H-TOWN HEADLINES

• Weather Alert: Houston is gearing up for a winter freeze starting Monday night, it’s expected to bring freezing temperatures and 6-7 inches of snow. Readers please prepare for icy roads and take precautions to protect plants, pets, and pipes—I’ll be in Cancun with Ted Cruz 🏖️

• Tragedy: Brazoria County Deputy Jesus "Jesse" Vargas was fatally shot while serving an arrest warrant at a southwest Houston shopping center. The suspect, Robert Lee Davis, fled but was later killed in a shootout after injuring a U.S. Marshal K-9. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year veteran, is survived by his wife and three children.

• Flash Sale: Houston ISD’s state-appointed board has voted to sell 17 district properties, previously deemed surplus after voters rejected a $4.4 billion bond proposal last November. The decision faced strong community opposition, with one vocal protester arrested during the meeting.

NATIONAL HEADLINES

• Trump & TikTok K-I-S-S-I-N-G: TikTok temporarily shut down in the U.S. after the Supreme Court upheld a ban requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to divest. However, the platform resumed operations after President-elect Donald Trump delayed the ban and proposed a joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership— Everyone go thank Daddy Trump for saving your best friend

• Ceasefire: Following the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas, Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and teenagers, as part of a broader ceasefire agreement. Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, stated that the U.S. will back Israel if Hamas violates the current ceasefire deal, emphasizing strong U.S.-Israel relations.

• Market Watch: As Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches, financial markets show cautious optimism, with a strong dollar and positive Asian market movements. Investors remain vigilant about potential inflation concerns and the impact of tariffs and immigration policies. Markets will be closed tomorrow for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which coincides with Trump’s inauguration.

• 2025 Predictions: The Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest foundations with a $41 billion portfolio, has made notable changes to its U.S.-traded stock investments. It sold all its shares in Instacart and reduced its stakes in Samsara and ServiceNow. While all three companies had an exceptional performance in 2024, the outlook for 2025 may be shifting.

Galveston Restaurant Month: Jan 6th - Feb 2nd
Lasting for just under a month, Galveston Restaurant Week offers diners the chance to visit a wide variety of Galveston’s best restaurants, offering prix-fixe brunch, lunch, and dinner menus at pocketbook-friendly prices. In addition to supporting local restaurants, each meal purchased generates $1 to $5 in donations to support local nonprofits Galveston County Food Bank and St. Vincent’s House, which both focus on feeding and supporting the health of the local kids and families.

Screen Crush Live at MATCH: Jan 20th
YouTube’s popular pop culture and sci-fi show drops into Midtown for a madcap “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” style show exploring all things Star Wars, Squid Game, DC, Marvel, Nintendo, and more.

Imperfect Strangers: Meet, Dine & Connect: Jan 23rd
Imperfect Strangers presents a unique meetup experience to ditch social media meets and dine with like-minded strangers, play icebreaker games, enjoy tasty food, and make meaningful connections over food and drinks.

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