Getting close with a death odor

This stink is on: Corpse flower Lois lets her odor loose as Zac Stayton saysfull bloom within 24 hours

Lois this a.m. (Thursday)
Photo by Rachel Hanley
Lois on Wednesday
Zac Stayton watering Lois
Photo by Rachel Hanley
As the news spread that Lois was close Wednesday afternoon, the line ballooned.
Photo by Rachel Hanley
It's every corpse flower watcher for themselves.
Photo by Rachel Hanley

The wait for corpse flower Lois' stinky stank is over and Houston Museum of Natural Science horticulturist Zac Stayton says that the infamously waffling rare flower will fully bloom within "24 hours."

CultureMap's reporter on the scene, Rachel Hanley, describes the odor as more rotting fish than rotting flesh at the moment, but either way it's quickly becoming a powerful smell. KTRK Channel 13 has handed out masks to its on-site crew and museum staffers are equally prepared. Many visitors are embracing the smell though, trying to get into the best position possible to get the most odor for their buck (or $8 admission fee in this case).

The tiny hallway room that Lois is crammed into is packed, but the line to get into HMNS itself isn't very long. The museum abruptly switched back to being open 24 hours a day last night (which was first reported by CultureMap), scrapping a planned midnight closing, in the wake of the corpse flower's progress and it will stay open all the time now past the complete bloom.

The corpse flower still hasn't come close to completely opening though and now the pressure isn't just on Lois. In some ways, Stayton has put it on himself by declaring the flower will fully bloom within the next 24 hours.

Update, 3:51 p.m.: News on this corpse flower travels fast ... The line is stretching the entire length of the HMNS' long lobby and then some.

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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