Be honest: Are your pockets hurting after the holidays?

With Texas families spending on average around $720 on holiday gifts, it’s safe to say a lot of us are looking to save a few bucks this month.

One option: Meow Wolf Houston is offering reduced-price tickets to Radio Tave, an immersive art exhibit, to SNAP recipients. This is a great way for families and individuals to get out of the house and do something fun without breaking the bank.

And if cooking feels like a stretch (even if you swore you’d do more of it in the new year), Whataburger just launched its Whatadeal menu, with three items priced under $5. You can add a small drink and fries for just $2.49 more.

And if you scroll just a bit, you’ll find our new events section, which has some free options for you in and around Houston.

How else are you saving money this year?

Here are some events happening inside Houston this weekend

“Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in Concert: Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 10, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

“Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical”: Jan. 9-11, 7:30 p.m.

Sip + Create Glow Party: Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m.

Chevron Houston Marathon 2026: Jan. 11, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Here are some events happening outside of Houston this weekend

Turkish Lamp Workshop: Jan. 9-11, various times, Sugar Land

Junk Journaling: Jan. 10, 1-3 p.m., Richmond

A CLUE Scavenger Hunt: Jan. 10, 6 and 7 p.m., Rosenberg

Candlelight Pilates: Jan. 9, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., Pearland

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❗ At a Jan. 8 protest, more than 200 Houstonians gathered to protest the removal of ICE from the city.

🗳 Christian Menefee is stepping down from his role as Harris County Attorney to focus on his run to represent US House District 18 in Congress.

⚽ If you’re still looking to snag World Cup tickets, here are four other ways to make sure you’re at the most coveted soccer match this summer. (Houston Public Media)

✈️ Less than a year after agreeing to operate deportation flights for ICE, Houston-based Avelo Airlines is backing out.

✅ Houston City Council approved the use of $30 million in stormwater funds to demolish dangerous, abandoned buildings in a close 9-7 vote.

The Houston Rodeo lineup is finally here! You can see the full lineup here, but I still wanted to share some more answers from y’all about this question:

What musician is at the top of your list to play at the Houston Rodeo?

“I want to see…Any pop princess who can make the time. Lady Gaga? Olivia Rodrigo? Too big name? Maybe. But a girl can dream…” — Lindsie M.

“Hank Williams Jr.” — Jay P.

Even though we’ve got our lineup, is there anyone you wish would have been on it?

By Katie Serrano

The Texas American Federation of Teachers—a union representing millions of educators across the state—announced Tuesday that it’s suing the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner, Mike Morath, for investigating educators over comments made on social media following the death of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.

In a letter to educators on Sept. 12, Morath announced that anyone who made “inappropriate” comments about Kirk’s death on social media—even from their personal accounts—would be investigated for potentially violating the educators’ code of ethics. 

Hundreds of complaints were made.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen, with reporting by Katie Serrano. It was edited by Kimberly Lawson.

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