Houston’s cultural and fashion scene recently experienced a night like no other with Òrèkê – Threads of Rhythm, an immersive Afro-fusion event that blended bold design, live music, and elevated dining into one unforgettable experience.
Hosted at Cuvee Collective, guests stepped into a world where rhythm met runway. From the moment they arrived, the atmosphere pulsed with energy – deep beats, vibrant couture, and curated performances set the tone for a night of creativity and connection.
Models graced the runway in Afro-inspired designs while guests indulged in a nine-course canapé tasting paired with unlimited wine selections, creating a sensory experience unlike any other.
“This is more than fashion – it’s a cultural movement,” said designer TAMRIS, the visionary behind Òrèkê. “We’re blending art, rhythm, and luxury to celebrate identity and creativity.”
The evening offered exclusive runway seating, giving attendees an up-close view of the stunning designs, while live music and DJ sets kept the energy flowing throughout the night. Between sips of wine and bites of artfully crafted canapés, guests mingled with Houston’s most stylish and creative crowd, turning the event into a vibrant networking hub for fashion lovers and cultural tastemakers alike.
Beyond the glamour, Òrèkê carried a deeper purpose. A portion of the evening’s proceeds benefited The Women’s Home (TWH) and Kid for Kid (KFK) Foundation, supporting local families and youth through empowerment and care.
ExxonMobil Corp.’s board of directors has unanimously recommended that shareholders approve a change to the company’s legal domicile from New Jersey to Texas, marking a historic shift more than 140 years after its original incorporation, the company announced this week.
The move, if approved at ExxonMobil’s May 27 annual meeting, would align the company’s legal home with its long‑established operational base in Texas, where ExxonMobil has been headquartered since 1989 and where roughly 30% of its global workforce is located.
“Over the past several years, Texas has made a noticeable effort to embrace the business community,” Chairman and Chief Executive Darren Woods said in a statement. “Aligning our legal home with our operating home, in a state that understands our business and has a stake in the company’s success, is important.”
ExxonMobil’s preliminary proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission notes that the change would not affect business operations, management, strategy, assets or employee locations. The board also said shareholder rights under Texas law are largely comparable to or stronger than under New Jersey law, and the company does not plan to adopt any provisions that would diminish those rights.
New Jersey has been ExxonMobil’s state of incorporation since the 1882 founding of its Standard Oil of New Jersey predecessor. The board has not met in New Jersey for more than four decades, highlighting how long ExxonMobil’s operational center has been in Texas.
Texas has increasingly positioned itself as a business‑friendly alternative to traditional incorporation states, passing laws intended to modernize corporate statutes and create specialized business courts. Companies including Tesla Inc., SpaceX and Coinbase have also chosen to incorporate in Texas in recent years.
Gov. Greg Abbott praised ExxonMobil’s decision, saying the state’s regulatory environment fosters economic growth and attracts global companies.
ExxonMobil’s announcement comes as major corporations reassess where they legally base themselves amid evolving legal and regulatory landscapes, particularly in energy and technology sectors.
Residents in Houston City Council District C can begin casting ballots Wednesday in a special election to fill a vacant seat representing a large swath of the city, from the Heights through Montrose to Meyerland.
Early voting runs through March 31 ahead of Election Day on April 4. Seven candidates are on the ballot in the heavily Democratic district: Angelica Luna Kaufman, Sophia Campos, Audrey Nath, Laura C. Gallier, Patrick Oathout, Joe Panzarella, and Nick Hellyar.
The special election was triggered after former council member Abbie Kamin resigned to run for Harris County attorney.
Voters can cast ballots at six early voting locations across the district, including the Harris County Attorney Conference Center, Bayland Park Community Center, Candlelight Park Community Center, Courtyard by Marriott West University, Metropolitan Multi-Service Center and SPJST Lodge 88. Most polling sites will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with limited noon openings on select dates.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the race will advance to a runoff election.
The contest is part of a busy election cycle for many Houston-area voters, particularly those who also reside in Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Additional runoff elections are scheduled for May 26, including the Republican U.S. Senate runoff between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn, the Democratic primary runoff for Harris County judge between Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer, and the Democratic runoff in Congressional District 18 between Christian Menefee and Al Green.
For District C residents, the coming weeks could mean multiple trips to the polls as voters weigh in on local and statewide races. Election officials encourage voters to check polling locations and hours before heading out.
Local leaders and election officials continue to emphasize the importance of participation, noting that even low-turnout races can have a significant impact on community representation and policy decisions.
Visitors to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo can learn more about agriculture and horticulture at Agventure, an educational exhibit inside NRG Center. The exhibit runs through March 22 and offers hands-on learning opportunities about farming, gardening and the environment.
At the exhibit, Harris County Master GardenerIvonne Zaldivar shares tips with visitors about gardening, native plants and the importance of pollinators.
“We just want people to help themselves get some information and educate themselves about all our native plants and what they can grow in their backyard,” Zaldivar said.
From left: Harris County Master Gardeners Jane Hughson Myers, Ivonne Zaldivar, Marilyn Lane, and Roslyn Allen inform on gardening to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo visitors at NRG Center on March 6, 2026. Credit: Indira Zaldivar / Que Onda Magazine.
Ramirez explained that native plants are species naturally adapted to the local climate and soil conditions.
“Native plants are any plants that thrive in our environment,” she said. “Houston has a very harsh climate. We either have a very hot sun or a very tough winter. Our native plants usually thrive in our types of environments and our soils, and they always come back year after year.”
Because of their resilience, Ramirez said many native plants can be a good option for beginners, especially those interested in supporting pollinators.
Native plants for beginner gardeners
“Native plants for beginners — it depends on what you want to do,” she said. “If you want to try pollinators, I would go with some Turk’s cap, probably some Texas sage. There are other types of sage as well — maybe some primrose, some bluebonnets.”
Longhorns in a field of Texas native wildflower bluebonnets.
Several native flowering plants that grow well in the Houston area and attract pollinators include Turk’s cap, Texas sage, Texas lantana, evening primrose, Texas bluebonnets, firewheel or Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella), black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers. These plants provide nectar and habitat for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Ramirez noted that many native plants are beginner-friendly because they often return year after year either on their own or through self-seeding.
“Perennial natives usually come back every year,” Zaldivar said. “You just have to basically prune them at the end of the season, and right in spring they usually come back.”
Yellow black-eyed susan and Indian blanket wildflowers are captured in this photo.
Supporting the vital role of pollinators
She also emphasized the vital role pollinators play in the ecosystem and food supply.
“Without our pollinators, we wouldn’t be able to grow any food,” she said. “They’re very small. We have the bees, we have the butterflies, we have moths, and I think we need to focus on all pollinators and not just one.”
In addition to native plants, other popular flowers that tend to perform well in Houston’s climate include zinnias, cosmos, lantana and salvia, which can add color to gardens while supporting pollinators.
For people preparing their gardens this spring, Ramirez said getting started can be simple.
Ready, set, and plant this spring
“What you can start doing is go to your local home garden,” she said. “Get your native plants, get some mulch, and just plant them in the ground right now.”
Agventure gives rodeo visitors a chance to connect with master gardeners while learning practical ways to support local ecosystems from their own backyards.
An ABC News visual analysis says Iranian drones and missiles have struck at least 10 U.S. and allied radar sites across the Middle East since the war began, hitting parts of the missile-defense network used for early warning and interception. The damage could not be fully verified, but available satellite imagery and videos suggest some facilities housing high-value radar systems were successfully targeted.
High-value systems appear to be among the targets
According to the report, the strikes involved sites in at least seven countries, including locations tied to THAAD-supporting AN/TPY-2 radar systems and an AN/FPS-132 phased-array radar in Qatar. ABC also reported more than 25 strike locations across seven bases in five countries, including damage to support buildings, hangars and fuel storage areas.
Why the strikes matter
Defense experts told ABC that radar systems are expensive, delicate and difficult to replace, making them prime targets in a regional conflict. Even when one system is damaged, broader defenses can still function through overlapping coverage, but experts said losing radar capacity can reduce warning time and leave missile-defense networks “partially blinded.”
Damage assessment remains unclear
A U.S. defense official told ABC News the government does not discuss possible battle damage assessments. The report also noted that satellite image delays and geographic restrictions have limited independent confirmation of the full scale of the damage.
Sen. Rand Paul sharply confronted fellow Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin on March 18 during Mullin’s confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security, accusing him of defending political violence and questioning his temperament. Paul cited past remarks in which Mullin reportedly called him a “snake” and said he understood why Paul had been assaulted by a neighbor in 2017.
Mullin pushes back as hearing turns personal
Mullin fired back, saying he meant he understood why Paul’s behavior angered people, not that the assault was justified. The exchange set a combative tone for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, where Paul argued Mullin showed “low impulse control” and lacked the judgment needed to run DHS.
Questions also focused on DHS leadership
Lawmakers also pressed Mullin on his past comments about federal law enforcement, including remarks he made after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Mullin said those comments were made too quickly and acknowledged they should have been retracted, adding that he would not make the same mistake as secretary. He also said FEMA should be restructured, not eliminated.
Sen. Rand Paul speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2017.
Confirmation vote could come quickly
The hearing took place March 18 at the Senate Dirksen Building. The committee is expected to vote on Mullin’s nomination as soon as March 19, and if advanced, the full Senate could take it up next week.
Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta says she was sexually abused by Cesar Chavez, the late labor organizer she helped found the United Farm Workers with in 1962. In a statement released March 18, 2026, Huerta said she could “no longer stay silent” after new reporting showed she was not the only alleged survivor.
Huerta Details Two Encounters
Huerta, 95, said Chavez pressured her into one sexual encounter and forced a second one against her will during the 1960s. She also said both incidents led to pregnancies that she kept secret for years, later arranging for the children to be raised by other families.
Allegations Follow New Investigation
Her statement came after a New York Times investigation reported allegations that Chavez abused women and minors while leading the farmworker movement. According to the reporting summarized by ABC News and other outlets, multiple survivors accused Chavez of using his influence to exploit young women and girls.
UFW, Foundation and Family Respond
The United Farm Workers and the César Chávez Foundation called the allegations disturbing and said they were shocked and saddened by the reports. Chavez’s family also said they were devastated by the claims and expressed support for survivors seeking healing.
Legacy Under New Scrutiny
Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, has long been honored as a major figure in labor and civil rights history. Huerta said his alleged actions do not reflect the values of the farmworker movement, adding that her focus has always remained on protecting workers’ rights and the cause she spent her life building.
Venezuela captured its first World Baseball Classic championship Tuesday night at Houston’s Daikin Park, defeating a star-filled Team USA roster and handing the Americans their second straight loss in the tournament final.
Team USA Falls Short Again
The United States entered the title game with one of its strongest rosters ever, led by Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper, but the offense never fully clicked. Team USA managed only three hits in the final and scored just four runs over its last two games.
Eduardo Rodríguez set the tone early, limiting the powerful U.S. lineup to one hit over 4 1/3 innings while striking out four. Venezuela’s bullpen then finished the job, sealing an emotional victory for a team led by stars including Ronald Acuña Jr., Luis Arraez and Maikel Garcia.
Eugenio Suárez delivered the go-ahead double in the ninth after Javier Sanoja stole second and came around to score, sparking a celebration as Venezuelan players rushed the field.
A Tough Finish for the Americans
Judge and the U.S. players were left disappointed after another missed chance at gold. The Americans, who last won the WBC in 2017, have now fallen in back-to-back finals after also losing to Japan in 2023.
Despite the talent on the roster, Team USA never found its rhythm offensively, and Venezuela took full advantage on baseball’s international stage.
League and union leaders announced early Wednesday that both sides aligned on key elements of the new deal after more than 100 hours of negotiations over eight days in New York. Final terms are still being completed and must be ratified by players and approved by the league’s Board of Governors.
The agreement is expected to deliver a dramatic boost in player compensation. Union leaders said salaries will now be tied to a more meaningful share of league revenue, with average pay expected to rise above $500,000 and the possibility of the WNBA’s first million-dollar players.
Growth of Women’s Basketball Drives New Agreement
The deal arrives as the WNBA continues to see record growth in attendance, TV viewership, and outside investment. Players pushed for a new contract after opting out of the previous agreement 17 months ago, arguing that league growth was not being reflected in compensation and benefits.
Beyond salary increases, the new CBA is also expected to address important issues including housing, staffing, facilities, and player support.
What Happens Next for the WNBA?
A formal term sheet is expected soon, with more details likely in the coming weeks. The timing is critical as the league prepares for its 30th season, which is still set to begin on time.
Training camps are scheduled to open April 19, just days after the college draft, and the regular season is set to tip off May 8. The league also faces a busy offseason with expansion plans in Toronto and Portland and more than 80% of players entering free agency.
The tentative agreement signals a historic moment for the WNBA and women’s sports, with players and league officials calling it a transformational deal for the future of the game.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities say a deadly crash involving a pedestrian shut down a portion of the North Freeway on Wednesday morning.
Houston TranStar said it happened at about 6:13 a.m. along I-45 North Freeway northbound at Airline Drive.
Traffic alert: IH-45 North Fwy northbound, after Airline, there is an auto-pedestrian fatality accident. All lanes are closed at this time and traffic is backed up. First responders are on scene. Find an alternate route expect delays . @HCSOTexas@SheriffEd_HCSO… pic.twitter.com/qB5EJhW7sy
