News and events

Dad, my phone just buzzed. It's a news alert. It says, "Breaking news: the mayor will announce the election results at nine tonight." Nine! That's in ten minutes.

It's a major night for our city. Everybody is talking about it. Even Mrs. Bell next door put a sign in her yard, and I don't know which side she's on. Did you vote on Tuesday? You did, right? Dad?

You forgot? Oh, Dad. You talked about the election for a month! Okay, okay, don't worry. Just make the coffee, and we'll watch together. Maybe your guy will win without you.

Hi Anna, are you okay? Did you see the news? It rained all night, a record for Houston, apparently. The bayou came up and the whole street started to flood.

We had a power outage at six, so no lights, no Wi-Fi and no coffee. I stood in the store in my rain boots and moved boxes to the top shelf. The damage isn't terrible, but the floor is wet and everything smells like a pond.

My boss said she'll call off the Saturday sale, which is sad. But the good news is that the fish tank is fine. Well, it's on the floor, and the fish look happy. Maybe they think it's a vacation.

Hi Maya, it's Ali. I'm outside the bus depot. It's my first job as a journalist for the college paper, and I'm cold, wet and a little bit nervous.

The drivers are on strike today, and there's a protest. About two hundred people are holding signs. I asked a man why he's here. He said, "For my family." The big meeting will take place at noon, outside City Hall.

I'll write the story on the train, if there's a train. Hmm. Probably not. I'll walk. If I send it by five, can it come out tomorrow morning? Please say yes. I'll buy you a breakfast burrito.

Mom, I heard that Mr. Brown's video is huge. You know, the principal who dances in the parking lot. A thousand people shared it in an hour, and it's all over the news. I think it will go viral.

There's a rumor that he'll be on TV next month. Another one says he's leaving the school. I don't believe the second one. He loves the school more than he loves his dancing, and that's a lot.

The problem is, he doesn't know yet! Somebody has to break the news to him, and I think it's going to be me. Wish me luck. If he does his dance in front of me, I'm going to run.

Hello sweetheart, it's Grandpa. Are you sitting down? I'm in the paper! Well, the newspaper. Page three, right next to the weather.

Yesterday downtown there was a little event, a charity 5K. A seagull stole a hot dog from a man's hand, right in front of me. I was the only witness. A reporter asked me what happened, and I told her everything, with sound effects.

Now it says, "A local man said the seagull was the size of a dog." I never said that! It was a big seagull, but it wasn't a dog. That's fake news, I'm telling you. Anyway, can you buy ten copies? Your grandma wants to put one on the refrigerator.