HTX-SKL: Impact 6/18/2026

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Top Story

New cancer data guiding research, care in Harris County

New countywide data that breaks down cancer cases at the census tract level is helping to inform the way providers care for patients in the Spring area, local health care officials said.

How it works: In March, Harris County Public Health released the East Harris County Cancer Assessment Report alongside an interactive dashboard where residents can see where higher-than-expected rates exist for 17 types of cancer countywide. In the Spring and Klein areas, data shows several census tracts exhibited higher-than-expected cancer rates for:

Bladder
Brain
Lymphoma
Prostate
Skin
Thyroid

Quote of note: “Higher-than-expected cancer rates exist across all of Harris County compared to the state of Texas,” said Dr. Jo Ann Monroy, senior manager of Data Analytics and Reporting for the Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases, or OESED. “By identifying where certain cancer types occur at higher-than-expected rates, clinicians can better understand the communities they serve, tailor prevention and screening efforts, and consider environmental or demographic factors that may influence patient risk.”

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Birdie Central

Birdie Central opens June 20, bringing 24/7 golf, a clubhouse feel to Spring/Klein

Across The Region

Homeownership rates dropping across Houston and Harris County, data shows

Rice University officials unveiled the 2026 State of Housing report for Harris County and the city of Houston, highlighting a number of challenges, including over 50% of surveyed residents expressing concern regarding home affordability.

The breakdown: According to the data, there are 14,000 fewer homeowners within the city of Houston and 19,000 fewer homeowners in Harris County compared to 2023. However, a growing number of homeowners are also expressing new uncertainty about affording housing, Kinder Institute research scientist Stephen Averill Sherman said.

Major concern points for existing and potential homeowners include:

56% are at least "a little" worried about becoming priced out of housing.
58% are at least "a little" worried about being able to afford housing costs.
25% worry "sometimes" or "more often" about being forced to move due to being priced out of housing.

Quote of note: "This is larger than the worst declines during the Great Recession, and the biggest we've seen since these data was tracked yearly starting in 2005," Sherman said.

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Latest Education News

HCC to launch trade program with $17M investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies

Houston City College has received a $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a program aimed at providing free training in skilled trades and connecting students with paid apprenticeship opportunities.

At a glance: The program is a part of a new $90 million national effort from Bloomberg Philanthropies to change how high school students prepare for high-paying and skilled trades, officials said in a June 8 news release.

The program, which is spearheaded by the Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub, is intended to strengthen the area in:

Skilled trades workforce development
Registered apprenticeship expansion
Industry-driven career pathways
Earn-and-learn education models
Workforce innovation

The program is being developed with several partners including HCC, the Greater Houston Partnership, school districts in the Greater Houston area—including Houston and Alief ISDs—as well as several workforce organizations.

Looking ahead: The program, which is slated to begin in August, is set to serve 1,350 students over three years.