I’ll be honest, y’all: AI usually either terrifies me or annoys me.

I know it can be helpful in certain situations, but most of the time, I feel like it’s used as an easy way out and totally stifles creativity. I don’t want to see AI in my art, OK!

Some recent news about AI caught my eye: Harris County may soon be using it to speed up the building permitting process. According to the Houston Chronicle, “the software would function by reviewing plans submitted by residents and engineers.” It was also just announced that Houston ISD will be using ChatGPT for Teachers, which you can read more about below.

So let me know: How do you feel about AI in spaces like this?

Also, I’m working on a special giving guide that will be hitting your inboxes super soon.

But I need your help: What are your favorite ways to give back during the holiday season?

Let me know!

When I read “All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven when I was in college, I had two thoughts: 1. How do I not stain this library copy with my tears, and 2. I wish I had read this kind of novel in high school.

The book follows teenagers Violet and Finch as they navigate mental health struggles along with the typical issues that arise in high school. Deeply relatable, it definitely touches on some tough topics, such as suicide and abuse, but I personally think it’s important for teenagers to be able to have access to materials like this.

The novel was banned in Frisco ISD libraries in 2022 due to its mature themes, such as suicide, mental illness, and sexual references. It has also been challenged in states like Florida and Illinois.

“If we don’t talk about suicide or depression or mental illness, how can we expect anyone to reach out for help when they need it most?” Niven told The Guardian. “I want readers to know that help is out there, that it gets better, that high school isn’t forever, and that life is long and vast and full of possibility.”

🤠 Grab your cowboy boots and giddy up; the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo genre lineup is finally here. (KHOU 11)

🏫 A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering more Texas school districts, including Conroe ISD, to remove the Ten Commandments from their classrooms after a second lawsuit was filed.

🤖 Houston ISD will be one of the first school districts to use “ChatGPT for Teachers,” a tool that is meant to help manage special education compliance. (Houston Chronicle)

🛴 Houston City Council unanimously approved a citywide ban on e‑scooters and all-terrain vehicles from 8 p.m.-4 a.m., citing public safety data showing that nearly 80% of emergency calls concerning e-scooters downtown took place after 8 p.m.

By Sierra Rozen

We’ve all fallen victim to getting overheated during a Texas summer (and even sometimes a Texas fall), but many of us are able to escape the heat by working from our homes or an air-conditioned office. For those who labor outdoors and don’t have the same luxury, a new policy will bring some relief to workers in Harris County.

Approved by Harris County commissioners at a Nov. 13 court meeting, the Worksite Safety Policy will now mandate 15-minute water breaks every two hours when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. So far in 2025, Houston has had 134 days with temperatures at least 90 degrees.

Other key provisions, according to the Precinct 4 website, include:

🌞 Mandatory site-specific safety plans and heat illness prevention and response plans for all worksites

⏰ Ten-minute paid rest breaks for every four hours worked

❗ Scheduled and unannounced inspections by trained County Monitors authorized to issue stop work orders for unsafe conditions

⛑ Free personal protective equipment for all workers

📱 A worker safety hotline with strong anti-retaliation protections for employees

🗣 A Worksite Safety Committee, including representatives from labor, contractors, and County departments, to review trends and recommend improvements

Reach 15,000+ Texans who care about their communities! Sponsor COURIER HTX’s Dec. 6 Special Edition, “How to Get Involved and Give Back this Holiday Season.” Book by Nov. 21, 2025, and save 20% off your placement.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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