Houston Chronicle reporter. dug.begley@houstonchronicle.com Signal: dugbegley.45
Houston, Texas
- Tweets 16,769
- Following 1,293
- Followers 4,205
- Likes 6
Elton Robert rode out #Laura with his dog Bruce in Orange, about four blocks from the Sabine River. No power, surrounded by 14 inches of water, but he’s fine. So is Bruce. They found a toy.
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We’ve reached peaked Texas in Orange: A @DairyQueen sign knocked onto a @HEB sign by a hurricane.
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Mobile truck parks showing images of #GeorgeFloyd and playing gospel music.
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Donovan Robinson, 16, won’t be eligible to vote until 2022, but spent his morning helping elderly and disabled voters cast ballots from their car. “I wanted to help out the community.”
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Harold Jackson got off his job @Port_Houston around 9:45. By 10:45 he’d voted closer to his home in north Houston. With polling places with typical hours, he’d have needed to shuffle his work hours or risk not voting.
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Houston’s hottest club is UNDERPASS. This club, built beneath a historic home that became a Frenchy’s then a Mattress Firm, was the creation of promoter Ima Boss Hogg. It has everything: An alligator that survived Ike living at Ike Turner’s house, a Beyoncé wig, 1980 Tony Buzbee
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What would happen if an airport lost three 737s to fiery crashes? Well, Houston area road have that many deaths each year. So enjoy your commute. First in our series... Out of Control: Houston’s roads, drivers are nation's most deadly houstonchronicle.com/local/a…
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Crowd showing some vigor after a mostly quiet morning. #GeorgeFloyd
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So we’re at the point in the evening where @HarrisVotes polling places are resetting their machines so they can get a Thursday count and then restart with voters on Friday. So folks are waiting in their cars to vote. Behind a church. At midnight. Near the Beltway.
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I am alarmed by Idaho, Missouri and Pennsylvania, but it is Colorado that gives me the greatest concern.
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Fans already in line for @astros team store in 7th so they can be inside the moment #WorldSeries2017 is over & winning merch goes on sale.
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Project to remake part of Telephone Road into pedestrian-friendly boulevard wins $21M federal grant houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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So with Dallas now officially in the throes of a @TxDOT debate, now every metro area is having some form of fight with the highway department.
Houston: I-45
Dallas: I-345
Austin: I-35
San Antonio: Broadway
City leaders must reject TxDOT's latest boondoggle proposal to decimate the city's urban core for zero gains. dallasnews.com/arts-entertai…
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BREAKING: Folks at @TexasCentral say they've inked $14B deal with @SaliniImpregilo to build the bullet train between Houston and Dallas.
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So coming on 7 years ago, I and @_SusanCarroll were tasked with coming in at 4 a.m. on Saturday. Hobgoblin that she was, Susan instructed me to drive her from her home because she didn't like rain.
So I show up dutifully and Susan hops in, all ready to go. It's just rain.
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Board of @METROHouston approves requiring masks on all buses and trains, effective immediately. Drivers will provide masks for those who do not have them.
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Harris County Commissioner @RodneyEllis asks for reconsideration, official vote on @METROHouston University Corridor rapid transit houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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They are not removing the bus lanes and @HoustonTX didn’t do it, @METROHouston did.
Guys, it's happening.
In the dead of night. On a Friday so the news doesn't cover it.
He's going to wipe out all the infrastructure improvements one project at a time.
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Anyway, I keep thinking about that dark drive in the rain and the rhythm of her work. How she would cross a flooded city to get back to her kids and cross it again to tell other people they were in danger.
The beat feels a little off, but I can find it. gofund.me/f228b7ed
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Opponents deluge @TxDOTCommission with calls to rethink highway projects across state, including I-45 @StopTxDOTi45 @airallianceHOU @makeI45better @TxDOTHouston houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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About 200 folks already lined up for #GeorgeFloyd memorial when doors do not open until noon. That includes Brett White, who drove four hours from Dallas with his painting that took four days. 1/2
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Harris County sues to stop I-45 rebuild plans by @TxDOTHouston @StopTxDotI45 @LINK_Houston @45Coalition @michael23179002 @LinaHidalgoTX @HarrisCountyAO @airallianceHOU @houparksboard houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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HOU-DAL rail line @TexasCentral announces $14 billion deal to build Texas Bullet Train houstonchronicle.com/news/tr…
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Every single time some store/restaurant/bar fails in Houston, the tendency of the conquered business owner or industry analyst is to blame parking for it. Never does anyone say "that store kinda sucked" or "the food was meh" or "the owner was a tool" houstonchronicle.com/busines…
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Houston city officials halt major part of Shepherd and Durham redesign, risking millions in funding houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Houston receives $36.9 million for underpasses to alleviate blocked rail crossings in East End houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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More than one quarter of downtown Houston is dedicated to parking houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Bicyclists angry weekend crash that injured six riders has not led to swift charges for teen driver @BikeHouston @TxDOT houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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Never change, Houston. Never change. The first comment on the #outofcontrol package calls for less ticket writing for speeders, more ticket writing for people slowing down traffic. houstonchronicle.com/local/a…
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"Cities... have literally hit the infrastructure iceberg & don’t know it because they have not accounted for any of it... They’ll talk about pensions & firefighter settlements ... but it is their insolvent development pattern that is grinding them down."
strongtowns.org/journal/2024…
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Spanish rail giant tapped as operator of planned Houston-Dallas bullet train @TexasCentral @TxAgainstHSR houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Loving Co., Texas, pop. 169, is now the only Texas County without a COVID case, per our daily map.
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City Council transportation committee is meeting.... and two of the council members are stuck in traffic.
It's like raaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin on your wedding day...
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Three years ago, @_SusanCarroll tried to murder me by blinding me with a camera flash while I was driving on Loop 610 in #Harvey floodwaters. Unable to finish what she started, she had @HoustonChron management transfer me to Orange before #Laura hit it. BUT I’M STILL ALIVE SUSAN!
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"Houston City Hall is starting to look like the political equivalent of Major League Soccer, the last stop before retirement for superannuated stars such as David Beckham and Lionel Messi."
Houston Is Young and Dynamic. Its Next Leader Won’t Be. texasmonthly.com/news-politi…
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Pres. Bush's father helped found an investment house w/ a longtime @UnionPacific board member. Then he befriend a transportation secretary that went on to oversee the railroad.
He stayed on track, right to end. Soon, a train will take his body for burial houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Wherein we break down how @TxDOT is going to spend three times what it cost to develop, build and repeatedly launch the Space Shuttle so Texans can mostly drive... houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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"There are a lot of people who are willing to have a few people die to save two minutes on their commute." @christofspieler sums up some of the issue with pedestrian safety in Houston area. houstonchronicle.com/news/in…
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Not sure this warrants me typing something, so I'll just report here. #brandimprovement
I asked @METROHouston & this is what I got:
“Since most of the new board members haven’t had a chance to review the proposed projects, we wanted to pause items that appear to be advocacy.”
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Why isn't there a @METROHouston train to Houston's airports? Because something is always in the way. houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Texas has $85B plan for expanding highways, but Houston I-45 project foes say no thanks @TxDOTHouston @StopTxDOTi45 @airallianceHOU @TxDOTCommission houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Four days into 22 and @HoustonTX has had three pedestrian deaths. All of them people walking along a highway or frontage road.
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RE: @TxDOTHouston I-45 project, @SylvesterTurner says "A survey is not public engagement. Further, this survey is framing a false choice,. We do not intend to play their game... The take it or lose it position being offered by TxDOT is not helpful in getting this project done."
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I’ve been trying to think of a way to quantify or state this and I think I finally settled on this.
If you do not think @Mizanur_TX is one of the 7 best journalists breathing air in Houston, working for anyone, you are either ignorant or stupid.
Suddenly removing an editor of color who is widely beloved/ respected in Texas/ beyond and knows Houston the best, as well as the only investigative reporter on staff - a @PulitzerPrizes @LivingstonAward winner - is, at the very least, deserving of more answers.
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It’s been nine years since Houston wrote a law requiring drivers to give cyclists some room. So far @houstonpolice have written 64 tickets. houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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So @USDOT released update on road safety efforts.
"At a time when it is safer to fly across the country than it is to walk across town, we must all act to address the crisis on our nation’s roadways," @SecretaryPete said. transportation.gov/NRSS/Impl…
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For those keeping score.
Days in 2023 so far: < 4.5
Pedestrians killed in Houston area in 2023 so far: 4
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Thanks for asking. The @HEB at Washington/Heights calls itself "Buffalo Heights" and the shopping center at Studemont/I-10 is "Lower Heights" so i refer to the neighborhood between the two as Tenderloin Heights... it is inevitable the entire Loop will one day all be the Heights.
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One of the most active people against the @TxDOTHouston plan for I-45 is aiming for state senate gig. if she wins, she'd definitely get to speak at @TxDOTCommission meetings earlier.
I’m Molly Cook, and I’m ready to be your next state senator for District 15. It’s time for something different. Join us at mollyfortexas.com ✨
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Houston transportation planner resigns as street designs lead to strife houstonchronicle.com/politic…
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To the best of my knowledge, the Houston City Council has spent more time publicly as group talking about six blocks of a bike lane along Austin Street than they have about @TxDOTHouston I-45 project. Raging debate right now about city bike plan, losing parking & other concerns.
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Next year, @METROHouston moving ahead on new fare system, which allows for Apple Pay and credit card options houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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All the folks out there hitting the like button on this tweet aren't thinking about the economic consequences. By that, I mean me. No traffic means no transportation reporter. I have no other skills. I'll end up doing pie charts for @_SusanCarroll and live a meaningless existence
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You gotta wonder why there is a statue of Columbus in Houston and not one (to my knowledge) of Willis Carrier. Equally vital to the history of this bog.
Today in 1876, Willis Carrier, who invented modern air conditioning, is born. @Carrier
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I’m offering lunch to whomever pulls this off in Houston and provides video evidence and affirms it is not staged.
DISCLAIMER: Dug Begley & Hearst are not responsible for injury or assault. This is Texas. People could be packing.
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Not kidding, Houston needs a road safety mascot. Perhaps an alligator that drives a slab and slaps people texting and driving with its tail.
Berutora, a middle-aged tiger who permanently wears a seatbelt and has traffic lights on his hat, is the road safety mascot for Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
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BREAKING: @TexasCentral says it has clearance from @USDOTFRA to develop Houston-Dallas rail line. Likely to face intense opposition from opponents even with hurdle cleared. houstonchronicle.com/news/tr…
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New Hou council member @CMPlummer4 releases letter she sent to @TxDOTHouston with key statement: “I am left to conclude that the benefits do, in fact significantly outweigh the project’s negative externalities—but only for suburbanites not living in the City.”
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Federal money aimed at neglected areas to pour $43.4M into Gulfton, Kashmere Gardens sidewalks houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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One month until the release of Liftoff! Early reviews are super positive.
"Readers interested in business and entrepreneurship, as well as outer space, will find Berger’s book irresistible."
kirkusreviews.com/book-revie…
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Light rail line connecting Green/Purple a big part of @METROHouston discussions to finalize long-range plans. A big notable change, however, is more light rail past small courthouse extension, taking it to Washington & Heights. That'd be a big connection and change to plan.
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Key difference is everyone or almost everyone votes by mail. A ballot is sent to you, you mail it back by Election Day.
Houston, a city with 2.3 million people, garnered fewer votes in its mayoral election than Seattle, a city with 750k people, a third (!) of our size.
Seattle saw 267,414 voters in its November 2021 election. Houston this year: 251,987
Not! Good!
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My inbox, practically every Monday. Remind me again when all that Vision Zero stuff kicks in.
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Strong pushback to @TxDOTHouston I-45 project from few members of @HGACmpo transportation advisory committee. "I find this project disgusting" says @airallianceHOU exec. director Bakeyah Nelson. She and @HumanitarianDip ask to pull all approvals of all segments. 1/2
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New year, new look for Bagby Street with bike lane, wider sidewalks as part of @DowntownHouston project. houstonchronicle.com/news/tr…
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Houston has a plan for making 11th Street safer by reducing vehicle lanes to add space for cyclists houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Harris Precinct 1 @RodneyEllis spending $850K in county $$$ to expand @HoustonBCycle , jump-start electric bike fleet houstonchronicle.com/news/tr…
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Once the northern phase is complete, Houston will have the mother of A-B tests of road safety on its major streets. 15th Street is going to be a divider.
Houston city officials halt major part of Shepherd and Durham redesign, risking millions in funding houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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There's a lot of discussion by people who don't use transit about what should be done to improve it. Perhaps listening to the actual users, like Janis, needs more attention.
Known in the community as the “Bus Lady,” Janis Scott has been riding @METROHouston all of her life. It's her "lifeline to the world." In pt. 3 of our #KIUrbanEdge series on race, equity & public transit, Scott explains what transit equity means to her. kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/20…
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Lawyer for driver in Waller crash calls boy a new & inexperienced driver, says Waller PD talked to him "and did not issue him a traffic citation. Clearly, they decided a crime had not occurred." @BikeHouston houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…) via @houstonchron
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If you don’t subscribe, I will ruin your commute. Nothing but orange cones, wedged spools and an endless stream of pickups carrying 175 wooden pallets waiting for a bus that’s waiting at a red light for a train to pass by.
Make the world a safer place for facts. Buy unlimited digital access to HoustonChronicle.com until Memorial Day for 99 cents. (Not per month. 99 cents. Total. For six months. Yes really. You're welcome.) houstonchronicle.com/CyberMo…
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Weird way for @HouPublicWorks to celebrate #Harvey but it’s the thought that counts.
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FWIW, @TxDOT has a 10-year plan to spend $100B+, mostly on highways. The public hearing just took 28 minutes and featured about six comments by phone.
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Congratulations anti-car activists… @planman72 @VeronicaODavis
Congratulations to our Transportation & Drainage Operations Multimodal Safety and Design team on receiving the 2024 In-House Project of the Year, Transportation award for 11th Street Safety and Bike Lanes from @APWATexas. #HouStreets #TransportationTuesday
ALT A photograph of the team with the award plaque on a green bike lane that is part of the project.
ALT A photograph of the award plaque, which reads: "In recognition of outstanding achievement American Public Works Association Texas Chapter 2024 In-House Project of the Year Transportation 11th Street Safety and Bike Lanes City of Houston"
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“Dozens of stories bombard us every week about how we humans are haplessly warming the planet. This is why I came to the meeting today. I am a grandmother and I want a safe future for my grandson.” houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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Texas Railroad Commission fights to block rail safety bill following Ohio crash houstonchronicle.com/busines… via @houstonchron
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After board OK, @METROHouston is paying workers $150-per-week bonuses for service during COVID houstonchronicle.com/news/tr…
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I-45 certainly has safety issues, no dispute, but these fraud studies need to stop. It is the “nation’s deadliest highway” or whatever they call it because it’s the freeway that links two huge areas and is <300 miles long. It’s like calling NYC the marriage capital of U.S.
Actually a strong safety argument for the 45N NHHIP.... @DugBegley Houston stretch of highway named most deadly in the U.S. by new report houston.culturemap.com/news/… via @culturemap
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UPDATED WITH MORE WORDS: Massive I-45 Houston project heads back to public comment phase during pause. One interesting fact, so far TxDOT has spent $503M (Yes, $503,000,000) so far. @TxDOTHouston @TxDOT @StopTxDotI45 @airallianceHOU @LINK_Houston houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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I guess if you don’t wear a mask this thing will visit you... like the Krampus of facial covering.
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“Houston has always been a car city.”
People getting in and off a bus in downtown Houston, 1943. There are so many fantastic details here. Check out the boy with the striped shirt and the trombone case. The older men in their hats. The buildings, the composition ---- exquisite. John Vachon took this photo.
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Oh happiest and joyous of days. The M-K-T bridge that connects north and south parts of the trail is opening tomorrow. @houparksboard & others have 10:30 am event planned. This is not a drill. @BikeHouston @AbbieKamin @JacksonLeeTX18
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And so it begins…
First bid for @TxDOTHouston I-45 rebuild project opened, comes in $20M above estimates houstonchronicle.com/news/ho… via @houstonchron
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Efforts underway to mark major Houston bikeway in honor of late planning head Pat Walsh houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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My sympathies to whomever is currently running the @HoustonChron rolling COVID story.
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Congratulations @michael_ulf and @allysmither for the A+ photobomb of one of the @METROHouston shots from @SecretaryPete visit.
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Updated @METROHouston piece about UBRT w/ comments from @GilbertGarciatx
"Why have we only recently realized these financial challenges? Avoiding a formal board vote & engaging in a com tour after the fact is both inappropriate and woefully inadequate." houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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