This Week's Hot Headlines

Chef pet peeves and Manziel's party-going girlfriend top 5 most popular stories this week

Editor’s note: Another week has come and gone, and there’s a lot we all probably missed. But we’re looking out for you. Here are the most popular stories on CultureMap from this past week:

1. Chef pet peeves: How diners annoy some of the best restaurants in Houston. Ever wondered if your dining habits are making you persona non grata at your favorite restaurants? Four of the city's top chefs talk about their biggest problems with diners, and you probably won't be surprised by what they say.

2. Johnny Manziel's party-time girlfriend under fire for setting bad example after his release from rehab. Colleen Crowley, the girlfriend of Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, who was recently leased from rehab, has received a great deal of criticism on social media for continuing to party hard, in spite of her boyfriend's circumstances.

3. Derailed? 205 MPH bullet train between Houston and Dallas in dire danger of being blocked by new bill. Plans for the $12 billion high-speed bullet train that would connect Houston and Dallas may be thwarted by a new bill proposed in the Texas Senate. The bill would strip high-speed rail line developers of eminent domain authority, ruining the plans Texas Central Railway has been working on since 2012.

4. Where to Eat Right Now: 10 (plus) hot new restaurants for April. From wood-fired Italian-style pizzas and delicious donuts to late-night ramen and traditional Texas-style barbeque, April's edition of Where to Eat Right Now promises to wow any Houston resident with stunning new eateries.

5. Popular Montrose bar ditches the food truck for a full-bore kitchen — and better food. Already known for their tasty pizzas and fries, Boheme has officially replaced its food truck kitchen setup with a brand new indoor kitchen. Two years in the making, the new kitchen allows for more complex dishes, higher volume and reduced wait times for diners.

Chefs say to give your food a try before you start requesting changes in the dish and adding way too much seasoning and additions.

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Artwork by Ralph Goings

Chefs say to give your food a try before you start requesting changes in the dish and adding way too much seasoning and additions.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana