HTX-BMW: Impact 10/10/2025

Inner Loop residents may be voting for new congressional representatives next year after Texas lawmakers redrew 37 of the state’s 38 congressional districts during a special legislative session.

The overview: Texas Republicans, who currently hold 25 U.S. House seats, said they hoped the mid-decade redistricting effort would help them net up to five more seats during the 2026 midterm elections. Among those is TX-09, which covers portions of South Houston and is served by U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston. The changes will also affect TX-18, a seat that is currently vacant and will be filled by a Nov. 4 special election after U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner died March 4.

District 9 will shift east to include communities outside Harris County under the new map, while District 18 will move to absorb the existing portions of District 9. A trio of federal judges began a nine-day hearing Oct. 1 to determine if the map can be used in next year’s elections.  

Wingbay is a brand-new wing restaurant that debuted in the Houston market in October. The first of four restaurants on what the owners called a "grand opening tour" was the Wingbay-Med Center, located off the loop.

What's on the menu: The spot will sell halal wings, tenders, fries and sides. Wings can be sold as a combo, a la carte or in group packs. Options are boneless and classic, with flavors that range from plain to garlic parmesan and lemon pepper, as well as mango habanero, Korean BBQ and Cajun. The restaurant also has three specialty wing flavors—hot pickle, spicy peach and Mardi Gras.

• 3218 S. Loop W., Houston

The city of Houston may be able to increase its general fund revenue by at least $200 million annually by enacting policies in line with other major Texas cities, according to an Oct. 7 presentation from Controller Chris Hollins’ office.

In a nutshell: In the Oct. 7 Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting, Deputy Controller Will Jones presented a high-level breakdown of Houston’s general fund revenues compared to those of its peer cities, including Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and El Paso. 

The report showed that Houston is the only major Texas city not to charge garbage/environmental fees or transfer funds from its utility budget. The five other cities in the report make hundreds of millions in revenue from the fees each year, Jones said, which can then be transferred to their general funds and used for other city expenditures such as public safety.

Jones said if Houston were to consider adopting similar general fund strategies, like charging more monthly residential fees, the city could increase its savings.  

Houston First Corporation, the parent organization of the Houston Film Commission, announced Oct. 8 the launch of a new local film incentive program designed to attract film and television productions to the Houston area.

What this means: The announcement comes amid growing momentum for Houston’s film industry. Productions filmed in the region generated $27.1 million in direct spending and an $81 million economic impact in 2024, according to the Houston Film Commission.

The program offers a 10% rebate on local spending, capped at $100,000 per qualifying project, with a total of $400,000 available annually, per the news release. Officials said the initiative, the most competitive of its kind in Texas, aims to boost local job creation and strengthen Houston’s position as a film production hub.

Diving in deeper: To qualify, projects must film at least 60% of principal photography within 60 miles of downtown, spend at least $500,000 locally and hire at least 55% Texas residents as cast and crew. Houston First and the Houston Film Commission will oversee the application process.