Rebecca Noel

Reporter

Rebecca Noel is a daily reporter at Houston Public Media. She covers a wide range of topics, including state and local government, public health and the Texas electrical grid. Rebecca has also covered Houston-area school districts, including Houston ISD and Katy ISD, some of the largest in the state.

Rebecca is a Houston native who received her undergraduate degree from Rice University before earning her MA in journalism at the University of Missouri. She got her start in public media as an afternoon anchor for KBIA, mid-Missouri’s NPR station.

Houston

Houston Astros building hotel, entertainment district next to Minute Maid Park

Posted on November 3, 2023 · Plans for the entertainment district, to be located southwest of Minute Maid Park, include a 17-story, 300-room hotel, 60,000 square feet of retail space and a three-level game-viewing area and gathering space. The Astros expect to break ground on the project in November 2024.

City of Houston

Houston City Council considering proposal to expand downtown entertainment district

Posted on November 1, 2023 · If expanded, any business that is located within 300 feet of the zone is required to obtain a TABC Food and Beverage Certificate.

City of Houston

City of Houston’s Thanksgiving Parade to have more floats, festivities for 2023

Posted on October 19, 2023 · This year’s grand marshals will be Houston Rockets legends Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich, along with Mayor Turner himself. The city projects around 250,000 people will attend this year’s event.

Police

Off-duty DPS trooper shoots neighbor suspected of breaking into his downtown Houston apartment

Posted on September 25, 2023 · The incident occurred early Monday, when police responded to a call in the 500 block of Crawford Street. The man who was shot was expected to survive, according to the Houston Police Department.

Most Viewed

Houston

Houston’s annual Thanksgiving Parade to include more floats than ever

Posted on November 22, 2023 · A crowd of about 250,000 is expected to gather for the annual downtown parade.

Traffic

Millions of Texans expected to travel this week, with most road congestion projected for Wednesday and Sunday

Posted on November 20, 2023 · Travel volume is expected to be up 2% from last year’s Thanksgiving holiday.

News

Memorial Hermann, Ken Paxton reach agreement over access to medical records

Posted on November 17, 2023 · While Memorial Hermann denies the state Attorney General’s claims of wrongdoing, it will transition to a new online medical records system.

HISD

Houston ISD sets new student achievement goals as board struggles to gain public trust

Posted on November 16, 2023 · When the appointed board of managers held community engagement meetings throughout the month of September, attendees had a lot to say about their priorities for the district, with concerns including budgetary and safety matters, curriculum and equitable distribution of resources.

schools

Community members in Tomball ISD stage no-attendance strike, protest new campus proposal

Posted on November 13, 2023 · Around 30 people gathered this morning to voice complaints about the proposed location of a new intermediate school, which many say is too far from their community

Health & Science

New CDC survey shows decrease in tobacco use and vaping among teens

Posted on November 3, 2023 · This year’s National Youth Tobacco Survey shows encouraging results. However, local experts say there’s still work left to do.

Education News

Proponents of Proposition 2 say if passed it could help with financial strain on childcare centers

Posted on October 31, 2023 · Fourteen state constitutional amendments are on the ballot for the upcoming election. Proposition 2 seeks to lessen the impact of childcare deserts in the state.

Energy & Environment

Report: Harris County produces the most pollution from lawn equipment in the U.S.

Posted on October 30, 2023 · A study found that in one year, gas-powered lawn equipment in Harris County produces as much pollution as 3.8 million cars — or 9 times that of all of the county’s concrete batch plants combined.

Elections

Ted Cruz endorses Cy-Fair ISD school board candidates. Experts say it’s the latest in a growing trend.

Posted on October 24, 2023 · The endorsement comes amid a sweeping trend of high-profile politicians and large, well-funded political action committees, or PACs, becoming involved in small, local elections.

As usual, the Thanksgiving parade will feature a giant float displaying a turkey.

City of Houston

City of Houston’s Thanksgiving Parade to have more floats, festivities for 2023

Health & Science

Houston health experts warn yellow fever could return to Gulf Coast region

Posted on October 16, 2023 · In recent months, the spread of yellow fever has been accelerating in more populous parts of Latin America, while other mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and malaria are on the rise in Texas and Florida.

Energy & Environment

Houston consortium picked as hydrogen hub by Department of Energy

Posted on October 13, 2023 · HyVelocity Hub, a Houston consortium of oil and gas companies, public universities and nonprofit organizations, could receive up to $1.2 billion in federal funding.

Education News

Statewide proposition on November ballot could bring $1.3 billion to University of Houston

Posted on October 11, 2023 · UH president Renu Khator discussed the potential impacts of Proposition 5, and her support for it, during Wednesday's "State of the University" address.

Polls

Undecided Houston voters more likely to support John Whitmire as new poll shows runoff will be needed in mayor’s race

Posted on October 10, 2023 · The data suggests Whitmire has an edge over Jackson Lee, with not only a higher percentage of voter support but also seemingly more potential to win over undecided voters.

HISD

Houston ISD makes changes to teachers’ stipends, overtime pay

Posted on October 6, 2023 · Stipends for positions that are hard to fill, like special education, and high school math and science, have been slashed by thousands of dollars.