It’s easy to feel proud of Houston when you zoom out and look at all the ways this city shows up on the state, national, and global stage. The Texas Medical Center is a great example of that.

TMC is the largest medical complex in the world. People travel here from all over when they’re looking for the best care available.

That’s why the latest news out of Texas Children’s Hospital feels worth paying attention to, even if you don’t usually follow politics closely.

Texas Children’s, the largest children’s hospital in the country, will develop a “detransition clinic” and fire five physicians as part of a settlement with the state, the Texas Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

The settlement follows a 2023 investigation, launched by Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican running for US Senate, over the hospital’s past gender-affirming care of minors.

Related: Two Republicans, one Senate seat, no real political difference

Gender-affirming care is backed by decades of research and supported by major medical associations.

Whatever your politics, this story lands close to home. It’s about one of Houston’s most important institutions, the doctors who work there, and the families who look to them for care.

One more thing: Find your polling location for tomorrow’s City Council runoff election here and the May 26 primary runoff election here.

Alright, Houston, let’s look at your headlines.

Paula Solis
Deputy Director of Newsletters

🍹 Houston’s patio scene is built for lingering—despite the heat. From shaded, nature-filled spots like Rainbow Lodge to lively beer gardens like Axelrad, this roundup highlights 13 places where good food, open air, and space for kids (and dogs) make outdoor dining worth it.

🗑️ That proposed $5 monthly trash fee in Houston is still in play, with city leaders weighing it as part of the budget. If approved, it would mark a shift from free pickup—and could climb over time.

🌀 El Niño could arrive sooner than forecast, with forecasters watching conditions closely ahead of hurricane season. While it can mean fewer storms in the Atlantic, its impact on Texas weather—especially in summer—is less predictable. (Houston Chronicle, paywall)

🚿 A west Houston outreach event is bringing services directly to unhoused residents, offering showers, medical care, and help with IDs and housing. Organizers say it’s part of a broader push to reach people where they are—and fill gaps in access across the city. (The Defender)

Texas’s oldest gay bar, Robert’s Lafitte, has been a safe haven in the Galveston community for over 60 years. Terry Lynn Fuller, who is an events coordinator and bartender at Robert’s, told Chron that the bar, “has always been a mixed crowd: gay, straight, bi, trans, people of all walks of life — People come off the cruise ships and go there. It’s the oldest continuously running gay bar in Texas, and there’s so much rich history.” 

Now, that history may be coming to a close if the dive bar is unable to raise badly needed funds to complete a “laundry list” of renovations that need to be done within the next 30 days.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Paula Solis and edited by Joi Louviere.

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