Extra crisis volunteers required

Is the Super Bowl actually the worst day of the year? It's domestic violence's biggest event day too

For some, Super Bowl XLVII festivities will be filled with fun and games, trash talking and commercial watching and unapologetic junk food snacking — but for others, it will be a time of personal struggle.

Brenda Fitch, director of training for Crisis Intervention of Houston, says that all major holidays are typically busy for the confidential, anonymous help hotline, but the NFL's title game (a semi-holiday by American standards) is easily the busiest.

The atmosphere surrounding the big game, Fitch explains, tends to create "a perfect storm" of drug and alcohol abuse, depression and loneliness.

"We see a noted volume on Super Bowl Sunday and the following week," she says — enough that they have to bring in extra volunteers to man the phone lines.

The atmosphere surrounding the big game, Fitch explains, tends to create "a perfect storm" of drug and alcohol abuse, depression and loneliness, financial issues and gambling that all to frequently leads to increased suicidal thoughts and domestic violence.

Keep an eye on family and friends for signs of ideation, substance abuse, purposelessness, anxiety, hopelessness, withdrawal, anger, recklessness and mood change, indications that might point to suicidality.

If you or someone you know needs help, call 713-HOTLINE.

For some, Super Bowl Sunday is a time of personal struggle.

Super Bowl, football game, crowd, fans, stadium

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kristi Machado

For some, Super Bowl Sunday is a time of personal struggle.

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Get Rodeo ready

Virtual races and a new rollercoaster debut at RodeoHouston for 2025

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is less than two weeks away. Here are four new things added to the festivities this year that Houstonians won't want to miss.

AGVENTURE Park
Bees are an incredibly important part of the environment, and concerns about declining bee populations has led to an explosion in beekeeping as a hobby. In the past five years, America has added a million new bee colonies, mostly through people taking up beekeeping.

Agventure Park, presented by Oxy, is the Rodeo's new soil and bee exhibit. Both children and adults can interact with education stations to see the essential role of bees in agriculture. Visitors can plant sunflowers, live chat with experts, and learn everything they need to start their own hives at home.

Virtual Welding and Chuck Wagon
Virtual reality has come a long way in the last two decades. Even the Houston Museum of Natural Science rarely launches a new exhibit without some kind of VR attraction. The Rodeo is no different.

This year, visitors can get in the saddle for a virtual chuck wagon race, driving horses around a virtual dirt field in one of the Rodeo's most beloved competitions. Presented by Verizon, the event is completely free to try and a thrilling educational tool for understanding this part of the pioneer era.

If something more technical is your speed, there is also a VR welding experience that offers the experience of welding with none of the danger. Both exhibits are in Hall C of NRG Center.

Heidi Rollercoaster
A new ride at the carnival weds the German heritage of Texas with the thrill of a rollercoaster. Heidi is a high-speeding spinning coaster that rotates riders as they zip through over a thousand feet of track more than four stories in the air. It's an Octoberfest on wheel for those in the mood for a wild ride.

Nor is it the only new ride at the carnival. Overdrive is a new spinning ride that uses movie-level FX to heighten the experience. There is also a family-friendly Dragon coaster for the kids too small for the bigger rides.

Decadent Desserts
The Rodeo is one of the biggest food events of the Houston social calendar, offering chances to try new street cuisine and experimental vittles. This year, be sure to check out two new food stalls centered around desserts.

Strawberry cups have been a viral TikTok trend that's drawing people to wait hours in line in cities such as London and Dubai. These are strawberries drizzled in a variety of gourmet chocolates and served, obviously, in a cup. Candy Factory will bring the trend to the Rodeo Midway.

The other go-to sweet spot is Totally Baked Cookie Joint. Despite its name, its actually a refreshing ice cream stand where fresh scoops are topped with oatmeal cookie crumbles. Just another new experience for the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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