
See how Texas universities, colleges ranked on US News & World Report Best Colleges 2025 list
by Sierra Rozen
| October 2, 2025
college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | educators | HIGHER ED | HIGHER EDUCATION | TEXAS
While Rice University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University typically tend to end up on the higher end of the US News & World Report Best Colleges list, 2025 is the year that University of Houston made the biggest leap.

The Social Security Administration is no longer issuing paper checks. Here’s what you need to know
by Sam Cohen
| October 2, 2025
Community | CULTURE | EQUALITY | government | HARDGATE | LIFESTYLE | Local news | local politics | money | News | politics
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has switched to electronic forms of payment. Here’s how you can set up your automatic payments with ease.

Get your scream on at these 8 Houston-area haunted houses
by Sierra Rozen
| October 2, 2025
If you’re someone who loves the idea of living in a horror movie, you can easily fulfill this fantasy at one of Houston’s haunted houses. The city and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of spooky spots, from masked killers and bug infestations to abandoned asylums and stalker clowns. Check out these eight haunts in the Houston area to get spooky at.

11 Houston-area Starbucks closing due to company restructuring
by Sierra Rozen
| October 1, 2025
Coffee lovers across the US are having to ditch their normal haunts, as Starbucks closed over 400 locations across the country this past week.

Get ready to Empty the Shelters in Houston at BARC Animal Shelter
by Sierra Rozen
| September 30, 2025
That’s what BARC Animal Shelter hopes will happen at the Empty the Shelters event. From Oct. 1-15, BARC Animal Shelter, along with 300+ shelters across 38 states, will be offering reduced adoptions fees through a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation.



