HTX-BMW: Impact 10/16/2025

Houston ISD's board of managers voted to fire Benbrook Elementary teacher and Houston Education Association President Michelle Williams.

The details: Williams, who boasts 26 years of teaching experience, has been a vocal critic of HISD leadership since the Texas Education Agency appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and the district's board of managers in June 2023.

A closer look: Williams’ termination comes after she was reassigned from her classroom at Benbrook Elementary and placed on home duty in August.

What’s next: While Williams said she plans on appealing the board’s decision to fire her, she is unsure whether she would be willing to return to the classroom. In May, Williams launched a campaign to run for state representative for House District 127, which covers Humble, Kingwood and Atascocita. The election will be in 2026. 

Global yoga clothing store Alo Yoga is coming to University Boulevard in the Rice Village area, marking the third Greater Houston-area location for the Los Angeles-based brand.

Alo Yoga offers a variety of athletic clothing options for both men and women, including matching leggings, sweatpants, skirts, tops, sweatshirts, accessories and beauty and wellness products.

The details: The new Alo store will be located at the former site of the outdoor furniture store Yardbird, according to project registration information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. An estimated $800,000 worth of renovation costs for the 5,273-square-foot store began in August 2025. Construction is estimated for completion in November, according to project filing information.

The big picture: The addition marks the latest in a series of athleisure wear, a combination of athletic and leisure styles, store openings in the Rice Village area over the last three years. 

• 2433 University Blvd., Houston

Current situation: Houston City Council members passed an unchanged property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 in an 11-3 vote at its regular meeting Oct. 15, despite a projected $53 million loss in the fund balance with the approved rate.

What you need to know: City Council approved a tax rate of $0.5191 per $100 home valuation, which is the same as last fiscal year's tax rate. However, the approved rate is lower than the tax rate used to calculate the FY 2025-26 city budget that the council adopted in June.

The city will see an estimated $53 million decrease in revenue with the tax rate adopted at the Oct. 15 meeting, according to City Finance Director Melissa Dubowski's Oct. 7 presentation to the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.

The debate: While some council members expressed worries about the $53 million dip in revenue, others saw the benefits in saving money for homeowners.

Council member Abbie Kamin suggested the city adjust its budget adoption calendar so the council can work with the most up-to-date valuations.

The Texas House and Senate are launching new legislative committees to “get to the bottom of exactly what occurred” during this summer’s deadly Central Texas floods, state leaders announced Oct. 13.

The details: The bipartisan panels, known as the House and Senate General Investigating Committees on the July 2025 Flooding Events, will meet jointly to conduct “a comprehensive and thorough review” of the floods, House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said.

Lawmakers will be tasked with:

• Identifying strategies to strengthen Texas’ disaster preparedness
• Helping communities respond to future floods
• Examining actions taken at summer camps in the flood zone