Texas reports 5 New World screwworm infections as federal response expands
Federal officials have confirmed three additional cases of New World screwworm in Texas, bringing the state’s total to five detections in less than a week.
Federal officials have confirmed three additional cases of New World screwworm in Texas, bringing the state’s total to five detections in less than a week.
The Pride Houston parade scheduled for Saturday night was cancelled due to heavy rain and flooding in the Houston area, organizers said in a Facebook statement.
Pride Houston Parade 2026 had been set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Houston City Hall and continue through downtown before ending at 10 p.m.
Organizers said the decision was made out of concern for public safety as severe weather and localized flooding affected parts of the city. They added that they are exploring possible rescheduling dates between July 19 and October 31.
The Pride Festival, which began earlier in the day in front of City Hall, remained open until the evening. Several related events—including block parties in Montrose and scheduled nightlife celebrations—were still planned to continue.
Pride Houston events are typically held in late June but were moved up this year to avoid conflicts with FIFA World Cup-related activity in the city. This is the first time the parade itself has been cancelled due to weather, though Pride events were previously cancelled in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers noted that Houston’s Pride parade has evolved over time, moving from Montrose to downtown in 2015 to accommodate larger crowds and event space, a shift that sparked debate within the LGBTQ+ community about preserving its historic roots.
Houston city officials and advocacy groups launched a public awareness campaign on Thursday aimed at preventing human trafficking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring thousands of visitors to the city.
Texas school districts said they cannot afford the costs required under a new state law that mandates three-point seat belts on all school buses by September 2029, according to district statements and interviews with ABC13.
Hundreds of soccer fans gathered at Sugar Land Town Square on June 4 for the opening of the first official FIFA World Cup retail store, less than a week before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Houston City Council members reviewed proposed amendments to Mayor John Whitmire’s $7.5 billion city budget plan on Wednesday as the council prepared for a final vote expected next week.
Harris County and Houston public health officials said the risk of Ebola virus disease in the Houston area and the United States remains low, even as they launched a joint monitoring dashboard and reported travelers under observation in connection with an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Houston ISD is partnering with local faith leaders and law enforcement agencies to launch “Project Safe Start Summer,” an initiative aimed at supporting student safety and well-being during the summer break, district officials said.
Average gasoline prices in Texas declined for a second consecutive week, with drivers paying an average of $3.72 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel as the summer travel season begins, according to AAA Texas.
More than 130 Texas cities must freeze their property tax rates after the Texas Attorney General’s Office determined they failed to meet state audit requirements, enforcing a new law that bars municipalities from increasing property tax collections if they are behind on annual financial audits.