Take a look back at development, transportation, government and education news we covered last year.
January: Houston has gained 162 miles of bike lanes, trails since 2017
This story was written for our annual Health & Wellness Edition and analyzed how the city received an additional 162 miles of bike lanes since 2017. The Bicycle Advisory Committee's goal is to create 1,800 miles by 2027.
February: Talking Tourism: Houston leaders create plans for future upgrades to sports, convention centers
In early 2025, many of Houston's sports and convention centers revealed plans to renovate, expand, or create new venues. NRG Park, the Astrodome, George R. Brown Convention Center, the Toyota Center and Daikin Park were on the list. This story shared details on the potential changes coming to each venue.
March: Houston's $70M plan to end street homelessness by 2026
Mayor John Whitmire announced in March that he wanted Houston to be the first major city in the United States to end street homelessness by moving all individuals who live outdoors into stable housing. This lead story dove into exactly how Whitmire planned to accomplish his goal.
April: Houston police seek salary hike to help stagnant staffing
The Houston Police Department was facing a staffing shortage, a problem exacerbated by a salary that was well below nearby cities and counties. This story discussed the negotiations between the city and the Houston Police Union for higher salaries.
May: Transforming local history: Iconic buildings in Heights, Montrose to be redeveloped into mixed-use spaces
Officials with Radom Capital announced midway through the year that the company would be redeveloping the former Swift and Company Packing plant located in the Heights into a 4.47-acre mixed-use development. The developers also announced plans to revamp the Tower Theatre in Montrose and its adjacent shopping center along Westheimer Road.
June: Outpatient centers growing in Houston
For our annual Health Care Edition, we analyzed Houston's health care shift from larger hospitals to smaller, community-focused medical facilities in neighborhoods like the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose, where space is limited.
July: Houston apartments surging: Over 5,000 multifamily units proposed, underway in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose
For our annual Real Estate Edition, we covered the wave of new apartment construction that hit in 2025, a trend that real estate experts said is a citywide push to meet rising demand driven by factors such as population and job growth.
August: A tale of two districts: Houston ISD state takeover still divisive despite student gains
For our annual Education Edition, reporter Wesley Gardner wrote an in-depth lead on the Texas Education Agency extending the state takeover of Houston ISD by two years and analyzed the areas where the district improved or declined since the initial takeover in 2023.
The story discussed significant changes in the district, including the implementation of the New Education System, or NES model, at 130 lower-performing campuses, recent STAAR results, A-F accountability ratings and teacher turnover rates.
September: Reconstructing roads: Montrose TIRZ sets sights on West Alabama Street as latest transportation project
Officials with the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone announced that West Alabama Street from Spur 527 to Shepherd Drive will undergo a $28.5 million reconstruction to improve mobility and promote a pedestrian-friendly environment.
October: New congressional map could impact Inner Loop elections
Texas lawmakers attempted to redraw 37 of the state's 38 congressional districts during a special legislative session in 2025. The changes, which were eventually approved by the U.S. Supreme Court in December, shifts critical districts in Houston, including District 18 and District 9. This story breaks down the boundary and population changes for Houston residents.
November: Resilient to disaster: Houston looks to allocate nearly $315M to recover from previous natural disasters and prepare for future ones
In late 2025, Houston developed a disaster aid plan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support local recovery from the 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl. This story broke down how the $315 million funding would be distributed.
December: New boutique hotels emerge as Houston tourism rebounds
Neighborhoods like River Oaks, the Heights and Montrose saw an increase in boutique hotel openings in 2025. This story shared details on the new hotels and explored what led to the trend.
