Local News
Houston & Galveston County Coverage
Free Catalytic Converter Etching — Texas City, June 5th
The Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force has partnered with the Texas City Police Department to offer FREE catalytic converter etching to vehicle owners. Catalytic converters are a prime target for thieves due to the valuable metals they contain — etching your converter with a unique ID number significantly reduces its resale value and deters theft. This free community service event is open to all Gulf Coast area residents.
Galveston County Area News
Galveston Police Investigate Fatal Hit-and-Run on Seawall Boulevard Near 61st Street
Galveston Police are seeking the public's help identifying a vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Seawall Boulevard near 61st Street early Wednesday morning. The victim, a 34-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered partial surveillance footage and are asking anyone with information to call the Galveston Police tip line at 409-765-3702.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
Galveston County Judge Calls for State Audit of Flood Control District After Drainage Failures
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry formally requested a Texas State Auditor review of the Galveston County Drainage District following widespread flooding in League City and Dickinson during last week's storms. Residents packed a commissioners meeting demanding accountability after the same neighborhoods flooded for the third time in four years.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
Carnival Cruise Line Announces New Year-Round Galveston Homeport Ship Starting in 2027
Carnival Cruise Line announced it will homeport a new 5,200-passenger ship in Galveston beginning in January 2027, adding a fifth vessel to the port's fleet and making Galveston the largest cruise homeport in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship will offer seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries and is expected to generate $180 million annually in local economic impact.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
UTMB Galveston Launches Free Mental Health Clinic for Uninsured Galveston County Residents
The University of Texas Medical Branch opened a new free mental health clinic at its Galveston campus, offering psychiatric evaluations, therapy, and medication management to uninsured and underinsured Galveston County residents. The clinic, funded by a $4.2 million state grant, will serve up to 1,800 patients annually and is the first of its kind on the island.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
Galveston ISD Board Votes to Close Two Elementary Schools Amid Enrollment Decline
The Galveston Independent School District board voted 5-2 to close Crockett Elementary and Morgan Elementary at the end of the school year, citing declining enrollment and aging facilities. The closures will affect approximately 480 students who will be redistributed to three other campuses. Parents and teachers packed the meeting in protest.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
Galveston's Historic Balinese Room Site to Become New Waterfront Hotel and Event Venue
A Houston developer received final approval from the Galveston City Council to build a $62 million boutique hotel and event venue on the historic Balinese Room pier site on Seawall Boulevard. The eight-story structure will include 120 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a ballroom designed to evoke the legendary nightclub that once hosted Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope.
Courtesy of Galveston County Daily News
Most Read
Free Catalytic Converter Etching — Texas City, June 5th
2h ago
Galveston Police Investigate Fatal Hit-and-Run on Seawall Boulevard Near 61st Street
1h ago
Galveston County Judge Calls for State Audit of Flood Control District After Drainage Failures
3h ago
Carnival Cruise Line Announces New Year-Round Galveston Homeport Ship Starting in 2027
4h ago
UTMB Galveston Launches Free Mental Health Clinic for Uninsured Galveston County Residents
6h ago
Houston Area News
Sourced from Houston Chronicle, ABC13, Houston Public Media, KHOU 11 & Click2Houston
Houston Sees Surge in Dengue Fever Cases; Harris County Health Issues Travel Advisory
Harris County Public Health issued a travel advisory Wednesday after reporting 34 confirmed dengue fever cases in Houston residents who recently traveled to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Health officials said the number is triple the same period last year and urged travelers to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and seek medical attention if they develop fever, rash, or joint pain after returning.
Houston Museum District Announces Free Admission Weekends All Summer to Boost Cultural Tourism
The Houston Museum District Association announced that all 19 member museums will offer free general admission on the first and third weekends of each month from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a first-of-its-kind initiative funded by a $4 million grant from the Houston Endowment. The program is expected to attract 500,000 additional visitors and generate $28 million in economic activity.
Global Tariff Turmoil Rattles Houston Energy Markets; Oil Slides Below $60 as Trade War Deepens
Crude oil prices fell below $60 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since 2021 as escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and a surprise OPEC+ production increase sent energy markets into a tailspin. Houston-based oil majors ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum all saw shares drop more than 8%. Analysts at Tudor Pickering Holt warned the downturn could trigger a new round of layoffs across the Houston energy corridor if prices remain depressed through summer.
HPD Investigating Deadly Shooting at North Houston Apartment Complex; Two Dead, Suspect at Large
Houston Police Department homicide detectives are investigating a double shooting at the Northgate Pines apartment complex on Airline Drive that left two men dead early Wednesday morning. Witnesses told investigators the shooting followed an argument in the parking lot. HPD Chief Larry Satterwhite said a person of interest has been identified and asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Courtesy of ABC13
NWS Issues Flash Flood Watch for Greater Houston Through Thursday Night as Heavy Rain Moves In
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the greater Houston metro area through Thursday night as a slow-moving storm system is expected to drop 4 to 8 inches of rain across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The NWS warned that bayous and creeks could rise rapidly and urged residents in flood-prone areas to monitor conditions closely and have an evacuation plan ready.
Courtesy of Click2Houston
Harris County DA Kim Ogg Indicts 11 in $32M Medicaid Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Home Health Agencies
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the indictment of 11 individuals in a $32 million Medicaid fraud scheme that used a network of fictitious home health agencies to bill for services never provided to elderly and disabled patients. The scheme operated for four years across northwest Houston. Three of the defendants are licensed healthcare professionals facing additional charges of patient endangerment.
Courtesy of KHOU 11
Houston ISD Announces Closure of 21 Schools; Board of Managers Cites Chronic Underperformance
The Houston ISD Board of Managers voted Wednesday to close 21 campuses by the end of the 2025-26 school year, citing years of academic underperformance and declining enrollment. The closures affect roughly 11,000 students who will be reassigned to higher-performing schools. Hundreds of parents and teachers packed the meeting in protest, with many calling the decision rushed and inequitable.
Courtesy of Houston Public Media
Beaumont Area News
Stories from KFDM CBS 6, 12News KBMT, KBTV Fox 4 & Beaumont Enterprise
Jefferson County Health Department Reports Spike in Whooping Cough Cases; Vaccination Urged
The Jefferson County Health Department reported 28 confirmed pertussis cases in the past 30 days, the highest monthly total in more than a decade, and urged residents to ensure their Tdap vaccinations are current. Health officials said the outbreak is concentrated in school-age children and is linked to declining vaccination rates. Free Tdap shots are available at all county health clinics.
Beaumont Botanical Gardens Unveils New $4.5M Tropical Conservatory and Butterfly House
The Beaumont Botanical Gardens opened its new $4.5 million Tropical Conservatory and Butterfly House at Tyrrell Park Wednesday, featuring more than 200 species of tropical plants, a 2,000-square-foot butterfly habitat with 30 native species, and an interactive children's discovery garden. The facility is expected to draw 80,000 visitors annually and is free to the public.
Beaumont Police Investigate Fatal Shooting on Concord Road; Victim Found in Parked Car
Beaumont Police Department homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting on Concord Road near Eastex Freeway after a man was found shot inside a parked vehicle early Thursday morning. Officers responded to a shots-fired call around 2:15 a.m. and discovered the victim unresponsive. BPD is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-TIPS.
Severe Storms Bring Flash Flooding to Mid-County; Residents Urged to Avoid Low-Water Crossings
A line of severe thunderstorms swept through Jefferson County overnight, dropping up to 5 inches of rain in Mid-County communities including Nederland, Port Neches, and Groves. Several low-water crossings on Tram Road and Highway 365 were submerged. TxDOT issued a turn-around-dont-drown advisory and Jefferson County Emergency Management activated its operations center.
Courtesy of KBMT 12News
ExxonMobil Beaumont Refinery Begins Planned Spring Turnaround; 800 Contract Workers Hired
ExxonMobil has begun its scheduled spring turnaround at the Beaumont refinery complex, one of the largest in the United States with a capacity of 369,000 barrels per day. The maintenance outage, expected to last six weeks, has brought in more than 800 contract workers from across the Gulf Coast. ExxonMobil said the work will improve reliability and extend the facility's operational life.
Courtesy of Beaumont Enterprise
Jefferson County DA Files Capital Murder Charges in 2025 Cold Case After DNA Match
Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham announced capital murder charges against a 34-year-old Beaumont man after DNA evidence linked him to the 2025 stabbing death of a woman whose case had gone cold for nearly a year. The suspect was identified through a familial DNA database search and arrested Wednesday at his home on Major Drive without incident.
Courtesy of KBTV Fox 4
Beaumont City Council Votes to Raise Water and Sewer Rates 12% to Fund Infrastructure Repairs
The Beaumont City Council voted 5-2 Thursday to approve a 12% increase in water and sewer rates, the first rate hike in six years, to fund critical repairs to the city's aging water distribution system. City Manager Chris Boone said the increase is necessary to address more than $180 million in deferred maintenance and prevent service disruptions. The new rates take effect June 1.
Courtesy of Beaumont Enterprise
Brazoria County News
Pearland • Lake Jackson • Freeport • Alvin • Angleton
Brazoria County DA Charges Pearland Real Estate Agent in $2.1M Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck announced felony charges against a Pearland real estate agent accused of orchestrating a $2.1 million mortgage fraud scheme involving 14 properties across Brazoria and Fort Bend counties. The agent allegedly falsified income documents, appraisals, and employment records to secure loans for straw buyers who then defaulted. Federal charges are also pending.
Surfside Beach Reopens After Month-Long Blue-Green Algae Closure; Water Quality Tests Clear
Surfside Beach on the Brazoria County coastline officially reopened to swimmers and anglers Wednesday after a month-long closure triggered by a blue-green algae bloom that produced cyanotoxins at dangerous levels. Brazoria County Environmental Health confirmed that three consecutive weekly water quality tests came back clean. The bloom, one of the worst in county history, was linked to nutrient runoff from agricultural fields following heavy winter rains.
Brazoria County Issues Flash Flood Watch; Chocolate Bayou Rising Fast After Overnight Storms
Brazoria County Emergency Management issued a flash flood watch Thursday morning after overnight thunderstorms dropped 4.5 inches of rain across the county, sending Chocolate Bayou toward minor flood stage. TxDOT closed multiple low-water crossings on FM 1462 and County Road 48. Residents in Alvin, Manvel, and unincorporated areas near Chocolate Bayou are urged to monitor water levels and avoid flooded roadways.
Brazoria County Sheriff Arrests Two in Connection With Pearland Home Invasion; Victims Tied Up at Gunpoint
The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office arrested two men Wednesday night in connection with a home invasion in a Pearland subdivision where three residents were held at gunpoint and robbed of jewelry, electronics, and cash totaling more than $80,000. Investigators say the suspects had targeted the home after surveilling it for several days. Both suspects are being held without bond pending capital robbery charges.
Read full story at ABC13 Houston
Dow Chemical Lake Jackson Announces Layoffs of 340 Workers as Tariff-Driven Demand Slump Hits Chemical Sector
Dow Chemical announced it will lay off 340 workers at its Lake Jackson manufacturing complex, the largest single-site workforce reduction in the facility's 80-year history. A company spokesperson cited weakened demand from export markets impacted by new U.S. tariffs and a global oversupply of ethylene derivatives. The Brazoria County economy depends heavily on Dow, which employs more than 5,000 workers in the region.
Read full story at Houston Chronicle
Pearland ISD Board Approves $180M Bond Package for New Schools and Campus Upgrades
The Pearland ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to place a $180 million bond package on the May ballot that would fund construction of a new elementary school, a career and technical education center, and renovations at six aging campuses. Superintendent John Kelly said the bond is essential to keep pace with the district's growth, which has added 1,800 new students over the past three years.
Read full story at Pearland Journal
Freeport LNG Warns of Operational Review as Tariff Uncertainty Clouds Asian Export Contracts
Freeport LNG issued a statement Wednesday saying it is conducting an operational review of its Brazoria County terminal after three Asian buyers invoked force majeure clauses on long-term supply contracts, citing trade policy uncertainty following new U.S.-China tariffs. The terminal, which exports up to 15 million tons of LNG annually, is a major employer and economic driver for Brazoria County.
Read full story at Brazosport Facts