Locked and loaded

Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck & Hannity are all speeding toward Houston — with guns: NRA Convention to be Fox News heaven

The 142nd National Rifle Association Annual Meeting is roaring into Houston for four days of seminars, rallies, prayer breakfasts and country music jam sessions, starting Thursday.

The speaker lineup would make any Fox News junkie's heart skip a beat with appearances by conservative politicos and pundits ranging from to Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Hell, even Oliver North of Iran-Contra fame will be on hand to sign copies of his new novel.

And yes, don't worry . . . The Nuge will be there in all his Cat Scratch Fever glory for a scheduled talk on Sunday. Additional celebrity appearances (including WWE legend Steve Austin) will take place throughout the weekend on the showroom floor, where convention organizers promise a full nine acres of guns and gear.

If speeches and celebs aren't your thing, there's always the family-friendly air rifle range or the famous NRA Wall of Guns. Here's a quick look at the highlights.

THURSDAY

2 to 6 p.m. — The NRA is offering free gun and gold appraisals to the public — a sort of Antiques Roadshow for the Second Amendment. [George R. Brown, free]

FRIDAY

10 a.m. — The seventh annual Women's Leadership Forum features conservative mega star and Fox News host Sean Hannity as its main keynote speaker. [River Oaks County Club, $200-$1000/sold out]

1 to 3 p.m. — The NRA Leadership Forum is sure to be the main event with speakers like Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Jeanine Pirro. [GRB, $10/sold out]

7:30 p.m. — North Texas' Eli Young Band headlines NRA Country Jam III with opening act Kevin Fowler. [GRB, $30]

SATURDAY

12:30 p.m. — Retired colonel and current FoxNews host Oliver North will sign his recent foray in fiction, Heroes Proved. [GRB, second floor]

3:30 p.m. — Meet Mr. Glenn Beck himself as he signs copies of his pro-gun book, Control. [GRB, second floor]

7:30 p.m. — Glenn Beck will be firing up a sold-out crowd at the Stand and Fight Rally, which the NRA calls its "most important event of the year." [GRB, overflow viewing room tickets are $15]

SUNDAY

7 a.m. — The annual Prayer Breakfast is an "opportunity to experience encouragement, fellowship and sharing with your NRA family," according to the Annual Meeting website. Noted pastor-sportsman Bob Reccord will provide the keynote speech while Christian performance artist Brian Keith Daniel will paint a canvas onstage to music. [Hilton Americas, $35]

9:30 a.m. — Ted Nugent will greet fans and sign copies of his new manifesto Ted, White and Blue. [GRB, third floor]

Late — The Nuge is also scheduled to give a closing address for the Annual Meeting titled, "Freedom Is Not Free: Repaying Our Debt to Heroes." The speech is planned for Sunday, although a time is not yet listed. [GRB, tba]

Ted Nugent

TheOutdoorWire.com

Ted Nugent

unspecified

deals for dogs

Houston Humane Society hosts 'name your price' adoption event

A mixed breed dog looks up at the camera at a Houston Humane Society facility.

Photo courtesy of Houston Humane Society

Hello. My name is Stitch.

Houstonians looking to bring home a new dog or cat this month have a chance to do so at a steep discount. The Houston Humane Society is hosting a "name your price" adoption event throughout June.

"Love has no price tag, and neither should the joy of having a pet," the Houston Humane Society said in a statement.

Adoptions usually cost between $50 and $195. For the entire month, all adoptions of dogs and cats one year or older will be purely pay what you can. Puppies and kittens will remain the same price. Adoptions come with spay/neuter surgeries, microchipping, vaccinations, nail trims, and hair cleanings.

Texas has long had a significant homeless pet problem. The state ranks number one in terms of most animals killed in shelters annually, 35 percent higher than California, a state with 8 million more people. According to the Houston Humane Society, they are caring for over 500 animals at this time, 150 of which are currently available for adoption. These include 100 dogs, 46 cats, and six rabbits. Thirty-one of the animals are in long-term shelter housing, and the "name your price" event aims to reduce that population in particular.

While the event can be a boon for struggling families who want to bring home a furry friend on a small budget, the Houston Humane Society still needs donations and fees to operate. In 2024, they distributed over 800,000 pet meals to animals in need, as well as conducting more than 11,000 spay-neuter surgeries and providing veterinary services for over 28,000 animals. Houston Humane Society ultimately homes 2,500 animals last year.

For 67 years, the Houston Humane Society has been one of the leading forces in reducing the homeless pet population in the city. Regularly, they pair adoptions and community engagement with events around the city, including fun runs, chili cook-offs, and the Yappy Easter Event. It is the only regional shelter with low-cost veterinary services available to the public. For more information on the animals available for adoption and and the process of offering a forever home, visit the Houston Humane Society website.

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