HTX-HRM: Impact 10/30/2025

On Oct. 29, Houston City Council accepted about $1.7 million in state funding to eliminate and prevent youth and adult homelessness.

At a glance: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded the city $1.3 million to address homelessness and $405,000 specifically to combat youth homelessness. The funds are part of TDHCA’s fiscal year 2026 Texas Homeless Housing and Services Program and were approved under City Council’s consent agenda—which is made up of multiple items voted upon in one motion—during its regular Oct. 29 meeting.

The $1.3 million can be used for actions helping people experiencing homelessness, such as:

• Building or procuring housing
• Renovating homelessness service facilities
• Funding homelessness and case management services
• Funding emergency shelters

Crust Pizza Co., a restaurant specializing in Chicago-style thin-crust pizza, reopened its Heights location in late October after a brief closure due to a relocation.

What we know: According to the restaurant's social media, the new address is only seven blocks south on Durham Drive in the Durham Row Center. Restaurant officials said the move will allow them to expand the menu, provide better parking and an improved dining experience.

What's on the menu: Crust Pizza offers gourmet or build-your-own pizzas in personal 10-inch or large 14-inch sizes, with crust options such as cauliflower, stuffed, calzone and double crust. Toppings include meat, cheese and veggies.

Other items on the menu include garlic cheese bread, salads, pastas, like a blackened chicken capri, and sweets.

• 1215 N. Durham Drive, Houston

The Texas Department of Transportation will host a virtual public meeting Oct. 30 to provide updates on proposed improvements to Segment 3 of the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project, according to an Oct. 29 news release.

What to expect: Participants can join the meeting to view presentations, ask questions and access interactive resource rooms. Real-time Spanish translation and accessibility services will be provided. TxDOT subject-matter experts will discuss project details, construction timelines, right-of-way commitments and impacts to the community. 

About the project: The I-45 NHHIP aims to expand roadway capacity, improve mobility and enhance safety along I-45 from I-69 to Beltway 8 North, including segments of I-10 and I-69 around downtown Houston, according to TxDOT. 

The nearly $13 billion project involves rebuilding the downtown freeway loop system encompassing I-45, I-69, I-10 and Hwy. 288, according to the release.

Before you go: The meeting will be held on Zoom, with virtual check-in starting at 4:30 p.m., and the presentation with a live Q&A will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., Oct. 30.

Houston ISD is considering a plan that would give the district’s highest-performing high schools more control over curriculum, staffing, and scheduling, officials announced in an Oct. 22 news release.

The details: The initiative would utilize Texas Senate Bill 1882, according to the release. The bill, which was approved by state lawmakers in 2017, permits districts to partner with open-enrollment charter schools, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, or government entities to help manage schools, according to the Texas Education Agency. 

Approved schools would gain increased principal autonomy over curriculum, assessments, calendars, staffing, hiring, and evaluation, while still remaining HISD schools with access to district services like transportation and food services, according to the release.

What’s next: HISD staff recently met with several interested principals to discuss potential benefits and begin informal outreach with staff and parents, per the release. Officials stressed the plan is still only a proposal, noting no final decisions have been made.

Huntington Bancshares announced in October that it would acquire Cadence Bank, which has several locations throughout Austin, Dallas and Houston. 

What you need to know: Huntington Bancshares shared an Oct. 27 news release stating that it would acquire Cadence Bank, which has 390 locations throughout the southern U.S. 

The release states that with the acquisition, Huntington will not close any existing Cadence Bank branches. 

Texas homeowners could see larger property tax breaks on this year’s bills if voters approve two state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: Proposition 13 would raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. Proposition 11 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption.

The exemptions would apply only to taxes charged by public schools.

The impact: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the legislation, estimated in June that the average Texas homeowner would see about $484 in annual savings if the tax cuts are approved by voters, with roughly $950 in savings for seniors and people with disabilities. These estimates do not account for potential tax rate increases by local governments.

If voters approve the two ballot measures, the cuts will take effect for the current tax year and appear on homeowners’ upcoming tax bills, according to the Texas House Research Organization.