Houston Public Media

A Texas-based sleep medicine specialist explains the impact of losing an hour's sleep, and why it's harder on children than adults.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/health-science/2026/03/09/545528/how-to-adjust-your-body-after-daylight-saving-time-begins/

Three people died and 14 people have been hospitalized in a shooting on West Sixth Street in Austin early Sunday morning. The suspect is included in the number of dead.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2026/03/01/544743/austin-tx-sixth-street-shooting-suspect-police-injuries-deaths/

Local environmental advocates are raising concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s rollback of a 2009 “endangerment finding” that classified greenhouse gases as a public health threat.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/02/16/543592/local-environmental-advocates-condemn-epa-rollback-of-greenhouse-gas-regulations/

A newly proposed Harris County flood zone map adds heightened flood risks for households across the Houston area. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/flooding/2026/02/16/543472/harris-county-flood-map-fema/

Galveston Island’s Moody Gardens recently revealed a new addition to its penguin colony. The small king penguin chick hatched a few weeks ago, during the January winter storm, with just a little bit of fuzz on its head.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/galveston/2026/02/16/543561/moody-gardens-reveals-newly-hatched-king-penguin-chick-in-galveston/

Joshua Washington’s “Between Boots and Moccasins” led a field of 90 student artists in the Houston rodeo's school art competition. All their pieces will go on sale at a rodeo auction on March 15.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/events/houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo/2026/02/16/543544/school-art-houston-rodeo-auction-nrg-center/

NASA is still aiming for a potential launch in March for the moon-bound mission. Issues with equipment on the ground in Cape Canaveral limited the flow of liquid hydrogen fuel into the rocket.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/nasa/2026/02/16/543495/space-moon-nasa-artemis-ii-fuel-leak/

An examination of SAVE’s rollout by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reveals that DHS rushed the revamped tool into use while it was still adding data and before it could discern voters’ most up-to-date citizenship information.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/voting/2026/02/16/543464/save-voter-citizenship-tool-mistakes-confusion/

FIFA requires host committees in each city to release a plan for human rights protections ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Houston’s plan focuses on diversity and labor protections.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/sports/2026/02/16/543453/world-cup-houston-host-committee-minimum-wage-human-trafficking/

Ken Paxton shaped the Texas Attorney General's Office into a conservative political stronghold. Many Republicans vying to fill his shoes say they'll continue that legacy — but Democrats say it's time to take the politics out.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/02/16/543457/republicans-and-democrats-vie-to-take-mantle-of-attorney-generals-office-in-open-race/

For many Texans, harsh memories remain of the 2021 freeze and the ensuing days — or even weeks — without power and water.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/02/16/543369/for-many-texans-memories-of-deadly-winter-blackouts-still-linger/

A tornado warning was issued Saturday night for areas southeast of Houston. Much of the Southeast Texas region is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. as storms move through the area.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/weather/2026/02/14/543442/houston-weather-tornado-warning-watch-southeast-texas/

Texas A&M University has paused its plans for a proposed $235 million Center for Learning Arts and Innovation, less than a year after the A&M System Board of Regents approved the construction. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/education-news/2026/02/13/543377/texas-am-puts-pause-on-new-235m-center-for-learning-arts-and-innovation-building/

Even with the threat of rain on Saturday, Galveston city officials said all parades, parties and entertainment will continue as planned. The island will host 12 parades from Friday to Sunday for its second weekend of Mardi Gras celebrations.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/galveston/2026/02/13/543389/rain-or-shine-galveston-island-prepares-for-weekend-two-of-mardi-gras-celebrations/

Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, was selected by commissioners on Thursday to serve as the next Harris County Administrator.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2026/02/13/543350/harris-county-commissioners-appoint-erica-lee-carter-as-new-county-administrator/

The state's leaders say they've taken steps to harden Texas' power grid since the deadly winter storm in 2021. But challenges remain as the state sees booming demand for energy.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/02/13/543232/texas-power-electricity-2021-winter-storm-ercot/

The Texas Medical Board reprimanded a Houston doctor after she prescribed ivermectin to a patient in the pandemic. Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton is intervening in her case.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/health-science/2026/02/13/543340/paxton-ivermectin-doctor/

Newly sworn-in U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee has opened up a substantial lead over longtime U.S. Rep. Al Green in the upcoming Democratic primary for the redrawn Texas 18th Congressional District, according to a new survey.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/02/13/543322/primary-election-houston-18th-congressional-district-survey-al-green-menefee/

State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles cited enrollment declines and aging infrastructure as reasons for the proposed closure of 12 schools in Texas’ largest district.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/02/12/543326/hisd-school-closures-houston/

A company that’s building Arctic icebreaker ships in Galveston and Port Arthur received $21.8 million in state funding. Governor Greg Abbott announced the Texas Enterprise Fund grant for Davie Defense Inc. on Wednesday.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/development/2026/02/12/543272/21-8-million-in-state-funding-goes-to-arctic-icebreaker-project-in-galveston-port-arthur/

Texas’ 38th Congressional District, stretching across west and northwest Harris County, is a solidly Republican seat drawn with U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt in mind. Twelve GOP candidates are vying to succeed Hunt now that he’s running for the U.S. Senate.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/02/12/543253/harris-county-republican-primary-38th-congressional-district-wesley-hunt/

Cases of University of Houston Bud Lights are available now across Houston, the university’s athletics department announced.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2026/02/12/543268/coogs-and-brews-bud-light-now-offers-a-university-of-houston-branded-beer/

In the final months of 2025, about 700 unionized hospitality workers across four workplaces in Houston won approximately 25% raises in hourly wages — gains that came after an unprecedented 40-day strike at the Hilton Americas-Houston. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2025/12/28/539584/houston-labor-union-workers-strike-unite-here-local/