A USDA inspection found a camel kicked a guest at Champion Forest’s Christmas show and flagged the animal exhibitor for a critical safety lapse. PETA is urging the church to stop using live animals.

New ACS 2020–2024 estimates show the Lake Houston area grew about 12.1% from 2019 to 2024, with sharp gains in several ZIP codes and one small decline. Local leaders say new housing is already drawing businesses and jobs.

A University of Houston survey finds 78% of Houstonians worry wages lag behind living costs, even though Houston's prices are lower than Chicago's.

Harris County is restoring Riverside General Hospital in Third Ward and plans a Feb. 28 reopening as a county health and social‑services hub. The project pairs historic preservation with wraparound programs.

RIDE Indoor Cycling will close two studios this month — Downtown Austin and West University in Houston — leaving instructors and riders surprised.

Tenants at Dyersdale Village say rats, mold and raw sewage smells have left units unlivable and that the health department has prior complaints on file.

A Clear Lake renter says bats are streaming from siding into apartments at dusk, flying inside bedrooms and prompting repeated 311 complaints. Tenants say management hasn't fixed it.

HISD is recruiting bilingual teachers from Puerto Rico after heavy turnover and growing demand for dual‑language classrooms.

Residents in a new Katy subdivision say they found rocks and sediment in their tap water. Officials advise flushing taps and contacting municipal 311 if it persists.

Porter’s Pickleball Zone has converted a warehouse into a 30,000‑sq‑ft mix of courts, a bar and community rooms, with tournaments that support local charities. The club pairs lessons and leagues with social programming and fundraising.

HISD plans to scale back Mark White Elementary's French immersion for grades 1–5, leaving families scrambling for alternatives.

A new Home Depot Foundation poll and local reporting show Texans waiting far longer to rebuild after disasters because trained tradespeople are scarce. Industry groups say expanded training and policy fixes are needed.

More than 500 people gathered on Galveston’s Seawall on Sunday to protest federal immigration enforcement after two controversial Minneapolis shootings. Organizers said the turnout marked a sharp jump from earlier local actions.