Houston

Chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Gen. Hossein Salami wearing a mask, attends a ceremony on the occasion of first anniversary of death of late Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) general and commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani, in Tehran

US’ indefinite ban on Iranians drafted into Iran’s Revolutionary Guard continues to separate families

Immigration

Former conscripts say the Guard’s listing as a foreign terrorist organization unfairly prevents them from being with their families in the US.

Houston plumber Eduardo Dolande said he had to cut holes in his bathroom ceiling to reach broken pipes during the Texas freeze.

After Texas freeze, immigrants play critical role in repairing tens of thousands of homes

Immigration
Democratic US presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris are pictured in Phoenix, Oct. 8, 2020.

Indian Americans are crucial voting bloc in Houston’s hotly contested House race

Politics
A man points his finger at a yellow billboard with black writing in Vietnamese and English

Backlash over anti-racist billboard challenges Houston’s Vietnamese American community

Protest
Several security personnel are shown standing in the street and wearing reflective vests next to police motorcycles.

China orders US to close its Chengdu consulate; Turkey purging the Gülenists; Mexico City’s public square storytelling

Top of The World
The rear of a red fire truck is shown with lights on outside of a building with trees in the background.

US orders China to close its consulate in Houston

Global Politics

The United States said Wednesday that it has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston “to protect American intellectual property” and the private information of Americans.

Kim Yo-jong is shown looking over her left shoulder

North Korea stops answering daily calls with South; Past epidemics underscore importance of mental health

Top of The World

North Korean officials did not answer a routine daily call to the liaison office with South Korea or calls on military hotlines Tuesday. The move is seen as a first step toward shutting down contact with Seoul. And, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he and US President Donald Trump agreed on “some issues” on the conflict in Libya during a phone call Monday. Also, a new study of satellite images shows a surge in traffic to hospitals in Wuhan, China, in August.

A voter stands at the registration table before receiving their ballot during the Democratic presidential primary election at Madero Middle School in Chicago, Illinois, March 17, 2020.

Amid coronavirus, grassroots groups move online to capture Latino vote

Every 30 Seconds

An estimated 32 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in November. Registering them to vote requires a substantial in-person effort that grassroots groups can’t do right now because of the coronavirus outbreak. Some are shifting their strategies to the internet.

A portrait of Antonio Arellano, interim executive director for Jolt Action.

In Texas, youth groups hope to turn the state purple in November

Last weekend, young Latinos gathered in Houston, Texas, to hear from presidential candidates. Their message? To win in November and turn Texas purple, candidates need to prioritize voters of color. 

Pancho Claus is shown in a red jacket and black hat with his hands out stretch and holding stuffed animals.

In Houston, Pancho Claus is coming to town

Culture

Pancho Claus is a treasured holiday tradition in cities like Houston, Lubbock and San Antonio. Known for his low-rider and zoot suit, Houston’s iteration of Pancho Claus brings a Chicano flair to the role of St. Nick.