Houston usually sees its first freeze around Dec. 9, but National Weather Service forecasters say this year’s first freeze will likely arrive later—if at all in early December—because La Niña and returning Gulf warmth are keeping temperatures above freezing, even as weak cold fronts move through the region.
Music 2 Ur Ears School of Music marked a milestone on Dec. 7, celebrating its 25th founding anniversary with a vibrant gathering at the Houston Marriott Westchase Hotel.
President Donald Trump announced a $12 billion aid package for U.S. farmers aimed at offsetting losses tied to tariffs and trade tensions, particularly with China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will administer the program through direct payments, commodity purchases and trade promotion efforts, focusing on producers of soybeans, corn, pork, dairy and other key crops. Farmers, lawmakers and analysts are examining eligibility rules, timing and potential effects on exports, prices and rural economies as the federal government rolls out this temporary relief measure.
Texas Republican Party leaders have launched a statewide initiative to establish Turning Point USA chapters in every public high school, charter school, and college, coordinating with students, educators, and local GOP officials to expand the conservative youth organization’s presence on Texas campuses. The plan follows similar efforts by Republican officials in Oklahoma and Florida, where leaders have promoted Turning Point USA as a vehicle for conservative political engagement among young people. The Texas GOP says it will assist students with school approval processes and work with Turning Point USA staff to comply with district rules for student organizations, while tracking the creation of new chapters over coming school years.
The Bureau of Immigration intercepted a 25-year-old Filipino woman at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 7, 2024, after officers suspected she was a mail-order bride bound for Beijing on an Air China flight. Authorities reported that inconsistencies in her travel purpose, financial arrangements funded by a foreign contact, and incomplete tourism documents led to her offloading. The BI coordinated with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and cited Philippine laws prohibiting mail-order spouse schemes as it referred the woman for counseling and further evaluation.
A bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress seeks to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement an evidence-based suicide-prevention model at VA medical centers nationwide. The legislation mandates standardized screening, staff training, data tracking and crisis response protocols to address veteran suicide risk. The bill directs the VA to coordinate with other federal agencies and veteran organizations, expand access to mental health services and report regularly to Congress on implementation and outcomes.
A Somali migrant, TikTok personality Mahad Maxamud, returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after the United States deported him in 2024 for allegedly aiding the kidnapping of two French spies. US officials publicly labeled him an “illegal scumbag,” while supporters in Somalia questioned the evidence behind the accusation. Somali authorities confirmed his arrival but did not announce new charges or a fresh investigation, and US agencies did not release further details on the case. Community leaders and legal observers in Mogadishu said they would follow any developments closely because of the case’s implications for security cooperation and the treatment of Somali migrants abroad.
Chamber leaders from Greater Dallas Fort Worth, Greater Houston, Rio Grande Valley, Greater San Antonio, and Greater Austin are bringing great ideas and turning them into action at the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACC Texas) Annual Strategic Planning, Team Building, and Holiday Party in Houston.
A major apartment fire in Universal City, Texas, displaced residents from 64 units and prompted a coordinated emergency response. Firefighters evacuated families, aid groups provided shelter and supplies, and investigators began examining the cause of the blaze. Local nonprofits, schools, and city officials organized housing assistance, donations, and support services while structural assessments continued at the damaged complex.
A large fire at the Sage at Franklin Park apartment complex in Southeast Austin, Texas, caused an estimated $3 million in damages, according to the Austin Fire Department. Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke and flames and deployed multiple units to contain the blaze and protect nearby structures. Investigators from the Austin Fire Department opened an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and are reviewing witness accounts, physical evidence, and video footage. Officials said they will release further details after completing the investigation and damage assessments.