by By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest and María Méndez
Some implications of the ruling ordering the policy’s end are still unknown. College access experts urged affected students not to withdraw from school while they assess their options.
An estimated crowd of 15,000 gathered outside Houston City Hall on Saturday for a demonstration against President Donald Trump and his policies. Similar protests were held around the region.
Comics books do more than entertain — they preserve memory, challenge borders, and celebrate identity. Typically defined as a collection of comic strips, comic books often tell a single story or a series of interconnected ones. The exhibition Borders, Bleeds, Margins, and Gutters, currently on view at Centro de Artes in San Antonio, celebrates this power, bringing together eight artists whose work highlights a variety of Latino narratives: Frederick Luis Aldama, Gonzalo Alvarez, Jonathan Hill, Melissa Mendes, Breena Nuñez, Dave Ortega, Mara Ramirez, and Raúl the Third. The show was curated by Gabe Garcia and Micah Bornstein.
The exhibit presents comics, both in their complete and sketched versions, at varying scales. Some are displayed in glass cases for close examination, while others are enlarged and affixed to the walls, immersing viewers in their bold visuals. I find this approach interesting, as it offers a snippet of the larger chronicles within the books.
Melissa Mendes, comic strip in “The Weight,” 2020, digital print. Courtesy of the artist
Melissa Mendes transports us to rural upstate New York in the mid-1900s with The Weight, a comic inspired by her late grandfather’s lived experiences. The monochromatic story follows Edie, a tomboyish young woman who is shaped by the fusion of Mendes’ artistic vision and her grandfather’s experiences. When I asked Mendes how she created Edie, she told me, “I feel like I’m a vessel for a story that already exists in the ether, and I’m just laying it out on paper.”
The portion of the story presented at Centro de Artes explores adolescence, where Edie and Johnny, her neighbor, awkwardly fumble through a moment of accidental contact. Upset by the incident, Edie spits out a cigarette, which she and Johnny were gleefully sharing moments before. These characters represent the ordinary people of New York state, who are close in proximity but socially far removed from the artistic hub of Manhattan. Mendes gives voice to communities in the margins, a fitting inspiration for the exhibit’s title.
Raúl the Third, page 6 of “!Vamos! Let’s cross the Bridge” from the “World of ¡Vamos! Series,” 2021, digital print. Courtesy of the artist
Raúl the Third represents the physical U.S.-Mexico border at El Paso and Ciudad Juárez in the pages of ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge. This is the third book in the World of ¡Vamos! series, which currently consists of 12 titles. In the gallery, pages six through 11 are enlarged on the wall, offering a detailed look at Little Lobo’s journey across the Bridge of the Americas. Locals call it the Puente Libre (Free Bridge) because there’s no toll to cross.
The scene on page six bursts with life, where anthropomorphic animals go about their day. In the bustling market by the bridge, vibrant stalls overflow with goods while cheerful chatter fills the air. A vendor hands a delighted customer a scoop of ice cream, children race through crowds with laughter trailing behind them, and colorful balloons bob above as friends pause to share stories and smiles. On the Puente Libre, characters travel by car and on foot. In the background, the region’s topography includes mountains topped with a boot and the heads of archetypal animal figures, such as a jaguar and a dog.
The abundance of figures combined with Western scenery in Raúl the Third’s comic illustrates the energy of the El Paso-Juárez area. While looking at this image, I couldn’t help but wonder which side of the border the market was on. In a one-on-one conversation with Raúl, he states, “I never make clear which side is which. It doesn’t matter. When I was a kid, we crossed every day and back. I had no idea that I was crossing into another country.” The artist captures his childhood memories in a way that he now shares with other children in both the U.S. and Mexico with his award-winning books.
Breena Nuñez, comic strip in “From Here to There,” 2018, digital print. Courtesy of the artist
Breena Nuñez examines their Central American identity through their comics. In From Here to There, Nuñez showcases their pride in natural hair. Their father is groovy, with a fuzzy coat, a curated mustache, and an afro. Nuñez writes, “Power to the Poof!” beneath this framed depiction of their father. In an interview with Prime Vice Studios, Nuñez states, “My stories these days are about my reactions to racism I’ve encountered as a youth, anti-blackness in the Latino community, reclaiming blackness, and venting about anti-Central American sentiments from the Trump administration.” Through bold lines and personal storytelling, Nuñez issues a call to action: to appreciate and affirm the beauty of Afro-Latinx kids and their hair.
This is just a glimpse of the many compelling stories on display in this exhibit. Each artist brings a unique perspective, crafting characters and worlds that expand the boundaries of how Latino narratives are told and experienced. Borders, Bleeds, Margins, and Gutters invites us to step into these stories — to see, feel, and reflect on the complexities of identity, migration, and culture. Explore the margins at Centro de Artes and discover the powerful voices shaping the future of comics.
Borders, Bleeds, Margins and Gutters is on display at Centro de Artes until August 17, 2025.
Bistro Menil, the iconic restaurant on the campus of the Menil Collection, has announced its upcoming closure.
Bistro Menil
Chef Greg Martin, a native Houstonian, opened the restaurant in 2014 as part of the museum’s campus expansion. Inspired by regional food and wine from Spain, France, and Italy, Bistro Menil has since become a beloved dining space. Patrons flocked to social media to voice their surprise and sadness over the closure, as well as their appreciation for the restaurant’s decade of service. Many noted that Bistro Menil’s menu was unique in that much of it was gluten free, making the restaurant a staple for the Celiac and gluten free communities.
Renzo Piano, who designed the Menil Collection building, originally imagined a cafe as part of the campus. When Bistro Menil opened, the museum’s then-director Josef Helfenstein told the Houston Chronicle, “We have long wanted to develop a cafe on our campus, not only as a service to our visitors from Houston and around the world, but also as a place of interaction between the museum and the community. With the opening of Bistro Menil, and the completion of a new campus gateway into which it is incorporated, we take a step forward in our larger plans to make the Menil more open and engaging for all.”
No direct reason has been given for the closure; Mr. Martin’s social media post noted, “it is time to conclude this chapter.” The Menil Collection has not responded to Glasstire’s inquiries about what is next for the restaurant space on its campus.
The restaurant will remain open through June 22. Its normal operating hours are Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit Bistro Menil’s website to view the menu and make a reservation.
HOUSTON, Texas – Multiple protests have erupted throughout the country these past few weeks over immigration raids being conducted. Americans are now questioning if the Trump Administration is actually focusing on criminals or if this is a simple case of racial profiling.
This past week there has been great unrest for the City of Los Angeles, and many other cities around the country as well. Some protests have been peaceful and cordial, and others seem to have erupted with destruction and chaos. Throughout this the newly elected LAPD Chief of Police, Jim McDonnel, released a statement stating, ” While the LAPD will continue to have a visible presence in all our communities to ensure public safety, we will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD try to determine an individual’s immigration status.” McDonnel also goes on to say that “I want everyone, including our immigrant community, to feel safe calling the police in their time of need and know that the LAPD will be there for you without regard to one’s immigration status.”
With all of these events going on, President Trump has threatened California Governor, Gavin Newsom, with deploying the US Marines and National Guard in order to help control the “rowdy” crowds. However, Governor Newsom claims that he had a very decent conversation with President Trump over the phone, after the protests had started, in which they talked about many different issues, but President Trump never brought up the fact that he was thinking of deploying the National Guard. Newsom then goes on to call President Trump a “stone cold liar”. In a newly released state address featuring Governor Gavin Newsom, he states “Donald Trumps’s government isn’t protecting our communities. They’re traumatizing our communities and that seems to be the entire point.” President Trump spent his entire campaign promising that he would only go after and deport the biggest most dangerous criminals if he was elected. Now people are wondering if that was all an act to secure his seat as President.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – The annual Montreal Grand Prix has arrived, but one championship-winning Formula One driver decided to forego the traditional lavish displays of the competition and entered the race in a 2005 Honda Civic driven by Craig Sanders, his Uber driver. “I just couldn’t bring myself to participate in all that this year,” said […]
According to organizers, the demonstrations have been purposefully scheduled to correspond with President Donald Trump’s military-themed parade set to take place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The parade will honor the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army as well as the 79th birthday of Trump.
More than 60 rallies were planned across Texas in a nationwide protest targeting the Trump administration. An arrest was made near Austin related to a threat against state lawmakers who attended a protest at the Capitol.
HAMILTON, ON – In a growing trend, some Canadian dads won’t be receiving a traditional Father’s Day gift this year. Instead of tools, flannel, or mid-tier barbecue accessories, they’ll be getting their minds blown—on 7 grams of magic mushrooms. With psilocybin mushrooms, or “shrooms” available in specialty shops scattered across the country, it’s never been […]
WASHINGTON—Emphasizing that the threat against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem remained active and ongoing, the FBI issued a statement Friday warning that a second California senator was still at large. “While Alex Padilla has been safely taken into custody, we urge the public to be on the lookout for an additional, extremely dangerous senator from the same state who remains able to voice opinions if given the opportunity,” said an FBI spokesperson, who displayed a composite drawing of an older man in a navy blue suit and explained that the sketch had been based on eyewitness descriptions of the fugitive senator. “These types of politicians tend to work in pairs, and this individual should be considered highly trained in rhetoric and public speaking. Do not respond to any fundraising texts this person may send you. For as long as he continues to evade capture, we advise stuffing your fingers in your ears to keep yourself safe from his dissenting political views.” At press time, the FBI announced it had apprehended the at-large senator’s top aides to demand information on his whereabouts.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the mental health of mothers in the United States declined significantly from 2016 to 2023, with the percentage of mothers who said their mental health was poor increasing—particularly among those who were single parents. What do you think?
“That’s disrespectful to all the women who can’t have depression.”
Briana Lackless, Banjoist
“I’d do anything to make my mom happy, short of calling her and having a conversation.”
Erwin Epps, Tape Spooler
“Don’t blame me—I’m constantly telling women to smile.”
There Are Many Different Kinds of Love, Brethren Arise, Candlepower, Cylinder Five, God Be With You Till We Meet Again, I Am Running Down the…, I Dont See the Branches I See the Leaves, I Want to Fall in Love on Snapchat, Out of the Skies Under the Earth, Take off and Shoot A Zero, The House Glows with Almost No Help, There Are Many Different Kinds of Love, all by Chris Zabriskie are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/vendaface/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/
Twelve multi-service centers operated by the City of Houston, along with nine community centers in Harris County Precinct 2, are open as cooling centers through September. They are being equipped with water, snacks and tips on how to reduce your energy bill as part of Reliant Energy's Beat the Heat program.
Listen up, soup for brains. Yesterday, you were just a man. But today, a doctor snipped the umbilical cord off an angry, gray alien with your name on it. And whether it was your wife, your girlfriend, or some other remarkable woman that just heave-ho’ed a pineapple out of her lady parts, your entire world’s about to get flipped like a wild-ass pancake.
Congrats, dipshit, you’re a dad now.
Being a man’s man is easy. Any douchenozzle can wake up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym and dip their junk in ice water, or whatever the hell bros are doing these days. But try waking up every two hours, every night, for twelve weeks straight to bottle-feed a screaming wolverine. Now, that’s dad shit right there.
A man might hear a baby banshee-wail and let someone else deal with it. But a dad doesn’t pawn off his late-night duties on a woman who’s still recovering from getting ripped in half. A real dad knows that chick needs some shut-eye.
Same goes for diaper changes. When dads smell a fire in the hole, they don’t tuck tail—they get down to business. So roll up your sleeves, papacito. Unless, of course, Mr. Alpha is too prissy to get his hands dirty and would rather have his kid’s mommy do it for him.
What, you think you weren’t “biologically programmed to be a caregiver”? Uh oh, does baby have a widdle too much testosterone to be nurturing? Get bent, dingus. Do you know what they say about excuses? They make an “Ex” out of “U” when your girl leaves you for some guy named Enrique. Enrique can take care of children without throwing a goddamn hissy fit. Enrique likes kids. And, pretty soon, your kids are gonna like Enrique more than they like you. Nice going, doofus, you just got Enrique’d.
Manhood ain’t got nothin’ on fatherhood, friend. If you thought manual labor was hard, get ready for emotional labor. All that logistical stuff is about to hit you like a stack of bricks. Or were you not aware of how much mental jiujitsu is involved in scheduling travel soccer around cello lessons and ballet class? Earth to dodo: your kids don’t just enrich themselves like some sort of magical, self-enriching elf progeny. That’s on you, baby boo. Get ready, ’cause ballet got moved to Saturday this week. Now you’ve got two kids, one car, and three destinations. Your weekend’s about to be that riddle with the fox, the hen, and the grain, but with twice as many round trips. And you better hope you remembered to stick your daughter’s cleats in her bag the night before. Otherwise, you’re cooked.
Asking what you can do around the house to help? Get outta here with that weak sauce. A dad anticipates what needs to be done and handles that crap before it becomes an issue. You gotta be so on top of things, your partner could swear there are ninjas breaking into your house to silently fold laundry and wash the dishes. Helpful ninjas. If you can’t co-manage your household like a boss, you might as well hand in your dad card right now.
And if you thought you’d only have sons, you better suck it up, buttercup. You’re a Girl Dad now. So check your punk-ass ego at the door and play tea party with your damn daughters. You don’t like that your new name is Penelope Fluffybottom? Tough luck. It’s time to nut up and put on your petticoat—you’re an eighteenth-century governess now. And don’t even think about breaking character. Not even when your daughters inform you that Penelope has tuberculosis from her volunteer work at the paupers’ prison. News flash, jackass, your girls are precocious as hell. They’ll probably be playwrights or some shit. Sorry if you thought you’d be tossing a baseball around like a pleb. Your little ladies don’t have time for that—Penelope has to catch the twelve-thirty locomotive to the seaside to restore her humours. Pack your steamer trunks, missy.
The most important thing you can do for your kid is be there for them, every minute, of every day, till you’re six feet under. Sometimes that means wrapping your arms around them like a giant dad burrito. Other times, being there means staying as far away as physically possible, especially during that awkward phase when they’re slamming doors and calling you words you’re pretty sure you didn’t teach them. Have fun figuring out when’s the right time to do which.
Good luck, amigo. You’re gonna need it. Cause this is about to be the best, hardest, most life-affirming, infuriating job of your miserable life.
At least until your kid grows up and has a kid of their own. Any idiot can be a fun grandpa.
LOS ANGELES—Stressing that she had significant reason to fear for her life during yesterday’s confrontation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters Friday that she believed Sen. Alex Padilla had an even deadlier opinion that failed to go off. “We found this individual possessed a second, far more lethal string of words locked and loaded, and I’m terrified to think how the situation would have shaken out if he’d been able to say even one of them aloud,” said Noem, adding that the California senator clearly had been honing his convictions for days or even weeks before he used them at her news conference. “Thanks to the brave intervention of federal agents, we were able to detain the senator before he expressed this other highly dangerous belief, but if things had progressed differently, it’s very likely I wouldn’t be standing here today. Let me put a finer point on it: If this man had spoken just one more sentence to me, I would almost certainly be dead.” At press time, Noem released evidence from a raid of Padilla’s home that suggested he had a lengthy history of expressing such deadly opinions in writing and in person.
WASHINGTON—After he was forcibly removed from a press conference held in Los Angeles yesterday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Democrats in the House of Representatives backed a resolution Friday that thanked federal agents for handcuffing Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). “We express gratitude to law enforcement for bravely apprehending a sitting U.S. senator who expressed dissent in a public forum,” read the resolution, which won the support of 75 Democrats and praised both FBI and Secret Service agents for risking their lives to throw Padilla to the ground, handcuff him, and drag him outside. “Every day, these brave officers stand in the line of fire to protect us from individuals who dare to exercise free speech. Thankfully, they were able to stop the senior senator from California before he could ask any difficult or probing questions on behalf of his constituents. We stand behind them, no matter which elected officials they may choose to assault, injure, or imprison.” Democrats also voted to give Noem a special commendation for bravely protecting authoritarianism in the face of danger.
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