A Greater Houston Partnership forecast says upstream oil and gas companies are likely to cut about 3,200 jobs in 2026 as lower crude prices slow drilling, with manufacturing and administrative support sectors also losing thousands of positions. Even so, the region is projected to add nearly 31,000 net jobs overall, led by health care, construction, education and professional services.
Rep. Jamie Raskin plans to introduce a bill requiring major White House renovation and construction projects to undergo formal federal-style review. The proposal responds to past projects, such as President Trump’s ballroom, that drew attention for limited oversight. The measure would apply existing federal standards on planning, spending, and preservation to future large-scale work at the executive mansion. Lawmakers are examining how to balance security needs and privacy with transparency and congressional notification.
Texas singer-songwriter and guitarist Joe Ely, known for his American roots music and energetic live performances, has died at age 78 in Texas, according to his family. This fact-based news report details what is publicly known about his death, outlines key aspects of his career in Texas country and Americana music, and notes plans for memorial arrangements and management of his musical legacy, based on information released by relatives and representatives.
Immigrant families in Texas from 19 affected nations have gone into hiding after a Trump administration policy change last month made them ineligible for certain paths to legal immigration status. Attorneys, schools and advocacy groups across Houston and other Texas cities report that many parents now avoid public places, cancel legal appointments and limit participation in services because they fear enforcement. Legal aid organizations and community workers say they have shifted to more discreet outreach and remote consultations as they track federal guidance and advise families on the implications of the new rules.
Australian authorities on Sunday investigated possible foreign terror links and confirmed a gun law review after a father-and-son pair allegedly carried out a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney that killed at least 16 people. Officials said the suspects appeared to have acted alone, prompting renewed concern about “lone wolf” attacks. Police recovered multiple firearms, treated the case as a potential terrorism-related incident, and increased security in crowded public areas while hospitals continued to care for injured victims.
The House–Senate bicameral conference committee in the Philippines agreed to allocate P51.6 billion to the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program in the proposed 2026 national budget, after initial Senate cuts raised concerns that more than one million poor patients could lose access to medical aid. Lawmakers said MAIFIP assures payment to public and private hospitals for emergency care of indigent patients and complements PhilHealth by covering gaps in insurance benefits, supporting the implementation of the Universal Health Care Program.
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday confirmed the nation’s 11th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this season at a broiler breeder farm in Namwon, about 265 kilometers south of Seoul. Authorities implemented quarantine, culling, movement controls, and disinfection measures at and around the affected site and ordered poultry farms nationwide to reinforce biosecurity. The government continues intensive surveillance and monitoring of poultry facilities and pledged to release further information as new test results and reports emerge.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed lawyer Anna Liza Logan as the new chief presidential legal counsel, Malacañang announced on Tuesday. Logan, who previously served as deputy executive secretary for Legal Affairs at the Office of the President, replaces the late Juan Ponce Enrile. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Logan brings extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation, family law, labor cases, Human Settlements Adjudication Commission cases, and corporate and commercial practice. Logan previously worked with several law firms, including Logan Masukat Ronulo Huang, Marcos Ochoa Serapio and Tan, and Agabin Verzola Hermoso Layaoen & De Castro.
Nikola Jokic posted 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to record his NBA-leading 12th triple-double of the season and lead the Denver Nuggets to a 128-125 overtime win over the Houston Rockets in Denver. Jamal Murray added 35 points as the Nuggets took the season series between two of the Western Conference’s top teams. Houston’s Jalen Green scored 42 points in a tightly contested game that featured multiple lead changes, clutch plays in the fourth quarter and overtime, and a missed Rockets three-pointer on the final possession of the extra period.
Former San Antonio Spurs star and private equity investor David Robinson has filed a civil lawsuit in Houston against his longtime business partner, alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and financial misrepresentation in joint private equity ventures. The complaint claims misused funds, inaccurate reporting and undisclosed risks in multiple investment entities. Robinson seeks damages, an accounting of business records and injunctive relief while the case proceeds. The defendant has not yet presented a response in court, and no trial date is set.