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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...