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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 10h

Hundreds of protesters hit the streets around the Chicago area Wednesday evening as National Guard troops were anticipated to be deployed in the Chicago area.

Protesters hit the streets as Texas National Guard expected to be deployed in Chicago area

The deployment will entail 200 soldiers from the Texas National Guard and 300 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard, according to the military.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 16h

After spending much of the spring and summer trailing state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the polls, Senator John Cornyn has pulled even with his chief rival for the 2026 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate from Texas.

John Cornyn, Ken Paxton in statistical dead heat in GOP primary for U.S. Senate, poll finds

The latest survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Houston-area Congressman Wesley Hunt in third place behind Cornyn and Paxton. It also shows Dallas-area Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who has declared she’s a candidate, leading the Democratic primary field.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 16h

Energy experts speaking at a virtual Reliable Grid Project media briefing Wednesday said renewable power sources are needed to keep up with Texas' growing demand for electricity.

Renewable energy, power storage key to meeting Texas’ electricity demand, experts say

Clean energy and battery storage can create cheaper electricity and a more reliable grid, panelists said during a media briefing Wednesday

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 16h

The hotel strike is slated to end on Sunday, on the 42-day mark, but there have already been two extensions of what was initially a 9-day strike.

42-day Houston hotel strike slated to end Sunday. It’s an unprecedented labor action — in more ways than one

Striking workers at the Hilton Houston-Americas hotel are seeking a 40% raise. The demand comes as the hotel breaks revenue records. The 42-day strike is unusual.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 17h

Texas’ highest criminal court on Thursday blocked Robert Roberson’s execution a week before it was set to take place, sending his capital murder conviction back to trial court.

Texas court blocks execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson

Roberson was scheduled to be executed Oct. 16 after being convicted of capital murder in 2003 for the death of his two-year-old daughter Nikki.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 17h

METRO said late Wednesday it will remove the rainbow crosswalks at Westheimer and Taft to comply with federal regulations shortly after Texas Governor Greg Abbott's direction about "political ideologies" on roadways.

METRO will remove Montrose rainbow crosswalks following direction from Abbott, TxDOT

The plan comes as the Texas Department of Transportation in a letter directed local jurisdictions to ensure that roadway markings align with federal law.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Four people are dead following a string of shootings potentially connected to a road rage incident in Sugar Land, according to the Houston Police Department.

4 dead, including suspect, in string of Houston-area shootings allegedly stemming from road rage incident

As of Wednesday afternoon, police had not yet identified any of the victims or the suspect.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Multiple middle school students hospitalized for heat-related illness, after a reported gas leak prompted an evacuation.

Multiple students hospitalized for heat-related illness after gas leak at middle school prompts evacuation

Multiple McReynolds Middle School students were hospitalized with heat-related illness, after standing in the heat for an hour after being evacuated for a gas leak.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Eight people affiliated with Houston-area health clinics accused of providing illegal abortions and operating without licenses were indicted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Wednesday.

8 people allegedly affiliated with Houston woman in illegal abortion case indicted, Paxton says

The announcement of more arrests in the case championed by Paxton comes a month after Maria Rojas, a Houston-area midwife who operated the clinics, was indicted on 15 felony charges stemming from allegations that she performed illegal abortions at the Waller County clinics.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Most Texas homebuyers say they had plenty of homes to choose from but still faced some competition, according to a new poll from Texas Realtors.

Texas homebuyers have mixed perspectives on real estate market, according to new polling

In a first-of-its-kind poll, Texas Realtors surveyed hundreds of real estate agents on how their clients felt about the real estate market.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Houston Police confirm they're searching for another body in a Houston-area bayou, the seventh in the last month.

Another body found in Houston-area bayou, police confirm

Houston Police confirmed they responded to a call for a drowning in White Oak Bayou. If found, that would mark the seventh body found in the bayous in about a month.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching undercover investigations of "left-wing political violence" in Texas.

AG Ken Paxton announces undercover operations of ‘leftist terror cells’

Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching undercover investigations of left-wing political violence in Texas after recent attacks against ICE.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Robert Roberson, whose case garnered national attention last fall after an extraordinary delay in execution, is once again scheduled for lethal injection on October 16.

Robert Roberson is again approaching execution in Texas in shaken baby case

Roberson hopes he will again avoid becoming the first person in the U.S. executed for a murder conviction tied to the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. Roberson is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Oct. 16 for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

County Judge Lina Hidalgo is making calls for transparency after a Monday audit showed the Harris County Flood Control District allegedly failed to implement a reformed procurement process for selecting project vendors.

Harris County Flood Control District disputes Hidalgo’s calls for ethics reform

The flood control district however argues the Monday audit covers a transition period during which the flood control district was actively implementing reforms and updating their procedures.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

As the roughly 400-worker strike at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel stretches towards the 40-day mark, about 100 of their fellow union members employed in food and beverage services at the neighboring George R. Brown Convention Center could soon join the picket line.

George R. Brown Convention Center workers to take strike vote

About 100 food and beverage workers at the downtown convention center could join roughly 400 hotel workers at the nearby Hilton Americas-Houston on strike. After the vote, the workers could begin their strike at any moment.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

A homeless man is accused of attempting to kidnap an Aldine High School student after allegedly injecting them with an unknown substance.

Man accused of drugging, attempting to kidnap Aldine High School student

Ted Fleming is accused of injecting a high school student with an unknown substance and attempting to kidnap them.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Houston reinstated the rainbow crosswalks in Montrose. Some conservative leaders are calling for its removal.

Conservative leaders call for removal of Montrose rainbow crosswalks, days after they were reinstated

A post from “Libs of TikTok” on X has been viewed more than three million times and shared by thousands of users. Governor Greg Abbott’s office said he wants Texas cities to comply with federal guidelines.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Despite a projected budget deficit of about $128 million and a chronically declining savings account, Houston Mayor John Whitmire wants to keep the property tax rate flat heading into 2026.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire apposes property tax increase despite over $100 million deficit

The city faces a $128 million budget deficit. Whitmire’s administration doesn’t want to narrow the gap by raising property taxes.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Fewer Texas teachers are considering leaving the classroom than last year, new polling finds, but two-thirds of all teachers say they're still thinking about it.

Fewer teachers are considering leaving the classroom, new poll finds. Most are still thinking about it

Last year, 78% of Texas teachers were thinking of leaving education, now its down to 66%. Salaries and the desire for other benefits for teachers could be contributing factors.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

President Donald Trump has authorized Texas National Guard troops to be sent to Illinois and other states to bolster federal immigration enforcement.

Why is Trump sending Texas National Guard troops to other states?

The move has sparked legal challenges and pushback from Democratic governors who say the president overstepped his authority.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

With less than a month until the special election to fill an open at-large seat on the Houston City Council, trial attorney Alejandra Salinas continued to lead the 15-candidate field in fundraising as of the most recent campaign finance reporting period.

Alejandra Salinas, Dwight Boykins lead Houston City Council candidate field in fundraising, endorsements

Two of the 15 candidates are pulling ahead in fundraising and political endorsements with less than a month until the special election to fill an open at-large seat on the Houston City Council.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

The city of Houston’s housing department hopes to open a facility with 150 to 225 beds for homeless people in East Downtown sometime in early 2026.

East Downtown ‘Superhub’ for homeless proposed by Houston Housing Department

Some community members are already opposed to the facility. The housing department described it as “a place of refuge for people with no other places to go.” The housing department plans to pursue a city council vote for the purchase on Oct. 15.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

On the first day of the long-awaited, highly publicized sprint to collect more than 63,000 signatures within 30 days, only one person canvassed at the main signature collection event.

Uphill effort to recall Whitmire kicks off with single canvasser, misspelled signature forms

On the first day of the long-awaited, highly publicized sprint to collect more than 63,000 signatures within 30 days, only one person canvassed at the main signature collection event. The forms contained a misspelling of “petition.”

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Houston-based company Occidental Petroleum will sell its chemical business, OxyChem, for $9.7 billion to Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s holding company.

Houston-based Occidental Petroleum to sell chemical business to Berkshire Hathaway in nearly $10 billion deal

Occidental said the deal will help the company pay down its debt.

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Houston Public Media @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Hunt’s entry increases the likelihood that the GOP contest will go to a May runoff.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt enters GOP Senate primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas AG Ken Paxton

Hunt represents Houston's Energy Corridor and northwest Harris County in the U.S. House of Representatives. His entry into the Republican primary increases the likelihood of the bitter, expensive contest dragging on into a May 2026 runoff.

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