FEMA

April Schooled: How Two Different Pranks Caught Even Us Off Guard April 1

As the saying goes, you've got to get up pretty early in the morning to pull one over on us. Apparently, in at least two cases yesterday, people got up DAMN early because a couple of our writers got caught with their virtual pants down. We know conspiracy theorists think the media is involved in so ... More >>

Football! This Weekend's Best Bets, "Roger Goodell Is Better Than FEMA" Edition

So how bad was the controversial ending of Monday night's Seahawks-Packers game for the NFL? Well, consider that the story got coverage on every major national news show Tuesday morning, was the subject of a David Letterman Top 10 list, and prompted President Obama to comment publicly on the topic ... More >>

13 Wacky Texas History Facts That Texas School Kids Need To Be Taught

This week Mother Jones uncovered a handful of spurious, less-than-scientific facts that Louisiana grade-schoolers will be learning while attending the state's new voucher schools. Obviously, people aren't happy. A new voucher program under the watch of Governor Bobby Jindal will allot money for st ... More >>

Even While Accepting Help on Wildfires, Rick Perry Blasts Obama

Too little and late, Perry says.​President Obama today signed an order declaring 45 Texas counties to be disaster areas because of wildfires, and even while saying the action was "good for Texas," Governor Rick Perry couldn't resist criticizing Obama. "President Obama's decision to finally ap ... More >>

This Week's Cover Story: Ire Greets Dedication Of Bolivar's New Catholic Chapel

Civil War over a Bolivar church​Ordinarily, the dedication of a new church building is cause for unbridled, unqualified celebration. Such is not the case in Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula, where the circumstances surrounding the dedication of the new Our Lady By The Sea Chapel and Catholic ... More >>

A Day At The Beach For Beyonce, Dad

​ One of the things Rocks Off is most grateful for is our Google alert for Beyonce, which provides us with a never-ending stream of amusing and occasionally newsworthy anecdotes concerning the escapades of Houston's hometown diva and her extended family. This morning's was especially rich, because ... More >>

Treme: Right Place, Wrong Time

​The third episode is potentially a tough one in a ten-episode arc like the one we're getting in the first season of Treme: Far enough in that characters have been set up, not quite at a major halfway point that would entail some twists or the onset of the momentum that will carry the narrativ ... More >>

Treme: Right Place, Wrong Time

​The third episode is potentially a tough one in a ten-episode arc like the one we're getting in the first season of Treme: Far enough in that characters have been set up, not quite at a major halfway point that would entail some twists or the onset of the momentum that will carry the narrativ ... More >>

Michelle Bachmann FAIL: Houston, Harris County Beats 2000 Rate Of Mailing In Census Forms

Why don't Texans agree with this woman that the Census is an evil plot?​Way out there among the legions of birthers and deathers and FEMA concentration camp believers, there's the census haters. Led by Minnesota rep Michelle Bachmann, they refuse to fill out the 2010 census forms because...because ... More >>

Lively-Hood

Coast's evolution from rapper to singer to, simply, Artist.

Texas Monthly Gives A Big Ol' Slobberin' Kiss To Bill White

​The newest edition of Texas Monthly has a lengthy profile of candidate (for something) Bill White, erstwhile mayor of Houston.The first few grafs give the flavor: by S.C. Gwynne Mayor Bill is on the move. Strapped into the passenger seat of an unmarked Lincoln Town Car, cell phone stuck firmly t ... More >>

Life, Post-Ike

One year later, Galveston residents like Marie Creasy have dug in for the long haul

If Who's On First, What's On Second: A Post-Ike Diary Documenting One Family's Attempt To Get Past First Base With The Houston Housing Authority

​Ike's anniversary is coming up, an event which will be well-covered locally. We're doing out part with the September 10 issue; until then we'll be posting some Ike-related items to whet the appetite.In the 1950s the famous comedy team of Abbott and Costello developed what is probably their most ... More >>

Galveston's Flagship Hotel: Going Once, Going Twice.....

The Flagship Hotel, that iconic building on a pier in Galveston, seems to forever be endangered. It now looks like it's more endangered than ever.The strange, twisty tale of the now semi-battered building might be coming to a conclusion, the Galveston County Daily News reports. Landry's Restaurants, ... More >>

Free Press Houston Announces "Summer Fest" Line-Up

The chill dudes across town at Free Press Houston dropped an awesome bomb this afternoon, announcing their two-day "Summer Fest" shindig, set to go down August 8 and 9 at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Tickets are at $7 for each day, with the line-up spread out over those two days. The headliners that Edit ... More >>

June 1: And So It Begins......

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!! (MUST CREDIT HAIR BALLS!!!!!) Today is the beginning of the hurricane season.While the rest of the so-called mainstream media will ignore this important milestone simply because writing or airing stuff about hurricanes in Houston results in cheap increases in ratings and clic ... More >>

They're Still Arresting People Who Curse In Galveston County, Gosh Darn It

Photo by Joe ShlabotnikLast year Kristi Fridge garnered nationwide publicity after being arrested in a La Marque Wal-Mart for cursing. Reasonable people thought that if a vengeful God had somehow decided to mess with you enough to place you in a Wal-Mart in LaMarque, then cursing would be a viable r ... More >>

A Pleasure Cruiser and The Worst Song in the World

On the Trailer

Pleasure Cruiser

Why is Paul Villinski's "Emergency Response Studio" parked outside Rice Gallery?

Finally, Some Good News For The Bolivar Peninsula

Good news has been in short supply on the Bolivar Peninsula since Ike hit, but something that could pass -- these days, anyway -- as good news was announced this week.Crenshaw, a pre-K-8 elementary and middle school on the peninsula, will reopen February 4, GISD announced to the applause of resident ... More >>

Hurricane Ike's Wake

Forgotten and overlooked, Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast struggle on in the storm's aftermath

We Get Ike, Dallas Gets A Minor Earthquake

A Seawall For The West End Of Galveston?

Fanfare For The Area Man

No Room At The Inn For Returning Galvestonians

You May Not Have Power, Galveston, But You Can Golf

Sorry? For What?

Are You Taking Over, Or Are You Taking Orders?

Unlucky Pasadenans Arrive At The George R. Brown

In The Re-Match, Second Baptist Again Kicks Lakewood's Ass

Bush Visit Causing Gridlock, Galveston Reporter Claims

Where To Get Supplies From FEMA

Garbage, Debris and How We Are Trashed

FEMA Looking Good at TSU Distribution Center

A Legendary Outing

Twilight Princess is the best Zelda ever.

Hard Rock Pawty

Even Hurricane Katrina couldn't stop Suplecs

Katrinavision

We're All "Screwed"

So save us, Lewis!

New Year's Resolutions for Houston

We have a lot to forgive – and forget – about 2005; here's hoping local celebs do better next year

Chicanos on the Rampage

Culture Clash dishes on FEMA, Katrina — and Latina butts

Farewell to the Twenty Nickel

Looking back on the '05 and dreaming in the '06

Faded Love

Our correspondent finds his attempts to help rebuffed by evacuees

Keepin' On

New Orleans artists find refuge -- and studios -- in Houston

Letters to the Editor

Beyond the Womb

A questionable charity cashes in on 9/11 and the Allison flood

Letters

Rotten to the Corps, Wife Strife, Sweet and Neat

Downtown's Waterloo

NoDo nightclub owners ask what hath God wrought

The Perfect Political Storm

In this flood, Lee Brown has stayed high and dry (so far)

Preparing for the Millennium

Go to the Austin Hill Country and meet some folks who are taking Y2K very seriously

City Pork Project

Residents look for answers but find only a developer's arrogance