HOUSTON Tx 77093 GMZ EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT GREATER… (Nextdoor Pleasantville)
• Operation Sonic chicken was a success!
  We caught her at the Bank Next door. She was super hungry and thirsty. She will be going to the farm my kids work at tomorrow. Really sweet girl. … (Nextdoor Charlestown Colony)

• There’s only two days left to submit your Spring Branch ISD Choice Program application! Families interested in Two-Way Dual Language, BI, or in... (X: SBISD)
• When it comes to flooding, we are on borrowed time and cannot kick the can down the road. Yesterday, Council Member Kamin voiced her opposition to... (X: HouDistC)

• O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for DC Materials Handler - Outbound in Houston. Apply here.
• Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits posted a job opening for Stocker (Houston, TX) in Houston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Houston here.

Ok Houston! 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 really dig you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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