Pressman's hats, '-30-' and other disappearing newspaper traditionsAll occupations have their own lingo and little habits. But newspaper traditions seem to have more emotional staying power than most. May 24 26May 24, 2026Article at Houston Chronicle
What is ‘a good death?’ My friend Henry Hunt showed me one answerWhat's the best way to die? Longtime Houston Chronicle columnist Mike Snyder reflects on the death of his friend, and contemplates his own. Jul 07 25July 07, 2025Article at Houston Chronicle
‘I Hide in My House’: Inside John Whitmire’s Stalled Effort to Limit Protests Near His Home The Houston mayor sought to push back activists who want the city to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, but he couldn’t find enough allies on the city council. By the time the pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed up in front of… Oct 17 24October 17, 2024Article at Texas Monthly
I just turned 70. Here’s what I’ve learned about aging. | OpinionOur culture has not caught up to the potential second (or third) chapters in Americans’ lives Sep 22 24September 22, 2024Article at Houston Chronicle
Clashes between mayors and controllers are nothing new. In one case, the conflict got ugly. | Opinion“City controller” is not a sexy job title for an ambitious politician. It summons an image of a bean-counter in green eyeshades, poring over endless columns of figures, clutching a red pencil poised to slash at any perceived error. If the title is… Jun 26 24June 26, 2024Article at Houston Chronicle
The real secret of taking great photos | OpinionThere's the "rule of thirds." There's "the bird and the worm." But mainly, there's the art of paying attention. The home screen on my iPad shows me a rotating collection of photos from my digital archive. The other day an image of a paddleboard… Jun 15 24June 15, 2024Article at Houston Chronicle
Houston GOP attorney worked on DA’s COVID contract probe that snared 3 Hidalgo aidesThrough almost three years of political and legal drama, allegations of partisan influence have hovered over an ill-fated initiative by Harris County officials to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. In the first few months after the… Jan 11 24January 11, 2024Article at houstonlanding.org
The plan for 2024: Stay in touch. Look for joy. (Opinion)Lexie was thirsty. Glasses of ice water were readily available — she was in a restaurant, after all — but both her hands were occupied with holding and soothing her 3-month-old daughter, Cameron. As I watched from an adjoining table, Lexie’s husband,… Jan 05 24January 05, 2024Article at Houston Chronicle
‘Pay to play,’ corruption and ethics issues getting less attention in Houston mayor’s raceMayoral candidate Gilbert Garcia answers a question during a forum for mayoral candidates in Acres Homes, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Houston. (Douglas Sweet Jr. for Houston Landing) Houston’s revenue cap was the topic of the second question posed… Oct 03 23October 03, 2023Article at houstonlanding.org
Houston women’s rights advocate hopes Supreme Court reversal will restore feminist movementNot long after Frances “Poppy” Northcutt started working in the U.S. space program in the 1960s, she experienced what she has described as her “big awakening” about the need for a social justice movement focused on empowering women. “About three… Jul 20 23July 20, 2023Article at houstonlanding.org
Houstonians have put aside concerns about public health as pandemic recedes from viewThis post is part of a series highlighting the findings from the 2023 Kinder Houston Area Survey. As it happened, the banner headline on the front page of the Houston Chronicle that day read: “Pfizer vaccine approved for kids 12-15,” a reference to… May 15 23May 15, 2023Article at Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Rice University
Houston project will transplant reeds from ancient Iraqi marsh culture to Rice UniversityBy Mike Snyder / Contributing writer Published April 21, 2023 A dozen or so volunteers, sweating on a warm spring morning in southeast Houston, knelt at the base of a long row of tall, spindly plants known as common reeds, or Phragmites Australis.… Apr 21 23April 21, 2023Article at houstonlanding.org
Historic Tamina community’s $21 million water deal comes at another costJames Leveston has been fighting for more than 20 years to bring basic public services to the Montgomery County community of Tamina, where he’s lived for most of his life. Late last year, he went door to door asking his neighbors if they would… Jan 11 23January 11, 2023Article at Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Rice University
With conservation districts, Houston could have a new path to preserve neighborhoodsIn October 2010, city officials were poised to strengthen Houston’s historic preservation law by adding a provision that, for the first time, would empower the city to forbid the demolition of certain homes in designated historic districts.… Jan 04 23January 04, 2023Article at Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Rice University
The first project in Buffalo Bayou Park's eastward plan is its most urgent: Build more housingIt’s really quite a lovely park, with features that check all the standard boxes: a playground, a gazebo with a big table, a soccer field, restrooms and water fountains, a paved trail that winds through the property, and lots of plain old green… Oct 14 22October 14, 2022Article at Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Rice University
Essay: Why Houston’s latest Buffalo Bayou park starts with affordable housingIt’s really quite a lovely park, with features that check all the standard boxes: a playground, a gazebo with a big table, a soccer field, restrooms and water fountains, a paved trail that winds through the property, and lots of plain old green… Oct 02 22October 02, 2022Article at Houston Chronicle
Opinion: When Nora met Molly — remembering two writers whose voices would resonate todayThis is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate During a recent move, my daughter deposited several boxes of books at my house for later retrieval. (I’m cheaper than a storage unit.) I took the opportunity to paw through them and borrow… Aug 27 22August 27, 2022Article at Houston Chronicle
Democrats Took Control of Texas’s Largest County. Then Party Leaders Went to War With Each Other.Lina Hidalgo had only a few miles left in her marathon training run one December day in 2018 when a phone call interrupted the music flowing through her headset. A month earlier, Hidalgo had surprised much of Houston’s political class by defeating… Jul 13 22July 13, 2022Article at Texas Monthly
Essay: As Ashby rises from ashes, Houston still skirts the Z-wordThis is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In October 2007, protesters marched up and down a well-off stretch of Bissonnet Street, many carrying signs depicting a “monster tower” with grasping arms and bared teeth, looming over… May 07 22May 07, 2022Article at Houston Chronicle
Lina Hidalgo Aides Are Accused of Steering a Contract to an Ally. Internal Communications Paint a Murkier Picture.The doorbell of Alex Triantaphyllis’s townhome in Houston’s Museum District began to ring repeatedly at 6:50 a.m. on March 11. So did his cellphone. When he opened his door he saw a Texas Ranger and two officials from the Harris County district… Mar 29 22March 29, 2022Article at Texas Monthly
