I donāt blame you, but you might not be able to make your getaway with Spirit Airlines for much longer. The budget-friendly airline has been seeking government help to stay operational, and President Donald Trump said he might be able to step in for 90% of Spirit’s equity.
Without intervention, the airline could shut down as soon as tomorrow, becoming the first industry fallout tied to the Iran war.
Whatās that got to do with Texas? Well, a lot, actually. Itās a reminder that, across the board, affordability is slipping as gas and grocery prices continue to rise.
And itās not just airfare. FIFA is expected to bring in about $11 billion from the World Cup, while cities like Houston could be left covering the billāand hoping to at least break even.
The costs donāt stop thereāHouston is weighing a new garbage fee, starting at $5 a month and climbing to $25, to help patch budget holes and fix a strained system.
Potholes, budget holesāand no quick fix in sight.
Alright, Houston, letās look at the headlines.
Paula Solis
Deputy Director of Newsletters
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š A new biography traces how Mary Kay Ash built a global beauty empire from Texas roots. āSelling Opportunityā follows her rise from Depression-era Houston to launching Mary Kay in 1963āturning door-to-door sales into a billion-dollar business and reshaping how beauty products are marketed.
š©āš§ Texas ranks near the bottom for working moms, coming in as the ninth worst state in a new report from WalletHub. High childcare costs, weak parental leave policies, and persistent pay gaps are among the factors dragging the state down.
š« A state-appointed board overseeing Fort Worth ISD voted to close a campus serving immigrant and refugee students, drawing backlash from families and advocates.
š Texas is moving to tighten rules on ketamine treatments, with the Texas Medical Board proposing a ban on in-home use and stricter physician oversight. Supporters say itās about safety; clinics warn the changes could limit access and raise costs.
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President Donald Trump speaks as first lady Melania Trump, left, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listen during a roundtable discussion with first responders and local officials at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, during a tour to observe flood damage, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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By ShaVonne Herndon
As Texas heads into another hurricane season, emergencyāmanagement experts and local officials warn deep cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency could leave the nationās most disasterāprone state dangerously exposed.
Texas relies more heavily on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) than nearly any other state, averaging $1.4 billion per year in federal disaster aid and has received support for 16 major disasters since 2015. Over the past decade, Texans have collected $11.6 billion in floodāinsurance payouts, the secondāhighest total in the country.
Harris County alone has 240,100 floodāinsurance policyholders, more than many states.
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Looking for plans? We kept everything on this list free. Thereās also plenty of Cinco de Mayo fun on deck, but a quick FYI: Itās not Mexicoās Independence Day. Celebrate respectfully alongside your Latino neighbors.
If one of these sends you out the door, bring us alongāsnap a photo and send it in. Weāll share some favorites in the next newsletter.
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Paula Solis with reporting by ShaVonne Herndon. It was edited by Kimberly Lawson.
COURIER HTX is free to read for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.
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