Houston airport workers will receive a minimum wage increase of $5 for a new wage of $20 an hour, which will gradually rise to $23 an hour by 2028.
What this means: Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order Aug. 12 alongside members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the labor union that represents airport workers, that would immediately begin the new wages.

Workers employed by air carriers, concessions and airport contractors will qualify for the raise.

“This helps, but this is just the beginning,” Whitmire said. “It's not going to be just wages. It's going to be working conditions.”

Before signing the executive order, the minimum wage was $15 an hour at Houston airports, including Hobby and IAH. This is the first salary increase for Houston workers since 2023, when former Mayor Sylvester Turner raised their minimum wage from $12 to $15 an hour.

One more thing: The increase is scheduled to go up to $21 in January 2027, $22 in October 2027 and by 2028 it will be $23 an hour.

Angie’s Pizza opened on July 28 at West 11th Street and has welcomed a stream of customers since, officials confirmed.

The parlor’s new space comes after years of operating as a pop-up and building its clientele throughout Houston, according to an official post via Instagram.

From the oven: Angie’s Pizza serves naturally fermented pizzas baked from a domed-style oven. Additional menu options include starters, made-in-house pastas, seasonal antipasti, desserts and alcoholic beverages, officials said.

The pizzeria’s offerings are inspired by traditional Italian eats made from locally sourced meats, cheeses and produce, according to website details.

A sneak peek: Patrons looking to visit Angie’s Pizza can also expect a full bar program from its cocktail lounge–titled Bar Angie–-located on the second floor, along with other amenities, according to its social media.

Angie’s Pizza’s current hours of operation are from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The parlor is closed on Sunday, per its Instagram at the time of publishing.

• 1002 W. 11th St., Houston

On Aug. 3, Rice University officials announced a major expansion of its signature financial aid program to offer free tuition to students from families earning less than $200,000 annually.

What's happening: A news release from the university states that the expanded program will open to students entering school in fall 2027. The program will offer:

• Free tuition for students from families earning between $100,000 and $200,000 annually

• Full coverage of tuition, mandatory fees and room and board for students from families earning less than $100,000 annually

Previously, the financial aid program covered tuition, mandatory fees and room and board for students from families earning $75,000 or less and provided free tuition to students from families earning between $75,000 and $140,000.

Some background: Rice officials originally launched the financial aid program known as the Rice Investment in 2019. Since then, the university has provided more than $1 billion in financial aid, a 75% increase compared to the seven years before the program's launch, according to the university's website.

The Executive Club at George Bush Intercontinental Airport has recently completed a full renovation, Houston Airport System officials announced in an Aug. 4 news release.

What's new: Operated by SSP America, the IAH Executive Club debuted a new modern look this summer featuring new furniture, fresh paint, updated decor and redesigned seating areas. Per the release, the lounge also features a central food and beverage area that includes buffet service and a dedicated bar.

Additional amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, a meeting room and televisions, snacks, beverages and reading material.

Who it's for: Located on Level 2 of Terminal D near Gate D12, IAH's Executive Club serves qualifying international passengers flying with British Airways, Emirates and EVA Airlines. Qualified passengers will note access to the IAH Executive Club on their boarding pass, per the release. 

• Renovations completed this summer 

• 2800 N. Terminal Road, Houston

Ahead of the 2026-27 school year, public school leaders in Community Impact’s coverage areas shuttered at least nine individual schools to respond to repeated state accountability issues and stave off state intervention. A new Texas Education Agency rule may make it harder for districts to do so in the future.

The details: Beginning Aug. 16, if a district closes a D- or F-rated campus and transfers the largest share of students from the closed campus to a school with a C, D or F rating, the closed campus’ rating will be assigned to the new campus. 

Districts will only avoid transferring a shuttered school’s rating history if they relocate a plurality of students to an A- or B-rated campus.

Stay tuned: The TEA is scheduled to release A-F ratings for the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 14. If a school receives five failing ratings in a row, the TEA is required under state law to close that campus or replace the district’s board of trustees with a state-appointed board of managers.

Community Impact is seeking input from residents in the Greater Heights area who would like to share their thoughts on the Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan, which the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority is currently developing. We’d like to hear about priority projects for residents, current mobility issues and general thoughts. If you are interested, please reach out to [email protected]. Must be willing to speak on record.