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Texans open season against the Bills

The Texans bring new, key offensive players.

Sports

The Texans play the Bills on Sunday in their season opener at Reliant Stadium.Why it matters: Houston, home to one of the league&#x27;s best defenses, has spent the off season trying to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="level up its offense" data-vars-click-url="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2026/09/10/texans-offense-still-a-mystery-heading-into-2026-season/" data-vars-content-id="aaca346c-09ea-4009-a9b0-d63171ae1123" data-vars-headline="Texans open season against the Bills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2026/09/10/texans-offense-still-a-mystery-heading-into-2026-season/" target="_blank">level up its offense</a> to match.

Houston students pedal to school on bike bus

On Friday mornings, dozens of Poe Elementary families are getting to school on two wheels.

Culture

On Fridays, dozens of kids and parents at Poe Elementary School trade the school drop-off line for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bikes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/07/23/houston-ranks-low-for-walking-and-bike-travel-new-report-finds" data-vars-content-id="adfb3306-0ef3-4cf0-895d-4558017b4ece" data-vars-headline="Houston students pedal to school on bike bus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/07/23/houston-ranks-low-for-walking-and-bike-travel-new-report-finds" target="_self">bikes</a>, part of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing &quot;bike bus&quot; movement across the country" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/06/chicago-bike-bus-school-commute-pickup-traffic-family-biking" data-vars-content-id="adfb3306-0ef3-4cf0-895d-4558017b4ece" data-vars-headline="Houston students pedal to school on bike bus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/06/chicago-bike-bus-school-commute-pickup-traffic-family-biking" target="_self">growing &quot;bike bus&quot; movement across the country</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bike buses" data-vars-click-url="https://bikebus.world/" data-vars-content-id="adfb3306-0ef3-4cf0-895d-4558017b4ece" data-vars-headline="Houston students pedal to school on bike bus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bikebus.world/" target="_blank">Bike buses</a> — organized groups of children and adults who bike to school together — are bringing back a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once-common way" data-vars-click-url="http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_walking_and_bicycling.cfm" data-vars-content-id="adfb3306-0ef3-4cf0-895d-4558017b4ece" data-vars-headline="Houston students pedal to school on bike bus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_walking_and_bicycling.cfm" target="_blank">once-common way</a> of getting to school, while giving kids exercise, independence and a little fun before the first bell.

UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom

What happens in Texas could preview how the rest of the country handles growing power needs.

News

After decades of relatively flat electricity demand, the U.S. is entering a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data-center-fueled power boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/23/greg-abbott-texas-data-centers-ai-backlash" data-vars-content-id="d05b8711-f6d5-415d-b512-69605c389f43" data-vars-headline="UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/23/greg-abbott-texas-data-centers-ai-backlash" target="_self">data-center-fueled power boom</a> — and Texas is at the center of it, per a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" new University of Houston report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.uh.edu/energy/_docs/_papers-reports/growing-the-us-electricity-system.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d05b8711-f6d5-415d-b512-69605c389f43" data-vars-headline="UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.uh.edu/energy/_docs/_papers-reports/growing-the-us-electricity-system.pdf" target="_blank"> new University of Houston report</a>. Why it matters: What happens in Texas could offer an early look at how the rest of the country <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adapts to the growing power needs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/ai-power-data-center-electricity-construction" data-vars-content-id="d05b8711-f6d5-415d-b512-69605c389f43" data-vars-headline="UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/ai-power-data-center-electricity-construction" target="_self">adapts to the growing power needs</a> and challenges, says Greg Bean, executive director of the University of Houston&#x27;s Gutierrez Energy Management Institute.

Garden Oaks Theater to be saved from demolition

The nearly 80-year-old theater had been slated for demolition.

Arthouse Houston says it is moving forward with purchasing the historic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Garden Oaks Theater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/04/03/garden-oaks-theater-arthouse-houston-fundraising-save-demolition" data-vars-content-id="2bfb9ada-23bb-448c-8644-794d1c28ff4f" data-vars-headline="Garden Oaks Theater to be saved from demolition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/04/03/garden-oaks-theater-arthouse-houston-fundraising-save-demolition" target="_self">Garden Oaks Theater</a> after Labor Day.Why it matters: The deal would preserve the nearly 80-year-old cinema and pave the way for a new arts and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="film" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/10/10/movies-houston-incentive-hollywood" data-vars-content-id="2bfb9ada-23bb-448c-8644-794d1c28ff4f" data-vars-headline="Garden Oaks Theater to be saved from demolition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/10/10/movies-houston-incentive-hollywood" target="_self">film</a> center.

Amazon's Zoox brings robotaxi testing to Houston

Houston will be Amazon-backed Zoox's 12th U.S. market.

Another autonomous vehicle company is coming to Houston.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zoox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/zoox-robotaxi-safety-framework" data-vars-content-id="e19ef1b5-e21a-45dd-901f-5078de21dddf" data-vars-headline="Amazon&#x27;s Zoox brings robotaxi testing to Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/12/zoox-robotaxi-safety-framework" target="_self">Zoox</a>, Amazon&#x27;s robotaxi company, is joining Houston&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing autonomous vehicle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/05/13/waymo-houston-expansion-world-cup-nrg-stadium" data-vars-content-id="e19ef1b5-e21a-45dd-901f-5078de21dddf" data-vars-headline="Amazon&#x27;s Zoox brings robotaxi testing to Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/05/13/waymo-houston-expansion-world-cup-nrg-stadium" target="_self">growing autonomous vehicle</a> industry, as the city continues to serve as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="testing ground" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/17/uber-nuro-lucid-bring-robotaxi-service-houston" data-vars-content-id="e19ef1b5-e21a-45dd-901f-5078de21dddf" data-vars-headline="Amazon&#x27;s Zoox brings robotaxi testing to Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/17/uber-nuro-lucid-bring-robotaxi-service-houston" target="_self">testing ground</a> for self-driving technology.

Tropical storm heads toward Southeast Texas

Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to make landfall along the upper Texas coast Tuesday evening

Heavy rain from a tropical storm could bring flooding to parts of the Houston area Tuesday and Wednesday morning.The big picture: Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to make landfall along the upper Texas coast Tuesday evening, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Hurricane Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/311751.shtml" data-vars-content-id="89da7a8d-1a1f-47cc-881f-6c0b7418e16b" data-vars-headline="Tropical storm heads toward Southeast Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/311751.shtml" target="_blank">National Hurricane Center</a>.

Houston has polluted waterways

Buffalo Bayou, White Oak Bayou and Carpenters Bayou repeatedly tested high for potentially unsafe E. coli levels.

Several Houston waterways showed potentially unsafe E. coli levels, according to a new Environment Texas Research and Policy Center analysis.Why it matters: High levels of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fecal bacteria" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/04/beach-fecal-contamination-high" data-vars-content-id="16aab3e7-5471-4c58-9533-527b2ff9c1d5" data-vars-headline="Houston has polluted waterways" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/04/beach-fecal-contamination-high" target="_self">fecal bacteria</a> can make people sick and can signal pollution from sewage overflows, stormwater runoff and failing septic systems.

Texas gets $1 billion in landmark Meta settlement

The settlement could reshape the industry by setting new standards for child safety online.

Texas will receive more than $1 billion as part of a settlement with Meta over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harm children.Why it matters: The deal will bring funding for youth programs in Texas while reshaping how children use some of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="world&#x27;s biggest social media platforms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/meta-trial-social-media-children-facebook-instagram" data-vars-content-id="fe72c813-f86b-414d-a30f-96908b804aae" data-vars-headline="Texas gets $1 billion in landmark Meta settlement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/meta-trial-social-media-children-facebook-instagram" target="_self">world&#x27;s biggest social media platforms</a>.

Houston Audubon changes name to Birds Houston

Audubon's legacy came under scrutiny several years ago over his ties to slavery and his use of uncredited labor.

Houston Audubon has renamed itself <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Birds Houston" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/07/31/houston-birds-to-watch-this-summer" data-vars-content-id="02809be9-db4e-40ae-81a2-9a8c3f0b581e" data-vars-headline="Houston Audubon changes name to Birds Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/07/31/houston-birds-to-watch-this-summer" target="_self">Birds Houston</a>, shedding its racist namesake while making the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="organization&#x27;s mission clearer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/03/03/houston-audubon-acquires-128-acre-sanctuary-in-montgomery-county" data-vars-content-id="02809be9-db4e-40ae-81a2-9a8c3f0b581e" data-vars-headline="Houston Audubon changes name to Birds Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/03/03/houston-audubon-acquires-128-acre-sanctuary-in-montgomery-county" target="_self">organization&#x27;s mission clearer</a>.Why it matters: The rebrand drops a name the organization has carried for more than half a century, after years of discussion sparked by revelations that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="John James Audubon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.audubon.org/magazine/myth-of-john-james-audubon" data-vars-content-id="02809be9-db4e-40ae-81a2-9a8c3f0b581e" data-vars-headline="Houston Audubon changes name to Birds Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.audubon.org/magazine/myth-of-john-james-audubon" target="_blank">John James Audubon</a> was a slaveholder.

How much Trump's deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers

A new calculator estimates how much Texans will pay for Trump's deportation push.

Texas could pay an estimated $23 billion toward President Trump&#x27;s mass deportation push — about $2,500 per taxpayer — according to a calculator from the nonprofit, nonpartisan <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Economic Policy Institute" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/47042253.45/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXBpLm9yZy9kZXBvcnRhdGlvbi1jYWxjdWxhdG9yLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/633dcc04d70fb9875101ab66Bb4c9cd23" data-vars-content-id="176f1c28-18b1-4f97-a69d-263603fe9c95" data-vars-headline="How much Trump&#x27;s deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/47042253.45/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXBpLm9yZy9kZXBvcnRhdGlvbi1jYWxjdWxhdG9yLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/633dcc04d70fb9875101ab66Bb4c9cd23" target="_self">Economic Policy Institute</a> (EPI).Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="176f1c28-18b1-4f97-a69d-263603fe9c95" data-vars-headline="How much Trump&#x27;s deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> should instead fund other public priorities, such as health care or housing.

Houston's first LGBTQ+ emergency shelter for teens to open

The shelter will give queer homeless and runaway teens ages 15 to 17 a temporary place to stay.

Houston is opening its first LGBTQ+-affirming emergency shelter for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeless" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/02/26/houston-begins-2026-annual-homeless-count" data-vars-content-id="f0f2a53f-b100-47b5-b8be-7a4e82a31635" data-vars-headline="Houston&#x27;s first LGBTQ+ emergency shelter for teens to open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/02/26/houston-begins-2026-annual-homeless-count" target="_self">homeless</a> teens to stay temporarily. Why it matters: Teens have few shelter options, especially <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="queer-friendly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/07/09/leaving-texas-isn-t-so-simple-for-lgbtq-residents" data-vars-content-id="f0f2a53f-b100-47b5-b8be-7a4e82a31635" data-vars-headline="Houston&#x27;s first LGBTQ+ emergency shelter for teens to open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/07/09/leaving-texas-isn-t-so-simple-for-lgbtq-residents" target="_self">queer-friendly</a> ones, when they leave or are kicked out of an unsafe home, Grace Place executive director Courtney Sellers tells Axios.

News 🗞

Houston students pedal to school on bike bus

George W. Bush not expected to speak at GOP convention

UH report: Texas is at the center of the U.S. electricity demand boom

Most Texas voucher recipients were already enrolled in private school

Garden Oaks Theater to be saved from demolition