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I-45 expansion project given federal go-ahead By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A highway expansion project that officials say is aimed at mitigating flooding and its aftereffects in Houston has been given the go-ahead by the Federal Highway Administration. On Tuesday, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Texas Department of Transportation announced that they have signed a Voluntary Resolu-
tion Act, putting an official end to the FHWA Title VI investigation of the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) and lifting its hold on the project. Since late 2021, the FWHA has been investigating environmental and civil rights concerns raised by impacted residents who live along the proposed project route and local elected officials. With Tuesday’s agreement, the pause on the project has been lifted, and TxDOT can
move forward with design and construction of the $9 billion project.
“This agreement moves forward an important project, responds to community concerns, and improves the North Houston Highway Improvement Project in ways that will make a real difference in people’s lives,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “Through this agreement the community will have a greater voice in the design and throughout the project’s life cycle.” The project calls for the displacement of at least
Eye on the prize
1,000 residents and businesses in communities such as Acres Homes, Independence Heights and Northside, with opponents of the project, saying they also expect the planned I-45 expansion to exacerbate flooding risks and traffic congestion. Joetta Stevenson with an organization called Stop TXDOT I-45 said the organization is “disappointed” with the agreement. See I-45 P. 4
Local officials rally against takeover of HISD By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Heart health Check out some tips on how to keep your heart health at the forefront
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On a roll The Heights and Waltrip softball teams are strong early on. Read more in our weekly recap inside
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Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Booker T. Washington point guard Andre Walker II looks to pass during the second quarter of a Region III-4A semifinal against Center at Bryan quarter on March 3. The Eagles defeated Silsbee in the final on March 4 to reach their first state tournament.
Booker T. Washington exacts regional revenge, setting sights on state ring By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Boredom breeds passion In this week’s Art Valet, read about how artist Robin Whalan found her calling
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In the spirit Local watering holes are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, and more in this week’s Nibbles and Sips
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THE INDEX. Health.......................................5 Sports............................................................. 6 Classifieds.................................................. 7 Local Culture............................8
When the 2022-2023 campaign got underway, Booker T. Washington boys’ basketball coach Vincent Grayson said his team had one particular opponent in their crosshairs – the one that sent them home in last season’s Region III-4A final. So it seemed only right that they exacted a measure of revenge last weekend, and made program history in the process. The Eagles took down Silsbee 78-70 in the Region III-4A final last Saturday in Bryan, punching their ticket to the program’s first UIL state tournament. Booker T. Washington (29-7) will square off with Boerne (32-5) in a Class 4A state semifinal at 3 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio And while there might be several schools of thought on how to use a previous season’s result in a team’s mindset, Grayson said he and his team were locked in on the ones who ended their season last year.
Photo from Twitter The Booker T. Washington Eagles celebrate their Region III-4A title last Saturday.
“What happened last year really motivated my guys…We had Silsbee on our minds,” Grayson said Tuesday. “… That loss really motivated us to get back here. We wanted to play Silsbee.” But even though they have overcome that obstacle, Grayson knows his team still has their biggest mountain yet to scale and have now turned their eye to the state’s biggest prize.
Last week, Houston leaders and elected officials gathered at a press conference to rally against a potential takeover of Houston Independent School District by the Texas Education Agency. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner dropped the major announcement at last week’s city council meeting that a takeover of the state’s largest school district was “imminent.” But officials and elected leaders are calling the potential takeover “disingenuous” and “egregious.” “There was a time when HISD needed to be taken over – but not at this time, because the new board and the new superintendent are doing a phenomenal job,” said State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, who represents Acres Homes and parts of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest in District 139. Rumblings of a potential takeover began in 2019, when TEA Commissioner Mike Morath began efforts to replace the HISD board amidst allegations of board misconduct as well as nearly a decade of low academic performance at Wheatley High School. The district sued the TEA in 2020, and was granted an injunction by a Travis County judge – which was later upheld by an appeals court. However, this past January, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the agency and threw out the injunction – clearing the way for a potential takeover. “TEA continues to review the Supreme Court’s decision in order to determine next steps that best support the students, teachers, parents, and school community of the Houston Independent School District,” the TEA said in a released statement. Houston mayor Sylvester Turner claimed during the press conference that he spoke with Morath, and See Takeover P. 2
“There’s a lot going on right now, but we’ve got to stay focused because the job isn’t finished yet,” he said. “We’ve got to complete this thing.” Six players on this season’s team were in the arena when the Eagles fell in last year’s regional final to the Tigers. So that pain was fresh when the team hit the court this season, See Eagles P. 4
HHA looking for constable patrol program signups By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Houston Heights Association is looking for more households to sign up for its Constable Patrol Program, for which enrollment just opened in February, as the organization looks to renew its contract for the upcoming year. HHA’s Constable Program is a supplemental police force of currently four deputies hired to patrol the greater Heights
area, according to the organization. There are currently 629 subscribers who have signed up, according to Heights Constable Patrol Committee Chair Tera Starr, down from 1,069 last year and 1,347 people in 2019 immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic. Starr said the program needs 1175 subscribers this year if the neighborhood want to keep the current coverage “We need to increase participation if we want this program to stay in our neigh-
borhood,” Starr said. “… We need a big push from the community to keep this service stay in our neighborhood.” If they are members of the Constable Patrol Program, Star said homeowners will have faster response times from patrolling constable deputies as opposed to waiting for HPD as well as alarm monitoring, free home security inspections, vacation watches, and more once they sign up. Businesses can also sign up for the program, according to Starr.
Having the program, Starr said, can be a boon to the neighborhood in several ways. In addition to deterring crime, she said even the fact that community members know their house is being watched by a trusted deputy can be a huge peace of mind and lift weight off their shoulders. “Those that understand the importance have used the number and understand why it is important to them and their family or business,” she said. “… If See Patrol P. 2
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