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The summer I turned pro: Meet Dallas Trinity FC’s 15-year-old soccer star, Rhea Moore
Fear Has a New Address—And It’s in Fort Worth, Texas
Community | CULTURE | cutting edge haunted house | DFW | ENTERTAINMENT | halloween | HARDGATE | haunted house | holiday | recreation | THINGS TO DOSee how Texas universities, colleges ranked on US News & World Report Best Colleges 2025 list
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | educators | HIGHER ED | HIGHER EDUCATION | TEXASThe Social Security Administration is no longer issuing paper checks. Here’s what you need to know
Community | CULTURE | EQUALITY | government | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | money | News | politicsGet your scream on at these 8 Houston-area haunted houses

The summer I turned pro: Meet Dallas Trinity FC’s 15-year-old soccer star, Rhea Moore
by Joi Louviere
| October 2, 2025
One of Dallas Trinity FC's newest players just became the youngest woman goal scorer in United States professional soccer history at 15.

Fear Has a New Address—And It’s in Fort Worth, Texas
by Sam Cohen
| October 2, 2025
Community | CULTURE | cutting edge haunted house | DFW | ENTERTAINMENT | halloween | HARDGATE | haunted house | holiday | recreation | THINGS TO DO
Fort Worth’s Cutting Edge Haunted House was named the scariest Halloween attraction in the world. Here’s how you can plan your visit.

See how Texas universities, colleges ranked on US News & World Report Best Colleges 2025 list
by Sierra Rozen
| October 2, 2025
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | educators | HIGHER ED | HIGHER EDUCATION | TEXAS
While Rice University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University typically tend to end up on the higher end of the US News & World Report Best Colleges list, 2025 is the year that University of Houston made the biggest leap.

The Social Security Administration is no longer issuing paper checks. Here’s what you need to know
by Sam Cohen
| October 2, 2025
Community | CULTURE | EQUALITY | government | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | money | News | politics
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has switched to electronic forms of payment. Here’s how you can set up your automatic payments with ease.

Get your scream on at these 8 Houston-area haunted houses
by Sierra Rozen
| October 2, 2025
If you’re someone who loves the idea of living in a horror movie, you can easily fulfill this fantasy at one of Houston’s haunted houses. The city and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of spooky spots, from masked killers and bug infestations to abandoned asylums and stalker clowns. Check out these eight haunts in the Houston area to get spooky at.

How the government shutdown could hurt thousands of Texans
by Matt Hennie
| October 1, 2025
The federal government shut down early Wednesday, meaning nearly 250,000 federal employees and members of the military in Texas won’t receive paychecks.

11 Houston-area Starbucks closing due to company restructuring
by Sierra Rozen
| October 1, 2025
Coffee lovers across the US are having to ditch their normal haunts, as Starbucks closed over 400 locations across the country this past week.

Haunted in Houston: 6 spots reportedly frequented by ghosts
by Sam Cohen
| October 1, 2025
Esperson Buildings | glenwood cemetery | haunted | hotel icon | houston public library | HTX | La Carafe | Rice Hotel
Houston is more haunted than you might think. Here are six spots reportedly frequented by ghosts. When most people think about haunted areas of the United States, they’re probably thinking about places like New Orleans, Amityville, or Estes Park, where famous ghost sightings have taken place. Houston is, as it turns out, right up there […]

5 Texas school districts face state takeovers. Here’s what to know.
| September 30, 2025
Several Texas school districts, including Fort Worth, are at risk of takeover by the Texas Education Agency. Here’s a look at what that means.

Get to know your 2025-2026 Houston Rockets NBA team
by Joey Held
| September 30, 2025
CULTURE | DALLAS MAVERICKS | ENTERTAINMENT | HARDGATE | Houston Rockets | HTX | LIFESTYLE | NBA | SPORTS | TEXAS | THINGS TO DO
Last year’s squad was a surprising top seed in the Western Conference. After shaking up their roster, the 2025-2026 Houston Rockets are a title contender.

Get ready to Empty the Shelters in Houston at BARC Animal Shelter
by Sierra Rozen
| September 30, 2025
That’s what BARC Animal Shelter hopes will happen at the Empty the Shelters event. From Oct. 1-15, BARC Animal Shelter, along with 300+ shelters across 38 states, will be offering reduced adoptions fees through a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Rate of uninsured children in TX tops list
| September 30, 2025
Affordability | CULTURE | EQUALITY | FAMILY | Federal Cuts | health insurance | insurance | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | Medicaid | politics | TEXAS
Texas has the highest uninsured rate for children in the nation. That’s according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.

8 creepy facts about Texas that textbooks leave out
by Joey Held
| September 30, 2025
animals | austin | CULTURE | DFW | DFW EVENTS | dfw history | HARDGATE | houston history | HTX | LIFESTYLE | murder | North Texas | old texas | politics | recreation | SAN ANTONIO | TEXAS | TEXAS HISTORY | true crime
From unsolved murders to unsettling origins of town names, these creepy facts about Texas will make your skin crawl.

12 Houston events to help you fall into October
by Sierra Rozen
| September 29, 2025
It’s every fall lover's favorite month! And while Houston is still enjoying (or sweating in) hotter weather for the season, there are still plenty of upcoming events to help get you in the spooky and autumnal spirit. Keep reading for just a few of the festivals and other events we’re looking forward to.

Houston’s Southern Smoke Festival returns with its biggest lineup yet
| September 29, 2025
2025 southern smoke festival | Community | CULTURE | ENTERTAINMENT | food and drink | HARDGATE | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | HTX | LIFESTYLE | southern smoke festival | tourism
Sample bites from 85+ top chefs, sip signature cocktails, and enjoy live music at Houston’s biggest culinary block party on October 4.
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LOCAL STORIES

Fear Has a New Address—And It’s in Fort Worth, Texas
by Sam Cohen
| October 2, 2025
Community | CULTURE | cutting edge haunted house | DFW | ENTERTAINMENT | halloween | HARDGATE | haunted house | holiday | recreation | THINGS TO DO
Fort Worth’s Cutting Edge Haunted House was named the scariest Halloween attraction in the world. Here’s how you can plan your visit.

See how Texas universities, colleges ranked on US News & World Report Best Colleges 2025 list
by Sierra Rozen
| October 2, 2025
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | educators | HIGHER ED | HIGHER EDUCATION | TEXAS
While Rice University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University typically tend to end up on the higher end of the US News & World Report Best Colleges list, 2025 is the year that University of Houston made the biggest leap.

The Social Security Administration is no longer issuing paper checks. Here’s what you need to know
by Sam Cohen
| October 2, 2025
Community | CULTURE | EQUALITY | government | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | money | News | politics
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has switched to electronic forms of payment. Here’s how you can set up your automatic payments with ease.

11 Houston-area Starbucks closing due to company restructuring
by Sierra Rozen
| October 1, 2025
Coffee lovers across the US are having to ditch their normal haunts, as Starbucks closed over 400 locations across the country this past week.

Haunted in Houston: 6 spots reportedly frequented by ghosts
by Sam Cohen
| October 1, 2025
Esperson Buildings | glenwood cemetery | haunted | hotel icon | houston public library | HTX | La Carafe | Rice Hotel
Houston is more haunted than you might think. Here are six spots reportedly frequented by ghosts. When most people think about haunted areas of the United States, they’re probably thinking about places like New Orleans, Amityville, or Estes Park, where famous ghost sightings have taken place. Houston is, as it turns out, right up there […]

Get ready to Empty the Shelters in Houston at BARC Animal Shelter
by Sierra Rozen
| September 30, 2025
That’s what BARC Animal Shelter hopes will happen at the Empty the Shelters event. From Oct. 1-15, BARC Animal Shelter, along with 300+ shelters across 38 states, will be offering reduced adoptions fees through a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Rate of uninsured children in TX tops list
| September 30, 2025
Affordability | CULTURE | EQUALITY | FAMILY | Federal Cuts | health insurance | insurance | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | Medicaid | politics | TEXAS
Texas has the highest uninsured rate for children in the nation. That’s according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.