Abbie Kamin announces run for Harris County Attorney

Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Kamin announced her candidacy for Harris County Attorney, a move that will require her to vacate her current council seat under Texas’ resign-to-run rules. Her decision sets up an open seat on Houston’s largest legislative body and adds a new contender to the race for Harris County’s top civil legal office. Local and state election authorities will manage the process for filling her council vacancy and administering the Harris County Attorney election, while Harris County voters will ultimately choose the next official to lead the office.

Read more

Kevin Durant hits 31,000 career points as Rockets topple Suns

Kevin Durant scored 28 points in Houston to become the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points, but the Phoenix Suns fell to the Houston Rockets, 117-98, on Friday night. The game marked Durant’s first matchup against his former team since a recent seven-team trade involving Jalen Green and multiple assets reshaped both rosters. Houston used balanced scoring, strong rebounding, and tight perimeter defense to control the contest, while Phoenix relied on Durant’s efficient shooting in the loss.

Read more

Bartlett’s historic Red School vandalized; officials offer reward for leads

Authorities in Bartlett, Texas, are investigating vandalism at the historic Bartlett Red School building and have offered a reward for information leading to the suspects. Police documented damage at the site, collected evidence, and appealed to the public for tips, including any sightings of suspicious activity near the property. Officials are working with preservation representatives to assess the impact on the historic structure.

Read more

LeBron, Luka, Smart all sidelined as Lakers visit Boston

LeBron James and Luka Doncic missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden, where Boston posted a 126-105 win. Austin Reaves scored 36 points with eight assists for the Lakers, while Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points. Former Celtics guard Marcus Smart also did not play. The loss halted the Lakers’ strong recent run of eight wins in nine games, as both teams adjusted lineups to cover key absences in this regular-season NBA matchup.

Read more

$5K grants to support Central Texas restaurants after July flooding

The Texas Restaurant Association has activated the TX Restaurant Relief Fund to offer $5,000 grants to independent restaurants and foodservice workers in Central Texas impacted by catastrophic July 2024 floods. Eligible businesses that suffered physical damage, inventory loss, or prolonged closure can apply online for financial assistance to support repairs, equipment replacement, payroll, and other recovery costs. The fund, supported by donations from industry partners and individuals, will review applications on a rolling basis and distribute grants directly to approved recipients.

Read more

Austin urged to fast-track funding for phase 2 of caps, stitches

Austin officials report that the city must commit funding earlier than planned for phase two of the I-35 “caps and stitches” project after a change in the funding schedule by transportation partners. The project will add deck-style caps and connections over a rebuilt, lowered I-35 to support parks, public spaces and development in central Austin. City staff will bring updated cost estimates, funding options and a revised timeline to the Austin City Council while coordinating design and construction with TxDOT to keep the caps integrated with the highway redesign.

Read more

Fort Bend County pledges $1.5M for Sugar Land 95 memorial

Fort Bend County approved a $1.5 million contribution to help fund a permanent memorial for the “Sugar Land 95,” the remains of 95 individuals uncovered in 2018 on Fort Bend ISD property and believed to be victims of Texas’ historic convict leasing system. The county’s funding will support design, construction and educational elements at the protected cemetery site, in partnership with the school district, state agencies, researchers and community groups. Officials plan for the memorial to serve as a public historical and educational resource while honoring the individuals reinterred on the campus.

Read more

Bad Bunny tops Spotify Wrapped with nearly 20 billion streams

Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data shows Bad Bunny returning as the Most-Streamed Global Artist with 19.8 billion streams, reclaiming a title he held in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” ranks as Spotify’s No. 1 global album of 2025, while “Un Verano Sin Ti” reappears at No. 10. Spotify supports the milestone with a worldwide campaign featuring a “Leap Year” short film, city fan experiences and in-app features for his listeners. Taylor Swift places second globally but remains the No. 1 artist in the United States. “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tops the global songs chart, followed by major entries from Billie Eilish, Rosé and Mars, Alex Warren and Bad Bunny’s “DtMF.”

Read more

Rosé, Bruno Mars’ ‘APT.’ tops Apple Music global charts in 2025

Apple Music’s 2025 Replay year-end rankings place Rosé and Bruno Mars’ collaboration “APT.” at No. 1 on the global songs chart, giving both artists their first top finish on the platform’s annual worldwide list. The track also leads Apple Music’s global most-read lyrics, Shazam Top 100 Global and Top 100 Global Radio rankings. Country-specific charts show “APT.” at No. 1 in markets including Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, while other tracks such as “Luther” in the US, “Ordinary” in the UK and “Multo” in the Philippines dominate their respective national lists.

Read more

Nicole Scherzinger headlines celebrity lineup for World Cup final draw

Nicole Scherzinger will join Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli in headlining the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Draw show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday. FIFA will reveal the group-stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart will co-host the broadcast, with Danny Ramirez engaging players and guests. Village People will close the event with “Y.M.C.A.” The draw will stream on FIFA’s digital platforms and air via global broadcast partners.

Read more