Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios—whose films Gueros and Museo have screened during the Latin Wave festival at the MFAH—sets his first American movie in the heart of a bustling New York restaurant in Times Square. Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones lead a large ensemble cast of kitchen workers chasing the elusive American dream, captured in agile black-and-white cinematography by Juan Pablo Ramírez.
Tickets
$9 general admission; $7 MFAH members, students with ID, seniors (65+)
Plan Your Visit
This screening takes place in Brown Auditorium Theater on the lower level of the Law Building.
HOUSTON – David Northern was not present in the Houston Housing Authority board meeting Monday, but within minutes the board went into executive session to discuss his future with the HHA. He ended up resigning through his attorney who was present.
Northern was placed on paid administrative leave last month pending the outcome of an investigation.
Months ago, KPRC 2 started our own investigation involving Northern, the then HHA president and CEO. Investigative reporter Amy David revealed millions of dollars in questionable contracts for work on HHA properties, some that included AC unit installation and replacement.
We found one contractor hired to handle the AC units at HHA properties wasn’t even registered in Texas at the time their contract was granted. That contractor and others hired for various jobs were found to have very little experience.
Monday, following a two hour executive session, the board returned. After addressing other points of order, the big announcement was made.
“Mr. David Northern, that he resigns his employment as president and CEO of the Houston Housing Authority effective immediately in exchange for a severance payment of six months salary, cost of the continuation of insurance benefits for six months or until Mr. Northern makes alternative arrangements,” Chairman Jody Proler said.
Northern’s attorney, Patrick Yarborough, spoke on Northern’s behalf and confirmed the resignation. He did not want to comment further. The board accepted a motion for the resignation and 6 months severance pay. Only HHA chairman Jody Proler voted against the resolution.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — The former top leader of Harris County Public Health is facing a felony charge stemming from an alleged multimillion-dollar bid-rigging scheme, according to the district attorney’s office.
According to court documents, Barbie Robinson is accused of misuse of official information over allegations that she provided non-public information to IBM employees in 2021, while working for Sonoma County, California, and Harris County, Texas.
Robinson was relieved of duty in August after questions were raised in a Houston Chronicle report about her department hiring a California for-profit company that she reportedly had ties to, and officially terminated shortly after.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Texas State Board of Education will re-convene Tuesday after hours of testimony about Biblical lessons that could come to public elementary schools.
The proposed curriculum is for the state’s 2.3 million public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
It would include lessons from the Bible in reading and language arts textbooks.
School districts are not required to use the new curriculum, but schools will get an extra $60 per student in state funding if they do.
A vote was expected Monday, but the meeting surrounding it didn’t end until around 9:30 p.m. because so many people attended to speak about it.
“Our schools are to educate, not indoctrinate. This curriculum veers toward indoctrination,” one person said.
“Let’s be clear our nation was founded on Christian values. This curriculum will help teachers time with lesson plans,” said another.
If this passes, it will likely face legal challenges.
In September, state education officials heard hours of testimony both for and against the new textbooks. Those books were then amended to take out some references that people had major issues with.
“The old rule was that any sort of entanglement between church and state where they sort of mix religion and government, that would be unconstitutional,” Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law, said. “But in recent years, the court has signaled a different approach where there actually has to be a state of coercion, where unless you coerce a student to engage in religion, you’re probably in the OK.”
Legal experts tell ABC13 the big question for the courts would be how the Bible is used in class.
Houston ISD placed Lantrip Elementary School Principal Valiza Castro on administrative leave Monday, the district told families Monday, marking continued upheaval among HISD campus leadership.
HISD’s Central Division Superintendent Luz Martinez said the district believes this decision will best support students’ learning and teachers’ workplace experience.
“We know this shift is abrupt and that parents will have questions and concerns,” Martinez wrote, adding the move will not impact the school’s magnet programming. Martinez wrote that the district will send an update when the interim principal is named.
Many parents said they were shocked by Houston ISD’s move and did not see a reason why Castro was put on leave. Parents largely shared that Castro had navigated a challenging situation at Lantrip due to sweeping staff turnover after last academic year. Fifteen teachers left the school in June alone.
“In my viewpoint, she’s a wonderful, wonderful principal,” Lantrip PTO President Lucretia Allen-Nguyen said. “She’s bonded with the students, as well as the parents and the staff.”
Allen-Nguyen and other parents highlighted Castro’s community engagement events.
“HISD has failed to even maintain the grounds of Lantrip,” Allen-Nguyen said. “So she came up with the idea of having ‘sparkle’ days every month, where parents and students come out and volunteer. And we will cut the grass or try to pressure wash the school, clean up the garden. We would do little projects around the school to beautify the property.”
The environmental science magnet school, with around 500 students, was an A-rated school in 2024 by HISD’s calculations of state accountability ratings.
The community was nervous about who their new principal would be this academic year, said Angela Sanchez de Bravo, the PTO vice president of fundraising and community engagement. She found Castro was “a whirlwind of positive energy.”
“She has been so hands-on, so involved, so positive and willing to create good community. And she has rolled up her sleeves and 100% is there whenever she’s asked,” the fifth-grade parent said.
Parent Carrie Hendrix said she worries that if Castro leaves, morale is going to be worse among teachers and the school will lose those who stayed.
“I know there’s a lot of kind of lower teacher morale since last year. There’s so many teachers that left the school,” the second-grade parent said. “So the teachers that did remain, they were really worried about the new principal and what she would be like. But whenever I’ve talked to the teachers that have stayed, they’re really impressed with her and they’ve really rallied around her.”
Allen-Nguyen said Castro has requested more support and staff to better serve students with behavioral issues following staff turnover.
Harvard Elementary School has a new principal, assistant principal and magnet coordinator following the reassignment of its previous assistant principal and magnet coordinator. Central Division also announced a new principal and four new assistant principals at Pershing Middle School on Nov. 7.
Northside High School announced a new principal, Claudia Garza, with a meet-and-greet scheduled in early November. HISD did not comment on when Garza stepped into the role or why the principal change occurred. Atherton Elementary School also received a new principal earlier this academic year, after the previous principal was reassigned. HISD declined to comment on individual personnel matters on Oct. 24 but confirmed that the previous principal was still employed in district.
Leah Garabedian, parent of a 4-year-old, said the district did not solicit feedback on Castro’s performance.
“We’ve never received an outreach and, like, ‘Hey we want to get a report card on Principal Castro.’ Again, they’re perfectly positioned to send out parent surveys,” Garabedian said. “It is a complete black box. (There) doesn’t seem to be any plan forward. Like I said, everyone is very worried about their jobs.”
Sanchez de Bravo called on HISD to communicate with parents and said removing Castro from her position would be detrimental.
“Nothing is happening in Lantrip that necessitates this kind of disruption,” Sanchez de Bravo said.
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday confirmed he would declare a national emergency to carry out his campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.
Overnight, Trump responded to a social media post from Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton, who said earlier this month there are reports the incoming administration is preparing such a declaration and to use “military assets” to deport the migrants.
Trump pledged to get started on mass deportations as soon as he enters office.
“On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out,” he said during a rally at Madison Square Garden in the closing days of the presidential race. “I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible.”
Already, he’s tapped several immigration hard-liners to serve in key Cabinet positions. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was picked to be homeland security secretary, pending Senate confirmation. Former Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan was named “border czar.”
Homan previously discussed his vision for mass deportations, saying they would first concentrate on expelling criminals and national security threats. He didn’t rule out deporting families together.
Throughout the campaign, Trump vowed to mobilize the National Guard to assist with the deportation effort. Experts told ABC News such a move would mark a fundamental shift for the military, which does not normally engage with domestic law enforcement issues.
At times, Trump went further, suggesting thousands of troops from overseas be moved to the U.S.-Mexico border.
There are an estimated 11 million unauthorized migrants living in the U.S. without legal immigration status. Removing them could cost billions of dollars per year, according to estimates from the American Immigration Council.
Plus, mass deportations could have a broader economic impact by resulting in a loss of tax revenue and labor shortages.
ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz recently reported from California on the impact Trump’s immigration and mass deportations plans could have on the American agriculture industry.
“If you took away my workforce, you wouldn’t eat. If you go into the San Joaquin Valley and you start doing what you’re saying, it’s over. The country will stop, literally stop because the food system won’t move,” said Manuel Cunha Jr., the president of the Nisei Farmers League.
KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian strike on a nine-story building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said Sunday, as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months.
Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the border with Russia, were two children, said Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. More than 400 people were evacuated from the building.
The rescuers are checking every apartment looking for people who might be still in the damaged building.
“Every life destroyed by Russia is a big tragedy,” said Klymenko.
The drone and missile attack, which targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the winter.
Also Sunday, President Joe Biden authorized for the first time the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine to strike inside Russia, after extensive lobbying by Ukrainian officials.
After extensive lobbying by Ukrainian officials, authorization from President Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia w…Show more
The weapons are likely to be used in response to North Korea’s decision to send thousands of troops to support Russia in the Kursk region where Ukraine mounted a military incursion over the summer.
It is the second time the U.S. has permitted the use of Western weapons inside Russian territory within limits after permitting the use of HIMARS systems, a shorter-range weapon, to stem Russia’s advance in Kharkiv region in May.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale attack across Ukraine. Various types of drones were deployed, he said, including Iranian-made Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian defenses shot down 144 out of a total of 210 air targets, Ukraine’s air force reported later on Sunday.
“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children,” Zelenskyy said.
Two more people were killed in the Odesa region, where the attack damaged energy infrastructure and disrupted power and water supplies, said local Gov. Oleh Kiper. Both victims were employees of Ukraine’s state-owned power grid operator, Ukrenergo, the company said hours later.
The combined drone and missile attack was the most powerful in three months, according to the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration, Serhii Popko.
One person was injured after the roof of a five-story residential building caught fire in Kyiv’s historic center, according to Popko.
A thermal power plant operated by private energy company DTEK was “seriously damaged,” the company said.
Russian strikes have hammered Ukraine’s power infrastructure since Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, prompting repeated emergency power shutdowns and nationwide rolling blackouts. Ukrainian officials have routinely urged Western allies to bolster the country’s air defenses to counter assaults and allow for repairs.
Explosions were heard across Ukraine on Sunday, including in the capital, Kyiv, the key southern port of Odesa, as well as the country’s west and central regions, according to local reports.
The operational command of Poland’s armed forces wrote on X that Polish and allied aircraft, including fighter jets, have been mobilized in Polish airspace because of the “massive” Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine. The steps were aimed to provide safety in Poland’s border areas, it said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday acknowledged carrying out a “mass” missile and drone attack on “critical energy infrastructure” in Ukraine, but claimed all targeted facilities were tied to Kyiv’s military industry.
Although Ukraine’s nuclear plants were not directly impacted, several electrical substations on which they depend suffered further damage, the U.N.’s nuclear energy watchdog said in a statement Sunday. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, only two of Ukraine’s nine operational reactors continue to generate power at full capacity.
Ukrainian drones strike Russia
A local journalist died Sunday as Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s embattled Kursk region, its Gov. Aleksei Smirnov reported.
Moscow’s forces have for months strained to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the southern province after a bold incursion in August that constituted the largest attack on Russia since World War II and saw battle-hardened Ukrainian units swiftly take hundreds of square miles (kilometers) of territory.
In Russia’s Belgorod province, near Ukraine, a man died on the spot after a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives on his car, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.
Another Ukrainian drone on Sunday targeted a drone factory in Izhevsk, deep inside Russia, according to anti-Kremlin Russian news channels on the Telegram messaging app. The regional leader, Aleksandr Brechalov, reported that a drone exploded near a factory in the city, blowing out windows but causing no serious damage. A man was briefly hospitalized with a head injury, Brechalov said.
The Thanksgiving travel period will see record-breaking numbers for those hitting both the roads and the skies, according to reports from several airlines and travel organizations.
American Automobile Association
The American Automobile Association (AAA) projected that 79.9 million travelers will head to destinations at least 50 miles from their homes over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which officially runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, 2024.
That would be an increase of 1.7 million people from 2023, and 2 million more than in 2019 (looking to pre-pandemic figures, in light of the global event’s impact on travel).
AAA projected that 71.7 million Americans will travel by car over Thanksgiving, an increase of 1.3 million compared to last year.
However, drivers can expect to see lower gas prices this year compared to last year, according to AAA. Last year’s national average was $3.26 per gallon. With prices decreasing this Fall, AAA predicts the national average could drop below $3 per gallon for the first time since 2021, even before Thanksgiving travel begins.
Nearly 2.3 million people will also travel by bus, cruise, or train this Thanksgiving, according to AAA, which an increase of almost 9% from last year and 18% compared to 2019. This growth is largely driven by the rising popularity of cruises in the post-pandemic era, AAA explained.
When it comes to the friendly skies, AAA says that travelers are paying 3% more for domestic flights this Thanksgiving. International flight bookings have surged by 23%, partly due to a 5% decrease in international airfare, according to AAA.
The Top 10 Thanksgiving travel destinations of 2024 share a common theme: warm weather. AAA data shows that the Top 3 domestic destinations are cities in Florida, while other top destinations include New York, California, Hawaii and Las Vegas.
Internationally, Europe and the Caribbean dominate the list, driven by interest in beach resorts, tourist attractions and river cruises, according to AAA.
Airlines for America
Airlines for America, a trade organization, said that airlines also expect an all-time high this year. It anticipates that more than 31 million passengers will fly on U.S. carriers over the given holiday period.
That’s compared to nearly 29 million passengers during the same period last year and 28 million in 2019.
People walk through Reagan Washington National Airport ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023…Show more
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
Airlines are preparing to accommodate the demand by flying an average of 2.8 million passengers daily – a 5% increase from 2023, according to A4A. To meet the surge, carriers are adding 150,000 more seats per day compared to last year’s Thanksgiving holiday period, it said.
A4A expected that the busiest days for air travel will be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday, Dec. 1, each with over 3 million flyers per day projected.
Hopper also predicted that this Thanksgiving will be the busiest on record, with 36.5 million seats scheduled to depart between Nov. 23 and Dec. 3 – a 4.8% increase from the same period last year.
Hopper projected that the busiest day to travel will be Dec. 1. For those who need to return by Monday, Hopper recommends taking an early flight that morning instead of returning on Sunday, as it can save you around $175 per domestic ticket.
The busiest airports for the Thanksgiving travel period are Atlanta, Dallas Fort-Worth and Denver as they are each scheduled to serve between 1.5 to 2 million passengers, Hopper reported.
According to Hopper, hotel rates over the Thanksgiving week are averaging $213 per night, with some rates as low as $140 still available. In popular cities, the prices are slightly higher; for example, in New York city, the average rate per night is as high as $423 due to the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This year’s popular Thanksgiving destinations are Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas and Chicago, according to Hopper. Internationally, the most popular destinations are Puerto Rico, Mexico City, Madrid, Bogota and Cancun.
Airlines, by the numbers
United Airlines has said that it expected its busiest Thanksgiving ever this year, with 6.2 million passengers expected to fly between Nov. 21 and Dec. 3. Nearly 480,000 people per day will fly with United – about 30,000 more people per day than last year.
Delta Airlines projected that it will see its busiest on record, with 6.5 million passengers anticipated between Nov. 22 and Dec. 3. An average of 540,000 passengers are expected to fly each day during the 12-day travel period, marking a 5% increase compared to last year.
American Airlines shared similar predictions, with 8.3 million passengers expected to fly on more than 77,000 flights between Nov. 21 and Dec. 3. The airline said it expected to carry over 500,000 more travelers than last year – which, it added, translates to serving roughly 6.8 million Biscoff cookies to its passengers during the holiday period.
Its highest-travel day is expected to be Dec. 1: To handle the surge, American Airlines said it will be operating 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft as of approximately 10:45 a.m. CT, marking the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.
Tips for travelers flying to their Thanksgiving destinations
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest weeks of the year to travel, with packed airports, highways and hotels across the U.S.
For those hitting the skies, plan for longer lines at security and potential delays or cancellations, as the airports will be packed with larger schedules than usual.
Here are a few tips from experts to manage holiday crowds and disruptions:
– Book flights earlier in the day: Flights from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. are less likely to be delayed.
– Download the airline’s app and check your flight status before heading to the airport.
– Add trip protection.
– Choose direct flights to avoid missed connections due to flight delays and cancellations.
– Have flexible travel plans and try to build in a buffer day in case of delays or cancellations.
In the event you encounter any disruptions or issues, experts have also suggested that it is important to know your rights and options: Airlines are now required to provide 24/7 customer service via live chat or phone support. If your flight is canceled, contact an agent at the gate, by phone or through chat.
Federal regulations now mandate that airlines issue automatic refunds for domestic flights delayed over three hours and international flights delayed more than six hours. Additionally, if a passenger’s bag is delayed for more than 12 hours, they are eligible for a refund on their bag fees.
Passengers also have the right to request refunds on any unfulfilled ancillary services, like Wi-Fi access.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Hailed by his co-workers as a dedicated member of the Spring Branch ISD Police Department, 37-year-old Jose Torres’ death leaves a blank space for those who knew him.
On Friday, investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department said Torres was trimming trees in his front yard before he was supposed to pick up his wife and children from school.
One neighbor who spoke to ABC13 said she saw Torres shortly before he was discovered dead.
“I was going to work, and my van makes a little noise when I reverse, so we kind of stared at each other for a little. He was trimming the trees, and I was going to work,” neighbor Lissette Acosta said.
Court documents alleged that during that yard work, Torres’ nephew through marriage, 22-year-old Antonino Guzman, came over. Torres helped raise Guzman for 6 years as if he were his own.
At some point, the two went inside, and investigators said that’s when Guzman shot Torres multiple times in the face, killing him.
Law enforcement said that when Torres failed to pick up his family from school, they got a ride home with a family member and discovered Torres dead.
Acosta said she and her mother heard their screams.
“(My mother) says it’s because the mom came to her, and she was crying saying, ‘They killed my little baby,’ and she hugged my mom, so my mom started crying too,” Acosta said.
Guzman was arrested on Sunday morning without incident.
ABC13 was told a piece of home surveillance video pointed authorities in the right direction.
“The wife told law enforcement officers that the suspect has a gun, has anger control issues, and a foot ailment. The law enforcement officer located video from various sources showing the suspect as he was limping, fleeing from the complainant’s home,” the judge said in PC court.
After the arrest, investigators claim Guzman confessed the reason he did it.
“This witness was Mirandized, gave a statement to law enforcement officers, admitted to going to the complaining witness’s house and shooting the complaining witness with a firearm when the two were alone because he felt unloved and unwelcome,” the judge said.
Guzman was given a bond of $200,000. He is ordered to have no contact with the family if he does bond out.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities are investigating after human remains were found Saturday in a home in northeast Harris County, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Deputies responded to a residence in the 13300 block of Villagrove Drive.
The sheriff’s office says this was a home recently purchased, and the owner was cleaning it out when he found the remains.
Authorities say that someone was renting the home originally and was set to be evicted.
The renter was seen leaving the home about a couple of hours before it caught fire in late August, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators say that the human remains were there since the fire occurred. Additionally, the remains weren’t found at the time of the fire because there was a lot of debris, and the house was supposed to be vacant at the time of the arson.
As of now, the sheriff’s office doesn’t know where the renter of the home is at. Furthermore, investigators will have to track down the home’s original owner to help find him.
