HTX-HRM: 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.  

The Vietnamese restaurant has served family recipes and authentic flavors to the Houston area since 2002.

What’s happening: In a video posted on Facebook Oct. 5, owners Jenni and Scott Tran-Weaver announced the closing of the Heights location of Jenni’s Noodle House. 

The location off East 20th Street has been open for the past fifteen years, but the couple said the restaurant’s lease is up and that they will not be renewing. 

“We love all the support we’ve had,” Scott Tran-Weaver said. “If you live around the area and you want Jenni’s Noodle House, you can come to the Shepherd location.”

• 602 E. 20th St., Houston

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.  

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, announced Oct. 6 that he will be running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, joining the March 2026 Republican primary election.

The details: Hunt was the first person elected to represent U.S. Congressional District 38 in 2022. Hunt announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Austin, who was first elected in 2002.

Next steps: Hunt will appear on the GOP primary ballot scheduled for March 3, 2026.