My Big Smelly Day

Corpse flower Lois has some Chelsea Clinton in her: Meet the incredible weddingdestroying duo

Chelsea Clinton might be even more disruptive to wedding than ...
Houston's infamously waffling corpse flower.
Photo by Rachel Hanley
Emn Haddad-Friedman and Alex Bero are getting married on July 31, near thereported wedding site of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky.
While two couples will be getting married in the butterfly center this weekendwithin sniffing range of Lois.

The Lois-crazed Houston Museum of Natural Science's Cockrell Butterfly Center has not one, but two weddings slated for this weekend — one Saturday, one Sunday.

Jessica Zabala and John Smith, the Katy couple set to wed on Saturday at 8 p.m., booked the Cockrell a year ago, before anyone was aware Lois even existed (she was but a bulb in a garage greenhouse adjacent to the museum).

The museum's open 24-hours-a-day policy as it waits (and waits and waits) for the corpse flower to hit full bloom isn't the problem — HMNS has stated it will close to honor both bookings, from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday — it's that Lois is within sniffing distance of the couple's ceremony. Zabala, who spoke to KHOU about her unlikely predicament, has been more laidback about her wedding ordeal (she joked that she and her husband-to-be might name their first child Lois) than some people.

Poor Emn Haddad-Friedman, a bride set to wed the same weekend in the same area as Chelsea Clinton, has the Secret Service to contend with.

Tell us, which do you think is worse? Would you rather have your guests patted down and roughed up by men in black, or washing stank out of their blazers for weeks?

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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.

rodeohouston houston livestock show and rodeo