Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas has filed paperwork to run in the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate primary, submitting her candidacy just hours before the state’s filing deadline and shortly after fellow Democrat Colin Allred exited the race, altering the lineup for a closely watched statewide contest.
The San Antonio City Council is set to vote on accepting a $3 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to continue the Texas Anti-Gang Program in the city. The proposal would route federal funds through the Governor’s Office to support the San Antonio Texas Anti-Gang Center and its multi-agency operations targeting organized criminal street gangs. The council’s decision will determine whether the city continues this DHS-backed public safety partnership at the current funding level.
South Korea’s Korea National Institute of Health announced that its researchers identified how the COVID-19 S1 spike protein may directly impair nerve cells linked to memory and proposed a potential treatment method. The study describes molecular pathways through which the S1 protein affects neuronal signaling and outlines a strategy to block or modulate this impact. The institute plans further preclinical and clinical trials, collaboration with hospitals and universities, and international data sharing to advance therapies for cognitive disorders reported after COVID-19 infection.
Netflix confirmed that Gerald Anderson will join Anne Curtis in the new action-thriller series “BuyBust: The Undesirables,” directed by Erik Matti and based on the 2018 film “BuyBust.” Netflix Philippines released the teaser earlier than the cast expected, revealing Anderson’s participation and Curtis’s return to her original role. The series will expand the dystopian “BuyBust” universe with new characters and large-scale action sequences. Netflix has not yet announced the release date, full cast list, or episode count but said it will unveil more promotional materials as the premiere approaches.
The Sandiganbayan has declared former lawmaker Zaldy Co and three other individuals as fugitives from justice in connection with a flood control project case. The anti-graft court issued the declaration after law enforcers failed to arrest the accused on outstanding warrants. The case involves alleged irregularities in the implementation of a government-funded flood control project. The court directed authorities to intensify efforts to locate and arrest Co and his co-accused and ordered that their fugitive status be reflected in official records while proceedings in the case continue.
Houston city officials advanced measures that would require Mayor John Whitmire’s administration to bolster city savings and increase transparency on infrastructure project changes. A key Houston City Council committee recommended policies to raise minimum reserve levels and mandate detailed public reporting when the administration alters the capital improvement plan. The proposals respond to warnings about a shrinking fund balance and concerns over sudden revisions to major projects. The full City Council must approve the measures before they take effect.
Houston filmmaker Alex Stapleton directs the new Netflix docuseries “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” which chronicles the rise and fall of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs through interviews, archival footage, and legal records. The series details Combs’ ascent in the entertainment industry, his business empire, and the allegations and investigations that now surround him. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson serves as an executive producer, helping assemble the team and promote the project. Netflix releases the multi-episode series globally to its subscribers.
Grand Lux Cafe will close its only Houston restaurant at 5000 Westheimer Road on Jan. 24, 2026, after 21 years in the Galleria area, as parent company The Cheesecake Factory Inc. shifts staff to other concepts and the district prepares for the arrival of Eataly and other new tenants.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into the finances and property tax practices of nearly 1,000 Texas cities to enforce a new state law that ties local tax increases to strict transparency requirements. The probe seeks records on how cities set and disclosed property tax rates, whether they followed mandated notice and hearing procedures, and how they communicated tax decisions to residents. The review could affect some cities’ ability to raise property taxes if investigators find failures to comply with the law’s transparency standards.
Lionel Messi became Major League Soccer’s first back-to-back MVP winner after league officials named the 38-year-old Inter Miami captain the 2025 Most Valuable Player. The announcement followed a season in which Messi led Inter Miami to the MLS Cup title and topped club statistics in goals and assists. MLS confirmed that no player had previously secured consecutive MVP awards and said it would formally present the trophy at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale. League and club officials reported increased global attention, higher attendance and rising merchandise sales tied to Messi’s tenure.