Houston-based companies Riverway Group and Offshore Data Center announced plans to develop an offshore compute platform powered by natural gas for oil and gas producers. The platform will use seawater cooling to reduce energy costs and be 50 percent lighter than traditional designs.
Riverway Group, Houston-based company partnering on offshore data center project; Offshore Data Center, Houston-based company developing offshore compute platform; Art J. Schroeder, Jr., CEO of Offshore Data Center
A cold front is forecast to bring cooler temperatures and stronger winds to the Greater Houston area over the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for portions of Southeast Texas including Houston, Galveston and Austin, with gusts up to 40 mph inland and 45 mph along the coast.
National Weather Service, issued Wind Advisory and provided weather forecast; Bradley Brokamp, meteorologist for the National Weather Service
Harris County officials held a press conference to call for expanded local authority to regulate data center development. The Commissioners Court passed a motion requiring county departments to report on oversight options and identify statutory changes needed for the next legislative session.
$eight gigawatts by 2029, plus approximately four additional gigawatts afterward for expected data center electricity demand addition
Abbie Kamin, Harris County Attorney; Lesley Briones, Harris County Commissioner; Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner and 1 more
Harris County commissioners voted to delay widespread action on Flock license plate cameras and create an oversight committee to recommend rules for data collection, access and sharing. The cameras continue operating in most precincts while the committee works.
Harris County commissioners, voted to form oversight committee; Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff, to lead oversight committee; Lesley Briones, Commissioner, took all 61 Flock cameras on Precinct Four offline and 1 more
The Harris County Sheriff's Office conducted an active shooter response training exercise Thursday night at Wildcat Electrical Supply in Crosby. The drill was part of the agency's emergency preparedness efforts.
Harris County Sheriff's Office, Agency conducting active shooter training exercise; Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff overseeing training
Governor Abbott sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on October 15, 2026, requesting federal disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding that began on July 14, 2026.
$Abbott requests temporary suspension of federal tax filing and payment deadlines and waiver of late fees and penalties for taxpayers in all 62 counties affected by July storms.
Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his office sent letters to 156 data center developments across Texas requiring them to provide accurate, up-to-date information about water usage. The letters are part of an investigation launched in September into data center compliance with Texas water use reporting requirements.
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic opponent in U.S. Senate race
The Dallas City Council unanimously approved renaming the historic Houston Street Bridge ceremonially after late Dallas Cowboys legend and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman. The bridge, over 100 years old, connects downtown Dallas to Oak Cliff.
Dallas City Council, approved the ceremonial renaming; Pettis Norman, late Dallas Cowboys legend, civil rights advocate and business leader being honored; Joe Greene, NFL Hall of Famer who spoke in support and 4 more
A Houston father became the first in Texas to hold his premature twins skin-to-skin using a wearable incubator called a Skincubator. The twins were born at 26 weeks gestation at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Dorian Ojemen, Father; first in Texas to hold premature babies skin-to-skin using Skincubator; Tiffany Ojemen, Mother; obstetrician and gynecologist; wife of Dorian; Silas and Simone Ojemen, Premature twins born at 26 weeks gestation and 2 more
A data breach at CenterPoint Energy compromised personal information of more than 1 million Texas customers, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office. The breach involved names, addresses, social security number information and driver license numbers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, released details of the data breach; CenterPoint Energy, utility company affected by breach
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare is investigating whether an ICE agent intentionally struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez with a vehicle during an attempted traffic stop on October 10 in northwest Houston, leaving him hospitalized with leg and hip injuries. Teare said he is considering charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; ICE disputes that the striking was intentional.
Sean Teare, Harris County District Attorney; Miguel Parra-Hernandez, Man struck by ICE vehicle; ICE, Federal agency involved in incident and 3 more
Demolition began Tuesday at the former Greenspoint Mall in North Houston as developers prepare to redevelop the property into CityNorth Industrial Park, a $150 million industrial development spanning approximately 80 acres.
$$150 million for industrial park development cost
Lincoln, Developer; New York Life Investment Management, Developer; John Whitmire, Houston Mayor and 3 more
A Texas woman filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday in Harris County district court against four members of Students for Life of America, alleging they ordered abortion medication in March 2026 outside Space Center Houston. The suit invokes the Woman and Child Protection Act, House Bill 7, which went into effect in December and prohibits transporting abortion-inducing drugs within Texas.
$$100,000 for minimum statutory award for plaintiff with connection to incident
Maria Puerto, Plaintiff, using pseudonym; Kristan Mercer Hawkins, Defendant, president of Students for Life; Lydia Taylor Davis, Defendant, Students for Life spokesperson and 3 more
A construction contractor damaged a fiber-optic line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Tuesday, causing significant flight delays. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Airport operations returned to normal by 9:20 p.m. as crews completed repairs overnight.
Federal Aviation Administration, issued ground stop; Houston Airports, operated airport and coordinated recovery; construction contractor, damaged fiber-optic line
Republican leaders spoke at a Texas Youth Summit for conservative youth, urging attendees to vote for Attorney General Ken Paxton in the upcoming Senate race against Democrat James Talarico. Paxton and other GOP leaders framed the election as a significant contest for Texas's future.
Ken Paxton, Attorney General, Republican Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic state Senator, Senate candidate; Walker Doner, Conference attendee and 3 more
A crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 341 and Highway 247 in Houston County, Texas. Authorities responded to the incident, which resulted in multiple serious injuries and required air helicopter dispatch.
A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll found Democrat Letitia Plummer leading Republican Orlando Sanchez by 7 percentage points in the Harris County judge race. The survey of likely voters shows a majority of both parties oppose a recent property tax increase.
$Harris County voters opposed a property tax increase approved this year, with 72% disapproving according to the poll.
Letitia Plummer, Democratic candidate for Harris County judge; Orlando Sanchez, Republican candidate for Harris County judge; University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, Conducted poll and 1 more
A University of Houston poll of 2,750 Harris County likely voters shows state Rep. James Talarico leading Attorney General Ken Paxton 58% to 36% in the U.S. Senate race, with Gov. Abbott trailing state Rep. Gina Hinojosa by 16 points in the gubernatorial race.
$72 percent of respondents disapprove of Harris County commissioners' vote to approve the highest property tax rate in decades.
James Talarico, State representative, candidate in U.S. Senate race; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, candidate in U.S. Senate race; Greg Abbott, Governor, candidate for re-election and 9 more
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez with an SUV in a west Houston parking lot on Saturday during an ICE enforcement operation targeting a different man. Parra-Hernandez suffered a broken leg in three places and was hospitalized and placed in ICE custody.
Miguel Parra-Hernandez, Houston resident struck by ICE vehicle; Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge who released statement; Harris County Sheriff's Office, Investigating the incident and 3 more
The Arizona Cardinals traded wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans. The Texans received Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
$2027 second-round pick and 2027 sixth-round pick to Arizona; 2027 seventh-round pick to Houston for draft picks in trade
Arizona Cardinals, team trading away player; Houston Texans, team acquiring player; Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver traded to Houston and 1 more