HTX-BMW: Impact 9/12/2025

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, who was appointed by the Texas Education Agency in 2023, hosted a news conference Sept. 9, promising that by the start of the 2027-28 school year, all 273 schools will be A- or B-rated.

Zooming in: TEA released A-F accountability ratings for the 2024-25 and 2023-24 school years Aug. 15, with HISD scores for the 2024-25 school year showing that the district had no failing F-rated campuses. According to TEA data, HISD had 73 campuses earn an A, 124 earn a B, 54 earn a C and 18 earn a D.

However, despite recent gains and controversies, Miles said the district is aiming to improve even further in the next one to two years, with his promise to have all schools in HISD be A- or B-rated by August 2027.

“This is all of our success, and all of our future effort,” Miles said. “This will be to the benefit of all Houstonians and not just the kids in HISD.”

Beauty Shop Bellaire owner Ashley Nadon is preparing to open her indie-and-eco-friendly beauty and skin care supply store in a new location at the Bellaire Triangle shopping center in late September.

Staying local: "We are happy to share that we are fairly settled into our new home in Bellaire, just a hop across the street from our original location," Nadon said in a Sept. 6 announcement.

Zooming out: Nadon opened the former location along Bissonnet Street in October 2022 and opened her second location at the M-K-T Heights development last September. The new Bellaire location will be in the arcade courtyard breezeway, according to the announcement.

📍5400 Bissonnet St., Ste. 14, Bellaire

Hundreds of Hilton Americas-Houston workers have been on strike since Labor Day, demanding higher pay and better working conditions at one of the city’s largest hotels in Downtown Houston.

What we know so far: Willy Gonzalez, secretary treasurer and primary negotiator of Unite Here Local 23, the union group representing the workers, told City Council that a majority of the hotel staff have been earning $16.50 an hour for years, and that the staff demands an increase in pay to $23 an hour, as well as fair schedules and workloads.

What originally was supposed to be a nine-day strike has turned into 20 days, as it will continue until Sept. 20. Unite Here Local 23 explained in a Sept. 9 news release that the hotel has still not come forward with a proposal that meets the union’s demand.

Gonzalez said some proposals that were given to the union so far included raising the hourly wage to $17.50, followed by a 75-cent increase in January and 50-cent raises every six months.

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones partnered with state Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston, to share statewide and local policy updates with residents at a Sept. 10 town hall. 

Quote of note: “We’re serving the same people. We need to be working closer together,” Briones told Community Impact. “Whether it’s on the macro, big policy decisions, [or] just in communicating back for progress we’re delivering and what challenges we’re facing.”

The overview: Cook provided a breakdown of key policies that passed the Texas Legislature this year, both in regular session and two special sessions. She said of the 94 bills her office filed: 

• 16 were heard in committee
• 15 came directly from her constituents in Harris County
• Seven were signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott
• Four were passed as amendments added to other bills

Check out these seven places offering Oktoberfest specials in the Houston area. The original beer festival takes place in Munich every year, but its popularity has led venues around the world to replicate the event in celebration of German food and culture. 

Oktoberfest at Holler Brewing Co.
Featuring Schnauzers from Mini Schnauzer Rescue Houston, German music from the M&M Playboys, a stein-holding competition and a best lederhosen contest, Holler Brewing Co. is bringing classic Oktoberfest festivities to the Houston Heights. 

• Sept. 27, noon-10 p.m. 
• Free (admission) 
• 2206 Edwards St., Ste. A, Houston

Eureka Heights Oktoberfest 
The Houston Heights brewing company will host stein-holding competitions and live music, along with pretzels, brats and German beers. Limited edition .5L Eureka Heights steins will also be available.

• Sept. 27, noon-6 p.m. 
• Free (admission)
• 941 W. 18th St., Houston

Looking for a spine-tingling and spooky activity to get in the Halloween spirit? Check out this guide for haunted houses and ghost tours throughout the Greater Houston area.

Creepy Hollow Haunted House
Multiple themed scary attractions are offered by Creepy Hollow Haunted House. Visit beloved creepy characters as they stalk about the property. General admission includes all three main haunts—”Dark Woods,” “Pitch Black” and “Scare Factory.”

• Sept. 26-Oct. 31 (Fridays and Saturdays), 7:30-11:30 p.m.; Oct. 26, 7:30-10 p.m.
• $40
• 12872 Valley Vista Drive, Rosharon

• Sept. 19-Nov. 2, times vary by date
• $24.99-$29.99 (general admission)
• 16030 I-10, Channelview