🌱 Ukraine Benefits Planned In Houston + Local Teacher Sentenced

Get on up, Houston! Let's get this day started. Here's everything you need to know around Houston today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 84 Low: 58.

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Here are the top five stories in Houston today:

1. A second grand jury in Texas declined to bring charges against former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. "Accordingly, this matter is closed," said Selleck. (Houston Patch)

2. Police have arrested the SUV driver seen on surveillance video chasing down a woman through a Pasadena park. The driver has been identified as Gabriel Garcia. He is currently in custody after being charged with aggravated assault against a family member. (KHOU 11)

3. H-E-B and Central Market have launched a $1 million donation campaign in support of Ukraine. "Along with the rest of the world, we're witnessing with heavy hearts the senseless violence and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine," says a March 15th release. (ABC 13)

4. Holocaust Museum Houston has announced a new show dubbed "A Benefit Concert for Ukrainian Relief" at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The evening will include Omar Herrera Arizmendi, Luisana Rivas, John Noel, José Garza, Francine Di, Andreea Mut, Zoya Shuhatovich, Vyacheslav Dobrushkin, and more. (CultureMap Houston)

5. Former Houston elementary school teacher, 57-year old Robert Gasper Peri, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison on Friday for possessing lewd and sadistic images and videos of children that he allegedly accessed at least once through a Houston ISD IP address. He pled guilty to the charges in December 2020 and is free on a $50,000 unsecured bond. (Houston Chronicle)

Today in Houston:

• River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash at various locations. (8:00 AM)
• Houston, TX Walk, Run Or Relax Event at Texas Childrens Hospital. (8:30 AM)
• Paws On Parade at Discovery Green. (11:00 AM)
• TEDxAlief 2022 at West Houston Institute. (11:00 AM)
• Lemonade Day, Best Tasting Lemonade Contest at Children's Museum Houston. (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Almost three months after a north Houston shooting landed a 16-year-old in the hospital, police have released surveillance photos of the wanted suspects. The shooting happened at about 11 p.m. on December 29 in the 8600 block of McGallion Street. (ABC 13)
• Houston Flood Control District will hold a virtual Community Engagement Meeting for the Tributary C144-00-00 Flood Risk Reduction Project located in the Sims Bayou watershed on Thursday, March 31st. (Twitter)
• Alvin Community College’s fitness center located at 3110 Mustang Road, Bldg. F, Alvin, reopened in February after shutting down in 2020 to undergo renovations. The facility's new upgrades include a new ventilation system, expanded bathrooms and improved lighting. (Community Impact Newspaper)
• Black Cat Theater and Academy opened this spring in Magnolia at 331 Corporate Woods Drive, Ste. A4. Visitors can sign up online to attend an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 24. (Community Impact Newspaper)

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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 Saturday. I'll see you soon!

— 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.