Change is good

Where's the Map? Take a look at CultureMap's new look

Notice anything different?

Today is a new day at CultureMap as we unveil our new look and a new home page. We hope you take a few extra minutes to check it out.

We think it's much more dynamic, with a rotating carousel of stories, more editor's picks, a daily sampling of the most popular stories and featured columnists, and a more accessible guide to what's inside.

You'll still find all of our culturally relevant news and features, along with our extensive events listings and city guide of more than 500 of the best places to dine, drink and shop — only now they are in an easier-to-locate format.

About now, we realize some loyal readers might be wondering: Where's the map?

The large map of Houston that occupied the top third of the home page is gone. Many of you told us it took up too much space and you'd prefer more content in its place.

So we streamlined the look, filling that space with a lot more news and information.

The map is still an important part of the site, since virtually every news story, event listing and city guide location will continue to have one. And events and city guide listings will continue to highlight suggestions on nearby places to catch a bit to eat or drink, along with places to shop or spend the night.

As you scroll down the page, you'll discover we've added two new categories: Sports and Home/Design. These are categories we have covered extensively in recent months; now they are grouped in an easy-to-find location on the bottom portion of the home page and added to our global navigation at the top of the site. We've also highlighted some best bets around town in a highlighted box.

Midway down the home page, on the far right, look for the words CONTACT US and click on Feedback & Suggestions to let us know what you think.

Our new redesign is far from the final product — we are putting the finishing touches on several new features that will roll out in the coming weeks. And, we will continue to come up with new ideas, refine established features, and act on your suggestions so that CultureMap will continue to be your indispensable real-time source of information and insight.

We won't stop trying.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

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

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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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.”

Change is good

Where's the Map? Take a look at CultureMap's new look

Thanks, Queen Bey

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

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