Up To Speed

Controversial Montrose apartment mega fire gets a second look — and other top stories you can't miss

Between a hilarious House of Cards plus Game of Thronesvideo spoof commercial and absurd accusations that President Barack Obama might be of the other and more fabulous persuasion, it's easy to understand why it's sometimes difficult to be in the know of what really matters to Houstonians.

In less that three minutes, the "Up To Speed" video series, sponsored by Cadillac, zooms through Houston's real top stories so you, too, can be an informed denizen living in the Bayou City.

We are certain that you will recognize this week's guest host as a sporty, fashionable gent who's otherwise kicking soccer balls around with the Houston Dynamo. Mike Chabala plays anchor for the first time in this edition of "Up To Speed" to reveal what Houstonians were talking about nonstop recently.

Among the stories that caught CultureMap readers' attention were the massive $50 million fire at the controversial Montrose apartments build right next to a graveyard, a new spot for food trucks in Midtown, Mayor Annise Parker's Houston celebration of her marriage to first lady Kathy Hubbard and the end of a yearly cowboy tradition that raises major bucks for charity.

Watch the video above but be sure to click on the links to each story below for full coverage.

Massive fire burns down a controversial Montrose apartment complex, engulfing the city in smoke and ash by Chris Baldwin and Eric Sandler
Midtown gets its own food truck park: Let the foodie party scene begin by Eric Sandler
Mayor Parker and spouse celebrate their marriage at gala reception with enthusiastic crowd by Shelby Hodge
Rodeo wrap-up: Record crowds, top entertainers and real cowpokes leave lots of memorable moments by Clifford Pugh

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Beyonce Super Bowl

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

undefined

Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”

Loading...