Houston Matters
Nationwide readings amplify teens’ voices on gun violence
Posted on · A national project held this month featured plays written by teens about gun violence.
Category: Arts & Culture Politics
Houston Matters
As SAG-AFTRA agreement is reached, it’s not just Hollywood actors who are relieved
Posted on · We discuss the deal and the impact of the months-long strike, with a SAG-AFTRA Houston-Austin Local member.
Arts & Culture Politics
Pulitzer Prize-winning author who signed letter calling for ceasefire in Gaza has event moved from Houston synagogue
Posted on · It was the second time in less than two weeks that a Jewish organization scrapped an event featuring Viet Thanh Nguyen, who was among 750 artists and writers in North America and Europe who signed an open letter that expressed criticism of Israel.
Arts & Culture
Waller art studio files civil rights lawsuit against city over its mural-regulating ordinance
Posted on · The small town northwest of Houston passed a mural-related ordinance in February, a few months after Tilt Vision Art began painting murals on commercial buildings in Waller. The new law led to the cancellation of the company's contract with a local real estate developer and violates their constitutional rights, the lawsuit alleges.
City of Houston
Houston removing Confederate statues from city’s art collection
Posted on · City council members voted Wednesday to remove the "Spirit of the Confederacy" statue, along with statues of Christopher Columbus and Dick Dowling, from the Civic Art Collection. None of the statues has been publicly displayed since 2021.
Politics
Montgomery County libraries adding more ‘conservative’ books, limiting youth access to sexually-oriented themes
Posted on · Montgomery County Commissioners Court voted unanimously this month to prevent visitors under 18 from accessing 'explicit or questionable' books, including those with LGBTQ+ themes, at its public libraries. They also will be adding more materials with politically conservative themes.
Town Square
“Talk of the Town”: Dealing with Grief, the SAG-AFTRA Strike, Prime Day, and More
Posted on · Our panel of guests share their thoughts on trending and recently covered topics.
Arts & Culture
Houston-area schools scrap field trips to see ‘James and the Giant Peach’ over concerns about cross-gender casting at Main Street Theater
Posted on · Schools from Spring Branch ISD, along with local religious schools, are among those to cancel planned visits to watch theatrical performances of the famed children's story.
Literature
‘Little Banned Library’ featuring books removed from schools opening in Houston’s Heights neighborhood
Posted on · A variation of the popular Little Free Library concept, the forthcoming installation in the Heights was designed to resemble a prison cell and feature books that have been banned by public schools in Texas.
Town Square
Cancel Culture, Has It Gone Too Far?
Posted on · Experts share their thoughts on this issue and if it’s more complex than most realize.
Politics
League City Council, amidst opposition, creates committee to review library book challenges
Posted on · Opponents to the newly created committee say it is unnecessary and could potentially lead to censorship and discrimination.
Town Square
In ‘Unmask Alice’, the truth behind an anonymous drug-fueled diary is a trip
Posted on · Author Rick Emerson spent six years investigating the anonymous authors of the publicized diaries Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal.
Town Square
Tabletop role-playing games play on the heart
Posted on · Dimension 20's Brennan Lee Mulligan takes firsthand gameplay to create dynamic storytelling with uncertain endings for everyone involved.
Town Square
How museums hold the secrets to our past and the future of our values
Posted on · Museums are growing to adapt to visitor expectations, not just on what artifacts are displayed, but how museums obtain them.
Politics
Dr. Suleman Lalani, among first Muslims elected to Texas Legislature, pledges to serve all Fort Bend County constituents
Posted on · Lalani of Sugar Land and Salman Bhojani, elected to represent residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are the first Muslims and first South Asia natives to be elected as Texas lawmakers.