Sponsor
Honest Grass · Lawn care from The Handiest Man
Put your business in front of the county's families →

Choice

U.S. News & World Report named all elementary and middle schools in Harmony Public Schools' Houston Districts among the nation's top K-8 public schools in its October 2026 annual rankings. Nine local Harmony campuses earned the No. 1 ranking for public K-8 schools in their respective ZIP codes, and two Harmony campuses ranked in the top 10 charter elementary schools in Texas while two others ranked in the top 10 charter middle schools in Texas. [1]

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 20, 2026

Crosby ISD

Crosby ISD's Board of Trustees approved two bond propositions totaling $208.28 million on August 17, 2026, placing them before voters in the November 3, 2026 election. The bonds would cost taxpayers $411 million with interest.

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 21, 2026 · $411 million

Choice

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines' office refused to disclose how millions of dollars from the state's $1 billion school voucher program have been distributed to private schools and vendors, citing student privacy concerns. The refusal came in response to public information requests filed by the Houston Chronicle in July and September 2026.

2 outlets · $1 billion

Aldine ISD

Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney was named to District Administration magazine's 2026–27 DA 100, which recognizes K-12 leaders focused on improving student outcomes. The recognition was announced on October 20, 2026.

Official record or trusted outlet

Elections

Harris County recorded 104,660 in-person ballots on the first day of early voting on October 19, 2026, exceeding the county's previous midterm first-day record of 63,188 set in 2018 by more than 41,000 votes. The turnout came as voters prepared for the November 3, 2026 Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 21, 2026 · $158 million

City Hall

Jersey Village City Council is scheduled to vote on a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $8.1 million with construction company Brookstone LP for the first phase of the City Campus project on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The total cost for phase one is $9.5 million including construction, architecture and engineering fees, funded through a pay-as-you-go approach adopted in the city's fiscal 2026-27 budget on Aug. 18, 2026.

Official record or trusted outlet · $9.5 million

Cops & courts

An ICE agent's vehicle struck a man during a pursuit in northwest Harris County on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. The man was taken to a hospital and into ICE custody. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash. [1,2,3,6]

7 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 11, 2026

Bayous & air

A report from the Houston Advanced Research Center warns that data center construction in Texas could cause air pollutants to rise to levels not seen since the early 2000s, potentially reversing decades of air quality improvements achieved through emissions controls and cleaner fuels. The report projects that nitrogen oxide (NOx) particles could increase by over 135% and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could exceed 2002 levels by more than 30% if data centers are powered by a projected mix of grid sources.

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 20, 2026

Tax dollars

An analysis found that approximately 113,000 homeowners in Harris County could be eligible for the homestead exemption but are not claiming it, according to the Harris County appraisal district. The homestead exemption reduces the property value that school districts tax by at least $140,000 and can unlock additional savings if cities and counties offer their own exemptions, potentially saving homeowners thousands of dollars annually in property taxes.

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 20, 2026

Cops & courts

Three people were taken to a hospital after a Houston police chase ended in a crash in downtown Houston on Wednesday night, Oct. 21, 2026. Northeast patrol officers attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle near the 4900 block of Bostic Street at around 8:38 p.m., the driver failed to stop, and officers used a PIT maneuver to halt the vehicle near the 1100 block of North San Jacinto Street in downtown Houston. Officers found all three occupants unconscious inside the vehicle.

2 outlets

Cops & courts

A male pedestrian, believed to be 30 years old, was found dead on the service road of Katy Freeway in west Houston on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, after being struck by a vehicle. The driver did not remain at the scene, and Houston police are investigating the hit-and-run crash.

2 outlets

Cops & courts

An ICE vehicle struck a blue pickup truck driven by a man who fled from immigration agents on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 morning near Old Foltin Road and Essie Road in the Hillebrenner area of northwest Harris County. The man exited the truck and ran on foot before being detained. He was taken to a Houston area hospital for evaluation after complaining of pain.

2 outlets

Cops & courts

A man accused of theft was shot and killed by Humble police officers in the parking lot of an Academy Sports & Outdoors store on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office had notified Humble police that a theft suspect was entering the city limits.

2 outlets · Earlier story, first reported Oct 21, 2026

Harris County

Republican Orlando Sanchez and Democrat Letitia Plummer debated as candidates for Harris County judge on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, facing off on immigration enforcement, surveillance technology, and the future of the Astrodome ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 election.

Official record or trusted outlet

Cops & courts

Tony Boyd, 64, was arrested and charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the fatal shooting of Michael Robinson, 39, at 5317 Harrisburg Boulevard on October 10, 2026. Boyd also shot another man at 800 South Wayside Drive and admitted to shooting Robinson during an argument.

Official record or trusted outlet

Grid & data centers

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality closed its online permit application system on Oct. 22, 2026, after watchdog groups Public Citizen and FracTracker accused the agency of approving data center construction permits in violation of Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to halt such approvals pending an audit. The TCEQ suspended at least 17 stormwater and wastewater permits for data center projects after the groups publicized their findings.

Official record or trusted outlet

Cops & courts

A car crash involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent occurred in the 12400 block of Old Foltin Road in northwest Harris County on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. At least one person was injured and transported to a local hospital.

Official record or trusted outlet

Bayous & air

A new report from Environment Texas and The Frontier Group found that PFAs, referred to as 'forever chemicals,' have been detected in Houston's bayous along with other waterways. The report was discussed on Houston Matters on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.

Official record or trusted outlet

Cops & courts

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 300 block of Highlands Cross Drive and found two dogs dead with apparent gunshot wounds and a butcher knife inside an apartment. Around the same time, a woman was found at a nearby hospital with multiple stab wounds; detectives connected the incidents and identified her ex-boyfriend as the alleged attacker. The suspect was arrested when he arrived at the hospital.

Official record or trusted outlet · Single source · Earlier story, first reported Oct 21, 2026