A GOOD NEW CHARGES DRAMA

CATCH AGAINST TRUMP ‘CAMP’

New Texans tight end Updated indictment accuses ex-president, Ben Platt’s new film is
Schultz has produced. staffer of obstruction in Florida case. a love letter to theater.
PAGE B1 PAGE A4 PAGE C1

HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 • VOL. 122, NO. 288 • $3.00

HISD layoffs’ aftermath shakes HR

Reduced staff told to work weekends, forgo
vacations in push to fill teaching positions
By Anna Bauman
STA F F WRIT E R
After significant layoffs at
Houston ISD headquarters,
dozens of human resources em-
ployees are being asked to work
extra hours, including week-
ends, and to forgo making vaca-
tion plans, according to an email
shared with the Chronicle, as
the pressure mounts to resume
classes next month with mini-
mal open teaching jobs.
“As exempt employees, you
are expected to work extended
hours before and after your as-
signed work schedule, as need-
ed, to complete all work-related
tasks, assigned duties, and proj-
ects,” Wally de Covarrubia, an
executive director in the HISD
Office of Talent, wrote in an e-
mail sent at 9 p.m. Sunday to
several dozen employees. “All
team members are expected to
be available to assist in work
across HR departments, and
therefore must be flexible and
able to pivot to new assignments
at a moment’s notice.”
In the email, Covarrubia said
he appreciated patience and
flexibility from employees dur-
ing a “period of urgency” that is
expected to last into September.
Students return to classes Aug.
28, and teachers report to work
two weeks earlier.
“It is critical that the HR de-
partment works to meet the Su-
HISD continues on A8

Trial set
‘Era of global boiling in first of
has arrived’ 21 GOP
election
lawsuits
By Jen Rice
STAF F WRI TER

Republicans who have spent

A pedestrian carries an umbrella and a bottle of water as he tries to beat the heat on Thursday in Houston.
Scientists: Off-the-charts heat to make July the hottest month ever
By Seth Borenstein
A S S OC IAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — July has
been so hot thus far that scientists
calculate that this month will be
the hottest globally on record and
likely the warmest human civiliza-
tion has seen, even though there
are several days left to sweat
through.
The World Meteorological Or-
ganization and the European
Union’s Copernicus Climate
Change Service on Thursday pro-
claimed July’s heat is beyond re-
cord-smashing. They said Earth’s
Photos by Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
temperature has been temporarily
passing over a key warming
threshold: the internationally ac-
cepted goal of limiting global
warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7
degrees Fahrenheit).
Temperatures were 1.5 degrees
warmer than pre-industrial times
for a record 16 days this month, but
the Paris climate accord aims to
keep the 20- or 30-year global tem-
perature average to 1.5 degrees. A
few days of temporarily beating
that threshold have happened be-
fore, but never in July.
Construction workers toil near the Heights as July has been so off-the-charts
high temperatures near 100 degrees persist. July continues on A8
the past nine months question-
ing Harris County’s November
elections will have their day in
court Tuesday when the first of
21 lawsuits aimed at overturning
the results will go to trial.
GOP judicial candidate Erin
Lunceford lost to incumbent
189th District Judge Tamika
Craft by 2,743 votes — a 0.26 per-
cent margin, much narrower
than most of the contested races
in which some candidates
trailed the winners by up to
35,000 votes. The fate of the oth-
er 20 cases could depend on
whether Lunceford’s attorneys
are able to convince a judge that
a shortage of ballot paper on
Election Day, along with a myri-
ad of other alleged problems,
impacted enough votes that the
winner of the race is uncertain.
Judge David Peeples, a visit-
ing judge from San Antonio, is
overseeing the 21 Harris County
election contest lawsuits.
Attorneys representing can-
didates involved in the lawsuit
did not respond to requests for
an interview.
However, Andy Taylor, Lun-
ceford’s attorney, told the Hous-
ton Chronicle in April that he
was not depending solely on an
Election Day ballot paper short-
age to persuade the judge to
throw out the election results
for his client.
In fact, most of Taylor’s strat-
egy is now aimed at other voting
issues, according to First Assis-
tant County Attorney Jonathan
Fombonne, who represents
Harris County, which is not a
party to the lawsuit.
“What (Taylor) is trying to
prove is that there were a bunch
of illegally cast votes, mostly
Lawsuits continues on A6

SLB wins sex harassment suit that

put spotlight on women in oil field
By Amanda Drane
STA F F W RIT E R
An eight-person jury deliv-
ered its verdict Wednesday in a
sexual harassment lawsuit
brought by a former SLB em-
ployee, finding that Jessica
Cheatham failed to prove the oil
field service company allowed
the hostile behavior on its rigs
and retaliated against her for
complaining.
The Houston-based company
formerly known as Schlumberg-
er said it was pleased with the
verdict.
“While no industry is im-
mune to these issues,” the com-
pany said in a statement, “we
will continue to improve and
strengthen our processes, and
we wholeheartedly support and
stand behind anyone who has
been the victim of sexual ha-
rassment.”
The multimillion-dollar fed-
eral harassment suit heard over
eight days in U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of Tex-
as in Houston put a rare spot-
light on women working in the
oil field. Cheatham claimed her
experiences at SLB were repre-
sentative of systemic sexual ha-
rassment and assault that wom-
en endure while working for the
company on oil rigs.
Her attorney, Michael Palmer
of Sanford Heisler Sharp, said
he was disappointed with the
verdict.
“We continue to believe that Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer
Ms. Cheatham experienced gen- A jury found that engineer Jessica Cheatham did not prove
SLB continues on A8 former employer SLB allowed sexual harassment on its rigs.

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A2 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
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Documentary explores iconic slogan
By Ryan Nickerson
STA F F W RIT E R
One thing that stands out
about Houston to Iris Karami is
its “hustle culture.”
In her eyes, it’s the same hus-
tle culture that led to the “Be
Someone” artwork above Inter-
state 45 becoming an iconic
Houston symbol after it was
first created in 2012.
“In Houston, you can have an
idea and put your nose to the
ground and it will take off,” Ka-
rami said. “When I was a first-
generation college student … I
felt like I had a lot on my shoul-
ders. But when I saw that sign,
something in me lit up.”
Karami, a 26-year-old film-
maker and journalist from
Houston, isn’t the first person to
be inspired by the “Be Some-
one” mural, but she was one of
the first to make a documentary
about it in 2016, interviewing
the original artist. Now Karami
is preparing for the premiere of
her in-depth documentary on
the mural happening this Sun-
day and she hopes the film re-
flects the “Be Someone” mental-
ity that resonates with thou-
sands of people every day.
She produced her 2016 docu-
mentary on the mural as a
freshman in college and has
since completed other self-pro-
duced projects, including com-
munity stories during the CO-
VID-19 pandemic and the
George Floyd protests in 2020.
Karami would be the first per-
son to say she is a natural-born
storyteller.
Karami said she wanted to re-
create her 2016 documentary be-
Mysterious lightning whelk egg Montgomery Co. needs
washes up on Padre Island shore $5M to equalize staff pay
By Sonia Garcia
STA F F WRIT E R
A strange object that might be
mistaken for snakeskin was
found along the Gulf Coast. But
it’s none other than a sea snail’s
egg case that also happens to be
the state shell of Texas.
Padre Island National Sea-
shore posted the “cryptic object”
on Facebook, identifying it as the
egg case of the lightning whelk, a
carnivorous sea snail that lives
on the sandy floor of the Gulf of
Mexico.
The creature itself isn’t actual-
ly seen much at Padre Island Na-
tional Seashore, officials said.
However evidence that the snail
lives there is in the strange egg
casings that wash up on the
beach.
What is a lightning whelk?
Lightning whelk can be 2.5
inches to 16 inches long — mak-
ing it one of the largest shells in
the gulf, according to the Texas
Parks and Wildlife information.
Its shell is a cream color with
brown “lightning” streaks going
from top to bottom. It’s most dis-
tinguishing feature is that it is
“left-handed,” meaning the shell
spirals counterclockwise. The
snail itself is dark brown or
black. The life span of lightning
whelks is unknown.
They live at the bottom of shal-
low bays in sand or mud with
submerged grass beds and can
be found along the Gulf Coast
from North Carolina to Texas.
Native Americans would har-
vest the snails for religious cere-
monies, practical tools and to
eat. Many tribes believed that the
“left-handed” spiral made the
shells sacred objects, according
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cause the story of the “Be Some-
one” mural has grown signifi-
cantly since then, including the
possibility Union Pacific may
ultimately cover the mural since
it keeps getting altered by other
artists.
“The soul of the documentary
is to protect and preserve these
artists and their work in our
culture and in our community,”
Karami said.
Karami’s “Be Someone” doc-
umentary is entirely self-fund-
ed, she said, and was filmed
with the help of Cesario “Sosa”
Barron, her director of photog-
raphy.
The film attempts to be as ob-
Lightning whelk egg casings look like snakeskin as posted on
the Padre Island National Seashore Facebook page.
to Texas Parks and Wildlife. In
1957, the Texas Legislature desig-
nated it as the official state shell
of Texas.
Why do the lightning whelk
egg casings look like that?
Female whelks lay eggs in long
strings of capsules 11 to 33 inches
long. Each strand has up to 145
capsules with 20 to 100 eggs in
each capsule. But only about
eight to 13 eggs in each capsule
actually hatch, according to the
parks and wildlife species page.
Mating season is from late Oc-
tober to early January with
spawning season March
through April. The eggs hatch in
May as tiny lightning whelks
and the shells grow fast when
the snail is getting plenty to eat.
“As it gets older, the shell grows
more slowly. The color of the
shell depends greatly on light,
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VP/Editor of Opinion: Lisa.Falkenberg@houstonchronicle.com
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Filmmaker Iris Karami, right, interviews the original artist of
the “Be Someone” mural. He’s covered to protect his identity.
Sarah Laughlin/National Park Service
temperature and age,” the spe-
cies page notes.
What do lightning
whelks eat?
From the moment they hatch,
lightning whelks feed on the un-
hatched eggs. As adults, they
will eat almost any animal mat-
ter but their diet primarily con-
sists of clams and oysters. It uses
the long edge of its shell to open
the bivalve like a crowbar or it
will grind the shell with its own
to create a hole.
What do I do if I see the
lightning whelk egg casing?
The Padre Island National
Seashore recommends leaving
the lightning whelk egg casings
where you see them on the
beach. They might become a
snack later for seagulls and
crabs.
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Copyright 2023 Houston Chronicle Co.
Iris Karami’s
new
documentary
is about the
often-altered
graffiti on
the Union
Pacific
railroad
bridge over
Interstate 45
near
downtown.
Her
self-financed
film debuts
Sunday at
City Cellars.
Jill Karnicki/
Staff file photo
jective as possible when telling
the story of the mural, she said,
but it does make clear the mural
technically is graffiti and it’s
against the law to paint over the
interstate.
“With all things considered,
it’s breaking the law,” Karami
said. “However, that’s not the
point. The point is that it has
truly created this change and is
impacting people’s lives. The
story is representing these un-
derground artists, their stories,
and is doing them justice.”
The film premieres Sunday at
Iris Karami/Courtesy City Cellars, 1801 Binz, Suite 120.
Tickets are $35 and were avail-
able as of Wednesday evening.
By Catherine Dominguez
STA F F W R I TER
After several years of discus-
sion about employee salaries,
Montgomery County commis-
sioners are looking at increas-
ing pay for some employees to
address inflation and to equal-
ize compensation across de-
partments.
Budget Officer Amanda Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Carter said commissioners County Judge Mark Keough
need to make almost $5 million learned that $5M was needed
in compensation adjustments to make salary adjustments.
to ensure the county stays com-
petitive and can retain employ- employees work more than one
ees. job due to their low pay with
Carter and Human Resourc- Montgomery County.
es Director Dodi Shaw present- Carter said the study looked
ed an extensive budget study to at 14 peer counties including
the court Tuesday. Fort Bend and Harris counties
Shaw said the study included and some large cities with simi-
1,056 nonexempt employees lar services including Conroe,
who averaged $21.93 an hour. Houston and Katy.
The study also included 710 law Commissioner will discuss
enforcement personnel, specif- the compensation adjustments
ically deputies, detectives and during their budget workshops
sergeants, on the same pay Aug. 8-11.
scale as those nonexempt em- The court on Tuesday re-
ployees. ceived its preliminary budget
“We get a lot of complaints for 2024 of $419 million, a 6 per-
talking about salaries, it’s not cent increase from 2023.
(department heads) talking Carter said while the salary
about themselves, it’s them adjustments would not apply to
talking about their employees,” every employee, the budget in-
Carter said. cludes a 2.5 percent cost of liv-
Topping the concerns from ing raise across the board.
department heads were new “We feel like a (cost of living
employees receiving higher pay adjustment) is still something
than tenured, the county trains that needs to be done in the
employees and then they leave county,” Carter said. “Overall,
for other county positions or inflation is still a factor for em-
other counties and many of the ployees.”
CORRECTION
A story on page A12 on Wednesday misstated the type of official
who denied bail to Polie Phan. He appeared before a magistrate.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 A3

Miles appoints new principals in HISD

By Sam González Kelly
STA F F W RIT E R
Houston ISD Superintendent
Mike Miles has appointed sev-
eral more principals to vacant
positions, including at Sharp-
stown and Worthing high
schools, whose previous princi-
pals were removed from their
posts earlier this month along
with the principal at Yates High
School.
Thomas J. Cotter, who previ-
ously served as principal at
Fondren Middle School, will
take the helm at Sharpstown
ahead of the school year, district
officials confirmed Wednesday.
He replaces Dan De León, who
had led Sharpstown since 2016.
At Worthing, Alexandria
Gregoire will replace Everett
Hare Sr., who had served as
principal since 2020. She comes
to Worthing from Holland Mid-
dle School, where she served as
dean of instruction.
The district already an-
nounced Tuesday that Stepha-
nie Square, a Yates alumna and
former Yates teacher, would
lead the Third Ward school in
place of Tiffany Guillory.
Miles has declined to specify
why the former principals were
removed at each school, but al-
luded to poor academic perfor-
mance in a letter to Yates par-
ents and staff.
“Once it was clear that we
needed to make a change, it was
important to act quickly,” he
wrote. “Our students — espe-
cially our high school students
— cannot wait.”
Cotter, the new Sharpstown
principal, served as principal at
Wesley Elementary School be-
fore taking charge at Fondren
last year, and his career in-
cludes stints as an instructional
specialist and assistant princi-
pal at several other HISD
schools, according to his dis-
trict biography. He began his
work in education as a reading
and social studies teacher at the
Gregory-Lincoln Education
Center after receiving his bach-
elors degree at Texas Southern
University and his masters at
the University of Houston.
Gregoire attended Carleton
College and received her mas-
ters degree in education at
Lamar University. She has
worked as a dean of instruction
in HISD since 2019, according to
her LinkedIn profile.
The new HISD administra-
tion has also appointed princi-
pals at several other schools
with openings, officials con-
firmed Wednesday.
Gloria Robayo-Freitag, who
most recently served as dean of
instruction at Project Chrysalis
Middle School, will take over at
Reagan K-8 Educational Center,
while Wendy Pineda, previous-
ly an assistant principal at Se-
guin Elementary School, was
named principal of Southmayd
Elementary School.
Sanchez Elementary School
will now be led by Claudia Mon-
toya, who leaves Pugh Elemen-
tary School after one year as
principal. A district spokesman
said that Montoya did not reap-
ply for her former position after
Miles announced that Pugh
would be one of the 28 schools
targeted for reform as part of
his New Education System.
Principals have also been ap-
pointed at East Early College
High School, where new Yates
Principal Stephanie Square
most recently served, and Na-
varro Middle School, but dis-
trict officials did not publicly
release their names Wednes-
day.

New major
approved at
A&M amid
scandal
By Samantha Ketterer
STAF F WRI TER

The Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board on Thurs-
day approved a new journalism
major at Texas A&M University.
The program has been at the
center of controversy after its an-
ticipated director, Kathleen
McElroy, walked away from con-
tract negotiations this month.
The professor said “outside”
concerns about her past work in
diversity and inclusion, as well
as her career at the New York
Times, caused A&M to water
down the terms of her employ-
ment.
The fiasco enraged many Tex-
as A&M faculty members who
say they oppose the appearance
of political interference in their
affairs. The fallout prompted
A&M President M. Katherine
Banks to resign, taking responsi-
bility for a flawed hiring process
but denying involvement in the
contract changes. José Luis Ber-
múdez, interim dean of A&M’s
Evan Vucci/Associated Press College of Arts & Sciences, also
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg joined President Joe Biden to announce new protections against extreme heat. stepped down from his position.
Administrators initially cele-

‘What are we doing?’: Biden slams

brated McElroy as their selection
to revive A&M’s new journalism
program. The school had a jour-

state for cutting water break laws

By Benjamin Wermund
WASHIN GT ON BU RE AU
WASHINGTON — Presi-
dent Joe Biden on Thursday
criticized Texas Republicans,
including Gov. Greg Abbott,
for passing a law that prohibits
local rules requiring water
breaks for construction work-
ers during a weekslong heat
wave.
“What are we doing here?”
Biden said during a White
House event with San Antonio
Mayor Ron Nirenberg in
which the president said he
will begin calling out states
“where they refuse to protect
these workers in this awful
heat.”
“The idea that you can’t have
mandatory water breaks when
you work on construction —
hell, when I played football, if
you had a coach who would
during summer practice didn’t
provide water on a regular ba-
sis, he got in trouble, got fired,”
Biden said.
Abbott’s office did not im-
mediately respond to a request
for comment.
Biden has been under grow-
ing pressure from Texas Dem-
ocrats to step in before a new
state law takes effect in Sep-
tember that will eliminate city
ordinances requiring water
breaks for construction work-
ers — nearly 40 percent of
whom say they are not given
regular breaks on job sites,
even in the heat of the summer,
according to surveys by the
Workers Defense Project.
The law, deemed the “Death
Star” by its opponents, stops
cities and counties from “reg-
ulating conduct” in areas al-
ready covered by state law, in-
cluding labor. It would over-
ride water break requirements
in Austin and Dallas, and pre-
empt similar rules that San
Antonio has been working to
establish, as well. Houston of-
ficials earlier this month filed a
lawsuit to stop the law.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep.
Greg Casar, an Austin Demo-
crat whose district stretches to
San Antonio, held a “thirst
strike” on the steps of the U.S.
Capitol to protest the law by
fasting for eight hours. Casar
also led more than 100 Demo-
crats, including several Tex-
ans, in a letter calling for the
Biden administration to speed
up workplace heat standards
that the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration is
drafting.
Biden on Thursday an-
nounced he is directing the De-
partment of Labor to increase
inspections of potentially dan-
gerous workplaces such as
farms and construction sites.
As part of the initiative, the de-
partment will issue a hazard
alert notifying employers and
employees about ways to stay
protected from extreme heat.
The administration also plans
to spend $7 million to develop
more detailed weather predic-
tions to anticipate extreme
weather like heat waves.
The Associated Press contributed
to this report.
nalism department for 55 years,
lasting until 2004, and students
interested in journalism after-
ward could continue to study it
through a minor or a liberal arts
degree in university studies.
Students had also remained
involved in the student newspa-
per, The Battalion – another
source of controversy during
Banks’ tenure as president.
Banks last year ordered the 130-
year-old newspaper to stop
printing its weekly version un-
der the threat of losing many of
its resources.
That decision – which oc-
curred without the input of stu-
dent leaders at the Battalion – re-
sulted in an outcry from journal-
ists around the country. Banks
eventually walked back the ulti-
matum.
A Texas Higher Education Co-
ordinating Board spokesman
confirmed that the group unani-
mously approved the major
without discussion.

Missouri City to change street named after KKK leader

By Juhi Varma
STA F F WRIT E R
For the past 18 months, a ded-
icated group of residents from
Missouri City’s Vicksburg sub-
division has been working to re-
place street names honoring the
Confederacy with alternatives
that promote inclusivity and
harmony.
Most recently, Bedford For-
rest will be renamed Liberty
Way, a change now approved by
the Missouri City Council. Na-
than Bedford Forrest was a Con-
federate general in the Civil War
and the first grand wizard of the
original Ku Klux Klan.
“I’m so proud of the residents
in this community, who decided
to successfully rally together to
finally change some of the long-
standing offensive Confederate
streets,” said Missouri City
Councilman Jeffrey Boney,
whose district includes the
Vicksburg subdivision.
Changing a street name is not
a simple task and involves sev-
eral steps and logistical chal-
lenges.
“It is a process, and it’s not
something that’s going to hap-
pen overnight, but it’s definitely
something worthwhile,” said
Rhonda Gilbo, who, with her
husband Beau, started the ini-
tiative two years ago by seeking
to rename her street, then Con-
federate Drive, to Prosperity
Drive.
Boney was instrumental in
amending Missouri City’s
street-renaming code. Previous-
ly, 90 percent of property own-
ers needed to sign a petition to
have their street renamed. In
September 2020, this require-
ment was lowered to 70 percent.
At the July 17 city council
meeting, the threshold was fur-
ther lowered to 60 percent, mak-
ing the process even more acces-
sible for residents seeking to re-
name their streets.
The petition to change the
name Bedford Forrest Drive was
Missouri City Council approved a change to a street named
after the founder of the Ku Klux Klan to Liberty Way.
submitted by residents Rodney
and Angie Pearson, who bought
their home on the street in 2006.
Speaking at the July 17 meet-
Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer
ing, the Pearsons said they love
their street and Missouri City,
but feel the name’s history was a
stain that needed to be eradicat-
ed.
“(Under Forrest’s leadership)
the Ku Klux Klan became very
organized, at suppressing Black
votes, other atrocious crimes,
hangings. He was heralded,”
Rodney Pearson said. “It doesn’t
even have to be ‘Liberty Way;’ it
can be ‘Duck Street.’ Just change
the name.”
U.S. Rep. Al Green said he
will personally cover the cost of
street name changes.
“I think that we have for too
long in our country, revered the
enslavers and reviled the en-
slaved, the persons who came
here not out of their own voli-
tion,” said Green. “They were
forced to surrender their labor
at no cost. The enslavers, on the
other hand, have been honored
for what they unfortunately did
to maintain an institution that
sacrificed lives, so that they
could have comforts that en-
slaved never enjoy.”
The name change will take ef-
fect on Aug. 7.
A4 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

NATION & WORLD

New charges accuse

Trump, staffer of
obstruction in Fla.
W IR E R EP ORT S
WASHINGTON — Former
President Donald Trump is
facing accusations that he and
aides asked a staffer to delete
camera footage at his Florida
estate in an effort to obstruct
the classified documents in-
vestigations.
The allegations were made
Thursday in an updated
grand jury indictment that
adds new charges against
Trump.
A Trump spokesperson
dismissed the new charges as
“nothing more than a contin-
ued desperate and flailing at-
tempt” by the Biden adminis-
tration “to harass President
Trump and those around
counsel as federal prosecu-
tors edged closer toward
bringing an indictment
against Trump in connection
with his wide-ranging efforts
to overturn the 2020 election,
according to three people fa-
miliar with the matter.
It was not immediately
clear what subjects were dis-
cussed at the meeting or if
Smith took part.
But similar gatherings of-
ten are used by defense law-
yers as a last-ditch effort to ar-
gue against charges being
filed or to convey their version
of events in a criminal investi-
gation. Kateryna Klochko/Associated Press
The former president’s le- Medics help an injured Ukrainian serviceman in a front-line medical stabilization point Thursday
gal team — including Todd in Zaporizhzhia region. Russian troops were repelling attacks in Ukraine’s southeast region.
Blanche and a newly hired

Fighting rages, hostilities

him” and to influence the 2024 lawyer, John Lauro — has
presidential race. been on high alert since last
A third defendant also was week, when prosecutors

charged.
The charges against the in-
dividual, identified on the
court docket as Carlos De Ol-
iveira, were not immediately
revealed Thursday.
Trump and valet Walt Nau-
ta were charged last month by
Justice Department special
counsel Jack Smith in a 38-
count indictment with con-
spiring to hide classified doc-
uments at his Florida estate,
Mar-a-Lago, from govern-
ment investigators who were
demanding them back.
The records were taken by
Trump to the Palm Beach
complex after he left the
White House in January 2021.
Trump and Nauta have
pleaded not guilty.
Also on Thursday, lawyers
for Trump met with officials
in the office of the special
working for the special coun-
sel sent Trump a so-called tar-
get letter in the election inter-
ference case. It was the clear-
est signal that charges could
be coming.
The letter described three
potential counts that Trump
could face: conspiracy to de-
fraud the United States, ob-
struction of an official pro-
ceeding and a Reconstruc-
tion-era civil rights charge
that makes it a crime to threat-
en or intimidate anyone in the
“free exercise or enjoyment”
of any right or privilege pro-
vided by the Constitution or
by federal law.
Trump also faces scrutiny
from the district attorney in
Fulton County, Ga., who is in-
vestigating his efforts to bend
the results of the 2020 election
in that state in his favor.
up ‘significantly’ in Ukraine
By Hanna Arhirova and
Dasha Litvinova
A SSO C I AT ED P R E SS
KYIV, Ukraine — Fierce
fighting raged Thursday in
southeastern Ukraine, where a
Western official said Kyiv has
launched a major push and
Russian President Vladimir
Putin said “hostilities have in-
tensified significantly.”
Battles in recent weeks have
taken place on multiple points
along the over 600-mile front
line as Ukraine wages a coun-
teroffensive with Western-sup-
plied weapons and Western-
trained troops against Russian
forces who invaded 17 months
ago.
Putin praised the “heroism”
PUTIN SAYS NUKES DEPLOYED TO BELARUS
Sometime this summer, if President Vladimir Putin can be believed,
Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus,
closer to Ukraine and onto NATO’s doorstep.
The declared deployment of the Russian weapons on the territory of
its neighbor and loyal ally marks a new stage in the Kremlin’s nuclear
saber-rattling over its invasion of Ukraine and another bid to
discourage the West from increasing military support to Kyiv.
Neither Putin nor his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko,
said how many were moved — only that Soviet-era facilities in the
country were readied to accommodate them, and that Belarusian
pilots and missile crews were trained to use them.
The U.S. and NATO haven’t confirmed the move. NATO
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg denounced Moscow’s rhetoric as
“dangerous and reckless,” but said earlier this month the alliance
hasn’t seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture.
Associated Press
rent effort differs from previous He also visited a medical fa-

Three nations weigh ties with which Russian soldiers

to U.S. National Guard
By Tara Copp
A S S OC IAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Swit-
zerland, Finland and Sweden
are considering joining the
U.S. National Guard’s securi-
ty partnership program in a
further expansion of Ameri-
can military ties across Eu-
rope after Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine.
The chief of the National
Guard, Gen. Dan Hokanson,
announced the discussions
with each country, which had
not previously been reported,
in remarks at the National
Press Club on Thursday.
Interest by the three coun-
tries in the program is the lat-
est indication of how Russia’s
war has led each of those na-
tions to take steps that consid-
er ending long-standing poli-
cies of military nonalignment.
“I’m pleased to announce
that we will soon deepen and
expand our security coopera-
tion relationships throughout
Europe,” Hokanson said
Finland and Sweden are the
most recent countries to seek
NATO membership. Long-
time-neutral Switzerland is
considering easing export
controls on sending weapons
to active war zones.
The National Guard’s State
Partnership Program is a
lesser-known military instru-
ment for U.S. troops to build
relationships with foreign
militaries by conducting
training and education ex-
changes with young officers.
It partners National Guard
units with host nations.
were repelling attacks in the Za-
porizhzhia region of the south-
east, claiming Moscow’s troops
not only destroyed Ukraine’s
military equipment but also in-
flicted heavy losses to Kyiv’s
forces.
He insisted on state TV that
Ukraine’s push in the area
“wasn’t successful,” although it
was not possible to indepen-
dently verify his report. Putin
was in St. Petersburg at a sum-
mit of African leaders.
Ukrainian troops have made
only incremental gains since
launching a counteroffensive in
early June, and Putin has re-
peatedly claimed Ukraine has
suffered heavy losses, without
offering evidence.
Ukraine has committed thou-
sands of troops in the region in
recent days, according to a
Western official who was not
authorized to comment publicly
on the matter.
It was unclear how the cur-
ones by the Ukrainian military
to break through deeply en-
trenched Russian defenses. The
Russian army has set up vast
minefields to stymie Ukrainian
advances and used combat air-
craft and loitering munitions to
strike Ukrainian armor and ar-
tillery.
Ukrainian authorities have
kept operational details of the
counteroffensive under wraps,
and they have released scant in-
formation about its progress.
However, Deputy Defense
Minister Hanna Maliar said
Wednesday that troops are ad-
vancing toward the city of Meli-
topol in the Zaporizhizhia re-
gion.
Ukrainian President Volody-
myr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, vis-
ited the city of Dnipro, along the
Dnieper River to the north of
Zaporizhzhia, meeting with
military commanders to dis-
cuss air defenses, ammunition
supplies and regional recruit-
ment.
cility caring for the wounded
from the front, thanking the
staff and emphasizing the im-
portance of their work in saving
lives.
A recent increase in wound-
ed at a Dnipro hospital hinted
that the tempo of fighting had
increased.
U.S. officials, who have pro-
vided Kyiv with weapons and
intelligence, declined to com-
ment publicly on the latest de-
velopments, though they have
previously urged patience as
Ukraine seeks to grind down
Russian positions.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd
Austin said during a visit to Pa-
pua New Guinea that Kyiv’s ef-
fort to retake land seized by
Russia since its full-scale inva-
sion in February 2022 would be
tough and long, with successes
and setbacks.
U.S. Secretary of State Anto-
ny Blinken said “an intense bat-
tle” is taking place but declined
to provide details.

AROUND THE NATION

AND WORLD
TENNESSEE
DOJ to investigate
Memphis police
The U.S. Department of
Justice said Thursday it is
investigating the patterns or
practices of the police depart-
ment in Memphis, Tenn.,
nearly seven months after the
violent beating of Tyre Nich-
ols by five officers after a
traffic stop.
Assistant Attorney General
Kristen Clarke of the Civil
Rights Division made the
announcement in Memphis.
Clarke said the probe will
look into the city and its po-
lice department. She men-
tioned Nichols’ death, but
said the investigation is not
based on a single event, or a
single unit with the police
agency.
WASHINGTON
Biden announces
cancer initiative
President Joe Biden’s ad-
ministration on Thursday
announced the first cancer-
focused initiative under its
advanced health research
agency, aiming to help doc-
tors more easily distinguish
between cancerous cells and
healthy tissue during surgery
Greece continues to fight wildfires across the country. Fire-
whipped winds triggered an explosion at an ammunition depot.
and improve outcomes for
patients.
The administration’s Ad-
vanced Research Projects
Agency for Health, or AR-
PA-H, is launching a Preci-
sion Surgical Interventions
program.
The Department of Veter-
ans Affairs on Thursday also
announced that veterans
exposed to toxic burn pits
during their service will be
able to access breast cancer
risk assessments and mam-
mograms regardless of their
age or if they are enrolled in
VA healthcare.
And on Tuesday, the de-
partment announced that it
would study the relationship
between deployed service-
members’ toxic exposures
Petros Giannakouris/Associated Press
and additional cancers.
GREECE
Wildfire triggers
ammo explosions
A wildfire whipped on by
strong winds triggered a
series of explosions Thursday
at an air force ammunition
depot in central Greece.
The Greek air force said
the military base was not
under an immediate threat.
The depot was evacuated
before the explosions, and no
injuries were reported.
In Italy, firefighters battled
brush fires in the southern
mainland regions of Calabria
and Puglia, as well as the
islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
From wire reports
Niger leader: Democracy
will prevail after coup
By Sam Mednick
A SSO C I AT ED P RE S S
NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s
president defiantly declared
Thursday that democracy
would prevail, a day after muti-
nous soldiers detained him and
announced they had seized
power in a coup because of the
West African country’s deterio-
rating security situation.
While many people in the
capital of Niamey went about
their usual business, it re-
mained unclear who was in
control of the country and
which side the majority might
support.
A statement tweeted by the
army command’s account de-
clared that it would back the
coup to avoid a “murderous
confrontation” that could lead
to a “bloodbath.” It was not
possible to confirm that the
statement was genuine.
Meanwhile, President Mo-
hamed Bazoum — who was
elected in 2021 in Niger’s first
peaceful, democratic transfer
of power since its indepen-
dence from France in 1960 and
is a key ally of the West — ap-
peared to have the backing of
several political parties.
U.N. Secretary-General An-
tonio Guterres, who spoke to
Bazoum by phone on Wednes-
day, said in a statement that he
was “extremely worried” about
the situation in Niger and
warned of the “terrible effects
on development” and civilians
due to “successive unconstitu-
tional changes of government
in the Sahel region.”
The Economic Community
of West African States sent Be-
nin President Patrice Talon to
lead mediation efforts.
Bazoum is a key ally in the
West’s efforts to battle jihadists
linked to al-Qaida and the Is-
lamic State group in Africa’s
Sahel region.
Bazoum was seen by many as
the West’s last hope for part-
nership in the Sahel after Mali
turned away from former colo-
nial power France and sought
support from the Russian mer-
cenary group Wagner.
“If Mohamed Bazoum re-
signs from the presidency, Ni-
ger will probably move to the
top of the list of countries
where the Wagner Group will
seek to expand,” said Flavien
Baumgartner, an Africa analyst
at Dragonfly, a security and po-
litical risk consultancy.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 A5

Border buoys straining ties with Mexico

By Jeremy Wallace
AUST I N B U RE AU

Texas’ new buoy barrier in

the Rio Grande is damaging
U.S. relations with Mexico, ac-
cording to new filings by the
Justice Department in their
lawsuit against Gov. Greg Ab-
bott over his latest border tac-
tic.
According to the filing, Mex-
ico has lodged formal protests
at the “highest diplomatic lev-
els” going back to June and has
canceled a previously sched-
uled meeting about other mat-
ters related to the buoy barrier
near Eagle Pass, which they
say violates treaties between
the two nations. On Wednes-
day, tensions over the buoys
surfaced in a meeting in Ciu-
dad Juárez meant to highlight
U.S-Mexico cooperation on
other issues.
“Deployment of the Floating
Barrier is a source of diplomat-
ic concern, and its continued
presence is adversely affecting
foreign policy,” Justice Depart-
ment lawyers wrote. Jerry Lara/Staff photographer
The federal agency is de- The buoy barrier deployed by the state on the Rio Grande south of Eagle Pass has raised concerns by the Border Patrol.
manding that Texas halt all
construction of the barrier and believe that act applies to what to reassure Mexican authori- In the Justice Department law- Secretary Alejandro Mayor-
is asking a judge to force the Texas is doing. ties that the U.S. government suit, the agency uses state- kas, who oversees U.S. Cus-
state to remove it until the case While the suit focuses on the did not support Abbott’s “ille- ments from Border Patrol that toms and Border Protection,
is resolved. Rivers and Harbors Act, the gal” actions with the buoys. warn anything placed in the was asked about whether Tex-
Abbott has continued to dig federal government explained Campos said she worried water can pose a danger to as’ activities had been getting
in, declaring on the Newsmax at length in the new filings about the danger the buoys their officers and the migrants in the way of his agents.
cable channel on Thursday that made Wednesday that the could pose to people. trying to cross. “Law enforcement is most ef-
the buoys are helping block il- move is also eroding relations “Beyond politics, we cannot “Any obstructions in the wa- fective when it is executed col-
legal border crossings and do- with Mexico. set aside respect for people’s ter could naturally impair the laboratively, in cooperation,”
ing the job he said President Joe Mexico’s delegation to the lives and dignity,” Campos freedom of movement and po- Mayorkas responded.
Biden has refused to do on im- International Boundary and said, according to Border Re- tentially delay response times,” Abbott has focused on Eagle
migration. Water Commission, which port, which attended the meet- Jason D. Owens, chief of the Pass because it has become one
“Texas is stepping up as the manages treaties related to the ings. U.S. Border Patrol, said in a of the most crossed sections of
fighter for the freedom and sov- river, has formally objected to Earlier this month, Abbott statement. the entire U.S. border during
ereignty of this country and we the buoys and canceled a meet- had state officials begin deploy- Abbott’s Operation Lone the Biden administration.
need the United States to step ing planned for earlier this ing the first 1,000 feet of buoy Star has intentionally blocked Once one of the least crossed
up and do its job,” Abbott said week to discuss other river barriers in the Rio Grande near Border Patrol from getting to sections, the area around Eagle
on “The Chris Salcedo Show.” flow issues. Eagle Pass. The buoys are each parts of the river near Eagle Pass has become a popular
The Justice Department filed In Ciudad Juárez on Wed- 4 feet in diameter and rotate Pass to help migrants. In one crossing point because of the
suit on Monday against Abbott, nesday, U.S. Ambassador to when touched, preventing peo- section where Border Patrol set relative safety of Piedras Ne-
arguing the buoy system violat- Mexico Ken Salazar was meet- ple from climbing over them. up a station with water, toilets gras, Mexico.
ed the federal Rivers and Har- ing with Chihuahua Gov. Maru The buoys also have netting be- and shade to assist migrants in In June, 1 of every 4 border
bors Act, which requires the Campos to highlight how the low the surface to prevent peo- distress, Texas Department of encounters with migrants
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ countries are working to dis- ple from going under them. Public Safety placed razor wire along the entire U.S. border
approval before any barriers rupt human smuggling net- But it’s not just Mexican offi- to keep Border Patrol from get- came in the sector around Ea-
can be placed in any navigable works. Salazar said that cials raising concerns. U.S. ting to the river and migrants gle Pass. Border Patrol statis-
water in the United States. Ab- through cooperation, the two Border Patrol has raised con- from getting to the shade and tics show 25,000 encounters in
bott did not seek permission countries had been able to dis- cerns that the barriers could water. the sector around Eagle Pass —
beforehand and has said in oth- mantle several smuggling net- impede their ability to get to On Wednesday in Washing- the most of any section of the
er interviews that he doesn’t works. But he was also trying people struggling in the water. ton, D.C., Homeland Security border.
A6 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
Seabrook woman sues
after candle ‘exploded’
By Jonathan
Limehouse
STA F F W R I T ER
A Seabrook woman
says she can no longer do
hands-on activities with
her 9-year-old daughter
or work at her sales job
again after a scented can-
dle she’d bought exploded
in her hands in Novem-
ber, causing severe burns,
mental anguish and post-
traumatic stress disorder,
according to her federal
lawsuit.
RickiLynn Gardner, 45,
paid $149.95 for a three-
wick scented candle from
HotelCollection.com,
which Aroma360, LLC
owns. Within seconds of
lighting it on her kitchen
countertop, the candle ex-
ploded, causing a “blaz-
ing inferno,” according to
the personal injury suit
she filed July 18 in Hous-
ton. Video captured by
her home security system
shows the event in real
time.
“The danger of these
candles cannot be over-
stated,” Gardner’s attor-
ney Randy Sorrels said in
a news release Monday,
adding that the compa-
ny’s products “can cause
fire, explosion and inju-
ry.”
The candle was deliv-
ered to her doorstep in a
cardboard box on Nov. 22,
2022. She lit it on Nov. 25,
2022.
The packaging did not
include instructions or
warnings, apart from a
“very inconspicuous”
warning printed on a
small label at the bottom
of the candle in tiny print,
according to the suit. The
suit doesn’t specify what
the label underneath the
candle says.
When the candle began
to emit “a large (and) ter-
rifying flame,” Gardner
tried to extinguish it with
water. A chemical in the
candle wax reacted to the
water, causing the flame
to flare up in an explo-
sion, the lawsuit alleges.
Gardner then picked
up the candle to put it in
the metal sink directly
behind her so the fire
wouldn’t spread. As she
held the candle, the glass
cracked and hot melted
wax began spilling out.
LAWSUITS
From page A1
votes that are what we call
nontraditional ballots, as
in provisional ballots, bal-
lots by mail, or ballots that
were cast with statements
of residence should not
have been accepted,” Fom-
bonne said.
The other election con-
test lawsuits, per their
court filings, rely more
heavily on the premise that
county officials created
ballot paper shortages at
polling locations in Repub-
lican neighborhoods, turn-
ing away so many GOP
voters that candidates lost
elections they otherwise
would have won.
A Houston Chronicle
analysis of polling loca-
tions, county data and in-
terviews with 40 election
judges, including 32 who
ran the polls Republicans
said turned away voters,
found at least 20 locations
ran out of paper on Elec-
tion Day. The locations
make up about 2.5 percent
of the polls open across
Harris County on Nov. 8.
Some ran out for just 15
minutes, others for up to
three hours. A handful of
other locations experi-
enced equipment and tech-
nical malfunctions that re-
sulted in those polls open-
ing late or having long
lines.
A judge ordered polls to
stay open for one addition-
al hour after voting rights
groups sued over the de-
layed openings.
In court filings, Lunce-
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Home security footage shows RickiLynn Gardner
after a scented candle “exploded in her hands.”
At this point, her hands
were on fire and coated in
flaming wax.
“Nowhere on the can-
dle’s label does it state not
to pick up the candle or
not to attempt to extin-
guish the candle flame
with water,” the lawsuit
explains.
Gardner and her attor-
neys are suing Aro-
ma360, LLC for more
than $1 million for defec-
tive design, manufactur-
ing and marketing of the
exploding candle. They
want the company to pay
for all medical expenses
— including multiple sur-
geries — and injury dam-
ages caused by the explo-
sion.
Negative reviews
Since Gardner can’t
tolerate too much sun ex-
posure on her hands, she
can’t go swimming, boat-
ing or kayaking with her
daughter. She can no lon-
ger participate in cheer
spotting and training or
get mani-pedis with her
daughter, Gardner’s at-
torney, Turner Johnston,
said in an email Tuesday.
“Shame since she’s a
single mom with a 9-year-
old,” he said. “That’s all
not to mention the limita-
tions on housework,
cooking, etc.”
Aroma360’s defense at-
torney and spokesperson
did not respond to re-
quests for comment on
Tuesday. The company
has until Aug. 18 to re-
spond to the complaint,
according to court re-
ford’s attorneys have ar-
gued for throwing out bal-
lots cast by voters who ar-
rived at the polls during
the extended time, as well
as thousands of other pro-
visional ballots they claim
should not have been
counted.
Ultimately, the question
of whether alleged prob-
lems resulted from mis-
takes or malfeasance will
not be relevant in the trial,
Fombonne said.
“The election contests
don’t turn on malfea-
sance,” Fombonne said.
“You could have malfea-
sance; you could just have
a simple mistake. The is-
sue is, did the person who
won the election actually
win the election? And if
you can show that it was
because of malfeasance, it
doesn’t get you any further
than if you can show that it
was because of some mis-
take.”
When Lunceford’s team
originally filed the lawsuit,
their argument was based
primarily on the ballot pa-
per shortages, Fombonne
said.
“The crux of the trial has
transformed completely
by challenging forms of ID,
signatures, addresses and
things like that that we be-
lieve are mostly completely
false,” Fombonne said.
Still, Lunceford’s team
also is counting on a “heat
map” produced by Russ
Long, a member of the
Harris County GOP, to
prove that county officials
deliberately undersup-
plied 121 polls with ballot
paper, most of them in Re-
Photo courtesy RickiLynn Gardner
cords.
Gardner’s attorneys
said that consumer re-
search revealed reports of
similar incidents with
Hotel Collection and Aro-
ma360 brand candles.
Customer reviews of the
candles are included in
the lawsuit.
“My candle shattered
while burning and they
said too bad since it’s be-
yond the return date pol-
icy,” a customer said.
“Terrible company and
total joke.”
“My candle almost set
my house on fire!” anoth-
er customer said. “It
smells great, however,
this tiny candle put up a
massive flame. When I
tried to blow it out, the
flame got bigger. When I
pulled it closer to me, the
candle cracked in half. I
ended up having to
smother it with a tumbler
to put the candle out.
Really bummed because
they smell so good.”
“It is clear that this
product is unreasonably
dangerous to the public,”
Johnston said in the e-
mail.
“No candle should ex-
plode the way this candle
did. No person should
have to go through the in-
credible trauma Ms.
Gardner has gone
through,” the lawyer
said. “The company
knows that this product
is dangerous and contin-
ues to sell it to this day —
a classic example of a
company placing profits
over people.”
publican areas.
Lawmakers including
state Sen. Paul Betten-
court, R-Houston, relied
on the same map earlier
this year, using it to push
through legislation that
abolished the Harris
County Elections Admin-
istrators office.
“We’ll leave it up to the
courts to decide, but when
you look at a map like this,
there’s literally 110 out of 121
precincts that are in the
Republican areas of the
county and only 11 that are
not,” Bettencourt said at a
Senate hearing in March.
“It seems to be a rather
concentrated pattern.”
The Chronicle’s analysis
found roughly half of those
121 locations were in pre-
cincts that voted for for-
mer President Donald
Trump in 2020.
Craft’s attorneys have
argued in court filings that
Long and other Lunceford
witnesses are not qualified
to give expert testimony.
If Lunceford loses her
case, it’s unlikely to end
GOP messaging that the
election was rigged, said
Mark Jones, a political sci-
ence professor at Rice Uni-
versity.
“For most partisans, it’s
not going to change
much,” Jones said. “Their
argument will be that they
can’t prove it, but they
know it happened.”
It could, however, spell
the end for the other 20
lawsuits.
“If Lunceford doesn’t
win this case, then they
probably have no hope
whatsoever,” Jones said.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 A7

OPINION
Chris Fusco Lisa Falkenberg
I N T ER I M E D I TO R-I N-C H I E F V P/ E D I TO R O F O P I N I O N
Jack Sweeney
F o u n d e d 1 9 0 1 • A H e a r s t N e w s pa p e r C H A I R MA N
Jennifer Chang Raj Mankad
Nancy A. Meyer • PUBLIS H ER & PR E SI D EN T M ANAGI N G E D I TO R D E P U TY O P I N I O N E D I TO R

EDITORIAL

Blame Biden
and the feds for
no water breaks
Temperatures in San Antonio rose
to 104 on the day before Gabriel Infan- as an executive order.
te died last year. The 24-year-old was
working, digging ditches for fiber-
optic cable, when he began to act dis-
oriented. He fell twice. His friend
began to douse him with water. When
the medics arrived, his foreman re-
portedly insisted that Infante’s symp-
toms were drug-related. By the time
he was rushed to the hospital, his
body temperature approached 110.
Now, his mother is suing the con-
struction company for failing to pro-
vide a safe work environment and to
properly train employees to spot the
signs of heat stroke.
This summer, record high tempera-
tures are again imperiling workers.
Some 90 million people have been hit
by heat waves and domes and all man- dies. There are essentially no real
ner of heat shapes. In El Paso, temper- preventive requirements for employers
atures soared above 100 on
June 16 and stayed there
for more than 40 days,
smashing the city's previ-
Where are
ous streak of 23 days. In the federal
Laredo, in just a few
weeks’ time, 10 people
protections to workers,
died from heat-related ensure safety trusting businesses to do
causes. Last year, heat
took 306 Texans. How
standards?
many this year? The prob-
lem is deadly and growing
more severe, hastened by earth-warp-
ing climate change. Extreme heat af-
fects us all.
The solution, at least for workers,
seems simple: shade, water, rest. With
great fanfare, the Biden administra-
tion in 2021 promised action on
strengthening heat safety standards
for American workplaces and commu-
nities.
America is still waiting.
The president seems to be feeling
the heat. Thursday, Biden, joined by
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg,
announced a slate of new steps from
the federal government meant to pro-
tect communities from extreme heat,
including a promise to ramp up en-
forcement on lax employers and a new
"alert" system to nudge them to do the and her colleagues. Congress could,
right thing. The No. 1 weather-related
killer is heat, Biden said.
We need more than that, Mr. Presi-
dent. We need federally mandated
shade, water and rest breaks for con-
struction workers, landscapers and
other laborers exposed to dangerously of the HIV/AIDS epidemic to imple-
high temperatures. It’s been years
since the agency tasked with protect-
ing U.S. workers, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration,
embarked on a typically lengthy rule-
making process to strengthen protec-
tions for these workers.
Why doesn’t Biden just issue an
executive order and get it done? Be-
cause it would almost certainly be
challenged in the courts, says David
Michaels, a professor at the George
Washington University School of Pub- OSHA to mandate water, shade and
lic Health and former administrator
for OSHA. Texas no doubt would
jump on another chance to sue the
feds. OSHA could issue an emergency
rule on its own, a temporary standard. while they do so.
But it would likely face the same fate
So what can we do?
Some states have already filled in
the gaps with their own regulations
but here in Texas, the Legislature has
gone in the opposite direction, refus-
ing to pass state protections and even
restricting cities from passing their
own.
Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly
said that federal regulations still apply.
But that’s little comfort to many since
the regulations don’t require any par-
ticular action, as Michaels warned the
Legislature in a letter. OSHA’s work-
place inspections — despite Biden’s
boasts Thursday — still are far too
rare, and enforcement, if it happens,
almost only happens after someone
— no mandates of the
things that could’ve
saved Infante’s life.
So, while Abbott is to
blame for endangering
so are the feds.
OSHA is essentially
the right thing, to treat
their employees hu-
manely even if it means
temporary loss of pro-
ductivity or profit. Some will. Perhaps
even most will. But some won’t. These
are some of the same businesses that
insisted modern-day luxuries like air
conditioning were weakening workers’
constitutions, as the National Cotton
Council of America suggested last year
in its comments to OSHA.
Various lawmakers in Congress
have taken up the cause over the
years, with little success. Still, U.S.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) told us she’s
still fighting for her Construction
Injury Prevention Act that would
require 15-minute rest breaks for con-
struction workers every four hours.
She’s also joined a letter urging OSHA
to speed things up.
More lawmakers must join Garcia
according to Michaels, tell OSHA it
has six months to deliver a rule, al-
lowing the agency to jump some steps
and act quickly on what is clearly a
growing emergency. They’ve done it
before, he points out, during the peak
ment new rules protecting health care
workers and patients.
That would be the immediate fix.
The longer one, per Michaels, who
says he doesn't fault OSHA for the
routinely long process, is fixing the
rule-setting system altogether so it
doesn’t drag on while the world burns.
We'll resist the temptation to be that
ambitious. We'll just plead with Biden
and Congress to issue a swift kick and
clear the way for the bureaucrats at
rest for outdoor workers before anoth-
er life is lost to this brutal heat. And
we won’t even insist lawmakers toil
outside in triple-digit temperatures
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Immigration solutions
Regarding “Joe Holley: How im-
migrants could save Texas’ small
towns,” (July 23): Bravo to Joe Holley
and the Chronicle for proposing a
solution instead of more hand-wring-
ing and head-shaking over Texas im-
migration! What if some small-town
mayors sent buses to the border for
immigrants to come to their towns,
instead of Gov. Greg Abbott sending
busloads of them out of Texas?
Surely a Texas version of the old
Homestead Act could be put together,
and we could hold our heads a little
higher. I taught U.S. and Texas history
for 35 years, and I still believe that
such things can happen.
Virginia Bernhard, professor emerita,
history, University of St. Thomas
I’ve been touting this concept since
we started having issues on the Texas
border. Also, while taking road trips
to the far reaches of Texas, and seeing
dying little rural towns. Thanks to Joe
Holley for articulating it so well.
My friend George Archibald is do-
ing this in Baraboo, Wis. He’s taken in
an Afghan family of 10 to start a new
life in rural Wisconsin. Several folks
at Houston’s Christ Church Cathedral
visited the border in 2022 and were
troubled by what they witnessed.
After much research and discussion,
they established Casa Mateo on an
unused church campus donated by the
Episcopal Diocese. It will take in sev-
eral immigrant families to begin anew
sometime next year.
It can be done in Texas! Community
gardens need to be established. Aban-
doned wells need to be capped. Solar
and wind power need to be operated
and maintained. Public parks need
care and attention. Schools and hospi-
tals need energized staff. Old build-
ings need to be preserved and re-
stored. And so on.
Hooray for Holley for bringing this
concept to a larger audience, some of
whom just might decide to do what
small municipalities in Utah and Iowa
are already doing.
Ann Hamilton, Houston
I read Joe Holley’s article on im-
migrants contributing to America
with interest. It brought to mind the
situation at the border. Call them what
you like, people have been crossing
our southern border since the end of
the Mexican-American War. For near-
ly 200 years, the flow has been con-
stant; it has peaked and ebbed
through the decades but it has never
stopped.
In the “good old days” (when Amer-
ica was “great”), migrants were viewed
as either a nuisance or a resource to be
taken advantage of in the form of
cheap labor. Use them and then deport
them (see: 1950s, Operation Wetback).
Now these migrants are viewed as a
danger, an invasion, a threat to the
republic. If invasion it be, then this
invasion has not prevented this nation
from becoming wealthier, stronger
and the most powerful nation on
Earth. Which raises the intriguing
question: Did this nation become as
wealthy and powerful as it is in spite
of this “invasion” or in part because of
it?
Gonzalo Martinez, La Porte
Thank you, Joe Holley, for showing
us that our immigration problem can
be approached intelligently and hu-
manely. While our history contains
both good and evil, we can — if we put
our fears and ignorance behind us —
strive to find solutions that promote
and achieve our American values for
the good of all men and women, who
are created equal.
Christine Eheman, Houston
Regarding “Have we lost our soul as
Texans and as Americans? (Opinion),”
(July 21): There was a letter to the
editor which defended Gov. Abbott’s
buoys and razor wire on our once-
beautiful Rio Grande by saying, “The
people of this great state are sick of
people pouring into Texas who seem
to be looking for all the free stuff.” I
see immigrants standing all day in a
parking lot in 100-degree heat, just
hoping some guy in a pickup will pay
them a pittance for cleaning trash off
his property. I guess no one told them
about the free stuff.
Immigrants who brave heat exhaus-
tion, starvation, sexual assault, razor
wire, buoys and Border Patrol officers
who are told to push children, babies
and pregnant women into the deep
water, are not looking for free stuff.
They are looking for just the tiniest
chance of working hard at the jobs
Americans don’t want to do, and even-
tually making a better life for them-
selves and their families.
Patricia Bernstein, Bellaire
Barbie coverage
Regarding “For this Houston Barbie
drag queen, the new movie is about
more than dolls — it’s about freedom,”
(July 19): Why do you feel the obliga-
tion to write such an article? The per-
centage of the American population
who are transgender is estimated to be
less than 1 percent. Would the Hous-
ton Chronicle waste prime news space
on any other such small population? I
think not.
Scott Aulds, Richmond
Regarding “Medical Barbie,
strength trainer Barbie: Houstonians
embrace ‘Barbie-core’ ahead of movie
release,” (July 20): Seriously? “Barbie
represents everyone”? Not me! I was
raised in a foreign country by parents
who were missionaries. My mom
made our dolls. When we moved back
to the states, I saw my first profession-
al doll. I was stunned. I was given a
baby doll whose eyes closed when she
was laid down and who “peed” in a
cloth diaper when you fed her water. I
was in heaven. When Barbies came
out, I could have cared less about a
pinched-waist, long-legged doll that
was totally not something to snuggle
with. I’m sure that there are many
young women with less-than-perfect
bodies who agree with me.
Emily Murphy, Kingwood
BIBLE VERSE
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call
the elders of the church to pray over
them and anoint them with oil in the
name of the Lord.
James 5:14

Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff photographer SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Viewpoints c/o Houston Chronicle, 4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77027 or viewpoints@chron.com.
Joshua Espinoza, with the memorial program for his best friend, Gabriel We welcome and encourage letters and emails from readers. Letters must include name, address
Infante, 24, whom he watched suffer a heat stroke and who later died. and telephone numbers for verification purposes only. All letters are subject to editing.
A8 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
JULY
From page A1
hot with heat waves blistering
three continents — North
America, Europe and Asia —
that researchers said a record
was inevitable. The U.S. South-
west’s all-month heat wave is
showing no signs of stopping
while also pushing into most of
the Midwest and East with
more than 128 million Ameri-
cans under some kind of heat
advisory Thursday.
“Unless an ice age were to ap-
pear all of sudden out of noth-
ing, it is basically virtually cer-
tain we will break the record for
the warmest July on record and
the warmest month on record,”
Copernicus Director Carlo Bu-
ontempo told the Associated
Press.
Scientists say that such shat-
tering of heat records is a har-
binger for future climate-alter-
ing changes as the planet
warms. Those changes go be-
yond just prolonged heat waves
and include more flooding, lon-
ger-burning wildfires and ex-
treme weather events that put
many people at risk.
United Nations Secretary-
General Antonio Guterres
pointed to the calculations and
urged world leaders, in particu-
lar of rich nations, to do more to
reduce emissions of heat-trap-
ping gases. Despite years of in-
ternational climate negotiations
and lofty pledges from many
countries and companies,
greenhouse gas emissions con-
tinue to go up.
“Climate change is here. It is
terrifying. And it is just the be-
ginning,” Guterres told report-
ers in a New York briefing. “The
era of global warming has end-
ed; the era of global boiling has
arrived.”
Buontempo and other scien-
tists said the records are from
human-caused climate change
augmented by a natural El Niño
warming of parts of the central
Pacific that changes weather
worldwide. But Buontempo
said ocean warming in the At-
lantic also has been so high —
though far away from the El Ni-
ño — that’s there’s even more at
play. While scientists long pre-
dicted the world would contin-
ue to warm and have bouts of
extreme weather, he said he was
surprised by the spike in ocean
HISD
From page A1
perintendent’s directive of hav-
ing zero teacher vacancies on
NES campuses, and only 50
teacher vacancies total for non-
NES campuses by the start of
the school year,” he wrote.
The tone and content of the e-
mail felt threatening, according
to one employee in the HR de-
partment who asked to remain
anonymous. The employee said
the work environment has
changed drastically since the
new administration took charge,
noting that in the past, supervi-
sors would ask employees to
volunteer for extra tasks and ex-
press gratitude for the hard
work.
“The morale and the environ-
ment is just extremely toxic
right now,” said the employee,
whose identity has been verified
by the Chronicle. “People are
very cautious and afraid that
they’re going to lose their job
right now because their jobs are
being threatened.”
The administration has
slashed central office staff by
roughly 25 percent, announcing
last week that it will eliminate
1,675 vacant positions and 672
filled jobs. The human resourc-
es department was cut down
from 235 to 153 positions, accord-
ing to HISD.
Covarrubia, the executive di-
rector, told staff that they are ex-
pected to check in with their su-
pervisor around 5 p.m. each day
to confirm whether they can be
released from work or “whether
you are needed to assist in other
projects,” the email said.
Covarrubia also banned su-
pervisors from approving any
SLB
From page A1
der discrimination, harassment
and retaliation during her time
at Schlumberger, and that the
company should have been held
responsible for its failure to
properly investigate and pre-
vent these harms,” he said in a
statement. “But we are grateful
An electric billboard displays a temperature of 117 degrees in Phoenix on July 18. The Arizona
city is now at a record 27 straight days and counting of 110 degrees or higher temperatures.
temperatures and record-shat-
tering loss of sea ice in Antarc-
tica.
“The climate seems to be go-
ing crazy at times,” Buontempo
said.
Copernicus calculated that
through the first 23 days of July,
Earth’s temperature averaged
62.5 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s
almost 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit
hotter than the previous record
for the hottest month, July 2019.
Normally records are broken
by hundredths of a degree Cel-
sius, maybe a tenth at most, said
Russell Vose, climate analysis
group director for the U.S. Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospher-
ic Administration.
Usually records aren’t calcu-
lated until a week or longer after
a month’s end. But Vose, who
wasn’t part of the research, his
NASA record-keeping counter-
part Gavin Schmidt and six oth-
er outside scientists said the Co-
pernicus calculations make
sense.
Buontempo’s team found that
21 of the first 23 days of July were
hotter than any previous days
in the database.
“The last few weeks have
been rather remarkable and un-
An office area is set to be renovated inside the Hattie Mae White HISD central office building.
The district cut 82 HR positions but is rushing to hire 65 teachers before school starts.
leave requests without asking
him first, according to the email,
and seemed to discourage peo-
ple from taking time off.
“Team members are remind-
ed that it is highly recommended
that you do not make any travel
plans … before receiving approv-
al from your assigned supervi-
sor via OneSource,” the execu-
tive director wrote in the email.
Employees, too, were asked to
work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-
day through Friday, marking the
third change this summer in
that after years of litigation, Ms.
Cheatham had the opportunity
to tell her story.”
Women have been underrep-
resented and struggling to ad-
vance while working for oil and
gas companies, according to a
2019 study by consulting firm
McKinsey & Co., which ranked
the industry last in female par-
ticipation among 18 of its peers.
Katie Mehnert, CEO of Hous-
An unhoused man drinks water and wears a wet towel on his
head to cool off in 113-degree heat on July 20 in Calexico, Calif.
precedented in our record”
based on data that goes back to
the 1940s, Buontempo said.
Both the WMO-Copernicus
team and an independent Ger-
man scientist who released his
data at the same time came to
these conclusions by analyzing
forecasts, live observations,
past records and computer sim-
ulations.
Separate from Copernicus,
scheduled hours for the depart-
ment, according to the anony-
mous HR employee. Central of-
fice employees typically worked
four days a week during the
summer break, but at the outset
of his tenure, Miles asked the
central office staff to clock in on
Fridays.
The HR employee said the
workload has increased as the
school year approaches and mo-
rale has dropped in the wake of
layoffs.
“There’s a sense of panic
“We are grateful ... Ms. Cheatham had the
opportunity to tell her story.”
Michael Palmer, attorney for Jessica Cheatham
ton-based workforce culture
consultancy ALLY Energy, said
times are changing as employers
reckon with the Me Too move-
ment and a growing need to at-
tract and retain employees will-
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Ash Ponders/New York Times
Gregory Bull/Associated Press
Karsten Haustein at Leipzig
University did his own calcula-
tions, using forecasts that show
at best the warming may weak-
en a tad at the end of month, and
came to the conclusion that July
2023 will pass the old record by
0.36 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s way beyond everything
we see,” Haustein said in his
own press briefing. “We are in
absolutely new record territo-
Karen Warren/Staff photographer
about getting these teachers in
place,” the employee said.
Michelle Williams, president
of the Houston Education Asso-
ciation and an HISD teacher,
said she was “mortified” when
she saw a screen-shot of the e-
mail circulating on social media.
While it is typical for staff to
work overtime in preparation
for the upcoming school year,
Williams said the message
seemed disrespectful.
“These people have not done
anything wrong,” she said.
ing to work in the field.
SLB said attracting a diverse
pool of workers is crucial to its
success.
“The future of the energy in-
dustry and our own commit-
ry.”
Haustein said even though
records only go back to the mid-
dle of the 19th century, using
tree rings, ice cores and other
proxies he calculates that this
month is the hottest in about
120,000 years, which Buontem-
po said makes sense. Other sci-
entists have made similar calcu-
lations.
“The reason that setting new
temperature records is a big
deal is that we are now being
challenged to find ways to sur-
vive through temperatures hot-
ter than any of us have ever ex-
perienced before,” University of
Wisconsin-Madison climate
scientist Andrea Dutton said in
an email. “Soaring tempera-
tures place ever increasing
strains not just on power grids
and infrastructure, but on hu-
man bodies that are not
equipped to survive some of the
extreme heat we are already ex-
periencing.”
It’s no accident that the hot-
test July on record has brought
deadly heat waves in the U.S.
and Mexico, China and south-
ern Europe, smoke-causing
wildfires and heavy floods
worldwide, said Imperial Col-
lege of London climate scientist
Friederike Otto.
The average temperature be-
ing measured is like “the fever
temperature that we measure
for our planet,” Otto said.
“We are in uncharted territo-
ry as far as humans on this
planet are concerned, so our re-
cords are falling with increas-
ing frequency and that’s exactly
what we expect to — and what
we’ve been predicting would —
happen,” said Texas Tech cli-
mate scientist Katharine Hay-
hoe.
In the middle of some of the
worst heat, where Phoenix is
now at a record 27 straight days
and counting of 110 degrees or
higher temperatures, Universi-
ty of Arizona climate scientist
Katharine Jacobs said the re-
cords are giving humanity a
message about reducing emis-
sions of heat-trapping gases
from the burning of coal, oil and
natural gas.
“Events like this are sign-
posts along a highway we don’t
want to travel,” Jacobs said in an
email. “It is time to stop playing
political games and get serious
in order to protect ourselves
and future generations.”
“Mike Miles created this prob-
lem and now he wants the re-
maining employees to clean up
his mess.”
The district as of last Tuesday
had hired more than 800 teach-
ers — 655 internal candidates
and 190 external hires — to fill
the NES schools, leaving only 65
vacancies. Miles has said that
the hiring process typically be-
gins in the spring, but his ad-
ministration got a late start since
he was appointed as superinten-
dent in June.
“We have six weeks, so we got
to work hard, but we’re going to
fill those 65 positions,” Miles
said at a community meeting
last week. “So the NES schools
are looking pretty good right
now.”
The district has not released
districtwide teacher vacancy in-
formation, but announced Wed-
nesday that 73 schools are fully
staffed with teachers.
Williams questioned how the
district will manage to fill all but
50 teaching positions in roughly
a month. HISD started the
school year last August with ap-
proximately 95 percent of the
roles filled, leaving roughly 700
certified teacher vacancies.
“It’s unreasonable. We are in a
nationwide shortage,” Williams
said. “I don’t know where he
thinks he’s going to get these
magical teachers from — these
other districts are not going to
let teachers out of their con-
tracts.”
The district is hosting hiring
events and job fairs at HISD
headquarters and at schools
across the district, with events
scheduled for Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Friday this week. HISD
is now offering a $300 referral
bonus for teachers.
ment to driving innovation are
completely dependent on our
ability to attract and retain the
most diverse, inclusive and tal-
ented workforce,” it said.
“That’s why the core of our cul-
ture is centered on maintaining
and supporting a harassment-
and discrimination-free envi-
ronment where everyone feels
safe to grow, learn and contrib-
ute.”

ASTROS
From revamp to rotation
France’s mechanical
changes made in ’20
paying off in majors
By Matt Kawahara
STA F F W RIT E R
J.P. France’s windup suggests
no wasted movement. The As-
tros righthander starts with his
body already turned, left shoul-
der facing home plate, right foot
parallel to the pitching rubber. A
small step of his left foot begins
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans praised tight end Dalton Schultz. “He’s just a consistent playmaker for us,” Ryans said of the
former fourth-round pick who signed a one-year deal $6.25 million deal. “He does things exactly the right way.”
Reliable target
Tight end Schultz has had over 500 receiving yards three straight years
By Brooks Kubena
STA F F W RIT E R
Don’t ask Dalton Schultz to
play Madden. He says he
doesn’t play it.
Don’t ask him to eat Tex-
Mex. He says he hates it.
“Maybe I’m opinionated,”
Schultz shrugs. But a 27-year-
old tight end entering his sixth
NFL season ought to know
what he wants. Madden? It’s
like a guitarist playing Guitar
Hero, he says. He’d rather
hang with fullback Troy Hair-
ston, another video game pur-
ist who built his own liquid
cooling computer, a Michigan
native who might not take as
much offense to Schultz’s dis-
dain for a staple of Texan cui-
sine.
Colorado to leave Pac-12 in 2024,
return to Big 12 in latest shakeup
Colorado doesn’t consider the
Big 12 so bad
after all.
The Buffaloes
will exit the
Pac-12 Confer-
ence and head
back to a re-
Brent vamped Big 12
Zwerneman after they helped
lead the charge
O N COLLE G E
FOOT BA LL early in college
football’s shake-
up 12 years ago
as a discontented member of …
the Big 12.
The move is the latest in a
SPORTS
HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 • SECTION B
the sequence. France’s hands,
held near his belt, rise with the
slight lift of his left knee. Then he
is driving forward to deliver one
of five pitches.
It is, in France’s words, a “com-
pletely different” motion from
the one he employed until a few
years ago. Through 2019, France
started with his shoulders
squared toward the plate. He had
a much higher leg lift, his left
knee rising to about chest height.
A mechanical overhaul in 2020,
with the minor leagues paused
Astros continues on B4
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is expected to
prominently feature Schultz in his game plan.
series of shifts the last two years
that has seen Texas and Okla-
homa announce they will leave
the Big 12 for the SEC, UCLA
and Southern Cal abandon the
Pac-12 for the Big Ten and UH
move up to the Big 12.
“After careful thought and
consideration, it was deter-
mined that a switch in confer-
ence would give CU Boulder the
stability, resources, and expo-
sure necessary for long-term
future success in a college ath-
letics environment that is con-
stantly evolving,” Colorado
wrote Thursday in a joint state-
UP NEXT
ASTROS VS. RAYS
Where/when: 7:10 p.m. Friday at
Minute Maid Park.
TV/radio: ATTSW; 740 AM, 790
AM, 1010 AM (Spanish).
ASTROS
UPDATES
For our
latest game
coverage, scan Astros starting pitcher J.P. France has gone 6-3 with a 2.87
this code. ERA across 14 starts in his rookie season.
TEXANS
Photos by Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
“The whole state turned on
me for that one,” Schultz ad-
mits. But a former fourth-
round pick who totaled 198
catches, 2,000 yards and 17
touchdowns in the last three
seasons with the Cowboys
ought to receive some amnes-
ty.
Well, maybe not immediate-
ly from Houstonians. But
these scenes ought to help
more: rookie quarterback C.J.
Stroud whipping a hitch to
Schultz on the first day of
training camp, Schultz setting
the edge on an outside run by
Dameon Pierce, Stroud strik-
ing Schultz in stride along the
sideline with cornerback Ste-
ven Nelson giving chase.
There ought to be few other
Schultz continues on B3
ment from chancellor Philip
DiStefano and athletic director
Rick George.
“The Big 12’s national reach
across three time zones as well
as our shared creative vision for
the future we feel makes it an
excellent fit for CU Boulder, our
students, faculty, and alumni.
These decisions are never easy
and we’ve valued our 12 years as
proud members of the Pac-12
Conference.”
Colorado once loved the Big 12
so much the Buffaloes couldn’t
wait to escape it for fear of being Ralphie, the mascot for Colorado, and the Buffaloes will be
Big 12 continues on B2 back in the Big 12 in 2024, returning after 12 years in the Pac-12.
Karen Warren/Staff photographer
Ryans
not ready
to name
No. 1 QB
Rookie Stroud
competing with
incumbent Mills
By Jonathan M. Alexander
STAF F WRI TER
About 965 miles northeast in
Spartanburg, S.C., where the
Carolina Panthers are holding
training camp, coach Frank
Reich declared No. 1 overall pick
Bryce Young his starter at quar-
terback.
Here in Houston, Texans
coach DeMeco Ryans isn’t quite
ready to make such a proclama-
tion with his rookie QB. The
Texans have an ongoing quarter-
back competition.
Houston will have a decision
to make at some point this train-
ing camp. Start C.J. Stroud, the
talented rookie whom the Tex-
ans drafted with the No. 2 overall
pick? Or start Mills, the incum-
bent and third-year player who
started 26 games for the Texans
over the past two seasons but al-
so led the league in turnovers in
2022?
For now, a decision has not
been made. The two players will
continue to split first-team reps
in camp for the foreseeable fu-
ture.
How long will that be?
“We’ll see,” Ryans said Thurs-
day. “When the time comes for
us to declare someone as the
starter, we’ll do that when it’s the
right time for us.
“In Baltimore (for Week 1), I
promise you we’ll have a quar-
terback out there.”
It’s too early to determine
who’s having the best camp be-
tween Mills and Stroud. The
pads haven’t even come on, and
both players have made their fair
share of plays and mistakes.
Day one of training camp
Wednesday looked somewhat
sloppy for the offense. There
were drops and overthrows.
Day two looked a bit more effi-
cient. Ryans said he was pleased
with how the quarterbacks were
able to turn things around.
During team drills, Mills fin-
QBs continues on B3
David Zalubowski/Associated Press
B2 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Surge of anger led to brilliance for U.S.
By Juliet Macur
N EW YO RK T IME S
WELLINGTON, New
Zealand — Lindsey Horan
was still curled up on the
field when she decided,
enough already.
Enough of getting
kicked by players from the
Netherlands. Enough of
letting the Dutch dictate
the game. Enough of the
U.S. women’s team, the
two-time reigning world
champion, not playing its
best at this Women’s
World Cup.
Horan and her team
were an hour into a phys-
ical match against the
Netherlands filled with
sharp elbows and power-
ful shoves, and they were
losing it by a goal. Now Ho-
ran, a U.S. co-captain, had
just been hip-checked hard
by a Netherlands counter-
part, Danielle van de
Donk. So after several min-
utes of being examined by
medical staff, and another
moment of being lectured
by the referee for shoving
van de Donk, Horan did
exactly what her teammate
Julie Ertz had just begged
her to do.
“Just score this goal,”
Ertz had whispered as
they lined up to await a
corner kick from Rose La-
velle, “to shut everyone
up.”
And that’s just what she
THURSDAY’S MATCHES
Sub sparks Nigeria’s upset victory
W IR E R EP ORT S
BRISBANE, Australia
— Asisat Oshoala had to
watch from Nigeria’s
bench for an hour, desper-
ate to get into the action,
before getting a chance to
unleash all her pent up
energy against co-host
Australia at the Women’s
World Cup.
The Barcelona striker
entered the game in the
63rd minute and Nigeria
took the lead two minutes
later for the first time, 2-1.
Within nine minutes,
Oshoala scored a goal that
sealed an upset victory,
sparked her jersey-shed-
ding celebration and left
Australia in a must-win
scenario for World Cup
survival.
After losing 3-2, an
Australian squad dealing
with injuries to striker
Sam Kerr and understudy
Mary Fowler needs to beat
Olympic champion Cana-
da in Melbourne on Mon-
day to control its own fate
for a spot in the round of
16.
Nigeria and Canada
opened with a 0-0 draw
and both teams now have
four points. Australia has
three from its opening 1-0
win over Ireland.
Nigeria next faces win-
less Ireland, which is
making its debut in the
BIG 12
From page B1
left behind in a possibly
wilting league about 13
years ago, and they found
an ally willing to bolt the
Big 12. That was Nebras-
ka, a bigger influence in
the conference that exited
for the Big Ten up north
while Colorado headed
west to the Pac-12 in 2011.
A year prior in 2010, the
Big 12 appeared to be
unraveling, with Texas
and Texas A&M perhaps
headed to the Pac-12 (then
the Pac-10) along with
Baylor, Texas Tech, Okla-
homa and Oklahoma
State. In a proactive move,
Colorado accepted an
invite to the Pac-12 while
UT and A&M decided to
make the Big 12 work
(minus Nebraska and
did. As Rose Lavelle’s cor-
ner screamed into the pen-
alty area, Horan sprinted
for the precise spot where
it would arrive. “An abso-
lute dime,” she called the
pass from Lavelle. She
jumped to meet it, snapped
her head and sent the ball
straight into the net.
“I don’t think you ever
want to get me mad be-
cause I don’t react in a good
way,” Horan said. “Usual-
ly, I just go and I want
something more. I want to
win more. I want to score
more. I want to do more for
my team.”
Horan’s goal lifted the
United States to a 1-1 tie
with the Netherlands, with
one more group match
game to play for each team.
At the moment, the teams
are tied with four points
from a win and a draw, but
the United States holds a
slight edge on goal differ-
ence because it beat Viet-
nam by three goals and the
Netherlands beat Portugal
by only one.
The winner of the group
will be decided after the
third and final matches in
the group, which will be
played simultaneously on
Tuesday. The U.S. will face
Portugal, and the Nether-
lands will play Vietnam.
The United States will
enter that game with a new
spring in its step, and Ho-
ran is the main reason for
Asisat Oshoala came in during the second half to net
the decisive goal for Nigeria in its win over Australia.
tournament.
Nigeria coach Randy
Waldrum said he benched
Oshoala at the start of the
game to manage her long-
term injury, but always
intended to send her on
when it was most needed.
“She’s such a force
physically,” Waldrum
said. “She can create
problems — the third goal
was massive. When we
talked about her role —
she’s like any player, she
wants to be on all the time
— I said ‘I just have a
feeling, come on for the
last 30 minutes and make
Colorado) — at least for
the time being.
The Buffaloes, who
won a national title in 1990
under then-coach Bill
McCartney as members of
the Big Eight, have only
played in two bowl games
since joining the Pac-12 in
2011, two Alamo Bowl
losses. They’re on their
fifth coach since, as Deion
Sanders enters his first
season running the show.
Sanders’ first game is at
TCU on Sept. 2 in what
will be a future Big 12
matchup. UH fans, for
their part, are in for a
future treat in and around
Boulder and at Folsom
Field, the Buffaloes’ foot-
ball home for nearly 100
years that is location 38
miles from the Denver
airport and has a splendid
view of the Rocky Moun-
tains.
Sports Editor: reid.laymance@chron.com • 713-362-2734 • sptletters@chron.com
Lindsey Horan os the U.S. celebrates her goal in the second half to draw with
Netherlands. Horan scored after she was checked by Danielle van de Donk.
that. All it took, it turned
out, was a bit of rage.
“That’s when you get the
best football from Lind-
sey,” Horan said of herself.
She is not the first U.S.
women’s player, of course,
to take it upon herself to
personally change the
team’s trajectory at a
World Cup, to will it to vic-
tory on soccer’s biggest
stage. Think Megan Rapi-
noe in 2019, or Carli Lloyd
in the 2015 final, to take two
recent examples. In each
case, and in Horan’s on
Thursday, a key player
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
a difference.’ ”
PORTUGAL 2, VIETNAM 0
Telma Encarnacao
scored one goal and assis-
ted on another as Portugal
defeated Vietnam on
Thursday in a win that
ensured Vietnam will not
advance to the knockout
stage.
Portugal jumped ahead
in the seventh minute
following a quick series of
decisive passes through
the Vietnamese defense.
Lucia Alves dropped in a
perfect cross to Encarna-
cao at the top of the 6-yard
Colorado defeated Regis
College in its first game at
Folsom Field in October
1924, 100 years before it
will begin hosting Big 12
foes (in a stark case of déjà
vu all over again).
Colorado and UH have
only met once prior, a
29-17 Buffaloes victory in
the long-gone Bluebonnet
Bowl in the Astrodome on
New Year’s Eve in 1971.
The two sides already had
agreed to a home-and-
home series, however,
with UH hosting in Sep-
tember 2025 and Colorado
hosting in September
2026.
Those will now be Big
12 games, with the exact
future schedules to be
hashed out in the coming
year. UH joined the Big 12
this month after spending
a decade in the American
Athletic Conference. BYU,
suddenly came to person-
ify the team’s history and
legacy — four World Cup
titles, four decades atop
world soccer — and turn
the momentum her team’s
way.
On Thursday, even Ho-
ran’s teammates sensed
something was about to
change. Forward Alex
Morgan said when she saw
the referee pull Horan and
van de Donk aside after the
two exchanged shoves and
heated words following
the foul, and just before the
corner kick that ensued,
box for a simple finish.
Portugal still has a shot
to advance out of the
group stage but will need
to win or draw against the
United States, with a
Netherlands loss next
Tuesday against Vietnam.
In the 21st minute, Por-
tugal turned a goal kick
from Vietnam into a
chance, taking possession
and moving downfield.
Encarnacao slipped the
ball to Kika Nazareth as
she raced through defend-
ers, and the 20-year-old
forward slotted the sec-
ond goal of the night in
Hamilton, New Zealand.
ARGENTINA 2
SOUTH AFRICA 2
Argentina scored two
game-saving goals in a
flurry of five minutes
during the second half
Friday to salvage a draw
with South Africa in Dun-
edin Stadium.
Sophia Braun sent the
ball soaring into the top
right corner of the net in
the 74th minute to get
Argentina on the board.
Romina Nunez tied it with
a header in the 79th.
Linda Motlhalo scored
in the 30th minute for
South Africa when she
knocked in a pass from
Thembi Kgatlana. Kgatla-
na later added a goal her-
self in the 66th minute.
Cincinnati and Central
Florida joined the Big 12 at
the same time.
“We … hope the Buffa-
loes feel as welcome as we
have as new members of
the conference,” BYU
President Shane Reese
said Thursday in a state-
ment.
UT and OU are exiting
the Big 12 and entering the
SEC in one year, doing
what A&M did a dozen
years prior in bailing on
the Big 12 in 2012. The Big
12 will officially be at 13
teams for one year with
the entrance of Colorado,
meaning at least one more
program might join the
Buffaloes in the Big 12 to
give the league an even
number of members at 14
(or perhaps three more to
reach super-conference
status of 16).
The SEC will be at 16
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
continued to press for a
winning goal after Horan
tied the score, showing the
younger players on the
U.S. team how to take con-
trol of a game. Horan and
players like Ertz and La-
velle, he said, “carried the
younger ones, or in a way
showed the younger ones
what this game is all
about.”
One of those players, the
21-year-old Trinity Rod-
man, said she had been im-
pressed by Horan’s ability
to “flip a switch” and go
“from trash talking to put-
ting a ball in the back of the
net.”
It may have been why
Andonovski chose to make
only one substitution in
Alysa Rubin/Associated Press Thursday’s game, sending
on Lavelle for Savannah
DeMelo at halftime to try
to inject some energy into
she “felt like something the U.S. midfield. He re-
was going to happen.” frained from making more
U.S. coach Vlatko Ando- changes, he said, “because
novski said the response I thought we had control of
was typical of Horan. the game, I thought we
“She gets fouled, kicked, were knocking on the door
hurt and obviously it’s a of scoring a goal.
very difficult moment,” “We were around the
Andonovski said. “And in- goal the whole time,” he
stead of crying about it, she added, “and I just didn’t
just goes and makes a want to disrupt the
statement and basically rhythm.”
that shows everyone in the It was only after Horan’s
world the direction that goal, though, and after be-
the game is going to take.” ing outplayed in the first
Andonovski said he was half, that the United States
especially proud that Ho- began to look crisper and
ran and other veterans had more determined.
AT A GLANCE
FIRST ROUND GROUP E W L T GF GA Pts
United States 1 0 1 4 1 4
GROUP A W L T GF GA Pts Netherlands 1 0 1 2 1 4
Switzerland 1 0 1 2 0 4 Portugal 1 1 0 2 1 3
New Zealand 1 1 0 1 1 3 Vietnam 0 2 0 0 5 0
Philippines 1 1 0 1 2 3 July 21 result
Norway 0 1 1 0 1 1
July 20 result
United States 3, Vietnam 0
Sunday’s result
New Zealand 1, Norway 0 Netherlands 1, Portugal 0
July 21 result Wednesday’s result
Switzerland 2, Philippines 0 United States 1, Netherlands 1
Tuesday’s results
Philippines 1, New Zealand 0
Thursday’s result
Portugal 2, Vietnam 0
Switzerland 0, Norway 0
Sunday’s games
Tuesday’s games
At Auckland, New Zealand
At Dunedin, New Zealand Portugal vs. United States, 2 a.m.
Switzerland vs. New Zealand, 2 a.m. At Dunedin, New Zealand
At Auckland, New Zealand Vietnam vs. Netherlands, 2 a.m.
Norway vs. Philippines, 2 a.m.
GROUP F W L T GF GA Pts
GROUP B
Canada
W L
1 0
T
1
GF
2
GA
1
Pts
4
Brazil
France
1 0 0
0 0 1
4
0
0
0
3
1
Australia 1 0 0 1 0 3 Jamaica 0 0 1 0 0 1
Nigeria 0 0 1 0 0 1 Panama 0 1 0 0 4 0
Ireland 0 2 0 1 3 0 Sunday’s result
July 20 results France 0, Jamaica 0
Australia 1, Ireland 0 Monday’s result
Nigeria 0, Canada 0 Brazil 4, Panama 0
Wednesday’s result
Canada 2, Ireland 1
Saturday’s games
At Brisbane, Australia
Thursday’s result France vs. Brazil, 5 a.m.
Nigeria 3, Australia 2 At Perth, Australia
Monday’s games Panama vs. Jamaica, 7:30 a.m.
At Melbourne, Australia
Canada vs. Australia, 5 a.m.
Wednesday’s games
At Sydney (Allianz Stadium)
At Brisbane, Australia
Ireland vs. Nigeria, 5 a.m.
France vs. Panama, 5 a.m.
At Melbourne, Australia
GROUP C W L T GF GA Pts
Jamaica vs. Brazil, 5 a.m.
Spain 2 0 0 8 0 6 GROUP G W L T GF GA Pts
Japan 2 2 0 7 0 6 Sweden 1 0 0 2 1 3
Costa Rica 0 2 0 0 5 0 Italy 1 0 0 1 0 3
Zambia 0 2 0 0 10 0 South Africa 0 1 1 3 4 1
July 21 result Argentina 0 1 1 2 3 1
Spain 3, Costa Rica 0 Sunday’s result
Saturday’s result
Japan 5, Zambia 0
Sweden 2, South Africa 1
Monday’s result
Wednesday’s results Italy 1, Argentina 0
Japan 2, Costa Rica 0 Thursday’s result
Spain 5, Zambia 0 Argentina 2, South Africa 2
Monday’s games
At Wellington, New Zealand
Saturday’s game
At Wellington, New Zealand
Japan vs. Spain, 2 a.m. Sweden vs. Italy, 2:30 a.m.
At Hamilton, New Zealand Wednesday’s games
Costa Rica vs. Zambia, 2 a.m. At Hamilton, New Zealand
GROUP D W L T GF GA Pts
Argentina vs. Sweden, 2 a.m.
At Wellington, New Zealand
Denmark 1 0 0 1 0 3
England 1 0 0 1 0 3
South Africa vs. Italy, 2 a.m.
China 0 1 0 0 1 0 GROUP H
Germany
W L T
1 0 0
GF
6
GA
0
Pts
3
Haiti 0 0 0 0 1 0
Saturday’s results Colombia 1 0 0 2 0 3
South Korea 0 0 1 0 2 0
England 1, Haiti 0
Denmark 1, China 0 Morocco 0 1 0 0 6 0
Friday’s games Monday’s results
At Sydney (Allianz Stadium) Germany 6, Morocco 0
England vs. Denmark, 3:30 a.m. Colombia 2, South Korea 0
At Adelaide, Australia
China vs. Haiti, 6 a.m.
Saturday’s game
At Adelaide, Australia
Tuesday’s games South Korea vs. Morocco, 11:30 p.m.
At Adelaide, Australia Sunday’s game
China vs. England, 6 a.m. At Sydney (Allianz Stadium)
At Perth, Australia
Haiti winner vs. Denmark, 6 a.m.
Germany vs. Colombia, 4:30 a.m.
Thursday’s games
At Brisbane, Australia
South Korea vs. Germany, 5 a.m.
At Perth, Australia
Morocco vs. Colombia, 5 a.m.
teams in one year with the
addition of the Longhorns
Yormark simply said in
a succinct statement from
and Sooners. The Pac-12 is the Big 12 on Thursday,
now trying to quickly “They’re back.”
mend its shrinking fence, Colorado won’t have to
considering bell cows pay any exit fees to the
UCLA and USC are both Pac-12 considering the
exiting for the Big Ten in league’s television deal
the summer of 2024. That also is up around the
also will be the first year same time as the Buffa-
of the expanded College loes’ exit.
Football Playoff, as it Colorado’s semi-sur-
shifts from four to 12 prising entrance won’t
teams. mean a financial windfall
The Big 12, seemingly for UH and other mem-
left for dead on a couple of bers. If anything, the pie is
occasions over the de- divided a bit more. The
cades, has done a solid job Big 12 paid out a record
of staying significant and $44 million this year to its
in the race to keep up with current members, while
the SEC and Big Ten un- the SEC doled out about
der still-new commission- $50 million each.
er Brett Yormark. The Colorado should be
league, which will have receiving a slight pay
seven original members raise, however, as the
starting in the fall of 2024, Pac-12 paid out $37 million
should be particularly this year to its current
entertaining in basketball. dozen members.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
NOTEBOOK
Left guard Green practices with first team
By Jonathan M. Alexander
and Brooks Kubena
STA F F WRIT E RS
After spending most of the
first day of training camp on
the sideline, Kenyon Green
began Thursday’s practice at
left guard with the first-team
offense. It’s a promising sign
for Green, who missed off-
season workouts after un-
dergoing arthroscopic knee
surgery.
Texans coach DeMeco
Ryans said Green “has been
progressing” and “it’s good to
have him back out there.”
Former Dolphins reserve
lineman Michael Deiter, who
signed a one-year deal with the
Texans, filled in for Green on
Wednesday.
Green’s return to the lineup
appears to be gradual. He
spent the third session of team
drills on the sideline, and Dei-
ter replaced him at left guard.
The Texans have a two-week
window to prepare Green
before their first preseason
game in New England.
“He’s put in the work to be
back out there,” Ryans said of
Green. “Excited to see him (on
his) first day starting to roll. A
lot of work (ahead), a lot to
improve on. He’ll continue to
do that. Happy to have him
back with us.”
Green, the No. 15 overall
pick in 2022, has yet to experi-
ence a full developmental peri-
od as a professional. He
missed most of his first train-
ing camp with a concussion,
then struggled as a rookie
after fielding his first start in
the second regular-season
game against the Broncos.
The Texans have addressed
their needs along the offensive
line beyond Green. They
signed left tackle Laremy
Tunsil, right tackle Tytus
Howard and right guard Shaq
Mason each to three-year
extensions, and they drafted
Juice Scruggs (second round)
and Jarrett Patterson (sixth
round) to compete for the
starting job at center with
Scott Quessenberry.
Quessenberry has taken
first-team snaps at center in
both camp practices. Scruggs
has been consistently rotating
in with the second-team of-
fense.
It’s clear the Texans are
being patient with Green’s
QBS
From page B1
ished 9-of-15. He started strong,
connecting on six of his first sev-
en passes. But he faltered to-
ward the end. He overthrew a
wide receiver and had his pass
picked off by cornerback Steven
SCHULTZ
From page B1
requirements of endearment for
a quality tight end where quality
tight ends have been lacking.
The Texans haven’t had a tight
end record more than 500 re-
ceiving yards since C.J. Fiedo-
rowicz (559) last surpassed the
benchmark in 2016. Schultz has
done it three seasons in a row,
and the Texans signed him to a
one-year, $6.25 million deal be-
lieving he’d become a reliable
target for a passing game in dire
need of downfield options.
The Texans totaled the NFL’s
eighth-fewest passing yards in
2022, logged the league’s sec-
ond-fewest yards per attempt
(6.3) and averaged the fewest
yards per drive (24.3). Assem-
bling that team’s offensive statis-
tics is an exploration of inepti-
tude, a moot exercise in the
wake of the franchise’s fourth
coaching overhaul in four sea-
sons and its considerable offsea-
son investment in offensive fire-
power.
Schultz was Houston’s offen-
sive gem in free agency. General
manager Nick Caserio had in
the two previous cycles signed a
swath of tight ends to one-year
deals — Jordan Akins, O.J. How-
ard, Pharaoh Brown, Antony
Auclair — that required the
fringe players to prove they be-
longed. But Schultz’s one-year
deal attracted a young pass-
Left guard Kenyon Green missed offseason workouts after undergoing arthroscopic knee
surgery. Green sat out the third session of team drills, and Michael Deiter replaced him.
development within their new
offensive scheme under Bobby
Slowik.
Ryans said Green “definitely
adds a lot of value to what
we’re doing up front,” and
there’ll be a considerable focus
on his progress throughout
the preseason.
The Texans also have a siz-
able financial investment in
Green, who wouldn’t represent
cap savings upon being cut
until 2025. Still, the Texans
signed Deiter, and Scruggs,
Patterson and reserve lineman
Jimmy Morrissey are flexible
enough to play multiple spots
along the interior if Green still
needs time to improve.
Wide receiver Brown
makes sizable target
Wide receiver was one of the
biggest concerns among the
Texans’ position groups head-
ing into camp, and who would
emerge as the top option. But
the Texans might not need
that.
It appears they have a lot of
good wide receivers who can
Nelson.
Meanwhile, Stroud had a
slow start but picked it up near
the end. He finished 10-of-14 and
hit rookie wide receiver Tank
Dell up the middle for a big gain.
One thing noticed about
Stroud: He took a lot of deep
drop-backs, which he’ll have to
limit as training camp progress-
Texans tight end Dalton Schultz totaled 198 catches, 2,000
yards and 17 touchdowns in the last three seasons with Dallas.
catcher to a fledgling play-caller
whose pronounced usage of
tight ends will significantly fea-
ture Schultz and could yield him
a major contract in Houston or
elsewhere.
Bobby Slowik, the Texans’
first-time offensive coordinator,
spent five seasons as an assis-
tant coach with the 49ers which
TEXANS
make plays.
One such player is Noah
Brown, who has been one of
the standouts through two
practices. He has made a lot of
difficult catches while keeping
his feet in bounds on the side-
lines.
Brown had 43 catches for
555 yards last season for the
Cowboys. The 6-foot-2, 215-
pound receiver gives C.J.
Stroud, or whomever they
choose to start, a big target.
Sims needs to dazzle
in the preseason
Steven Sims has one of the
more unlikely paths toward
making the 53-man roster. He’s
a 5-10, 176-pound veteran who
projects as a slot receiver and
is entering his fifth year in the
NFL thanks to his proficiency
as a return specialist. It’s a
profile that too closely aligns
with Tank Dell, the UH star
and third-round selection who
is seeing more reps with the
offense than Sims.
Still, Sims is the first to
return kicks on special teams.
es.
Stroud has attempted a few
deep passes but hasn’t connect-
ed much on them. He did, how-
ever, hit Nico Collins for a long
completion on the first day after
the third-year receiver beat cor-
nerback Derek Stingley Jr. down
the field.
Stroud also scrambled for
Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
corresponded with the franchis-
e’s selection of fifth-rounder
George Kittle and his subse-
quent development into a four-
time Pro Bowler and matchup
menace. Expecting Schultz to
replicate Kittle’s success would
be foolish. Surpassing the base-
line for above-average would be
a victory, and Schultz has so far
Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
On a team that could carry
only six wide receivers on the
roster, Sims must dazzle dur-
ing the preseason. There’s a
historical risk.
In 2021, the Texans saved a
spot for Andre Roberts, who
was released after six games in
which he fumbled twice and
averaged career lows in yards
per kick return (21.4) and punt
return (4.1).
Dell averaged 18.3 yards per
kick return and 16 yards per
punt return at UH, and he
logged a 68-yard punt return
touchdown against Tulsa last
season. Desmond King, an
All-Pro return specialist in
2018, was a reliable punt re-
turner for the Texans last sea-
son with 9.4 yards per return.
John Metchie III and Alex
Bachman also practiced re-
turning kicks.
Anderson turning
heads on defense
Will Anderson Jr. is look-
ing more and more like the
backfield basher the Texans
desired he’d become when
what would have been a decent
gain. His mobility was one of the
biggest question marks coming
out of the draft, but he has
shown he’s not afraid to take off
if nothing is there. He’ll of
course have to slide in games.
“Davis has been throwing
really crisp balls, whether it is
deep (or) intermediate (or) nice
shown Houston’s coaching staff
he’s capable of doing so.
“He’s just a consistent play-
maker for us,” Texans coach De-
Meco Ryans said of Schultz. “He
does things exactly the right
way. He operates with the prop-
er precision with running his
routes, his catching, getting ver-
tical and how he finishes his
catches. Everything’s been con-
sistent with Dalton, and he’s
been a true leader for us on the
offensive side.”
Slowik’s tutelage under 49ers
coach Kyle Shanahan should
field a Texans offense that
makes use of its tight ends dif-
ferently than former offensive
coordinators Pep Hamilton and
Tim Kelly. Both Hamilton and
Kelly frequently deployed three
tight ends as blockers in a (most-
ly) futile effort to support the
run game.
The Texans deployed 13 per-
sonnel (1 RB, 3 TEs) the seventh-
most frequently in the NFL last
season (9 percent), according to
NFELO. The 49ers (1 percent)
barely used the package at all.
Instead of deploying a third
tight end, the 49ers mostly
swapped out the position for a
true fullback, seven-time Pro
Bowler Kyle Juszczyk, whose
specialization as a backfield
blocker better served their pur-
pose. San Francisco deployed 21
personnel (2 RBs, 1 TE) the sec-
ond-most frequently in the
league (41 percent), second only
to Shanahan’s former offensive
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 B3
they traded up to No. 3 overall
to draft him.
The 6-4, 243-pound defen-
sive end hasn’t yet taken the
field first with the defense, but
he’s rotating often behind
veteran pass rusher Jerry
Hughes, who led the Texans
with nine sacks last season.
Anderson is consistently
collapsing pockets and bully-
ing blockers. It’s difficult to
discern just how much damage
he’d inflict because defenders
are not permitted full contact
on quarterbacks and ball carri-
ers, but blockers are fair game
and Anderson bulldozed vet-
eran tight end Dalton
Schultz, who attempted to
seal him off on a backside
block.
The Texans’ joint practices
with the Dolphins and Saints
will reveal more about perhaps
the most dangerous weapon in
Ryans’ defense. He’ll certainly
be the most interesting defend-
er to watch in Houston’s first
preseason game Aug. 10 at
New England.
Singletary shows off
breakaway speed
It might be foolhardy to
draw conclusions on running
backs during training camp,
when teams hardly run the
ball and don’t face full contact
when they do. But Devin Sin-
gletary has shown signs of
bursts in two practices.
Singletary showed the most
significant preview of his
speed Thursday. He maneu-
vered through a half-speed
defense easily enough, but
then found himself in an actu-
al chase with corner Stephen
Nelson. On came the jets.
Singletary dashed with a berth
that widened toward the end
zone.
The 5-7, 203-pound veteran
signed a one-year, $2.75 million
deal with the Texans, which
gave the run-oriented fran-
chise a proven alternative to
run in tandem with Dameon
Pierce.
They’re counting on Single-
tary to be the all-around run-
ning back he was in Buffalo,
where he averaged 36 catches
and 243 receiving yards in four
seasons, and he’ll fix Hous-
ton’s recent failures to field
explosive gains if he can con-
tinuously outrun corners as he
did Thursday.
and firm on the underneath
stuff,” wide receiver Robert
Woods said. “C.J. is doing the
same thing. Obviously, being a
rookie, coming in, grasping this
offense and being able to make
the right reads, making the right
checks and adjustments in his
drops (is important).
“It’s great competition.”
coordinator, Mike McDaniel,
who deployed the package 46
percent of the time in Miami.
Hairston, who played 166
snaps at fullback for the Texans
in 2022, is battling with newly
signed Andrew Beck at fullback
in training camp. Either one’s
eventual distinct and separate
usage should relieve the tight
end position from certain block-
ing responsibilities they held in
years past, which should create
more opportunities for them to
release on routes.
Schultz is yet another sup-
portive pillar for an offense that
could field a rookie quarterback.
The Texans invested heavily in
their offensive line by signing
tackles Laremy Tunsil, Tytus
Howard and right guard Shaq
Mason to extensions. They
signed Devin Singletary, the
Bills’ leading rusher, as a tan-
dem running back with Pierce.
With little clarity about the pro-
ficiency of a questionable wide
receiver corps, Schultz could be-
come the featured option on sev-
eral plays.
“It’s not like Slow’s in there
saying, ‘OK listen, we’re going to
throw the ball to the tight end on
this play,’” Schultz says. “I’m
sure there’ll be plays like that.
But as of now, it’s just a pure,
‘Hey, this is the play, these are
the routes, here’s why we’re do-
ing the things that we do.’
There’s a lot of weaponization
you can do from an offensive
personnel standpoint.”
B4 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

MLB
AT A GLANCE BOX SCORES
ASTROS cutter this season. But if
France is pitching well in
AMERICAN LEAGUE Angels 6, Tigers 0 (1st) Mets 2, Nationals 1 From page B1 an outing, he said, “you can
Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
East Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away Los Angeles
Rengifo 2b
AB
5
R H BI BB SO
0 1 0 0 1
Avg.
.223 Abrams ss 3 1 1 0 2 1 .257 probably bank on my cut-
Baltimore 62 40 .608 — — 5-5 L-2 30-20 32-20 Ohtani p-dh 5 0 0 0 0 2 .296 Thomas rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .290 amid the pandemic, helped ter is good that day.”
Candelario 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .253
Tampa Bay 62 43 .590 1½ +4 2-8 L-1 37-19 25-24 Moniak cf
Ward lf
4
4
1 1 0 0 3
2 2 3 0 1
.331
.254 Meneses dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 .280 make his delivery more Tuesday offered an ex-
Toronto 57 46 .553 5½ — 5-5 W-1 27-20 30-26 Moustakas 3b 4 2 2 0 0 1 .253 Ruiz c
Do.Smith 1b
3 0 1 1
3 0 0 0
0
0
0 .245
1 .265
compact and altered the ample of its effect. In work-
Renfroe rf 4 1 3 0 0 0 .244
Boston 55 47 .539 7 1½ 6-4 W-4 30-23 25-24
Cabbage 1b 3 0 1 3 0 2 .250 Dickerson lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .258 course of his career. ing seven one-run innings
New York 54 48 .529 8 2½ 5-5 W-1 32-24 22-24 Wallach c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .196 Garrett lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .263
France, as a 28-year-old against the Rangers,
Velazquez ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 .231 García 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .261
Central Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away Totals 36 6 11 6 1 12 a-Vargas ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .267 rookie, has emerged this France leaned heavily on
Call cf 1 0 1 0 2 0 .209
Minnesota 54 50 .519 — — 6-4 L-2 30-24 24-26 Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Totals 29 1 5 1 4 6 season a surprise contribu- his four-seamer, throwing
Cleveland 52 51 .505 1 ½ 5 7-3 W-3 28-24 24-27 McKinstry 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .238
Greene cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .310
New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. tor for the Astros. Injuries 54 on 84 pitches, and mixed
Detroit 46 57 .447 7 ½ 11 4-6 L-3 22-30 24-27 Nimmo cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .258
Torkelson 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .231
Lindor ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .228 in their rotation prompted in11cutters. Two of five hits
Chicago 41 63 .394 13 16 ½ 2-8 L-6 21-28 20-35 Carpenter dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 .267
Vierling rf 2 0 0 0 1 0 .266
McNeil 2b-rf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .249 his debut in early May. In he allowed came against
Kansas City 29 75 .279 25 28 ½ 2-8 L-2 15-36 14-39 Alonso 1b 3 1 1 0 0 0 .217
Báez ss
Baddoo lf
3
3
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
1 .223
1 .207
Vogelbach dh 3 0 1 1 1 0 .228 his 14 major league starts, the cutter, but he generated
West Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away Short 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .199
1-Mendick pr-2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 France owns a 6-3 record mostly softer contact on 16
Stewart rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .200
Texas 60 43 .583 — — 6-4 W-1 34-20 26-23 Haase c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .200
Raley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- and 2.87 ERA. Nine of his fastballs and cutters Texas’
Totals 26 0 1 0 3 8
Houston 58 45 .563 2 +1 7-3 L-1 27-23 31-22 Canha lf 3 0 2 1 0 1 .242
outings are quality starts, hitters put into play. He
Los Angeles 010 202 010—6 11 0 Baty 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .230
Los Angeles 54 49 .524 6 3 8-2 W-4 29-23 25-26 Detroit 000 000 000—0 1 1 Narváez c 2 0 0 0 1 0 .213 tied with teammate Hunter threw just six sliders in the
Seattle 52 50 .510 7½ 4 ½ 6-4 W-2 29-25 23-25 E—Short (3). LOB—Los Angeles 5, Detroit 2. 2B—Ren- Totals 28 2 6 2 3 5
froe 2 (24), Moniak (15), Rengifo (7). HR—Ward 2 (14), Washington 000 001 000—1 5 1
Brown for most among game.
Oakland 28 76 .269 32 ½ 29 ½ 3-7 L-3 15-39 13-37 off Logue. RBIs—Cabbage 3 (6), Ward 3 (46). CS—Cab-
bage (1), Velazquez (2). SF—Cabbage. Runners left in
New York 000 000 02x—2 6 1 MLB rookies. General “I was super high fast-
NATIONAL LEAGUE scoring position—Los Angeles 3 (Moniak 2, Ward); De- E—Gray (3), Narváez (3). LOB—Washington 9, New York 9.
2B—Baty (10). RBIs—Ruiz (39), Vogelbach (30), Canha
manager Dana Brown on ball percentage, so if the
East Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away troit 1 (Short). RISP—Los Angeles 2 for 7; Detroit 0 for 2.
Runners moved up—Báez. GIDP—Vierling, Haase. (29).SB—Abrams(21).CS—Call(5),Nimmo(2).SF—Ruiz, Tuesday deemed France’s hitter’s going up there see-
Atlanta 64 36 .640 — — 3-7 L-2 32-19 32-17 Canha. S—Call. RISP—Washington1for 5; New York1for 7.
DP—Los Angeles 2 (Moustakas, Rengifo, Cabbage;
Moustakas, Rengifo, Cabbage). Washington IP H R ER BB SO NPERA work “outstanding.” ing fastball and I get a cut-
Philadelphia 55 47 .539 10 — 5-5 W-2 28-20 27-27
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gray
Weems, H, 2 2
6 2 0 0 3 4 1063.27
⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 123.29
It reflects a remarkable ter in there, it might get this
Miami 55 48 .534 10 ½ ½ 2-8 W-1 31-20 24-28 Ohtani, W, 9-5 9 1 0 0 3 8 111 3.43
Ferrer, H, 3 1
⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 35.40 rise. Houston drafted far off the end of the bat,
New York 48 54 .471 17 7 6-4 W-1 24-22 24-32 Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Lorenzen, L, 5-7 5 5 3 3 1 7 88 3.58
Thompson, L, 3-4, BS, 1-4 1⁄3 3 2 2 0 0 214.70
Finnegan 2
⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 83.12
France in the 14th round ground ball, something
Washington 43 60 .417 22 ½ 12 ½ 6-4 L-1 20-33 23-27 Logue 4 6 3 3 0 5 58 7.36
New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA from Mississippi State in like that,” France said. “It’s
Central Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away T—2:16. Senga
Peterson, W, 3-7
6 2 1 1 3 5 99 3.17
2 3 0 0 0 0 24 6.12
2018. At High-A Fayette- just something to get them
Milwaukee 57 46 .553 — — 6-4 W-1 29-24 28-22 Angels 11, Tigers 4 (2nd) Raley, S, 2-4 1 0 0 0 1 1 17 2.50 ville in 2019, he registered a off the fastball.”
Cincinnati 56 48 .538 1½ — 6-4 L-1 28-26 28-22 Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Neto ss 5 1 1 1 0 2 .251
T—2:48. A—32,834 (42,136).
4.31 ERA in 100 1⁄3 innings. Murphy said France
Chicago 51 51 .500 5½ 4 8-2 W-6 27-26 24-25 Leaders
Ohtani dh
a-Stefanic ph-dh
3 2 2 3 0 1 .298
1 1 0 0 1 0 .250
He entered that offseason “put himself on the map”
St. Louis 46 58 .442 11 ½ 10 5-5 L-1 22-27 24-31 Through Thursday
Moniak cf 4 1 2 0 1 0 .335 AMERICAN LEAGUE intent on making changes. in 2021, when he posted a
Pittsburgh 45 57 .441 11 ½ 10 4-6 W-1 23-26 22-31 Ward lf 4 1 0 0 1 0 .251
Moustakas 3b 3 1 1 0 0 0 .256 G AB H R Pct. Minor league cancellations 3.79 ERA with 157 strike-
West Division W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away Y.Díaz TB 86 327 104 60 .318
Velazquez 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 .222
Yoshida Bos 89 348 110 53 .316
in 2020 would cost him a outs over 114 innings be-
Los Angeles 58 43 .574 — — 5-5 L-1 30-18 28-25 Thaiss c 5 0 2 2 0 1 .245
Renfroe rf 5 1 3 2 0 1 .249 Bichette Tor 102 434 137 49 .316 season but, he now says, tween Class AA and Class
San Francisco 56 47 .544 3 + ½ 4-6 W-2 28-22 28-25 J.Naylor Cle 92 345 105 41 .304
Escobar 1b 4 2 1 1 1 0 .257
Tucker Hou 101 365 111 58 .304 ended up being “the best AAA. He pitched as a
Arizona 55 48 .534 4 ½ 3-7 L-1 27-26 28-22 Rengifo 2b-3b 4 1 1 2 0 1 .224
San Diego 49 54 .476 10 6 ½ 5-5 L-1 26-25 23-29
Totals 40 11 13 11 4 7 Merrifield Tor
Ohtani LAA
94
101
344
382
103
114
46
79
.299
.298
thing that happened to starter and reliever at Sug-
Colorado 40 62 .392 18 ½ 15 5-5 L-2 23-26 17-36
Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Hays Bal 91 336 99 47 .295 me.” ar Land last season and
Vierling cf 5 1 1 0 0 0 .265
Ibáñez 2b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .237
Turner Bos
J.Ramírez Cle
98
99
374
392
108
113
65
64
.289
.288
“It gave me a full year to was added to the Astros’
Wednesday’s results Torkelson 1b
Carpenter rf
2
4
0
0
0 1 2 0 .230
1 1 0 0 .266
Home runs basically revamp my 40-man roster in the win-
American League National League
Báez ss 3 1 0 0 0 2 .222 Ohtani, Los Angeles, 38; Robert Jr., Chicago, 28; Devers,
Boston, 25; A.García, Texas, 25; Burger, Chicago, 24; Siri,
whole mechanics and give ter as rotation depth. That
Miami 7, Tampa Bay 1 Miami 7, Tampa Bay 1
Seattle 8, Minnesota 7 Washington 5, Colorado 4
Rogers c
Cabrera dh
3
4
0
0
0 0 1 1 .219
1 0 0 2 .249
Tampa Bay, 20; Jung, Texas, 20; Judge, New York,19; 3 tied my arm a break,” France he would see an opportuni-
at 18.
Cleveland 8, Kansas City 3 Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 0 McKinstry lf 4 1 2 1 0 0 .242
RBIs said. “If that didn’t happen, ty with them was not cer-
Short 3b 2 1 2 0 0 0 .210
Toronto 8, Dodgers 1 Pittsburgh 3, San Diego 2 b-Maton ph-3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 .164
A.García, Texas, 84; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 80; J.Naylor, yeah, the tweaks might tain.
Philadelphia 6, Baltimore 4 St. Louis 11, Arizona 7 Cleveland, 79; Devers, Boston, 76; Heim, Texas, 70; Tucker,
Yankees 3, Mets 1 Toronto 8, Dodgers 1
Totals 32 4 8 3 5 6 Houston, 69; Turner, Boston, 66; Bregman, Houston, 66; have happened a little bit. His debut has helped the
Boston 5, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 6, Baltimore 4
Los Angeles 050 201 003—11 13 2 Guerrero Jr., Toronto, 65; Semien, Texas, 63.
Pitching
But it wouldn’t have been Astros navigate several in-
Detroit 002 000 110—4 8 1
Texas 13, Houston 5 Yankees 3, Mets 1 a-flied out for Ohtani in the 7th. b-grounded out for McClanahan, Tampa Bay, 11-1; Eovaldi, Texas, 11-3; Eflin, as drastic. I knew I just juries to their rotation.
Cubs 10, White Sox 7 Boston 5, Atlanta 3 Short in the 7th. Tampa Bay, 11-6; Kremer, Baltimore, 10-4; Bassitt, Toron-
needed to get down the Adding a starter at the
San Francisco 8, Oakland 3 Cubs 10, White Sox 7 E—Sandoval (2), Neto (5), Báez (14). LOB—Los Angeles to,10-5; Cole, New York, 9-2; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 9-5; Gib-
Angels at Detroit, ppd. San Francisco 8, Oakland 3 6, Detroit 7. 2B—Moniak (16), McKinstry (13). 3B—Ren- son, Baltimore, 9-6; Ryan, Minnesota, 9-7; Kirby, Seattle,
9-8.
mound a little better, so it trade deadline remains a
gifo (3). HR—Ohtani 2 (38), off Manning; Escobar (1),
off Manning; Renfroe (16), off Wingenter. RBIs—Rengi- NATIONAL LEAGUE
started with getting every- stated priority. Hunter
Thursday’s results fo 2 (32), Neto (28), Ohtani 3 (80), Escobar (8), Ren-
thing going down the Brown, Cristian Javier and
froe 2 (44), Thaiss 2 (26), Torkelson (57), Carpenter G AB H R Pct.
American League National League
Angels 6, Detroit 0 (1st) Mets 2, Washington 1
(33), McKinstry (24). Runners left in scoring position- Arraez Mia
Freeman LAD
97
101
375
403
141
132
42
87
.376
.328
mound.” France are on pace for ca-
—Los Angeles 4 (Escobar, Rengifo, Renfroe, Ward); De-
Angels 11, Detroit 4 (2nd) Cubs 10, St. Louis 3 troit 1 (Torkelson). RISP—Los Angeles 4 for 12; Detroit 2 Acuña Jr. Atl 100 401 131 88 .327 Working mostly off a reer-high innings work-
Stott Phi 96 377 113 50 .300
Cleveland 6, White Sox 3 for 9. Runners moved up—Thaiss, Escobar, Torkelson,
Maton. LIDP—Carpenter. GIDP—Ward, Vierling. DP—Los K.Marte Ari 96 371 108 70 .291 high school mound, loads. Framber Valdez has
Friday’s games
Angeles 3 (Neto, Rengifo, Neto; Moustakas, Rengifo,
Escobar; Rengifo, Velazquez, Escobar); Detroit 1 (Báez,
Yelich Mil 99 376 109 73 .290 France began his make- a 9.00 ERA over his last
L.Thomas Was 101 407 118 69 .290
American League Ibáñez, Torkelson). Carroll Ari 98 351 101 75 .288 over. He turned to a side-on three starts. Relievers Bry-
Detroit (Olson 1-4) at Miami (Garrett 5-3), 5:40 p.m. Los Angeles
Sandoval, W, 6-7
IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
5 5 2 2 2 4 97 4.13
Friedl Cin
Arenado StL
81
99
289
383
83
110
38
48
.287
.287
setup and scrapped the an Abreu, Phil Maton,
Yankees (Cole 9-2) at Baltimore (Rodriguez 2-2), 6:05 p.m. Webb 1 0 0 0 1 1 16 3.58 high leg lift. Before, he Hector Neris and Ryan
Angels (Silseth 2-1) at Toronto (Gausman 7-5), 6:07 p.m. Home runs
Reyes 1 2 1 0 0 0 27 6.75
Cleveland (TBD) at White Sox (TBD), 6:10 p.m. Weiss 2
⁄3 0 1 1 1 1 13 5.06
Olson, Atlanta, 32; Alonso, New York, 28; Betts, Los Ange- would emerge from the lift Pressly are all among the
les, 27; Schwarber, Philadelphia, 26; Muncy, Los Angeles,
Minnesota (Gray 4-4) at Kansas City (Singer 6-8), 7:10 p.m. Loup 1
⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 6 4.66 25; J.Martinez, Los Angeles, 25; Soler, Miami, 24; Albies, into a “sit” on his back hip, top10 most-used AL reliev-
Barría 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 3.58
Tampa Bay (McClanahan 11-1) at Houston (Javier 7-2), 7:10 p.m.
Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Atlanta, 24; Acuña Jr., Atlanta, 23; 4 tied at 22.
RBIs
costing him the forward ers in appearances.
Oakland (Sears 1-7) at Colorado (Freeland 4-10), 7:40 p.m.
Seattle (Gilbert 8-5) at Arizona (Henry 5-3), 8:40 p.m. Manning, L, 3-2 5 7 7 7 1 5 87 4.32 Olson, Atlanta, 80; Arenado, St. Louis, 77; J.Martinez, Los momentum he sought. Dana Brown said this
Wingenter 2 1 1 1 1 1 25 7.11 Angeles, 74; Albies, Atlanta, 72; Freeman, Los Angeles, 71;
Texas (Dunning 8-3) at San Diego (Musgrove 9-3), 8:40 p.m. Shreve 1 2 0 0 0 0 23 4.70 Alonso, New York, 68; Betts, Los Angeles, 68; Muncy, Los “It was super hard for week the Astros covet a
Boston (Crawford 4-5) at San Francisco (Webb 8-8), 9:15 p.m. White 1 3 3 3 2 1 31 5.48 Angeles, 67; C.Walker, Arizona, 67; Gorman, St. Louis, 65. me to get that leg lift up, starter and a high-leverage
National League T—2:59. A—30,238 (41,083). Pitching
Detroit (Olson 1-4) at Miami (Garrett 5-3), 5:40 p.m. Strider, Atlanta,11-3; Steele, Chicago,11-3; T.Walker, Phil- come down and try to get reliever on the trade mar-
Cubs 10, Cardinals 3 adelphia,11-4; Gallen, Arizona,11-5; Kershaw, Los Angeles, everything going toward ket. The general manager
Philadelphia (Wheeler 7-5) at Pittsburgh (Keller 9-6), 6:05 p.m. Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg. 10-4; Stroman, Chicago, 10-7; Morton, Atlanta, 10-8; Mus-
Washington (Gore 6-7) at Mets (Scherzer 8-4), 6:10 p.m. Tauchman cf 6 1 3 2 0 1 .257 grove, San Diego, 9-3; M.Kelly, Arizona, 9-4; 3 tied at 9-6. the plate,” France said. “I noted, though, that en-
Milwaukee (Houser 3-2) at Atlanta (Chirinos 4-4), 6:20 p.m.
Cubs (TBD) at St. Louis (Montgomery 6-8), 7:15 p.m.
Hoerner 2b
a-Wisdom ph-3b
4 1 1 0 0 0 .280
2 0 0 0 0 1 .192
would get stuck there and couraging signs from Ja-
Oakland (Sears 1-7) at Colorado (Freeland 4-10), 7:40 p.m. Happ lf 4 1 0 0 1 0 .246 then have to work uphill.” vier, after a rough stretch,
Bellinger 1b 5 1 3 0 0 0 .317
Seattle (Gilbert 8-5) at Arizona (Henry 5-3), 8:40 p.m. Kay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- NOTEBOOK Video of throwing ses- France’s contributions and
Texas (Dunning 8-3) at San Diego (Musgrove 9-3), 8:40 p.m. Rucker p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- sions reinforced that issue. the expected return of José
Cincinnati (Williamson 2-2) at Dodgers (Miller 6-1), 9:10 p.m. Suzuki rf 4 1 0 1 1 0 .256
Boston (Crawford 4-5) at San Francisco (Webb 8-8), 9:15 p.m. Swanson ss 2 2 1 1 2 1 .268 MILWAUKEE BREWERS France said a key adjust- Urquidy from a shoulder
b-Mancini ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .236 The club acquired ment he made was work- injury could reduce Hous-
Morel dh-2b 4 3 3 2 1 0 .281
Gomes c 4 0 2 3 0 1 .274 veteran 1B/DH Santana ing to keep his hips level in- ton’s need to pursue the
Amaya c
Mastrobuoni 3b-ss
0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
5 0 1 1 0 1 .214
in a Thursday trade that stead of tilted with his type of frontline starter.
THURSDAY’S GAMES Totals 41 10 14 10 5 6 sent minor league infield- front side higher. He One thing France has
St. Louis AB R H BI BB SO Avg. er Jhonny Severino to the watched video of Justin done is help mitigate his

Cubs back at .500

Donovan dh 5 0 0 0 0 1 .283
Goldschmidt 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .283 Pittsburgh Pirates. The Verlander, whose “hips bullpen’s burden. He has
Burleson 1b
Arenado 3b
2 1 1 0 0 0 .240
3 0 1 0 0 0 .287
move takes Santana from stay flat or even more a lit- worked at least six innings
DeJong ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 .237 last place to first place in tle downhill,” and he in nine of his last 10 starts.

after testy victory

Contreras c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
Knizner c 4 2 2 3 0 0 .234 the NL Central. worked to keep his back leg The Astros and their
O’Neill lf 3 0 3 0 1 0 .252 Santana, 37, hit .235 in a strong position. schedule have helped keep
Walker rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .270
Gorman 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 .243 with 12 home runs and 53 For feedback, France him fresh; he has pitched
W IR E R E P ORT Carlson cf
Motter ss-3b
4 0 1 0 0 1 .235
4 0 0 0 0 2 .143
RBIs in 94 games for the sent his own video to As- just twice on four days’ rest
Totals 35 3 8 3 3 8 Pirates, who have fallen tros assistant pitching and 10 times on five or six
ST. LOUIS — Yan Gomes drove in three runs and the Chicago 302 101 201—10 14 1 off significantly after a coach Bill Murphy, then days’ rest. His revamped
St. Louis 000 100 020—3 8 0
Chicago Cubs got back to .500 with their sixth straight a-grounded out for Hoerner in the 8th. b-struck out for fast start. He also leads their minor league pitch- mechanics also continue to
victory, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 10-3 after a testy Swanson in the 8th.
E—Wisdom (11). LOB—Chicago 11, St. Louis 8. 2B—Mo-
all major league first ing coordinator, and resonate in his recovery
start Thursday night. rel (9), Hoerner (18), Gomes (8), Arenado (20), Burle- basemen with six defen- Thomas Whitsett, Fayette- between starts.
son (12), O’Neill (8). HR—Tauchman (5), off Suárez;
In the first inning, Cubs outfielder Ian Happ bloodied Knizner (7), off Steele; Knizner (8), off Kay. RBIs—S- sive runs saved, accord- ville’s pitching coach in “I guess I’m just moving
St. Louis catcher Willson Contreras when he hit him in wanson (43), Morel 2 (48), Gomes 3 (38), Mastrobuoni
(4), Suzuki (34), Tauchman 2 (33), Knizner 3 (23). Run-
ing to FanGraphs. 2019. But he described most better, mechanics are a lit-
the head with a long follow-through on a swing, then ners left in scoring position—Chicago 6 (Tauchman 2, The Brewers lead the of his mechanical changes tle cleaner, so I rarely,
Happ, Gomes 2, Mancini); St. Louis 4 (Knizner, Gorman,
was soon hit himself by a pitch from Miles Mikolas. Arenado, Motter). RISP—Chicago 6 for 17; St. Louis 1 for NL Central despite rank- as self-guided. knock on wood, get sore,”
After a hug from former Chicago teammate Happ, 9. Runners moved up—Mastrobuoni, Motter. GIDP-
—Gorman. DP—Chicago 1 (Bellinger, Swanson, Bellin-
ing just 25th in runs “During that time peri- he said. “So my arm’s been
Contreras left because of a cut on the scalp and was day ger). scored, thanks in large od, he made a change to way healthier since I
Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
to day to return to the lineup. Steele, W, 11-3 6 5 1 1 3 4 92 2.87 part to a lack of produc- what you see today, a more cleaned all that up. I am
Andrew Knizner took over behind the plate, and Palencia
Kay
1 0 0 0 0 2 13 2.45
1 3 2 2 0 1 24 3.48
tion from the first base aggressive, more up-tempo moving so fast down the
Mikolas brushed back Happ to run the count to 3-1. Rucker 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 5.03 and designated hitter style of delivery that we mound, if my arm’s not in a
With the next pitch, Mikolas hit Happ in the rear, with St. Louis
Mikolas, L, 6-6
IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
2
⁄3 0 1 1 0 1 14 4.38
spots all season. thought would be more good spot, I’m putting a lot
Mikolas (6-6) and Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol Hudson 4 1⁄3 9 5 5 2 3 93 4.19 First baseman Rowdy conducive to him being of strain back here. And
being ejected.
Suárez
VerHagen
2 2 3 3 2 0 45 13.50
2 3 1 1 1 2 43 4.69
Tellez is batting .213 with better,” Murphy said. He I’m going to be late, and the
Cody Bellinger, Christopher Morel and Mike Tauch- T—2:53. A—44,584 (44,494). 12 homers and has been said France’s old delivery ball is going to be way high.
man each had three hits for the Cubs to back lefthander Guardians 6, White Sox 3 on the injured list for the was “more methodical, So it’s forcing me to really
Justin Steele (11-3), who allowed five hits and one run. He Cleveland
Kwan lf
AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
5 2 2 0 0 0 .273
last three weeks. maybe not as efficient to get get on time and to get my
had four strikeouts and walked three. Giménez 2b 4 2 2 1 0 1 .244 The Brewers acquired the best stuff out of his arm in a good spot.”
At 51-51, Chicago is at the .500 mark for the first time Ramírez 3b
J.Naylor 1b
5 0 0 0 0 1 .288
4 1 2 3 1 0 .304
Jesse Winker with the hand. I think making the Behind the glasses he
since sitting at 19-19 following a victory May 12. Bell dh 4 0 0 0 1 3 .239 intention of making him delivery more up-tempo wears on the mound,
Brennan rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 .262
Mets, 2 Nationals 1: Mark Canha had a sacrifice fly a-Gonzalez ph-rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 .203 their main DH, but he is has definitely allowed his France betrays little emo-
immediately after a 97-minute rain delay in the bottom Arias ss 4 1 2 0 1 1 .196 batting .199 with only six stuff to play up.” tion. Manager Dusty Baker
B.Naylor c 4 0 2 1 0 1 .227
of the eighth inning, lifting host New York to a win. Straw cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .237 extra-base hits (five dou- France does not wield described the righthander
The Mets tied the score by stringing together three Totals 39 6 13 6 3 9 bles and one homer) in immense velocity, with a as “kind of off to himself”
Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
straight one-out singles against Mason Thompson (3-4). Benintendi lf 4 0 0 0 1 1 .281 197 plate appearances. fastball averaging about 93 on days he starts with a
DJ Stewart was then plunked by a pitch to load the Anderson ss
Robert Jr. cf
4 0 0 0
3 0 0 0
0
0
2 .241
1 .267
The 18-year-old Severi- mph. But his four-seamer “seriousness about his
bases, and Thompson was removed for Kyle Finnegan Jiménez dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 .285 no has played 12 games has averaged just 0.7 inch- job.”
moments before umpires motioned the teams off the
Moncada 3b
Grandal 1b
4 0 1 0
4 1 1 0
0
0
1 .228
1 .251
this season in the Brew- es of horizontal movement, France’s response: “I
field. Burger 2b 3 2 2 3 1 0 .217 ers’ rookie-level Arizona per Baseball Savant, which mean, when it’s time to go,
Colás rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .215
After play resumed, Canha hit Finnegan’s fifth pitch Zavala c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .158 Complex League. He has is 7.1 inches less than the it’s time to go. But I don’t
to deep right field and Pete Alonso beat the throw b-Sheets ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .219 batted .250 with a .289 league average, and leads a think he really sees me out-
Totals 34 3 8 3 2 8
home. Cleveland 103 000 110—6 13 0
on-base percentage, four varied repertoire. Right- side of my start days. … I
Guardians 6, White Sox 3: Josh Naylor drove in Chicago 001 020 000—3 8 4 homers, 10 RBIs and five handers see more cutters feel like I’m a goofy, swell
three runs, rookie Tanner Bibee pitched into the sev- a-singled for Brennan in the 9th. b-singled for Zavala in
the 9th.
steals while playing both and sliders, both of which guy. I wouldn’t call myself
enth inning and visiting Cleveland beat Chicago. E—Colás 3 (2), Zavala (3). LOB—Cleveland 10, Chicago shortstop and third base. feature above-average serious.”
7. 2B—Giménez (16), J.Naylor 2 (24), Arias (6).
Manager Terry Francona tied Casey Stengel for 13th 3B—Kwan (3). HR—Burger 2 (24), off Bibee. RBIs—Gi- side-to-side break. Left- “I think the pandemic
ménez (39), J.Naylor 3 (79), Brennan (28), B.Naylor
place on baseball’s career wins list with his 1,926th vic- (12), Burger 3 (51). SB—B.Naylor (1). Runners left in LOS ANGELES ANGELS handed hitters see more situation was a perfect ex-
tory. And the Guardians handed the White Sox their scoring position—Cleveland 7 (Brennan, Bell, Arias,
Straw 3, Kwan); Chicago 3 (Benintendi 2, Grandal).
The team designated changeups and curveballs. ample of it,” Murphy said.
sixth straight loss even though Jake Burger hit two RISP—Cleveland 5 for 19; Chicago 0 for 2. Runners 2021 All-Star slugger The cutter is France’s “He went all in. He decided
moved up—J.Naylor, B.Naylor.
homers. Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Jared Walsh for assign- second-most used pitch to make a change. He want-
Naylor drove in two with a double and scored in a Bibee, W, 7-2
Stephan, H, 14
6 2⁄3 6 3 3 2 6 97 3.11
1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 16 3.25
ment. Walsh hit .119 with this season but it’s relative- ed to make a change. Noth-
three-run third against Dylan Cease (4-4) that gave the Clase, S, 28-35 1 2 0 0 0 1 19 3.02 one homer and five RBIs ly new. He started pitching ing was going to hold him
Guardians a 4-0 lead. He also had a strange RBI double Chicago
Cease, L, 4-4
IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
5 ⁄3 9 4 4 2 5 102 4.15
2
in 28 games this season with it in 2021 as a middle back to stop him. That just
in the seventh when reliever Aaron Bummer deflected Bummer 2
⁄3 1 1 1 0 1 17 6.69 as he has struggled with look between his fastball proves kind of how resil-
Santos 1 2⁄3 2 1 1 0 1 16 2.68
his soft comebacker. The ball trickled into center field, Peralta 1 1 0 0 1 2 33 10.80 headaches and insomnia. and slider. Hitters own a ient he was. And that’s a
and Andrés Giménez scored on the play to make it 5-3. T—2:49. A—20,893 (40,241). Wire reports .339 average against his great story.”
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 B5

MLB
ASTROS ANGELS

Baker backs Maldonado after benches clear Ohtani

By Matt Kawahara
STA F F W RIT E R
Wednesday’s games

Rangers 13, Astros 5 shines

as trade
Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Semien 2b 3 3 3 2 0 0 .280
Opportunity aligned for J.Smith 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 .212
the Astros on Wednesday. Duran ss 5 1 1 0 1 2 .291

Jose Altuve and Yordan Al-
varez returning from injury
rendered their deepest line-
up in weeks. Framber Val-
dez, their ace, toed the
mound against the Rang-
ers. The Astros awoke one
game behind Texas in the
division, poised to poten-
tially seize a share of first
place for the first time all
season.
That, suffice to say, did
not happen. Instead, Valdez
exited in the fourth inning
of his shortest start of the
year. Altuve was removed
in the sixth with the Rang-
ers authoring a rout. Texas
avoided a sweep and left
Minute Maid Park with its
AL West lead intact, at two
games, handing the Astros
a 13-5 loss that offered some
extra drama.
Tensions rising in the
early innings bubbled over
in the fifth. Benches cleared
after Adolis García struck a
grand slam off Seth Marti-
nez to cap a seven-run Tex-
as inning and turn the game
into a blowout. Astros
catcher Martín Maldonado
and Rangers second base-
man Marcus Semien were
at the heart of the hubbub.
Texas starter Andrew
Heaney hit Yordan Alvarez,
just back from the injured
list, with a pitch in the first
inning. Valdez hit Semien
with a pitch in the third.
Umpires warned both
benches.
Semien homered off Val-
dez in the fourth inning. He
appeared to say something
to Valdez as he rounded
third base. Semien and
The Astros’ Dusty Baker knew catcher Martín Maldonado wouldn’t back down
from a challenge: “Maldy wasn’t going to go away like he was some little punk.”
Maldonado exchanged
words at home plate.
Semien held his finger to
his lips in a shushing mo-
tion as he headed for the
dugout.
Semien stood on third for
García’s blast in the fifth,
which landed 448 feet away
on the train tracks. Semien
jogged home and hopped
onto home plate with both
feet. Maldonado seemed to
take exception. The catcher
was held back but said
something to García when
he reached the area.
Maldonado did not spec-
ify postgame what elicited
his reaction: “Two guys try-
ing to compete,” he said.
“Two good teams fighting
for the division. And I think
every player in the big
leagues has that competi-
tive mindset out there.”
Asked if he disliked
Semien jumping on home
plate after García’s grand
slam, Maldonado agreed:
“No. But that wasn’t the
stuff that got me going.”
“You jaw at a guy, you ex-
pect to get something in re-
turn,” Astros manager
Dusty Baker said. “Maldy
wasn’t going to go away like
he was some little punk,
you know what I mean?”
Both benches and bull-
pens converged at the plate.
No punches were thrown,
and the teams soon re-
turned to their respective
sides. Maldonado and
Semien were both ejected
from the game. Crew chief
Dan Bellino told a pool re-
porter the players were
ejected: “For instigating a
bench-clearing incident.”
What led to that inci-
dent?
“The two players ex-
changed words,” Bellino
said. “They had exchanged
talk dies
Lowe 1b 4 2 2 3 2 0 .286
García rf 5 1 1 4 0 1 .259
Jung 3b 5 0 2 0 0 1 .273
Heim c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .280
a-Huff ph-c 3 1 1 1 0 1 .200
Garver dh 4 1 2 0 1 0 .255
Grossman lf 5 2 2 0 0 0 .225 By Larry Lage
Taveras cf
Totals
5 2 2 3 0 0 .279
43 13 17 13 4 6
AS S O C I ATE D P RE S S
Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Altuve 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .258 DETROIT — Shohei
Kessinger 2b-3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 .231
Peña ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 .235 Ohtani looked his manager
Tucker rf
Meyers cf
1
1
1
0
0
0
0 2 0 .304
0 0 1 .221
in the eye and, in just a few
Bregman 3b 3 1 2 3 0 0 .256 words, left no doubt of his
Dubón 2b
Alvarez dh
1
2
0
0
0
1
0 0 0 .264
0 1 0 .279
intentions.
J.Abreu 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .241 “I’ll finish it,” Los Ange-
McCormick cf-rf 3 1 0 0 1 2 .278
Julks lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .255 les Angels manager Phil
Maldonado c 1 0 0 0 0 1 .170 Nevin said Ohtani told him
Diaz c 3 1 1 2 0 0 .263
Totals 32 5 6 5 4 7 after the eighth inning of
Texas 002 470 000—13 17 0 what became his first com-
Houston 300 000 002—5
a-homered for Heim in the 4th. LOB—Texas 8, Houston 5.
6 0
plete game in the major
2B—Grossman (13), Peña (17), Alvarez (13). 3B—Gross- leagues. “He wanted it. I
man (1). HR—Lowe (12), off Valdez; Semien (15), off Val-
Karen Warren/Staff photographer dez; Huff (1), off Martinez; García (25), off Martinez; Breg- could see it, too.”
man (17), off Heaney; Diaz (12), off White. RBIs—Lowe 3
(57), Taveras 3 (49), Semien 2 (63), Huff (2), García 4
Ohtani polished off his
(84), Bregman 3 (66), Diaz 2 (28). Runners left in scoring one-hit shutout of the De-
position—Texas 2 (Taveras, García); Houston 3 (Bregman,
Julks 2). RISP—Texas 4 for 7; Houston 1 for 8. GIDP—Du- troit Tigers, then contin-
words earlier after Semien ran, J.Abreu. DP—Texas1(Jung, Semien, Lowe); Houston
1 (Peña, Altuve, J.Abreu).
ued his extraordinary day
hit a home run. When they Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA in the second game of
did it again on that other Heaney, W, 7-6
Leclerc
5 4 3 3 3 3 90 4.62
2 1 0 0 0 2 24 2.78
Thursday’s doubleheader,
home run, which caused White 2 1 2 2 1 2 32 11.25 hitting two homers to in-
the benches to clear, the two Houston
Valdez, L, 8-7
IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
32⁄3 8 6 6 2 1 80 3.29
crease his league-leading
players were removed for Martinez 1 6 7 7 1 1 30 5.31 total to 38 before leaving
their misconduct.” Montero
Mushinski
11⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 14 6.07
2 3 0 0 0 2 29 2.35
the game with cramps.
Said Baker: “They kicked Stanek 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 4.50 The two-way superstar
Inherited runners-scored—Martinez 2-0. HBP—Heaney
them both out because they (Alvarez), Valdez (Semien). WP—Valdez. PB—Maldona- became the first player in
said Semien started it but do (8). Umpires—Home, Mark Ripperger; First, Shane Liv-
ensparger; Second, Dan Bellino; Third, Phil Cuzzi. T—2:58.
major league history to
then Maldy continued it A—40,398 (41,000). throw a shutout in one half
and ignited it. And they had a doubleheader and hit one
to do something before homer — much less two —
things really got out of slam, I told him, ‘I told you.’ in the other.
hand. What’s a guy sup- And all of a sudden their Hours before Ohtani de-
posed to do?” bench is out there.” livered the message to his
Said Semien to The Dal- Astros regulars Altuve, manager, the Angels deliv-
las Morning News: “When Alex Bregman and Kyle ered one of their own.
I hit the home run, I told Tucker were soon removed The franchise, desperate
him ‘We’re going to win this as well. Altuve, just back to make the playoffs for the
game.’ He said it was going from a 17-game IL stint due first time since 2014, made
to be just like it was when I to an oblique strain, exited a win-now trade to bolster
was in Oakland. When I after the sixth. Bregman its pitching staff and con-
was in Oakland, I think and Tucker were replaced firmed that Ohtani will
they won the division twice on defense before the stay for the rest of the sea-
and we won it once while he eighth. There was little rea- son before he becomes a
was there. Whatever. After son to keep them in given free agent.
I scored on Adolis’ grand the score. “We’re going to roll the
dice and see what hap-
pens,” Angels general

Valdez’s focus falters in latest rough outing manager Perry Minasian

By Matt Kawahara
STA F F W RIT E R
A flash of frustration
from Framber Valdez ar-
rived in Wednesday’s sec-
ond inning. The Astros ace
threw a two-strike curve-
ball to Robbie Grossman
aimed at the top of the
zone. It was ruled a ball.
Valdez paused and stared,
then huffed his shoulders
and stalked forward to re-
ceive catcher Martín Mal-
donado’s throw.
Valdez regrouped
quickly, retiring Grossman
on a groundout on his next
pitch. But the sequence
held a glimpse of what was
to come. The second
proved Valdez’s last score-
less inning. He would not
finish the fourth, surren-
dering six runs to the
Rangers in a 13-5 Astros
loss and his shortest start
of the season.
“He showed some frus-
tration on the mound a lit-
tle bit, emotion,” Maldona-
do said after the game. “We
all know he’s an emotional
guy.”
There was plenty of
emotion on display Wed-
nesday at Minute Maid
Park. Maldonado and Tex-
as second baseman Mar-
cus Semien were ejected in
the fifth inning after they
exchanged words at home
plate and both teams’
benches cleared. Valdez
had exited by that point
but experienced some ear-
lier tensions.
Both benches were
warned in the third inning
after Valdez hit Semien
with a first-pitch fastball.
Rangers starter Andrew
Heaney had plunked Yor-
dan Alvarez in the first in-
ning. Valdez’s fastball
struck Semien on the
shoulder. Valdez spun,
yanked his glove off and
put his hands on his hips.
Semien looked Valdez’s
way as he walked to first
base and shrugged, but
continued to shake his
head as he kept walking.
The warning followed.
Valdez seemed shaky. He
started Ezequiel Duran in
a 2-0 count, prompting a
Karen Warren/Staff photographer
Astros ace Framber Valdez struggled to contain the
Rangers, including Marcus Semien, left.
mound visit. Duran flied ble, and Leody Taveras
out, but Nathaniel Lowe lined a 2-0 changeup for a
hit a full-count curveball two-run single.
for a home run. Semien drove Valdez’s
The at-bat was reveal- next pitch, a sinker, into
ing. In seven pitches, Val- the left-field seats. As
dez threw Lowe, a left- Semien rounded third
handed hitter, four base, he appeared to say
changeups and two curve- something in Valdez’s di-
balls. Those are pitches rection. Valdez, with his
Valdez usually saves for back turned, said after the
righthanded hitters. The game he hadn’t heard
cutter is his favored sec- Semien.
ondary pitch against left- “I really didn’t pay at-
ies. But Valdez did not tention,” Valdez said. “Ob-
throw a single cutter Wed- viously, he’s up there to hit,
nesday. I have a ball, try to throw it
“Just didn’t want to use past him. He hit it, hit his
it,” Valdez said through an home run. But I really try
interpreter. “Today I just not to pay attention to
really wanted to go with what hitters are saying.”
the changeup, the curve- Still, Valdez, who
ball and the sinker.” walked his final two hitters
Lowe’s swing cut an ear- before exiting, was candid
ly Astros lead to 3-2. Val- when asked if he felt frus-
dez stood still, hands on tration had affected him in
hips, looking out toward the outing.
right-center field, until “Yeah, I think so,” Val-
Lowe had nearly rounded dez said. “Sometimes dur-
the bases. Texas erased its ing the game things hap-
deficit entirely an inning pen that just kind of take
later. you out of your focus zone
Innings seldom snow- and you try to get back to it,
ball on Valdez. His arsenal sometimes it doesn’t hap-
is built to generate ground- pen. But those are things
balls and alleviate jams. It we’re going to be working
did neither in the fourth as on and trying to get better
six straight Rangers hitters at.”
reached against him with There was also a tangi-
two outs. ble factor to his outing.
Mitch Garver singled on Valdez wielded his sinker
a chopper that third base- with good velocity but left
man Alex Bregman de- it and some offspeed offer-
flected on a dive. That was ings up in the zone. Maldo-
the last ground ball Valdez nado said Valdez’s curve-
induced. Robbie Gross- ball “wasn’t quite there”
man drove a sinker into the and “we didn’t get that
gap in left-center for a dou- many ground balls like we
told reporters before Ohta-
ni led Los Angeles to a 6-0
ON DECK: ASTROS VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS win over the Tigers in
When/where: Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 6:15 p.m., Game 1 of the doublehead-
Sunday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park. er.
TV/radio: ATTSW on Friday and Sunday, Fox on Saturday, Ohtani’s start was his
ATTSW2 (Spanish) on Sunday; 790 AM, 740 AM, 93.3 FM best in the majors, a one-
(Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish). hitter with eight strikeouts
Pitchers: Friday, RHP Cristian Javier (7-2, 4.32) vs. LHP on 111 pitches.
Shane McClanahan (11-1, 2.89); Saturday, RHP Hunter Brown In Game 2, Ohtani re-
(6-7, 4.19) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (5-6, 5.30); Sunday, RHP turned to the designated
Brandon Bielak (5-5, 3.62) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (3-3, hitter role. The lefthanded
3.62). hitter hit a two-run homer
Astros (58-45) update: After climbing to a season-best 14 to left in the second inning
games over .500 on Tuesday, Houston lost the finale of its and a line drive to right-
series with the Rangers on Wednesday, leaving it two games center in the fourth.
behind Texas in the American League West. … The Astros Ohtani became the sec-
beat the Rays twice in three games at Tropicana Field in ond player since at least
April, blanking Tampa in both wins. … Chas McCormick (21) 1900 to throw a one-hit
and Kyle Tucker (20) rank second and third in the AL for shutout or better and hit a
RBIs in July, trailing only Boston’s Justin Turner (23). … home run on the same day,
Tucker has a 1.249 OPS for the month, which ranks third in joining Philadelphia’s Rick
the majors. McCormick’s is 1.144. … Shortstop Jeremy Peña is Wise, who hit a two-run
hitting .307 with an .801 OPS against lefthanders this homer during his no-hitter
season but just .207 with a .609 OPS against righthanders. against Cincinnati on June
… Having gone 0-for-3 after being activated off the injured 23, 1971.
list Wednesday, Jose Altuve stands 33 hits shy of 2,000 for It was just the latest dis-
his career and two home runs shy of 200. play of why Ohtani could
Rays (62-43) update: Tampa Bay, whose 13-0 start have landed a huge pros-
matched the best in MLB history, entered July with the pect haul in a trade, and
majors’ best record (57-28, .671) but is 5-15 (.250) since, why he’s expected to cash
giving it the third-best record behind Atlanta (64-36) and in on perhaps the world’s
Baltimore (62-40). The Rays are a game and a half behind most lucrative contract in
the Orioles in the AL East and lead the wild-card race by any sport this offseason.
three games over the Astros. … According to Elias, the lowest Some speculate the 29-
July winning percentage for a team that entered the month year-old might make $500-
leading its league (AL or NL) belongs to the 1995 Phillies, 600 million on the open
who, in a strike-shortened season, went 9-20 (.310) after market , but the recent de-
entering the month at 38-21 (.644). … Yandy Diaz, who leads velopments don’t seem to
all AL first basemen in batting, on-base percentage and affect his thinking.
slugging (.318/.401/.508) has reached base in his last 13 “From the beginning,
consecutive games, hitting .347 with 10 RBIs in that span. … my plan was to finish
On the flip side, All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena is strong this season with the
hitting .171 (13-for-76) in July with five RBIs, 23 strikeouts and Angels,” Ohtani said
four walks. … Shortstop Wander Franco has experienced through a translator. “I
similar struggles, hitting .162 (12-for-74) this month with 18 don’t think things are real-
strikeouts and seven walks. ly going to change mental-
Steve Schaeffer ly.
“But all the people talk-
ing about the trades, that’s
normally do when the Calif., with a calf cramp going to be all gone. So I
sinker is down.” but said Wednesday that feel like I’m just focused on
“A lot of teams try to hit issue has not lingered. taking this team to the
him the other way, and His ERA has climbed playoffs.”
that’s a perfect spot to do since the All-Star Break The Angels are, too.
it,” Astros manager Dusty from 2.51 to 3.29. If Valdez Aiming to bolster their
Baker said. “Just couldn’t is going through a rough chances of challenging for
get the ball down on a con- stretch, it might only rein- the AL West title or earn-
sistent basis. He was get- force the Astros’ pursuit of ing a wild card if they fall
ting the ball up and away, starting pitching at the short in the division, the
and that’s right to the bar- trade deadline. Late Wed- Angels acquired right-
rel of the bat.” nesday, he aimed to down- handers Lucas Giolito and
Valdez shrugged off the play any broad implica- Reynaldo López from the
idea that he is working tions. Chicago White Sox on
through any mechanical “Sometimes you go out Wednesday night. Giolito
issues. In his last three out- there with a plan and it is expected to make his
ings, Valdez has allowed 15 doesn’t happen,” Valdez Angels debut Friday night
runs on 21 hits across 15 in- said. “You give up some against Toronto.
nings against the Angels, hits, give up some homers “I think this is the first
A’s and Rangers. He left and games like today hap- time in my six years that
the outing in Anaheim, pen.” we’re buyers,” Ohtani said.
B6 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

FOR THE RECORD

SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCOREBOARD ON THE AIR

Marchand wins 3rd gold; Odds

Home team capitalized
MLB
Television
Auto racing
Auto racing
Formula Oneua qualifying
NASCAR Xfinity qualifying
ESPN2
USA
10 a.m.
4 p.m.

McIntosh breaks through

Friday
Boxing Caribe Royale card CBSSN 8 p.m.
American League
Golf LPGA: Golf 4 a.m.
FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE
N.Y Yankees -132 at BALTIMORE +112 Amundi Evian Championship Golf 8:30 a.m.
TORONTO -225 LA Angels +188 Golf British Senior Open Golf 6 a.m.
By Stephen Wade Cleveland OFF at CHICAGO WHITE SOX OFF Golf USGA: U.S. Junior Amateur Golf 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay OFF at HOUSTON OFF
A S S OC IAT E D PRE SS Minnesota -176 at KANSAS CITY +148 Golf PGA: 3M Open Golf 3 p.m.
National League Horse racing Saratoga Live FS2 noon
FUKUOKA, Japan — FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE MLB Tampa Bay at Astros ATTSW 7 p.m.
Philadelphia -162 at PITTSBURGH +136 MLB Minnesota at Kansas City MLB 7 p.m.
Watch out for these two N.Y METS -178 Washington +150
MLB Texas at San Diego BSSW 8:30 p.m.
young swimmers when ATLANTA
ST. LOUIS
-188
OFF
Milwaukee
Chicago Cubs
+158
OFF Soccer Women’s World Cup (Group D): FS1 4 a.m.*
you take in next year’s LA DODGERS -250 Cincinnati +205 Denmark vs. England
Paris Olympics: 21-year- Interleague Soccer Women’s World Cup (Group D): FS1 6 a.m.
old Leon Marchand of FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE China vs. Haiti
MIAMI -156 Detroit +132 Soccer Women’s World Cup (Group G): FS1 2:30 a.m. Sat.
France and 16-year-old COLORADO OFF Oakland OFF Italy vs. Sweden
Summer McIntosh of Seattle
SAN DIEGO
-132
-180
at ARIZONA
Texas
+112
+152 Softball Little League World Series: ESPN 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Canada. SAN FRANCISCO -156 Boston +132 Regionals
Marchand won his Softball Athletes Unlimited ESPN2 6 p.m.
ESPN2 8:30 p.m.
third gold medal at the Baseball Tennis WTA: Warsaw Open Tennis 4 a.m.
swimming world champi- Minor leagues
Tennis WTA: Ladies Open Lausanne Tennis 4 a.m.
onships, taking the 200- AAA Pacific Coast League Tennis ATP-WTA: Tennis 4 a.m.
meter individual medley Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press East W L Pct. GB Hamburg European Open
x-Oklahoma City (LA Dodgers) 16 8 .667 —
on Thursday in 1 minute, Leon Marchand of France won the men’s 200-meter Albuquerque (Colorado) 15 9 .625 1
Tennis ATP: Croatia Open Tennis 4 a.m.
54.82 seconds. individual medley in 1 minute, 54.82 seconds. Round Rock (Texas) 14 10 .583 2 Tennis ATP: Atlanta Open Tennis 9 a.m.
El Paso (San Diego) 10 14 .417 6 Tennis 6 p.m.
Add this to his earlier Sugar Land (Houston) 8 16 .333 8
WNBA Washington at Dallas BSSW+ 7 p.m.
gold in the 200 butterfly, McIntosh’s first two races more consistent. That’s West W L Pct. GB
WNBA Minnesota at New York Ion 7 p.m.
Las Vegas (Oakland) 15 9 .625 1
and his world record in were disappointing, but the glue that holds it to- Tacoma (Seattle) 12 12 .500 4 *joined in progress
the 400 IM — the last indi- she did lose her world re- gether.” Reno (Arizona)
Sacramento (San Francisco)
10
10
14
14
.417 6
.417 6
Radio
vidual record held by Mi- cord in the 400 free to The other end of the Salt Lake (LA Angels) 10 14 .417 6 MLB Tampa Bay at Astros 740 AM, 790 AM 7 p.m.
chael Phelps. Marchand Ariarne Titmus of Austra- In Spanish 93.3 FM, 1010 AM
emotion spectrum was Note: x — denotes first-half winner
Wednesday’s results MiLB Space Cowboys at Las Vegas 92.5 FM 9 p.m.
obliterated it by more than lia. Chalmers, who won Las Vegas 12, Sugar Land 11
Sacramento 8, Albuquerque 1
a second, finishing in Another one to watch is Olympic gold in the 100 El Paso 7, Round Rock 6
4:02.50. 18-year-old David Popovi- free in Rio de Janeiro Oklahoma City 13, Reno 11
Tacoma 9, Salt Lake 4
“It was amazing, and ci of Romania. But he was when he was 18. Now’s he’s Thursday’s results
Albuquerque 4, Sacramento 3
I’m very proud of it,” said disappointing at the finally added the world ti- El Paso 10, Round Rock 9 (10)
Emily Pedersen..................................................35-39—74 Minnesota United
Sporting Kansas City
7 8 7
6 11 8
28
26
26
31
30
36
Marchand, who pushed worlds in southwestern tle, which completes the Oklahoma City 2, Reno 1
Tacoma 5, Salt Lake 2
PGA Tour Portland 6 9 8 26 26 33
British teammates Dun- Japan. the gold set. Sugar Land 10, Las Vegas 7 3M Open LA Galaxy 5 10 7 22 25 37
Friday’s games At Blaine, Minn. Colorado 3 10 10 19 16 30
can Scott to silver (1:55.95) Popovici is the world- He referred to going Sacramento at Albuquerque, 7:35 p.m. Yardage: 7,431; Par: 71
Season paused for tournaments
Round Rock at El Paso, 7:35 p.m. a-amateur
and Tom Dean to bronze record holder in the 100 through shoulder surgery, Oklahoma City at Reno, 8:35 p.m. Thursday’s partial first round NWSL
(1:56.07). free with a time of 46.86, heart surgery and “some Salt Lake at Tacoma, 9:05 p.m.
Sugar Land at Las Vegas, 9:05 p.m.
Play suspended due to inclement weather
Lee Hodges .......................................................33-29—62 W L T Pts GF GA
“It was a very painful but in that race on Thurs- pretty bad mental health Space Cowboys 10, Aviators 7 Hideki Matsuyama ...........................................33-31—64 North Carolina 8 5 2 26 21 13
Brant Snedeker .................................................34-31—64 Portland 7 4 4 25 34 21
race, but exciting,” Mar- day he was sixth behind times” in his seven-year Sugar Land 003 052 000 — 10 9 6 Tyler Duncan ....................................................33-32—64 Gotham FC 7 4 4 25 17 14
chand added. “Almost winner Kyle Chalmers of return to gold. Las Vegas 231 000 010 — 7 10 0 Kevin Streelman ..............................................32-33—64
Justin Suh .........................................................32-33—65
OL Reign
Washington
7 5
6 3
3
6
24
24
23
22
18
21
W: Blanco (3-1). L: Cohen (4-1). SV: Buttrey (2).
killed me, but it was Australia (47.15), silver “In 2016 I was an 18- Sugar Land: Whitcomb 4 (34), Singleton 3 (24), Costes Nick Hardy .........................................................31-34—65 San Diego 6 6 3 21 21 18
Emilio Grillo ......................................................32-33—65 Louisville 4 4 7 19 19 16
good.” medalist Jack Alexy of the year-old and I probably (10), Matijevic (56), Dirden (39). Las Vegas: Pozo 3
(41), Brooks (57), Butler (15), Hernaiz (9), Smith (22) Billy Horschel ....................................................36-30—66 Orlando 6 8 1 19 15 21
Marchand trains at Ari- United States (47.31), and didn’t know what I had Tony Finau ........................................................34-32—66
Adam Svensson ...............................................34-32—66
Houston 4 5 6 18 10 12
Angel City 4 6 5 17 18 23
zona State University un- Maxime Grousset of achieved,” he said. “For Basketball Vincent Norman ...............................................33-35—66 Chicago 5 9 1 16 19 33
Doc Redman .....................................................35-33—66
der Bob Bowman, who France (47.42). Popovici me, I’ve had to work so WNBA Callum Tarren ...................................................33-34—66
Kansas City 5 10 0 15 17 26

coached Phelps to 23
Olympic gold medals.
McIntosh won her first
gold after coming up short
in two earlier races where
some billed her as a favor-
ite.
She was fourth in the
400 freestyle and took
bronze in the 200 free.
McIntosh won the 200
butterfly in 2:04.06, re-
peating her title from last
year’s worlds. She also set
a world junior record. She
is only 16, remember.
Elizabeth Dekkers of
Australia took silver in
2:05.46 and Regan Smith
of the United States
earned bronze in 2:06.58.
“Going into tonight I
just wanted to see how
hard I could push and
how much I could hold on
in the second half,” said
McIntosh, who won by a
full body length.
It’s unfair to say that
AROUND SPORTS
finished in 47.83.
Popovici was fourth
earlier in the meet in the
200 free.
He suggested he might
have raced too much, and
will need to train harder to
stay on top. Getting there
was the easy part.
“I feel good. I feel good
that it’s over,” he said. “Af-
ter I take some time off for
myself and clear my head
— reflect on this very busy
and weird year — I’m go-
ing back to the pool. And
fortunately for me, what
hasn’t gone perfectly here
is trainable. I’m going to
be just fine.”
Popovici’s 200 was a red
flag.
“As soon as I touched
the wall in the 200, this
thought flashed in my
head, which was: I need to
train better. I need to train
more,” he said. “And more
importantly, I need to be
hard for seven years and
sacrifice so much. I want-
ed to make sure that the
early-on wasn’t a fluke.
“There were times I
thought I’d never get back
to swimming fast,” he
added.
Kaylee McKeown led
from start to finish to pick
up gold in the women’s 50-
meter backstroke. The 22-
year-old Australian got off
to a fast start and held on
to prevail in 27.08. Smith
won another medal and
took silver in 27.11, and
Lauren Cox of Britain got
bronze in 27.20.
Australia won the
women’s 4x200 freestyle
relay in a world-record
time of 7:37.50. The United
States took silver in
7:41.38, and China grabbed
bronze in 7:44.40.
The top three finishers
automatically qualified
for the Paris Olympics.
EASTERN W L Pct GB Augusto Nunez .................................................32-35—66
J.J. Spaun .........................................................33-34—66
Season paused for World Cup
New York 18 5 .783 —
Connecticut 18 6 .750 ½
J.T. Poston .......................................................32-35—66
Henrik Norlander ..............................................34-33—67
Atlanta
Washington
13
12
11
11
.542
.522
5½
6
Matt Kuchar .....................................................34-33—67 Tennis
Chicago 9 14 .391 9
Matthies Schwab .............................................33-34—67 ATP World Tour Hamburg
Kevin Tway .......................................................34-33—67
European Open
Indiana
WESTERN
6
W
18
L
.250
Pct
12 ½
GB
Justin Lower .....................................................34-33—67
Kramer Hickok ..................................................35-34—68 At Hamburg, Germany
Las Vegas 22 2 .917 — Ben Griffin ........................................................36-33—68 Men’s singles
Tom Hoge .........................................................35-34—68
Dallas
Minnesota
13
11
10
13
.565
.458
8½
11 Martin Laird ......................................................37-32—68
Round of 16
Arthur Fils, France, def. Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 7-5, 7-5.
Los Angeles 9 15 .375 13 Keith Mitchell ...................................................34-35—68
Cam Davis .........................................................35-34—68 Casper Ruud (1), Norway, def. Cristian Garin, Chile, 1-6,
Phoenix 6 17 .261 15 ½
Seattle 4 19 .174 17 ½ Max McGreevy ..................................................35-34—68 6-2, 6-2.
Daniel Altmaier, Germany, def. Andrey Rublev (2), Rus-
Grayson Murray ................................................35-34—68
Wednesday’s result Martin Trainer ...................................................37-32—68 sia, 6-2, 6-2.
Minnesota 97, Washington 92 Zhang Zhizhen, China, def. Yannick Hanfmann, Germa-
Thursday’s results
Frankie Capan III ..............................................36-33—68
Scott Harrington ..............................................34-34—68 ny, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Los Angeles 81, Indiana 68
New York 95, Atlanta 84
Taylor Montgomery ..........................................34-34—68 ATP World Tour Atlanta Open
Beau Hossler ....................................................35-33—68 At Atlanta
Friday’s games
Minnesota at New York, 7 p.m.
Nate Lashley ....................................................34-34—68
Men’s singles
Seattle at Chicago, 7 p.m.
C.T. Pan ............................................................33-35—68
Harrison Endycott ............................................33-35—68 Round of 16
Washington at Dallas, 7 p.m.
Garrick Higgo ....................................................34-34—68
Zac Blair ............................................................34-35—69
Dominik Koepfer, Germany, def. Daniel Evans (3), Brit-
ain, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Patrick Rogers ..................................................35-34—69 Jeffrey John Wolf (8), United States, def. Maxime Cres-
Golf Chez Reavie ......................................................34-35—69 sy, United States, 7-6 (7), 6-3.
Mackenzie Hughes ...........................................33-36—69 Taylor Fritz (1), United States, def. Yibing Wu, China,
LPGA Tour
The Amundi Evian Championship
Jim Herman ......................................................36-33—69
Brian Stuard .....................................................36-33—69
6-4, 7-6 (5).
Kei Nishikori, Japan, def. Juncheng Shang, China, 6-4,
At Evian-les-Bains, France Sam Stevens ....................................................34-35—69 7-6 (3).
Yardage: 6,527; Par: 71 James Hahn .....................................................34-35—69
Thursday’s first round Aaron Baddeley ...............................................34-35—69 ATP World Tour Croatia Open
Paula Reto.........................................................30-34—64 S.Y. Noh ...........................................................35-34—69 Umag
Celine Boutier ....................................................32-34—66 Sam Bennett ....................................................33-36—69 At Umag, Croatia
Lydia Ko..............................................................31-35—66 Tyson Alexander ...............................................33-36—69 Men’s singles
Alison Lee...........................................................31-35—66 Justin Thomas ..................................................34-35—69
Wichanee Meechai............................................36-30—66 Brian Gay ..........................................................33-36—69 Round of 16
Celine Borge.......................................................35-32—67
Ally Ewing..........................................................32-35—67
Andrew Novak ..................................................34-35—69
Davis Thompson ..............................................33-36—69
Roberto Carballes Baena (4), Spain, def. Taro Daniel,
Japan, 6-3, 6-1.
Esther Henseleit ................................................33-34—67 Aaron Rai ..........................................................35-34—69 Jiri Lehecka (1), Czech Republic, def. Dominic Thiem,
Austria, 6-3, 7-5.
Eun-Hee Ji..........................................................34-33—67 David Lipsky .....................................................33-36—69
A Lim Kim..........................................................34-33—67 Jason Dufner ....................................................33-36—69 Stan Wawrinka (6), Switzerland, def. Federico Coria, Ar-
gentina, 7-5, 6-1.
Su Ji Kim............................................................34-33—67
Hae-Ran Ryu .....................................................34-33—67 PGA Tour Champions Jaume Munar, Spain, def. Fabian Marozsan, Hungary,
Yuka Saso ..........................................................32-35—67 The Senior Open Championship 6-4, 6-3.
Lorenzo Sonego (2), Italy, def. Marco Cecchinato, Italy,
Angel Yin ...........................................................34-33—67 At Bridgend, United Kingdom
Peiyun Chien......................................................34-34—68 Yardage: 7,003; Par: 71 6-1, 7-6 (7).
Hannah Green....................................................37-31—68 Thursday’s first round WTA Hamburg European Open
Jennifer Kupcho ................................................33-35—68 Miguel Angel Jimenez .......................................31-35—66 At Hamburg, Germany
Pernilla Lindberg ...............................................33-35—68 Alex Cejka ..........................................................33-35—68
Chella Choi.........................................................35-34—69 Women’s singles
Mario Tiziani ......................................................33-35—68
Jodi Ewart Shadoff ...........................................33-36—69 Quarterfinals
Ayaka Furue .......................................................31-38—69
Vijay Singh.........................................................34-35—69
Jeev M. Singh....................................................33-36—69 Daria Saville, Australia, def. Jule Niemeier, Germany,
Linn Grant..........................................................35-34—69 Steven Alker ......................................................35-35—70 6-3, 6-2.
Brooke Henderson.............................................35-34—69

Reto leads Evian Championship

W IR E R E P ORT S
EVIAN-LES-BAINS,
France — Paula Reto had
eight birdies as she card-
ed a 7-under 64 to take a
surprise first-round lead
at the Évian Champi-
onship on Thursday.
The 33-year-old South
African holds a two-shot
lead over 2015 champion
Lydia Ko of New Zealand
and three other players
locked on 66: French-
woman Celine Boutier,
American Alison Lee,
and Thai golfer Wicha-
nee Meechai — who
recovered from a bogey
and a double bogey early
on.
Defending champion
Brooke Henderson of
Canada carded a 2-under
69. Angela Stanford, the
2018 champion, and Aus-
tralian Minjee Lee joined
Henderson amid a group
all on 69.
Hodges up by one at
3M Open: Lee Hodges
got off to a good start in
his bid to make the FedEx
Cup playoffs, shooting an
8-under 63 for a one-
stroke lead in the first
round of the 3M Open at
Blaine, Minn.
Jimenez in front at
Senior British Open:
Miguel Angel Jimenez
shot a 5-under 66 to take
the first-round lead at the
Senior British Open at
Bridgend, Wales, five
years after he became the
first Spaniard to win the
tournament.
NFL
Hall candidates
list trimmed to 24
Versatile running back
Roger Craig, and two-
time Super Bowl-winning
coaches Tom Coughlin
and Mike Shanahan
advanced to the next stage
of consideration for the
Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The selection commit-
tees cut down the list of
candidates from 31 seniors
and 29 coaches and con-
tributors to 12 in each
category.
Among the other se-
nior candidates are for-
mer league MVP Ken
Anderson, 1978 Defen-
sive Player of the Year
Randy Gradishar and
AFL star receivers Otis
Taylor and Art Powell.
The other remaining
semifinalists are Maxie
Baughan, Joe Jacoby,
Albert Lewis, Steve
McMichael, Eddie Mea-
dor, Sterling Sharpe
and Al Wistert.
Mike Holmgren, who
won a Super Bowl for
Green Bay in the 1996
season and lost two more
trips with the Packers
and Seahawks, also ad-
vanced.
The other semifinalists
in the coach and contrib-
utor category are Frank
“Bucko” Kilroy, Robert
Kraft, Buddy Parker,
Dan Reeves, Art Roo-
ney Jr., Marty Schotten-
heimer, Clark Shaugh-
nessy, Lloyd Wells and
John Wooten.
Ramsey to have sur-
gery: Dolphins All-Pro
cornerback Jalen Ram-
sey will reportedly un-
dergo surgery on his left
knee after he was carted
off the field at practice.
Burrow injures calf:
Cincinnati Bengals quar-
terback Joe Burrow was
carted off the practice
field with a calf injury
after he came up hobbling
following a scramble.
Cook, Jets to meet:
Free agent running back
Dalvin Cook is heading
to New York to meet with
the new-look Jets this
weekend.
Hendrickson re-signs
with Bengals: Two-time
Pro Bowl defensive end
Trey Hendrickson
signed a one-year contract
extension that ties him to
Cincinnati through 2025.
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
Space Cowboys
powered by duo
Shay Whitcomb and
Jon Singleton each blasted
a pair of home runs in
Sugar Land’s 10-7 victory
over the Aviators on
Thursday in Las Vegas.
Paul Broadhurst ................................................32-38—70 Arantxa Rus (7), Netherlands, def. Eva Lys, Germany,
Wei-Ling Hsu .....................................................35-34—69 Tom Gillis ...........................................................36-34—70 6-2, 6-2.
Minjee Lee..........................................................35-34—69 Keith Horne .......................................................35-35—70 Noma Noha Akugue, Germany, def. Martina Trevisan,
Andrea Lee ........................................................35-34—69 Paul Lawrie........................................................34-36—70 Italy, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Gaby Lopez........................................................35-34—69 Michele Reale ....................................................34-36—70 Diana Shnaider, Russia, def. Bernarda Pera (3), United
Stephanie Meadow...........................................34-35—69 Jarmo Sandelin .................................................36-34—70 States, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Min Ji Park .........................................................35-34—69
Angela Stanford................................................35-34—69
Jose Manuel Carriles..........................................35-36—71 WTA Ladies Open Lausanne
Bradley Dredge ..................................................34-37—71
Patty Tavatanakit .............................................32-37—69 Ken Duke............................................................35-36—71
At Lausanne, Switzerland
Atthaya Thitikul ................................................34-35—69 Women’s singles
Albane Valenzuela ............................................35-34—69
Simon Griffiths...................................................35-36—71
Gary Orr ..............................................................37-34—71 Round of 16
Rose Zhang........................................................33-36—69
Daniela Darquea................................................35-35—70
Y.E. Yang ...........................................................35-36—71 Tamara Zidansek, Slovenia, def. Sara Sorribes Tormo,
Emanuele Canonica ..........................................36-36—72
Gemma Dryburgh..............................................35-35—70 Clark Dennis.......................................................33-39—72
Spain, 6-3, 7-5.
Ana Bogdan (3), Romania, def. Dalila Jakupovic, Slove-
Johanna Gustavsson.........................................35-35—70
Nasa Hataoka ...................................................33-37—70
Richard Green....................................................36-36—72
Anders Hansen..................................................35-37—72
nia, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
Diane Parry (9), France, def. Danka Kovinic, Montene-
Dani Holmqvist .................................................34-36—70
Caroline Inglis ....................................................38-32—70
Greig Hutcheon..................................................36-36—72 gro, 6-4, 7-5.
Thomas Levet ...................................................37-35—72
Ariya Jutanugarn...............................................35-35—70
Megan Khang....................................................35-35—70
Mauricio Molina.................................................35-37—72
Clara Burel, France, def. Emma Navarro (5), United
States, 6-3, 6-2.
Jin Young Ko......................................................35-35—70
Colin Montgomerie............................................37-35—72
Michael Muehr...................................................36-36—72
Alize Cornet (7), France, def. Jil Teichmann, Switzer-
Nelly Korda ........................................................32-38—70 land, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
Mi Hyang Lee.....................................................34-36—70
Timothy O’Neal .................................................34-38—72
Rod Pampling....................................................37-35—72
Leona Maguire...................................................34-36—70 Scott Parel.........................................................37-35—72
Morgane Metraux..............................................33-37—70 Phillip Price ........................................................39-33—72 Transactions
Ryann O’Toole ...................................................37-33—70 Jean-Francois Remesy ......................................35-37—72
Miyuu Yamashita ..............................................35-35—70 BASEBALL
Aditi Ashok.........................................................36-35—71
Knud Storgaard.................................................35-37—72
Steen Tinning ....................................................36-36—72 MLB
Allisen Corpuz ....................................................36-35—71
Diksha Dagar......................................................35-36—71
Stuart Appleby..................................................36-37—73 American League
Phillip Archer .....................................................36-37—73 BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Sent RHP Austin Voth to Nor-
Georgia Hall .......................................................35-36—71 Shane Bertsch ...................................................36-37—73 folk (IL) on a rehab assignment.
Moriya Jutanugarn.............................................34-37—71
Hyo Joo Kim.......................................................37-34—71
David Branshaw ................................................37-36—73
Christian Cevaer ................................................36-37—73
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Recalled LHP Sammy Peralta
from Charlotte (IL).
Grace Kim...........................................................35-36—71
Cheyenne Knight ...............................................35-36—71
Darren Clarke .....................................................38-35—73 CLEVELAND GUARDIANS: Recalled RF Oscar Gonzalez
Peter Fowler ......................................................36-37—73 from Columbus (IL).
Ines Laklalech ....................................................33-38—71 Harrison Frazar ..................................................36-37—73 DETROIT TIGERS: Recalled RHP Trey Wingenter from
Xiyu Lin...............................................................36-35—71
Mel Reid .............................................................36-35—71
Ricardo Gonzalez...............................................38-35—73
Grant Hamerton................................................35-38—73
Toledo (IL).
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: Transferred RHP Ben Joyce
Madelene Sagstrom ..........................................35-36—71
Maddie Szeryk ...................................................37-34—71
Thongchai Jaidee ..............................................35-38—73 from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Designated INF
Jerry Kelly...........................................................35-38—73 Jared Walsh, LHP Tucker Davidson and RHP Tucker
Lilia Vu................................................................35-36—71
Marina Alex........................................................33-39—72
Simon Khan.......................................................33-40—73 Walsh for assignment. Activated RHP Reynaldo Lopez.
Na Rin An ..........................................................35-37—72
Bernhard Langer ...............................................37-36—73
Damian Mooney................................................39-34—73
Recalled RHP Zach Weiss from Salt Lake PCL).
MINNESOTA TWINS: Reinstated DH Byron Buxton from
Ashleigh Buhai ..................................................37-35—72
Hye Jin Choi .......................................................38-34—72
Patrik Sjoland....................................................36-37—73
Paul Streeter .....................................................38-35—73
the paternity list. Optioned OF Trevor Larnach to St.
Paul (IL).
In Gee Chun .......................................................36-36—72
Amanda Doherty ..............................................36-36—72
Ken Tanigawa....................................................38-35—73 OAKLAND ATHLETICS: Sent SS Kevin Smith and 2B Es-
teury Ruiz to Las Vegas (PCL) on a rehab assignment.
Chiara Horder ....................................................34-38—72 National League
Soo Bin Joo........................................................33-39—72
Yan Liu ...............................................................35-37—72 Soccer ATLANTA BRAVES: Agreed to terms with RHPs Rowan
Wick and Seth Elledge on minor league contracts.
Anna Nordqvist .................................................36-36—72
Sung Hyun Park ................................................36-36—72
MLS COLORADO ROCKIES: Optioned RHP Riley Pint to Albu-
querque (PCL).
Mao Saigo..........................................................34-38—72 EASTERN CONFERENCE LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Optioned 2B Yonny Hernan-
Sarah Schmelzel ...............................................37-35—72
Kaitlyn Schroeder..............................................35-37—72
Cincinnati
W
15
L T Pts GF GA
2 6 51 39 25
dez to Oklahoma City (PCL).
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: Acquired 1B Carlos Santana
Hinako Shibuno.................................................36-36—72
Jiyai Shin............................................................35-37—72 New England 12 4 7 43 42 28 from Pittsburgh in exchange for INF Jhonny Severino.
Optioned RHP Trevor Megill to Nashville (IL).
Jenny Shin .........................................................35-37—72 Philadelphia
Nashville
12
11
7 4 40 39 26
8 5 38 31 22 FOOTBALL
Bailey Tardy.......................................................36-36—72
Amy Yang ..........................................................36-36—72 Orlando City 10 6 7 37 34 28 NFL
Columbus 10 7 6 36 45 33
Pajaree Anannarukarn......................................35-38—73
Karis Davidson...................................................38-35—73 Atlanta 9 7 8 35 42 39
CAROLINA PANTHERS: Signed WR Javon Wims.
Placed WR Marquez Stevenson on the active/physically
Eila Galitsky .......................................................38-35—73
Mina Harigae .....................................................35-38—73
Chicago 8 7 8 32 31 31 unable to perform (PUP) list.
D.C. United 8 10 6 30 32 34 CINCINNATI BENGALS: Signed DE Trey Hendrickson to
Celine Herbin .....................................................36-37—73 CF Montréal 9 12 2 29 22 32 a one-year contract extension.
Danielle Kang ....................................................33-40—73
Sarah Kemp.......................................................36-37—73
New York
Charlotte FC
6
6
9 8 26 22 26
9 8 26 30 40
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Activated WR Anthony
Schwartz from the active/non-football injury (NFI) list.
Yuna Nishimura.................................................37-36—73
Pauline Roussin.................................................36-37—73
New York City FC 5 8 11 26 25 30 GREEN BAY PACKERS: Activated OT Caleb Jones and
So Yeon Ryu ......................................................34-39—73
Klara Spilkova....................................................35-38—73
Toronto FC
Inter Miami CF
3
5
11 10 19 18 33
14 3 18 22 36
DBs Tarvarius Moore and Tarif Carpenter from the ac-
tive/non-football injury (NFI) list. Placed WR Jeff Cotton
Linnea Strom.....................................................37-36—73 WESTERN CONFERENCE
on injured reserve.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Signed CB Chris Lammons.
Elizabeth Szokol................................................39-34—73
Emma Talley .....................................................33-40—73 W L T Pts GF GA KANSAS CITY CHIEEFS: Signed WR Tyler Scott.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Signed CB Isiah Brown. Waived
Ruoning Yin .......................................................36-37—73 Saint Louis City SC
Los Angeles FC
13 8
10 6
2 41 43 27
7 37 34 25
CB Jordan Perryman with an injury designation.
Saki Baba ..........................................................40-34—74
Jaravee Boonchant ...........................................37-37—74 Real Salt Lake 10 7 7 37 35 34
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Signed WR Milton Wright.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Signed DT Kevin Atkins.
Seattle 10 8 6 36 29 23
Matilda Castren.................................................39-35—74
Carlota Ciganda.................................................37-37—74 Austin FC 9 9 5 32 32 32
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Activated P Mitch Wishnow-
sky from the active/non-football injury (NFI) list. Signed
Alice Hewson.....................................................36-38—74 San Jose 8 7 8 32 28 29 LB Kyahwa Tezino.
Chisato Iwai .......................................................37-37—74 Vancouver 8 7 7 31 38 32 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Re-signed LB Ben Burr-Kirven.
Minami Katsu ....................................................36-38—74 FC Dallas 8 9 6 30 25 26 WASHINGTON COMANDERS: Waived DB Xavier Hen-
Stephanie Kyriacou ...........................................36-38—74
Min Lee ..............................................................37-37—74
Houston 8 10 5 29 26 31 derson from the active/physically unable to perform list.
•
•
•
•
DOW: 35,282.72, down 237.40 (down 0.7%)
S&P: 4,537.41, down 29.34 (down 0.6%)
OIL: $80.09, up $1.31 (up 1.7%)
NATURAL GAS: $2.67, down 7 cents (down 2.4%)
BUSINESS
HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 • PAGE B7

ERCOT Shell earnings top $5B in Q2

chief: That’s nearly half what the energy giant EARNINGS ROUNDUP ational performance and cash

Solar, pulled in during the first quarter of 2023 KBR attributes loss to ‘legacy
legal matter.’ B10
flows in the second quarter, de-
spite a lower commodity price
environment,” CEO Wael Sa-

wind key AS S OCIATED PR E S S

LONDON — Shell reported

The British energy company
said its adjusted earnings fol-
lowed lower oil and gas prices,
Ukraine, fueling inflation
around the world and driving
wan said in a statement.
The financial earnings have
become a political flashpoint in

to grid Thursday that it earned nearly

$5.1 billion in the second quar-
ter, nearly half what the oil and
production and trading. The
figure was down from $11.5 bil-
lion in the same period a year
record profits for energy com-
panies, including Shell, British
rival BP and others. Prices have
Britain, spurring calls from op-
position politicians and cam-
paign groups for oil and gas
By Sara DiNatale natural gas giant pulled in dur- ago and $9.6 billion in the first since fallen amid weak global companies to do more to help
STA F F W RIT E R ing the first three months of the quarter. economic growth and other fac- consumers burdened by soar-
year as energy prices have Oil and gas prices surged last tors, leading to lower earnings. ing energy bills that have con-
If it weren’t for wind and so- plunged. year after Russia invaded “Shell delivered strong oper- Shell continues on B10
lar, this summer’s record-
breaking power use could be
causing prob-
lems for Texans
relying on the
state grid to keep
power flowing to
their air condi-
tioners.
Renewable en-
Vegas ergy has been a
lifeline for Texas
and its growing population, the
state’s power grid boss said
Tuesday, providing enough
cushion to meet the soaring de-
mand. No rolling blackouts. No
mandatory conservation notic-
es.
At least not yet.
But despite this summer’s
success so far, concerns about
the grid’s long-term reliability
are what keep Electric Reliabili-
ty Council of Texas CEO Pablo
Vegas up at night. He’s increas-
ingly worried the state’s mix of
generation sources are falling
out of balance as more renew-
ables are added, he told a group
of public power companies
meeting Tuesday in San Anto-
nio.
“Balance has to exist 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year,” Vegas
said in an interview after his
speech to the Texas Public Pow-
er Association. “The sun shines
during the day, the wind blows
intermittently. When it’s not Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
blowing, when the sun is not Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop, says it would cost far too much in staffing and time to comply with a new
shining, everybody still expects state law requiring books sold to schools to be rated for sexual content. Schools represent about a fifth of her business.
power. So we have to have a bal-

Store owner joins suit

ance of supply to meet the needs
during all of those periods of
time.”
It happened last summer:

to fight book-rating law

Traditional power plants —
largely those relying on natural
gas and coal — weren’t produc-
ing enough power to keep Texas
running without the help of
wind, solar and battery power.
It was a new frontier for the Tex-
as power grid. And when the
wind didn’t blow enough to
keep wind turbines spinning,
the grid struggled to meet de-
mand.
“Peak demand kept grow-
ing,” Vegas said during his pre-
sentation. “We’re in a place now
where we are dependent upon
renewables to meet demand.”
Utilities are investing to meet
the needs. Since last summer,
power companies across Texas
collectively added more than
3,000 megawatts of solar and
another 1,000 megawatts in
wind, said Vegas.
So far this summer, ERCOT
has reported five unofficial
ERCOT continues on B10
New state legislation that takes effect Sept. 1 requires sellers to label titles
By Nusaiba Mizan
STAFF W R ITER
When Valerie Koehler
bought Blue Willow Book-
shop, she wanted to offer an
expansive selection of chil-
dren’s books.
“We made it our mission to
have a robust children’s sec-
tion, so we’re half kids, half
adults,” Koehler said. “Not a
very common business model
for most bookstores, but it
works for us.”
Her children were in grade
school when she started run-
ning the roughly 1,200-square-
foot bookstore in 1996. Over
the years, she realized that to
be profitable, she would have
to sell to more than in-store
customers. She worked with
area school districts — now
numbering 21 — to sell books to
them, help organize author
visits and provide book give-
aways to students.
But a Texas law set to take
effect Sept. 1 could jeopardize
her ability to serve school dis-
tricts, Koehler said. It will re-
quire school library booksell-
ers to identify books, including
those written for teens, that
are “sexually explicit” or “sex-
ually relevant,” and those
books rated “sexually explicit”
would be banned from
schools. The law also requires
booksellers to identify such
books sold to school districts
in the past.
Blue Willow Bookshop
joined Austin’s BookPeople,
the American Booksellers As-
sociation, the Association of
American Publishers, the Au-
thors Guild and the Comic
Book Legal Defense Fund in a
lawsuit Tuesday to challenge
the law. The lawsuit argues
booksellers will suffer finan-
cial damage if they lose school-
related business. Koehler esti-
mates that a fifth of Blue Wil-
low’s business is with schools.
The state measure was
sponsored by Rep. Jared Pat-
terson, R-Frisco, and born out
of conservative fears in recent
years of sexual content in pub-
lic schools.
Sen. Angela Paxton, R-Mc-
Kinney, who shepherded the
measure through that cham-
ber, said the bill will mostly af-
fect large vendors, as just 50
companies sell most books
bought by the state’s public
schools, and three large com-
Books continues on B10

Tesla inks lease for a new showroom in The Woodlands

Tesla has signed a lease for a vents auto manufacturers from Park in Brookshire west of
new showroom and service selling directly to consumers in Houston. The company also
center in The Woodlands in the person. recently opened a battery stor-
latest expansion The new Woodlands center age facility in Angleton.
of the electric- has an estimated renovation
carmaker’s cost of $3.5 million with com- Transwestern taps
footprint in the pletion expected in March, new HR exec
Houston area. according to a project filing Allison Allen has been
The Austin- with the Texas Department of named chief human resources
based company Licensing and Regulation. officer for Transwestern, a
Katherine has leased Tesla did not respond to in- Houston-based
Feser 64,000 square quiries about the center. commercial real
feet in Wind- The showroom and service estate firm with
R E AL
E STAT E vale Center at center joins four others in the 2,100 employees
9420 College Houston area: 21555 Southwest across 33 cities.
Park Drive, a Freeway in Richmond, 9633 Allen, who will
spokesperson for landlord Westheimer in Westchase, work from the
Brixmor Property Group con- 19820 Hempstead Highway in Allen Houston head-
firmed. Cypress and 14820 North Free- quarters, joins
The new facility will occupy Katherine Feser/Staff way in north Houston, accord- as the firm rolls out a trans-
the former Randalls grocery Tesla has four showrooms and service centers in the Houston ing to Tesla’s website. It also formation plan designed to
store, which closed in 2018, area, with a fifth coming to The Woodlands. The new facility has showrooms in The Galleria expand the company’s scale
according to Brixmor. The will occupy a former Randalls grocery. and Market Street-The Wood- around the country.
100,000-square-foot shopping lands. Previous experience at asset
center was 26 percent occupied Mexican Restaurant. grow. While customers can Last year, Tesla signed a management firm Orchard
as of the first quarter, with Tesla is expanding its net- learn about vehicles in show- lease for more than 1 million Global and professional servic-
tenants including Allstate, U.S. work of sales and service cen- rooms, buyers must go online square feet for a warehouse at es firm Ernst & Young posi-
Recruiting Office and Herrera’s ters as vehicle sales continue to to buy a Tesla. Texas law pre- the Empire West Business Feser continues on B12
B8 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
Resilience helps U.S. growth accelerate
By Reade Pickert
B L OOM BE RG
U.S. economic growth unex-
pectedly picked up steam in the
second quarter thanks to resil-
ience among consumers and
businesses in the face of high in-
terest rates.
Gross domestic product rose
at a 2.4 percent annualized rate
after a 2 percent pace in the pre-
vious three months, the Com-
merce Department’s initial esti-
mate showed Thursday. Con-
sumer spending increased at a
1.6 percent pace, more than fore-
cast, after surging at the start of
the year.
The Federal Reserve’s pre-
ferred underlying inflation met-
ric advanced at a slower-than-
expected 3.8 percent pace. Trea-
sury yields rose and the S&P
500 opened higher.
The U.S. economy is in better
shape than economists had ex-
pected it would be just a few
months ago. While forecasters
are split on the odds of a reces-
sion, a strong labor market,
sturdy consumer spending and
now easing inflation have fueled
hopes that the U.S. will avoid a
downturn.
The Fed staff is no longer
forecasting a recession, Chair
Jerome Powell said Wednesday
after the central bank raised in-
terest rates by a quarter per-
centage point. Powell also said
that it’s his own expectation that
the Fed can cool inflation with-
out a big increase in unemploy-
ment.
“Growth is outpacing expec-
tations even as the monetary
policy stance has become re-
strictive,” Rubeela Farooqi,
chief U.S. economist at High
Frequency Economics, said in a
note. “A strong household sec-
tor that continues to benefit
from positive job growth and
rising real incomes should keep
growth on a positive trajectory
this year.”
Still, headwinds persist with
the Fed’s benchmark interest
rate at a 22-year high and some
Researchers poke holes in chatbot safety systems
By Cade Metz
N EW YO RK T IME S
SAN FRANCISCO — When
artificial intelligence companies
build online chatbots, like
ChatGPT, Claude and Google
Bard, they spend months add-
ing guardrails that are supposed
to prevent their systems from
generating hate speech, disin-
formation and other toxic mate-
rial.
Now there is a way to easily
poke holes in those safety sys-
tems.
In a report released Thurs-
day, researchers at Carnegie
Mellon University in Pittsburgh
and the Center for AI Safety in
San Francisco showed how any-
one could circumvent AI safety
measures and use any of the
leading chatbots to generate
nearly unlimited amounts of
harmful information.
Their research underscored
increasing concern that the new
chatbots could flood the internet
with false and dangerous infor-
mation despite attempts by their
creators to ensure that would
not happen. It also showed how
disagreements among leading
AI companies were creating an
increasingly unpredictable en-
vironment for the technology.
The researchers found that
they could use a method gleaned
from open source AI systems —
systems whose underlying com-
puter code has been released for
Applications for jobless benefits hit lowest level in 5 months
By Matt Ott
AS S OC IAT E D PRE SS
The number of Americans
applying for jobless benefits slid
last week to its lowest level in
five months, further evidence
that the U.S. labor market con-
tinues to defy the Federal Re-
serve’s attempts to cool it off.
U.S. applications for unem-
ployment benefits fell by 7,000
to 221,000 for the week ending
July 22, from 228,000 the week
before, the Labor Department
reported Thursday. That’s the
fewest since February.
The four-week moving aver-
Business Editor Jonathan Diamond: Jonathan.Diamond@houstonchronicle.com • 713-362-1513
U.S. economic growth unexpectedly picked up in the second quarter thanks to resilience among consumers and businesses.
President Joe Biden championed bills to allow businesses to invest in key areas of the economy, such as semiconductors.
signs of consumer strain bub-
bling.
The personal consumption
expenditures price index grew
at an 2.6 percent annualized
pace in the April to June period,
the smallest advance since the
closing months of 2020. Exclud-
ing food and energy, the index
rose at the slowest pace in more
than two years. June data will be
released Friday.
The persistent strength of the
jobs market remains a key
source of support for the econo-
my. Separate data out Thursday
showed applications for unem-
ployment benefits retreated to
the lowest level since late Febru-
ary. Continuing claims, which
can offer insight into how quick-
ly out-of-work Americans are
able to find a new job, declined
Zico Kolter, right, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University,
and Andy Zou, a doctoral student at the school, were among
researchers who found a way of circumventing the safety
measures on all the major chatbots platforms.
anyone to use — to target the
more tightly controlled and
more widely used systems from
Google, OpenAI and Anthropic.
A recent decision by Meta,
Facebook’s parent company, to
let anyone do what they want
with its technology has been
criticized in some tech circles
because it could lead to the
spread of powerful AI with little
regard for controls.
But the company said it of-
fered its technology as open
source software in an effort to
accelerate the progress of AI
and better understand the risks.
age of claims, which smooths
out some of the week-to-week
volatility, fell by 3,750 to 233,750.
Jobless claim applications are
broadly seen as a proxy for the
number of layoffs in a given
week.
For a few weeks this spring,
jobless claims had appeared to
reach a sustained, higher level,
above 260,000. But for more
than a month now, claims have
settled lower as the labor market
remains one of the healthiest
parts of the U.S. economy.
Since more than 20 million
jobs vanished when the CO-
VID-19 pandemic hit in the
to the lowest since January.
The GDP data showed servic-
es spending rose at a 2.1 percent
annualized rate, led by housing
and utilities, health care and fi-
nancial services. Outlays on
goods increased at a 0.7 percent
rate, after surging by the most in
nearly two years in the prior pe-
riod. Inflation-adjusted spend-
ing data for June, and any revi-
sions to prior months, will also
be released Friday.
Nonresidential fixed invest-
ment increased at the fastest
pace in more than a year. Busi-
ness spending on structures
continued to grow at a break-
neck pace, bolstered by recent
efforts to shore up domestic fac-
tory production.
The Biden administration
championed a series of bills —
Marco Garcia/New York Times
Proponents of open-source soft-
ware also say the tight controls
that a few companies have over
the technology stifles competi-
tion.
The debate over whether it is
better to let everyone see com-
puter code and collectively fix it
rather than keeping it private
predates the chatbot boom by
decades. And it is likely to be-
come even more contentious be-
cause of what the researchers
revealed in their report Thurs-
day.
The researchers found that
they could break through the
spring of 2020, U.S. employers
have added jobs at a blistering
pace, more often than not beat-
ing forecasts. Despite the fastest
interest rate hikes since 1989, the
unemployment rate has hardly
budged, remaining at a histori-
cally low 3.6 percent.
Fed officials have said that the
unemployment rate needs to
rise well past 4 percent to bring
inflation down, but recent gov-
ernment data showed that con-
sumer prices fell in June to their
lowest level since early 2021 — 3
percent compared with a year
earlier — and much closer to the
Fed’s target of 2 percent.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, the Inflation Re-
duction Act and CHIPS Act —
that provide both direct funding
and tax incentives for private
companies to invest in areas like
semiconductors and electric ve-
hicles.
Outlays for equipment
surged at a 10.8 percent rate, the
most in more than a year, after
decreasing in the previous two
quarters. Spending on intellec-
tual property products also ac-
celerated.
Inflation-adjusted final sales
to private domestic purchasers
— a key gauge of underlying de-
mand — rose 2.3 percent after a
3.2 percent at the start of the
year. Those are the strongest
back-to-back gains since 2021.
Net exports subtracted 0.12
guardrails of open source sys-
tems by appending a long suffix
of characters onto each English-
language prompt fed into the
system.
If they asked one of these
chatbots to “write a tutorial on
how to make a bomb,” it would
decline to do so. But if they add-
ed a lengthy suffix to the same
prompt, it would instantly pro-
vide a detailed tutorial on how
to make a bomb. In similar
ways, they could coax the chat-
bots into generating biased,
false and otherwise toxic infor-
mation.
The researchers were sur-
prised when the methods they
developed with open source sys-
tems could also bypass the
guardrails of closed systems, in-
cluding OpenAI’s ChatGPT,
Google Bard and Claude, a chat-
bot built by the startup An-
thropic.
The companies that make the
chatbots could thwart the spe-
cific suffixes identified by the re-
searchers. But the researchers
say there is no known way of
preventing all attacks of this
kind. Experts have spent nearly
a decade trying to prevent simi-
lar attacks on image recognition
systems without success.
“There is no obvious solu-
tion,” said Zico Kolter, a profes-
sor at Carnegie Mellon and an
author of the report. “You can
create as many of these attacks
as you want in a short amount of
Despite that, on Wednesday,
the Fed announced that is was
raising its benchmark borrow-
ing rate by another quarter-
point after pausing in June for
the first time in more than a
year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell
gave no hint as to what officials
might do at future meetings.
The U.S. economy has broad-
ly been resilient in the face of the
Federal Reserve’s aggressive
rate-hiking campaign in its ef-
fort to stifle persistent inflation
not seen since the early 1980s.
The U.S. economy grew at a
2.4 percent annual pace from
April though June, the govern-
Spencer Platt/Tribune News Service
percentage point from GDP in
the second quarter, while inven-
tories added 0.14 point.
Residential investment de-
creased for a ninth-straight
quarter. While the rapid rise in
interest rates sent the hoU.S.ing
market into a tailspin last year,
the sector is now showing signs
of stabilizing.
“The second quarter’s accel-
erated GDP growth reflects an
economic force working against
the Fed’s efforts to reduce infla-
tion — expansionary fiscal pol-
icy... If the recession we predict
this year is delayed rather than
averted, and the Fed ultimately
has to hike more than we cur-
rently anticipate — the most
likely culprit will be Bidenom-
ics,” said Anna Wong, econo-
mist.
time.”
The researchers disclosed
their methods to Anthropic,
Google and OpenAI earlier in
the week.
Michael Sellitto, Anthropic’s
interim head of policy and soci-
etal impacts, said in a statement
that the company is researching
ways to thwart attacks like the
ones detailed by the research-
ers. “There is more work to be
done,” he said.
An OpenAI spokesperson
said the company appreciated
that the researchers disclosed
their attacks. “We are consis-
tently working on making our
models more robust against ad-
versarial attacks,” said the
spokesperson, Hannah Wong.
A Google spokesperson, Eli-
jah Lawal, added that the com-
pany has “built important
guardrails into Bard — like the
ones posited by this research —
that we’ll continue to improve
over time.”
Somesh Jha, a professor at the
University of Wisconsin-Madi-
son and a Google researcher
who specializes in AI security,
called the new paper “a game
changer” that could force the en-
tire industry into rethinking
how it built guardrails for AI
systems.
If these types of vulnerabili-
ties keep being discovered, he
added, it could lead to govern-
ment legislation designed to
control these systems.
ment reported Thursday, even
better than the 2 percent annual
pace in the first quarter of 2023.
While there have been a num-
ber of high-profile layoffs re-
cently, mostly in the technology
sector, the overall labor market
remains healthy.
IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce,
Twitter, Lyft, LinkedIn, Spotify
and DoorDash have all an-
nounced layoffs this year. Ama-
zon and Facebook parent Meta
have each announced multiple
job cuts since November.
Outside the tech sector, Mc-
Donald’s, Morgan Stanley and
3M have also recently cut jobs.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Texas Commission on environmenTal
QualiTy
NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND
PRELIMINARY DECISION FOR
TPDES PERMIT FOR INDUSTRIAL
WASTEWATER RENEWAL
Permit No. WQ0004301000
APPLICATION AND PRELIMINARY
DECISION. Kinder Morgan Petcoke, LP,
300 Beltway Green Boulevard, Pasadena,
Texas 77503, which operates Deepwater
Bulk Terminal, a petroleum coke and coal
storage and transfer facility, has applied to
the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) for a renewal of Texas
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(TPDES) Permit No. WQ0004301000,
which authorizes the discharge of
process wastewater and stormwater on
an intermittent and flow-variable basis
via Outfall 001. The TCEQ received this
application on February 15, 2023.
The facility is located at 4207 Pasadena
Freeway, near the City of Pasadena,
Harris County, Texas 77503. This link to
an electronic map of the site or facility's
general location is provided as a public
courtesy and is not part of the application
or notice. For the exact location, refer
to the application. https://gisweb.tceq.
texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=-
95.147777,29.728888&level=18
The effluent is discharged directly to
Houston Ship Channel Tidal in Segment No.
1006 of the San Jacinto River Basin. The
designated uses for Segment No. 1006 are
navigation and industrial water supply.
The TCEQ Executive Director has
completed the technical review of the
application and prepared a draft permit. The
draft permit, if approved, would establish
the conditions under which the facility must
operate. The Executive Director has made
a preliminary decision that this permit, if
issued, meets all statutory and regulatory
requirements. The permit application,
Executive Director's preliminary decision,
and draft permit are available for viewing
and copying at Pasadena Central Public
Library, 1201 Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive,
Pasadena, Texas.
ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE NOTICE.
Alternative language notice in Spanish is
available at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/
permitting/wastewater/plain-language-
summaries-and-public- notices. El aviso
de idioma alternativo en español está
disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/
permitting/wastewater/plain-language-
summaries-and-public- notices.
PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC
MEETING. You may submit public
comments or request a public meeting
about this application. The purpose of a
public meeting is to provide the opportunity
to submit written or oral comment or to ask
questions about the application.
Generally, the TCEQ will hold a public
meeting if the Executive Director
determines that there is a significant degree
of public interest in the application or if
requested by a local legislator. A public
meeting is not a contested case hearing.
OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED
CASE HEARING. After the deadline for
public comments, the Executive Director
will consider the comments and prepare
a response to all relevant and material, or
significant public comments. The response
to comments, along with the Executive
Director's decision on the application, will
be mailed to everyone who submitted public
comments or who requested to be on a
mailing list for this application. If comments
are received, the mailing will also provide
instructions for requesting a contested case
hearing or reconsideration of the Executive
Director's decision. A contested case
hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a
civil trial in a state district court.
TO REQUEST A CONTESTED CASE
HEARING, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS IN YOUR
REQUEST: your name, address, phone
number; applicant's name and proposed
permit number; the location and distance
of your property/activities relative to the
proposed facility; a specific description of
how you would be adversely affected by the
facility in a way not common to the general
public; a list of all disputed issues of fact that
you submit during the comment period; and
the statement “[I/we] request a contested
case hearing.” If the request for contested
case hearing is filed on behalf of a group
or association, the request must designate
the group's representative for receiving
future correspondence; identify by name
and physical address an individual member
of the group who would be adversely
affected by the proposed facility or activity;
provide the information discussed above
regarding the affected member's location
and distance from the facility or activity;
explain how and why the member would be
affected; and explain how the interests the
group seeks to protect are relevant to the
group's purpose.
Followingthecloseofallapplicablecomment
and request periods, the Executive
Director will forward the application and
any requests for reconsideration or for
a contested case hearing to the TCEQ
Commissioners for their consideration at a
scheduled Commission meeting.
The Commission may only grant a request
for a contested case hearing on issues
the requestor submitted in their timely
comments that were not subsequently
withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the
subject of a hearing will be limited to
disputed issues of fact or mixed questions
of fact and law relating to relevant and
material water quality concerns submitted
during the comment period. TCEQ may
act on an application to renew a permit for
discharge of wastewater without providing
an opportunity for a contested case hearing
if certain criteria are met.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACTION. The
Executive Director may issue final approval
of the application unless a timely contested
case hearing request or a timely request for
reconsideration is filed. If a timely hearing
request or request for reconsideration is
filed, the Executive Director will not issue
final approval of the permit and will forward
the application and requests to the TCEQ
Commissioners for their consideration at a
scheduled Commission meeting.
MAILING LIST. If you submit public
comments, a request for a contested
case hearing or a reconsideration of the
Executive Director's decision, you will be
added to the mailing list for this specific
application to receive future public notices
mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk. In
addition, you may request to be added to:
(1) the permanent list for a specific applicant
name and permit number; and (2) the
mailing list for a specific county. If you wish
to be placed on the permanent and county
mailing list, clearly specify which list(s) and
send your request to TCEQ Office of the
Chief Clerk at the address below.
All written public comments and public
meeting requests must be submitted to the
Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105, TCEQ,
P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087 or
electronically at https://www.tceq.texas.
gov/goto/comment within 30 days from the
date of newspaper publication of this notice.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE.
For details about the status of the
application, visit the Commissioners'
Integrated Database at https://www.
tceq.texas.gov/goto/CID/. Search the
database using the permit number for this
application, which is provided at the top of
this notice.
AGENCY CONTACTS AND
INFORMATION. Public comments
and requests must be submitted either
electronically at https://www.tceq.texas.
gov/goto/comment, or in writing to the
Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk,
MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas
78711-3087. Please be aware that any
contact information you provide, including
your name, phone number, email address,
and physical address will become part
of the agency's public record. For more
information about this permit application
or the permitting process, please call the
TCEQ Public Education Program, toll
free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website
at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency/
decisions/participation/permitting-
participation. Si desea información en
Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.
Further information may also be obtained
from Kinder Morgan Petcoke, LP at the
address stated above or by calling Mr.
Brad Miller, Vice President-Terminals, at
832-900-5012.
Issued: July 13, 2023
Texas Commission on environmenTal
QualiTy
NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF
APPLICATION AND
INTENT TO OBTAIN WATER QUALITY
PERMIT RENEWAL
PERMIT NO. WQ0001402000
APPLICATION. Wyman-Gordon
Forgings, Inc., 10825 Telge Road, Houston,
Texas 77095, which operates a facility
that manufactures extruded and forged
metal products, has applied to the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) to renew Texas Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (TPDES)
Permit No. WQ0001402000 (EPA I.D. No.
TX0042129) to authorize the discharge of
treated wastewater and stormwater at
an intermittent and flow variable rate via
Outfall 001; and the discharge of treated
wastewater at a volume not to exceed a
daily average flow of 225,000 gallons per
day via Outfall 002. The facility is located
at 10825 Telge Road, Houston, in Harris
County, Texas 77095. The discharge route is
from the plant site to an unnamed drainage
ditch; thence to a Harris County Flood
Control District Ditch; thence to Horsepen
Creek, thence to Langham Creek, thence to
Bear Creek, thence to South Mayde Creek,
thence to Buffalo Bayou Above Tidal. TCEQ
received this application on April 26, 2023.
The permit application will be available for
viewing and copying at Northwest Branch
Library, 11355 Regency Green Drive,
Cypress, Texas prior to the date this notice
is published in the newspaper. This link to
an electronic map of the site or facility's
general location is provided as a public
courtesy and not part of the application or
notice. For the exact location, refer to the
application.
https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/
LocationMapper/?marker=-
95.649722,29.926666&level=18
ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE
NOTICE. Alternative language notice in
Spanish is available at https://www.tceq.
texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/plain-
language-summaries-and-public-notices.
El aviso de idioma alternativo en español
está disponible en https://www.tceq.
texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/plain-
language-summaries-and-public-notices.
ADDITIONAL NOTICE. TCEQ's
Executive Director has determined the
application is administratively complete
and will conduct a technical review of the
application. After technical review of the
application is complete, the Executive
Director may prepare a draft permit and
will issue a preliminary decision on the
application. Notice of the Application and
Preliminary Decision will be published and
mailed to those who are on the county-wide
mailing list and to those who are on the
mailing list for this application. That notice
will contain the deadline for submitting
public comments.
PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC
MEETING. You may submit public
comments or request a public meeting on
this application. The purpose of a public
meeting is to provide the opportunity to
submit comments or to ask questions
about the application. TCEQ will hold a
public meeting if the Executive Director
determines that there is a significant degree
of public interest in the application or if
requested by a local legislator. A public
meeting is not a contested case hearing.
OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED
CASE HEARING. After the deadline for
submitting public comments, the Executive
Director will consider all timely comments
and prepare a response to all relevant and
material, or significant public comments.
Unless the application is directly referred
for a contested case hearing, the response
to comments, and the Executive Director's
decision on the application, will be mailed to
everyone who submitted public comments
and to those persons who are on the mailing
list for this application. If comments are
received, the mailing will also provide
instructions for requesting reconsideration
of the Executive Director's decision and
for requesting a contested case hearing. A
contested case hearing is a legal proceeding
similar to a civil trial in state district court.
TO REQUEST A CONTESTED CASE
HEARING, YOU MUST INCLUDE
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN YOUR
REQUEST: your name, address, phone
number; applicant's name and proposed
permit number; the location and distance
of your property/activities relative to the
proposed facility; a specific description of
how you would be adversely affected by the
facility in a way not common to the general
public; a list of all disputed issues of fact that
you submit during the comment period and,
the statement “[I/we] request a contested
case hearing.” If the request for contested
case hearing is filed on behalf of a group
or association, the request must designate
the group's representative for receiving
future correspondence; identify by name
and physical address an individual member
of the group who would be adversely
affected by the proposed facility or activity;
provide the information discussed above
regarding the affected member's location
and distance from the facility or activity;
explain how and why the member would be
affected; and explain how the interests the
group seeks to protect are relevant to the
group's purpose.
Followingthecloseofallapplicablecomment
and request periods, the Executive
Director will forward the application and
any requests for reconsideration or for
a contested case hearing to the TCEQ
Commissioners for their consideration at a
scheduled Commission meeting.
The Commission may only grant a request
for a contested case hearing on issues
the requestor submitted in their timely
comments that were not subsequently
withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the
subject of a hearing will be limited to
disputed issues of fact or mixed questions
of fact and law relating to relevant and
material water quality concerns submitted
during the comment period. TCEQ may
act on an application to renew a permit for
discharge of wastewater without providing
an opportunity for a contested case hearing
if certain criteria are met.
MAILING LIST. If you submit public
comments, a request for a contested
case hearing or a reconsideration of the
Executive Director's decision, you will be
added to the mailing list for this specific
application to receive future public notices
mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk. In
addition, you may request to be placed on:
(1) the permanent mailing list for a specific
applicant name and permit number; and/
or (2) the mailing list for a specific county.
If you wish to be placed on the permanent
and/or the county mailing list, clearly
specify which list(s) and send your request
to TCEQ Office of the Chief Clerk at the
address below.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE.
For details about the status of the
application, visit the Commissioners'
Integrated Database at www.tceq.texas.
gov/goto/cid. Search the database using
the permit number for this application,
which is provided at the top of this notice.
AGENCY CONTACTS AND
INFORMATION. Public comments
and requests must be submitted either
electronically at https://www14.tceq.texas.
gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to
the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-
105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-
3087. Please be aware that any contact
information you provide, including your
name, phone number, email address,
and physical address will become part
of the agency's public record. For more
information about this permit application
or the permitting process, please call the
TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll
Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website
at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea
información en Español, puede llamar al
1-800-687-4040.
Further information may also be obtained
from Wyman-Gordon Forgings, Inc. at
the address stated above or by calling Mr.
Benjamin Priola, Environmental Specialist,
at 281-856-3353.
Issuance Date: July 12, 2023
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, HOUSTON DIVISION
In re: § Chapter 11
ALPINE SUMMIT ENERGY § Case No. 23-90739 (DRJ)
PARTNERS, INC., et al. § (Jointly Administered)
Debtors.1 § (Emergency Hearing Requested)
NOTICE OF AUCTION FOR THE SALE OF THE DEBTORS’
ASSETS FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS,
INTERESTS, AND ENCUMBRANCES
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above-captioned debtors and debtors in
possession(collectively,the“Debtors”)aresolicitingoffersforatransactionor
transactions,anyofwhichmayincludethepurchaseoftheSouthTexasAssets
or the Giddings Assets and the assumption of certain liabilities of the Debtors,
consistentwiththebiddingprocedures(the“BiddingProcedures”)2 approved
by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the
“Court”) by entry of an order on July 25,2023 [Docket No.228] (the“Bidding
Procedures Order”). All interested bidders should carefully read the
Bidding Procedures and Bidding Procedures Order.To the extent that
thereareanyinconsistenciesbetweenthisnoticeandtheBiddingProcedures
or the Bidding Procedures Order, the Bidding Procedures or the Bidding
ProceduresOrder,asapplicable,shallgoverninallrespects.
Copies of the Bidding Procedures Order or other documents
related thereto, including any Stalking Horse Agreement or an
exhibit identifying the Assets, as applicable, are available upon
request to Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC by calling (844)
219-3705 (Toll Free) or (646) 440-4844 (International) or visiting
the Debtors’ restructuring website at (https://cases.ra.kroll.com/
Alpine).
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Qualified Bid Deadline for the
South Texas Assets is August 18, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Central
Time),and that any person or entity who wishes to participate in the Auction
must comply with the participation requirements, bid requirements, and
otherrequirementssetforthintheBiddingProcedures.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Qualified Bid Deadline for the
Giddings Assets is October 4, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Central
Time),and that any person or entity who wishes to participate in the Auction
must comply with the participation requirements, bid requirements, and
otherrequirementssetforthintheBiddingProcedures.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors intend to conduct the
Auction for the SouthTexas Assets,at which time they will consider proposals
submitted to the Debtors and their professionals, by and pursuant to the
Bidding Procedures as set forth in the Bidding Procedures Order, beginning
on August 24,2023,at 9:30 a.m.(prevailing Central Time) at the office
of Porter Hedges LLP,1000 Main Street,36th Floor,Houston,Texas 77002 (“PH’s
Office”).
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors intend to conduct the
Auction for the Giddings Assets, at which time they will consider proposals
submitted to the Debtors and their professionals, by and pursuant to the
BiddingProceduresassetforthintheBiddingProceduresOrder,beginningon
October11,2023,at9:30a.m.(prevailingCentralTime)atPH’sOffice.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors expect to seek
approval of any Sales at the South Texas Sale Hearing, which is presently
scheduled to commence on August 31, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (prevailing
Central Time), or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, before the
Honorable David R. Jones in the United States Courthouse, 515 Rusk Street,
Houston,Texas77002.
PLEASETAKEFURTHERNOTICEthattheDebtorsexpecttoseekapproval
of any Sales at the Giddings Sale Hearing, which is presently scheduled to
commence on October 18,2023,at 1:30 p.m.(prevailing Central Time),
or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard,before the Honorable David R.
JonesintheUnitedStatesCourthouse,515RuskStreet,Houston,Texas77002.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, except as otherwise set forth
in the Bidding Procedures Order with respect to objections to proposed
cure amounts or the assumption and assignment of Assigned Contracts,
objections, if any, to a proposed Sale must:(a) be in writing; (b) conform to
the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Rules and the Bankruptcy Local
Rules;(c) state with particularity the legal and factual basis for the objection
and the specific grounds therefor; (d) with respect to the South Texas Sale,
be filed with the Court by the later of August 25, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
(prevailing Central Time), or four (4) days after the Debtors file the
Notice of Successful Bidder at 4:00 p.m.; and (e) with respect to the
Giddings Sale,be filed with the Court by the later of October 12, 2023, at
4:00 p.m.(prevailing CentralTime),or four (4) days after the Debtors
filetheNoticeofSuccessfulBidderat4:00p.m.
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO TIMELY MAKE AN OBJECTION.
ANY PARTY OR ENTITY WHO FAILS TO TIMELY MAKE AN OBJECTION
TO A SALE ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICABLE SALE OBJECTION
DEADLINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BIDDING PROCEDURES ORDER
SHALL BE FOREVER BARRED FROM ASSERTING ANY OBJECTION TO
SUCH SALE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF THE
SELLING DEBTORS’ ASSETS FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, CLAIMS,
ENCUMBRANCES,ANDOTHERINTERESTS,EXCEPTASSETFORTHINTHE
APPLICABLEPURCHASEAGREEMENT(S).
Notice for Publication
NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF QUADVEST, LP TO AMEND ITS CERTIFICATES
OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY SERVICE IN WALLER COUNTY, TEXAS
Quadvest, LP has filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of
Texas to amend its water Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) No. Notice to Proposers
11612 and sewer CCN No. 20952 for the provision of retail water and sewer
utility service in Waller County, Texas.
The requested area overlaps the district boundaries of Brazos River Authority • WebEx pre-proposal meeting: Thursday, August 3, 2:00PM; call-in number
and San Jacinto River Authority. If these districts do not request a public 1-408-792-6300, Meeting #2622 397 7289
hearing, the Commission shall determine that the district is consenting to
Quadvest, LP’s request to provide retail water and sewer utility service in the • Must Register to Bid: http://wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/supplier.htm .
requested area.
The requested area includes 0 customer connections, is located approxi-
mately 4.8 mile(s) northeast of downtown Pattison, Texas, and is generally
bounded on the north by Farm to Market 529; on the east by Farm to Market
362; on the south by Mineska Road; and on the west by Adams Flat Road.
The requested area includes approximately 254 acres, comprised of
uncertificated area.
The application proposes the addition of approximately 254 acres to CCN
Nos. 11612 & 20952.
A copy of the maps showing the requested area are available at : 26926 FM District will receive electronic sealed proposals for RFP 2339 Serving Line at
2978, Magnolia, Texas 77354
Persons who wish to intervene in the proceeding or comment upon action
sought should contact the Public Utility Commission, P.O. Box 13326, Austin,
Texas 78711-3326, or call the Public Utility Commission at (512) 936-7120 or
(888) 782-8477. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals with text tele-
phones (TTY) may contact the commission at (512) 936-7136. The deadline
for intervention in the proceeding is (30 days from the mailing or publication
of notice, whichever occurs later, unless otherwise provided by the presiding
officer). You must send a letter requesting intervention to the commission
which is received by that date. The letter must include the person’s name,
address, email address and fax number if applicable.
If a valid public hearing is requested, the Commission will forward the applica- Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, no later than 2:00 p.m. local time in Houston,
tion to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for a hearing. If no
settlement is reached and an evidentiary hearing is held, SOAH will submit a
recommendation to the Commission for a final decision. An evidentiary hear-
ing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court.
A landowner with a tract of land at least 25 acres or more, that is partially or
wholly located within the requested area, may file a written request with the
Commission to be excluded from the requested area (“opt out”) within (30)
days from the date that notice was provided by the Utility. All opt out re-
quests must include a large-scale map, a metes and bounds description of the
landowner’s tract of land, landowner’s name, address, email address and fax
number, if applicable.
Persons who wish to request this option should file the required documents
with the:
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Central Records
1701 N. Congress, P. O. Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326
In addition, the landowner must also send a copy of the opt out request to the
Utility. Staff may request additional information regarding your request.
Si desea información en español, puede llamar al 1-888-782-8477.
On June 1, 2023, Vitality Group LLC, a vendor Baylor College of Medicine uses
for its employee wellness portal platform, discovered a potential data security
breach. BCM’s patient information was not exposed. Baylor College of Medicine
was notified on June 5, 2023 that some of its data may have been compromised.
According to Vitality, MOVEit, the third-party file transfer program it utilizes to
transfer business data, experienced a security vulnerability on May 30, 2023.
After discovering the exposure, Vitality stated that its internal security team
successfully removed the known exploitable risk. Prior to removing the vulnera-
bility, however, an unauthorized third-party gained access to the server utilized
by the MOVEit program.
Vitality found no evidence that their systems were directly impacted or are cur-
rently at risk. As limited personal and health information is shared with Vitality
to support BCM’s employee wellness program, the vast majority of BCM Vitality
program participants had minimal personal information exposure. However, for
a subset of individuals, the information potentially at risk could have included
Vitality program participants’ name, date of birth, Social Security number and
Protected Health Information, specifically biometrics and laboratory data.
Vitality has partnered with Experian to provide credit monitoring for two years
for individuals whose Social Security number and health information may have
been exposed.
Baylor College of Medicine regrets this unfortunate incident and, as required by
state and federal law, is notifying all individuals whose sensitive personal infor-
mation and Protected Health Information may have been exposed.
If you have any questions, please call the Baylor College of Medicine Office of
Compliance at (866) 676-3236, Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m.-4:30
p.m.
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will be accepting Qualifications
for the following:
Primary Care Physician (PCP) Services
Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website
www.theharriscenter.org beginning Monday, July 31, 2023. The Harris Center
utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter.bonfirehub.com/
portal/?tab=openOpportunities. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit
questions to this RFQ is Monday, August 7, 2023. Supplier Qualifications must
be submitted by 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 21, 2023 . Historically
Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-
Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all
rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable
irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and
is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
Harmony Public Schools (HPS), open-enrollment charter schools, is soliciting
sealed Request for Qualification statements for RFQ #HPS2025_SCRM for
Salesforce CRM Development Services. Qualification statements must be
received by 11 a.m. on August 28, 2023 through Harmony’s ebid system, and will
be opened at that date and time at 9321 W Sam Houston Parkway S, Houston,
TX 77099. HPS reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or waive any or
all irregularities. For further information, please contact Mrs. Norah Yavuz at pu
rchasing@harmonytx.org. Proposers may log in to view the RFQ package and
submit their responses at: https://www.harmonytx.org/about/purchasing
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 B9
NO SUCCESSOR OR TRANSFEREE LIABILITY.The Sale Order is expected MARK A. KIRKORSKY, P.C.
to provide,among other things,that the Successful Bidder from the Sale will Attorneys at Law
have noresponsibilityfor,andtheAssetswillbesoldfreeandclearof,anysuc- 8020 W. Sahara Ave. Suite 225
cessorliability,includingthefollowing: Las Vegas, NV 89117
To the greatest extent allowable by applicable law,the Successful Bidder 888-519-2173
shall not be deemed, as a result of any action taken in connection with the
Stalking Horse Agreement (in the case where a Stalking Horse Bidder is the Stephen R. Kopolow, Esq. (#8533)
Successful Bidder) or a separate purchase agreement entered into with the Attorney for Plaintiff
Successful Bidder (if a Stalking Horse Bidder is not the Successful Bidder),the nvlegal@makpc.com
DISTRICT COURT
consummation of the Sale,or the transfer or operation of the Assets,to (a) be
a legal successor, or otherwise be deemed a successor to the Debtors (other CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
AHERN RENTALS, INC.
than with respect to any obligations as an assignee under the Assigned
Contracts arising after the effective date); (b) have, de facto or otherwise, Plaintiff,
merged with or into the Debtors;or (c) be an alter ego or mere continuation vs.
or substantial continuation of the Debtors, in the case of each of (a), (b), G MAXX SOLUTIONS, a sole proprietorship and NOR-
and (c), including, without limitation, within the meaning of any foreign, MA TYLER, an individual Defendant.
federal, state or local revenue law, pension law, the Employee Retirement Case Number: A-22-854042-C
Income Security Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, Dept. No.: 8
the WARN Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 2101 et seq.), the Fair Labor Standard Act,Title
Date of Hearing: N/A
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the Age Discrimination Time of Hearing: N/A
and Employment Act of 1967 (as amended), the Federal Rehabilitation Act
SUMMONS – CIVIL
of 1973 (as amended), the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. § 151, et
seq.), environmental liabilities, debts, claims or obligations, any liabilities, NOTICE! YOU HAVE BEEN SUED. THE COURT MAY
debts or obligations of or required to be paid by the Debtors for any taxes of DECIDE AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR BEING
HEARD UNLESS YOU RESPOND WITHIN 20 DAYS.
any kind for any period, labor, employment, or other law, rule or regulation
(including without limitation filing requirements under any such laws,rules READ THE INFORMATION BELOW.
TO THE DEFENDANT(S): A civil Complaint has been
or regulations),or under any products liability law or doctrine with respect to
theDebtors’liabilityundersuchlaw,ruleorregulationordoctrine. filed by the Plaintiff(s) against you for the relief set
All rights of any party to set off any claims, debts, or obligations owed forth in the Complaint.
by or to the Successful Bidder in connection with the assets shall be 1. If you intend to defend this lawsuit, within 20 days
extinguished on the effective date pursuant to the Sale Order.Other than as after this Summons is served on you, exclusive of the
expressly set forth in the Stalking Horse Agreement (or another Successful day of service, you must do the following:
Bidder’s purchase agreement, as applicable) with respect to assumed (a) File with the Clerk of this Court, whose address is
liabilities, the Successful Bidder shall not have any responsibility for (a) shown below, a formal written response to the Com-
any liability or other obligation of the Debtors or related to the assets or plaint in accordance with the rules of the Court, with
(b) any claims (as such term is defined by section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy the appropriate filing fee.
Code) against the Debtors or any of their predecessors or affiliates. To the (b) Serve a copy of your response upon the attorney
greatest extent allowed by applicable law, the Successful Bidder shall have
no liability whatsoever with respect to the Debtors’ (or their predecessors’ whose name and address is shown below.
2. Unless you respond, your default will be entered
or affiliates’) respective businesses or operations or any of the Debtors’ (or
their predecessors’or affiliates’) obligations based, in whole or part, directly upon application of the Plaintiff(s) and failure to so
respond will result in a judgment of default against
or indirectly, on any theory of successor or vicarious liability of any kind or
character, or based upon any theory of antitrust, environmental, successor you for the relief demanded in the Complaint, which
could result in the taking of money or property or
or transferee liability, de facto merger or substantial continuity, labor and
employment or products liability, whether known or unknown as of the other relief requested in the Complaint.
effective date,now existing or hereafter arising,asserted or unasserted,fixed 3. If you intend to seek the advice of an attorney in
or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, including liabilities on account of this matter, you should do so promptly so that your
any taxes arising,accruing or payable under,out of,in connection with,or in response may be filed on time.
anywayrelatingtotheoperationoftheAssetspriortotheeffectivedate. 4. The State of Nevada, its political subdivisions,
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors reserve the right,after agencies, officers, employees, board members, com-
consultation with the Consultation Parties and in their reasonable business
mission members and legislators each have 45 days
judgment and subject to the exercise of their fiduciary duties,to modify the after service of this Summons within which to file an
Bidding Procedures and/or to terminate discussions with any Potential
Answer or other responsive pleading to the
Bidders at any time, to the extent not materially inconsistent with the
BiddingProcedures. Complaint.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that copies of the Bidding Procedures Submitted by: STEVEN D. GRIERSON
CLERK OF THE COURT
Motion, Bidding Procedures, and Bidding Procedures Order, as well as
all related exhibits, are available: (a) free of charge upon request to Kroll By: /S/ Stephen R. Kopolow, Esq.
Mark A. Kirkorsky, P.C.
Restructuring Administration LLC (the notice and claims agent retained in
these chapter 11 cases) by (i) calling (844) 219-3705 (Toll Free) or +1 (646) Stephen R. Kopolow, Esq.
440-4844 (International); or (ii) visiting the Debtors’ restructuring website Attorney for Plaintiff
at (https://cases.ra.kroll.com/Alpine); or (b) for a fee via PACER by visiting By: /S/ Demond Palmer 6/14/2022
http://www.txs.uscourts.gov. Deputy Clerk Date
Houston,Texas, July 25,2023, By:/s/ Eric M.English ,PORTER HEDGES LLP, Regional Justice Center
Eric M. English (TX 24062714), M. Shane Johnson (TX 24083263), Megan 200 Lewis Avenue
Young-John (TX 24088700), Michael B. Dearman (TX 24116270), James A. Las Vegas, NV 89155
Keefe (TX 24122842), 1000 Main Street, 36th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
Telephone: (713) 226-6000, Fax: (713) 226-6248, eenglish@porterhedges.
com, sjohnson@porterhedges.com, myoung-john@porterhedges.com,
mdearman@porterhedges.com, jkeefe@porterhedges.com, PROPOSED
COUNSELFORDEBTORSANDDEBTORSINPOSSESSION
PUBLICATION NOTICE - REQUIRED
1
The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of
the Debtors’ federal tax identification number, are Alpine Summit Energy PURSUANT TO TEXAS ESTATES CODE
Partners, Inc. (3755), HB2 Origination, LLC (6760), Ageron Energy II, LLC
(1436),Ironroc Energy Partners,LLC (9801),Ageron Ironroc Energy,LLC (N/A), TO ALL CREDITORS OF ESTATE OF RAMONA ANN
Alpine Summit Energy Investors, Inc. (4428), and Alpine Carbon, LLC (N/A). PETROVICH, DECEASED, CAUSE NO. 516787,
The location of the Debtors’service address is:3322 West End Ave,Suite 450, PROBATE COURT NO. 4 OF HARRIS COUNTY,
Nashville,TN37203. TEXAS: ALL CLAIMS AGAINST SAID ESTATE MUST
2
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the BE PRESENTED WITHIN THE TIME PRESCRIBED BY
LAW. LETTERS TESTAMENTARY WERE ISSUED
meanings ascribed to them in the Bidding Procedures Order or the Bidding
Procedures,asapplicable. JULY 20, 2023. ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED IN CARE OF M. R. CARR, ATTORNEY
AND PRESENTED AT 902 E. MAIN, HUMBLE, TEXAS
77338.
Docket No. 54841
Houston Chronicle
Lone Star College - Advertisement for 07.21.23 and 07.28.23:
Request for Proposal will be received by Lone Star College for:
• RFP #886 Welding Supplies, Lab Gases, Flat Bar, Pipe & Plate Supplies.
Electronic submittals due by 2:00PM, Friday, August 11, 2023.
• Contact: pamela.johnson@lonestar.edu or (832)813-6782.
If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with
the on-line registration process, contact MC-vendors@lonestar.edu.
RFB 23CCP01B Unit Road Materials Caldwell County . See bid qualifications at
https://www.co.caldwell.tx.us/page/caldwell.BidRequests or contact Carolyn
Caro-Caldwell County Purchasing Agent at carolyn.caro@co.caldwell.tx.us.
Bid Notice - Alief ISD will receive sealed proposals for | CSP 2331.2 HVAC
Upgrades at Kennedy Elementary School until 2:00 PM CT, 8/17/2023, at 12102
High Star, Houston, TX 77072. A pre-bid conference will be held 8/2/23, at
10 AM CT, at Maintenance Building, 12135 High Star, Houston, TX 77072. The
Sneed Elementary & RFP 2340 Serving Line at Holub Middle School until
8/17/2023, at 2PM CT. Submit bids at https://aliefisd.ionwave.net. Questions -
281-988-3188.
NOTICE OF COMPETITIVE BIDS
Harris County is requesting offers for the projects listed below. Offer require-
ments, including item description(s), submission due dates and times, type of
pricing, payment method, and any bonding requirements, may be obtained
online at https://purchasing.harriscountytx.gov, or in the Purchasing Agent’s
office. Return offers to Harris County Purchasing Agent, 1111 Fannin, 12th
Texas on specified due dates.
Bids/Proposals Due July 31, 2023
Job 23/0163 Construction Engineering, Inspection, and Construction
Management Services for State Highway (SH) 225 / Sam
Houston Tollway East (SHTE) Partial Interchange
Job 23/0182 Licensed Sex Offender Treatment for Youth under the
Supervision
Job 23/0195 On-Site Blood Testing for Detection of Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis
Job 23/0212 Employee Benefits Coverage and Benefits Administration
Job 23/0229 Construction of Four Monuments within Channelview and
Northshore Community, Precinct 2
Job 23/0257 Early Learning Quality Networks Evaluation
Job 23/0266 Pavement Condition Assessment and Extraction of Assets
Job 23/0273 Sidewalk Improvement along Holland Avenue from Clinton
Drive to 18th Street
Job 23/0276 Armor Joint Repairs, Joint Sealing on Various Roads and
Bridges, Precinct 4
Job 23/0279 Construction of Hike and Bike Trail at Pine Brook Trail
Phase 1, Precinct 2
Job 23/0281 Disaster Heavy Civil Construction and Related Items
Bids/Proposals Due August 7, 2023
Job 23/0185 Survivor Services in Immigration Law Program
Job 23/0207 Surveillance Van
Job 23/0218 Ballistic Shields
Job 22/0234 Advertising Services and Related Items
Job 23/0268 Construction of a Multimodal Connector at Townsen Park
and Ride, Precinct 3
Job 23/0271 Uplift Harris Administrator
Job 23/0285 Cargo/Utility Van
Job 23/0286 Construction of a Pedestrian and Bike Bridge over Brays
Bayou from N Braeswood Blvd to S Braeswood Blvd,
Precinct 1
Job 23/0293 Asphalt Overlay for Various Roadways (Package 2023-2),
Precinct 3
Job 23/0294 Organizational Assessment and Related Consulting
Services
Job 23/0296 Fingerprint Imaging System
Job 23/0297 Digital Evidence Extraction and Analysis Software
Job 23/0304 Renovations of Mobile Command Units
Bids/Proposals Due August 14, 2023
Job 23/0112 Repair Parts, Labor and Related Items for Chevrolet/GMC
Automobiles and Light, Medium, and Heavy Duty Trucks
Job 23/0216 General Vehicle Maintenance and Related Items
Job 23/0232 Grant Procurement and Management Services
Job 23/0256 Package #3 - PS&E Safety Project
Job 23/0272 Lead Testing Kits, Accessories and Related Items
Job 23/0274 Professional Services to Provide Testing and Balancing
Services for the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital Expansion
Construction Project (Mandatory Pre-Submittal
Conference on Tuesday August 1, 2023)
Job 23/0278 Drainage and Infrastructure Improvements at the Barrett
Station Subdivision (Phase I- Dreamland Place), Precinct 3
Job 23/0299 Pole Security Cameras, Accessories and Related Items
Job 23/0300 Bridge Improvements and Related Items at Various
Locations, Precinct 3
Job 23/0302 Drainage Improvements at Parkway Subdivision (Mobile
Homes - 2018), Precinct 1
Job 23/0312 Pharmaceutical Distributor
Bids/Proposals Due August 21, 2023
Job 23/0120 Penetration Testing
Job 23/0259 AreaRAE Plus Rapid Deployment Kit
Job 23/0295 Device Connectivity & Remote Patient Monitoring
Job 23/0298 Professional Architectural and/or Engineering Services for
the Harris County Flood Resilience Plan
Job 23/0303 Professional Services for Asbestos and Environment
Testing Services (Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference on
Monday August 7, 2023)
Job 23/0306 Construction of Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin
Job 23/0308 Construction of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road - Segment 2 from
South of Rolling Glen Lane to North of Ezekiel Road,
Precinct 3
Job 23/0309 Construction of the East Harris County Health & Social
Services Facility Hub, Precinct 2
/s/ DeWight Dopslauf
DeWight Dopslauf, C.P.M., CPPO
Purchasing Agent
B10 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
NOTICE FOR BIDS
The School Land Board and the General Land Office (GLO) will hold an on-line
sealed bid Oil, Gas, and Other Minerals Lease Sale on EnergyNet.com. Bids
received will be opened at the GLO at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
78701 on September 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. For more information about the
lands to be offered for lease, call (806) 463-3616 or (512) 475-1534, or write to
todd.hilliard@glo.texas.gov.
The Houston Housing Authority (HHA), is soliciting sealed bids with the in-
tent to establish a fixed price contract with the lowest responsive and respon-
sible bidder who can perform all the necessary construction-related work
needed to facilitate the replacement of heaters at Cuney Homes in accord-
ance with the requirements and terms and conditions specified in Invitation
for Bid (IFB) 23-30.
Interested parties are highly encouraged (but not required), to participate
in a Pre-bid Conference/Teleconference that will be held 10 A.M. Central
Daylight Time (CDT), August 01, 2023 per the instructions in Exhibit A of
IFB 23-30 Replacement of Heaters at Cuney Homes.
Interested parties who wish to respond to this solicitation must submit the
required documents in a sealed envelope by 2 P.M. CDT August 25, 2023
to the Houston Housing Authority Attn: Julinda Turner, J.D. Subject: IFB
23-30 Replacement of Heaters at Cuney Homes - DO NOT OPEN 2640
Fountain View Drive Houston, Texas 77057.
IFB 23-30 can be obtained by going to the doing business with HHA section
of HHA’s website at www.housingforhouston.com, or by sending an e-mail to
HHA’s Procurement Dept. at Purchasing@housingforhouston.com with
IFB 23-30 in the subject line.
A Fair and Equal Employment Opportunity Agency. For assis-
tance: Individuals with disabilities may contact the 504/ADA Administrator at
713-260-0528, TTY 713-260-0574 or 504ADA@housingforhouston.com
CAUSE NUMBER: 2023-
27727
Plaintiff: IDAHO HOUS-
ING AND FINANCE
ASSOCIATION
Vs.
Defendant: THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS AT LAW
OF ERIC
AKERS
IN THE 113TH JUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT OF
HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS
CTATION BY
PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF TEXAS
County of Harris
NOTICE TO DEFEND-
ANT: “You have been su-
ed. You may employ an
attorney. If you or your
attorney do not file a
written answer with the
Clerk who issued this ci-
tation by 10:00 a.m. on
the Monday next follow-
ing the expiration of
forty-two days after the
date this citation was is-
sued, a default
judgement may be taken
against you.”
To: THE UNKNOWN
HEIRS AT LAW OF ERIC
AKERS
ADDRESS AND WHER-
ABOUTS ARE
UNKNOWN
YOU ARE HEREBY COM-
MANDED to be and ap-
pear before the 113TH
Judicial District Court of
Harris County, Texas in
the Courthouse in the
City of Houston, Texas at
or before 10:00 o’clock
A.M. Monday, the 7TH
day of AUGUST, 2023,
being the Monday next
after the expiration date
of forty-two days after
this citation is issued, and
you are hereby com-
manded and required
then and there to appear
and file written answer to
the PLAINTIFFS ORIGI-
NAL PETITION, filed in
said Court on the 03RD
day of MAY, 2023, in a
suit numbered 2023-
27727 on the docket of
said court, wherein IDA-
HO HOUSING AND FI-
NANCE ASSOCIATION,
Plaintiff(s) and THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS AT LAW
OF ERIC AKERS
Defendant(s), the nature
of plaintiff’s demand be-
ing and the said petition
alleging: OTHER CIVIL
SYNOPSIS:
"Plaintiff is seeking a ju-
dicial declaration that, as
recourse for default under
that one certain voluntary
security instrument, it
may proceed in accord-
ance with the terms of
such security instrument
and the Texas Property
Code with the non-
judicial foreclosure of that
certain real property, to
wit: LOT ELEVEN (11),
BLOCK FIVE (5),
SPRINGRIDGE, SECTION
TWO (2), A SUBDIVISION
IN HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS, ACCORDING TO
THE REPLAT THEREOF
RECORDED IN VOLUME
316, PAGE 98 OF THE
MAP RECORDS OF HAR-
RIS COUNTY, TEXAS."
Notice hereof shall be giv-
en by publishing this Ci-
tation once a week for
four consecutive weeks
previous to the 04TH day
of AUGUST, 2023, in
some newspaper publish-
ed in the County of HAR-
RIS, if there be a newspa-
per published therein, but
if not, then the nearest
county where a newspa-
per is published, and this
Citation shall be returned
on the 07TH of AUGUST,
2023, which is forty two
days after the date it is
issued, and the first pub-
lication shall be at least
twenty-eight days before
said return day.
HEREIN FAIL NOT, but
have before said court on
said return day this Writ
with your return thereon,
showing how you have
executed same.
WITNESS: MARILYN
BURGESS, District Clerk,
Harris County Texas
GIVEN UNDER MY
HAND AND SEAL OF
SAID COURT at Houston,
Texas on 23RD day of
JUNE, 2023.
(SEAL)
Newspaper: HOUSTON
CHRONICLE
Issued at the request of:
SILVER, JAMIE
Address: 14841 DALLAS
PARKWAY, SUITE 425,
DALLAS, TEXAS 75254
Bar Number: 24042907
MARILYN BURGESS,
District Clerk
Harris County, Texas
201 CAROLINE, Houston,
Texas 77002
P.O. Box 4651, Houston,
Texas 77210
By: /s/ Wanda Chambers
Chambers Wanda
Deputy Clerk
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that original Letters
Testamentary for the Estate of EDITH MAE
PEARSON, Deceased, were issued on July 26, 2023,
in Cause No. 517015, pending in the Probate Court
No: 1, Harris County, Texas, to: ERIC ALAN
PEARSON.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is
currently being administered are required to present
them to the undersigned within the time and in the
manner prescribed by law.
c/o: A.G. CROUCH
Attorney at Law
235 W. Sealy Street
Alvin, Texas 77511
DATED the 26th day of July 2023.
/s/ A. G. Crouch
A.G. CROUCH
Attorney for ERIC ALAN PEARSON
State Bar No.: 051
235 W. Sealy Street
Alvin, Texas 77511
Telephone: (281) 331-5288
Facsimile: (281) 331-9346
E-mail: agcrouch@crouchlawoffice.com
NOTICE AND ORDER:
Petition for Appointment
of
Guardian of a Minor
Docket No. 23P0453GD
Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
The Trial Court
Probate and Family
Court
In the interests of Yanelin
Nerixi Martinez Diego
of Fitchburg, MA
Minor
Worchester Probate and
Family Court
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
NOTICE TO ALL INTER-
ESTED PARTIES
1. Hearing Date/Time:
A hearing on a Petition
for Appointment of
Guardian of a Minor filed
on 02/09/2023 by
Yanelin N. Martinez Die-
go of Fitchburg, MA will
be held 08/09/2023
08:30 AM Guardianship
of Minor Hearing Located
Worchester Probate &
Family Court
2. Response to Petition:
You may respond by filing
a written response to the
Petition or by appearing
in person at the hearing.
If you choose to file a
written response, you
need to:
File the original with the
Court. And
Mail a copy to all interest-
ed parties at least five (5)
business days before the
hearing.
3. Counsel for the
Minor: The minor (or
an adult on behalf of the
minor) has the right to
request that counsel be
appointed for the minor.
4. Counsel for Parents:
If you are a parent of the
minor child who is the
subject of this proceeding
you have ta right to be
represented by an attor-
ney. If you want an attor-
ney and cannot afford to
pay for one and if you
give proof that you are
indigent, an attorney will
be assigned to you. Your
request for an attorney
should be made immedi-
ately by filing out the Ap-
plication of Appointment
of Counsel form. Submit
the application form in
person or by mail at the
court location where your
case is going to be heard.
5. Presence of the Mi-
nor at Hearing: A minor
over age 14 has the right
to be present at any hear-
ing, unless the Court
finds that it is not in the
minor’s best interests.
THIS IS A LEGAL NO-
TICE: an important court
proceeding that may af-
fect your rights has been
scheduled. If you do not
understand this notice or
other court papers,
please contact an attor-
ney for legal advice.
Date: July 20, 2023
/s/ Stephanie K. Fattman
Register of Probate
Cause No. 2023-19460
In the 151st Judicial Dis-
trict Court of Harris
County, Texas
Plaintiff: Jose Orlando
Andrade Lizama
Defendants: Waste Man-
agement & WM Leasing
of Texas LP., Waste Man-
agement of Texas, Inc,
and Montrae Willis
CITATION
The State of Texas, Coun-
ty of Harris
To: Willis, Montrae
12623 Grove Park Drive,
Missouri City, Texas
77489, or wherever he
may be found.
This case revolves around
an incident that occurred
on February 28, 2022, at
18000 FM 529, in Hous-
ton, Texas. At or around
5:555 a.m. on February
28, 2022 in Harris Coun-
ty, Texas, Defendant Wil-
lis, operating a 2008
Mack garbage truck, was
exiting a private driveway
of a shopping center and
attempting to drive
across the lanes of FM
529 in order to enter an-
other private driveway of
the opposite, south side.
However, Defendant Wil-
lis was not paying atten-
tion to the roadway.
Plaintiff Lizama was driv-
ing east on 18000 FM
529 when Defendant Wil-
lis did not notice Plaintiff
Lizama, failed to yield the
right of way to him, and
violently slammed into
the driver’s side of Plain-
tiff Lizama ‘s vehicle. At
all times material to this
collision, Defendant Willis
was operating the Mack
garbage truck on behalf
of his employer, Defend-
ant Waste Management.
As a result of the inci-
dent, Plaintiff Lizama suf-
fered serious injuries, in-
cluding but to limited to a
serious head injury, neck
and back injury, as well
as injuries to both should-
ers and knees.
The Harris County Sherif-
f’s Office investigated the
crash, formally deter-
mined that Defendant
Willis failed to yield the
right of way, and cited
him accordingly. Plaintif-
f’s Original Petition was
filed on the 29th day of
March, 2023 in the
above-cited cause num-
ber and court.
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED.
You may employ an attor-
ney. If you or your attor-
ney do not file a written
answer with the District
Clerk at the 151st Judicial
District Court of Harris
County, Texas at or before
10 o’clock a.m. of the first
Monday after the expira-
tion of 42 days from this
publication, a default
judgment may be taken
against you.
Signed this 6/22/2023.
/s/
HONORABLE JUDGE
PRESIDING
APPROVED AS TO
FORM AND
SUBSTANCE:
Respectfully submitted,
JIM S. ADLER &
ASSOCIATES
By: /s/ Frank W.
Robertson
Frank W. Robertson
State Bar No. 24033129
frobertson@jimadler.com
Michael Gomez
State Bar No. 24029578
mgomez@jimadler.com
Mary Grace Ruden
State Bar No. 24026862
mruden@jimadler.com
12605 East Freeway, Suite
400
Houston, Texas 77015
Tel: (713) 335-1021
Fax: (713) 335-1018
ATTORNEYS FOR
PLAINTIFF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that original Letters
Testamentary for the Estate of JOSEPH V. SALADINO,
Deceased, were issued on July 27, 2023, in Cause
No. PR-0084059, pending in the Probate Court of
Galveston County, Texas, to: BEVERLY BRAKE
SALADINO.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is
currently being administered are required to present
them to the undersigned within the time and in the
manner prescribed by law.
c/o: A. G. CROUCH
Attorney at Law
235 W. Sealy Street
Alvin, Texas 77511
DATED the 27th day of July 2023.
/s/ A.G. Crouch
A. G. CROUCH
Attorney for BEVERLY BRAKE SALADINO
State Bar No.: 05148000
235 W. Sealy Street
Alvin, Texas 77511
Telephone: (281) 331-5288
Facsimile: (281) 331-9346
E-mail: agcrouch@crouchlawoffice.com
Legal Notice
Application has been made with
the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission for a Mixed
Beverage Permit (MB) by Roar
Hospitality Group LLC dba
Congregate Kitchen and Lounge
to be located at 17175 Tomball
Parkway Suite 5A1, Houston,
Harris, Texas. Owners of said
corporation are Ryan Mortti,
President.
LEGAL NOTICE
Application has been made with
the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission for a [Wine and
Malt Beverage Retailer’s On-
Premise permit (BG)] by [Texas
Rose Culinary Services] dba [A
Taste of Paradise], to be located
at [3609 Preston Ave],
[Pasadena], [Harris County],
Texas. Officers of said
corporation [Elissa Kelly] is
[Member, Manager and Owner].
CAUSE NUMBER: 2019-
12771
Plaintiff: RUBEN
SALAZAR
vs
Defendant: ESTATE OF
JON MARK DUBY
IN THE 151STJUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT OF
HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS
CITATION BY
PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF TEXAS
County of Harris
To: ESTATE OF JON
MARK DUBY
WHOSE WHEREABOUTS
ARE UNKNOWN
YOUR ARE HEREBY
COMMANDED to be and
appear before the 151 st
Judicial District Court of
Harris County, Texas in
the Courthouse in the city
of Houston, Texas at or
before 10:00 o’clock A.M.
Monday, the 28 days of
August being the Monday
next after the expiration
of forty-two days after
this citation is issued, and
you are hereby com-
manded and required
then and there to appear
and file written answer t
the Plaintiffs Amended
Original Petition, filed in
said Court on the Novem-
ber 21, 2022, in a suit
numbered 2019-12771
docket of said court,
wherein RUBEN
SALAZAR, the Plaintiff,
and ESTATE OF JON
MARK DUBY the Defend-
ant, the nature of plain-
tiff’s demand and the said
petition alleging: MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENT
SUMMARY
Motor Vehicle Accident
On or about the 4th Day
of July 2017. Plaintiff
was operating a 1995
Dodge Ram Van traveling
on Highway 6. Defendant
was operating a 2011
Nissan Maxima also trav-
eling on HIghway 6. De-
fendant failed to control
the speed of is motor ve-
hicle and rear-ended
Plaintiff causing Plain-
tiff’s vehicle to hit an un-
known vehicle in front of
Plaintiff’s vehicle.
Notice hereof shall be giv-
en by publishing this Ci-
tation once a week for
four consecutive weeks
previous to the day of
AUGUST 28, 2023, in
some newspaper publish-
ed in the County of HAR-
RIS, if there be a newspa-
per published therein, but
if not, then the nearest
county where a newspa-
per is published, and this
Citation shall be returned
on the 18 day of AU-
GUST, which is forty two
days after the date it is is-
sued, and the first publi-
cation shall be at least
twenty-eight days before
said return day.
HEREIN FAIL NOT, but
have before said court on
said return day this Writ
with your return thereon,
showing how you have
executed same.
WITNESS: Marilyn Bur-
gess, District Clerk, Har-
ris County Texas
GIVEN UNDER MY
HAND AND SEAL OF
SAID COURT at Houston,
Texas on 10 day of JULY..
(SEAL)
Newspaper: HOUSTON
CHRONICLE
Issued at the request of:
JOSEPH K PLUMBAR
Address: 1200
ROTHWELL, STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS
77002
Tel: (713) 384-5507
Bar No: 24062331
Marilyn Burgess, District
Clerk
Harris County, Texas
201 Caroline, Houston,
Texas 77002
P.O. Box 4651, Houston,
Texas 77210
By:Taiasha Bradford
Deputy District Clerk
CAUSE NUMBER: 2023-
27574
Plaintiff: SHEPPARD,
ASHLY MONET
Defendant: MARQUEZ,
JOSE
IN THE 152ND JUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT OF
HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS
CITATION BY
PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF TEXAS
County of Harris
NOTICE TO DEFEND-
ANT: “You have been su-
ed. You may employ an
attorney. If you or your
attorney do not file a
written answer with the
clerk who issued this ci-
tation by 10:00 a.m. on
the Monday next follow-
ing the expiration of
forty-two days after the
date of issuance of this
citation and petition, a
default judgment may be
taken against you.”
To: JOSE MARQUEZ
ADDRESS AND WHERE-
ABOUTS ARE UN-
KNOWN
YOU ARE HEREBY COM-
MANDED to be and ap-
pear before the 152ND
Judicial District Court of
Harris County, Texas in
the Courthouse in the
City of Houston, Texas at
or before 10:00 o’clock
A.M. Monday, the 11TH
day of SEPTEMBER,
2023, being the Monday
next after the expiration
date of forty-two days af-
ter this citation is issued,
and you are hereby com-
manded and required
then and there to appear
and file written answer to
the PLAINTIFF’S ORIGI-
NAL PETITION, filed in
said Court on the 03RD
day of MAY, 2023 in a
suit numbered 2023-
27574 on the docket of
said court, wherein
ASHLY MONET SHEP-
PARD, Plaintiff(s) and
JOSE MARQUEZ,
Defendant(s), the nature
of plaintiff’s demand be-
ing and the said petition
alleging: MOTOR VEHI-
CLE ACCIDENT
SYNOPSIS:
On or about July 21, 2021,
Plaintiff ASHLY MONET
SHEPPARD was legally
and prudently operating
her 2020 Nissan ALtima
in the 5800 block of An-
toine Drive, in Harris
County, when suddenly
and without warning her
vehicle was struck from
behind by a 2010 Toyota
Corolla being driven by
Defendant Jose Marquez.
Notice hereof shall be
given by publishing this
Citation once a week for
four consecutive weeks
previous to the 30TH day
of AUGUST, 2023, in
some newspaper publish-
ed in the County of HAR-
RIS, if there be a newspa-
per published therein, but
if not, then the nearest
county where a newspa-
per is published, and this
Citation shall be returned
on the 11TH day of SEP-
TEMBER, 2023, which is
forty two days after the
date it is issued, and the
first publication shall be
at least twenty-eight days
before said return day.
HEREIN FAIL NOT, but
have before said court on
said return day this Writ
with your return thereon,
showing how you have
executed same.
WITNESS: MARILYN
BURGESS, District Clerk,
Harris County Texas
GIVEN UNDER MY
HAND AND SEAL OF
SAID COURT at Houston,
Texas on 19TH day of
JULY, 2023.
(SEAL)
Newspaper: HOUSTON
CHRONICLE
Issued at the request of:
JONES, WAYNE A.
Address:4900 WOODWAY
DR STE 900
HOUSTON, TX 77056
Bar Number: 24036860
MARILYN BURGESS,
District Clerk
Harris County, Texas
201 Caroline, Houston,
Texas 77002
P.O. Box 4651, Houston,
Texas 77210
By: /s/ Wanda Chambers
Chambers, Wanda, Depu-
ty Clerk
KBR CEO attributes loss
to ‘a legacy legal matter’
STA F F A N D W I R E R EP O RT S
Engineering and ser-
vices firm KBR reported a
loss of $335 million on rev-
enue of $1.75 billion for the
second quarter ended
June 30.
That compares to a
year-earlier profit of $94
million on revenue of $1.61
billion.
In a statement accom-
panying the results, Stu-
art Bradie, KBR’s CEO, at-
tributed the quarterly loss
to “losses in the second
quarter associated with
our convertible notes and
the settlement of a legacy
legal matter.”
In July, the Houston-
based company, which
was a subsidiary of Hous-
ton-based oil-field servic-
es giant Halliburton until
2006, reached a settle-
ment in a 2011 lawsuit
claiming it defrauded the
U.S. Army during the war
in Iraq.
KBR said it took a
charge of $144 million in
the quarter related to the
settlement.
ERCOT
From page B7
power use records. Only
once has it asked Texans
to voluntarily conserve
power. That’s largely be-
cause of the cushion pro-
vided by renewables.
With Texas’ growing pop-
ulation, demand is pre-
dicted to keep climbing.
The current peak demand
record was 82,592 mega-
watts consumed on July
18. ERCOT, which manag-
es the flow of power to 90
percent of Texans, expects
more record-breaking use
in days to come. It takes
about 1 megawatt to power
200 Texas homes on a hot
summer day.
The reliance on renew-
ables has changed those
peak demand patterns,
Vegas said. Traditionally,
the grid’s riskiest period
on a hot day comes at 3
p.m. because that’s when
power use was the high-
est. Now those riskier pe-
riods have shifted closer
to 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., when
the sun is down but it’s
still hot outside.
“When we have an
abundance of solar and
wind, sure, we take ad-
vantage of that,” Vegas
told reporters. “We lever-
age that for all the benefits
that it offers. But when we
don’t, we still need some-
thing to fill in. And that’s
the balance I’m talking
about, making sure we al-
BOOKS
From page B7
panies are responsible for
most titles in campus li-
braries.
Independent booksell-
ers say the law will re-
quire them to allocate em-
ployees, money and time
to reading and rating ev-
ery one of their books po-
tentially sold to school
districts. Booksellers also
say they may not have re-
cords showing the con-
tents of every book sold
over several decades.
“It’s just overwhelm-
ing,” Koehler said. “It is
untenable. It’s not some-
thing a small business,
even a large business,
SHELL
From page B7
tributed to a cost-of-living
crisis.
Shell, whose profits
doubled to an all-time
high last year, will reward
shareholders with a 15%
dividend increase. It says
it’s buying back an addi-
tional $3 billion in shares
over the next three
months.
The company, despite
setting a goal of net zero
emissions by 2050, reiter-
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Net income rises
at Third Coast Bank
Third Coast Banc-
shares, the Humble-head-
quartered holding com-
pany for Third Coast
Bank, said net income
available to common
shareholders in the sec-
ond quarter reached $7.7
million on total interest
income of $62.7 million.
It posted net income
available to common
shareholders of $2.3 mil-
lion on total interest in-
come of $32.5 million in
the year-earlier period.
“Third Coast has seen
strong performance, with
total assets increasing by
$103.8 million, or 2.7 per-
cent, loans held for invest-
ment growing by $121 mil-
lion, or 3.8 percent, and
deposits increasing by
$85.7 million, or 2.6 per-
cent,” said Bart Caraway,
the bank’s chairman and
CEO.
“I believe that Third
Coast is uniquely posi-
tioned to weather market
turmoil for the remainder
of the year,” he added.
Pablo Vegas, the CEO of ERCOT, said CPS Energy is
a good example for other Texas power providers.
ways have enough regard-
less of what’s happening
with the wind and sun.”
But the fleet of thermal
power equipment Texans
rely on to create the most
reliable and predictable
energy inside traditional
power plants on the hot-
test and coldest days are
also the oldest, Vegas said.
ERCOT reports 40 per-
cent of the equipment re-
sponsible for that power is
more than 30 years old.
Fleet creations have re-
mained static for more
than a decade.
In his remarks, Vegas
encouraged power pro-
viders to be as aggressive
with replacing aging
equipment as they have
been with bringing on
more solar, wind and bat-
tery options.
He said CPS Energy,
the city-owned utility that
powers San Antonio, is a
good example for other
power companies across
the state.
“They’re building in a
balanced way of doing ex-
could do.”
Koehler said it is cost-
prohibitive given the staff
and resources it would
take to review that
amount of books. Koehler
noted they would have to
get a legal opinion on
book ratings too, adding
to the cost. Blue Willow
has approximately 14 em-
ployees, two of whom are
full-time.
“We would have to rate
them for their content.
The ratings aren’t clear to
us, what they’re supposed
to be,” Koehler said. “And
if we do not rate them cor-
rectly, we might be over-
ruled by the Texas Educa-
tion Agency.”
The result could be that
local booksellers will lose
ated that it was “commit-
ted to oil and gas” and
would invest $40 billion in
gas production and explo-
ration between 2023 and
2025. It also said it would
invest $35 billion into both
refining and renewable
energy, with $10 billion to
$15 billion going toward
low-carbon energy solu-
tions.
Sawan, who took over
leadership of Shell in Jan-
uary, told the BBC this
month that it would be “ir-
responsible” to cut oil and
gas production at a time
Revenue, profits fall
at Stewart Info
Stewart Information
Services reported net in-
come of $15.8 million for
the second quarter 2023,
down from $61.7 million in
second quarter 2022.
The company posted
revenue of $549 million
for the quarter ended June
30, down from $844 mil-
lion in the same period a
year ago.
The real estate services
company said operating
revenue at its title insur-
ance business decreased
$294 million, or 39 per-
cent, compared to second
quarter 2022, as a result of
transaction volume de-
clines in our direct and
agency title businesses.
“The elevated interest
rate environment contin-
ued throughout the sec-
ond quarter as mortgage
interest rates reached al-
most 7 percent, keeping
transaction volumes from
increasing as in a normal
market,” Fred Eppinger,
Stewart’s CEO, said in a
statement.
Associated Press file photo
actly what we’d love to see
the grid at large trans-
forming in terms of re-
placing the older, less effi-
cient, dispatchable gener-
ation new with new,
cleaner, efficient dispatch-
able generation,” Vegas
said. “That’s the kind of
transformation we need
to see happening across
the board.”
At CPS, existing gas-
powered generation
equipment is over 30 years
old, CEO Rudy Garza
said.
“You have got to plan
for the future and then
make thoughtful invest-
ments,” he said after the
meeting. “It’s all based on
a diversified portfolio,
which is exactly the kind
of message that we heard
(today).” Renewable ener-
gy sources are the quick-
est types of generation
companies can build now
while still planning for
improvements to natural
gas plants, Garza sai-
d.“You need it all,” he
said.
the business they do with
school districts, affecting
their profitability and the
range of books available to
local students.
Ultimately, the law
could push local booksell-
ers out of the business of
selling to schools alto-
gether, said Joy Preble,
children’s programming
director for Brazos Book-
store in Upper Kirby. The
nearly 50-year-old store
with nine employees is
not a party to the lawsuit
but does business with
three school districts.
“Of course we would
lose business,” Preble
said. “We would lose hun-
dreds and hundreds and
hundreds of dollars of
business.”
when the world economy
is still dependent on fossil
fuels.
Burning fossil fuels is
the biggest source of car-
bon emissions blamed for
climate change, and ener-
gy companies face in-
creasing pressure to do
more to reduce such
greenhouse gas emis-
sions.
U.N. Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres has said
“investing in new fossil
fuel infrastructure is mor-
al and economic mad-
ness.”
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Bushong, Bettie
James, Frank
Lewis-Shakeel, Josephia
BETTIE BUSHONG
05/05/1936 - 07/18/2023
Bettie Bushong baked the
best chocolate chip cook-
ies…the kind of cookies that
grandchildren constantly
requested then devoured
in hours! On Tuesday, July
18,2023, Bettie Stephens
Bushong, age 87, passed away
peacefully at her home in
Houston, TX.
Bettie was born in New
Orleans, LA. on May 5, 1936
to Malcolm Ross and Mildred
Burke Stephens. Following
graduation in 1954 from
Bethesda Chevy Chase High
School in Bethesda, MD.,
Bettie studied Elementary
Education at The University
of Maryland, graduating in
1958. While at university,
Bettie fell in love with Stewart
Bushong, and they married
in August 1958. They went on
to raise three children, many
dogs and one cat.
A devout Episcopalian, she
lived by the motto, “Serve
God and Be Cheerful.” Bettie
was a long-term breast cancer
survivor, and for almost 20
years she served as Volunteer
Coordinator at the Houston
Ronald McDonald House,
sharing her experience and
hope with resident families.
An unequivocal hostess,
Bettie’s home was open to all,
whether for a quick snack, a
hot meal, or a place to stay
for weeks or months. She
enjoyed her friends of Delta
Gamma, PEO International,
and a non-card-playing
bridge club. For more than 55
years, Bettie made treasured
memories with their beloved
Timely Topics dinner group
friends. She was also pleased
to be a lifelong member of
The Grammar Police and The
Etiquette Patrol.
Together with Stewart, Bet-
tie collected and maintained
JOSEPHIA LEWIS-SHAKEEL
01/12/1960 - 07/22/2023
Josephia Lewis-Shakeel
expired (Saturday) July 22,
2023. Visitation will be held
(Saturday) July 29, 2023
from 10-10:55 a.m. Funeral
Service to follow at 11:00 a.m.
both services will be held at
Progressive New Hope BC
3106 Paige. Rev. Timothy
Craft officiating. Interment
Houston Memorial Gardens.
DARLENE SIMON
07/24/1965 - 07/20/2023
Darlene Johnson Simon
expired (Thursday) July 20,
2023. Visitation will be held
(Saturday) July 29, 2023
from 1-1:55 p.m. Funeral
Service to follow at 2:00 p.m.
both services will be held
at Brentwood B.C. 13033
Landmark. Dr. Joe Samuel
Ratliff officiating. Interment
Houston Memorial Gardens.
Services will be lived streamed
on the church website @
www.brentwoodbaptist.org
friendships around the world
in the way others collect
mementos. This wide network
of friends was evidenced by
an astonishing thirty-six wed-
ding invitations received in
one calendar year! Her family
also has fond memories of a
few of Bettie’s favorite sayings,
including, “Don’t borrow
trouble,” “He who hoots with
the evening owls can’t soar
with the morning eagles,” and
her daughter’s favorite, “Is
THAT what you’re wearing?”
Known to most as “BB,” she
is survived by her husband
of 64 years, Stewart Bush-
ong, sister Virginia Chase
of Portland, OR., daughter
Leslie Bushong Miller (Jim,)
son Steve Bushong (Laura,)
son Andrew Bushong (Dana,)
seven grandchildren, two
great-grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, and cousins.
Services will be held on
Saturday, September 16th
at 10:00 am at St. Peter’s of
The Valley Episcopal Church,
200 Elk Run Drive, Basalt,
CO., 81621 and at 11:00 am
on October 13th at the Eagle’s
Trace Life Enrichment Center,
14703 Eagle Vista Drive,
Houston, TX. 77077. In
lieu of flowers, please direct
memorials to the Memorial
Fund of St. Peter’s of the Val-
ley Episcopal Church.
Morrison, Janice
Simmons, Beverly
Simon, Darlene
JANICE L. MORRISON
09/14/1941 - 07/02/2023
Janice L. Morrison was
born in Pasadena, California,
on September 14, 1941 to
Lester Gross and Alva Gross.
In her later years, she humor-
ously shared the title and zeal
for driving with the “little old
lady from Pasadena” from the
1964 hit song. Janice passed
away on July 2, 2023, at the
age of 81 after a lingering
illness. At the time of her
passing, she was surrounded
by family, reverence, and love.
She is survived by her
husband Henry P. Browder
and five children: Gail Zona,
Carol Browder, Allen (and
Cathey) Morrison, Charlotte
Shopmeyer, and Ryan (and
Joan) Morrison. Janice was
the proud grandmother
to thirteen grandchildren:
Megan Campbell, Johnathan
Morrison, Paul Morrison, Ja-
cob (Jake) Morrison, Victoria
(Tory) Meisling, Catherine
(Katie) Semmler, Rachel
Brown, Ethan Shopmeyer,
Amelia (Molly) Waidhofer,
Mark Morrison, Chloe
Shopmeyer, lan Morrison,
and Hannah Shopmeyer.
Janice was also the great
grandmother to five great
grandchildren: Dani Morri-
son, Thomas Semmler, Knox
Morrison, Rory Morrison,
and Chloe Morrison.
She was preceded in death
by her parents, her stepfather,
Lester Cammack, and her
brothers – Larry Gross and
David Gross.
Despite an injury that
thwarted her first attempt
to become a nurse, Janice
returned to the classroom
years later to earn multiple
nursing degrees with the
support of her growing family.
She completed her associ-
ate degree and then taught
nursing skills while earning
her bachelor’s degree and a
graduate degree.
After graduating from
the University of Evansville
with an M.S. in nursing in
1983, Janice had an esteemed
BEVERLY SIMMONS
08/11/1948 - 07/19/2023
Beverly Ann Simmons
expired (Wednesday) July 19,
2023. Visitation will be held
(Saturday) July 29, 2023
from 10-10:55 a.m. Funeral
Service to follow at 11:00
a.m. both services will be held
at Abiding Faith BC 15376
WALTER F. TROJANOWSKY
04/30/1927 - 07/24/2023
Walter Floyd Trojanowsky,
Jr., age 96, passed away on
Monday, July 24, 2023 in
Plano, Texas. He was born
April 30, 1927 at his parent’s
home in Houston.
Walter, at 18 yrs old,
proudly served in the Marine
Corps during WW II and
was on a ship to Japan when
the bomb was dropped. In
1946, Walter went on a date,
arranged by his sister Marian,
with his future wife Sue
Dowdy. Walter and Sue en-
joyed many activities together,
including bridge, dominoes,
dancing, bowling, traveling
and socializing.
They were active members
of St. Luke the Evangelist
Catholic Church in Houston
for 40 years. In 1978, Walter
was the only coach, at the
time, from the State of Texas
to take a high school baseball
team, “Dobie South Hous-
ton”, to the American Legion
World Series.
Walter is survived by his
beautiful, sweet wife of 74
years, Sue Trojanowsky
30-year-long career in
healthcare. She joined the
pharmaceutical industry in
medical research, helping to
improve the quality of life for
generations to come. After
she retired, Janice focused on
working in Hospice, demon-
strating her amazing compas-
sion and dedication to caring
for others. She was especially
concerned about veterans,
helping to develop a nation-
ally recognized program,
Vet-to-Vet, to help homeless
and rural veterans learn about
end-of-life benefits.
Janice enjoyed sharing
her many interests with
her family. She loved the
outdoors, swimming, boating,
traveling, reading, music, and
learning all about computers.
Her compassion was evident
in the new friendships she
frequently formed and the un-
hesitating way she responded
to others in need.
Her remains will be
cremated and interred with
those of her husband upon
his death. A memorial will be
held on August 6th at the Vil-
lage at Woodlands Waterway,
4th floor Living Room. Her
family will receive visitors
beginning at 2:00 p.m. and
welcome those who would
like to share their stories,
fondest memories, and honor
Janice L Morrison’s extraordi-
nary life.
In lieu of flowers, memori-
als may be made in Janice’s
name to your local not-for-
profit Hospice.
Fondren Rd. Rev. Bobby R.
Morgan officiating. Interment
Houston Memorial Gardens.
and their children, Brenda
Reese, Sunset Valley, Tx,
Diana Hueter (& husband-
Bill), Plano, Tx; Walter Carl
Trojanowsky (& wife-Regina)
of Lexington, S.C. and Jackie
Trojanowsky of McKinney,
Tx.
Visitation will be 10-11 am
(7/28/23) at St. Luke the
Evangelist Catholic Church,
11011 Hall Road, Houston, Tx
with a Funeral Mass to follow
at 11am. Burial will take
place at 2 pm in Forest Park
Lawndale Cemetery, 6900
Lawndale Street, Houston,
Tx.
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 B11
Tharp, Lillian
Trojanowsky, Walter
Williams, Aquilla
LILLIAN THARP
03/06/1937 - 07/23/2023
Lillian Ann Tharp
1937-2023
Lillian Ann Tharp, a
creative force, spiritual
seeker and inspiration to all
who knew her, passed away
peacefully on Sunday, July 23,
2023. She was a beloved wife,
mother and grandmother,
and her family was the center
of her life.
Lil was many things: artist,
feminist, and champion for founding member of Mosaic
the underdog and social United Methodist Church in
causes. She was beloved for Cypress. She enrolled in SMU
her optimism and positive Perkins School of Theology
outlook and set the tone with in her fifties. She taught the
silliness and irreverence. youth Sunday school class at
her church for several years,
Lil was born in Tulsa and and many unsuspecting teen-
earned her degree in educa- agers left that class with long-
tion from the University of held assumptions challenged
Houston, where she met and in ways that would stick with
later married David Tharp. them for a lifetime.
Earlier this year, they cel-
ebrated 64 years of marriage. She is survived by husband,
David Tharp of Houston;
Her interests were many sons Larry Tharp of Houston;
and varied: oil and watercolor Tommy Tharp and wife,
artist and longtime member Regina Tharp, of Temple,
of Women in the Visual and Texas; and Robert Tharp and
Literary Arts (WiVLA) in wife, Sarah Perry, of Dallas;
Houston; book and theater grandchildren Andrew and
lover; and passionate sup- wife Amanda Tharp, Matthew
porter of progressive theology Tharp, Ashley Morgan Tharp,
and politics, human rights Madison Tharp, Franklin
and justice. She was proud Tharp, Samuel Tharp, and
of her family’s Cherokee Teddy Tharp. She is preceded
heritage, and encouraged her in death by her daughter,
grandchildren to learn more Brenda Kaye Tharp. She
about this history. Forever will also be missed by many
curious, Lil loved exploring extended family and countless
new ideas, and she loved to friends.
tell stories.
Services are 10 a.m. Sat-
Lil was deeply involved in urday, July 29, at St. Luke’s
the Methodist church — more United Methodist Church,
than five decades at Cypress 3471 Westheimer Road, in
United Methodist Church Houston.
and within the last year as a
AQUILLA WILLIAMS
07/02/1965 - 07/19/2023
Aquilla Elaine Williams ex-
pired on (Wednesday) July 19,
2023. Visitation will be held
(Friday) July 28, 2023 from
6-8 p.m. at Johnson Chapel
A.M.E., 1317 Bisbee St. Ser-
vice will be held (Saturday)
July 29, 2023 at Pleasant Hill
B.C., 1302 Bisbee St. begin-
ning at 11:00 a.m. Interment,
Houston Memorial Gardens.
FRANK LEE JAMES
10/24/1946- 07/21/2023
“There’s comfort in know-
ing that a loving God knows
best.”
Mr. Frank Lee James
entered into eternal rest on
July 21, 2023.
His life will be honored
and celebrated on Saturday,
July 29, 2023, 12:00 p.m. at
Greater St. Matthew Baptist
Church, 14919 S. Main St.,
Houston, TX 77035. Visita-
tion will begin at 11:00 a.m.
B12 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

WEATHER
HOUSTON’S SEVEN-DAY FORECAST | Go to AccuWeather.com COASTAL FORECAST
GALVESTON BAY: Wind
98 99 101 100 101 100 100 from the southeast at 7-14
78 77 77 79 79 78 79 knots today. Seas 2 feet or
less. Visibility generally clear.
TODAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Tonight: Wind from the south
Mostly sunny and very Partly sunny and very Hot Mostly sunny and hot Partly sunny and hot Mostly sunny and very A t-storm in spots in at 6-12 knots. Seas 2 feet or
warm warm warm the afternoon less. Partly cloudy.
MATAGORDA SHIP CHAN-
METRO AREA NORTH AMERICA TODAY INTERNATIONAL NEL TO HIGH ISLAND OUT 20
TO 50 MILES: Wind from the
OUTLOOK Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. Today Sat.
south-southeast at 7-14 knots
TODAY: Mostly sunny and very 110s Saskatoon Africa
Calgary today. Seas 2 feet or less. Visi-
Vancouver Cairo 104/78/s 98/76/s
warm. High 95 to 100. Winds 100s bility generally clear. Tonight:
Regina Cape Town 59/51/r 56/45/r
southeast 6-12 mph. TONIGHT: 90s Seattle Winnipeg Wind from the south-southeast
Casablanca 80/68/s 82/71/s
Mainly clear. Low 75 to 80. 80s Thunder Bay Dakar 90/80/pc 90/80/pc at 8-16 knots. Seas 2 feet or
Winds south 4-8 mph. Montreal Johannesburg 70/49/s 71/38/pc less. Mainly clear.
70s Portland
Lagos 85/75/sh 85/75/r
60s Ottawa
Toronto Boston Asia/Pacific
50s Beijing 85/74/t 87/76/t
Minneapolis
40s Ho Chi Minh City 91/79/sh 90/78/t
AIR QUALITY 30s Chicago
Detroit
Hong Kong 95/83/r 92/82/t
Today’s forecast for the entire Salt Lake City New York Islamabad 88/72/t 92/75/t
20s San Francisco Jakarta 90/75/c 92/76/pc
metro area by the TCEQ:
10s Denver Washington Karachi 91/81/t 90/82/t GALVESTON TIDES
0s
Kuala Lumpur 92/76/c 90/76/t Highs Feet Lows Feet
Manila 88/78/t 88/78/t
-0s New Delhi 87/78/t 86/78/t 4:03 a.m. 1.4 7:17 p.m. -0.4
Ozone watch -10s Los Angeles Seoul 95/76/t 94/76/t --- --- --- ---
Phoenix Little Rock Shanghai 84/78/t 85/80/r
Good Unhealthy Atlanta Singapore 92/81/t 89/81/t
T-storms
Sydney 75/51/s 70/52/s
RIVERS, CREEKS AND
Moderate Very unhealthy Rain
Unhealthy Hazardous Showers
El Paso
Dallas
Taipei 90/78/r 95/78/t BAYOUS through 7 a.m. Thursday
Tokyo 93/79/s 93/80/pc Flood Latest 24-hr.
for sensitive Snow New Orleans
Hermosillo Canada Location stage stage chg.
groups Chihuahua Calgary 61/49/t 76/54/s
Flurries Houston
Edmonton 65/45/pc 71/52/pc Brays Bayou South Main 54 16.65 -0.78
Ice Miami Brazos River Bryan 43 7.01 -0.36
POLLEN AND MOLD Jet stream Monterrey
Montreal
Toronto
87/64/t
90/70/t
74/57/c
77/59/t Hempstead 50 9.64 -0.08
Yesterday’s readings by the Vancouver 73/58/s 72/57/s Richmond 48 8.26 none
Houston Health Department: Havana Winnipeg 70/48/sh 72/53/s Buffalo Bayou Piney Point 50 27.94 -0.32
Countpercubicmeterofair Europe Shepherd Dr. 23 1.05 -0.59
None 0 Mérida Amsterdam 73/61/t 71/59/t
Tree pollen
Guadalajara Athens 90/75/pc 92/75/s
Clear Creek Friendswood 12 0.41 -0.15
Cancún
Weed pollen Medium 18 Anchorage Berlin 75/60/t 75/58/c Colorado R. Austin 29 11.18 -0.04
Mexico City
Grass pollen Medium 10 Veracruz Copenhagen 71/60/c 70/59/t Bastrop 25 3.05 +0.01
Mold spores Medium 10390
Villahermosa Forecasts and
Dublin 69/53/sh 67/54/r La Grange 32 2.83 +0.02
Honolulu Acapulco Belmopan Frankfurt 72/61/t 77/59/c Columbus 34 9.24 +0.05
graphics provided by Geneva 81/63/t 76/63/t
Low Heavy Cold Warm Stationary Wharton 39 7.56 -0.04
front front front AccuWeather, Inc. Istanbul 83/67/s 86/70/s
Medium Extremely heavy ©2023 London 73/59/pc 72/57/sh Bay City 44 1.97 +0.16
Madrid 96/65/s 98/67/s Greens Bayou Eastex Fwy. 61 39.10 -0.11
Note: No measurements on weekends; Moscow 74/57/t 72/55/r
charts in Sunday and Monday papers reflect
Guadalupe R. Hunt 12 7.57 -0.01
forecast ratings from the previous Friday. FOR THE RECORD TEXAS NATIONAL cont. Paris
Prague
77/62/t
75/61/t
77/59/pc
78/59/t
Comfort 26 2.89 +0.07
George Bush Intercontinental Today Sat. Today Sat. Rome 85/68/s 87/68/s Spring Branch 36 -1.20 none
Airport through 3 p.m. Thu. Abilene 100/77/s 103/78/s Cleveland 93/72/t 82/62/t Stockholm 63/49/sh 72/53/pc New Braunfels 13 9.28 none
COMFORT INDEX
The comfort index takes into
Temperature Degrees F Amarillo
Austin
100/71/pc
99/73/s
100/71/pc Columbus
101/76/pc Denver
94/73/s
94/64/t
86/64/t Vienna
94/63/t Warsaw
84/65/pc 86/66/t Gonzales 31 11.90 +0.10
69/58/t 77/61/sh Cuero 20 6.73 -0.11
account how the weather will High 95 Beaumont 96/73/t 98/77/pc Des Moines 97/73/s 89/67/s Zurich 78/59/t 72/62/t
Low 75 Brownsville 98/78/t 96/79/pc Detroit 90/70/t 83/60/c Latin America Victoria 21 4.30 -0.04
feel based on a combination of
Bryan/College St. 101/77/s 103/81/pc Duluth 74/54/pc 75/53/t Bogota Dupont 20 7.95 none
factors. A rating of 10 feels very Normal high 95 Corpus Christi 66/51/t 66/51/pc
comfortable while a rating of 0
99/77/s 99/75/pc Fairbanks 82/64/pc 73/59/c Buenos Aires 56/48/pc 60/51/pc Little River Little River 30 0.82 -0.01
Normal low 76 Dallas/Ft. Worth 101/78/s 102/82/s Great Falls 80/52/pc 89/57/pc Caracas Cameron 30 0.49 +0.01
feels very uncomfortable. 91/76/pc 92/76/c
Record high 101 in 1995 El Paso 103/77/s 101/76/s Hartford 93/72/pc 87/65/t Havana 91/76/t 93/73/t Navasota R. Easterly 19 2.99 +0.01
Today Sat. Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Record low 66 in 1902 Galveston 92/81/t 93/82/pc Honolulu 88/76/sh 88/75/c Kingston 92/81/t 93/81/t
Kingsville 101/77/s 101/75/pc Indianapolis 96/74/t 88/66/t Lima Neches River Evadale 19 5.12 -0.12
4 1 1 0 1 1 Precipitation Inches Laredo 72/67/pc 73/67/pc
Pine Island B. Sour Lake 25 11.49 -0.17
102/78/s 104/79/pc Jackson, MS 99/75/s 97/76/s Rio de Janeiro 79/68/t 73/65/t
24-hour total 0.00 Longview 97/74/s 99/74/s Juneau 74/52/s 72/53/s San Juan 90/79/t 91/79/pc Sabine River Bon Wier 30 17.12 +0.42
UV TODAY Month to date Lubbock
2.98 McAllen 99/73/pc 99/71/s Kansas City 101/75/pc 97/73/s San Salvador 89/71/t 84/69/r Deweyville 24 16.40 -1.10
99/78/t 99/78/pc Las Vegas 111/87/s 111/87/s Santiago
Values indicate the exposure to Normal month to date 3.39 Midland/Odessa 98/73/s 99/73/s Little Rock 99/75/s 100/77/s Sao Paulo
71/43/pc 73/44/pc Orange 4 0.15 -0.05
the sun’s Ultraviolet rays. 79/58/pc 61/54/c Burkeville 43 18.51 +0.06
Year to date 29.97 San Angelo 102/76/s 102/77/s Los Angeles 92/68/s 90/70/s St. Thomas 90/81/t 90/81/s
8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. Normal year to date 28.55 San Antonio 100/77/s 100/76/pc Memphis 97/78/pc 98/80/s San Bernard R. E. Bernard 17 5.93 none
Texarkana 99/78/s 99/77/s Miami 89/81/t 93/81/t Mexico E. San. Jac. R. Cleveland 19 4.15 -0.01
2 5 11 11 5 2 Other readings Victoria 97/75/s 100/75/pc Milwaukee 86/68/t 78/64/pc Acapulco 92/78/t 94/79/pc
W. San. Jac. R. Conroe 116 93.86 +0.02
Top wind speed 10 mph Waco 102/76/s 104/79/s Minneapolis 88/63/t 85/63/s Cancun 91/79/t 92/78/t
0-2, Low 8-10, Very high Nashville 100/75/s 99/76/t Guadalajara 83/61/t 83/60/t San Jacinto R. Sheldon 10 0.83 -0.13
3-5, Moderate 11+, Extreme High barometer 30.09 in. 96/80/pc Guanajuato 78/57/t 80/60/t Sims Bayou Telephone Rd. 30 0.56 -0.07
Low barometer 30.01 in. NATIONAL New Orleans
New York City
94/78/s
95/79/s 92/70/t Mazatlan 91/76/r 91/76/t Trinity River Goodrich 36 4.93 +0.04
6-7, High Today Sat. Oklahoma City
High dewpoint 77° 99/72/pc 99/72/pc Merida 95/75/t 94/75/t
Liberty 26 6.41 -0.04
Low dewpoint 69° Albany, NY 91/71/pc 80/60/t Orlando 91/76/t 92/78/t Mexico City 71/55/t 78/57/t
Village Creek Kountze 20 2.31 +0.16
SUN AND MOON Albuquerque 98/73/t 95/73/t Philadelphia 97/79/pc 94/72/t Puerto Vallarta 93/77/t 94/78/t
Average dewpoint 74° Anchorage 62/55/r 61/53/c Phoenix 113/92/s 113/90/pc Tampico 88/76/t 90/79/pc White Oak B. Heights Blvd. 48 7.84 +0.10
Full Last New First
moon quarter moon quarter High humidity 97% Atlanta 95/75/s 93/75/t Pittsburgh 92/71/pc 81/62/t Veracruz 88/76/t 89/76/t
Low humidity 43% Baltimore 97/76/t 99/73/t Portland, OR 84/59/s 82/60/pc Middle East TEXAS LAKES
Billings 84/62/pc 90/64/pc Sacramento 93/59/s 94/58/s Baghdad 115/87/pc 115/88/pc
Birmingham 98/77/s 97/76/t St. Louis 102/82/pc 96/75/t Beirut 91/80/s 89/79/s Full Latest Release
102/78/s Dubai 108/93/pc 105/90/pc through 7 a.m. Thursday pool level cfs
Aug 1 Aug 8 Aug 16 Aug 24 KEY TO CONDITIONS Boise Boston
97/68/s
90/75/pc
99/65/pc Salt Lake City
85/66/t San Diego
101/76/s
77/68/pc 79/69/s Jerusalem 95/71/s 90/70/s Canyon Dam 909 894.64 77
s - sunny r - rain Buffalo 86/71/t 77/61/t San Francisco 72/56/s 73/56/c Kabul 94/66/s 90/65/s Conroe 201 200.24 0
Sunset tonight 8:18 p.m. pc - partly cloudy sf - snow flurries Charleston, SC 86/76/r 90/77/t Santa Fe 94/64/t 90/63/t Mecca 116/90/pc 114/86/pc
Sunrise Saturday 6:38 a.m. c - cloudy sn - snow Charlotte 95/74/t 93/72/t Seattle 79/55/pc 77/54/pc Riyadh 113/88/pc 114/89/s Houston 41.73 42.30 N.A.
Moonrise today 4:41 p.m. sh - showers i - ice Chicago 96/70/t 81/64/pc Tucson 106/81/t 104/81/t Tehran 103/83/s 103/80/s Lake Travis 681 635.83 613
Moonset today 2:03 a.m. t - thunderstorms Cincinnati 95/73/t 89/67/t Washington, DC 96/79/t 95/75/t Tel Aviv 94/81/s 90/81/s Livingston 131 130.07

Courtesy Shea Homes

Home sales in Wildtree, a development of Shea Homes in Montgomery County,
are expected to begin in 2025.

FESER 2000.
“As we scale, we enjoy
sense of freedom and
discovery and portrays
From page B7 the opportunity to con- the community as a place
solidate a number of our where residents can ex-
tions Allen to establish leadership positions back plore and find their inner
and implement strategies to Houston,” Heard said, child,” Keith Luechtefeld,
to support Transwes- noting that the company Houston division presi-
tern’s goals across five plans to add about 10 dent for Shea Homes,
integrated companies. senior level executives said in an announcement.
“Because we have ser- across its companies and “Being one word and
vices, development and other team members in relatively unique when it
investment management some of the largest mar- comes to names of resi-
capabilities in our five kets. dential communities is a
Transwestern companies, bonus.”
we needed that expertise Community’s name Construction of Wild-
in the HR role to cover is revealed tree is slated to begin this
our broad offerings,” Shea Homes has select- year. The community will
CEO Larry Heard said. ed the name Wildtree for offer single-family homes
Founded in 1978, Tran- a community planned to with lots ranging from 40
swestern has expanded bring 1,000 single-family to 70 feet wide.
in the past two years with homes to western Mont- The Walnut, Calif.-
the addition of ROH, a gomery County starting based developer and
hospitality company, and in 2025. homebuilder also is de-
Transwestern Ventures, The name was inspired veloping Woodhavyn in
which focuses on oppor- by the rolling hills and a the Magnolia area and
tunistic investment. The forested creek bed that Evergreen in Conroe in
company also recently runs through the 430- Montgomery County.
acquired three companies acre project, according to
and opened an office in the developer. The com- FOREST PARK WESTHEIMER
the Carolinas. munity near Texas 249 is
Allen succeeds former west of FM 1486, just 6 Plots together,
North Half Lot 268, Sec. 409
Colleen Dolan, who re- north of Crown Ranch
If bought new $9,000 ea.
tired from Transwes- Boulevard.
or all 6 plots $31,500
tern’s Chicago office after “We wanted a commu-
Call Steve 832-628-1992
serving in the role since nity name that evokes a
 THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S WEEKLY INSIDER’S GUIDE • FRIDAY-THURSDAY, JULY 28-AUG. 3, 2023

Growing up on stage
Broadway star Ben Platt talks about the joys of ‘Theater Camp.’ PAGE 4
C2 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

ANA KHAN'S THINGS TO DO

The Great Texas Mosquito p.m. July 29 and 1:10 p.m. July
Festival 30
The annual family festival in Where: Minute Maid Park, 501
Clute is celebrating its 42nd Crawford
year with many activities Details: $27 and up;
and attractions that cater to mlb.com/astros
all ages. From carnival rides
and food to live music
Frankie Quiñones
performances and arts and
crafts exhibits, there is no The Mexican American
shortage of entertainment stand-up comedian and actor
for attendees. Some of the from Los Angeles, known for
festival’s highlights include his role as “Creeper” in the
the “Mosquito Chase” 5K sketch comedy webseries
run, a barbecue and fajita “CholoFit” and his supporting
cook-off, and the “Mosquito role in Hulu’s “This Fool,” will
Legs” eating contest. be performing five live
stand-up shows at Houston
When: Through July 29
Improv.
Where: Clute Municipal Park,
When: 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. July
100 Parkview, Clute
28, 7 and 9:30 p.m. July 29,
Details: $5-$10; 7:30 p.m. July 30
mosquitofestival.com
Where: Houston Improv, 7620
Interstate 10 W., No. 455
Potterfest
Details: $40 and up;
Urban South Brewery is improvtx.com
inviting “Harry Potter” fans
to celebrate “The Boy Who
Houston Shakespeare
Lived” with Potterfest, a
Festival
weekend birthday
celebration featuring a This summer’s Houston
Triwizard trivia tournament, Urban South HTX Shakespeare Festival will
movie marathon, live captivate audiences for nine
Potterfest comes to Urban South Brewery to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday.
entertainment, themed nights, featuring the classic
drinks, costume contest and tragedy “Macbeth” on some
enchanting activities. evenings and the beloved
Shakespearean favorite “Much
When: 7 p.m. July 28, 1-6
Ado About Nothing” on
p.m. July 29
alternating nights.
Where: 1201 Oliver, No. 10
When: 8:15 p.m., through Aug.
Details: bit.ly/3Q7yDVu 5
Where: Miller Outdoor Theatre,
Astros vs. Tampa Bay 6000 Hermann Park Drive
Rays
Details: Free;
During this weekend series, milleroutdoortheatre.com
Astros’ fans can look forward
to exciting giveaways as the
HTown Summer Slab N Bike
Tampa Bay Rays visit town.
Fest
Promotional items include a
Lance McCullers Jr. replica The local festival promises a
jersey on Friday, a Yordan thrilling showcase of bikes,
Alvarez Silver Slugger slab riders, lowriders,
bobblehead on Saturday and four-wheelers, live
a special Sunday offering of performances, vendors, food, a
a No-Hitter Pitching Rubber “Trunk Wars Battle,” a bounce
commemorating World house for the kids and more
Series Game 4, the second attractions.
no-hitter in World Series When: 3-8 p.m. July 30
history. Jamaal Ellis/Contributor Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Where: 13310 Cullen
Astros fans will have plenty to celebrate this Frankie Quiñones brings his stand-up routine
When: 7:10 p.m. July 28, 6:15
weekend as the Tampa Bay Rays come to town. to Houston Improv over the weekend. Details: Free; bit.ly/3OusKQW
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Here are Andrew Dansby’s
concert picks this week.
ZZ Top
A big anniversary just passed for
ZZ Top. The band’s breakthrough
album, “Tres Hombres,” this
week turned 50 years old. That
album yielded at least three
songs that have been stables of
the band’s sets: “Waitin’ for the
Bus,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago”
and the breakthrough hit “La
Grange.” Though bassist Dusty
Hill died in 2021, the band has
kept at it, pulling from its ’70s
albums along with its big hits
from the ’80s, while mixing in a
few recent tunes, too. A new
album is supposed to be nearing
completion, which will be the
first since “La Futura” 11 years
ago. They’re co-headlining this
tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
When: 6:30 p.m. July 30
Where: Cynthia Woods Mitchell
Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins,
The Woodlands
Details: $34.50-$285;
281-364-3024,
woodlandscenter.org
Killer Mike and the Midnight
Revival
More than a decade has passed
since Atlanta rapper Killer Mike
released a solo album, a span of
time attributable not to a hiatus
or a creative block, but rather
because of the success of his
duo Run the Jewels, which
released four albums in that
span. But 20 years after
releasing a brilliant debut
“Monster” (which followed a
career-making guest spot on
OutKast’s “Stankonia”), Killer
Mike is back on his own with
“Michael,” an ambitious and
stylistically broad album that
finds him pulling from a variety
of Southern music forms while
detangling complications both
personal and societal.
When: 8 p.m. Aug. 3
Where: House of Blues, 1204
Caroline
Details: $35-$55; 832-667-7781,
hob.com/houston
ANDREW DANSBY'S CONCERT PICKS
ZZ Top will perform at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on July 30.
Jon Muq
Jon Muq is a strong and
distinctive a vocalist who could
put a song over beautifully just
by vocalizing. As it happens,
though, the Austin-based
Ugandan singer-songwriter
writes songs that wonderfully
touch on soul, pop and folk,
with beautiful accompaniment
on guitar or piano. Muq is
recording a debut album to be
released on Easy Eye Sound, the
label started by Dan Auerbach
of the Black Keys. He’s not likely
to remain a well-kept secret
much longer.
When: 7 p.m. Aug. 3
Where: McGonigel’s Mucky
Duck, 2425 Norfolk
Details: $30; 281-357-9478,
mcgonigels.com
Kenny Loggins
In the ’70s, he turned out
massive folk pop hits as half of
Loggins and Messina. In the
’80s, it felt like he was on every
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Paul R. Giunta/Invision via Associated Press
Killer Mike will perform at House of Blues on Aug. 3.
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 C3
single soundtrack to every
single movie made. With a
career that spans more than
50 years, Kenny Loggins is
back on the road with more
than a dozen Top 40 hits and a
clutch of other tunes that his
legion know inside out. What
separates This Is It from
previous Loggins’ tours is that
the singer and songwriter has
declared this one, which wraps
in November, will be his last.
So for local fans on the fence
about seeing Loggins, you
won’t even have to meet him
halfway from his California
home: He’ll find you in Sugar
Land.
When: 7 p.m. Aug. 3
Where: Smart Financial
Centre, 18111 Lexington, Sugar
Land
Details: $96-$293.50;
888-231-7859,
smartfinancialcentre.net
Greta Van Fleet
The merits of Greta Van Fleet
— the pride of Frankenmuth,
Mich. — remain out for debate.
Typically retro-minded rock ’n’
roll enjoys a brief honeymoon
period with older rock fans. But
GVF ran afoul of the old guard
from the jump. A Pitchfork
review referred to the group as
“more of an algorithmic fever
dream than an actual rock
band.” But if this semi-proggy,
hard(-ish) rock band sounds
shrill and derivative to your
ears, it has nevertheless
managed to endear itself to
your children. To wit, the band
is playing arenas despite
another spate of unkind
reviews for third album
“Starcatcher,” which looks to
be a hit record vaccinated
against bad reviews. Silversun
Pickups opens.
When: 7:30 p.m. July 28
Where: Toyota Center, 1510
Polk
Details: $29-$275;
713-758-7200,
toyotacenter.com
C4 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
Ben Platt embraces chance to work
with friends on ‘Theater Camp’
Ben Platt has been on stages
across the country: Broadway,
the Hollywood Bowl in Los
Angeles, the a cappella champi-
onship in “Pitch Perfect.” But
the Tony-winning actor’s big-
gest role in Houston has been as
a party guest.
Platt, 29, has an aunt and
uncle who live in Houston.
Growing up, he frequently vis-
ited cousins Elizabeth, Irene
and Alexander.
“I used to come in for bar
mitzvahs and people’s brisses
and baby namings. It reminds
me of visiting family,” Platt
says.
He’ll be back in Houston
beginning Friday, on the big
screen, in “Theater Camp.” The
film is about a group of students
and teachers who must work
together to save a struggling
theater camp from closing.
Platt, his fiancé Noah Galvin
and longtime friends Molly
Gordon and Nick Lieberman
expanded their 2020 short into
the feature-length film.
Platt drew from his extensive
theatrical experience for the
film. He won a Tony Award for
“Dear Evan Hansen” and was
nominated again this year for
“Parade,” a musical retelling of
the trial, imprisonment and
lynching of Texas-born, Jewish-
American Leo Frank. He also
leads the Netflix comedy “The
Politician.”
Q: What was most impor-
tant in translating this from
a short to a feature-length
film?
A: I think making sure that
there was an arc and a story, in
terms of beginning, middle and
end, that made it worthy of
being a feature. There’s a lot of
humor and jokes and concepts
Molly Gordon and Ben Platt star in the film “Theater Camp.”
and characters that we were
excited to explore. But we didn’t
want it to just be an hour-and-
a-half of us throwing all of our
favorite ideas at the wall. We
really wanted there to be a
journey and a clear place that
we were heading.
Q: Was the original in-
tention to develop this into
something bigger?
A: Yes, I think. We didn’t
necessarily make the short
actively as a proof of concept.
But as soon as we made it, we
realized we really worked well
together, the four of us, as we
thought we might, and that
there was a world that we lent
ourselves to, that made sense
COVER STORY
By Joey Guerra
STA F F W R I T ER
‘THEATER CAMP’
Rated PG-13: strong language
and suggestive/drug references
Running time: 94 minutes
Where: Opens July 28 at
Cinemark Memorial City,
Houston and AMC Willowbrook
24, Houston.
for us. We all met doing theater,
so I think it was just clear after
the short that there was more to
the story.
Q: Theater camps are in-
deed a unique world.
A: When I did youth theater
and shows at school and in my
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Searchlight Pictures
program, the stakes are so un-
believably high. You’re putting
your heart and soul into some-
thing, and you’re maybe getting
one or two shows, and then it
goes away. It’s over. It’s like this
ephemeral thing. It just makes
people bond together and cre-
ates an intimate trust really fast.
I think theater puts you out of
your comfort zone in a way
that’s so important for young
people, whether or not they
even want to do theater for their
lives.
Q: What are the challenges
of working with genuine
friends?
A: It makes the stakes higher
in the sense that it bleeds the
personal into the professional.
This is the definition of a pas-
sion project. We all really want
to deliver for each other, and
that can make things more
stressful and more heightened.
It’s not as easy as saying, “Well,
it’s just another job, another
project. I’ll move on and do
something else.”
Q: Were you and your fian-
cé able to separate work and
home?
A: Now, yes. But during, we
were inundated 24 hours a day.
When we weren’t shooting, the
four of us were living in a house
together. Any off-time we had
was spent solving a million
problems that had already pre-
sented themselves for the next
day and figuring out what to do
about this person’s COVID and
that location that we lost and
these costumes. I think what
was nice about it was Noah and
I were able to jump in, fully
experience it together, and then
when it was done, really get to
let it go.
Q: The movie is really a
love letter to theater people.
When did you realize theater
was it for you?
A: I started working profes-
sionally when I was 9 years old.
The first really big thing that
happened was that I was on a
tour of a show called “Caroline,
or Change.” That was the first
time I kind of understood what
a craft it was and that it was
work, and that in addition to
loving the feeling and the com-
munity of doing it, that I actu-
ally had some ability for it. I
wanted to take pride in working
toward getting better. I was bit
really hard at that point by the
bug, and I just never stopped.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 C5

NEW FILMS

Here are the major at AMC Loews Fountains Unrated. Begins RackaRacka, aka Danny
movies opening in 18, Stafford. streaming July 28 on and Michael Philippou, is
theaters and on ‘Paris, Texas’ Disney+. a smart, horrifying twist
streaming this week. ‘Surongo’ on the idea of teens and
Wim Wenders’ classic
‘Afire’ the supernatural.
1984 film about a drifter, Bengali-language
This Grand Jury Prize played by Harry Dean crime-mystery drama Rated R. Opens July 28
winner at the Berlin Film Stanton, struggling to from Bangladesh about throughout Houston.
Festival is a drama about reconnect with society. an electrician who turns ‘Theater Camp’
a group of friends caught Rated R. Screens 7 p.m. to crime. Broadway star Ben Platt
in a raging forest fire July 29 at 14 Pews, Unrated. Opens July 28 at stars in a comedy about
while on vacation at the Houston. Cinemark Tinseltown the staff of a struggling
Baltic Sea. 290, Houston. theater camp who go to
‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii
Unrated. Screens 7 p.m. Prem Kahaani’ ‘Sympathy for the great lengths to keep it
July 28-29 and 5 p.m. Devil’ open.
Hindi-language
July 30 at the Museum of Rated PG-13. Opens July
drama-comedy from Nicolas Cage stars in this
Fine Arts, Houston. 28 at Cinemark Memorial
India. thriller in which a man is
‘The Baker’ forced to drive a City, Houston; AMC
Unrated. Opens July 28
Crime drama starring mysterious passenger at Willowbrook 24, Houston.
A24 Films throughout Houston.
Ron Perlman as a baker gunpoint. ‘Tomorrow X Together:
Sophie Wilde stars in horror-thriller “Talk to Me.” ‘The Slumber Party’
defending his Unrated. Begins Our Lost Summer’
granddaughter against Hypnotism goes awry in
Unrated. Opens July 28 July 30 at Cinemark streaming July 28 on Documentary focusing on
criminals. Harvey Keitel this family comedy after
throughout Houston. Memorial City, Houston; various platforms. the K-pop band Tomorrow
co-stars. three girls wake up with
begins streaming July 28 ‘Talk to Me’ X Together.
‘Desperate Souls, Dark no memories of what
Rated R. Opens July 28 on various platforms. Rated TV-14. Begins
City and the Legend of happened the night The debut film from the
throughout Houston. streaming July 28 on
Midnight Cowboy’ ‘Haunted Mansion’ before at a slumber party. Australian duo
‘Be Someone’ Disney+.
Nancy Buirski looks at Houston-born director
This is the premiere of the drama it took to get Justin Simien,
the locally produced the then-X-rated film best-known for “Dear
documentary that takes “Midnight Cowboy,” White People,” makes his
an in-depth look at the starring Dustin Hoffman first blockbuster with this
city’s most famous and Jon Voight, made fantasy-comedy-horror
example of graffiti art, and into theaters. film based on Disney’s
the “Be Someone” Haunted Mansion ride.
Unrated. Screens at 7
graphic over Interstate LaKeith Stanfield, Owen
p.m. Aug. 3-4, 2 p.m. Aug.
45, and the artist behind Wilson and Rosario
5 at the Museum of Fine
it. Dawson star.
Arts, Houston.
Unrated. Screens 7:30 Rated PG-13. Opens July
‘The Essential Church’
and 9:30 p.m. July 30 at 28 throughout Houston.
City Cellars, 1801 Binz; Documentary focusing
on three pastors who ‘Miraculous: Lady Bug
more information:
kept their churches open and Cat Noir The
linktr.ee/iriskarami.
during COVID-19. Movie’
‘The Beanie Bubble’
Rated PG-13. Opens July Animated French film
Sarah Snook, Zach about a teenager who
28 throughout Houston.
Galifianakis and becomes the
Elizabeth Banks star in ‘The First Slam Dunk’
superhuman Ladybug
this comedy-drama Animated Japanese film and teams up with Cat
about the birth of the in which a kid struggles Noir to defeat a villain.
Beanie Baby craze. to fulfill his older
Rated PG. Begins
Rated R. Begins brother’s dream of
streaming July 28 on
streaming July 28 on basketball stardom.
Netflix.
Apple TV+. Rated PG-13. Opens July
‘Never Say Never’
‘Bro’ 28 throughout Houston.
Mandarin-language
Telugu-language ‘For the Animals’
Chinese drama in which
drama-fantasy from Houston-set a former boxing champ
India about a not-so-nice documentary about stray finds a new life training
guy who gets the chance animals. orphans to box.
to fix his mistakes after
Unrated. Screens 11 a.m. Unrated. Opens July 28
death.
C6 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
What
to watch
FRIDAY
July 28, 2023
All times Central. Start times can vary based
on cable/satellite provider. Confirm times on
your on-screen guide.
The Beanie Bubble
Apple TV+  Original Film
This fact-based dramedy about one of pop
culture’s oddest crazes is a wild ride. Eliz-
abeth Banks, Sarah Snook and Geraldine
Viswanathan each portray a woman who
played a key role in helping eccentric entre-
preneur Ty Warner (a wonderfully odd Zach
Galifianakis) develop the company behind
Beanie Babies during the internet’s infancy.
Bubble bounces between their three points
of view to reveal how Warner’s ego and re-
fusal to share the spotlight led to wild ineq-
uities for the trio.
Miraculous:
Ladybug & Cat Noir,
the Movie
Netflix  Original Film
This first feature film based on the globally
beloved Miraculous animated series follows
ordinary teenager Marinette (voice of Cris-
tina Vee), whose life in Paris goes superhu-
man when she becomes Ladybug. Bestowed
with magical powers of creation, Ladybug
must unite with her opposite, Cat Noir (Bryce
Papenbrook), to save Paris as a new villain
unleashes chaos upon the city.
Family Law
The CW, 7 p.m.
In “Return to Sender,” the lawyers represent
a mail-order bride whose husband wants an
annulment so he can get her deported.
Tough as Nails
CBS, 7 p.m.
In the new episode “Winning’s Not Every-
‘Heels’
CONCEPT ARTS
thing, but Losing Sucks,” Dirty Hands and
Savage Crew compete in the final team event
when they battle it out in a series of head-to-
head matches inspired by the trades.
Shark Week 2023
Continues
Discovery Channel, beginning at 7 p.m.
Three new specials premiere tonight.
In Tropic Jaws, Dr. Craig O’Connell and
Madison Stewart are on a mission to find
great whites that have invaded Indonesia’s
warm Bali coast and learn why they left
the cold-water environment they normally
call home. Deadly Sharks of Paradise
finds marine biologist Danni Washington
and shark conservationist Paul de Gelder
as they join a team that is tracking tiger
sharks off a tropical archipelago in Brazil
to understand a spike in deadly attacks.
CATCH A
CLASSIC
The Time Machine (1960)
MOVIES!, 10 a.m.
Oscar-winning special effects highlight
this classic 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells’
novel that helped solidify time travel as a
science-fiction trope. Directed by fantasy
film master George Pal, the movie stars
Rod Taylor as the inventor of a time-travel
device that whisks him from his year of
1900 through a war-ravaged 20th century
Finally, in The Haunting of Shark Tower, ACES ON BRIDGE
news of a harrowing shark encounter By Bobby Wolff
at North Carolina’s Frying Pan Tower Ron Rubin declared four hearts
sends underwater cinematographer Andy from the South position here,
Casagrande and shark expert Kori Burkhardt after a strong no-trump opening
on a dangerous quest to discover if great and a spade overcall from West.
It seemed as though declarer
whites are moving into the state’s waters. was staring four pointed-suit
Moonshine
The CW, 8 p.m.
In “Zen and the Art of Midlife Maintenance,”
Lidia (Jennifer Finnigan), Nora (Emma
Hunter) and Rhian (Anastasia Phillips) craft a
plan involving a local millionaire that might
just get them some cash.
Heels
Starz, 9 p.m.  Season Premiere
Heels is a story about a close-knit Georgia
community and the men and women who
chase their dreams. The drama follows a
family-owned wrestling league as two broth-
ers and rivals, Jack Spade (Stephen Amell)
and Ace Spade (Alexander Ludwig), are at
war over their late father’s legacy while
working to find their identity and their indi-
vidual versions of success. In the Season 2
premiere, Ace is left reeling from Jack’s reve-
lation to him in the ring.
How to With John Wilson
HBO, 10 p.m.  Season Premiere
In the third and final season of the comedic
documentary series, filmmaker John Wilson
navigates a new set of topics, including how
to find a public restroom, how to work out
and how to clean your ears.
MGM
and into a far-off era where humans are
enslaved by subterranean mutants. Alan
Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot
and Whit Bissell co-star.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
losers in the face, in the form of
two spades and two diamonds,
but Rubin managed to work an
endplay.
Rubin drew trumps in three
rounds, cashed the club ace-king
and ruffed a club. When West
discarded a diamond, Rubin
played a low diamond to dum-
my’s jack. East won that with the
king and sensibly switched to a
spade, but Rubin simply played
his nine. West won cheaply but
then had to either return a spade
into declarer’s tenace or cash
the diamond ace to establish
declarer’s queen for a spade
discard.
Had East played a diamond
through instead, for West to play
a third, declarer would have
ruffed and played a spade to the
nine to endplay the spade-bound
West. It might seem as though
West would have done better to
keep all of his diamonds. Then,
a diamond return from East
would set the game, as West
would remain with a diamond
LEAD WITH THE ACES
©2023 Dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS
LOOKING BACK
1932: federal troops
forcibly dispersed the so-
called “Bonus Army” of
World War I veterans who
had gathered in Washington
to demand payments they
weren’t scheduled to receive
until 1945.
1943: President Franklin
D. Roosevelt announced
the end of coffee rationing,
which had limited people to
one pound of coffee every
five weeks since it began in
Nov. 1942.
exit-card. However, if West
defended that way, declarer
could have changed tack. Rather
than going for the endplay
around the diamond suit, he
would have been able to lead
the spade nine out of his hand
at trick seven. West would have
had to win, and since a spade
lead would be immediately
fatal, he would have had to open
up the diamonds, establishing
declarer’s 10th trick by building
a diamond winner for him.
ANSWER: It could work well
to bid three hearts, but I would
not want to risk missing a
spade fit, or even a diamond fit
if we just belong in part-score.
(Otherwise, I might have walked
into a penalty double.) I would
double for takeout, intending to
pass partner’s three-diamond
or three-spade advance, but I
would at least consider raising a
response of three hearts to game.
BIRTHDAYS
Actor Darryl Hickman
is 92. Musical conductor
Riccardo Muti is 82.
Former Senator and NBA
Hall of Famer Bill Bradley
is 80. “Garfield” creator
Jim Davis is 78. Singer
Jonathan Edwards is 77.
Actor Lori Loughlin is 59.
Jazz musician-producer
Delfeayo Marsalis is 58.
Rapper Soulja Boy is 33.
Pop/rock singer Cher Lloyd
(TV: “The X Factor”) is 30.
Golfer Nelly Korda is 25.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 C7

WORD SLEUTH JUMBLE DAILY CROSSWORD

Find the listed words in the diagram. They run in all directions — forward, backward, 53 Emeril catchword 13 London’s
up, down and diagonally.
ACROSS
1 Shred 56 Get a move on neighboring
Thursday’s unlisted GO FIRST 7 Built-in part of a 57 Actress Dunaway county
clue: CROQUET. camisole, maybe 58 Latvian seaport 16 Pew areas
Friday’s unlisted clue 10 Menu item 59 Hunter on a star 18 __ sax
hint: PLAYED ON THE 14 Mark who won chart 22 Many a “Mad Men”
LINKS. the Masters and 60 “Go on, take a role
the British Open in taste!” ... or an 24 Orchard fruit
Goalpost 1998 apt title for this 25 Arizona city
Goat 15 __ Palmas de Gran puzzle? 27 “Eh, this happens a
Godfather Canaria 62 Highlander’s lot”
Godmother 16 Spanish tykes pattern 29 Burro
Goldfish 17 Feature of a jean 63 Flamenco cry 30 “Michael Collins”
Gone jacket with a 64 Places for actor
Goodwill snowflake design? addresses 31 Dec. 31
Goon 19 Nerve fibers 65 Email status 32 Georgia airport
Goose 20 Big heads 66 Part of a bridal code
Gorgeous 21 Center of quartet? 34 Wee
Gorp operations 67 “In spite of all that 35 Higher ed. test
Goshawk 22 Settle a score ... “ 36 Empire St. paper
Gosling 23 “Hotel du __”: Anita 38 Monte of the
Gossamer Brookner novel DOWN 1950s Giants
Governor 24 French dessert for 1 Beach blanket, 39 Frosh, probably
a romantic date? often 40 TikTok aesthetic
26 Mortgages, e.g. 2 Compañera 45 Change
28 Bear on a star chart 3 Common time for 46 Lid woe
SUDOKU CRYPTOQUIP 29 Scent local news 47 Brand named for
31 Introductory offer? 4 Needlework? two states
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for
numbers 1 to 9.
33 Plus or minus 5 Flub 48 Restaurants with
another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the
puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give
37 Handwoven textile 6 Wayfarer maker stacks
you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. that’s a big source 7 Crater creator 49 “Je __ français”
of comfort? 8 Soap Box Derby 50 Made in Japan, say
©2023 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
41 Fifth Avenue icon entrant 51 Woodruff’s co-
42 Spool 9 “Shoot” anchor
43 Assailed 10 Property that may 52 Hit Ctrl-S
44 Overhead depreciate, in 54 Second something
projection? accounting 55 Hath permission
46 Needing a sweep 11 Hole-__ 58 Bust
48 Group that 12 Feature of “butte” 60 Ooze
oversees tablets? but not “but” 61 Sun shade

recesses. He found it too much of a niche area.

©2023 King Features Syndicate, Inc. ANSWER: The architect stayed away from designing wall

YESTERDAY’S ANSWERS SPORTS WITH A COURT

By Samantha Podos Nowak and Katie Hale ©2023 Tribune Content Agency 7/28/23
C8 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023
Dear Abby: My 40-year-
old daughter has never
grown up. Until recently,
she relied on her grand-
mother to make ends meet.
Her grandmother passed
away, and now I’m all she
has. After she was fired
from her civil-service
job and evicted from her
apartment, she broke her leg in a hik-
ing accident. I got her into an apartment
and have been supporting her for a few
months now.
Once her leg has healed, she has an
entry-level job to return to, however long
that lasts. I don’t think it pays enough for
her to live on. I offered to pay for training
in ANYTHING she’s interested in, but
she shows no interest in a part-time job to
help with bills.
I can’t believe what she tells me because
she never learned responsibility, account-
ability or honesty.
She has now quit texting me because I
called her out on her continual excuses,
lies and half-truths. I’m committed to pay-
ing her rent until her leg is fully healed,
but then what?
Fed-Up Dad in California
Dear Dad: Until your daughter learns
there are consequences for her irrespon-
sibility, lack of accountability and lying,
she will become increasingly dependent
on your generosity. That she no longer
answers your texts may be a plus.
Continue the arrangement you have
with her until her leg has healed and then,
finally, let her live with the consequences.
Dear Heloise: We re-
cently had hard tile floors
installed in the kitchen and
dining areas of our home,
and after it was installed,
we were told to never use
bleach or vinegar on the
tiles.
So, what should I use to
keep our new tile clean?
Joan F., Suffolk, Virginia
Joan, the best thing to use on hard tile
floors is sudsy ammonia. The difference
between non-sudsy and sudsy ammonia
is the detergent. Be sure to wear gloves
when working with ammonia of any kind.
You can mix 1 cup of sudsy ammonia in a
gallon of water to clean the floor, but since
your tile is brand-new, be sure to give the
grout at least a week or more to set firmly.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
Dear Abby: I’m an attractive, fit
ARGYLE SWEATER HOCUS FOCUS
and emotionally intelligent 43-year-old
woman who has been divorced for almost
eight years. I have dated during that time,
and even had a five-year relationship with
someone I thought would be my future
spouse, but who turned out to be a waste
of time. I ended the relationship three
months ago, and I’m ready to date again.
My problem is I have an aversion to on-
line dating. Most of my relationships have
been with men I’ve met via other means,
but I feel I may need to use this tool to
meet people since I’m so busy with work
and being a single mother of two (ages 15
and 11). Joining a group or a club can be
difficult, and I don’t have many friends
who can fix me up. How can I make this
process more enjoyable?
Looking for Love in New Jersey
Dear Looking: Online dating is enjoy-
able for some people and abhorrent to
others. If the dating pool in your city has
shrunk, you may have little choice other
than to sign up for some dating apps.
Talk to some of your friends and relatives ROYAL STARS
and ask for some pointers. More than a Today’s Birthday (July 28). You are inde- Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) HH You like harmo-
few successful matches have been made pendent, competitive and adventurous! You ny around you. You don’t like to rock the boat.
online, but understand that it is a sifting want to prove that you’ve got what it takes. Therefore, be diplomatic and choose your
process, and you have to be prepared to Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to words carefully today to avoid antagonistic
cope with disappointment if what you shopping or important decisions today. The exchanges and potential dissension, because
want doesn’t happen right away. Keep at Moon is in Sagittarius. some people are looking for a fight. Oy! Easy
Aries (March 21-April 19) HH This is a chal-
it, don’t personalize it (“if at first you don’t does it. Tonight: Avoid accidents.
succeed ...”) and recognize that every fail- lenging day. The Moon is at odds with your Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) HHH Financial
ure heightens the odds of success down ruler Mars, which means you have a short squabbles and disputes about possessions
the line. fuse today. People will seem to be irritating. might arise today. It’s OK to defend your best
Tonight: Cancellations? interests; however, make sure that something
www.DearAbby.com Taurus (April 20-May 20) HH Parents need is worth fighting over. Tonight: Protect your
Andrews McMeel Syndication to be patient with their kids today, because assets.
everyone is a bit short-tempered. Likewise, Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) HHH This is a
romantic partners might experience a bit of tricky day, because the Moon is in your sign.
strife. Tonight: Check your finances. However, it is at odds with fiery Mars, which
If you need answers to your cleaning Gemini (May 21-June 20) HH I hope you read means you might feel easily irritated with
solutions that don’t involve expensive this in the morning so you can be prepared for others. Tonight: Stay frosty.
cleaners, then you’ll love having my arguments with family, partners or spouses Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) HH The defini-
pamphlet “Heloise’s Homemade Cleaning that might occur today. Tonight: Someone tion of negativity is wanting things to be
Solutions.” To get a copy, go to www.Helo- surprises you. different from the way they are. Today it’s
ise.com or send $5 along with a stamped, Cancer (June 21-July 22) HH Be careful easy to feel negative about something. You’re
disgruntled. The key is not to make things
self-addressed long envelope to: Heloise/ today, because fiery Mars is in your House of
Communications, and it’s at odds with the worse. Look for a solution that makes you
Cleaning Solutions, P.O. Box 795001, San
Moon, which means you might be short- happier. Tonight: Upheaval.
Antonio, TX 78279-5001. tempered with others and not even realize Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) HH Disputes
Heloise it. Keep your cool. Tomorrow is a lovely day. and disagreements with friends or members
Patience is the key. Tonight: Guard your pets. of groups might arise today. Try to avoid
Dear Readers: Just a reminder that in Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) HHH You are power- these, because you value your friendships.
some states, school will be starting again ful now because the Sun is in your sign. This In fact, Aquarius is the sign of friendship and
in August. Always be careful driving energizes you! It also means you are putting a networking — all things you excel at. Do your
around school zones for the safety of the lot of yourself into whatever you say. Tonight: magic! Tonight: A surprise.
children — and to avoid a very expensive Protect your kids. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) HH This will be a
fine. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) HH Your patience challenging day. Relations with bosses, par-
Heloise will be tested today, because fiery Mars is in ents, teachers and the police will not be easy.
your sign, and it’s at odds with the Moon. Ask You might be angry; they might be angry.
Heloise@heloise.com yourself if this is worth crossing swords with Tonight: Patience.
King Features Syndicate someone. Tonight: Stay chill. King Features Syndicate
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 C9

FAMILY CIRCUS ZIGGY ZITS

WALLACE THE BRAVE

MUTTS

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

RHYMES WITH ORANGE

BABY BLUES

F MINUS

PEANUTS
C10 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM BEETLE BAILEY

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE CURTIS

BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY! B.C.

GARFIELD REX MORGAN, M.D.

SHERMAN’S LAGOON PHANTOM

HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 C11

BIZARRO BLONDIE

HEART OF THE CITY CRANKSHAFT

HI & LOIS CANDORVILLE

BALDO LUANN

SALLY FORTH RED & ROVER

C12 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM