An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent struck a 48-year-old man with a vehicle during an enforcement operation in west Houston on Saturday morning. The man was hospitalized with a suspected broken leg and remains in ICE custody.
ICE agents, Struck man with vehicle during enforcement operation; Miguel Parra-Hernandez, Man struck by ICE vehicle; Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, Suspect with active warrant ICE was pursuing and 3 more
Houston County is replacing computer hardware for its court management system to support growing court operations and county growth. The upgrade follows a roughly $2 million system overhaul completed in 2019 that was funded by 2018 SPLOST.
$roughly $2 million for court management system overhaul cost
Katherine Lumsden, Chief Superior Court Judge, Houston County; Will Davis, Director of Management Information Systems, Houston County; Houston County, Local government entity performing the upgrade
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones decommissioned all 61 Flock Safety license plate reader and security cameras in her jurisdiction after residents raised privacy concerns. The cameras were physically covered as of October 8, 2026.
$roughly $2 million for flock Safety contract renewal
Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner; Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge; Mark Herman, Precinct 4 Constable and 2 more
Houston City Council voted unanimously to transform 12.22 acres of city-owned land in south Houston into a single-family housing community called Braes Park. The development will include 144 total homes, with 89 priced for low- to moderate-income buyers.
$more than $13 million for purchase price for property
Houston City Council, voted unanimously to approve the development; Martha Castex-Tatum, Mayor Pro Tem, District K, led the effort; Willie Davis, Council Member, At-Large Position 2 and 1 more
The Houston County Sheriff's Office has used virtual reality headsets for deputy and jailer training for one year. The technology places officers in realistic scenarios to practice responding to high-pressure situations without recreating them in real life.
$$190,000 per year for virtual reality training contract (annual cost)
Houston County Sheriff's Office, Law enforcement agency implementing virtual reality training; Sheriff Matt Blanton, Sheriff; Major Brian Blanton, Major and 1 more
The Texas Renaissance Festival returns for its 52nd season starting October 10, 2026. The 70-acre festival in Todd Mission will run on weekends through November 29 and on Thanksgiving Friday, with eight themed weekends featuring stages, shops, vendors, entertainment and food.
$$16 to $40 for ticket price
Texas Renaissance Festival, event; George Coulam, founder in 1974; Paladin, the Errant Fool, new wandering jester performer and 2 more
The 2026 Michelin Guide Texas announced restaurant awards on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, via email. Three Texas restaurants earned new one Michelin stars: Goldee's Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth, and Kappo Kappo and Fabrik in Austin. Two San Antonio restaurants earned "recommended" status: Lovers Pizzeria and Petit Coquin. One San Antonio restaurant, Barbecue Station, fell from "recommended" status.
$$2.7 million for three-year contract with Michelin Guide
Michelin Guide, Announced restaurant awards; Goldee's Bar-B-Q, Fort Worth restaurant awarded one Michelin star; Kappo Kappo, Austin restaurant awarded one Michelin star and 5 more
A Harris County detention officer, Luis Santos, 26, and his brother Rolando Santos, 22, were charged with aggravated assault in connection with a Sept. 20 shooting and crash on the West Loop involving three vehicles. The brothers turned themselves in Tuesday and were accused of firing at a man and his wife traveling with their 8-year-old daughter.
$$15,000 for bond
Luis Santos, Harris County detention officer; accused driver of black Camaro; Rolando Santos, Brother of Luis Santos; accused driver of silver GMC Sierra pickup truck; Justin Keiter, Attorney for Luis Santos and 1 more
A 22-year-old Katy woman, Christin Munn-Holliday, disappeared following a two-car crash on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge in Louisiana on September 30, 2026. She was last seen walking away from the scene and has not been located. Her family is offering a $20,000 reward for her safe return.
$$20,000 for reward for safe return
Christin 'Chrissy' Munn-Holliday, 22-year-old missing woman; Robert Munn, Father of missing woman, offering reward; Louisiana State Police, Investigating hit-and-run crash and 3 more
The Harris County Attorney's Office filed a civil lawsuit seeking to close QQ Spa in southwest Houston. A civil court judge granted a temporary restraining order and ordered the business to comply with all licensing requirements within two days or face closure.
Harris County Attorney's Office, filed civil lawsuit to shut down spa; Abbie Kamin, County Attorney; Houston Police Department, conducted raids on the spa and 1 more
Governor Greg Abbott met with law enforcement and families affected by fentanyl in Houston and San Antonio, outlining a four-point public safety agenda for the next legislative session. Abbott proposed denying bail for criminal illegal aliens, establishing a statewide prosecutor's office, enabling impeachment of district attorneys who fail to enforce the law, and expanding the repeat offender task force.
Greg Abbott, Governor; Ray Hunt, HPOU Executive Director; Brian Hawthorne, Chambers County Sheriff and 3 more
SMT Energy's 160 MW/320 MWh Houston IV battery storage facility in Houston energized on June 1 and reached market participation on July 13, completing commissioning in six weeks. This was the fastest commissioning timeline in FlexGen and SMT's history.
SMT Energy, battery storage facility owner; FlexGen, energy management software supplier and commissioning leader; Jason Rislov, senior vice president of operations at FlexGen and 4 more
Jamaal Howard, 46, was executed by lethal injection on October 7, 2026, for the 2000 fatal shooting of convenience store clerk Vickie Swartout during a robbery in Silsbee, Texas. Howard was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. CT.
$$114 for money taken during robbery
Jamaal Howard, Man executed for 2000 murder of convenience store clerk; Vickie Swartout, Convenience store clerk fatally shot during 2000 robbery; Greg Abbott, Texas Governor
Forty-five Chihuahua-mix dogs were rescued Tuesday from a mobile home in the 9900 block of Edgeworth Street in north Houston by Harris County Constable Precinct 1 as part of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. The Houston SPCA provided veterinary care for the dogs.
Harris County Constable Precinct 1, Rescued dogs from the property; Houston SPCA, Provided veterinary care and assistance; Constable Alan Rosen, Harris County Constable who described conditions
A 22-year-old Harris County woman was reported missing after a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 10 in Louisiana. She is believed to have been the driver of one vehicle involved and left the scene on foot.
Christina Munn-Holliday, missing person, reported driver in hit-and-run crash; Louisiana State Police, investigating the crash; Harris County Sheriff's Office, investigating the missing person report
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office is investigating pediatricians over alleged financial incentives to vaccinate children. The investigation includes demands for vaccine purchase records and practice policies from individual providers, and a separate investigation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
$nearly $15,000 for legal fees paid by pediatrician responding to investigation demand
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; A Central Texas pediatrician, Recipient of investigation letter; small practice owner; American Academy of Pediatrics, Subject of separate investigation and 3 more
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones spent more than $223,000 over two years on billboards in Precinct 4, with 10 billboards titled "hurricane preparedness." Commissioner Briones did not respond to requests for comment.
$Tax dollars are being spent on billboards, according to Charles Blain.
Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner; Charles Blain, President of Urban Reform
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal denied a request by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and four Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law judges to vacate the 2019 ODonnell consent decree, which allows most people facing misdemeanor charges in Harris County to be released without cash bail before trial.
Lee H. Rosenthal, U.S. District Judge; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; Paula Goodhart, Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law Judge and 4 more
A 20-year-old woman and her partner were arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the death of the woman's 27-year-old sister, found dead in a west Houston apartment. Court records indicate the two robbed and killed the sister.
Aveyia Webb, Victim, found dead in apartment; Alaya Jones, Arrested and charged with capital murder; Kaleb Maglott, Arrested and charged with capital murder