Despite the Astros' loss last night, Houston will see an average of $12.5 million in economic impact for each American League Championship Series game played in the Bayou City, according to an analysis by Houston First Corp.

The intrigue: Houston fans want a quick and victorious series with the Rangers, but dragging it out over seven games would be sure to help the local economy.

Why it matters: Houston has been synonymous with winning baseball over the last seven years — the Astros have reached the ALCS in each of the last seven seasons — and that has boosted local businesses during lean economic times.

Flashback: During the height of the pandemic, in 2021, the Astros' three World Series home games generated about $25 million in economic activity.

What they're saying: "This ALCS appearance represents an opportunity for our hotels, our restaurants, our transportation operators and the many others who benefit when more visitors come to our city," said Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First. "Our message to our friends in Dallas is to come on down and enjoy some Houston hospitality. We're eager to welcome you — just know who we're rooting for."

Zoom in: Houston First pointed to higher hotel prices and the fact that the Rangers are in-state rivals as the reason for the economic upswing.

What's next: The Astros play Game 2 in Houston today at 3:30pm. The series then goes to Arlington. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be played in Houston on Oct. 22 and 23.

Houston was selected as one of the seven clean hydrogen hubs and will receive up to $1.2 billion in federal funding.

Driving the news: The Department of Energy unveiled plans to provide $7 billion to spur seven regional hubs for producing climate-friendly hydrogen, and the HyVelocity Gulf Coast hub is expected to be one of the largest hubs.

Why it matters: It's the largest U.S. effort yet to spur production using renewables, nuclear energy or carbon capture. But there's a long and uncertain road to the projects becoming reality, Axios' Ben Geman reports.

• Hydrogen could help decarbonize industries like heavy trucking, steel and power.

Zoom in: The HyVelocity hub, which will use both natural gas with carbon capture and renewables-powered electrolysis, could create 45,000 jobs, including 35,000 in construction and 10,000 permanent positions in the area.

Meanwhile, the Texas Climate Jobs Project and local union leaders called for the HyVelocity hub to commit to hiring union employees once the proposal was accepted.

State of play: The DOE estimates the projects will produce 3 million metric tons of hydrogen annually.

• Use of this hydrogen could cut CO2 each year by an amount "roughly equivalent to combined annual emissions of 5.5 million gasoline-powered cars," the DOE said.

Go deeper

🍎 Some Houston ISD students are teaching themselves advanced science topics as the district freezes hires. (Houston Chronicle)

🗳️ A Trump-appointed federal judge ordered Galveston County commissioners to redraw their precinct map. The judge ruled that the current map discriminates against Black and Hispanic residents. (Galveston County Daily News)

🏈 The Texans enter their bye week 3-3 after beating the New Orleans Saints 20-13. (KHOU)

🎨 Learn about the world of hip-hop from Mario "GONZO247" Figueroa, who will be talking about the graffiti revolution.

• 5:30pm to 7pm tomorrow at Strato 550.

📚 Tune into a conversation with writers Roxane Gay and Kiese Laymon at the Kindred Stories event at Eldorado Ballroom at 7pm Wednesday.

• $40 general admission includes a copy of Gay's newest book, "Opinions."

🍻 Join the Geeks Who Drink at Little Woodrow's Midtown for a night of laid-back trivia Wednesday.

• The free event kicks off at 8pm.

🧙‍♀️ Trick or treat at Spindletap Brewery for its "Hocus Pocus"-themed event Thursday. There will be sound healing, oracle readings and a vision board station.

• 6pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are $25.

🚴‍♀️ Bike through Houston's oldest and lesser-known cemeteries with East End Bike Ride for its Annual Cemetary Gates Ride.

• Meet at D&W Lounge at 7pm Friday.

Several thousand people rallied on Saturday in front of Houston City Hall for Palestinian rights and against the Israeli siege of Gaza, which has claimed more than 2,600 lives. They also demanded an end to U.S. funding for Israel.

Details: The protest-turned-march came after Israel called for the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip and as the death toll continued to climb.

• There were pro-Palestinian protests across the world over the weekend, including in Austin and Dallas.

Meanwhile, last Monday, City Hall was lit blue in support of Israel after the Hamas attacks killed more than 1,200 last Saturday.

Plus: Mayor Sylvester Turner, along with elected officials including state Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, joined the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston at Congregation Beth Yeshurun last Monday, where more than 2,000 people showed up in solidarity with Israel.

• There was also a demonstration Tuesday evening where several cars waving the Israeli flag drove near River Oaks.

The bottom line: People in Houston are feeling grief and anger as the conflict abroad hits home.

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