Houston | Page 4 of 88

Houston lands at No. 4 on list of most anxious US cities

LAWIN.newsJanuary 20, 2026032 views

A new Compare the Market study ranks Houston as the fourth most anxious city in the U.S., based on Google searches for “anxiety symptoms.” Researchers analyzed one year of search data across major cities and found Houston recorded about 23,000 anxiety-related searches, placing it ahead of Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, and Las Vegas. The study identifies multiple Texas cities among the top locations for anxiety-related queries and uses search activity as an indicator of public concern, not formal clinical diagnoses.

Early voting kicks off for special runoff in Texas’ 18th District

LAWIN.newsJanuary 19, 2026035 views

Early voting in the special election runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District will run from January 21–27, 2025, in Harris County, where Democratic candidates Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards will compete to fill a vacant U.S. House seat, with Election Day set for Saturday, January 31, 2025.

Houston marks first MLK Unity Parade as two traditions unite

LAWIN.newsJanuary 19, 2026041 views

Houston will host its first MLK Unity Parade in downtown Houston as two long-running Martin Luther King Jr. parades merge into one event. The Black Heritage Society and MLK Grande Parade partnered with the City of Houston to create a unified celebration featuring more than 300 parade units and an estimated crowd of up to 400,000 people. Mayor John Whitmire, Charles White, and radio personality Madd Hatta serve as grand marshals. Organizers plan to make the Unity Parade an annual tradition.

School vouchers in Texas: what families should know first

LAWIN.newsJanuary 18, 2026037 views

Texas families will be able to apply for Education Freedom Accounts, the state’s new voucher-style program, starting February 4, 2026. The article explains eligibility rules, income-based priority groups, disability considerations, and funding caps. It details how private school enrollment, contract terms, and deposit deadlines interact with state award timelines. It also reports rising private school interest in the Houston area and outlines steps families can take to research schools, verify accreditation, and plan for tuition costs if funding is not guaranteed.

Texas AG settlement sends millions of eggs to state food banks

LAWIN.newsJanuary 17, 2026036 views

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement with Cal-Maine Foods Inc. over alleged egg price gouging during the 2020 COVID-19 emergency, requiring the company to provide more than 2 million eggs to Texas food banks and comply with future pricing restrictions under state consumer protection laws.

Houston Housing Authority to open apartments near contaminated site despite earlier concerns

LAWIN.newsJanuary 17, 2026038 views

Houston Housing Authority has resumed leasing at The Pointe at Bayou Bend in Houston, Texas, after Mayor John Whitmire in 2024 ordered a pause over contamination concerns near the complex. Following an environmental review and consultation with regulators, Whitmire announced this week that officials found no risk to residents at the property. The authority is now opening apartments to tenants while city and regulatory agencies continue oversight of the nearby formerly contaminated site.

Houston-area temperatures to dip near freezing over holiday weekend

LAWIN.newsJanuary 17, 2026039 views

Houston-area forecasters expect temperatures to drop to near freezing over the holiday weekend as a cold air mass moves into Southeast Texas, according to Houston Public Media, with some outlying areas potentially reaching 32 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. Weather officials advise residents to protect plants, pets, and pipes during the brief cold spell. Conditions are projected to improve by Monday, with a warming trend forecast in time for Houston’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade and related holiday events, and no widespread winter precipitation currently expected.

Houston ISD postpones state requirement on uncertified teachers

LAWIN.newsJanuary 17, 2026043 views

Houston ISD has delayed implementation of a Texas Education Agency requirement that would limit the use of uncertified teachers until the 2029-2030 school year. The state-appointed Board of Managers approved the move during a public meeting, allowing the district to continue hiring and assigning uncertified teachers while it works to expand its pool of certified educators. The decision affects staffing across the state’s largest school district and keeps HISD in compliance with state oversight while postponing full enforcement of the certification limit.

Greg Abbott enters 2026 Texas governor’s race with staggering $106 million on hand

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026042 views

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott entered the 2026 governor’s race with $106 million in cash on hand after raising nearly $23 million from July through December 2025, according to new Texas Ethics Commission filings, while leading Democratic challenger state Rep. Gina Hinojosa reported collecting $1.3 million in the last 10 weeks of 2025.

444,000 eggs set for donation to Houston food banks

LAWIN.newsJanuary 16, 2026041 views

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a court-approved settlement requiring Cal-Maine Foods and Wharton County Foods to donate 2,160,000 eggs to food banks statewide, including 444,000 eggs for the Houston region. The agreement resolves a 2020 lawsuit alleging excessive egg prices during the COVID-19 disaster and imposes a 10-year injunction on disaster-period egg pricing, with recordkeeping and enforcement provisions.