Latest news with #HoustonPublicMedia
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Drag stars are set to attend, then protest, Trump's appearance at Les Misérables
A group of drag stars is expected to be at Wednesday night's performance of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center where they plan to protest President Trump and Vice President Vance's scheduled attendance. It will be the president's first show at the historic Washington, D.C. venue since he canned the board and took control, firing previous leadership and installing himself as chairman. Trump, 78, ignited fury over his decision to take the reigns of the Kennedy Center, as he pledged to scrap 'woke' programming aligned with what he called leftist ideology. On social media, the president wrote there would be 'NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA.' So when some of the ticket holders for Wednesday night's show found out that Trump, Vance and their wives, Melania and Usha, would be in attendance, they donated their tickets, according to Qommittee, a network of drag performers, fans and allies, as reported by Houston Public Media. Vagenesis, one of the four to six performers planning to attend, told NPR she is protesting in response to the president's pledge to put a stop to drag shows at the center. 'Theater is supposed to be a place of community, a place of storytelling, a place of celebration, joy, catharsis and it should be open and available to all,' Vagenesis said. As a result of Trump's actions, several members of the company are expected to boycott the president's attendance by not performing. Cast members have remained silent on social media regarding the Kennedy Center run, but multiple reports indicate up to a dozen performers will sit out Wednesday's show. 'The cast was given the option to not perform the night Trump will be in the audience, and both major cast members and members of the ensemble are among those sitting out,' CNN reported last month. A representative from the Les Miserables company told The Independent: 'The National Tour of Les Misérables is looking forward to performing for D.C. audiences beginning tonight and throughout the engagement at the Kennedy Center, where the U.S. first saw the original production in 1986.' Historically, the Kennedy Center has hosted a variety of productions, ranging from operas to contemporary musicals and symphonies. The institution opened in 1971 and has since served as a showcase for theater, music and dramatic performances, with artists ranging from the Paul Taylor Dance Company to a joint concert by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. Weeks after Trump's return to the Oval Office, he fired the Kennedy Center's leadership, putting MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell in charge of the famed performing arts institution. Trump also appointed Usha Vance to the center's board along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi and several Fox News channel hosts and other supporters. In response, several high-profile performers and members, including Insecure star Issa Rae, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and singer-songwriter Ben Folds, resigned from their positions and canceled shows. The center, which has seen a staggering 50 percent drop in ticket sales, has since canceled performances by the touring children's musical Finn and a planned concert featuring the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. 'The Kennedy Center is coming back,' the president added, claiming: 'It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.' Trump has previously proclaimed his love for Les Misérables, telling Fox News: 'I love the songs; I love the play. I think it's great.' He has played the musical's rebellion anthem, 'Do You Here the People Sing?' at past events and rallies. The story revolves around revolution in France, and has been a massive smash for decades. Trump also suggested that 'we may extend' the show's run. Currently, Les Misérables is slated to run at the Kennedy Center through July 13. Vagenesis added that she and the other drag performers show up for opening night, they are doing so peacefully. 'I hope it delivers the message that we're not backing down,' she said. 'We're not allowing this kind of bigotry and erasure to stop us from doing what we want to do, or from existing.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas pastor says county's superintendent candidate isn't fit because of her ‘ungodly and immoral' lifestyle
A Texas pastor thinks a county superintendent candidate should 'repent' over her 'immoral' lifestyle, despite admitting she is perfectly qualified for the job. Central Baptist Church Pastor Doug Harris made the controversial comments during a Sunday sermon on March 16 in Harris County. According to Houston Public Media, Dr Tiffany Regan has been named as the only candidate for the superintendent position at Deer Park Independent School District, in the Houston metropolitan area. Despite her 30 years of experience with the district, most recently as an assistant superintendent, Harris said Regan 'lives a lifestyle that is ungodly and immoral.' 'Truth be told, she has a lot of great experience and she is well-educated. The difficulty is in her morality,' he said, adding she would be a 'phenomenal superintendent' if she repents. Harris didn't offer examples of what he considered 'immoral' and what exactly Regan should repent for. A petition calling on the pastor to apologize states he targeted her based on her sexual orientation. The petition has over 1,800 signatures. The board nominated Regan on March 14, but she can't assume the position until the end of a public comment period, which expires on April 4. Jason Cable, Deer Park ISD school board president, told the outlet the board's decision to name Regan the lone finalist was based on her proven leadership, experience in education and dedication to student success. "I recognize that there are differing perspectives within our community, and the engagement and passion of those invested in our schools is appreciated. However, the Board will remain steadfast in our commitment to making decisions rooted in qualifications, integrity, and what is best for our students and district,' Cable said.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Texas pastor says county's superintendent candidate isn't fit because of her ‘ungodly and immoral' lifestyle
A Texas pastor thinks a county superintendent candidate should 'repent' over her 'immoral' lifestyle, despite admitting she is perfectly qualified for the job. Central Baptist Church Pastor Doug Harris made the controversial comments during a Sunday sermon on March 16 in Harris County. According to Houston Public Media, Dr Tiffany Regan has been named as the only candidate for the superintendent position at Deer Park Independent School District, in the Houston metropolitan area. Despite her 30 years of experience with the district, most recently as an assistant superintendent, Harris said Regan 'lives a lifestyle that is ungodly and immoral.' 'Truth be told, she has a lot of great experience and she is well-educated. The difficulty is in her morality,' he said, adding she would be a 'phenomenal superintendent' if she repents. Harris didn't offer examples of what he considered 'immoral' and what exactly Regan should repent for. A petition calling on the pastor to apologize states he targeted her based on her sexual orientation. The petition has over 1,800 signatures. The board nominated Regan on March 14, but she can't assume the position until the end of a public comment period, which expires on April 4. Jason Cable, Deer Park ISD school board president, told the outlet the board's decision to name Regan the lone finalist was based on her proven leadership, experience in education and dedication to student success. "I recognize that there are differing perspectives within our community, and the engagement and passion of those invested in our schools is appreciated. However, the Board will remain steadfast in our commitment to making decisions rooted in qualifications, integrity, and what is best for our students and district,' Cable said.
Axios
26-02-2025
- Health
- Axios
Texas measles outbreak worsens with first death
The measles outbreak in West Texas has surged, causing the first reported measles death in about a decade. State health officials confirmed at least 124 cases across nine counties as of Tuesday since the outbreak began in late January. Why it matters: Health departments in Central Texas are now warning about exposures of the highly contagious disease, signaling the outbreak may be spreading statewide. The latest outbreak is the largest in Texas in 30 years. The big picture: Measles cases have been reported in eight states this year, but most are in Texas, per the CDC. Very few of the reported cases have occurred in people vaccinated against the disease. The latest: Lubbock city officials confirmed Wednesday that an unvaccinated school-age child has died, marking the first reported measles death in the U.S. since 2015. Texas reported 34 more measles cases this week compared with the previous report on Friday. Eighteen patients have been hospitalized, per state health officials. Only five of the patients were known to be vaccinated. The rest were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown. Separately, two adult measles cases in Houston were reported in mid-January by the Houston Health Department, which said the infected people lived in the same household and had recently traveled internationally. Those cases are not tied to the recent outbreak that started in West Texas. State of play: An increasing number of Texas parents are opting out of vaccinating their children for personal or religious reasons. In Harris County, 2.9% of kindergartners had a vaccine exemption in the 2022-23 school year, state health department data. Some surrounding counties saw even higher kindergartner exemption rates in the 2022-23 school year: 4.87% in Montgomery County, 4.7% in Austin County, 3.82% in Galveston County, 3.32% in Brazoria County. During the 2023-24 school year, 94.5% of kindergartners and 96.8% of seventh graders in the Houston region had received the MMR vaccine, per Houston Public Media.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jan. 6 defendant pardoned by Trump wanted on older solicitation charges in Texas
A Houston man who was pardoned by President Trump over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol is wanted in Texas on older solicitation charges, a district attorney's office confirmed this week. The Harris County District Attorney's Office said Andrew Taake, 36, who was pardoned by Trump last week, is wanted over alleged online solicitation of a minor in 2016. Taake was sentenced to six years in prison last June after pleading guilty to assaulting police officers with bear spray during the riot at the Capitol, Houston Public Media reported. He was being held in a federal prison in Florence, Colo., but upon news of Trump pardoning rioters, the Harris County Sheriff's Office asked federal authorities to hold Taake over his pending warrant in Texas. The Harris County District Attorney's Office confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday that the Bureau of Prisons informed its office there was a 'certified warrant' that would prevent Taake from being released. The district attorney's office received that message via fax on Jan. 15, but Taake was released just days later when Trump took office and pardoned the Jan. 6 defendants. 'Re-arresting individuals, like Taake, who were released with pending State warrants, will require significant resources,' Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said in a statement. 'Know that we are already in the process of tracking Taake down, as he must answer for [the] 2016 charge of soliciting a minor online.' Taake is accused of pursuing a sexual relationship with a person he knew to be younger than 17 while using an online messaging platform. The case was still pending when he was arrested by the FBI in 2021 for his Capitol-related crimes, Houston Public Media reported. Taake was arrested in 2021. He was turned into the police just days after the riot by an individual who communicated with him on the dating app Bumble while he was in Washington, D.C. The Hill has reached out to the Federal Bureau of Prisons for comment, but the agency told the Houston-based outlet it doesn't discuss details of individuals who are no longer in their custody. As one of his first actions back in office, Trump pardoned nearly all the Jan. 6 rioters, commuting the sentences of the rest. It was something he promised on the campaign trail, and he made good on that promise in the early hours of his term with a 'complete and unconditional pardon' for most of those who stormed the Capitol four years ago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
