My 2016 Photos of the Year
Seventeen year-old Cletis Love waits for cars to pass while crossing Tidwell Road on his three year-old stud, Money, Wednesday evening, Jan. 27, 2016, in Houston. Cletis is preparing himself and Money for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo trail ride. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
People enjoy the midway and carnival at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Keeshia (left) and Dane South, of Beaumont, throw their cheer during the player introductions and National Anthem at the beginning of the Houston Astros' home opener against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park, Monday, April 11, 2016, in Houston. The couple were hoping to start a new tradition attending the home opener for the first time together. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Justin Nelzen (center) works to rescue horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Richard and Ashley Freilich, who were evacuated with their two young children Cole, 3, and Rebecca, 15 months, by boat from their apartment during the flooding last Tuesday, steadily returned to their apartment through the weekend to slowly recovering their belongings that they had placed above the water line before evacuation. On Wednesday they returned to their apartment to find everything gone. They were told they had 14 days to recover their personal items. They stand in their former home on Thursday, April 28, 2016, 28, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
The sun sets behind the Houston skyline viewed from the east side of town over the ship channel from 610, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle ) sunset, downtown, Houston, skyline, silhouette
Bicyclists cycle along Main Street past a giant painting on a parking garage at the intersection with McKinney Street in downtown Houston, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Community members pray around the family of Charles Jackson, known as "Screwball," where he was fatally shot along with two others during a part on July 4 at the corner of Wilson and Robin Streets during a vigil, Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Ten-year-old Victor Gutierrez salutes Trooper Robert Maeker as he walks with his family to lay flowers at the memorial at the police station, Saturday, July 9, 2016, in downtown Dallas. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Tasha Lomoglio lights candles at the memorial to fallen officers outside of the Dallas Police Department, Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Dallas. "I can't believe this is happening to our city," Lomoglio said. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Motorcycle officers salute as Dallas police Sergeant Michael Smith's casket is brought out of Watermark Community Church, Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Dallas. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Episcopal High School senior Marvin Wilson walks back to the locker room at the conclusion of football practice Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, in Houston. Marvin is one of the highest ranked high school football players in the country. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
David Lee Harvell, who is currently serving a 55 year sentence for aggravated robbery for his role serving as a driver in the 1988 murder of Houston police officer Elston Howard, spends time in a visitation room at the William R. Boyd Unit Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Teague. Robert Jennings, who shot and killed Howard, has a date of execution set for September 14, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Women grieve at the scene of a fatal drive-by shooting in northeast Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Elizabeth Salazar and Mario A. Rodriguez, co-founders of the agency Wonky Power, have built a studio and label in east Houston, Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Their space combines office and studio space with performance and rehearsal spaces for bands. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Jennifer Molleda looks at the blood specked face of her husband, Alan Wakim, who had two bullets whiz by his face after going through his windshield on the way to work along Wesleyan at Law Street in a shooting that left at least nine people injured and the alleged shooter dead, Monday morning, Sept. 26, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Students at the University of Houston chant as they march through campus during a planned walkout and protest Monday afternoon, Nov. 14, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Finding the homeless services organization he planned to go to closed, Patrick Gillespie uses his phone to call other organizations to see who is open, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Houston. Gillespie is working on getting identification so that he can find a permanent place to rent. Gillespie, 30, has spent years of his adult life homeless, traveling around the country, hitch-hiking, sleeping outside and working when he has the chance. In October, after being arrested for trespassing, Patrick was holding a sign asking for help getting his dog out of the local shelter. Wilma Price, who runs a local dog rescue, helped Patrick out that day and then started a GoFundMe. The GoFundMe has raised almost $20,000 to date. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Patrick Gillespie and his dog Franklin walk home along 290 after buying groceries and dog food, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Houston. (Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle)
James Parker laughs with occupational therapist Carol Parker while shredding documents for the company he owns, Shredding on the Go, in their workspace at Neurodevelopment Therapy Services, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Mohammad Akbar's one-month-old son, Abdul Akbar, who is the first child in the family to be born in America, is rocked back to sleep by his sister, Zareghona, 3, inside the family's apartment, Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in Houston. Mohammad Akbar, a lawyer in his native Afghanistan, worked as a translator and on legal defense for the U.S. military, allowing him to eventually bring his wife and six children to the United States. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Shaor Ahmad Safi meets with his case manager Maria Aguilar at the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, an agency of United Way, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Houston. Shaor, who just immigrated to the United States two weeks ago, worked as a translator for the U.S. military in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Fireworks erupt over Post Oak Boulevard during the uptown tree lighting ceremony in Houston. (Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle)
Flash test with Hart Baby.
People enjoy the midway and carnival at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Keeshia (left) and Dane South, of Beaumont, throw their cheer during the player introductions and National Anthem at the beginning of the Houston Astros' home opener against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park, Monday, April 11, 2016, in Houston. The couple were hoping to start a new tradition attending the home opener for the first time together. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Justin Nelzen (center) works to rescue horses along Cypresswood Drive near Humble along Cypress Creek, Monday, April 18, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Richard and Ashley Freilich, who were evacuated with their two young children Cole, 3, and Rebecca, 15 months, by boat from their apartment during the flooding last Tuesday, steadily returned to their apartment through the weekend to slowly recovering their belongings that they had placed above the water line before evacuation. On Wednesday they returned to their apartment to find everything gone. They were told they had 14 days to recover their personal items. They stand in their former home on Thursday, April 28, 2016, 28, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
The sun sets behind the Houston skyline viewed from the east side of town over the ship channel from 610, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle ) sunset, downtown, Houston, skyline, silhouette
Bicyclists cycle along Main Street past a giant painting on a parking garage at the intersection with McKinney Street in downtown Houston, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Community members pray around the family of Charles Jackson, known as "Screwball," where he was fatally shot along with two others during a part on July 4 at the corner of Wilson and Robin Streets during a vigil, Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Ten-year-old Victor Gutierrez salutes Trooper Robert Maeker as he walks with his family to lay flowers at the memorial at the police station, Saturday, July 9, 2016, in downtown Dallas. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Tasha Lomoglio lights candles at the memorial to fallen officers outside of the Dallas Police Department, Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Dallas. "I can't believe this is happening to our city," Lomoglio said. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Motorcycle officers salute as Dallas police Sergeant Michael Smith's casket is brought out of Watermark Community Church, Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Dallas. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Episcopal High School senior Marvin Wilson walks back to the locker room at the conclusion of football practice Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, in Houston. Marvin is one of the highest ranked high school football players in the country. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
David Lee Harvell, who is currently serving a 55 year sentence for aggravated robbery for his role serving as a driver in the 1988 murder of Houston police officer Elston Howard, spends time in a visitation room at the William R. Boyd Unit Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Teague. Robert Jennings, who shot and killed Howard, has a date of execution set for September 14, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Women grieve at the scene of a fatal drive-by shooting in northeast Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Elizabeth Salazar and Mario A. Rodriguez, co-founders of the agency Wonky Power, have built a studio and label in east Houston, Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Their space combines office and studio space with performance and rehearsal spaces for bands. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Jennifer Molleda looks at the blood specked face of her husband, Alan Wakim, who had two bullets whiz by his face after going through his windshield on the way to work along Wesleyan at Law Street in a shooting that left at least nine people injured and the alleged shooter dead, Monday morning, Sept. 26, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Students at the University of Houston chant as they march through campus during a planned walkout and protest Monday afternoon, Nov. 14, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Finding the homeless services organization he planned to go to closed, Patrick Gillespie uses his phone to call other organizations to see who is open, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Houston. Gillespie is working on getting identification so that he can find a permanent place to rent. Gillespie, 30, has spent years of his adult life homeless, traveling around the country, hitch-hiking, sleeping outside and working when he has the chance. In October, after being arrested for trespassing, Patrick was holding a sign asking for help getting his dog out of the local shelter. Wilma Price, who runs a local dog rescue, helped Patrick out that day and then started a GoFundMe. The GoFundMe has raised almost $20,000 to date. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Patrick Gillespie and his dog Franklin walk home along 290 after buying groceries and dog food, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Houston. (Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle)
James Parker laughs with occupational therapist Carol Parker while shredding documents for the company he owns, Shredding on the Go, in their workspace at Neurodevelopment Therapy Services, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Houston. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Mohammad Akbar's one-month-old son, Abdul Akbar, who is the first child in the family to be born in America, is rocked back to sleep by his sister, Zareghona, 3, inside the family's apartment, Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in Houston. Mohammad Akbar, a lawyer in his native Afghanistan, worked as a translator and on legal defense for the U.S. military, allowing him to eventually bring his wife and six children to the United States. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Shaor Ahmad Safi meets with his case manager Maria Aguilar at the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, an agency of United Way, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Houston. Shaor, who just immigrated to the United States two weeks ago, worked as a translator for the U.S. military in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Shaolin Master Shi Yan Feng grew up in a Shaolin temple in China and started competing as a toddler. By the age of seven he was traveling the world as part of a Shaolin performance team. Now Master Feng lives in Sugar Land, TX where he runs his own martial arts studio, American Shaolin Kung Fu, near Eldridge Park where he is pictured here, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, in Sugar Land. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle )
Flash test with Hart Baby.