Katy ISD is keeping things interesting with its latest move to ban several classic books. From A Clockwork Orange to Wicked (no, seriously), 14 of literature’s greatest hits have met the axe this school year. Whether it’s dystopian futures or the wild complexities of growing up, these books are getting sidelined, leaving everyone wondering what’s next in the district’s literary liquidation lineup.

In more school drama, a Conroe ISD first-grade teacher was shown the door after restricting restroom access as a punishment. Some kids were left sitting in their soiled clothes, so their parents weren’t about to let this one get flushed away. It’s safe to say this teacher’s days of holding onto the potty pass are over.

Senator Ted Cruz is not exactly thrilled by the online fan club that’s formed for Luigi Mangione, the guy alleged to have taken down former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. After Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald’s, some critics of big insurance celebrated his alleged actions, which Cruz slammed on X as "tragic & sick." Seems one man has sparked reactions across the country, even from one of the country’s most controversial figures.

A little Chihuahua had a ruff day at the Houston Botanic Garden on Black Friday. The pooch took a leap of faith and ended up stranded on a bridge. Luckily, heroic firefighters came to the rescue, diving into action to save the day. The dog's attempt to escape was a real nail-biter, but in the end, it was all pawsitive. Let's hope this little pup learns to stay on its leash and out of trouble next time!

More than 150 Katy residents found some common ground when they realized they were all ticketed by the same officer at a local intersection. The scene outside the courthouse was straight out of a sitcom, as TikTok captured a lineup of drivers comparing identical tales of stoplight struggles. This officer clearly takes his job very seriously.

The Houston Zoo has a fresh face waddling in—Akobi, a 477-pound pygmy hippo, now calls our city home. With a fitting name that means “firstborn” in Yoruba, he’s settling into his new Texas digs as the only pygmy in H-Town. Though the hippo world’s latest celeb, Moo Deng, has gone viral these past couple months, Akobi might just steal the spotlight.

Looks like smooth sailing hit a snag when a fire on the Regal Princess cruise ship forced vacationers to be port-locked for a week. Many who had booked a Caribbean getaway had to cancel their trip while remaining high and dry in Galveston. So much for a tropical vacay.

In Texas, homecoming isn’t just a dance—it’s practically an extreme sport of flower power. Houston teens and parents are dropping serious cash on the oversized and bedazzled mums, with some families spending well over $1,000 for a memorable senior year splash. Oh, to be young and excited.

Houston’s olive oil aficionados are in a slippery situation after some crafty thieves made off with 200,000 bottles of the good stuff, leaving the business community a bit shaken. The oil-loving scoundrels lined their pockets (and, perhaps, their salads) with a $2.5 million stash of organic olive oil, straight from a local warehouse. Who knew organic oil was that valuable?

A smuggler tried to roll into Houston through IAH with 26 pounds of cocaine cleverly tucked into an electric wheelchair. They were swiftly caught after customs agents noticed the seat cushions were a little too cushy, ensuring $850,000 worth of the illegal substance does not hit the streets. But, really, what a plan!

Turns out Texans quarterback C. J. Stroud’s touchdown pass against the Jaguars was a matter of divine intervention—or at least some well-timed spiritual guidance. Stroud credited a sermon he heard the night before about pushing through the mud to reach the miracle. With 18 seconds on the clock, he channeled that gritty wisdom to pull off a game-winning touchdown and keep the Texans atop the AFC South.

Houston’s water is currently giving residents a taste of the outdoors, and not in a good way. A musty, earthy flavor has been invading taps because of what Houston Public Works calls “naturally occurring compounds.” The city’s solution? Just add some lemon. People shouldn’t have to turn their kitchens into makeshift cocktail bars to make their water more palatable, but this is Houston, after all.

Katy ISD is back at it, now eyeing a ban on books in elementary and junior high schools that dare to flirt with the idea of gender fluidity. Last year the district rolled out a bathroom and locker room policy that’s still under federal investigation. Seems the school board’s sequel to such a hot-button issue continues to stir the pot in this fast-growing Houston suburb.

A Texas woman got spooked in more ways than one when her ghost tour guide actually ghosted her. After booking a spooooky Galveston tour through a third-party website, she and her friend found themselves on an eerie adventure with no guide in sight. When she shared her tale online, other ghoulish experiences were unearthed. Some folks claimed to see guides vanish into thin air, while others had been led by some who seemed more lost than the spirits they sought.

The Houston Texans recently pulled off a nail-biting win. Coach DeMeco Ryans fired up his receivers, who gave him the “we’ve got this” nod. Sure enough, C. J. Stroud launched a perfect pass to Nico Collins, who snagged it just in time. In a heartwarming moment, Ryans ecstatically celebrated with a headset toss on the sidelines like a kid in a candy store.

Houston’s got a bright idea—just the wrong kind of light. We’ve unofficially become the laser-pointer capital of Texas. The FAA is not amused, and neither are pilots suddenly blinded by bright green beams with the 266 incidents of locals pointing laser objects at the sky. Please stop, people.

Watch out, Houston, there's a new star in town! Woodlands board member Richard Franks might just be the ultimate multitasker—a political powerhouse by day and a singing sensation by night. The township trustee has made the theater his second office performing in plays like South Pacific and even moonlighting as the Phantom (of The Opera fame) at executive events. Talk about hidden talents.

Simone Biles just cartwheeled all over Trump’s weird “Black jobs” comment with a gold-medal-level clapback. After dominating at the Olympics (again), the GOAT of gymnastics took a break from flipping through the air to address the former president’s controversial statements. After snagging her sixth gold in Paris, she joked on X about her “Black job” while rocking some serious bling—seriously, an actual diamond-encrusted goat necklace. You just gotta love our hometown hero.

Houston's hip-hop legend and burger mogul, Bun B, has thrown down the meat mallet in the great Southern food smackdown. He says that while Atlanta might have the fancy-pantsy joints, the food, unfortunately, lacks soul. Let’s be real: the rapper told no lies. With Michelin guides expanding to Texas and TikTok foodies like Keith Lee making pilgrimages to the Bayou City, it’s clear H-Town’s food scene is where the real flavor’s at. The Southern culinary wars of 2024 could turn spicy, but we’re just here for the tea.

Houston went from lit to lit-erally dark after Hurricane Beryl and people were, well, quite cranky. While CenterPoint Energy claimed to be working as fast as it could, the AC-less people were not having it—which is understandable, since Houston was hotter than habanero hot sauce. Not only was the power company getting roasted online, a new graffiti with the word “CenterPointLess” found its way onto a wall under I-10. Guess Houstonians really told ’em, huh.

Beryl’s blackout in Houston had people scrambling for answers, but who knew the hero would be…Whataburger? Turns out the fast-food chain’s app became a surprise power outage map—bright orange lights over a location meant you were good to go. We bet that didn’t help the drive-through lines, though.

Houston restaurants got served...darkness, that is, thanks to Hurricane Beryl. Now, lawsuit-loving lawyer Tony Buzbee has rounded up more than 100 restaurant owners who are feeling burnt out by the blackout and is hoping to hit CenterPoint where it hurts: its wallet. Could this class action lawsuit be the only way to get the power company to get its act together before the next storm rolls through?

The hurricane may have left, but the party’s just getting started for a whole new bunch of uninvited guests—mosquitoes! Thanks to all the leftover puddles, these tiny vampires are multiplying faster than you can swat them. The bloodsuckers are everywhere and disease-carrying, so before you head outside, remember to suit up and spray down like you’re embarking into a rainforest.

Mont Belvieu’s animal control Department got a real jawbreaker of a case when a monstrous, 12-foot alligator found itself stuck in a ditch. To wrap up the situation in a snap, Houston Public Works brought in a grapple truck to lift the jaw-some reptile into the vehicle, all while it was chilling in a cylinder. Thankfully, the poor “little” guy will be back home in the bayou soon.

In a twist more jarring than a pop quiz, Fort Bend ISD abruptly valedictorian-swapped at two high schools. A Marshall’s High School valedictorian now finds herself ranked no. 48 at Elkins—where she’s never even set foot. The policy mandated students be ranked at their zoned schools even if they attended others, to dissuade perceived grade-grubbing antics. Forget senioritis, these graduates are rightfully rage-filled.

A feral 37-cat colony decided to shop till they drop near First Colony Mall. These furry squatters even turned the food court into their personal buffet line—the catalyst for a purr-gressive new program to trap, neuter, and vaccinate more felines citywide. But Sugar Land needs more volunteers to help wrangle these feline residents. So, if you’re looking to lend a paw, don’t be a scaredy cat—sign up to be a community cat caretaker.

Tomball High School seniors glazed over the typical end-of-year prank and decided to do a good deed instead. They ditched the stale hijinks of the past and raised a ton of dough for Champion Donuts, their favorite breakfast spot. The owners were surprised when the students rolled up with a giant check to help them through the summer slump. Kudos to these seniors who are leaving a sweet legacy of giving back to the community.

A local beachcombing virtuoso picked up a bright yellow container hidden in the dunes at Bolivar Peninsula thinking it was an old kitchen canister. After a closer look, she realized it was an urn, possibly containing ashes. Despite the initial shell shock, the Houstonian is now on a mission to reunite this vessel with its rightful owner.

A League City resident reeled in a whopper of a surprise: a catfish cruising down Main Street. The slippery fellow was found chillin’ by the gutter, far from its usual aquatic quarters. Thankfully, Public Works scooped up the surprisingly resilient fish before it ended up flattened into street sushi.

Queen Bey’s mama and a horde of other locals came to Galveston’s defense after one Charles Barkley threw some shade on its not-so-crystal-clear waters. Even though the former athlete backtracked with an apology, the whole thing turned into a splashy social media debate—is the water dirty or misunderstood? Don’t worry, things have been cleared up; we now know the brown hue is more nutrient-rich than ick factor and perfectly safe for swimming, thank you very much.

Houstonians had high hopes for the 2024 solar eclipse, but Mother Nature had other plans. While lucky Texans in other cities got a glimpse of the sun’s grand disappearance, Houstonians were left staring at the clouds, which kept the big reveal under wraps. Local social media feeds were stormed with an array of posts about the less-than-spectacular cosmic event. At least NASA live streamed it.

Turkey Leg Hut seems to have hit a bit of a wing snag as owner Nakia Holmes filed for bankruptcy in March. This comes after a rough patch for the restaurant, including a fire and a very public squabble with her ex-husband and former co-owner, Lynn Price. Despite the recent feather-ruffling, the local staple is still serving its famous leggy meals.

A posh River Oaks condo complex has a peculiar luxury perk—a swimming pool shaped in a manner that leaves little to the imagination. Some say it was a salty contractor’s revenge, while others claim it’s simply a product of the architect’s wild creativity. Whatever the reason, one thing’s for sure: it’s bound to make a splash... literally!

A new purr-dise has opened its doors in Katy Asian Town. Cat Haven Lounge lets visitors mingle with rescue cats while enjoying the cozy atmosphere and free Wi-Fi. This new venture aims to tackle cat overpopulation by pairing adorable adoptables with eager pet seekers. It’s a win-win for everyone.

A local car dealership’s marketing strategy ​​just shifted gears into high pun drive. Central Nissan Houston’s TikToks show hilarious (but hopefully fake) injuries that magically transform into car sales pitches. From mishaps on gurneys to motorcyclists meeting their match with potholes, each calamity seamlessly transitions into a pitch for a brand-new Nissan. Seems the dealership’s comedic approach is steering them toward success.

The suburban streets of Katy witnessed an unexpected ensemble of celebrity voters, including Drake, 50 Cent, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, and The Game, all harmoniously registered to a single modest beige house, a Houston Chronicle investigation found. Though the homeowners were baffled by the A-list registrations, it was likely orchestrated by an unknown prankster armed only with legal names and birthdates. Despite the Hollywood hoopla, none of the artists cast ballots, leaving the prank more like a chart-topping flop.

It’s no longer a walk in the park for residents of the Heathwood neighborhood in the Memorial area. Locals walk their dogs with caution, fearing not muggers or miscreants but rather the colorful menace of peacocks lurking in their midst. From vandalizing property to frightening children, these feathered fiends have been causing havoc while continually multiplying. Best of luck to those poor residents.

There’s a big fight brewing on Montrose Boulevard as residents are mad about a plan to fix up the sidewalks and drainage, which would mean chopping down some old trees. Locals staged a crafty protest, wrapping mature live oak trees in “yarn graffiti” to save them from removal. The knotty dispute still has neighbors divided over whether to embrace change or preserve the neighborhood’s quirky charm.

Houstonians shelled out patience along with a few bucks for chargrilled oysters over the weekend, enduring lines longer than a Texas highway during rush hour. Strategically located across from Turkey Leg Hut, a pop-up sizzled with drama as Lynn Price, freshly booted from his previous gig as the Third Ward staple’s cofounder, showcased unique creations that caused a weekend frenzy. Some customers were left wondering if Price was trying to stir the pot with his new venture, right next door to his former business partner—and ex-wife. A few days later, the Turkey Leg Hut office caught fire.

In a quirky quest to curb speeding along Chimney Rock Road, Houston resident Mark Gardner has turned his front yard into a makeshift speed trap, armed with a radar gun and a Wi-Fi-enabled dashcam on a wooden stand. He created the DIY speed zone to document the daredevils breezing through his neighborhood at alarming speed, uploading the edited footage to YouTube. Seems Gardner is going the extra mile to put the brakes on reckless driving.

In a tale—or should we say, tail?—of automotive chaos, a dealership in the Cypress area faced a ruff situation when two stray dogs went on a car-shredding spree, leaving behind a hefty bill of over $350,000 in damages. With the adorable canine culprits now in custody, the dealership crew looks forward to a future where the only scratches are on paperwork, not cars.

Talk about a leaky defense! The Houston weather decided to join the pre-game festivities at NRG Stadium before the National Championship game between Michigan and Washington in January, causing quite a splash as rain leaked into the arena. Tornado warnings added a twist to the already eventful day, with some joking that even the weather was throwing a few twists into the storyline. Despite the watery chaos, Michigan managed to win the game with a 21-point lead.

Love is in the air, but so are warrants in Brazoria County. In a not-so-heartwarming move, the local constable’s office is playing cupid with a Valentine’s Day special for those with outstanding warrants. They’re offering a “Wednesday Night Special” complete with what the constable is calling “a fun ride in a fancy car (with lights!),” a stay in “luxurious accommodations,” plus a “fancy set of bracelets”—we’re curious who will be falling for that.

In an act against the ban on cellphones at HISD’s Madison High School, students staged a call-to-action by walking out several days in early February. They were united in their quest for a more comprehensive solution to the underlying issues with superintendent Mike Miles’s new policies, determined to ring in change and not let their concerns be put on hold. The clash left the school caught in a communication breakdown with no immediate resolution in sight.

Upscale living turns into condo chaos in a posh Galleria townhouse haven as residents report wild sex parties and violence at an Airbnb. The short-term lease property has led to neighbors dealing with filth, blocked driveways, gun-toting weed smokers, and even balcony bonanzas in the form of Monday morning balcony sexcapades.

This one took us roaring down memory lane: In spring 2021, a 9-month-old mischievous Bengal tiger named India took a casual stroll down a residential Houston street, causing a wild uproar and triggering a regionwide search. The big cat’s story had a paw-sitively wild twist: he was owned by a murder suspect. Sadly we reached the tail end of India’s journey in December 2023, as he passed away at a wildlife sanctuary in north Texas. One thing is certain: the once-roaming tiger definitely left an unforgettable paw mark on Houston.

Preparing to wrap up 2023, Houston officials fired up a plea: Please, for the love of God, don’t shoot your celebration into the air. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner warned against trigger-happy antics, with officers, marked and unmarked, ready to rain on the parade. From what we heard, it appeared not all Houstonians followed these guidelines, but let’s hope for a bulletproof 2024.

Houston leaders found themselves in the dark as Greyhound’s plan to close its downtown hub and relocate to a smaller terminal in the East End blindsided them. The transportation company’s covert move, lacking city approval, irked officials, who deemed Greyhound “bad neighbors.” Wonder if travelers knew about the abrupt change or were just ghosted?