Houston-area roadways treated in advance of winter weather
Houston Public Works started pre-treating 41 priority locations on Friday, concentrating on bridges, ramps, and flyovers considered critical for emergency access.
Houston Public Works started pre-treating 41 priority locations on Friday, concentrating on bridges, ramps, and flyovers considered critical for emergency access.
With a winter storm forecast to push temperatures in the Houston area below freezing starting Saturday night and potentially lasting through Monday, Mayor John Whitmire urged residents to take precautions and prepare ahead of time.
Federal Aviation Administration records show the aircraft is registered to a corporation that shares the same Houston address as Arnold & Itkin LLP, a prominent personal injury law firm.
A new resiliency hub in Northeast Houston’s Robins Landing neighborhood will provide charging stations, portable power units, ice, and cold storage during emergencies. Developed by Houston Habitat for Humanity with a $50,000 donation from Reliant Energy, the facility at 8811 Robins Landing serves residents in ZIP code 77078, an area heavily impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The hub uses solar panels and backup power to support essential medical devices and preserve food when outages occur.
TxDOT is defending its winter storm preparations in Houston after an out-of-state public works official questioned the timing and effectiveness of its brine treatment ahead of a rainy, freezing forecast. Crews began spraying liquid brine on bridges and overpasses Thursday and continued operations Friday across six counties. TxDOT says it has monitored the system for weeks and will keep treating roads up to the storm’s arrival, then deploy sand trucks if icing occurs. Officials met Friday to coordinate the response as Houston braces for possible icy roads.
Major U.S. airlines issued travel advisories for Houston airports and dozens of other cities ahead of a winter storm expected to disrupt flights. Southwest, United, Spirit, and Frontier announced flexible rebooking policies, fee waivers, and broad lists of affected airports. Passengers traveling through impacted cities on specified dates can change plans under outlined conditions, including same-city and same-cabin requirements for some carriers. Travelers are urged to confirm flight status and review airline-specific guidelines before heading to the airport as carriers prepare for delays, diversions, and cancellations linked to the approaching weather system.
An arctic cold front swept across Texas on Saturday, January 24, bringing subfreezing temperatures, wintry precipitation, and multiple weather alerts, including Winter Storm and Freeze Watches.
A major winter storm affecting roughly half of the United States forced airlines to cancel or delay more than 16,000 flights, disrupting travel at major hubs including Chicago, New York, and Dallas. Airports activated winter weather response plans, and the FAA implemented ground delays and other measures as snow, ice, and strong winds created hazardous flying conditions and extended impacts across the national airspace system.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to cut any ties with the planned 2026 Houston Islamic Games, citing alleged links to CAIR’s New Jersey chapter, which Texas designates as a foreign terrorist organization. The district denies hosting the event or holding contracts for 2026–27 and says it follows neutral facility-use policies and state anti-discrimination and anti-terrorism laws. The Islamic Games organization denies any sponsorship or affiliation by CAIR.
Texas set a new record for Affordable Care Act health plan enrollment for the 2026 coverage year, according to newly released data from marketplace officials, even as overall ACA enrollment declined across the United States. State figures show more Texans signed up for marketplace coverage than in any previous year since the law took effect, making Texas an outlier compared with states that reported flat or reduced participation. The 2026 enrollment totals include individuals and families who obtained qualified health plans through the federal exchange during the latest open enrollment period.