Governor Greg Abbott has activated Texas emergency response resources as an arctic cold front brings freezing rain, sleet, snow, and dangerous wind chills to much of the state starting Thursday. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is coordinating with local officials, transportation crews, and shelters to prepare for hazardous travel and possible infrastructure impacts. Texans are urged to stay weather-aware, check road conditions through DriveTexas.org, follow local guidance, protect people and animals from the cold, and use designated warming centers if needed.

Houston City Council will vote on whether to pay $403,000 to Nerie Construction, whose owner admitted paying bribes in a Houston waterline contract scandal. The payment involves work tied to federal HUD funds, and nonpayment could prompt a federal demand for up to $9 million from the city. The case stems from a broader “DRAINED” investigation into Houston Public Works, which exposed billing errors, contract mismanagement, and led to multiple indictments, including a 10-year prison sentence for former manager Patrece Lee.

A University of Houston report finds Houston ISD lost more than 13,000 students in the two years after the 2023 state takeover, with the steepest enrollment declines in kindergarten, first grade and ninth grade. The study also reports higher teacher turnover, a sharp increase in first-year teachers and a rise in uncertified educators to nearly one in five. Researchers say the district now serves fewer students and employs a less experienced workforce, offering data that may inform other Texas districts facing potential state intervention.