Laredo

I-69 Signs Along I-59: No, It's Not a Clever Joke. Stop Giggling.

Whenever I think of U.S. 59, I think of constant gridlock from Shepherd through the 288/I-45 interchange, the flat, treeless drive to Ft. Bend County and the piney woods of east Texas, in all its glory. It is a unique stretch of road that runs from Mexico well into Missouri. Oh, sure, it changes num ... More >>

Where the Chefs Eat: Christine Ha and Alvin Schultz

This week, our Where The Chefs Eat series turns to two amateur chefs turned television reality stars: Christine Ha and Alvin Schultz. Both living in Houston and Vietnamese by descent, they each snagged a spot on the TV reality show, MasterChef. Schultz, who was featured on Season 2, is known for ... More >>

Sarah Combs, 2 Others: Ran $27 Million "Black Market Peso" Money-Laundering Scheme, Feds Say

A Dickinson woman and two other people have been charge with running a $27 million "Black Market Peso Exchange" money-laundering scheme, federal prosecutors announced today. Sarah Combs, 48, appeared in court here today; Willie Whitehurst, 44, of Houston will be arraigned next week and Enrique Mor ... More >>

Does Dallas-Fort Worth Have the Worst Tippers in the State?

Last week, Eater alerted the great foodie masses to a website called Lousy Tippers that contains a pretty scary database of the nation's worst tippers. "There is a consequence," the site preaches ominously from its header. Call it the ultimate form of societal pressure to make sure you leave a grat ... More >>

Outernational Brings The Fight To House Of Blues Tonight

Coupled with dynamic rhythms that somehow flow together like streams of water, their ripped-from-the-headlines lyrics of liberation struggle had the audience literally -- at least in the case of one wild fan in a Mexican wrestling mask -- hanging from the rafters. -- Nick Turse, Village Voice Mile ... More >>

Troy Allison: Reward Upped for the Sporting Sex Offender

Troy Allison, a sex offender whose mug shot features a slight smile and a sporty shirt, is still on Texas's Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list, and the reward for helping to find him has increased. Tips, anonymous or not, that lead to his arrest can be worth up to $12,000 now. Allison began his ... More >>

25 Signs That You Aren't From Houston

That's right, you're not from Houston​Earlier this week Arturo Valdes was pulled over for speeding down the West Loop feeder road in the City of Bellaire. After finding "irregularities" with his registration (probably something other than a Bellaire or West U address), Bellaire cops called in ... More >>

Top 5: Mexican Restaurants

Pico's Mex-Mex.​If Kevin Shalin's Top 5 Sandwiches was controversial, it will probably have nothing on my picks for the best Mexican eateries in a town where fajitas and 'ritas reign supreme. Although I have no Mexican blood in my heritage, like many Houstonians, I was raised on a taco- and ... More >>

Dale Allen Richardson Jr.: This Badge Means I'm an Attorney!

OF COURSE I'm a lawyer​A 28-year-old Plano man is going to federal prison for more than five years after falsely claiming to be a lawyer -- despite submitting a badge declaring him to be an "Officer of the Court" of the Cherokee Nation. That's not good enough? Well, it isn't when a clerk for ... More >>

Joe Ely's Top Five Live Shots, By iFest's Rick Mitchell

Jason WolterJoe Ely (left) and David Grissom at iFest 2010​Next Friday, Feb. 11, the Joe Ely Band returns to Rockefeller Hall for the first time in more than a decade, since the legendary Washington Avenue showcase club stopped presenting live music to focus on the less risky business of priva ... More >>

Yet Another Study Says Houston Traffic Is Horrible

Cruising down the highway, Houston-style​If someone were to do a study of commuting traffic in 90 American cities, gauging cost and miles and hours wasted, where do you think Houston would rank? Would it be 90th? Maybe 89th? NO. We are not as bad as horror pits like San Jose (89) or Dallas ( ... More >>

Wet and Half Naked

One way to smuggle cash

ACL Day 3 Recap: Devendra Banhart, Band Of Horses, Other Beardos

Photos by Marco Torres​Aftermath doesn't know the bargain Austin City Limits promoter C3 Presents gets by booking both Lollapalooza and ACL, but to this dog-tired participant, this year's Zilker Park festivities ended up feeling less Austin weird and more something-something. Not that it's a ... More >>

Cash Smugglers Juan Sanchez & Pals: Soaking Wet & Wearing Only Underwear Is No Way To Transport $1.6 Million

Breaking Bad: Another guy who does drug work in his underwear​More trouble for those pesky drug lords trying to  gt their cash from the marketplace in America to home in Mexico -- an employee, Juan Sanchez, just got more than seven years in a federal prison for doing their dirty work.We're su ... More >>

Valley Sheriffs Want To Search Southbound Cars, Too

Be careful headin' south​Be careful if you're driving south with your guns and life savings. If some sheriffs have their way, county cops could take it all away.Late last week, sheriffs from Cameron County and El Paso County announced that they would love it if deputies started inspecting every ca ... More >>

Speed In A Hunstville School Zone, Get Fined $312

Houston makes the top 10 list for big fines​The school year has begun in some places, and that means school zones are up and cops are watching for violators. In some places you can't text or talk on your cell in a school zone; in every place you can't speed in one.What are the worst places in Texa ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #6 Barbecued Ribs at Pizzitola's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #7 Turtle Soup at Brennan's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #8: In and Out Brisket at Thelma's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #12 Fried Chicken at Frenchy's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #15 The Reuben at Kenny & Ziggy's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #16 Enchiladas de Tejas at Molina's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #19 Barbacoa Tacos at Gerardo's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #22 The Roast Beef Poor Boy at Mama's Cajun Cuisine

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #26 Fried Shrimp at Segari's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #28 Couchon de Lait at Stella Sola

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #30 Elysian Fields Lamb and Mushy Peas at Tony's

​Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in ... More >>

Tejano Ain't Dead; Chingo Bling Puts On His "Lentes"; Flatline Rides For His Block; And The 210 Mic Pass

​How can something be claimed dead when it still has life, when it's still living in speakers, iPods, as well as the hearts and souls of red-blooded American music lovers across the country? When it's still being passed on to younger generations? In the track "Pimpin' Ain't No Illusion," Pimp ... More >>

Sorry, Houston Lawyers: The New U.S. Attorney Is From Laredo

Photo courtesy DOJ​The new U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas has just been announced, and it's not a Houstonian.Jose Angel Moreno, a 53-year-old ex-Marine from Laredo, has been nominated to fill the important post."There can be no greater honor nor privilege for a career prosecutor ... More >>

He Said She Said: Songs That Remind Us of Our Grandfathers

​ She Said has something she wants to admit. Here goes nothing. We... like... country music. No big deal, right? You wouldn't think so, unless you grew up in a town filled with racist rednecks who thought the glitz of '90s Nashville qualifies for the only music worth listenin' to. She Said rebelle ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: Son Kills Mom, Heads To Mexico

​Laura Palacios of Houston died with her son at her side. Though it was hardly a comfort to the 51-year-old woman: It was her son who allegedly killed her. That's the story told by Harris County Sheriff's homicide detectives who have charged Jose Palacios, 24, with murder. But he is not behind ba ... More >>

Love in the Time of Leprosy: The Critter Connection

Where there's leprosy, there's usually an armadillo.

Love in the Time of Leprosy

The life after death of José and Magdalena Ramirez

El Taco Tote

Border Patrol Amps It Up This Weekend

Mescaline on the Mexican Border

Texas is the only state in the country where peyote is sold legally. Really.

Killing Fences: Totally Misconstrued

The department of homeland security is doing its best to get its message across

Unknown Legend

Roots renegade Joe Ely never achieved pop stardom, but that's all right by him...sorta

Got Your Health

How much more can you cut?

Double-Wide Divide

Critics say Perry's turnpike plans will take a terrible toll on Texans

Wango Chango

Houston rockeros Chango Jackson take on touring in Mexico, Ted Nugent and a bold new direction in rock en español

Bull Session

A state clerk goes bonkers over legislative bills

No Haters Here

OrchestraX plays for peace

Sound the Retreat!

When the going gets hot, federal prosecutors head south

Racket

Houston's Toe Jam watches quietly as its 15 minutes tick by

World Class?

Houston can't join the ranks of other cities until it has an anthem of its own

Pyramid Scheme

Two, four, six, eight.Come and watch us levitate!

Easygoing George W. Bush

With help from Democrats Pete Laney and Bob Bullock, Bush has been a Republican governor Texans love. But who'll be his pals if he sets his sights on the presidency?

Brothers of the Road

'The I-69 "NAFTA Highway" is supposed to create thousands of jobs. Thanks to your tax dollars, it's already provided a very good one for the underemployed brother of Tom DeLay.