According to AAA Texas, while Texas is still below the national average, the average cost of gas in the state is the highest its ever been at $4.29.
HOUSTON — Around town, drivers are seeing the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump.
“The gas prices are really hurting my pocket right now,” says Dominic Ballair.
According to AAA Texas, while Texas is still below the national average ($4.59 as of May 20), the average cost of gas in the state is the highest its ever been at $4.29.
“When we compare it where we were last year, more than $1.60 higher…” says Joshua Zuber who’s the Spokesperson for AAA Texas. He says a number of factors continue to impact the rising prices.
“Of course the war in Ukraine, a lot of countries banning or planning to ban Russian oil so you’ve got a tight supply of oil,” says Zuber. “Add to that increasing demand as we continue to see recovery from COVID-19, a lot of activities getting back to normal,” he continued.
With the Memorial Day weekend approaching, it’s making some drivers like Patricia Franklin think twice about traveling.
“Too expensive, I’m just gonna chill out at the house,” Franklin says.
AAA anticipates that over three million Texans will travel for Memorial Day and rather than cancel plans, they expect travelers to modify them.
“Whether that means dining out at maybe less expensive restaurants or maybe not dining out as often. They may modify their accommodations, maybe staying at a less expensive hotel or building their trip around staying with family or friends,” says Zuber.
If you’re looking to save some money, AAA has a few recommendations:
Finding the cheapest fuel along your route using their “TripTik” website
B.E.T. – Check your Battery, Engine, and Tires
Drive the speed limit and use {using} cruise control when conditions allow
“You want to make sure that when you get to the gas pump you’ve shopped around,” Zuber says.
“I really have to use a credit card to pay for gas right now,” says Ballair.
The rising cost, for the foreseeable future, is likely something we’ll have to buckle up for.
“More than likely we are going to see these elevated prices over the next few weeks,” Zuber says.
Here are some more helpful tips from AAA:
AAA cautions drivers that allowing their cars to run out of fuel can not only put them in a potentially dangerous situation, but also could result in costly repairs.
Potential Costly Repairs from Running on Empty
Most modern cars have their fuel pump mounted inside the fuel tank. These pumps require a constant flow of fuel to lubricate and cool them during operation. Running a vehicle extremely low on fuel may allow air to be drawn into the pump, which can cause overheating and increased wear that eventually leads to pump failure. The cost to replace a fuel pump can be $500 or more in parts and labor.
Dangers of Running out of Gas
Running out of gas can put the personal safety of a driver and their passengers in jeopardy if the vehicle stops on the roadway. Power steering and brakes can be lost if an engine dies, and drivers may end up stranded in the middle of a busy highway. Fortunately, most out-of-gas situations can be avoided just simply by keeping an eye on the fuel gauge.
Finding the Lowest Gas Price Before Hitting Empty
AAA recommends drivers always maintain at least a quarter-tank of fuel. For drivers looking to save money when they fill up, the Auto Club can help with several free tools. Both the AAA TripTik Travel Planner and the free AAA.com/mobile app allow drivers to plan efficient routes and locate the least expensive places to stop for gas near their location.
HOUSTON – Nineteen veterans will depart to Washington D.C. Friday morning as part of ‘Honor Flight Houston’ in the first flight since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In collaboration with Schlumberger, Honor Flight, Southwest Airlines, and Houston Airports, the group of World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans plan to visit their respective war memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
Both the veterans and organizers say their experience will be memorable.
The group departed from Houston’s Hobby Airport Friday morning. A surprise return with a water cannon salute with Houston Fire Department along with more surprises are planned for Saturday evening along with a greeting from 100+ family members and fellow veterans.
To learn more about Honor Flight Houston, click here.
Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
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HOUSTON (KIAH) Its a big show on Houston Happens today! Do you love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?! Well wait until you see and taste a new spread that they just launched. Plus we will share with you some helpful tips and tricks for redesigning your home office. Then the Travel Doc stops by with ways you can stay on top of your health as you enjoy spring break. And the good doctor at Humble Dermatology tells us how to keep your skin top notch as we head into the warmer months. Big day on Houston Happens!
CW39 host Maggie Flecknoe brings you “Houston Happens” every weekday morning at 9:30am on CW39 Houston.
‘Houston Happens’ is locally sponsored programming that gives you, our viewer, what you need to know about Houston, including what to look forward to. Plus, anything from money saving tips to beauty, the best products for your now, food, refreshing drinks, and motivational guests.
On Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns (55-14) visit the Houston Rockets (17-51) looking for their third straight win and second in as many nights with a 5 p.m. AZ time tip.
Suns are coming off of a strong victory over New Orleans, winning by 16 with the game well out of hand before the fourth quarter — 19-point lead after three.
Those same Pelicans put down an even bigger shellacking on Houston in the Rockets’ most recent game on Mar. 13, with the Rockets losing by 25 — down by 26 after three.
Transitive property states that Wednesday night should be easy for the Suns, right? Probably! But the Suns can’t let that be the mentality, and head coach Monty Williams won’t let it be.
The Suns are still missing two of their three best offensive players in Chris Paul and Cam Johnson, and Williams hasn’t given any sort of indication that Johnson will return soon. He isn’t even traveling with the team on this road trip, though Paul is.
On the rehab process Johnson’s gone through, Williams said, “He’s still dealing with [the right quad contusion]… I know what it’s like. It’s not fun. You can’t sleep. You can’t function the way you want to.”
Even despite the injuries, Suns have been full steam ahead, especially of late, going 4-1 over their last 5 and a total plus-minus of +54 over that stretch. Devin Booker has been especially impressive during this stretch, averaging 25.5 points in 33 minutes per game since returning from COVID.
Look for the Suns to try to hammer the Rockets early and make it a quick night.
Houston is on a pretty good stretch of their own by their standards, going 2-3 over their last 5. Prized rookie Jalen Green (picked second overall from the G-League Ignite) is hitting his stride late in his rookie season, averaging 20.3 points (37% 3P on 7.4 attempts), 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals over his last 11 games with 8 of those games being 20-plus point games.
Green embodies the pedal-to-the-metal style of ball that Houston wants to play with, and if the Suns aren’t careful, Houston’s tempo coming off two off-days could tire out Phoenix, who’s on that back-to-back.
The difference in style between opposing two-guards in Booker and Green should make for a fun matchup to watch.
The Grizzlies travel to Houston to face off against the Houston Rockets after defeating the Orlando Magic 124-96 last night. Home to road back-to-backs are never easy, but it certainly helps when you take care of business in the first game as no Grizzly played more than 30 minutes last night. The Houston Rockets enter the matchup after losing 12 in a row. Despite losing 12 in a row, the Rockets have been scrappy, with a handful of the recent losses being very close losses. It would be important for the Grizzlies to be aggressive early and put the Rockets away before you give the hope in snapping the losing streak.
Steven Adams paced the Grizzlies as they built an early lead against the Rockets, scoring 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in the first quarter as the Grizzlies took a 34-27 lead after the first 12 minutes of action. The Grizzlies were able to control the game from the tip despite shooting 0-8 from beyond the arc in the first, and allowing the Rockets to get to the line often where they shot 7-9 in the quarter.
Despite the Rockets going on a small run, the Grizzlies were able to pull away in the second quarter as they built their lead up to double digits throughout most of the quarter. The Grizzlies bench picked up where the starters left off, as the Rockets had no answer for whatever the Grizzlies were doing offensively. The Grizzlies kind of starting to sleep walk once they built a double-digit lead and it allowed the Rockets to momentarily cut the Grizzlies lead into single digits. The offense got sloppy, including 3 straight possessions with a turnover. The Grizzlies were able to go on a mini-run late and led 62-52 at halftime.
It was a well-balanced scoring effort by the Grizzlies, with all 10 players in the scoring column. Steven Adams (15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Ja Morant (10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals) paced the Grizzlies while Christian Wood dominated for the Rockets finishing the first half with 20 points and 5 rebounds.
It was a disastrous 3rd quarter for the Grizzlies, who let the Rockets hang around just long enough to catch fire and take their first lead of the game late in the period. The Grizzlies really struggled to get into a flow offensively, as quick whistles killed any rhythm to the game. The Rockets were able to execute thanks to some timely 3-point shooting, while the Grizzlies struggles from the 3-point and free throw line continued. For the first time this season, the Grizzlies entered the 4th quarter tied as both teams are knotted up at 92 heading into the 4th.
The Rockets run continued into the 4th, as they controlled the lead throughout a majority of the 4th. The Grizzlies hung around and kept it within a 5-point game until a late Rocket run saw them take a 10-point lead with under 3 minutes remaining. The offense was ugly as Ja Morant attacked the basket hunting for fouls more than hunting for the bucket, and wasn’t getting the calls. The Rockets, starting to taste snapping their 12-game losing streak, went for the kill and finished with a 123-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Quick Hitters
The Grizzlies have serious half-court issues. Once again, the Grizzlies really struggled when the game is slowed down and they are forced to execute in the half-court. They shot 5-26 from beyond the arc, and they struggled from the free throw line as well going just 19-27 from the charity stripe. The non-Bane Grizzlies shot 1-17 from beyond the arc.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is fouling like a mad man. JJJ has gotten back into his fouling habits since the All-Star Break. Tonight marked the 3rd time in 6 games that JJJ has picked up 5 fouls. Jaren has had under 4 fouls in just 2 games since the All-Star Break, with one of those games being last night’s blowout against Orlando.
BANE BACK. After struggling leading up to and after the All-Star Break, Desmond Bane’s hot streak from the second half in Boston continued in Houston. He was the most consistent offensive threat for Memphis tonight and came up big with multiple big shots but just didn’t get enough help for the Grizzlies to come away with the win. He finished with a team high 28 points, shooting 11-22 from the field and 4-9 from beyond the arc.
The Grizzlies will fly back to Memphis as they prepare to face off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night on TNT.
A Houston deputy was killed early Sunday morning after pulling a man over in what officials described as a “brutal attack.”
Cpl. Charles Galloway, 47, was shot multiple times after pulling over a white Toyota Avalon at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday, according to Harris County Constable Ted Heap. The man driving the car exited the vehicle and immediately began to shoot at Galloway, who died at the scene.
Constable Ted Heap.Harris County Constable Precinct 5
“He is survived by a daughter, as well as his sister, and the numerous numerous numerous officers here at Precinct 5 who were trained by him, who he mentored, and who are going to miss him tremendously,” Heap said Sunday.
A suspect in Galloway’s shooting has not yet been identified. Heap described it as a routine traffic stop.
Witnesses described the suspect as a young Hispanic male, who allegedly used what was characterized as an “assault type” weapon. The suspect returned to the car and drove off after the shooting.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged anyone with information on the suspect to reach out to police.
“Corporal Galloway served with honor and distinction, and his life was taken as he served to keep the rest of us safe,” Turner said. “Thank you for your service.”
The investigation will be taken over by the Houston Police Department, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.
“This is senseless, it makes no sense whatsoever,” Finner said. “Our special investigative unit homicide has taken lead on it in a message to this suspect: The best thing you can do is turn yourself in. Peacefully.”
Doha Madani is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.– After two weeks of not playing in Elma Roane Fieldhouse, the Tigers came back to Memphis for an American Athletic Conference match-up with Houston. While the game was close for the entire 40 minutes, big defensive stops down the road would earn Memphis the 57-53 win over the Cougars.
Following today’s game, Memphis moves to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in AAC play.
The fast pace was set early by both teams; by the first media timeout, the Tigers and Cougars had already had four lead changes. Houston would extend their lead out to four after two made free throws from Laila Blair, but Emani Jefferson and Alana Davis would turn on the jets and score on three consecutive possessions to tie the game at 18-18.
The Cougars would add in a jump shot at the buzzer to take a 20-18 lead into the second quarter.
Houston and Memphis would trade buckets in the second quarter before the Tiger offense was able to create a little space between the teams.
Back-to-back lay-ups from Davis and a free throw from Jamirah Shutes would give the Tigers their largest lead of the half at 32-26 with 2:28 left in the quarter. The Cougars would add in baskets in the last minute of play before Tyler Frierson closed out the half with a lay-up and put Memphis up 34-30 heading into halftime.
Memphis got their largest lead of the day right out of the break when Madison Griggs drained a three-pointer from the near side and put the Tigers up 37-30.
The Houston offense began to chip away at the Tiger’s lead, going on a 9-2 run and regaining the lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The Cougars wouldn’t go far as the Memphis offense continued to push. Jefferson, Shutes and Griggs would keep the Tigers within reaching distance of Houston and take the 49-45 deficit into the final 10 minutes of play.
It was all Memphis in the fourth quarter as they outscored Houston 12-4 and secured the 57-54 win with two made free throws from Tyler Frierson with 19 seconds left on the clock. Houston would get one last shot off, but a defensive rebound from Emani Jeffersonsealed the deal.
Madison Griggs and Emani Jefferson led the way for the Tigers with 13 points each while Jamirah Shutes and Tyler Frierson both added in eight points. Lanetta Williams and Jefferson were a dominating force on the boards today with eight and seven, respectively, while Jefferson and Shutes combined for nine of the team’s 11 assists.
As a team, Memphis 43% from the field and 50% from three-point range
The Tigers will be back in action when they travel to Oklahoma to take on the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Memphis will be back in Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Saturday, January 29 when they host the Owls of Temple University. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A new COVID variant. Supply chain disruptions. Rising grocery prices. Travel concerns and restrictions. So many unknowns affecting our second pandemic holiday season. But the one thing we can count on? Cookies.
No matter the external forces coloring the holiday season, Christmas cookies and seasonal sweets are here to stay. Home bakers are in cookie elf mode now, churning out family favorites: bars, balls, candy, and all manner of sugar dough crisps and crunches.
Our annual holiday cookie contest — recipes submitted by Houston Chronicle readers — produced another season of sweet abundance. We whittled down our favorites to a baker’s dozen, including our winner (chosen by Chronicle editor Maria Reeve), a clear favorite for its warm spices that nestle perfectly into the holiday spirit. Submitted by Danni Hertel, a University of Houston student who describes herself as an avid cookie baker, the Vanilla Chai Cookies with Eggnog Nutmeg Icing provided exactly what we crave in a Christmas cookie.
All our top cookie submissions were tested by staff. We thank all our readers who submitted recipes. We know that their favorite cookies will shine this season and help drum out the ongoing pandemic blues.
English Toffee
The English Toffee Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Houston.
Janice Merck has been making this classic toffee for three decades. This holiday candy would be appreciated at any Christmas cookie swap. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Cook butter, sugar, water and vanilla over medium heat in a heavy pot, stirring constantly until golden brown. It may smoke, but don’t worry.
PRO TIP: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Bake in 13-by-9-inch pan or larger for approximately 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Frost with glaze while still hot. Sprinkle with more chopped pecans, if you like.
A beloved treat in Canada, you can use prepared tart shells or make your own pastry in a muffin tin for these gooey mini pies. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Combine flour and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender. Sprinkle with cold water and mix. Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least one hour. Roll out a little smaller than ¼ inch thick. Cut 12 circles, about 4 inches in diameter. Curl each into cupcake pan cups.
These super simple, sweet and crunchy “candied” light bites from Becky Lowicki will put a spring in your step. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Beat egg whites until stiff. Add brown sugar to eggs a few tablespoons at a time. Add vanilla and fold in nuts. Drop by ½ teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with crushed peppermints. Let cool for 20 minutes.
Winter Vanilla Chai Cookies with Eggnog Nutmeg Glaze
Winter Vanilla Chai Cookies with Eggnog Nutmeg Glaze
Houston Chronicle editor Maria Reeve selected these flavor bombs as the best of the bunch. The recipe was submitted by University of Houston student Danni Hertel, who says: “These cookies hold a special place in my heart because as I was battling some very serious health issues this past year, baking became my only solace, and I soon started creating my own recipes and concoctions. The Vanilla Chai cookies were my first ever self-created recipe and reign as the favorite cookie of family and friends alike.” Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: With a spoon or the mixer set on low, stir in the flour, baking soda and salt all at once. Don’t worry if the dough is soft, it’s supposed to be. Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours or freeze for 15-30 minutes, so it is easier to handle.
PRO TIP: Sift dry ingredients together into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the oil, molasses, sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Mix wet ingredients into dry, using a whisk, an electric hand mixer, or your hands, until uniform. Flatten dough into a disk and refrigerate, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 30 minutes or overnight.
PRO TIP: Preheat oven 375 degrees. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add the eggs, sugar, Crisco, baking powder and anise extract. Mix well. Add flour and mix well. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Mary Zwald’s crispy cookies offer intense almond flavor and they can be enjoyed as is or gussied up with a dip in dark chocolate. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: If desired, melt a cup of dark chocolate and dip the bottom of each cookie. Rest on parchment until set.
Grammy Vargo’s Kossuth Moons
The Grammy Vargo’s Kossuth Moons Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Houston.
Jane Vargo Brown’s grandmother arrived in America in 1907 at age 14 carrying her mother’s Hungarian recipes. These moon-shaped cookies appeared on every Christmas dessert tray Brown’s grandmother made during her life. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Grammy must have had some mighty big bowls in her kitchen arsenal. We halved the original recipe, which began with a whopping 12 cups of flour. While we used the suggested half-moon cookie cutter, these cookies can be any shape.
Pronounced “yon hahgel,” these Dutch shortbread cookies are a favorite in the Netherlands. Sharon Mayer first made them in 1971 when she taught world history; they’ve become part of her Christmas baking since. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter, sugar and egg yolk until well blended. Stir in flour and cinnamon until incorporated. Pat dough directly onto a cookie sheet at 1/8-inch thickness, forming a large rectangle or square.
These bar cookies hide a layer of not-too-sweet, sticky date filling. Mark Parthie’s recipe is easy, satisfying and a textural delight. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: Prepare date filling. Cook all filling ingredients in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until thickened and most of the water has evaporated. The filling will have a jammy, spreadable consistency. Set aside to cool.
This lovely cookie from Shelley Martin offers luscious persimmon and warm holiday spice flavors. Be sure to buy your persimmons well ahead of time for optimal ripeness. Click here for the FULL recipe.
PRO TIP: To make the glaze, combine sifted confectioners’ sugar, orange juice and zest together. Whisk until smooth. Dip the cookie tops into the glaze and twirl the cookie. Let the cookies harden, about 30 minutes.
PRO TIP: Use hands to shape dough into a ball. It will be slightly dry but it will soften as you work with it. Divide dough in half and place each dough ball into a sandwich-size resealable plastic bag. Use a spoon or spatula to push the dough into bag corners, then use a rolling pin to roll the dough inside the bag, spreading it to a ½-inch thickness. Seal bags and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
THANK YOU TO ALL COOKIE TESTERS: Greg Morago, Jody Schmal, Emma Balter, Diane Cowen, Elizabeth Pudwill, Bridget Schmal and Marcia Ogasawara.
