AltWeeklies Wire
Asylum Deniednew

Unlike refugees from other troubled countries, only a fraction of Mexicans seeking U.S. asylum are accepted – no matter how horrible their wounds or their stories.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel and Patrick Michels |
08-27-2010 |
Immigration
Tags: Mexico, Immigration
Over the Linenew

As Mexican drug cartels increasingly recruit American teens as runners, a Houston area teen goes across the border and ends up dead.
Houston Press |
Paul Knight |
07-27-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Elisabeth Mandala
Designer Meatsnew

In Houston, more and more chefs are curing their own pig products.
Houston Press |
Katharine Shilcutt |
06-09-2010 |
Food+Drink
The Man Who Sued the Popenew
Houston's Daniel Shea thinks Joseph Ratzinger has a lot to answer for if he'd talk.
Houston Press |
John Nova Lomax |
04-27-2010 |
Religion
Tags: Daniel Shea, Joseph Ratzinger
'Treme': Do You Know What It Means?new

Treme is David Simon's first ongoing dramatic series since Wire ended in 2008, and from the first episode, it's got the potential to be another sweeping look at the struggles of a community that's been left behind by the rest of the world.
Houston Press |
Daniel Carlson |
04-12-2010 |
TV
Tags: David Simon, New Orleans
Plea Bargains Go on Behind Victims' Backs, Without Their Approvalnew

They wanted to tell their side of the story to a jury, and made it clear to the Harris County prosecutor that they didn't want to settle for a plea deal. If a jury let Craig Washington off, so be it, but they liked their chances in court.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel |
03-02-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Gov't Mule's Main Man Says He Takes Time Off, But We Don't Believe Himnew

Warren Haynes reveals the depth of his blues knowledge on Gov't Mule's latest album, last year's By a Thread, which he released on his own Evil Teen label.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
02-23-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: By a Thread, Gov't Mule
Political Animals: Sarahmania Hits Houstonnew
There were many things to take away from the recent whirlwind visit to Houston of the woman who is ostentatiously keeping open the possibility of running for President in 2012, just in case the nation demands it.
Houston Press |
Richard Connelly |
02-23-2010 |
Commentary
Fences Mended, Chamillionaire is Comfortable Being the Rapper Next Doornew

Chamillionaire is the rapper you can take home to mom and dad. His albums contain very little swearing, and he won't even curse when quoting other rappers. He recalls Snoop Dogg's famous "Bitches "Ain't Shit" line as: "B's ain't nothing but hos and tricks."
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
02-09-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Where Running a Light and Killing Someone Does Not Automatically Mean You're in Troublenew
Steve Morrison probably never knew what hit him that April afternoon in 2008. After the swimming-pool company owner eased off the brakes of his green Saturn and headed south down Hillcroft across Westpark, a Nissan Frontier driven by a 28-year-old Salvadoran immigrant slammed into him.
Houston Press |
John Nova Lomax |
02-09-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Is Omega Protein Overfishing the Most Important Fish in the Sea?new

Omega Protein is the largest commercial harvester of an obscure fish called menhaden (men-hay-den), used mostly for fishmeal and fertilizer. The company's more palatable product is refined fish oil.
Houston Press |
Craig Malisow |
01-26-2010 |
Animal Issues
One-of-a-Kind Short List of the 30 Most Troubled Mentally Ill in Houstonnew
Jimmy Bailey is one of Houston's 30 craziest people, according to the Houston Police Department; in February, the department's mental health unit put together a list of mentally ill people based on how many times the cops have responded to a call concerning a person and how many times a person has been hospitalized.
Houston Press |
Paul Knight |
01-05-2010 |
Commentary
Plants Along the Houston Ship Channel Loose Tons of Toxic Gases and Face Little Penaltynew

Out of seven toxic leaks, only the smallest received an enforcement citation from the state's regulatory agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It penalized the plant $20,900 but then reduced the fine to $8,000.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel |
12-22-2009 |
Environment
O'Brien's Song: Now, the Activist Must Fight for His Lifenew
For Tim O'Brien, grad school, and life in general, are full-contact sports, and heaven protect anyone who gets in the way of his idea of justice.
Houston Press |
John Nova Lomax |
12-15-2009 |
Civil Liberties
Consider the Consequences of Not Making Background Checks Before Engaging a Financial Advisernew
Based on interviews for this story, people who market debt-elimination services online are riddled with bad judgment. They have to be, because the only other possibility is that they are knowingly engaging in fraud, and some of these people are lawyers, so that just can't be.
Houston Press |
Craig Malisow |
12-08-2009 |
Economy