I’m Anna Raj, your new HTX newsletter editor, and I’m thrilled for this newsletter to hit your inboxes! I’m a lifelong Texan and proud Houstonian, and I have big love for the folks on my block in Third Ward and West U. While I get to know you and what you want to read, I’ll work to cover issues that I think matter most to Houston area residents, like things to do, people and stories, and useful news.

We all know that it’s never a calm week in our city, particularly in this climate (weather and politics).

This week, there’s been worries that flash flooding could damage our communities. To prepare for hurricane season, we’ve put together some must-read tips to best handle floods.

Also, it’s time to hit all of those fun end-of-summer spots before the kids have to go back to school.

We’re also seeing heightened tensions in the city around ICE killings, personal privacy, and discrimination.

Let’s dive in.

Your news roundup—a quick stop for stories happening across the state that deserve a little more attention.

A woman holds a sign reading “ICE OUT OF HOUSTON” during a vigil for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national fatally shot by a federal immigration agent on July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Felix)

🚨 After the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, ICE halted all arrest efforts at traffic stops. Within 24 hours, President Donald Trump overturned that. (Houston Public Media)

🛑 Mayor John Whitmire has responded to Trump’s decision to overturn the ICE stops by advocating for a 90-day moratorium on DHS activity. (Chron)

🏠 In Richmond, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) residents gathered to discuss a new law in Texas that prevents AAPI citizens from owning property.

🎓 Nearly 40 Harris County foster youth have beaten the odds, graduating with high school and college degrees in a ceremony that took place last month.

🐶 When a cold front hit Houston earlier this year, an emaciated stray dog wrapped herself around her puppy to keep it alive. Now, both puppy and mother are thriving in foster care as they wait for their forever home to be found.

A broken Flock camera was found at the Washington Avenue roundabout with an American flag stuffed into the pole. (Courtesy of Chris Alan)

On the morning of the Fourth of July, two Flock surveillance cameras lay on the ground near a roundabout in central Houston—they’d been knocked down and spray-painted white, and the pole that held one was stuffed with an American flag.

“I think [the vandals] are sending the message of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said local barista Angele Smith.

But has the city of Houston received the message? It just renewed its contract with the ultra-thorough security camera company, Flock Safety, in the spring—an $869,000 investment in the operation of its 3,800 cameras spread across the city. Houston leads the nation in Flock camera usage, relying on the cameras more than other cities during a police staffing shortage.

Criticism of Flock cameras has gone viral for misuse by police officers, including in Houston and Pasadena.

Some residents are fighting back; find out how.

Low-cost & free resources to elevate your day-to-day.

Harris County is hosting an alternative-hours passport application event on Saturday at the Harris County District Clerk Records Center. (Your Hand Please/Shutterstock)

🌐 Harris County Passport Fair: Too busy to apply for a passport during the week? Get that application done at this free, Saturday fair designed for people who are otherwise occupied during the week and can’t make it out to the office. English- and Spanish-speaking staff will be on hand to help, but be sure to make an appointment through Eventbrite and bring/complete the listed documents.

🎒 Back-to-School Drive: Getting ready to send your kids back to school? Come out to this Second Ward fair at Templo Pentecostes La Voz del Salvador to receive free school supplies, healthcare and dental resources, community support, and a free lunch.

As we get to know each other, I want to make sure this newsletter reflects what matters most to you and your community. Tell me what kind of stories you want to see land in your inbox:

Are you most interested in political news, food and art, things to do or stories about your neighbors?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Anna Raj and edited by Joi Louviere.

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