Today is the last day to register to vote in the March primaries!

This year’s midterms have lots of important races on the ballot: US Senate, governor, attorney general, comptroller, US House, Texas Senate, and lieutenant governor—just to name a few. 

Fact check: Whether you vote in the Democratic or Republican Party primary, you can only vote in that party’s runoff, if one occurs.

Runoffs only happen if no candidate receives a majority of votes.

If you need to check your status, register to vote, or change your address, check out this site.

Are you registered to vote?

Last week, Southwest Airlines announced it would end open seating and switch to an assigned seating system. The announcement is seeing mixed reviews from passengers. The airline also dropped its “bags fly free” policy last year, much to travelers’ chagrin.

This week, I want to know:

What major airline are you flying and why?

🏠 Houston was recently named Texas’ most buyer-friendly housing market and the 15th best in the US. Here’s what you need to know.

💰 Considering sending your child to private school? Applications open Wednesday, Feb. 4 for Education Freedom Accounts, Texas’ new voucher-style program. (Click2Houston)

🏫 Houston ISD has approved major changes to magnet and CTE programs across several high schools. In the midst of the state‑appointed takeover, Houston Federation of Teachers president Jackie Anderson is speaking out, saying the move will disrupt campuses and limit student access to career‑focused programs.

🗳 Christian Menefee beat opponent Amanda Edwards in Saturday’s 18th Congressional District runoff election. (Houston Chronicle)

By Joi Louviere

Masked federal immigration officers have become a visible presence in many communities across the country, and Texas is no exception. With no sign of immigration raids slowing down, Texans need to know their rights and how to safely interact with federal officers, whether they’re undocumented, US citizens, or somewhere in between.

As recent events have shown, those interactions can be a matter of life or death. According to a new report from The Guardian, eight people, including three in Texas, have died while engaging with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

COURIER Texas spoke with Kristin Etter, the director of policy and legal services at the Texas Immigration Law Council, for her expert legal knowledge to better understand what’s happening with immigration enforcement and how the public should be interacting with these federal agents.

“ We’ve just seen a huge change in the tactics over these last, this last year, but it’s really amped up over these last several months into a really militaristic—I don’t know how else to describe it—almost like a rogue agency at this point that appears to be operating outside the law in many different circumstances,” the attorney said.

How we’re reporting on immigration right now

Immigration has become one of the most closely watched and emotionally charged issues in the country since President Trump returned to office. We’ve seen an increase in ICE raids, legal battles, protests in Texas and across the US, and reports of people dying in custody or being killed during encounters with authorities—developments that affect families and communities here at home.

Our newsroom has been reporting on ICE with care and urgency—from what Texans need to know about ICE and how Houston leaders are responding—with reporters on the ground as developments unfold.

Stories like these take time, verification, and thoughtful editing. If our reporting has helped you better understand what’s happening in your community, we hope you’ll consider supporting COURIER HTX. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

Do you want to support COURIER HTX’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 30,000+ subscribers?

Email advertising@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen with reporting by Joi Louviere. It was edited by Paula Solis.

COURIER HTX is free to read for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.