Shinkansen Train

Transportation

Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail project awarded $500,000 federal grant

Posted on · The long-envisioned initiative was one of seven high-speed rail projects across the country selected to receive grant funding from the Federal Railroad Administration, which awarded a total of $8.2 billion to 79 rail projects that are in varying stages of development.

Pappasito's Hobby

Airports

Sylvester Turner’s plan to amend Houston’s airport concessions contracts criticized by Pappas Restaurants, mayoral hopeful John Whitmire

Posted on · A proposed ordinance by Houston's outgoing mayor would require city council approval to terminate the existing concessions agreements at Hobby and Bush Intercontinental Airport as the city faces an ongoing lawsuit filed by a Pappas-led group, which was a longtime Hobby concessionaire that lost a competitive bid earlier this year.

Mary Nan Huffman Tony Buzbee

Politics

Mary Nan Huffman trying to hold off Tony Buzbee in unusually ‘high-profile’ runoff for Houston City Council

Posted on · The campaigns for the incumbent and challenger for the District G seat, which represents an affluent swath of West Houston, have combined to spend upwards of $500,000 since the Nov. 7 general election and had more than $100,000 remaining as of Dec. 1.

Altivia La Porte

Public Safety

City of La Porte lifts shelter-in-place order after chemical emergency at Altivia plant

Posted on · Citing an active leak of phosgene, a toxic gas, from the Altivia facility, La Porte asked residents in the industrial community to shelter in place for nearly two hours Monday. The office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said eight people were transported from the plant because of exposure to the chemical.

Mario Castillo Cynthia Reyes-Revilla

Politics

Flyer from Houston City Council candidate Cynthia Reyes-Revilla, which attacks Mario Castillo, criticized as ‘homophobic dog whistle’

Posted on · The Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and Reyes-Revilla endorser Adrian Garcia both condemned a Thursday mailer that shows Reyes-Revilla with her husband and two kids juxtaposed with a photo of Castillo and his husband. Reyes-Revilla says she supports the LGBTQ community.

Airports

United celebrates $2.6 billion redevelopment at Bush Airport, but Houston City Controller has yet to clear project for takeoff

Posted on · Construction for the Terminal B expansion project will not start until the Houston City Council signs off on the city's initial contribution of $150 million, which it cannot do because outgoing city controller Chris Brown has not approved the funding. He says more due diligence is needed.

Sunnyside Air Quality Monitor

Energy & Environment

EPA awards another $500,000 grant for air-quality monitoring in Houston neighborhoods

Posted on · A grant awarded this week by the federal agency will expand air-quality monitoring in the Fifth Ward, Galena Park, Pleasantville and Sunnyside neighborhoods. Earlier this year, the EPA awarded $500,000 for air monitoring in four other communities in East Houston.

HPD Spring Branch ISD Officer-Involved Shooting

Crime

Spring Branch ISD police officer fatally shoots man suspected of killing his father before stealing cars outside elementary school

Posted on · A man suspected of fatally shooting his father on Thursday in the 2500 block of Mona Lee Lane was subsequently shot and killed by a school district police officer in the 2800 block of Campbell Road, after allegedly stealing two cars outside of Buffalo Creek Elementary.