The University of Houston-Downtown will guarantee admission to eligible Houston ISD seniors under a new agreement signed yesterday, creating the first program of its kind between the two institutions.

Why it matters: The partnership ensures a path to a four-year degree for thousands of HISD students while keeping more Houston talent in the local workforce.

How it works: HISD seniors must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and submit an application on time.

• The application fee will be waived for guaranteed admission students.

By the numbers: About 7,700 HISD seniors already meet the GPA threshold, according to officials.

• About 70% of UHD's 13,500 students are the first in their families to go to college.

Between the lines: UHD will have increased enrollment as it works to return to pre-pandemic levels, Long Huynh, vice president of enrollment management, tells Axios.

• Huynh says the university is prepared for the increased enrollment and plans to expand merit scholarships. For a full-time Texas resident living at home, the estimated cost of attendance is about $23,000.

What they're saying: "To those eligible HISD seniors who think college is for others, we want you to know today that we see your potential and we see your promise. We want you here," UHD President Loren Blanchard said at an event yesterday.

• "That kind of certainty can change lives. It gives students confidence that college isn't just a dream, it's a real, attainable future," HISD board member and UHD alum Paula Mendoza said.
• "Today, we are sending a clear message to thousands of HISD students: you belong in higher education."

Zoom out: Public universities in Texas guarantee admission to students in the top 10% of their graduating class, with the exception of the University of Texas at Austin, which guarantees admission to the top 5%.

What's next: The first class of guaranteed-admission students is expected to enroll for the 2026–27 academic year.

• Blanchard said UHD hopes to refine the model and potentially replicate it at other places.

A new poll by the University of Houston indicates a majority of Republican primary voters (54%) are still undecided on who to pick for Harris County judge.

Why it matters: Voters started casting ballots yesterday for the March Republican and Democratic primaries.

How it works: The Hobby School of Public Affairs poll, fielded Feb. 3-10, includes responses from about 4,000 registered voters and has a +/- 2.19% margin of error.

By the numbers: In the Democratic primary for Harris County judge, 46% of prospective voters polled said they intended to vote for former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and 25% said they were supporting former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer.

• 24% of voters polled said they were unsure who to support in the primary, and 5% said they'll pick political newcomer Matt Salazar.
• In the Republican primary, former Harris County treasurer Orlando Sanchez received 21% support from those polled, Houston firefighters union president Marty Lancton received 10% and Piney Point Village Mayor Aliza Dutt received 7%.

What they're saying: Mark Jones, a Rice University political science fellow, said in a news release that the large share of undecided voters in both parties means many races could be tight, largely because voters don't know much about the candidates.

🛒 Randalls will close its grocery store in Uptown by mid-April, citing "a competitive environment" in the Houston grocery market. (Chron)

⚾️ The Astros start Grapefruit League play Saturday against the Washington Nationals as the team gears up for the 2026 MLB season. (Houston Chronicle)

📰 Hearst, the media conglomerate that owns the Houston Chronicle and other properties nationwide, recorded record revenue and profits in 2025. (Axios)

University of Houston-Downtown last week unveiled an expanded professional-wear closet where students can pick out business and formal clothing for free.

Why it matters: Professional clothing is expensive — and for many first-generation and low-income students, it can be a barrier to landing a job.

• At the announcement of UHD's new partnership with HISD, leaders stressed the focus isn't just access to college, but setting students up to succeed once they're there.

How it works: The "Gator Shop" closet is inside the Gator Resource Center, where students already go for support — including getting access to Gator Mart, which offers free groceries through a partnership with the Houston Food Bank.

• The clothing shop is stocked with more new and lightly used, dry-cleaned donated clothing — both professional attire and everyday wear — in a range of sizes.

What they're saying: "It's not like they rent it to go do an interview and bring it back. They're actually going to take it and it's theirs — for all shapes and sizes," Daniel Maxwell, vice president of student success and student life, tells Axios.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert said Monday evening that CBS barred him from airing an interview with state Rep. James Talarico, the Austin Democrat running for U.S. Senate, under a recent federal directive.

Why it matters: CBS has faced mounting scrutiny in recent months that its news arm and parent company, Paramount Skydance, are succumbing to pressure from President Trump's administration.

Driving the news: Colbert said on air that CBS' lawyers told the show "that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on," he said. "And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this."

• CBS said the network did not prohibit the show from broadcasting the interview but "provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule."
• FCC did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment yesterday.

Zoom in: The interview was posted to "The Late Show" YouTube channel.

• Talarico shared a clip from the interview on X. "Trump is worried we're about to flip Texas," he wrote.

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