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For the better part of three decades, Paul Darst's daily job was to preside over the bells, whistles, snorting bulls and blazing six-shooters that roamed the original Astrodome scoreboard and, later, the video boards that ringed the stadium in the late 1980s and 1990s. Darst now works next door as Reliant Stadium's technology wizard, and his duties rarely require him to walk to the Dome, whose floor now is ringed with risers, chairs and boxes of spare parts for its newer, more glamorous neighbor.But then there are days like Monday, when Darst boarded a bus and traveled through the big...

A company's bid to reinvent the Astrodome as a convention hotel suffered a major setback Wednesday when a county board refused to give it more time to negotiate a lease and finalize a loan. Entrepreneurs from Astrodome Redevelopment Co., aiming to transform the building once known as the Eighth Wonder of the World into a 1,300-room, $450 million hotel, say their quest isn't over. But the decision made Wednesday by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp.'s board drops the development company's exclusive right to strike a deal, allowing the county to entertain other proposals to find a second life...

Reporter apparently sought critical remarks after speechAn ABC News reporter who apparently expected hurricane evacuees to criticize the president after his speech last night, instead heard words of praise for Bush and blame for local officials. Dean Reynolds, in the parking lot of Houston's Astrodome, spoke with black evacuees from New Orleans, but "not one of the six people interviewed on camera had a bad word for Bush – despite Reynolds' best efforts," said the Media Research Center in a report on the segment. "You talk about a major big media backfire, folks, this is it," commented radio talk host...

Hello Everyone, Having had personal experience as a volunteer at one of the Astrodome complexes and other areas, I am disappointed, upset and somewhat angered by several comments made by national figures, including a Congressman and Jesse Jackson, equating the shelters, including the Astrodome, to slave cargo ships coming from Africa to the U.S. . . one comment was that evacuees at the Astrodome were being treated like slaves. Nothing could be farther from the truth. On Saturday morning from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Astro Arena and other complexes in the Astrodome area, evacuees were served breakfast...

In another development here in Texas, the Mexican army is crossing the border to bring help to New Orleans and its stranded citizens. This is the first time Mexican military troops have crossed into Texas since 1846, during the war between the United States and Mexico that resulted in Mexico losing the vast area now known as the American southwest. The Mexican soldiers will not be armed and the 35 trucks in the convoy will be loaded with blankets, water, food and mobile kitchens. Mexican President Vicente Fox brushed aside complaints from some opponents who said he should have sought...

According to CNN....going to be more where that came from

I spent my Labor Day at the Reliant complex. I spent time in all three shelters (Astrodome, Reliant Center, Reliant Arena) and most of what I witnessed is impossible to describe...at least with the limited writing skills I possess. Here are a few observations I am able to express; the rest remain my own. The Good:The number of volunteers When I arrived (and finally figured out where to go), my orientation class of volunteers was between 200 and 300 people. At the same time as our class, the staging area was filled with roughly 500 people receiving job assignments. I...

Displaced survivors in the Houston Astrodome can choose from counterfeit and abandoned clothing, toys and even dog food.

(Washington, D.C.) - The Muslim American Society (MAS) and its Freedom Foundation, and Islamic Relief USA, will hold a press conference on Friday, September 2 at 3:00 p.m. in front of the Holiday Inn across from the Houston Astrodome to announce ongoing relief efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. MAS, America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with over fifty chapters, including those in Houston, Dallas and New Orleans, has teamed up with Islamic Relief USA, a U.N. NGO and member of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, with its offices in 30 countries. MAS and its Freedom Foundation will announce...

The linked article concerns the reports of refugee crime in New Orleans. I had supposed that would cease when the refugees were brought out and put in proper shelters. Silly me. My daughter and her husband live essentially across the street from the Astrodome. She says the police sirens are virtually constant. I have heard from a Dallas policeman of the strain on Dallas police resources created by the refugees sent there. He spoke of riot conditions. It is my understanding we have received several thousand refugees here in San Antonio, but they are being placed in the Joe and...

HOUSTON — With more than 220,000 hurricane refugees camped out in Texas and more coming, Gov. Rick Perry warned today that his enormous state was running out of room. "Texas is committed to doing everything it can to help our neighbors from Louisiana, but we want to make certain that we can provide them with the medical care, food, shelter, safety, education and other services they need to start getting their lives back together," Perry said in a statement. "Local officials are beginning to notify us that they are quickly approaching capacity in the number of evacuees they believe they...

HOUSTON -- NEWSCHANNEL 5 crews were in Houston as some desperate refugees arrived in a stolen bus. HOUSTON -- Thousands of refugees of Hurricane Katrina were transported to the Astrodome in Houston this week. In an extreme act of looting, one group actually stole a bus to escape ravaged areas in Louisiana. About 100 people packed into the stolen bus. They were the first to enter the Houston Astrodome, but they weren't exactly welcomed. The big yellow school bus wasn't expected or approved to pass through the stadium's gates. Randy Nathan, who was on the bus, said they were desperate...

A massive interfaith effort is under way to feed Hurricane Katrina evacuees at large-scale shelters in Houston, including the George R. Brown Convention Center. The plan is not final. But organizers expect religious groups to raise an initial $4.4 million for 30 days of food and to supply 720 volunteers a day to provide and serve three hot meals to many thousands seeking shelter in Houston. "I do not view this as a faith community issue," said the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, which will participate in the effort and other relief projects. "This is...

The Gideons International are sending 40,000 Personal Witnessing Testaments (New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs) to be distributed at the Astrodome and other relief centers in Houston. My camp in Clear Lake is the focal point for organizing Gideon volunteers to help with the distribution. We are doing this in cooperation with the Salvation Army. If you are a Gideon, or a minister, and would like to help the Salvation Army and Gideons minister to the people and distribute the New Testaments please freep mail me your name and phone number and either myself, the Salvation Army or a Gideon organizer will...

Just heard through the grapevine that FEMA has appropriated all police and private security personnel in Houston to aid with the influx of refugees. All vacations cancelled..events requiring private security or off-duty police are likewise being cancelled.This is not verified. Any confirmation?

This is a post from another board regarding a conversation with a red cross vol. who is inside the Astrodome. I am posting this in toto, but I ask you to ignore the political comments, and focus on the facts....and the problems that we are now facing. 10,000 here… more on the way, where are these people going to go? No space. I don’t know what they are going to do, might open more shelters. New shelters are opening all the way north into KY. AR/MO and other states will open shelters in the coming time. I would estimate over...

Jabbar Gibson's first time behind the wheel of a school bus was spent transporting dozens of people from New Orleans to the Reliant Astrodome. School bus comandeered by renegade refugees first to arrive at Astrodome By SALATHEIA BRYANT and CYNTHIA LEONOR GARZA Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The first busload of New Orleans refugees to reach the Reliant Astrodome overnight was a group of people who commandeered a school bus in the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and drove to Houston looking for shelter. Jabbar Gibson, 20, said police in New Orleans told him and others to take the school...

Refugees being helped at expense of the city's poor is one sentiment Amid the overwhelmingly compassionate response to hurricane evacuees in Houston, a less-welcoming undercurrent is developing among people worried about the impact of thousands of needy, desperate people. E-mails, blogs and callers to the Chronicle wonder why refugees draw such immediate assistance while Houston's poor continue to suffer. Others fear an increase of crime. Some are blunt. "Yes, let's rush to bring over the looters and destroyers of public and private property," wrote a blogger. Some are thoughtful. "I have grave concerns about a city that can't help the...

Officials closed the Reliant Astrodome to further New Orleans evacuees late Thursday, shortly before five more busloads arrived. Although the passengers initially were told they would have to reboard the buses and go to Huntsville, officials relented and allowed at least one busload of 67 passengers to stay. The fate of the other four buses was still being considered late Thursday. Houston Police Sgt. Nate McDuell said the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office ordered that no more evacuees be accepted. "We're at capacity and buses are being diverted to other cities and other shelters," McDuell said. Tired, distraught passengers got...

Just heard on CNN that Astrodome is turning away people coming up from NOLA

NEW YORK (Sept. 1, 2005) -- NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue says it's unlikely the Saints will play in New Orleans this season after the devastation Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath inflicted on the city. "At this point you have to proceed on the assumption ... that they may be unable to play in New Orleans at all for the entire season," Tagliabue said in an interview with CNBC. "If things evolve in a positive way, then that would be something that we could adjust to. But our assumption is that for planning purposes, we should assume it will be difficult...

Houston Mayor Bill White has authorized opening Reliant Center to as many as 11,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. He said he also has authorized the opening of the George R. Brown Convention Center, if needed. The George R. Brown is not open this morning, however, and evacuees should not go there because it is not set up for occupation. ``The City of Houston and this region will use its capacity to care for tens of thousands of families," the mayor said. "We will be making assessments daily of our community capacity. We do need other cities to be accepting busloads...

My co-blogger is reporting from the Astrodome today, where she’s volunteering and helping victims of Hurricane Katrina that have come in from New Orleans. She's calling in with reports, which I'm podcasting on the site. She has some special info about the elderly veterans that are without medication or medical attention. It brought tears to my eyes. Go listen to it. We’ll be bringing you more info by "nearly-live" (5 minute delay) podcast as the day goes on.

The Astrodome isn't big enough for the entire state of Louisiana. Does anybody know if refugees will be sent to Denver??

NEW ORLEANS – A slow exodus from the smelly and sweltering Superdome began Wednesday as refugees boarded giant trucks and then buses for a trip to more comfortable surroundings in the Houston Astrodome. The evacuation was kept almost secret to avoid a stampede. People were taken a few at a time through a garage, then to trucks that plowed through 4 feet of water and delivered them to the buses. People with physical problems were evacuated Wednesday morning, loaded into a variety of vehicles and taken to a triage center in Baton Rouge. The evacuation of the more able-bodied began...

Houston Chronicle Exclusive: Superdome Refugees Coming To Astrodome No Text. Just Headline off Chronicle Website.

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Houston's elimination Tuesday as a potential host city for the 2012 Olympics will force Harris County officials to find new uses for the county-owned Reliant Astrodome -- and new, as yet undetermined revenue sources to pay for those uses. Under the Houston 2012 Foundation's plans to bring the 2012 Games to Houston, the Dome would have been gutted and revamped, at an estimated cost of $90 million, into a one-of-a-kind enclosed track and field stadium. But with Tuesday's decision by the U.S. Olympic Committee site selection team to drop Houston's bid from consideration, the foundation will...