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    Spelling Bee Winners

    Two Texas teens are headed to National Spelling Bee after big Houston win

    Clifford Pugh
    Apr 3, 2016 | 10:35 am
    Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, Connie Hill, Lisa Shumate,Nihar Janga,Shourav Dasari, Ernie Manouse, Capella Tucker
    Nihar Janga and Shourav Dasari, both holding trophies, celebrate with Connie Hill, Lisa Schumate, Ernie Manouse and Capella Tucker.
    Photo by Craig Hartley

    Two Texas teens are headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., after being declared co-champions at the 2016 Houston Public Media Spelling Bee held Saturday.

    Shourav Dasari, a Spring resident and seventh grader at McCullough Jr. High in Conroe ISD, and Nihar Janga, an Austin resident and fifth grader at River Ridge Elementary in Leander ISD, bested the competition in the 14-round event that included 53 total spellers from 42 Texas counties.

    Dasari correctly spelled “Guaguanche” (a Caribbean-area barracuda) while Janga got “snotziekte” (a cattle disease) right in the contest, which spanned four hours and was broadcast live on Houston Public Media TV 8 and streamed online.

    Dasari tied for third place in the 2014 Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, the nation's second largest local spelling bee, and Janga came in third place in 2015.

    They will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 22-27 — known as "Bee Week" — in the nation's capital. The 89th national bee offers prizes worth more than $30,000 and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

    city-news-roundup
    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    The quest for the best Topo Chico replacement and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Apr 25, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Tastemaker Awards 2018 Topo Chico bottles hydration station
    Photo by Emily Jaschke
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    Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from a suitable Topo Chico substitute to big burger news. Read on for our most popular stories, then visit this guide for more weekend fun.

    1. The quest for a Topo Chico replacement — we rate 9 sparkling waters. Topo Chico drinkers nationwide are in a bit of a tizzy. Coca-Cola, which acquired the cult-favorite sparkling mineral water in 2017, announced that the product will be unavailable for at least the next few months. The shortage brings an obvious question. What should a person drink until the supply is restored?

    2. Houston's most customizable burger joint is coming to the Heights in May. One of Houston’s best burger joints will soon open a second location. Burger Chan is coming to the Heights.

    3. 14 Walmart stores across Greater Houston to get complete makeovers. Mega-retailer Walmart is executing a new round of store remodels at 72 locations across Texas — including 14 across the Houston area. It's part of an ongoing effort to modernize the in-store and digital shopping experience.

    4. Dino-sized Texas state park declared No. 5 best for families in 2026. Camping trips are core memory makers for children, and Dinosaur Valley State Park in North Texas has emerged as one of the top five best places to camp with kids in 2026.

    Dinosaur Valley State Park Dinosaur Valley State Park. ttpwd.texas.gov/

    5. Houston firm creates an eco-friendly escape on historic Texas tract. Frankel Design Build’s Gates Crossing development offers 40 premium ranch sites surrounding a 600-acre private game reserve.

    andersonhot-headlines
    news/city-life
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