The latest "news" on the smoldered Thelma's Bar-B-Que on 1020 Live Oak is... nothing all that new.

Alicia White, with the Houston Fire Department, told Hair Balls that since the cause of the fire is still under investigation, information beyond the basics isn't going to be released any time soon (the basics being that the call came in to the HFD around 2:05 a.m. on January 31). White said that records show that Thelma's suffered $10,000 in estimated damages.

Though "re-building" does not necessarily imply "re-opening," the restaurant's dead-end phone number leads to a voicemail which bids a farewell, for now:

"Thelma's Bar B Que, we're now closed due to the fire, and we're in the process of rebuilding. Thanks for your concern, thanks for your prayers. Keep in touch. Thank you."

-- Melanie Pang