The Stonewall Inn is still operational in Greenwich Village, New York City. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX)

It’s finally time for Houston Pride this weekend after the rescheduling of the event earlier this summer due to inclement weather. Houston Pride is a time-honored Houston event, dating back to 1979. Pride honors the 1969 Stonewall riots, where Black and brown trans women led an uprising against a violent police raid at Stonewall Inn in New York City. This year, Houston Pride is hosting a parade, which is free and open to everyone.

📙 Speaking of civil rights, last week, I asked what books you’d assign to your school district, and you picked two in particular that stood out to me: “Roots” by Alex Haley and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Thank you Dave and Terri for your recommendations! 

Your news roundup—a quick stop for stories happening across the state that deserve a little more attention.

📚 Watch an HISD teacher’s viral emotional plea about his students. This video has sparked concern during the first week of school, prompting a response from school administration. (Fox 26)

🚔 ICE detained a man in southwest Houston after he helped local police in a shooting investigation, raising renewed questions about collaboration between HPD and ICE. (Houston Public Media) 

✈️ Houston airport workers are anticipating a 33% raise for 35,000 workers under a new order by Mayor John Whitmire. (Houston Public Media) 

🚬 Houston voters will weigh in on the Freedom Act after a no-knock warrant led to the fatal police shooting of two homeowners. Here’s what you should watch for ahead of the vote. (KHOU 11)

A story worth sharing with your neighbor.

Houston Tooth Gems lets people take a stand with their smile. (Melody Vanatta)

Walking into Houston’s Dreamers: Books + Culture, the sign at the entrance reading, “I.C.E. IS NOT WELCOME HERE!” offers the first clue about what kind of small business you’ve entered. 

The second, for those with a discerning eye, is a mural of a monarch butterfly—a beloved pollinator known for its 3,000-mile migration through Texas and into Mexico during the cold winter months. 

The symbolism is hard to miss.

Migration is also at the heart of the political fight that’s spurring local businesses like Dreamers to act. The Trump administration has indicated it wants to see daily immigration-related arrests double to 2,000 a day.

Low-cost & free resources to elevate your day-to-day.

My new read for this month’s book club is “Practical Magic.” (Anna Raj/Courier HTX). 

🐕 The Houston Humane Society plans on opening an affordable vet clinic, giving your pets the vet visits they need at a discounted rate. 

🏥 A new Harris County tool has been released to help you access healthcare that’s affordable and easy to find. 

📖 Celebrate 100 years of this Houston library with a full day of free craft activities, guided tours in English and Spanish, and tabling from local literary institutions. 

📕 Bring any book to this Houston book club and hang out at Feng Cha for boba tea.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Anna Raj and edited by Crystal Niforos.

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