One of the most inspiring things about this city is that we’re a place of changemakers: people who are working to better the lives and circumstances of those around them, whether that’s in hospitals saving lives, on the street cleaning trash, or in the courts fighting for justice.

Houstonians don’t shy away from a fight, even if it’s just to preserve their local history.  

The last theatre that was saved in River Oaks. (Anna Raj/Courier HTX) 

That’s exactly what a group of residents is trying to do with the Garden Oaks Theater, a historic venue in the Heights slated for demolition. If it sounds impossible, know that they’ve done it before—and won. Joined by native Houstonian and acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson, Houston locals want to hold on to the history the theater represents, while pushing it to house a new generation of art. 

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

⛪ This Houston mom is suing the state over the Ten Commandments after the passing of a new bill requires them to be displayed in public school classrooms. 

🏥 Houston Methodist has been named the no. 1 hospital in Texas for the 15th year in a row, making it among the nation’s top-performing hospitals. (Click2Houston) 

🚔 Erick Lopez, a Honduran who was deported earlier this year, is now suing the City of Houston for unlawful detention by HPD. (Houston Public Media)

🗑️ Illegal dumping has caused an eyesore in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood for years. Watch how one man’s local cleaning efforts have turned into a movement to grow neighborhood pride. (ABC News)

🏛️ Texas A&M faculty have filed a lawsuit with the school over new policies restricting how race and gender can be taught in the classroom. 

🚘 Houston’s incoming back-to-school traffic could drastically impact your morning commute: Here’s what you need to know. (KHOU11)

A story worth sharing with your neighbor.

Gina Hinojosa speaks in Houston on the Voting Rights Act anniversary, stressing the stakes of Texas’ 2026 election. (Image via screengrab)

by ShaVonne Herndon

Sixty one years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, reshaping access to the ballot box across the country. On Wednesday evening, Texas Democratic candidate for governor Gina Hinojosa stopped in Houston to commemorate the anniversary and reflect on the law’s legacy. She told attendees the fight to protect voting power, including ongoing battles over gerrymandering, remains central to Texas’ future. Her visit underscored how the principles behind the Voting Rights Act continue to shape the state’s political landscape.

“The Voting Rights Act never guaranteed victory to anyone,” she said. “It guaranteed the right of the people to decide. That is the oldest idea there is in America. When that right is defended, ordinary lives change. Because nothing good in this country ever came from powerful people waking up one morning deciding they felt generous that morning.”

Hinojosa said Texas accounts for nearly 10% of seats in the US House, giving the state outsized influence in any redistricting fight.

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

The Plains Coreopsis is a vibrant yellow wildflower native to Texas.  (Anna Raj/Courier HTX) 

✍️ Learn how to think about, feel, and write about grief collectively in this free writing workshop meant to bring BIPOC artists and writers together. 

🪻Get familiar with flowers native to the Lone Star State at this plant meet. Free goodies will be given to attendees, and you’ll learn what grows best in Houston’s climate.  

💀 You can attend a Death Cafe this weekend, a discussion group where you can get more comfortable talking about dying. This unique meet brings a taboo topic into the light, with refreshments and community.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Anna Raj with stories by Katie Serrano and ShaVonne Herndon and edited by Joi Louviere.

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