All graduating Houston ISD high school students will have guaranteed admission to the University of Houston-Downtown thanks to a new program announced by the school's leaders Feb. 17.

In a nutshell: If an HISD student graduates with at least a 2.5 grade point average, they will be accepted to UHD. The application fee will also be waived for students participating in this program.

“This agreement creates an opportunity by removing barriers for increasing numbers of HISD students to attend UHD and earn a bachelor's degree,” said Long Huynh, UHD’s vice president of enrollment management.

By the numbers: In HISD’s 2026 graduating class, about 7,700 students will be eligible for automatic admission under the new program. About one-third of UHD’s incoming freshman class is already made up of HISD students.

Succulent Fine Dining’s last day of service was Feb. 5, according to the restaurant’s social media.

The overview: Rooted in sustainability, the California-based dining experience brought West Coast flavors and fresh seafood to the River Oaks Area. 

What's new: In a Feb. 6 statement posted to Succulent’s social media, the restaurant cited ongoing site-related access, parking and valet limitations as the main reasons for closure, as it affected the overall guest experience. 

"Succulent was a labor of love, and this was not an easy decision," said owner Shawn Virene. "It has been an honor to serve our guests, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who supported us. I hope those who loved Succulent will join us at a'Bouzy so we can continue serving you."

• 1180 Dunlavy St., Houston

Single-family sales declined to 4,999 homes compared to a year earlier, when 5,047 homes sold in January 2025, HAR reports. The median home price decreased to $322,045, its lowest level since January 2024, when it stood at $320,000.

What else: The average single-family home price rose 2.8% to $416,722, driven largely by more activity in the luxury market, according to the report. The luxury segment was the strongest-performing sector, with transactions up 15.5% year over year, the report states. As inventory expanded, homes averaged 66 days on the market, up from 61 days in 2025.

Quote of note: “With rates expected to ease a little this year, buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines may start to feel more confident and enter the market. That should help maintain demand and create additional opportunities for sellers throughout the year,” HAR Chair Theresa Hill said.

Effective March 9, former U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter will serve as the new Harris County administrator after commissioners unanimously approved her appointment Feb. 12.

In a nutshell: Lee Carter will lead the Office of County Administration, or OCA, which oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and coordinates across its departments. She will be the first African American woman to hold the position, which was created in 2021.

Did you know: Lee Carter served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2024-2025 in a special election to Texas’ 18th Congressional District after her mother, late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, died in 2024. 

She has also overseen policy initiatives within Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ office for several years with a focus on economic opportunity, voting access and budget management, per a news release from the OCA.

Quote of note: “It is my commitment to work each day to make progress towards your 2050 vision and ensure the county is safe and fair, thriving, resilient, connected, healthy and secure,” Lee Carter said Feb. 12. 

Thousands of students who apply for Texas’ education savings accounts will likely not be accepted into the first year of the program, application data from the state comptroller’s office shows.

What's happening: Over 101,000 students had applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts as of Feb. 15. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. March 17.

Program funding is capped at $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, meaning between 90,000 and 100,000 students will likely be accepted. With demand expected to outpace available funding, applications will be prioritized through a need- and income-based lottery system.

Zooming in: Over 70% of program applicants were from low- or middle-income households, according to data from the comptroller’s office. Under Senate Bill 2, the 2025 law that created the program:

• “Low-income” is defined as families with annual household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, or about $66,000 for a family of four.
• “Middle-income” is defined as families with incomes at or below 500% of the federal poverty line, or about $165,000 for a family of four.