COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, U.S. REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN MENEFEE, OTHERS HONOR STATE

that see through the scales of justice and demand "Justice for All!"

After Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and others bestowed accolades on state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Texas’ longest serving legislator then brought the crowd to laughter at a ceremony to unveil two downtown murals, one that honors her.

“I want to say thank you,” said Rep. Thompson, who then broken into laughter when she added: “I am running for re-election. Just letting you know this is not – (with) all these pictures of me – that I’m retiring. I want to make sure that I get that out of the way.”

Behind Rep. Thompson a few blocks to the southeast, the mural on the north side of the Harris County Attorney’s Office building honors the legislator affectionately known as “Ms. T.” The artwork features her hypnotic eyes

On the west side of the building, there’s the “Lady Justice Mural” that captures UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The murals are inspired by Harris County’s planned Remembrance Park, which aims to create a space of recognition and discourse around the historical arc of racial terror and the continuing existence of systemic injustice in the country. On Friday, Feb. 10, Commissioner Ellis, County Attorney Christian Menefee, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, other elected officials and community leaders gathered on the University of Houston-Downtown’s south deck to unveil the murals and honor Rep. Thompson during Black History Month.

“The County Attorney’s building is on the site of one of the most popular slave auction trading blocks in Houston,” Commissioner Ellis said. “That, in part, is why I thought these two women would be important to be on this building. The two murals we are unveiling today are inspired by Black women.”

Commissioner Ellis started a parade of speakers who honored Rep. Thompson for her public service. “Her legacy is built not just on these legislative achievements, but on the barriers she has broken and the obstacles she has overcome to achieve them,” Commissioner Ellis said. “She has served in the Legislature longer than any woman or any Black person in all of Texas history. For 50 years, she has been at the forefront for the fight of justice and equality under the pink dome in Austin and here at home as well.”

Rep. Jackson Lee, who introduced Rep. Thompson, called her “stoic and serious.”

“Her bills have impacted so many,” Rep. Jackson Lee said. “She was at the cornerstone of the James Byrd Hate Crime bill for those of you who remember that heinous act in our community. ... She’s been a champion for women’s rights. She’s been a fighter against domestic violence. She’s a fight- er for reproduction rights – successfully so. And, of course, she has been a fighter against human trafficking.”

County Attorney Menefee said words on his office’s logo -- integrity, community, justice and service – remind him of Rep. Thompson.

“All those words perfectly describe you in your legacy and the service that you have had to the people of the state of Texas,” Menefee said. “I consider it to be my honor to be in office when we are able to put you on the wall.” Rep. Thompson said the murals mean so much to her. She said it’s not because her image is on one, but for what they represent.

“I was reared and was nurtured in my family and in my community to respect diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said. “That’s been the hallmark of my life and it will continue to be till God takes me home. We have to do things that will improve the lives of people on this earth.” emorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center announces tickets for the first North American tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical will go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10AM. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will play the Hobby Center February

PHOTO ID: Rep. Senfronia Thompson, with the mural with her eyes in the background, speak at the Remembrance Murals unveiling event that also honored her for her public service.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards including Best Musical, two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened to critical acclaim at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the Summer of 2019 and reopened in September 2021 following the shutdown of Broadway

“Spectacular! Euphoric! In Moulin Rouge! The Musical, life is beautiful,” raves The New York Times.

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a fabulous new musical. The high begins the instant you walk into the theatre,” said the New York Post. Entertainment Weekly concludes that “it’s easy to believe that Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers and with a book by Tony

Award winner John Logan, choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine.

The design team for Moulin Rouge! The Musical includes Tony Award winner Derek McLane (sets), Tony Award winner Catherine Zuber (costumes), Tony Award winner Justin Townsend (lighting), Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (sound), Drama Desk Award winner David Brian Brown (wig and hair design), Sarah Cimino (Makeup design) and Tony Award winner Matt Stine (Music Producer). Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Stephen Kopel.

Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular … Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and - above all - Love. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.

For more information, please visit haul.org/eodgala or contact Brandi Ledet | bledet@haul.org | 713-393-8783

As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie, and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 21 years ago.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is produced by Carmen Pavlovic and Gerry Ryan OAM for Global Creatures and Bill Damaschke. General management is by Foresight Theatrical.

Co-producers of the touring production include Aaron Lustbader, Hunter Arnold, Darren Bagert, Erica Lynn Schwartz/Matt Picheny/Stephanie Rosenberg, Adam Blanshay Productions/Nicolas & Charles Talar, Iris Smith, Aleri Entertainment, Sophie Qi/Harmonia Holdings, CJ ENM, Len Blavatnik, Ambassador Theatre Group, Endeavor Content, John Gore Organization, Spencer Ross, Gilad-Rogowsky/InStone Productions, AF Creative Media/International Theatre Fund, Nederlander Presentations/IPN, Cody Renard Richard, Jujamcyn Theaters, Eric Falkenstein/Suzanne Grant, Peter May/Sandy Robertson, Tom & Pam Faludy, Triptyk Studio, Carl Daikeler/Sandi Moran, Desantis-Baugh Productions, Red Mountain Theatre Company/ 42ND.CLUB, Candy Spelling/Tulchin Bartner, Roy Furman, Andrew & Ruby Ryan, Brent & Sarah Deboer

Houston area celebrity chefs teamed up with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto to create unique desserts using Girl Scout cookies as their key ingredient at the 12th annual Just Desserts. This event is one of the kickoff events for the 2023 cookie season.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. Monies raised from cookie sales help fund unique adventures in scouting for girls all year