05.14.2026_Defender-e-FULL

Top 7 Reasons to Vote in the May 26 Runoff PROFILE

SPORTS

FRED MCBRIDE

KACEY MENYOLI

The former Houston teacherr has found his calling with a new sea-to-table restaurant.

The PVAMU golf star is poised to make NCAA history.

Volume 95, issue 30 May 14, 2026

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DN To the POINT Message from the Publisher The calculated assault: Why your vote is the only shield left?

Black people deserve a food system that works for us.

We're conducting a national survey to understand what Black people across America think about food.

If you d on’t see the roadmap being laid out to take America back to a post-Reconstruction era, you are living under a Sonceria Messiah-Jiles rock. The assault on Black progress is calculated and multi-tiered.

First, they erased our history and heritage from classrooms. Second, they dismantled the programs designed to help Black students reach higher education. Third, they turned “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” into dirty words, slamming the door on fair public and private contracts. Finally, they are redrawing maps to dilute our political power and ensure the status quo remains untouched.

They aren’t finished. This is a 21st-century genocide of opportunity, and complaining on social media won’t stop it. Voting is our only weapon. As we approach the May Runoff Election (Early voting runs from May 18 to May 22, 2026; Election Day is May 26), you must take action. If we don’t take this seriously now, the scenario in November might look very different.

Follow the money: The battle for District 18

The race for Congressional District 18 between Christian Menefee and Al Green has become a bitter proxy war over industry influence. The primary catalyst? Cryptocurrency. Menefee is backed by millions in outside spending from the Protect Progress PAC, which supports candidates favorable to the crypto industry. Conversely, Al Green—a veteran of the House Financial Services Committee—has championed stricter regulation of the industry, making him a target for these deep-pocketed Super PACs. Show us some respect

SCAN TO TAKE OUR SURVEY

Projections are circulating that, based on recent court rulings, the number of Black U.S. Congress members could be slashed by one-third(Houston already lost one predominantly Black Congressional seat due to redistricting). The effort to diminish Black elected officials locally is looming. Yet, a mystery persists: why do Black politicians rarely spend their campaign dollars with Black media? When the general market ignores our issues, the Black Press sustains them. Advertising in the Defender is a rifle approach to reaching the Black electorate, while electronic media is a shotgun effect—merely hoping to hit the mark. While a handful of officials respect us with their dollars, we need more than words. To continue our mission, your support is needed yearround—during Black History Month, Juneteenth, and beyond. It’s time Black politicians recognize that supporting the Black Press is an investment in the community that keeps them in office.

Amid growing debates over voting rights, education access, DEI policies, and political representation, community leaders are urging voters to stay informed and engaged ahead of the May runoff election. Credit: ChatGPT

Campaign Finance Snapshot (as of March 31, 2026)

Christian Amount/ Menefee Type (D)

Al Green Amount/ (D) Type

Protect Progress $1,660,000 PAC

PAC to the PAC Future Contribution

Leaders We $287,000 Deserve

Carrin Individual Patman

Cong.

Progressive $100,000 Caucus

Bill Miller Individual

Amber Individual Mostyn

Tahir Javed Individual

John Arnold Individual

Benjamin Individual Hall III

Equality PAC PAC

Chet Individual Edwards

Our Org Support Revolution

SEIU Texas Union PAC

Houston Fed. of Endorsement Teachers

CWA Union PAC District 6

LGBTQ+ Victory PAC Fund

Financial Committee Services PACs PACs

Black Girls Local Who Brunch Support

Houston NAACP Base Donors Network

Total Raised $3,262,577 Outside $2,050,000 Spending

Total Raised $1,184,699 Outside $0 Spending

May 14, 2026 |

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| 3

DN News COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN

City Council approves $50M housing

By Tannistha Sinha

The Houston City Council approved its 2026 Annual Action Plan, amounting to $50 million in grant funds. It is a document submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as Houston’s formal application for federal formula grants.

The city conducted community meetings and once they were concluded, the Council authorized the submission of the plan to HUD. During a public meeting in Houston’s Alief neighborhood, Pastor Camelia Joseph said housing affordability in Houston is no longer as seamless as people would like.

“With our houses selling for $400,000 today, the people in our community can’t afford it,” Joseph, the founder and CEO of Camelia Joseph Ministries, said. “They work jobs at Burger King, McDonald’s, as personal care attendants, housekeeping in our hotels, and serve in our restaurants. They cannot afford a mortgage on what they’re making.”

That comment landed in a room where residents had just spent an hour arguing over a stack of color-coded dot stickers and charts,

Houston’s 2026 housing plan outlines how millions in federal funds will be distributed. Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Defender

trying to signal to the city which slice of federal housing money mattered most to them.

The choices were single-family, multifamily, public service, public facilities, and services for the homeless.

Participatory democracy in miniature, the workshop took place because the City of Houston is required by federal law to ask before submitting its action plan to HUD.

The 2026 Annual Action Plan The 2026 plan, the second year of a fiveyear consolidated strategy, will direct the $50 million federal funds toward expanding affordable housing and homeownership, reducing homelessness, supporting people with HIV/AIDS, improving neighborhood infrastructure, and boosting economic opportunities, during the program year running from July 2026 through June 2027.

It is part of the broader 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, focusing on improving conditions for low- and moderate-income residents.

Each year, the city reports progress through a performance report to track how well these goals are being met.

All three items were sponsored by the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) under Director Michael C. Nichols.

The document’s scope, however, belies a central tension that Nichols expressed to the Defender.

“The programs have too much red tape,” Nichols said. “It’s very frustrating to people.

There’s not enough money. Three hundred

and fourteen million dollars seems like a lot of money, but the damage during those storms was probably bigger than that.”

The scale of the problem Between 2018 and 2023, the median household income in Houston grew by about 22%. Median rents rose about 31%, while home values increased roughly 50%.

The plan projects a growth that will continue to increase demand, including an estimated 400,000 additional Harris County households by 2036, nearly half of which are expected to be at or below 80% AMI. Nichols noted that the county has more than 40% of its population without $400 in emergency savings.

“We have a poverty plan,” he said. “We have failed. We, as the city, Congress, and What the state, have failed residents are to address this probsaying. lem. And we need to change that.”

PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS EARLY VOTING

MAY 18-22

ELECTION DAY

MAY 26

This is your last chance to help choose who will be on the ballot in November. You can still vote even if you did not vote in the March Primaries.

Learn more at HARRISVOTES.COM BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.

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DN News What’s keeping you from voting?

• Identification and Mail-In Risks: Texas maintains strict voter ID requirements, and obtaining the necessary documents, such as birth certificates, remains a hurdle for many. Furthermore, mail-in voting is now “procedurally fragile,” where minor clerical mismatches can invalidate a vote.

• Diluted Power: Redistricting has also played a role. By “packing” Black voters into fewer districts or “cracking” them across several, the collective influence of the community is weakened. “It’s hard to find a place to vote for the candidates of our choice like we had before,” said Janice Woods of the Precinct 239 Neighborhood Civic Association.

• Intimidation and Oversight: With the Voting Rights Act weakened, Texas no longer requires federal preclearance for election changes. This shift, combined with concerns about expanded poll-watcher authority, can create a climate of apprehension at polling sites.

By Aswad Walker

Despite persistent efforts to discourage Black voter participation, Black voters in Houston and Harris County continue to serve as the political “engine” of Texas. Houston consistently outpaces the state average for Black voter turnout, often by five to 10 percentage points, according to the Pew Research Center.

While the city is a national leader in mobilization, trailing only major hubs like Atlanta and Detroit, local advocates emphasize that there is still significant room for growth.

Political analysts argue that if the hundreds of thousands of registered Black voters who currently stay home were to head to the polls, the political landscape of the city, state, and nation would be fundamentally transformed.

By the numbers As of April 2026, Harris County holds approximately 2,702,952 registered voters.

While official state agencies do not track registration by race, demographic analysis from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs estimates that Black voters make up 21% of the electorate—roughly 567,620 individuals.

The data shows a surge in engagement: Total registration has grown by over 91,000 since the 2024 general election. This momentum carried into the March 3, 2026, non-presidential primary, where Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth reported a “record-breaking” turnout of over 565,000 voters. Based on demographic estimates,

Black voters are Texas’s political engine, yet restrictive laws and internal challenges suppress turnout in Houston. Local activists are offering ways around the roadblocks. Credit: Gemini AI.

approximately 118,650 Black voters participated in that primary.

However, the sobering reality remains that an estimated 448,970 registered Black voters—roughly 79%—did not cast a ballot.

Navigating systemic barriers To increase these numbers, advocates

HARRIS COUNTY REGISTERED VOTER PROFILE TOTAL

BLACK VOTERS

Harris County Registered Voters

2,702,952

567,602

March 2026 Primary Voters

565,000

118,650

March 2026 Primary Non-Voters

2,137,952

448,970

Source: Harris County Clerk’s Office

Source: UH Hobby School of Public Affairs (est. 21% of Black voter participation)

must navigate a complex web of laws and policies that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. In recent years, Texas has implemented some of the most restrictive voting measures in the country.

• Restrictive State Law (SB 1): This sweeping legislation introduced stricter ID matching for mail-in ballots and expanded the authority of partisan poll watchers. These technical hurdles often lead to the rejection of ballots from elders and low-income voters who may lack institutional support.

• Elimination of Innovations: During the pandemic, Harris County led the Benifield nation with drive-thru and 24-hour voting. The Texas Legislature has since banned these methods. “Limited access to transportation or flexible work schedules by hourly wage workers disproportionately affects the Black, Brown, and Asian communities,” noted Annie Johnson Benifield, founder of the Houston Voting Initiative.

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 5 - NOVEMBER 20, 2025

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Content Manager Terrance Harris Community Reporter Aswad Walker Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Internal challenges and information gaps Beyond external policy, community members point to internal hurdles. Norma Thomas, an artist and advocate from Acres Homes, urges the community to remain vigilant despite the obstacles.

“We come from a people who were vigilant enough to know when and where the goal post was being moved,” Thomas said.

“We’ve got to build the plane and fly it at the same time.”

Travis McGee, an activist in Sunnyside/ South Park, empha- McGee sizes that a lack of research is a primary barrier. He argues that voters must look beyond “push cards” and campaign promises to evaluate a candidate’s actual record.

“Anyone you allow to buy you out now is pretty much guaranteed to sell you out later,” McGee warned.

Furthermore, the sheer frequency of elections—from school board races to constitutional amendments—can lead to “voter fatigue.” Benifield notes that constant changes in polling locations and voting rules create confusion that naturally suppresses turnout in marginalized neighborhoods.

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

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DN Feature SUPREME COURT & VOTING RIGHTS

Ruling hurts Black political power

By ReShonda Tate

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakening key protections under the Voting Rights Act could have major implications for Texas, where battles over congressional maps and political representation have already sparked accusations of racial gerrymandering and voter suppression.

Voting rights advocates warn the decision could make it more difficult for Black Texans to challenge district maps that dilute minority voting power, particularly in rapidly diversifying areas like Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. The ruling comes as Texas remains involved in multiple legal disputes over congressional and legislative maps drawn after the 2020 Census.

In the 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court narrowed the circumstances under which Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act may be used to challenge electoral maps that allegedly weaken minority voting strength.

“Let’s call a spade a spade: This ruling essentially guts a core protection of the Voting Rights Act,” said Harris County Attorney

Attendees hold signs advocating for voting rights and against the SAVE America Act at a rally held outside the U.S. Capitol. Credit: Getty

Jonathan Fombonne. “For decades, Section 2 helped protect communities from racial discrimination by ensuring that people of color are meaningfully represented in our democracy.”

Civil rights groups say the decision continues a broader rollback of voting protections that began with the court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which eliminated key federal oversight provisions for states with histories of voter discrimination.

The latest case originated in Louisiana, where courts previously ruled the state’s congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act because it included only one majority-Black congressional district despite Black residents making up nearly one-third of the state’s population.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented sharply, warning the ruling weakens long-standing protections designed to ensure minority voters have a fair opportunity to

elect candidates of their choice.

Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said the ruling threatens one of the last remaining safeguards against racial gerrymandering.

“When the guardrails came off in 2013 with Shelby County v. Holder, Texas and other southern states ran amok,” Crockett said. “Section 2 is now the last line of defense against racial gerrymandering, but Louisiana v. Callais could erase that too.”

Advocates say Texas could become a major testing ground for future redistricting fights, particularly in districts where Black and Latino population growth has outpaced political representation.

Louisiana and Tennessee are already facing renewed legal challenges over congressional maps critics argue weaken Black voting strength by dividing minority communities across multiple districts.

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DN ON SOCIAL THE WEB PollyTick

Top 7

The campaign signs may be fewer, and the crowds may be smaller, but the stakes in runoff elections remain high.

Runoff elections often determine who will serve on city councils, school boards, judicial benches, and in legislative seats. They directly shape policies involving public safety, education, housing, infrastructure, and economic development — issues that significantly impact Black communities across Houston and Texas.

“The May 26 Primary Runoff Election is a powerful reminder that democracy works best when every voice is heard. For communities of color across the Greater Houston area and throughout Texas, this election is an opportunity to ensure that our voices, concerns, and hopes for the future resonate through the power of the vote,” said Dr. Annie Johnson Benifield, president, Houston Voting Initiative.

This is the third special election in the area in the last month, and election officials are worried it could further

suppress voter turnout.

“I know sometimes voters say, ‘Why can’t you combine them all in one day?’ Well, because the constitution doesn’t allow for it. Primaries can’t be combined with special elections. Uniform elections can’t be combined with other elections,” said Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth.

Historically, voter turnout in runoff elections has been sharply lower than in general elections. According to election analysts, that drop in participation can increase the influence of smaller groups of highly engaged voters and make close races even more consequential. In some local Texas races, winners have been decided by only a few hundred votes.

In Texas’ Congressional District 18 runoff earlier this year, fewer than 24,000 voters decided a race in a district with more than 423,000 registered voters. As early voting continues for the May 26 runoff election, here are 10 reasons why participation in runoff elections still matters.

1.

3.

By ReShonda Tate

Runoffs are often decided by small margins

Runoff elections frequently see lower voter turnout, which can make close races even more competitive. According to Ballotpedia, 21 elections in Texas have been decided by less than 10 votes since 2018.

“Runoff elections are often decided by a small number of people, which means every vote truly matters,” Benifield added. “When communities of color turn out to vote, we help shape decisions that affect our schools, healthcare, jobs, neighborhoods, public safety, and voting rights. Our participation sends a clear message that our communities will not be ignored or left behind.”

2.

Local elections shape everyday life

Local elected officials make the granular decisions that affect your wallet and your daily routine. They set the rates for water, garbage, and electric bills, and decide which streets get repaired or which drainage projects are prioritized. In Houston and Harris County, these leaders determine how often your trash is picked up and exactly how your local tax dollars are reinvested into your community.

REASONS TO VOTE IN THE MAY 26 RUNOFF

What to Know...

By ReShonda Tate Texas voters return to the polls on Tues., May 26, to decide several high-stakes statewide, congressional, and local races. These runoffs occur because no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the March primaries.

Voting Logistics • Early Voting: May 18 – May 22.

• Election Day: Tues., May 26.

• Eligibility: If you voted in the March primary, you must vote in that same party’s runoff. If you did not vote in March, you may choose either party’s ballot.

Statewide Marquee Races • U.S. Senate (Republican): Incumbent John Cornyn faces Attorney General Ken Paxton in a nationally watched battle. The winner faces Democrat James Talarico in November.

• Attorney General: With Paxton running for Senate, the GOP runoff features State Sen. Mayes Middleton vs. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy. Democrats will choose between State Sen. Nathan Johnson and attorney Joe Jaworski.

Congressional and County races impact major policy

Members of Congress pass laws that define healthcare access, protect voting rights, and set immigration policy. They determine the funding levels for programs like Social Security and Medicare, which determine how much support seniors receive. They also debate and pass federal civil rights legislation, such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which sets the standards for how easy or difficult it is for you to cast a ballot in any election.

At the county level, leaders act as the bridge between federal resources and your f r o n t d o o r.

Harris County officials decide how to distribute billions in federal disaster recovery grants, meaning they cho o s e w hi ch neighborhoods get new drainage systems first after a major hurricane. They also oversee public hospital systems and large-scale affordable housing initiatives, ensuring that families have a place to live and a place to receive medical care regardless of their income.

MAY 26 RUNOFF

• Lieutenant Governor (Democratic): State Rep. Vikki Goodwin faces educator Marcos Velez for the right to challenge incumbent Dan Patrick.

• Railroad Commissioner (Republican): Incumbent Jim Wright is challenged by Bo French to lead the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency.

Some of the persons on the ballot for the May 26 election are, starting top left and going clockwise: Congressman Christian Menefee, Congressman Al Green, Senator John Cornyn, Texas A.G. Ken Paxton, City Councilmember Letitia Plummer, and former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

Whether it’s a federal mandate or a local property tax, these decisions determine if our community has the resources it needs to thrive.

4.

School board elections affect students and families

criminal, civil and family courts. Judges make decisions involving bail, sentencing, child custody, probate matters and civil disputes.

According to the Texas Judicial Branch, judges also oversee cases involving voting rights, public corruption and constitutional challenges, making judicial elections among the most consequential races on local ballots.

School boards oversee superintendent hiring, district budgets, what students are taught and how students are disciplined.

Education researchers have noted that school board elections often attract significantly lower turnout than statewide contests, despite the broad authority Harris County voters can school boards hold over pubfind polling locations, lic education systems. sample ballots and election information Judicial through the Harris County elections Clerk’s Office. carry major

5.

consequences

Texas voters elect judges at multiple levels, including

6.

Consistent voters often receive more political attention

Political campaigns are datadriven; they prioritize the neighborhoods that show up. Political scientists note that communities with consistent turnout are viewed as more influential because elected officials closely monitor participation patterns. By voting in runoffs — where turnout is lowest — your individual influence is actually amplified, forcing candidates to listen to your specific needs.

GET COMPLETE ELECTION COVERAGE.

Houston & Harris County Key Races • U.S. House District 18 (Democratic): A heavyweight matchup between incumbent Rep. Christian Menefee and longtime neighboring Rep. Al Green.

• Harris County Judge: (Democratic): Former Mayor Annise Parker vs. Council Member Letitia Plummer.

7.

Voting rights have deep historical significance in Texas

Black Texans historically faced barriers to voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests and intimidation tactics during the Jim Crow era.

Historians and civil rights organizations note that runoff participation remains significant because voting access was secured through decades of legal challenges, activism and protections under the Voting Rights Act. “The right to vote was hard fought and hard won.

Generations before us marched, organized, and sacrificed so that we could fully participate in democracy. Honoring that legacy means showing up at the ballot box — not just during presidential elections, but in every election, especially runoffs where outcomes can be determined by only a handful of votes,” Benifield said.

• Republican: Orlando Sanchez vs. Warren Howell.

• District Clerk (Democratic): Darrell Jordan Jr. vs. Jose “Alex” Maldonado.

• 209th District Court (Democratic): Incumbent Brian Warren vs. Ysidra “Sissy” Kyles.

• Texas House District 131 (Democratic): Staci Childs vs. Lawrence Allen Jr. • Texas House District 149 (Democratic): Incumbent Hubert Vo vs. Darlene Breaux.

• HCDE Trustee, Pos. 7 (Republican): Denise Dick vs.

Beverly Barrett.

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DN Feature

New generation Revitalizes funeral service industry

well, and they want to do better by the next Mary Domio was 16 when her mother family.” died.

Recent graduate Mikenzie Scott did not At the funeral, she have one defining loss that pushed her into watched closely as the field. Instead, she describes funeral service the director guided as an extension of who she has always been. her family through “Growing up, I was always wanting to one of the hardest help,” Scott said. “Anybody who knew Mackdays of their lives. enzie knew she was going to want to help with Weeks later, that something.” same funeral direcHer parents encouraged her to pursue tor visited her high Mary Domio medicine or law. She chose a different verschool for career day. sion of stability.

Domio walked him around campus. The “People are always going to be sick. People next morning, she told her family she was are always going to need lawyers,” she said. going to mortuary school.

“And I thought, well, everybody has to pass Twenty-five years later, she is a licensed away. And I want to be there to help people funeral director and founder of Signature in the darkest moments of their lives.”

Memorial Chapel, a Black woman-owned Her first embalming lab at Commonwealth funeral home she built after converting a was the moment that solidified her calling. former auto parts store into a full-service “It was definitely like, wow,” Scott said. “I chapel and repast space. didn’t realize there was this much involved.”

Her entry into the profession came Students at Commonwealth perform real decades ago. Now, a new generation is fol- embalmings under instructor supervision. lowing a similar path.

Scott said unwrapping the body of someone’s Across the country, Gen Z and younger loved one carries emotional weight. millennials are entering funeral service in “In that bag is somebody’s whole world,” growing numbers, drawn by purpose-driven she said. “You treat this person as if they are work, social media visibility, and a desire to gold. They are meant to be cherished, loved, normalize conversations about death. treated with the utmost dignity and respect.”

Their arrival comes as the profession faces Historically dominated by older white a looming labor shortage. Industry estimates men, the funeral service is seeing a rise in indicate more than 60% of funeral directors women and more diverse leadership. Black are expected to retire within the next five women, in particular, are carving out space in years, creating significant workforce gaps. a field that once offered them limited visibilAt the Commonwealth Institute of ity. Organizations such as 100 Black Women Funeral Service in Houston, President of Funeral Service have emerged to provide Cody Lopasky said the demographic shift mentorship and support for women navigatis evident in enrollment. ing the industry.

“Most of our students tend to Domio represents that shift be around 21 up through around locally. She describes herself as 35,” Lopasky said. “You’re catch“very traditional, very conservaing both Gen Z and millennials tive” in how she serves families, in that group.” but she also sees generational difThe institute draws students ferences emerging. from across the country. Lopasky “I see a lot of new funeral said roughly 20% of recent gradhomes coming up in the city,” Mortuary uates identify as African AmerDomio said. “And the majority school ican and nearly 40% identify of them are more of the younger graduate as students of color. He added community,” shares that job placement rates hover Younger funeral directors are her career around 90%, reflecting strong often more comfortable intestory. demand across the industry. The grating technology into services.

U.S. funeral market is estimated Livestreamed homegoings, digito be worth around $20.8 billion annually in tal memorial pages, and active social media 2025, with approximately 3.1 million deaths accounts are becoming more common. projected for the year.

Lopasky said online searches are now the “A large group of people come to us primary way prospective students discover because they have had a death in the family,” mortuary programs, reflecting the role of Lopasky said. “Either it went really well, and platforms like TikTok and YouTube in demythey think, I can do that too, or it didn’t go stifying the field.

By Laura Onyeneho

Over 60% of funeral directors are expected to retire within the next five years, creating unprecedented opportunities for younger, diverse professionals entering the death care industry. Credit: ChatGPT images

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DN Profile FORMER TEACHER

Fred McBride Builds a sea-to-table dream

By ReShonda Tate

Inspired by his grandfather’s love of fishing, Captain Fred McBride has turned a lifelong passion into a business rooted in community and fresh, locally sourced seafood. Courtesy Fred McBride.

On any given morning, before most of Houston has had its first cup of coffee, Captain Fred McBride is already on the water.

Not in a metaphorical sense—but literally.

He’s casting lines, checking traps, pulling in blue crabs and fish that, just hours later, could land on someone’s plate in the very neighborhood that raised him.

For years, McBride has caught fresh seafood and sold it to local notable chefs in the area. Now, he’s decided to do it for himself, bringing his new fast-casual concept to life with Captain Mc’s Seafood.

“I’ve been fishing full-time for five years, where I really kind of had to perfect learning how to catch this stuff at a big scale, so that my eventual goal was to open up my own place,” McBride said.

A different kind of leap of faith

Long before he was known as Captain Fred, he was “Mr. McBride” in the classroom.

For 18 years, the classically-trained McBride taught orchestra — violin, viola, cello, and bass — at Houston schools, pouring into students the same discipline and creativity that once shaped him. A graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), now known as Kinder HSPVA, McBride shared his passion for music with countless area youth as an orchestra director for North Forest ISD and Drawing encouragement from his wife Houston ISD. Juliet, McBride did something most people But somewhere around year 15, only talk about: He followed his something shifted. dreams.

“I loved the student growth that I saw in teaching, but in Learning the water, 2019, I sort of had a midlife the hard way crisis,” said McBride, reflectTransitioning from a ing on the moment that structured classroom to would quietly redirect his life. the unpredictable world of “I started asking myself what commercial fishing wasn’t it is that I truly love to do.” easy, and there was no The answer had been blueprint. with him since he was four Captain Fred McBride, “Probably the greatyears old. Fishing, some- a retired HISD music est challenge I had was thing that had been intro- teacher turned commercial just the learning curve,” duced by his grandfather, fisherman, is bringing a fresh he said. “There was no an educator himself who “sea-to-table” seafood example for me.” spent more than 40 years concept to Houston’s Griggs Still, the teacher in shaping young minds.

Road, serving fish he often him never left. McBride “My mother would sit catches himself. Credit: studied, watched, in her car and read while Shane Dante learned, then adapted. my brother and I went fishEventually, a seasoned ing,” he said. “She knew the fisherman took him importance of it and that under his wing, giving it, in addition to our music, would keep us him just enough guidance to help him see out of trouble.” what was possible. From there, McBride did

Fred McBride wanted to bring fresh food to the neighborhood he grew up in. Credit: Shane Dante

what he had always done best: figure it out.

Within a few years, he wasn’t just fishing — he was supplying. His catch — black drum, flounder, sheepshead, blue crabs — started landing in the kitchens of some of Houston’s most respected chefs.

“If I can sell it to them,” he said, eventually starting to think, “I need to be trying to sell it to myself.”

That idea would become the foundation of everything that came next.

Sea-to-table, for real

At Captain Mc’s Seafood, the concept is simple, but almost unheard of at this scale.

McBride is the fisherman and the restaurateur. He catches the seafood himself — often in Baytown and Galveston — and brings it straight to his kitchen, sometimes within hours of it being pulled from the water.

“Our diners will have the real possibility of eating a fish or blue crab that was caught early that morning and fried up just in time for dinner,” he said.

In a city where seafood often travels hundreds — or thousands — of miles before

reaching a plate, it’s a game changer.

McBride is intentional about what he serves, too. Everything is wild-caught. The difference, he explains, is in the diet—and ultimately, the flavor.

Wild-caught fish, feeding naturally in the ocean, carry a taste that simply can’t be replicated.

“That’s why seafood in Galveston tastes different,” he said. “Because it’s wild-caught.”

Now, he’s bringing that same experience inland.

Coming home to build something bigger

The restaurant sits on Griggs Road, not far from where McBride grew up.

“I grew up straight down that street,” he said, recalling the businesses that came and went long before his own dream took shape there.

Now, he’s adding something new to that story.

“I’m just hoping to invest in this community, which is the community that I grew up in,” he said.

In a part of Houston that hasn’t always been first in line for high-profile culinary investments, Captain Mc’s is quietly shifting the narrative while demonstrating alignment. Taking what you love, what you’ve learned, and where you come from - and building something that honors all three.

“I wanted to leave something for my sons, that’s how I fell into fishing. When you do something, and you spend a lot of hours in it, you’d better love what you do,” he said.

“This has been the ultimate labor of love, and I couldn’t be more excited to share what I catch daily and share it with my Houston community,” McBride Captain Mc’s is located at 5055 Griggs Rd, Houston, Texas 77021. Visit www.captainmcs.com

10 | May 14, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

By Terrance Harris

When Kacey Menyoli decided to come to Prairie View A&M, some opportunities made her college choice an easy one.

It was the chance for the former Ridge Point High School standout to continue her golf career, attend a prestigious HBCU, get an education, and pursue her medical aspirations.

Making histor y wasn’t part of the equation.

But that is exactly what Menyoli and the Panthers have accomplished with an opportunity to add to history this week Menyoli when the Prairie View women’s golf team competed in its first-ever NCAA Regionals in Waco. The Panthers arrived at this point after winning their first SWAC Championship in program history last month.

“It feels pretty amazing to get to this point, especially since I’m a senior,” said Menyoli, who led the charge during the Panthers wire-to-wire SWAC Championship run in Alabama. “I’ve been playing on this team for four years. So it’s a pretty big accomplishment to finally win the SWAC and have a chance to perform well at Regionals.”

It’s a dream the Panthers didn’t really know they could dream until this season.

With each stroke and every successful round during the three-day SWAC Championship, reality began to set in that Prairie View could accomplish something the program had never imagined.

“I’ve never won any sort of tournament before,” said Menyoli, who was named second-team All-SWAC this season. “So to perform that well under pressure, especially after the second round, it was really amazing, a great feeling to come back after the round and to see my teammates’ faces – men and women – to have all of that was really a good feeling.”

The Panthers had a chance to build on the history made at the Regionals, which ran May 11-13. It was a stacked Regional that included No.1 seed Texas A&M, Oregon, Baylor, TCU, LSU, and SMU. The top-five finishers advanced to the national championships.

First-year coach Kortland Ware believed in his team’s chances to advance. “ The best par t about it is that we are not playing other teams. We are not playing the top teams in the nation. We are just playing a golf course,” said Ware, who was named SWAC Coach of the Ware Year. “Everybody is playing the golf course; there is no defense, there is no offense, there is no passing the ball because you’re not dribbling well. It’s you, and it’s against the golf course.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY

Women’s Golf Eyes NCAA History

Honestly, I’m happy that we’ve even gotten to this point, because this hasn’t happened before for our school. I think I can come away with whatever we do out there. I’m just happy we are out there.

We are on TV, and everyone sees our name. They know of our school now.”

KACEY MENYOLI Prairie View senior

Prairie View senior Kacey Menyoli has been a big part of the women’s golf program’s historical season, where the Panthers have won the SWAC Championship for the first time and are now headed to their first-ever NCAA Regionals competition: Credit: Mylene Cannon/Prairie View

“You play the golf course well, add up the numbers, and there is a good chance we are going to make it to the next round.”

Arriving at that point and faced with the chance to advance further didn’t come without some nuance and change.

The greatest obstacle came last summer when they learned that their coach, Mesha Levister, had left the program to become the director of golf at North Carolina A&T. The next challenge came when Ware was hired to replace Levister as the head coach of the men’s and women’s teams.

Ware is an accomplished coach having elevated the Lincoln University program, but he was different from what the team was accustomed to.

Ware’s coaching style is more hands-off and … well, he is a man.

But over the course of the season, and

with the results, what was at first a challenging transition has become smoother, if not completely smooth.

“It was a little (tough) because I think we really liked Coach Mesha. She was a great coach,” said junior captain Briann Br ig gs. “But being able to achieve something this good under a new coach is also really a really good feat. That’s a positive side.”

Wit h f reshman Briggs Fernanda Rendon as the only new contributor, Ware and assistant coach J.P. Thornton have relied on lineups this season that include returning players like Neveah Figueroa, Micaiah Joubert,

Madison Williams, Briggs, and Menyoli.

There has been steady growth among the players and consistent competition for the top five spots in each tournament.

“It’s like night and day,” said Thornton, who was captain of Texas Southern’s Championship team in 2007 and is now credited by the PV players for providing the detailed coaching they desired. “I got here probably right after their third event of the year, and looking at their scoring average, I think within the first … When they got back from the Bahamas, I was just looking at what they were doing in practice. I started developing stats, trying to keep stats on how they were doing, then trending, and from there I was kind of able to individualize their practice and really hone in on certain areas of their games that they needed to work on and to improve.”

May 14, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports Austin High School’s

Greg Leon Plays for more than himself

Austin High School senior Greg Leon (7) throws a fastball from the mound in a game against Milby at Butler Stadium. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

By Jimmie Aggison

Every time senior pitcher Greg Leon steps onto the mound for Austin High School, he carries more than just the ball.

He pitches with purpose, driven not only by his own college ambitions but also by the story of his older brother, Xavier Leon, whose athletic career was cut short in sixth grade due to a heart condition. For Greg, baseball is no longer merely a game; it’s a duty, a reminder, and a promise to never take a single moment for granted.

“During big moments when I’m on the mound, I trust in myself and the ability that God has given me,” said Greg. “I know that with him, nothing is impossible.”

Greg has become the pitcher his team relies on in crucial moments, whether it’s pitching through tough innings or closing out close games. In baseball, he’s Austin’s ace.

“When Greg faces pressure, he finds an internal gear that helps him get more out of himself,” said Austin head baseball coach Dan Reed. “He doesn’t withdraw from others; in fact, he always takes time to give advice and help his teammates.”

But the intensity Greg brings to the mound isn’t just about winning. It’s rooted in something deeper than baseball as he is motivated by what his brother is missing out on as a result of his heart condition.

“After the first couple of visits to the doctor, I learned not to take the game for granted, and play to my fullest every game

because you never know when it could be your last,” said Greg.

For Xavier, walking away from the game was a tough reality, not only for him but for his entire family.

“It was devastating when the doctor broke the news,” said Xavier. “Our whole family was heavily involved in sports. I had grown up playing for as long as I could remember.

I was on a competitive team, and to have it taken away from one day to the next was heavy.”

Xavier’s diagnosis was a challenge the family had to learn to handle.

That perspective didn’t stay at home; it followed Greg onto the field, shaping how he approaches every pitch as he now plays for something bigger than himself.

Never let a bad day bring you down; instead, learn from it and understand how to benefit from it.”

GREG LEON

“Playing for more than yourself means giving your all for your family and the people who sacrificed for you,” said Greg.

Over four years on varsity, Coach Reed has watched Greg develop into a leader, and he believes Greg’s mindset is what sets him apart from others.

“Above all, he has the mentality of a leader,” said Reed. “He shows signs of becoming a great coach one day, but he also leads through his actions on the field.”

That mindset not only shapes how Greg plays but also creates opportunities for his future. He has started attracting interest from several colleges, including Dallas Christian College, Rust College, and Ranger College.

“These offers mean everything to my family and me,” said Greg. “They represent all the sacrifices we have made and give me a chance to live my dream.”

Although he has not yet committed, Greg is searching for a program that feels like home, one built on a strong family atmosphere, a winning culture, and a focus on development.

“With the right program and drive, Greg could go far,” said Reed. “I do not believe that he has hit his full potential yet.”

“Seeing Greg reach this point in his athletic journey is something that the family is proud of because we know how much he loves and enjoys the game,” said Javier Leon, the father of Greg and Xavier.

Even with future opportunities, Greg stays

true to the same mindset that brought him here, one built on sacrifice, faith, and family support.

“Long road trips, missing work, and hot days at the field have become part of our journey,” said Javier. “We’ve been through a lot, but we’ve enjoyed it just as much as he does as a family seeing his siblings and him grow and doing the things they love.”

“Watching Greg succeed means everything,” said Xavier. “He deserves all of it.

The Lord has blessed him with incredible talent, and I’m just honored to have had the privilege of watching him grow.”

“My family taught me how to see the good in bad situations, to let God take control and know that he is with me at all times,” said Greg. “Never let a bad day bring you down; instead, learn from it and understand how to benefit from it.”

That gratitude keeps Greg inspired every time he steps between the lines.

“What makes Greg’s story unique is that he’s very unassuming, and it’s been like that since he was little, playing T-ball,” said Xavier.

“He may not look the part, but he surprises a lot of people once they actually get to play with him. He’s not the most athletic guy, but he has incredible game sense, and that’s because he’s been around the game his whole life.”

For Greg Leon, every pitch means more than just baseball; it’s about honoring opportunity, family, and a shared dream between brothers.

12 | May 14, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

Minutes Matter During a Stroke

By SHONTE BYRD, MD

May is Stroke Awareness Month, Month and in Houston, it arrives as temperatures rise. Heat can affect hydration and blood pressure, which raises stroke risk for some people. Knowing stroke warning signs helps you act quickly when time matters most.

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when bleeding occurs in the brain. Brain cells can be injured within minutes, so fast treatment can limit damage and improve the chance of recovery.

Stroke Warning Signs Can Be Subtle Some strokes cause sudden weakness on one side of the body. Other strokes affect speech, vision, sensation, or thinking and can be harder to recognize.

Symptoms can include: • Trouble speaking or finding words • Blurred vision or double vision

• New numbness, often on one side of the body • Sudden confusion or trouble understanding what’s happening Who Has Higher Stroke Risk Stroke risk is higher for people with high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, or a history of smoking. Risk rises with age, though younger adults can have strokes.

In Black communities, high blood pressure often starts earlier and may cause no symptoms for years. Regular care helps catch changes early, even when you feel well.

When To Seek Emergency Care Call 911 immediately if you notice any of these stroke warning signs. If you can, note when symptoms begin.

• Face drooping or numbness on one side

Get Care NOW! With Same Day, Next Day In-Person and Video Visit Primary Care Appointments.

24/7 SCHEDULING IS EASY Scan to schedule a primary care appointment or call

713-442-7025

• Weakness in an arm or leg • Speech that’s slurred or hard to understand • Sudden vision loss or a severe headache with no clear cause Do not wait and do not drive yourself to the hospital.

When To Call Your Doctor At Kelsey Seybold Clinic, a visit can review stroke risk, discuss symptoms you weren’t sure about, and check blood pressure or heart rhythm. Care teams can share records within the system and help coordinate follow-up when needed.

To learn more or schedule a visit, call 713-442-7025 or visit kelsey-seybold.com. kelsey-seybold.com

Shonte Byrd, MD, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Neurology Memorial Villages Campus

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