
How a railroad changed everything: Exploring the history of Houston’s Asiatown
by Sierra Rozen
| February 13, 2026
asian American | asiatown | chinatown | Community | CULTURE | food & drink | food and drink | HARDGATE | HOUSTON LEAD STORY | HTX | HTX-hardgate | IMMIGRATION | LIFESTYLE
In Houston’s Asiatown community, a sign outside of grocery store Welcome Food Center encourages patrons to “shop small, eat happy.” The front doors sport signs that spell out “shop well, live well” in Chinese and English letters. Many know this community as Chinatown—but what it’s called depends on the generation of the person speaking about […]

Houston Mayor celebrates city in annual address
| February 13, 2026
From cheering on Hilton Americas labor workers who fought for fair wages, to launching the revitalization of Tranquillity Park, to prioritizing public safety, Houston Mayor John Whitmire used his State of the City address to spotlight the people and projects moving Houston forward.

‘I guess it’s my time to die’ Why Black mothers in Harris County face higher risks
| February 13, 2026
In 2019, Moriah Ballard lost her son and nearly died herself at Texas Medical Center due to complications with severe preeclampsia. Her heartbreaking story is not uncommon.
A recent report from Harris County Public Health found that Black women in Harris county faced the highest pregnancy-related death rate in the US from 2016 to 2020. Click the link in our bio to learn more.

Texas lawmakers push for transparency on water consumption by AI facilities and data centers
| February 12, 2026
Lawmakers say the data will help guide long‑term planning as Texas faces rising demand from major cities, agriculture, and industry.

NASA’s Artemis II mission plans to take astronauts further than they’ve ever been
by Sam Cohen
| February 12, 2026
It’s been over 50 years since astronauts have experienced the Moon’s gravitational pull. Apollo 17 accomplished the feat in December 1972, and now, a new group is set to follow in their footsteps this March. NASA’s Artemis Program—named after the Greek goddess Artemis, who is often depicted as representing the Moon—was designed to help create a permanent lunar presence.



