Faith Bugenhagen

Houston

Articles

Leaked messages expose Texas A&M group's racist, transphobic chats

1 week ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

A former member of Texas A&M's chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative group, took to Reddit amid the conservative activist Charlie Kirk's planned visit to the university to expose racist, Islamophobic and transphobic messages within a text chain tied to the group. Sarah Pearce/Chron.comThousands of attendees packed Texas A&M University's Rudder Auditorium last week for an event hosted by conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA—a nonprofit organization founded by Kirk.
Texas lawmakers clash over cell phone use during heated committee hearing

2 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Texas Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) was scolded by Texas Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) for repeatedly picking up his phone during Wednesday's committee hearing. Texas Legislature State representatives Brian Harrison and Jeff Leach engaged in a heated standoff Wednesday morning about Harrison's apparent inability to stay off his phone during a Texas House committee meeting.
Houston mogul Tilman Fertitta heads to Italy as U.S. ambassador

2 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta will serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino. Getty ImagesHouston restaurant and hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta will officially serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm him Tuesday evening.
Southeast Texas launches first baby drop-off box in Houston area

2 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

The Safe Haven baby box is located at at The Woodlands Fire Station Six. Faith BugenhagenThe Woodlands unveiled the Houston area's first-ever Safe Haven baby box—a designated safe place where parents can anonymously surrender their babies without any questions from law enforcement officers. "We have to advance with technology. We have to advance with culture, and that's exactly what the box has done," said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. "These kids all [have] smartphones.
'Racist, hateful behavior': 12 Houston fire cadets terminated

2 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz confirmed that 12 cadets had been let go from the department after investigations into alleged racist and harmful behavior. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographerHouston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz confirmed that a dozen Houston Fire Department cadets were terminated after continuing to share racist memes despite receiving a warning to end the behavior.
Landmark $1 billion Texas school voucher bill heads to Gov. Abbott's desk

2 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

On Thursday, Texas senators approved Senate Bill 2, the latest voucher proposal, signifying a significant win for Gov. Greg Abbott's biggest legislative priority. Amanda McCoy/TNSTexas Senators, guided by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, voted to approve the Texas House-changed school voucher bill, teeing it up for what will likely be Gov. Greg Abbott's immediate signing of his number one legislative priority.
State Rep. tells constituents to stop complaining about school funding

3 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

State Rep. Wes Virdell (R-Brady) wrote that lawmakers should be learning not to move forward with any future public education funding proposals if constituents continue to complain that it's never enough in a now-deleted social media post. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-TelegramState Representative Wes Virdell (R-Brady) recently found himself at the center of controversy following a now-deleted tweet criticizing constituents for complaining about recent proposed increases in public education funding.
Texas school choice bill could become law next week

3 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is assisting with a final push to get Gov. Greg Abbott's legislative magnum opus across the finish line. Eric Gay, STF / Associated PressSchool vouchers are moving closer to being a done deal with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushing for lawmakers in the Texas Senate to approve the Texas House's plan to allocate taxpayer dollars to pay for private and parochial schooling.
Patrick to UT-Austin faculty: ‘Sayonara!’ after Texas bill passes

3 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick bid UT-Austin faculty a proactive adieu to celebrate Senate Bill 37's passage out of the Texas Senate. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagTexas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick celebrated the passage of a sweeping higher education bill this week by taking a direct swipe at University of Texas faculty.
Community group urges Houston Mayor not to reverse street redesign

4 weeks ago | chron.com | Faith Bugenhagen

Small business owners, community advocates and residents are rallying together to fight against Houston Mayor John Whitmire's proposal to reverse 11th Street's 2023 redesign. The coalition sent a letter last week—authored by Gerald Fuentes, an organizer of the "I Love 11th Street Neighborhood Festival"—urging Whitmire not to reverse the addition of protected bike lanes and lane reductions on 11th Street.