🌱 St. Patrick's Day + Goodbye Houston Rodeo 2023 + Recycled Cycles

Hello, everybody! It's Saint Patrick's Day Friday in Houston and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Today's issue includes updates on...

• The current HISD board president's plans to continue advising Harris county schools.
• The last weekend of Houston Rodeo 2023.
• A nonprofit recycled bicycle shop.

But first, today's weather: Windy; a few morning showers. High: 54 Low: 44.

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Here are the top stories today in Houston:

1. Houston ISD board president Dani Hernandez wants to run for re-election despite her position losing all of its power due to the TEA takeover. Hernandez said that the takeover announcement earlier this week caught her off guard because potential takeover plans were originally announced in 2019 just one day after she was elected. Despite pushback from HISD board members, teachers, and government officials such as Mayor Sylvester Turner, Hernandez wants to work with the newly elected TEA board of managers to help them understand and provide for the Houston community. While the elected HISD board of trustees will no longer have any power, their positions will remain in place in an advisory capacity. Hernandez said, "Any trustee that’s elected will be able to at least have conversation, let the appointed board know what the community is voicing and make sure that the community voice is heard." (Houston Public Media)
2. If you've yet to visit the Houston Rodeo, this is the last weekend to see all of its wonders including the baby birthing center. This educational facility within the Houston Rodeo exposes visitors to the miracle of newborn animal life. The baby birthing center houses over 50 piglets born this year, 10 pregnant mother animals waiting to have their children: eight baby cows, and baby lambs. All of the piglets born this year were named after candies. Children are especially mesmerized by these cute little livestock, but the adorable baby animals are a sight to behold for visitors of all ages. (KPRC Click2Houston)
3. A local Houstonian with a passion for bikes created a nonprofit to donate recycled bicycles to the public. Recycled Cycles of Texas accepts used bicycle donations from all over the city. Owner Ferell Surette said, "If you have a bicycle and you want to donate it, bring it. If you need a bicycle and you come, we'll give you one." Surette started the business over 10 years ago. He explained that it took him four years to give over 100 bicycles. In total, the company has recycled over 1,100 bicycles back into the community. Surette said that working on the bikes is what makes him happy and that if he could retire tomorrow and work on bicycles for the rest of his life, he would gladly do it. (KHOU.com)
4. A woman who takes medication for mental health issues went missing four days ago in west Harris County. Shimari Haden, 22, was last seen wearing a multi-colored scarf, red scrubs, and a pink and purple colored book bag. She is five and a half feet tall, weighs 115 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen at a local park at at 19200 Brook Village Road. If you have information about Shimari please call call the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-755-7427. (KTRK-TV)
5. A Southwest Houston father who killed his wife employed the help of his son to dump her body in Louisiana. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murders of his wife and her lover in the closet of their family home's master bedroom. District Attorney Kim Ogg said, "This man killed two people, including the mother of his children, and tried to flee the country to escape responsibility." The man's 21-year-old son is facing five years in prison for helping his father dump his mother's body. The married couple were also parents to two young daughters. Family of the murdered wife say she was physically and verbally abused by her husband for years. (FOX 26)

Headlines you need to see:

• These Houston newborns just celebrated their first rodeo with an adorable photoshoot (KHOU.com)
• Texas Rent Relief program closes application portal 12 days early due to overwhelming demand (KTRK-TV)
• Egg prices forces Dollar Tree to stop selling them until at least fall (Houston Chronicle)
• Archdiocese clears Houston Catholics to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day Friday (Chron)
• Houston native Hannah Nicolaisen advances in 'American Idol' (Houston Chronicle)

Today in Houston:

• 6th Annual Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl at Front Porch Pub (Fri. & Sat.) (4 p.m.)
• "Drunk Shakespeare" at the Emerald Theater (7 p.m.)
• Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Toyota Center (7 p.m.)
• Trinity Irish Dance Company at Miller Outdoor Theater (Free) (8 p.m.)
• Concert: Cody Johnson at the Houston Rodeo (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Ben & Jerry's is bringing back its "Free Cone Day" April 3. Customers at a participating Ben & Jerry's shop can get a free ice cream cone of any flavor from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (FOX 26 Houston via Facebook)
• The mother of the eighth grader who fell more than 100 feet to his death on the Orlando Freefall ride at ICON Park was issued a settlement for her wrongful death lawsuit. Operator error was determined as the cause of the fall as the ride's seat restraints were loosened to accommodate the 300 pound rider. (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)
• Lunchables of Kraft Heinz will begin serving school meals thanks to a new government program. The two products coming to schools nationally are the "Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers" and the "Extra Cheesy Pizza." (ABC13 Houston via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Free Zoom meeting about Houston fibroid treatment! (March 18)
• STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Cypress (March 18)
• STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Grand Harbor (March 18)
• STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Rosenburg (March 18)
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Another week down the drain. Enjoy the weekend and happy St. Patrick's Day! Have a drink (or two) for me, and I'll catch you on Monday.