Your Daily Guide

🍔 Trump Burger Appears Closed After Immigration Issues

After enduring months of legal issues and immigration drama, the Houston location for Trump Burger appears to be closed. Roland Beainy, who opened the Houston location, was detained by ICE in May and then released the next month, with a hearing set for November. [Houston Chronicle 🔒]

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ACLU Urges Schools To Reject Prayer and Bible Study Policy

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sent a memo to superintendents and school boards across the state because of a new law that allows school districts to set aside time for prayer and religious study. In the memo, the ACLU implores the schools to not make time for religious activities, arguing that such a policy is unnecessary and unconstitutional. [Houston Public Media]

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Houston ISD Board Terminates Union Leader

Houston ISD’s Board of Managers voted to terminate the teachers’ union president. The district alleged that Michelle Williams, a third grade teacher at Benbrook Elementary School, left the campus without informing administration and did not sign out. They also claim Williams did not follow the district’s instructional model. [Houston Chronicle 🔒]

🚨 The Problem with Harris County’s Bail System

Why is Harris County’s bail system always brought up by state leaders? Host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to John Wayne Ferguson, reporter at the Houston Chronicle, about what stands out with our bail system and how a forgotten part of it is now being amplified because of an FBI raid and trial. [City Cast Houston 🎧]

It’s normal to see Houstonians taking a stroll, going for a run, or cruising on their bikes down one of the paths near our city bayous. However, as more bodies are found at bayous across the city, some are changing up their routines or opting out from being near them at all. Last week, Houston police recovered a body from White Oak Bayou — upping the total count of bodies found this year to 23.

I asked Hey Houston readers to tell me how they feel about the surge in bayou deaths. Here’s what y’all shared:

Carolyn is on guard when she walks near the bayou: “I regularly walk Buffalo Bayou and have always been security conscious, but am more so now. I stick to the bike paths where there is more traffic and I avoid even those if I see no other people for long stretches. It would be appreciated to understand why the mayor asserts there is no pattern or link. Let the public hear the facts and we can then make our own informed decisions.”

Susan says the bayou deaths make her sad: “I am creeped out at how many unfortunate people end up dead in the bayou. It seems like an uptick. Overall, it just makes me sad.”

Jessica said the news has put her on edge: “I absolutely avoid the bayou trails. I used to only go during the daytime, but everything that has happened this past year has completely turned me away — from sketchy people loitering the more secluded areas, the groper, and now all the bodies being found. As a woman in my mid-twenties things have gotten bad enough to make me consider carrying for the first time in my life. It is very disheartening to feel unsafe when trying to do something as simple as going for a walk.”

The responses for Houston Chatter have been lightly edited for clarity.