LATEST HEADLINES
Nearly 75K Houstonians cast a ballot during the first week of early voting in Texas
| October 27, 2025
One week of early voting is in the books for Harris County, and the unofficial numbers have fallen short compared to past years. The good news is that Houstonians still have until Friday to cast their ballot before Election Day.
Gone in a flash: Iconic Houston crosswalk officially painted over
| October 24, 2025
Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state would withhold road funding from cities that don’t remove, what he called, “political ideologies” from city streets. The rainbow crosswalk, at the intersection of Westheimer Road and Taft Street, was painted over on the morning of Oct. 20.
Houstonians showed up to protest the removal, and four were arrested by the Houston Police Department for blocking the roadways.
Dallas church paints rainbow steps amid Greg Abbott’s attack on rainbow crosswalks
| October 24, 2025
A church in the Oak Lawn neighborhood of Dallas is taking a stand against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s culture wars.
On Tuesday, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church began painting its steps in rainbow colors in response to Abbott’s order for cities to remove rainbow crosswalks on roads or risk losing state and federal funding.
Read more at the link in our bio.
‘Crosswalks celebrate community’: Houston removes rainbow crosswalk in Montrose
| October 24, 2025
The rainbow crosswalk in Houston's Montrose neighborhood, installed in 2017, was removed Monday following Gov. Greg Abbott's order that cities remove them or face the loss of state funds. Houston police arrested four people blocking crews from removing the crosswalk at the intersection of Taft and Westheimer.
How Houston tracks toxic air in cancer cluster neighborhoods
| October 24, 2025
Take a look behind the scenes as residents and environmentalists in Houston collect the data they need to track toxic pollutants near industrial sites in neighborhoods such as Pleasantville, Sunnyside, Fifth Ward, and Galena Park.
Ride with us as we see how the equipment from Entanglement Technologies helps the city and environmental justice groups conduct real time air quality testing for pollutants linked to cancer and respiratory illness.
Judge blocks new Texas law restricting free speech on college campuses
| October 24, 2025
CIVIL RIGHTS | EXCO-Player | HIGHER ED | HIGHER EDUCATION | local politics | old texas | TEXAS | TEXAS LEGISLATURE
A federal judge has temporarily blocked parts of a new Texas law that limits speech on college campuses after students sued over infringements to their First Amendment rights.
Can you spot a fascist in real life?
| October 24, 2025
You’ve read it in the news, heard it screamed in accusatory tones, seen it thrown around social media platforms … Fascist! But what does the word really mean? Make sure to subscribe to COURIER HTX at the link in our bio to find out more.
Official center for Juneteenth in Galveston searching for master planning partner
| October 24, 2025
Nearly 160 years after the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, a new national Juneteenth center could be opening in Galveston in the next few years.
The 7 biggest misconceptions about Houston, according to a local
| October 24, 2025
Think Houston is all cowboys and tumbleweeds? A longtime Houstonian debunks seven major myths about America’s 4th largest city, from its cuisine to its climate.
Gwen Frisbie-Fulton: Local elections let Texas voters shape their communities
| October 23, 2025
My neighbor Tamara is tired of politics; she tells me this all the time. She says she doesn’t watch the news except for the weather, and would rather read a good book instead. I get it, I tell her, as I drop off a paperback I just finished. But Tamara is also pretty fed up […]
Part of White Settlement Road in Fort Worth to be renamed Westside Drive
| October 23, 2025
DFW | History | native americans | street names | Tarrant County | Westside Village | Westside Village developers | White Settlement Road
About 1 mile of White Settlement Road stretching west from the heart of Fort Worth will be renamed to reflect a luxury development coming to the area.
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church takes a stand—one rainbow step at a time
| October 22, 2025
Community | CULTURE | DFW | DFW Lead Story | faith | governor greg abbott | HARDGATE | LGBTQ | LIFESTYLE | Oak Lawn United Methodist Church | rainbow crosswalks | rainbow steps | TEXAS
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has painted rainbow steps following Gov. Abbot’s order to remove rainbow crosswalks. Here’s what to know.
A new car vs. health insurance? Average family job-based coverage hits $27K
| October 22, 2025
Affordability | Donald Trump | ECONOMY | FAMILY | Federal Cuts | HEALTH | health insurance | HEALTHCARE | insurance | Medicaid | NATIONAL NEWS | national politics
With the federal shutdown entering its fourth week, spurred by a stalemate over the cost of health insurance for 22 million Americans on Affordable Care Act plans, a new report shows that over 154 million people with coverage through an employer also face steep price hikes — and that the situation is likely to get worse.
UT won’t say if it accepted Trump’s pledge targeting trans, international students
| October 21, 2025
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | DFW TEXED EXCLUSIVE | EDUCATION | educators | HIGHER EDUCATION | public education | TEXAS | Texas Lead Story
The Trump administration offered preferential funding to nine colleges that agreed to pledge loyalty to his conservative agenda. The University of Texas has yet to publicly respond to the offer.
Low-cost maternal health services arrive in Fort Worth aboard a mobile clinic
| October 21, 2025
DFW | free care | HEALTHCARE | low-cost care | maternal healthcare | mobile clinic | postpartum care | prenatal care
Expecting parents in Tarrant County can now receive low-cost or free care out of a clinic on wheels in south Fort Worth.
Political Videos
Texas has banned over 500 books. That’s why we’re launching the Texas Banned Book Club.
Attacks on academic freedom spread across Texas universities
James Talarico reflects on free speech attacks
4 Democrats eyeing newly drawn US House district in North Texas
Lina Hidalgo on 7 years leading Harris County: ‘I’m most proud of this community’
Texas lawmakers want to honor Charlie Kirk by investigating free speech on college campuses
James Talarico reclaiming Christianity from alt-right, DFW supporter says
Houston mayor John Whitmire blasts critics of retiree pay delays
James Talarico opens US Senate campaign denouncing ‘bullies bigots, billionaires’
Texas’ DEl ban in K-12 public schools challenged in court
THINGS TO DO
LOCAL STORIES
Nearly 75K Houstonians cast a ballot during the first week of early voting in Texas
| October 27, 2025
One week of early voting is in the books for Harris County, and the unofficial numbers have fallen short compared to past years. The good news is that Houstonians still have until Friday to cast their ballot before Election Day.
Official center for Juneteenth in Galveston searching for master planning partner
| October 24, 2025
Nearly 160 years after the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, a new national Juneteenth center could be opening in Galveston in the next few years.
The 7 biggest misconceptions about Houston, according to a local
| October 24, 2025
Think Houston is all cowboys and tumbleweeds? A longtime Houstonian debunks seven major myths about America’s 4th largest city, from its cuisine to its climate.
Part of White Settlement Road in Fort Worth to be renamed Westside Drive
| October 23, 2025
DFW | History | native americans | street names | Tarrant County | Westside Village | Westside Village developers | White Settlement Road
About 1 mile of White Settlement Road stretching west from the heart of Fort Worth will be renamed to reflect a luxury development coming to the area.
Grab a free ride to the polls during early voting in Houston with METRO
| October 20, 2025
Community | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | HTX | lawmakers | local politics | political | politics | state legislature | VOTING IN TEXAS
Transit authorities across Houston are offering free rides to the polls during the early voting period (which lasts until Oct. 31) and on Election Day (which falls on Tuesday, Nov. 4 this year). The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is offering free roundtrip rides to Houstonians looking to cast their vote.
Report: 161 Texans killed by domestic violence in 2024
| October 20, 2025
Community | CULTURE | domestic violence | domestic violence awareness | gun violence | laws | LIFESTYLE | local | Local news | local politics | National Domestic Violence Awareness Month | public education | SAFETY | STATE | teens | texans | TEXAS | TEXAS LEADERS | TEXAS LEGISLATURE
There were 161 domestic violence deaths in Texas last year, according to the Honoring Texas Victims report by the Texas Council on Family Violence.
12 spooktacular horror movies that are set in Texas
| October 17, 2025
When you’re in need of a good scare during the Halloween season, all you have to do is put on one of these spooky horror movies set in Texas.
