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Lisa Valadez

Stories by Lisa

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Children’s Museum Houston Raises Record $237,000 at Friends and Families Luncheon

Children’s Museum Houston’s 2026 Friends and Families Luncheon raised a record $237,000, celebrating early childhood learning and unveiling the new Gallery of Wonder for infants and toddlers.

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Texas Southern University Approves Ascend 2030 Strategic Plan Ahead of Centennial

Texas Southern University has approved Ascend 2030, a strategic plan guiding its growth, academic excellence, and community impact as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027.

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Harrison Guy Named Creative and Producing Director for Houston’s Black Like That Festival

Acclaimed artist and activist Harrison Guy will lead the 2026 Black Like That Festival in Houston, celebrating Black queer culture, art, and community on June 27 at Ironworks.

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Representative Lauren Simmons Secures $30,000 in State Funding for Houston Museum of African American Culture

Representative Lauren Simmons secured $30,000 in state funding to support the Houston Museum of African American Culture’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives.

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Houston Arboretum Spring Plant Sale Offers Native Plants for Gardeners and Plant Enthusiasts

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will host its Spring Plant Sale March 20 and 21, offering nearly 200 varieties of Texas native plants for gardeners and plant enthusiasts.

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Kroger Customer Appreciation Week Brings Major Grocery Deals and Daily Discounts March 11–17

The Kroger Co. is celebrating Customer Appreciation Week from March 11–17 with deep discounts on groceries, daily surprise deals, and special savings aimed at helping families stretch their budgets during challenging economic times.

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Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas Unveils 2.2-Acre Lagoon and $100M Renovation in San Antonio

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas in San Antonio unveils its 2.2-acre Big Spring lagoon and completes a $100M renovation, offering luxury villas, upgraded dining, world-class golf, and a Texas Hill Country beach experience for spring break, weekend getaways, and summer road trips.

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Houston’s Goode Co. Taqueria Unveils First Major Menu Update Since 2019

Houston’s Goode Co. Taqueria unveils its first major menu update since 2019, featuring new breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes alongside longtime mesquite-grilled favorites at its Kirby Drive location.

Kinder Foundation Awards $55 Million Grant to Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research

The Kinder Foundation has awarded Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research a $55 million grant, bolstering its endowment and funding immediate programs to advance research, public engagement, and solutions for Houston’s urban challenges.

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Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Debuts Wasserbahn Racers for Summer 2026 Thrill

Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels is kicking off its 2026 season with the debut of Wasserbahn Racers, a high-speed three-lane mat racing slide designed to deliver competitive thrills and new enhancements across the park.

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Houston High School Seniors Can Apply for $10,000 Daikin Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship Through March 31

Houston-area high school seniors can now apply for the Daikin Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship, a $100,000 program awarding ten $10,000 scholarships to students pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Crawfish Cafe and Pho Prime Unite in New 10,000-Square-Foot Chinatown Destination

Crawfish Cafe and Pho Prime have merged into a newly renovated 10,000-square-foot dual-concept restaurant in Houston’s Chinatown, blending Viet-Cajun seafood favorites with Vietnamese classics in a full-service dining space designed for gatherings and cultural experience.

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Dairy Queen Celebrates Spring with Free Cone Day in Texas

Houston-area Dairy Queen fans can celebrate the first day of spring on March 19 with a free small vanilla cone and enjoy new mint-flavored treats all month long.

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Portillo’s Debuts Birthday Cake, Cake Shake and Houston Rodeo Burger Deal

Portillo’s is celebrating with a limited-time Birthday Cake and Cake Shake available through April 6, while Houston-area fans can also score a $6 Rodeo Burger deal during rodeo season through March 8.

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Toro District™ Development Plans Unveiled for Northwest Harris County

The Houston Texans, Harris County, and Howard Hughes have unveiled plans for Toro District™, an 83-acre mixed-use sports and entertainment development in northwest Harris County projected to generate $34 billion in economic impact and create more than 17,000 jobs.

Sand Branch Water Crisis: Ongoing Efforts Highlight Need for Permanent Infrastructure

Sand Branch, an unincorporated community in Dallas County, Texas, has long lacked municipal water and sewer services; local leaders and advocates are coordinating funding and planning efforts to bring running water to the area.

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Texas Democratic Primary Early Voting Underway as Crockett and Talarico Campaign for Nomination

Early voting is underway in Texas for the March 3 Democratic primary, where U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are competing for the Senate nomination, highlighting differing campaign strategies, voter engagement efforts, and national attention.

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Early Voting Begins in Texas Senate Primary; Disability Group Endorses Jasmine Crockett

Disability Community for Democracy endorses Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Texas U.S. Senate race as early voting begins in the Democratic primary against James Talarico.

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Sugar Land Welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse with Free Lunar New Year Festival at Kroger

As early voting begins across Houston and Harris County, competitive congressional races and newly drawn districts are energizing voters in what could be one of the region’s most consequential primary elections in years.

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Understanding Texas Primaries: Your Chance to Pick Candidates You Actually Like

Texas primary elections let voters in Harris and Fort Bend Counties help choose candidates for the November ballot, with open primaries, early voting, and resources to guide every voter.

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Museums Come Alive: Celebrate National Engineers’ Day at Children’s Museum Houston and Fort Bend Discovery Center

From racing wind-powered cars to creating pedal-powered art bikes, kids can explore, build, and blast off into hands-on engineering fun on Feb. 28.

Kids and families can celebrate National Engineers’ Day on Feb. 28 at Children’s Museum Houston and Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center with hands-on activities like wind-powered cars, straw rockets, and pedal-powered art bikes.

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Houston Symphony Brings Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY to Jones Hall in June 2026

Experience an epic multimedia concert with full orchestra, chorus, HD visuals, and special guest Amanda Achen in downtown Houston

The Houston Symphony will present Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY at Jones Hall on June 6–7, 2026, featuring a full orchestra, chorus, HD game visuals, and special guest vocalist Amanda Achen.

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Service, Transparency, and Technology: Shah Haleem Seeks to Modernize the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office

Entrepreneur Shah Haleem is running for Fort Bend County Clerk, emphasizing technology modernization, transparency, and community-focused service in an office that impacts nearly every resident.

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Congressman Al Green Awards $500,000 to Harris County Constable Precinct 7 to Combat Human Trafficking

Federal funding supports officer training, survivor services, and community outreach as Houston prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Congressman Al Green awarded $500,000 in federal funding to Harris County Constable Precinct 7 to bolster anti-human trafficking efforts in Houston communities.

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Jasmine Crockett Announces U.S. Senate Run in Texas with Focus on Affordability and Accountability

Endorsed by Elect Democratic Women, Crockett pledges to fight for working families, expand opportunity, and hold government accountable

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, endorsed by Elect Democratic Women, is running for U.S. Senate in Texas on a platform focused on affordability, accountability, and expanding opportunity for working families.

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All Jokes Aside Comedy Lounge in Houston: Top Stand-Up Shows and Live Entertainment

West Houston’s premier comedy venue offers weekly performances, a full nightlife experience, and a stage where laughter, music, food, and community come together.

Houston’s All Jokes Aside Comedy Lounge brings top stand‑up talent and an immersive cultural experience to West Houston, blending laughter, music, food, and community.

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Harris County Seeks Court Order to Block FEMA Workforce Cuts

County leaders say proposed federal layoffs threaten disaster response as hurricane season approaches

Harris County officials have filed for a temporary restraining order to block proposed FEMA workforce cuts, arguing the reductions would jeopardize disaster response and public safety across the Gulf Coast.

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CLUE, the Hilarious Murder-Mystery Comedy, Heads to Houston This June

CLUE, the hit murder-mystery comedy inspired by the classic board game and 1985 film, comes to Houston’s Hobby Center June 9–14, 2026.

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Robert Nnake Launches Bid for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 4 With Plan to Tackle Property Taxes and Rapid Growth

Candidate calls for smarter infrastructure planning, economic diversification, and stronger community engagement across Precinct 4.

Robert Nnake, a candidate for Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 4, outlines a vision centered on sustainable growth, property tax relief, infrastructure planning, and community cohesion in one of Texas’ fastest-growing and most diverse counties.

Bayou Collective Giving Circle Launches to Support Black-Led Organizations in Houston

The Bayou Collective Giving Circle has launched in Houston to pool resources and provide unrestricted funding and capacity-building support to Black-led organizations across the region.

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Jasmine Crockett Pushes Back on Talarico Super PAC Attack Ad

Congresswoman Crockett’s campaign criticizes the ad as hypocritical and reaffirms her record of leadership and advocacy ahead of the March 3 Texas Democratic Senate primary.

Texas Democratic Senate candidates clash as a Super PAC backing James Talarico runs an attack ad against Jasmine Crockett, prompting a campaign response.

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Rep. Menefee Joins House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force to Defend Civil Rights and Government Accountability

Newly sworn-in Rep. Menefee will leverage his legal experience to address executive overreach, safeguard healthcare and voting rights, and support equitable federal policies.

Rep. Menefee has been appointed to the House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force, where he will use his legal experience to defend civil rights, healthcare access, and government accountability.

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Talarico Campaign to Air Super Bowl Ad Ahead of U.S. Senate Primary

State Rep. James Talarico will debut a Super Bowl ad highlighting campaign finance reform ahead of the March 3, 2026, Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Texas.

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SEIU Texas Endorses Jasmine Crockett in U.S. Senate Race

Labor union representing more than two million workers backs Crockett in Democratic primary

SEIU Texas has endorsed U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, citing her pro-labor voting record as the contest shapes up to be one of the most closely watched elections in the country.

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Portillo’s Unveils New Sauces and Valentine’s Day Meal Deal

Portillo’s is celebrating Valentine’s Day with five new dipping sauces, a limited-edition Sauce Flight for loyalty members, and a Red Hot Meal Deal for two, available February 12-15.

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Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy Criticizes Judge KP George Over Forum Cancellation

Precinct 4 commissioner announces online town hall following Houston Chronicle candidate forum withdrawal as county judge race continues

Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy criticized County Judge KP George’s withdrawal from a Houston Chronicle forum and announced an online town hall as voters prepare for the upcoming county judge election.

Mardi Gras! Galveston 2026 Launches with Music, Parades, and Island Celebrations

Galveston kicks off Mardi Gras! 2026 with music, parades, and nonstop island energy February 6–8.

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Hobby Center Announces 2026–2027 Broadway Season Featuring Houston Premieres and Fan Favorites

The Hobby Center has announced its 2026–2027 Broadway season, bringing Houston a mix of iconic classics, award-winning new musicals, and returning fan favorites.

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Real Women Have Curves Opens at Alley Theatre, Celebrating Stories of Strength and Resilience

The Alley Theatre’s production of Real Women Have Curves delivers humor, heart, and timely cultural commentary through February 15, 2026.

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Christian Menefee Earns Workers Defense Action Fund Endorsement Ahead of TX-18 Runoff Amid Immigration Concerns

Workers Defense Action Fund has endorsed former Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee in the TX-18 runoff, citing his record of expanding legal protections and services for immigrant communities amid ongoing national immigration enforcement concerns.

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Biden-Era Nursing Home Staffing Regulations Rolled Back After Trump Meetings with Industry Donors

A federal nursing home staffing mandate aimed at improving resident care under Biden was repealed following private meetings between Trump and nursing home executives who had donated to his super PAC.

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Houston’s February Happenings: Celebrate Love, Friendship, and the Big Game with Goodnight Hospitality

Houston’s Goodnight Hospitality offers a full lineup of February experiences, from Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day brunches to Super Bowl catering and Italian prix fixe dinners.

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Dexter McCoy Earns Major Labor Endorsement in Fort Bend County Judge Race

Dexter McCoy receives a major labor endorsement in the Fort Bend County Judge Democratic primary, highlighting his record of supporting workers and community development.

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Young Star King Moore Leads Global Effort to Inspire and Help Children

10-year-old King Moore launches a global youth campaign connecting children through music, service, and cultural exchange

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Bobby Cole Releases Take It Back Agenda Ahead of 2026 Texas Governor’s Race

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bobby Cole unveiled his Take It Back Agenda, outlining policy priorities on housing, energy, healthcare, education, and cost of living as the 2026 Texas primary approaches.

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TDECU Appoints Glenn Applewhite III as Market President for Greater Houston Region

TDECU has named banking veteran Glenn Applewhite III as Market President for Greater Houston, where he will lead strategic growth, strengthen Member relationships, and expand the credit union’s community impact.

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Houston Arboretum to Host Tapas on the Trails for Valentine’s Day 2026

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will host Tapas on the Trails on February 14, offering an evening of food, drinks, and moonlit nature walks to support conservation and education programs.

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Prairie View A&M University Announces New Academic Leadership and Programs

Prairie View A&M University begins 2026 with new leadership appointments and the launch of University College to strengthen student success and academic excellence.

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J.D. Silva & Associates Offers Free Lyft Rides During Houston Rodeo and Barbecue Cook-Off

J.D. Silva & Associates is offering up to 250 free Lyft rides during Houston Rodeo and BBQ Cook-Off week to promote safe driving and prevent impaired driving.

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HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival to Premiere 10 Award-Winning Short Films on Jan. 27

Ten award-winning short films by HBCU students and recent graduates will premiere January 27 on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel, celebrating Black excellence and storytelling across genres.

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