Houston Matters
Illegal voting, fentanyl, and a new mayoral candidate: the week in politics
Posted on · Political analysts Mark Jones and Renee Cross discuss the latest developments in the Houston Matters weekly roundup.
Category: International
Houston Matters
Stoppping fentanyl overdoses — are some Mexican pharmacies part of the problem?
Posted on · Research shows some pharmacies catering to American tourists are selling medicine frequently laced with the opioid.
Travel
Texas officials have told residents Mexico is too dangerous to visit for spring break
Posted on · The advisory follows the kidnapping of four Americans earlier this month in the city of Matamoros. The Texas Department of Public Safety said "cartel activity" made trips to Mexico a "serious risk."
International
Houston psychiatrists return from visits to Syria and Turkey where they provided mental health relief
Posted on · More than 50,000 people have died from the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey last month.
News
UFO activity group says about 95% of reported activity in skies are explainable
Posted on · “People don’t realize what is going on over their heads on a daily basis."
Local
Houston-area organization accepting supplies for Turkey, Syria earthquake relief
Posted on · From canned goods to small generators, the National Association of Christian Churches is hoping to send relief supplies to Turkey and Syria, as they recover from a series of devastating earthquakes.
Local
Raindrop Turkish Cultural Center in southwest Houston hosts prayer vigil for earthquake victims
Posted on · Christian, Jewish, Baha’i, and Buddhist representatives attended a prayer vigil for family and friends affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
International
Houston Turkish residents organize disaster relief after 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey, Syria
Posted on · The earthquake shook central Turkey early Monday and was followed by a 7.5 magnitude aftershock.
NASA
Today marks 20 years since the Space Shuttle Columbia accident
Posted on · The tragedy occurred in 2003 when seven NASA astronauts died. The accident led to reform in the organization for improved safety.
Politics
House speakership fight puts Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw’s chairmanship dreams at risk
Posted on · Congressman Dan Crenshaw is fighting to chair the House Homeland Security Committee. Two House Freedom Caucus members, so far backing Kevin McCarthy for speaker, also want the job.
Politics
President Joe Biden says he’ll visit the border next week during Mexico trip
Posted on · The president, who has been criticized by some Republicans for not visiting the border since he took office, hasn’t announced where his visit would take place.
International
Looted ancient sarcophagus featured in Houston Museum of Natural Sciences has been returned to Egypt
Posted on · The repatriation is part of Egyptian government efforts to stop the trafficking of its stolen antiquities.
NASA
NASA expecting busy year as it prepares for next Artemis launch in 2024
Posted on · Judging from the early returns of the Artemis 1 mission, NASA is off to a good start. The empty Orion crew module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja on December 11 after a 25-day mission that covered 1.3 million miles, including a loop around the Moon.
News
Brittney Griner says she’ll play in the upcoming WNBA season
Posted on · In her first public statement since being freed from Russia, the two-time Olympic gold medalist says she'll play for her team, the Phoenix Mercury, when the season starts in May.
Sports
North Texas soccer fans look ahead to 2026 World Cup
Posted on · As fans gear up for the World Cup’s final stretch this week, many North Texans are looking forward to the next tournament. Preparations are already underway at AT&T Stadium for the 2026 World Cup.