LATEST HEADLINES
Texas House votes to end STAAR testing
| September 12, 2025
The Texas House approved a bill that replaces the state’s STAAR exam with three shorter tests given over the course of the school year starting in 2027.
Watch me get read for filth by a Houston aura reader
| September 12, 2025
Have you ever wondered what kind of energy you give off? Small business, Mixed Feels, is in the business of reading your aura. Subscribe to COURIER HTX at the link in our bio for more fun things to do in Houston.
10 celebrity chef restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth
| September 12, 2025
celebrities | celebrity chef restaurants | celebrity chefs | Community | CULTURE | DALLAS | DFW | DFW Lead Story | ENTERTAINMENT | food and drink | FORT WORTH | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | plano
After reading about these 10 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants started by celebrity chefs, you’ll want to make a dinner reservation pronto.
Opinion: The South’s Sunday Night Football: How dare Texas, US downplay its lynching history
| September 12, 2025
Texas overlooks the era when racial terror lynchings were not only tolerated, but celebrated, in communities across the state.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk dies after being shot at Utah college event
| September 10, 2025
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in an act that drew renewed attention to the threat of political violence across the United States.
Texas A&M fires professor for discussing gender identity in class
| September 10, 2025
Texas A&M fired a professor and disciplined two administrators over backlash from right-wing lawmakers following a viral video showing a professor discussing LGBTQ+ topics in class.
Texas’ newest abortion law allows $100,000 rewards for snitching on pregnant women
| September 9, 2025
Gov. Abbott’s next abortion law includes a $100,000 reward for snitching on pregnant women in your family.
Texas Republicans pass anti-trans bathroom bill
| September 9, 2025
The Texas Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that bans transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity in government buildings, and public schools and colleges, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.
If Abbott signs the bill into law, it will take effect on Dec. 3.
Nearly 350 Houston retirees still waiting on buyout payments
| September 9, 2025
Houston City Council member Edward Pollard is demanding accountability as nearly 350 of the 1,000 city workers who took early retirement buyouts are still waiting for their pension payments months after they were promised.
The buyout program, launched to help close a $330 million budget shortfall, offered lump-sum payouts of 25% of annual salary to eligible employees. The employees were promised the payments within 60 days of their May 1 retirement.
Pollard has expressed growing concern over the city's handling of the program, and wants a timeline from Mayor John Whitmire’s administration on when the retirees will be paid. He questioned the mayor during an Aug. 27 city council meeting.
Rising Democratic star James Talarico announces run for US Senate in Texas
| September 9, 2025
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old Presbyterian seminarian and former middle school teacher, announced Tuesday that he’s running for US Senate.
‘More stressed, more unsure’: Texas educators start school year under new DEI ban
| September 9, 2025
DALLAS | dei | DFW | DFW Lead Story | DFW TEXED EXCLUSIVE | diversity | EDUCATION | educators | equity | inclusion | SAN ANTONIO | state legislature | TEXAS
Educators speak out on new laws they face in classrooms, including a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion and a “Parental Bill of Rights” that makes it easier for conservatives to interfere in public schools.
Why books shouldn’t be controversial: Welcome to your Texas banned reading list
| September 9, 2025
bannedbooks | book ban | bookbans | books | censorship | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | HARDGATE | TEXAS
Banned books have been hugely controversial when it comes to Texas education. Literature is fundamental to learning—and when the government is trying to dictate what students can and can’t read, important, diverse voices can be lost.
Texas Sees Rise in Flea-Borne Typhus Cases
| September 9, 2025
animals | austin | DFW | dogs | HARDGATE | HEALTH | HEALTHCARE | heat | HTX | LIFESTYLE | local news | outdoors | pets | public health | SAN ANTONIO | summer | TEXAS | typhus
Flea-borne typhus, otherwise known as murine or endemic typhus, is on the rise in Texas. Here’s what you need to know.
From lowriders to live music, here’s where to celebrate Hispanic heritage in Fort Worth
| September 9, 2025
2025 | Community | CULTURE | DFW | ENTERTAINMENT | FAMILY | FORT WORTH | hispanic heritage month | hispanic pride | latin americans | LIFESTYLE | recreation | Tarrant County | THINGS TO DO
Looking for ways to show your pride during Hispanic Heritage Month? Several celebrations honoring Latino Americans and their cultures will soon take place across Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
Houston hotel workers strike for living wage
| September 5, 2025
Workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston went on strike on Monday to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
The hospitality workers, represented by Unite Here Local 23, are negotiating a new contract with the hotel giant to replace one that expired on June 30. The workers want to increase wages to at least $23 per hour, and improve their schedules and workloads.
Political Videos
Texas’ DEl ban in K-12 public schools challenged in court
Greg Abbott brushes off NAACP lawsuit over new congressional map
Texas colleges could see fewer international students amid Trump immigration crackdown
Ken Paxton wants your kids to recite the Lord’s Prayer in school
WATCH: Wendy Davis reflects on 4 years of Texas reproduction rights restrictions
WATCH: Beto O’Rourke: Texans don’t bend the knee to Trump
WATCH: Houston pastor reflects on Hurricane Katrina
WATCH: Texas Republicans are trying to ‘cheat in the middle of the game’ with gerrymandering maps
THINGS TO DO
LOCAL STORIES
Opinion: The South’s Sunday Night Football: How dare Texas, US downplay its lynching history
| September 12, 2025
Texas overlooks the era when racial terror lynchings were not only tolerated, but celebrated, in communities across the state.
Nearly 350 Houston retirees still waiting on buyout payments
| September 9, 2025
Houston City Council member Edward Pollard is demanding accountability as nearly 350 of the 1,000 city workers who took early retirement buyouts are still waiting for their pension payments months after they were promised.
The buyout program, launched to help close a $330 million budget shortfall, offered lump-sum payouts of 25% of annual salary to eligible employees. The employees were promised the payments within 60 days of their May 1 retirement.
Pollard has expressed growing concern over the city's handling of the program, and wants a timeline from Mayor John Whitmire’s administration on when the retirees will be paid. He questioned the mayor during an Aug. 27 city council meeting.
Texas Sees Rise in Flea-Borne Typhus Cases
| September 9, 2025
animals | austin | DFW | dogs | HARDGATE | HEALTH | HEALTHCARE | heat | HTX | LIFESTYLE | local news | outdoors | pets | public health | SAN ANTONIO | summer | TEXAS | typhus
Flea-borne typhus, otherwise known as murine or endemic typhus, is on the rise in Texas. Here’s what you need to know.
From lowriders to live music, here’s where to celebrate Hispanic heritage in Fort Worth
| September 9, 2025
2025 | Community | CULTURE | DFW | ENTERTAINMENT | FAMILY | FORT WORTH | hispanic heritage month | hispanic pride | latin americans | LIFESTYLE | recreation | Tarrant County | THINGS TO DO
Looking for ways to show your pride during Hispanic Heritage Month? Several celebrations honoring Latino Americans and their cultures will soon take place across Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
I Scream, You Scream, DFW Screams For Free Blue Bell Ice Cream
| September 5, 2025
blue bell creameries | blue bell ice cream | CULTURE | DFW | food and drink | free | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | pecan pie | state pie of texas | TEXAS
Blue Bell is partnering with Wing to offer an exciting ice cream giveaway for DFW residents. Here’s how you can get a free pint of the new Classic Pecan Pie flavor.
Good news, Texas! Free College Application Week is coming
| September 3, 2025
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | EQUALITY | equity | FAMILY | get involved | HARDGATE | HIGHER EDUCATION | LIFESTYLE | local | local news | public education | public school | public schools | schools | teachers | texans | TEXAS
Texas residents can apply to college for free from October 13-19, 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about Free College Application Week.
Here’s how Fort Worth residents can weigh in on the future downtown library
| September 3, 2025
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | Community | CULTURE | DFW | DFW Lead Story | downtown library | Fort Worth Public Library | LIFESTYLE | listening sessions | TEXAS
The listening sessions come about two years after Fort Worth sold its decades-old downtown central library building, and one year after it purchased a nearby, 100-year-old building as a new location.
