Lawmaker wants schools to be able to put up Christmas and Hanukkah displays without fear of legal action

Reliant Stadium to get new HD video screen displays in Reliant Stadium

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- Reliant Stadium has hosted some big moments in this record breaking season, but if city officials want Houston to host another Super Bowl, the relatively new stadium will need some upgrades.

The upgrades we're talking about are a pair of "super screens" that would rival those in Cowboy Stadium. That kind of technology won't come cheap, but commissioners say the upgrade is necessary because the current screens are more than 11 years old.

"It's going to be 40 percent bigger than that screen in Cowboy Stadium," said Leroy Shafer with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Commissioners with the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation just approved a plan to build two new scoreboards here at Reliant. Each end zone will feature a screen that's 52 feet high and 277 feet wide, so there will be plenty of space for instant replays, statistics, and commercials.

"Certainly this is going to be an integrel component to that bid for the Super Bowl we present to the NFL in May. They're looking for experience, the experience for the guests coming in here," Houston Texans President Jamey Rootes said.

The new boards are expected to cost about $16 million. Commissioners are still negotiating the details but tell us they will be paid for with county restoration funds. The Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will loan the county money up-front.

"The money that goes into this R&R fund comes from hotel/motel tax, rental car tax, from the ticket tax," Shafer said.

"So is there any chance that ticket prices could go up to help pay for this?" we asked Shafer.

"No, not at all," he said.

If you remember, Minute Maid Park got its own HD screen last year. It's 54 feet high and 124 feet wide. But did the screen really improve the experience for fans?

"It's hard to say what people come here to see, because a lot of people come to be entertained, some people come to see baseball," Astros Production Co-Ordinator David Congdon said.

Construction is expected to begin in April, and the screens should be ready to go in time for next year's football season.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Homeowner displays Santa hanging by a noose

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Some residents of a local subdivision were not happy with their neighbor and his anti-Christmas display, so he has just taken it down. They called the display disturbing to look at, especially if you are a child.

Just minutes ago, the Santa was taken down. But while it was up it was an image that made this a Christmas for neighbors to remember -- and not in a good way.

The Santa is life size and appears to be a mannequin with a noose around the neck. Not the image 11-year-old Jason Austin wants to see on his street.

"I'm just gonna say it's wrong. I don't think it's right that someone should just hang Santa Claus up," said Austin.

The Santa is a stark contrast to other more traditional decorations on the street and a surprise to neighbors who've returned from Christmas vacation to see the unusual display.

"It was a bit strange. We were away for Christmas, came back on a Monday and saw. It was a bit weird seeing a hanging Santa. It's a bit weird, isn't it," said neighbor Dan Hickey.

When we asked him if he had talked to his neighbor about it, Hickey replied, "No."

No one answered when we knocked on the homeowner's door, but Sugar Land police were able to get a response. They talked to the homeowner December 23 after receiving several complaints about the hanging Santa.

"The homeowner told us he wanted to send the message that Christmas is about more than Santa Claus," said Capt. Stuart Denton with the Sugar Land Police Department.

Police say neighbors may not like the display, but the homeowner is not in violation of any laws.

Tonya Austin says the display is in violation of Christmas spirit and is upsetting to see every day.

"The street has several small children under the age of seven who still believe in Santa Claus. The hanging from a noose is violently disturbing to me," said neighbor Tonya Austin.

The homeowners association says they were in talks with the homeowner to bring down the display.

No matter how it happened, neighbors told us they're happy they don't have to look at the hanging Santa anymore.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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