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New legislative panels will investigate ‘facts and circumstances’ of deadly Central Texas floods

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3h

Top Republicans in the Texas Legislature announced the creation of committees tasked with “getting to the bottom of” the July flooding that killed more than 130 people, including 25 young girls and two teenage counselors at Camp Mystic.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Camp Mystic leaders would be invited to testify before the committees, as part of what Speaker Dustin Burrows said would be a “comprehensive and thorough review.”

Texas heat and drought persist into fall as the state braces for wildfires

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3h

Drought conditions across Texas have intensified since earlier this year. On Monday, Fort Bend County commissioners approved a burn ban for all unincorporated areas of the county.

Drought conditions across Texas have intensified since earlier this year. On Monday, Fort Bend County commissioners approved a burn ban for all unincorporated areas of the county.

Harris County sues EPA after Trump administration claws back $250 million solar grant

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 18h

Harris County on Monday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency following the Trump administration's move to claw back more than $250 million secured for solar energy initiatives in Texas.

Money earmarked for a cohort of local governments and organizations in Texas was rescinded on Aug. 7 when the county received a termination letter from the EPA claiming to end the initiative.

Three decades after 14-year-old girl’s murder, Houston police still seek leads and her family wants closure

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 20h

Erica Garcia was raped and murdered in 1997. Houston Police Department detectives remain hopeful for leads in the cold case.

Erica Garcia was raped and murdered in 1997. Houston Police Department detectives remain hopeful for leads in the cold case.

Texas attorney general accuses Houston Methodist of potential COVID-19 vaccination discrimination

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 20h

The Texas Attorney General’s Office is accusing Houston Methodist hospitals of potentially denying patients organ transplants if they have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, which would violate a new state law.

The hospital system disputed the allegation that it's violating a new state law, saying it does not have a policy requiring transplant recipients to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or any other disease. Medical experts have said transplant recipients benefit from a COVID-19 vaccine.

Israeli security guard with family in Houston released from Hamas captivity

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 21h

Eitan Avraham Mor, a 25-year-old Israeli security guard who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, was among 20 surviving hostages who were freed Monday. A Houston-based relative of Mor's was in Israel for his release.

Eitan Avraham Mor, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, was among 20 surviving hostages who were freed Monday. A Houston-based relative of Mor's was in Israel for his release.

University of Houston ranked second in AP preseason college basketball poll

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 22h

Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars earned 16 first-place votes to match the program’s best-ever preseason Associated Press ranking after last year's finals run. The other No. 2 appearance was by the 1967-68 team led by Elvin Hayes.

Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars earned 16 first-place votes to match the program’s best-ever preseason Associated Press ranking after last year's finals run. The other No. 2 appearance was by the 1967-68 team led by Elvin Hayes.

Daniel Caesar’s pop-up show in Houston drew 1,500 people before law enforcement shut it down

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 23h

Daniel Caesar's pop-up concert in Houston over the weekend drew 1,500 people before law enforcement shut it down for not having proper permitting.

The Grammy-winning R&B singer announced the impromptu performance at Bear Creek Pioneers Park just hours before it began. Law enforcement shut it down when he didn’t have proper permitting.

Some Texas community colleges remove course materials amid broader push to limit gender identity discussions

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

From the @TexasTribune, some community colleges have ordered thorough course reviews and put restrictions on what faculty can teach, with at least two schools pointing to state laws they believe apply to high schoolers in their dual credit programs.

At least two community colleges, Alvin and Blinn, are also considering what they can and can’t teach to high schoolers enrolled in their fast-growing dual credit courses.

Opening of new Uvalde school marks ‘bittersweet day’ for families and town

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Legacy Elementary, built to replace Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the mass shooting, will welcome students on October 20, nearly three and a half years after the massacre.

Legacy Elementary, built to replace Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the mass shooting, will welcome students on October 20, nearly three and a half years after the massacre.

More Texas kindergarteners are coming to school without measles vaccination proof or exemptions

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

From the @TexasTribune, in school districts and charter networks with the most vaccine delinquencies, as many as 44% of kindergarteners were not complying with state requirements.

In school districts and charter networks with the most vaccine delinquencies, as many as 44% of kindergarteners were not complying with state requirements.

More than 21,000 Harris County voter registration applications are still pending ahead of November election

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

With the November election less than a month away, there were over 21,000 Harris County voter registration applications still pending as of Thursday, according to the county.

The county isn’t alone in having a voter registration backlog this year. Fort Bend County reported having a similar backlog of roughly 22,000 applications, just last week.

Man injured in Houston high-rise explosion files $1 million lawsuit against property owner, general contractor

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

A man injured in an apparent explosion at a downtown Houston high-rise hotel under construction last week filed a $1 million lawsuit Friday against the property owner and a general contractor.

The Houston Fire Department last week indicated the explosion may have originated from a bank of tankless water heaters. Six people were transported to hospitals for treatment of burns and lacerations.

After 40 days on picket line, union workers at Hilton Americas-Houston end strike

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Housekeepers, laundry attendants, and stewards at Hilton Americas-Houston will see their minimum wage rise from $16.50 to $20 an hour, and then to $22 by the end of their new contract.

Housekeepers, laundry attendants, and stewards will see their minimum wage rise from $16.50 to $20 an hour, and then to $22 by the end of their new contract.

Fort Bend County commissioners to vote on redistricted map on Monday

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Fort Bend County Commissioners will choose a new, redistricted voter map on Monday.

Members of the county's Citizens Redistricting Advisory Committee shared their recommended maps with commissioners on Thursday.

Here are the best pumpkin patches in Houston, Katy, and more

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Pumpkins are plenty this fall. Here are the best pumpkin patches in Houston.

Farmers say they’ve got plenty of pumpkins this fall, but increased costs may mean it’s more difficult to turn a profit.

ACLU urges schools to reject any prayer, Bible study policy after state law takes effect

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

The ACLU of Texas is urging every school district to reject policies for dedicated prayer periods in schools.

The Texas legislature passed a bill this year that would allow schools to allot time for teachers to pray and read religious texts. The ACLU calls such a policy unconstitutional.

HISD board votes unanimously to remove teacher, union leader from classroom

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

The Houston ISD board unanimously voted to remove a third grade teacher, who is also a union president, from the classroom.

Michelle Williams, a third grade teacher and president of the Houston Education Association union, was removed from her classroom at the end of August and assigned home duty with pay for “not following protocols,” accusations she has mostly disputed.

Protesters hit the streets as Texas National Guard expected to be deployed in Chicago area

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Hundreds of protesters hit the streets around the Chicago area Wednesday evening as National Guard troops were anticipated to be deployed in the Chicago area.

The deployment will entail 200 soldiers from the Texas National Guard and 300 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard, according to the military.

John Cornyn, Ken Paxton in statistical dead heat in GOP primary for U.S. Senate, poll finds

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

After spending much of the spring and summer trailing state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the polls, Senator John Cornyn has pulled even with his chief rival for the 2026 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate from Texas.

The latest survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Houston-area Congressman Wesley Hunt in third place behind Cornyn and Paxton. It also shows Dallas-area Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who has declared she’s a candidate, leading the Democratic primary field.

Renewable energy, power storage key to meeting Texas’ electricity demand, experts say

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

Energy experts speaking at a virtual Reliable Grid Project media briefing Wednesday said renewable power sources are needed to keep up with Texas' growing demand for electricity.

Clean energy and battery storage can create cheaper electricity and a more reliable grid, panelists said during a media briefing Wednesday

42-day Houston hotel strike slated to end Sunday. It’s an unprecedented labor action — in more ways than one

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

The hotel strike is slated to end on Sunday, on the 42-day mark, but there have already been two extensions of what was initially a 9-day strike.

Striking workers at the Hilton Houston-Americas hotel are seeking a 40% raise. The demand comes as the hotel breaks revenue records. The 42-day strike is unusual.

Texas court blocks execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

Texas’ highest criminal court on Thursday blocked Robert Roberson’s execution a week before it was set to take place, sending his capital murder conviction back to trial court.

Roberson was scheduled to be executed Oct. 16 after being convicted of capital murder in 2003 for the death of his two-year-old daughter Nikki.

METRO will remove Montrose rainbow crosswalks following direction from Abbott, TxDOT

Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

METRO said late Wednesday it will remove the rainbow crosswalks at Westheimer and Taft to comply with federal regulations shortly after Texas Governor Greg Abbott's direction about "political ideologies" on roadways.

The plan comes as the Texas Department of Transportation in a letter directed local jurisdictions to ensure that roadway markings align with federal law.