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City Cast Houston

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast and forever changed New Orleans. It killed over 1,800 people, and more than 200,000 people evacuated to Houston. Many of them end up staying. Even with time, the storm's legacy lingers, and many Houstonians still remember how our city stepped up to help our neighbors.

Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, there was an evacuation order. But an 

estimated 150,000 to 200,000 New Orleans residents stayed in the city

. Some residents didn’t have a way to get out, or didn’t want to leave their pets or belongings. Then the levees failed, putting more than 80% of the city under water. The devastation quickly became deadly. Thousands of New Orleans residents took shelter at the Superdome, but conditions were bad with no air-conditioning, dirty bathrooms, and reports of trash everywhere. On Aug. 31, Houston was 

only given 24 hours to welcome 75,000 evacuees

New Orleans Residents Evacuate to Houston

Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels had already been preparing. About 25,000 people were sent to the Astrodome and more went to other shelters across the city. Eckels 

recalls seeing the first bus drive up to the Astrodome

. It was an Orleans Parish school bus, and the young driver had never driven before. Busloads of people continued to show up for days. They prepared meals to serve a stadium full of people, as if it were a football game. Doctors flew in from all over the world to assist. They negotiated with phone carriers to turn cell phones back on for displaced New Orleans residents whose bills were unpaid.

Meanwhile, Mayor White made it his mission to 

“treat your neighbors the way you’d want to be treated.”

 Although FEMA offered to set up thousands of temporary trailers and hotel rooms for evacuees, White instead set up a housing voucher program with help from the private sector. “I thought that what was needed was to get people back on their feet,” White told City Cast Houston. 

White said he took a lot of leaps of faith

 during that time, working with landlords to provide housing for evacuees — and unsure when the federal government would reimburse the city. The hard work paid off. About 

Initially, there were some pockets of tension between New Orleans and Houston residents. For example, in February 2006,

 74% of Houstonians said that Katrina evacuees had put a strain on the city,

 according to the Kinder Houston Area Survey. But, the overwhelming feeling was one of compassion as tens of thousands of Houstonians helped volunteer, earning our city a reputation for generosity, something we still pride ourselves on today. In fact, when residents were surveyed again in 2008, 46% of Houstonians said they would want the city to help if a storm like Hurricane Katrina happened again.

Two decades later, New Orleans residents 

 New business ventures from New Orleans evacuees popped up and have stuck around like the beloved Heights bookstore 

. Our food scene became even more delicious – it’s not hard to find crawfish, boudin, or gumbo. Kermit Ruffins, a prominent New Orleans trumpet player, 

made his home in Houston for a time after the storm, regularly playing at Axelrad

. He recently came back for a benefit concert for the July 4 flood victims. If you look around, you can see how New Orleans’ flair has etched its way into the diverse fabric of Houston. And, I don’t think we would have it any other way 💟

What memories do you have from Hurricane Katrina? Did you evacuate to Houston or help out those affected by the storm? 

How Houston Stepped Up After Hurricane Katrina 

What Houstonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Houston are the way they are and how they work.

Houston, Explained

One thing about Houstonians, we love the Houston Astros! As we push through the dog days of summer, 

it’s a great time to cheer on our favorite team

. Here’s more on the rich history of the ‘Stros in Houston.

has always been a popular sport in Houston

 — even before the Astros became our official hometown team. When the Texas League was created in 1888, several baseball teams were born. Out of the league, the Houston Buffaloes were the most renowned team, winning multiple Texas League and Dixie Series championships.

George Kirksey, a local sportswriter and public relations executive, and Craig Cullinan, a businessman and heir to Texaco, formed the Houston Sports Association in hopes of bringing major league baseball to the city. R.E. "Bob" Smith, businessman and landowner, and Roy Hofheinz, former Houston mayor, were also brought into the association. Hofheinz also was working on bringing the world’s first domed stadium to the city. Their dreams came true. The city was granted expansion into Major League Baseball in October 1960, and Houston’s first team became the Houston Colt .45s, named after the “Gun that won the West.”

That name didn’t last long; it was retired after the 1964 season. Shortly after, Hofheinz, the team president, said the new team would be named the Astros and the domed stadium would be called the Astrodome, in honor of the NASA Space Center and local astronauts. On April 9, 1965, the Astros played their first game against the New York Yankees, beating them 2 -1.

Over the years, the Astros have had standout players and seasons. In the 1980s, some of their best pitchers graced the stadium, including Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott. Craig Biggio joined the team in 1988 and 

played a record 20 seasons with the Astros

 – becoming the first player to be elected into the Hall of Fame. In 2011, Jim Crane led a group of investors who bought the team. Crane then began to build a staff that led to one of the Astros’ most successful teams. Standout players Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman helped lead the Astros to their first-ever World Series victory in 2017, right after the city was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The Astros 

also dealt with a sign stealing scandal in 2017

 that Houstonians would all like to forget about.

A few years later, the Astros won another World Series, and 

 from Yordan Alvarez will stay etched in baseball fan’s minds for years to come. The Astros 

recently brought back fan favorite Carlos Correa

Houston fans made the trek to Boston to see the star player

 take on the Red Sox this past weekend, including Mayor Whitmire. The Astros are currently 

holding the top spot in the American League West

Relive the last Astros World Series win 

So, how did the Houston Astros rise to baseball fame? 

How The Houston Astros Rose to Baseball Fame

People, places, and scenes from Houston's past.

Houston History

Located in the heart of Houston’s Third Ward, Emancipation Park has been a place for Juneteenth celebrations, community gatherings, and other traditions for generations. Today, you can go for a swim at the community pool, listen to jazz as you watch the sun set over the downtown skyline, or enjoy a performance at Blessing Theater. More than 150 years after it was purchased by newly freed African Americans, the park stands as a testament to the resilience of Third Ward.

After slavery was abolished in 1865, an influx of 

African Americans moved to Houston from neighboring plantations

. They began to purchase land and build homes in the city, especially in Third and Fourth wards. Some combined resources and purchased property to build schools and churches. The Rev. Jack Yates, politician Richard Allen, and the Rev. Elias Dibble, who were also former slaves themselves, purchased a place for African Americans to celebrate Juneteenth, the day enslaved Texans officially learned slavery ended in June 1865. The group bought the 10-acre plot for Emancipation Park in 1872. In the late 1930s, a recreation center, swimming pool, and a bathhouse were added. For years, the park served as a community hub. It also was 

the only public park and swimming pool open for African Americans

As years passed, Third Ward residents wanted a modern update for their historic park. In the early 2000s, two residents who were born and raised in Third Ward 

created a nonprofit called the Friends of Emancipation Park

 to push for resources for the park. Philip Freelon, a renowned architect who also designed the The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., led the park’s $33.6 million redesign. It included a new recreation center, a beautiful green lawn for events with family picnic areas, and a restored stage area for indoor and outdoor performances. In 2017, more than 8,000 people partied at 

the first Juneteenth celebration held at the newly renovated park

. With fears of gentrification in the neighborhood, 

many hope the park will preserve Third Ward’s rich history

Since the redesign, when you drive down Emancipation Avenue, it’s hard to miss the main building's bold orange colors. The park hosts events all year long like 

, summer programs for children, and community plays. Right across the street, you can order something delicious from 

 (my vote is the pound cake waffle with chicken!) or get a book from 

 inside Eldorado Ballroom for your summer reading. Right now at Emancipation Park, you can also explore an exhibit in 

honor of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Emancipation Park has remained a legacy in Third Ward for more than 150 years. 

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy in Third Ward

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy 

Juneteenth is a significant day in U.S. history. The National Museum of African American History and Culture refers to Juneteenth as 

. Short for “June Nineteenth,” it is also known as “Freedom Day” and “Emancipation Day.”

On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the 

, which declared that all enslaved people who were in states that rebelled against the Union were now free. In the lead-up to the end of the 

 in April 1865, Union soldiers traveled throughout Confederate states to read the proclamation to slaves.

However, it would take two years for enslaved Texans to hear the news. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston. Texas was 

the last Confederate state for those enslaved to learn about their freedom

became a day of remembrance and “Jubilee Day

” for the over 250,000 newly freed African-Americans in Texas. Juneteenth has since been widely celebrated in the African-American community and is 

Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980. The summer of 

 against police brutality and demanding racial justice brought an increased awareness of its significance. Known as the “Grandmother of Junteenth”, Opal Lee also 

 by making freedom walks in North Texas and across the country. 

 and his team created a Juneteenth mural in 2021, and his work has rippled across the United States. Juneteenth murals 

have since been painted in multiple cities across the country

 and will expand to San Francisco and New York this year.

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden officially signed Juneteenth into law as the 11th federally recognized U.S. holiday. While President Donald Trump's new administration has downscaled or eliminated programs to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, the holiday is still cherished and widely celebrated in H-town.

how his Juneteenth mural spread across the country

If you want to walk through Freedmen’s Town, where freed slaves settled in Houston, 

we spoke with a resident and local historian about the historic area

I’ve learned a lot about Juneteenth and Texas’ Black history through reporting. My 

story about The Emancipation Trail follows the path that freed slaves took as they migrated from Galveston to Houston

, but I have even more fun ideas in my hand-picked 

roundup of the best Juneteenth celebrations

Here's why Juneteenth is important to Texans and where you can celebrate in 2025. 

Why Juneteenth is Important for Texans in 2025

Why Juneteenth is Important for Texans 

Five years ago, the world witnessed the death of George Floyd, a Black man murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis. For the country, it became a rallying cry against police brutality and civil rights for African-Americans. But for many Houstonians, Floyd’s death cut even deeper. He was a Black man raised in the Third Ward at Cuney Homes, Houston’s oldest public housing project. He 

liked to make everyone laugh, shoot hoops and throw a football

 around his neighborhood. He shined as an athlete and was the first of his siblings to finish high school at Jack Yates. He loved hip hop music and became friends with the legendary DJ Screw. He was a Houstonian, just like us.

thousands of Houstonians took to the streets to protest

 his death. “Say his name!” “George Floyd!” they chanted as they marched to City Hall. Days later, 

over 6,300 would stand in the sizzling heat to view Floyd’s body

 at The Fountain of Praise. I covered the memorial as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. I remember interviewing a 13-year-old girl who hoped she could raise her own children in a different environment. “I want them to know that everything doesn’t have to be like this,” she told me. As we finished, her mother cried.

Now, in 2025, as a Houstonian and Black American, I’m wondering what mark has Floyd left on Houston? It’s complicated. A task force came up with over 100 ways to reform the Houston Police Department after his death. But today city and police officials can’t say 

how many of these recommendations were adopted

. Just days before the anniversary of his death, 

worry that his legacy is starting to fade

, and it seems that just remembering is an 

But I believe the heartbeat of George Floyd can never truly fade from Houston. Over the weekend, Houstonians gathered at a 

his younger brother Philonise Floyd said he still thinks about him everyday

, adding Floyd was “the flame that set this world on fire.” And I believe that the conversations Floyd ignited around race, police brutality, and social justice will continue. That what Martin Luther King, Jr. said during the civil rights movement still rings true today: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” For Houstonians, and for myself, Floyd’s tragic death still burns deeply in our hearts. And we must work hard to keep his legacy alive.

gather in Galveston to pay tribute to his legacy on Juneteenth weekend

How did George Floyd's death impact you?

How are Houstonians honoring the legacy of George Floyd in 2025?

George Floyd's Legacy in Houston in 2025

George Floyd's Legacy in Houston 

in Houston: the Rodeo, Bun B, NASA. We also have a claim to fame that seems weird to people who don’t live here: feeders! Have you ever wondered why we call our streets that run parallel to the highway a feeder? Maybe, you’re new here and confused about our traffic lingo. Don’t feel too bad because even some longtime Houstonians have no clue why it would be weird to call our roads 

frontage roads that run parallel to the highway.

 If you’re in other parts of the state, you may hear someone call it an access or frontage road. As a native Houstonian, I called it a feeder road all my life until I went to college. My roommates and I were driving in Austin and they told me to exit the freeway to the frontage road. I didn’t know what they were talking about, and quickly explained that it’s called a 

Then, they looked back at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about. Anybody else have this experience?

I’m still not exactly sure why Houstonians have coined the term feeder road, but 

Texas Monthly traces it back to the 1860s

. The Southern Pacific Railroad’s route extended from San Diego all the way to Texas. As part of the railroad’s plan in 1869, it would have “feeder” lines that connected with the main railroad route. Apparently, the term feeder stuck around for Houstonians. Based on a dialect quiz from the New York Times, those in central Texas use the term service roads. Over in San Antonio, the Panhandle, and South Texas, you’ll hear access roads. Meanwhile, in Dallas they call it frontage or service road. Here in Houston, we’re sticking to feeders!! It just makes more sense, right? Those roads feed the highways!

I want to hear more about our feeder road history, so 

 and your stories on calling it a feeder road!

So, why do Houstonians call it a feeder road? 

Why Do Houstonians Call It a Feeder Road?

Go Tejano Day, the Spanish translation for “Go Texan Day,” has celebrated Houston’s rich Latino heritage 

 for 35 years since the first concert in 1990. More than 75,000 people attended the popular day last year, grooving to the sounds of Los Tigres Del Norte, a California-based norteño band. So, how did Go Tejano Day start, and what’s in store for this year?

On trail rides from Reynosa, Mexico to Houston, a group of Mexican-Americans who loved the Houston Rodeo, brainstormed ways to help Hispanic students benefit from the rodeo tradition. In the mid-1980s, the Go Tejano committee started with only 15 volunteers. The group set out to honor the history of Mexican 

, cowboys who herded cattle on horseback, Tejano music, and also provide educational funding for students. The committee 

, which opened in 1987. The diner serves delicious Latino dishes throughout the rodeo season, and the money raised goes to the rodeo’s scholarship funds. Tejano musicians Roberto Pulido, Emilio Navaira and Vikki Carr performed the rodeo’s first official Go Tejano Day concert in 1990 to a sold-out crowd.

Over the years, Go Tejano Day has been one of the most popular days at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Seven of the 

 were held on Go Tejano Day. Some popular acts from the 1990s include Joe Lopez, Jimmy Gonzalez y el Grupo Mazz, and La Mafia. On Feb. 26, 1995, the beloved queen of Tejano music, 

 in her iconic purple glitter body suit. The concert was held only about a month before her tragic murder. Music critic Rick Mitchell 

 crowned the singer as “Tejano’s answer to Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Gloria Estefan.” After Selena’s tragic death, 

, and the rodeo also started booking norteño acts. In recent years, Los Tigres de Norte has broken attendance records during their Go Tejano Day appearances.

Over 35 years later, the Go Tejano Committee has raised more than $9.3 million dollars. The group continues to raise money for scholarships provided by the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo to students, hosting fundraisers throughout the year, including a fashion show, scholarship gala, mariachi invitational, gold tournament and tamale fundraisers. At this year’s Go Tejano concert on March 16, 

, a Mexican-American band from Edinburg, Texas, will take the stage. The award-winning group is known for a mixture of Tejano, cumbia, and country music, so it’s sure to be a good time 🤠

What's your favorite Go Tejano Day performance?

How did Go Tejano Day begin at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo? 

How Go Tejano Day Started at the Houston Rodeo 

, was a political force and a trusted voice on a number of hot-button issues facing Texans, including immigration, voting rights, and equal rights for women. Her legacy continues to live on, so much so that the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board recently 

said President Trump should look to Jordan’s past leadership

 on how to handle the current immigration crisis facing Americans. So, how did Jordan become a changemaker for Texans?

Jordan was born in 1936, growing up alongside her mom, dad, and two sisters in Fifth Ward. As a student at Phyllis Wheatley High School, Jordan heard a speech at career day by Edith Sampson, a African-American lawyer, and was 

. She was part of the inaugural class at Texas Southern University and helped lead the university’s debate team to national fame. TSU’s

 at one competition in Houston. After graduation, Jordan attended law school in Boston. She didn’t stay away from her hometown long though. After passing both the Massachusetts and Texas bar exams and a brief teaching stint, she returned to Houston and worked from her parent’s home until she saved enough to open up a law office.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act, which allowed more African-Americans to register to vote, helped Jordan, a Democrat, get elected as the first Black state senator since 1883. She quickly made a name for herself, pushing for minimum-wage laws and equal rights for women. Together, she and Frances “Sissy” Farenthold, the first woman elected to the Texas House, proposed  an amendment to the Texas Constitution to guarantee equal rights for women.

In 1972, Jordan was elected to Congress, becoming the first Black woman from a Southern state to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She gained national attention in 1974 when she spoke up during the Watergate hearings, saying, “I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.” One of Jordan’s most important achievements as congresswoman was pushing for Hispanics to be included in the expansion of the Voting Rights Act.

During her later years, Jordan taught politics, ethics and government at The University of Texas at Austin. She also became an ethics advisor to Gov. Ann Richards in the early 1990s. President Bill Clinton appointed her to chair the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform in 1994. Under Jordan’s leadership, the commission recommended a reduction in legal immigration, but at the same time, an increase in visas for spouses and minor children of citizens or legal permanent residents. Although President Clinton did not move forward with recommendations, Jordan 

was still looked at as an “independent broker” on the issue

 with “great moral authority.” Shortly after serving on the committee, Jordan died in 1996 from complications from pneumonia.

The late politician Barbara Jordan was a political force and trusted voice among Texans. 

How Barbara Jordan Changed Texas Politics

newly revived Enron debuted the Enron Egg, an egg-shaped micro nuclear reactor

 that supposedly can power your home for 10 years. Raising your eyebrows at this so-called new scientific invention? You’re not alone.

Let’s back up for a second. If you were a Houstonian in December 2001, you probably remember the Enron scandal. Originally founded in 1985, the company became one of the largest energy and commodities trading companies in the world. However, it fell from grace when internal fraud was brought to light, leading the company to 

file for the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history

 at the time and 20,000 employees to lose their jobs. Then, in December, the company announced it was coming back. Cue many side-eyes.

the company’s invention is scientifically impossible

. Derek Haas, an associate professor and nuclear and radiation engineering researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, told the Houston Chronicle: "With our current understanding of physics, this will never be possible.”

Still convinced that this egg could be real? Look closely at the terms and conditions on 

, where it says the website is “First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.”

Maybe, the Enron Egg should look at Humpty Dumpty for a view of its future 😉

Only in H-Town is a new occasional series on Fridays in Hey Houston, where we highlight the quirky, insightful, entertaining, and inspiring stories, places and people that can only come out of the city we call home. Have an idea? 

Enron revealed a new product the Enron Egg, but is it real? 

Is The Enron Egg Real? 

Only in H-Town: The Enron Egg

This week in Houston is definitely colder than normal outside, but just how cold can temperatures drop in our city? Well, let’s just say you’ll be grateful for today’s temps after reading how chilly it got in January 1930. Keep reading to learn more about the coldest day ever in Houston and historic winter freezes.

recorded its coldest day ever at only 5 degrees

. Decades later, another historically cold year in Houston was 1983, when Houstonians experienced 

four full days in a row of below freezing weather

. Yikes! Then in December 1989, a winter storm brought more frigid weather. Houstonians saw 1.7 inches of snow fall on Dec. 22, and the temperature dropped to 7 degrees on Dec. 23. The weather remained chilly the rest of the month with 14 nights of temperatures at or below freezing, making it the coldest month on record for Houston and Galveston.

2021 Winter Freeze That Everyone Wants to Forget

I used to get excited to see snow in the forecast, but after the freeze in February 2021, I don’t 

What have been the coldest days ever in Houston? 

history

How Houston Stepped Up After Hurricane Katrina

How The Houston Astros Rose to Baseball Fame

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy

Latest articles

How Houston Stepped Up After Hurricane Katrina

How The Houston Astros Rose to Baseball Fame

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy

Why Juneteenth is Important for Texans

George Floyd's Legacy in Houston

Why Do Houstonians Call It a Feeder Road?

How Go Tejano Day Started at the Houston Rodeo

Latest articles

Why Juneteenth is Important for Texans

George Floyd's Legacy in Houston

Why Do Houstonians Call It a Feeder Road?

How Go Tejano Day Started at the Houston Rodeo

How Barbara Jordan Changed Texas Politics

Only in H-Town: The Enron Egg

The Coldest Days Ever in Houston