
The history of Texas Longhorn cattle: From Christopher Columbus to a record Fort Worth sale
by Sydni Ellis
| March 3, 2026
american history | animals | CULTURE | FAMILY | FARMING | FORT WORTH | HARDGATE | History | LIFESTYLE | Local news | San Antonio | STATE | TEXAS | TEXAS HISTORY | Texas Lead Story | University of Texas at Austin
Texas Longhorn cattle have a rich, centuries-long history that has led to the prestigious state icon they are today.

The historic all-female pit crew & other trailblazing Texas Motor Speedway women
by Joey Held
| February 27, 2026
Alaenda Grable | all-female pit crew | Ann Pratt | Community | DALLAS | Danica Patrick | DFW | DFW Lead Story | DFW-hardgate | Gail Stracener | Geri Parris | Gina Tomaseski | Jessica Fickenscher | Jodi Geshickter | Katherine Legge | Kayla Ochocki | LIFESTYLE | NASCAR | Sarah Fisher | Shanda Bronston | Shawna Robinson | SPORTS | Sue Webb | The Texas Motor Speedway | Toni Breidinger
There had never been an all-female pit crew in a NASCAR event until a 2003 race at Texas Motor Speedway made history. Learn how it all unfolded. The pit crew is the glue to keeping a race car driver together. When a racer enters the pit, the crew works in incredible unison, changing tires, adding […]

How the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo went from 2,000 people to millions of visitors in less than a century
by Sierra Rozen
| February 19, 2026
2026 houston rodeo | Community | CULTURE | ENTERTAINMENT | HARDGATE | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | houston livestock show and rodeo | houston rodeo | HTX | LIFESTYLE
From 2,000 attendees to millions: How the Houston Rodeo became bigger than Texas The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is known for two things: creative food combinations and a genre-diverse concert lineup that ranges from R&B to country. Of course, there’s the predictable lineup of rodeo events: barrel racing, bull riding, mutton bustin’, and steer […]

How a railroad changed everything: Exploring the history of Houston’s Asiatown
by Sierra Rozen
| February 13, 2026
asian American | asiatown | chinatown | Community | CULTURE | food & drink | food and drink | HARDGATE | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | HTX | IMMIGRATION | LIFESTYLE
In Houston’s Asiatown community, a sign outside of grocery store Welcome Food Center encourages patrons to “shop small, eat happy.” The front doors sport signs that spell out “shop well, live well” in Chinese and English letters. Many know this community as Chinatown—but what it’s called depends on the generation of the person speaking about […]

San Antonio Airport exhibit honors Tuskegee Airmen’s pioneering spirit
by Sam Cohen
| February 12, 2026
aviation | Black history | Black History Month | CULTURE | Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce | History | Reach for the Stars: African American Pioneers in Aviation | SA-hardgate | san antonio airport | San Antonio Lead Story | SATX | TEXAS | TEXAS HISTORY | Tuskegee Airmen | Wilson Pottery Foundation pottery
A new exhibit dedicated to Black aviators opened at San Antonio International Airport for Black History Month.

Houston’s Freedmen’s Town: How to save what’s left
by Sam Cohen
| February 11, 2026
black freedom | Black History Month | black liberation | CULTURE | Freedman's town | Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center | galveston | Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservatory | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | Houston’s Freedmen’s Town | HTX | HTX-hardgate | juneteenth | local politics
Houston’s Freedmen’s Town stands as a testament to freedom, resilience, and self-determination. Here’s how visitors can help preserve its legacy.



