Gail Delaughter

2 months ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Gail Delaughter |Gabrielle Dawkins

Galveston is bracing for big crowds – and races for parking spaces – as its annual Mardi Gras festivities start Friday. More than 20 parades and other events are scheduled for the next two weekends as well as Fat Tuesday on March 4. Total attendance is expected to exceed 350,000, according to Mary Beth Bassett, a spokesperson for Visit Galveston. This year marks the 114th Mardi Gras event in Galveston, which typically holds one of the nation's largest celebrations.

May 3, 2024 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Gail Delaughter

VideoWARNING: expletive in videoA police dashboard camera shows what happened a year and a half ago when a woman driving a stolen Harris County Constable’s vehicle slammed into the back of a car during a police pursuit on I-10 near North Wayside. A lawsuit filed in federal court contends Houston police used civilian vehicles as a barricade on the blind side of an overpass. “The chase car reaches the apex, the peak of the overpass.

May 2, 2024 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Gail Delaughter

Plans for I-45 NorthIt’s been listed as one of the most congested freeways in Texas. Now TxDOT is seeking public input on how to prepare I-45 North for even more traffic in the future. Right now, TxDOT is gathering public comment on what’s known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project. The project includes I-45 North between Beltway 8 and downtown Houston, but it also includes nearby roadways such as the Hardy Toll Road, along with connections to I-10 and U.S. 59.

May 2, 2024 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Gail Delaughter

Houston Firefighter Albert Bennett shows a mass of tangled electrical cords plugged into a single outlet. Bennett says you see it in a lot of homes as folks string up colorful lights for the holidays. But Houston Fire Captain Ruy Lozano says if you’re not careful your Christmas could go up in smoke. “Our Christmas trees have lights. Then we want to put lights on the mantel. And the Christmas tree is close to the mantel so we utilize the same plug.

May 2, 2024 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Gail Delaughter

Houston Arts Alliance Folklife Director Pat Jasper says she was drawn to the project because she wanted to explore how people develop their identity around their occupation. With the help of a grant from the Library of Congress, Jasper launched the “Working the Port” project. She says the goal is to capture the voices of men and women who work in the diverse businesses that support the shipping industry.