🌡️ Good morning, Houston! Today we have important information about cooling centers as the heat bears down, questions about HPD’s outreach to a viral World Cup account, an all-clear after an Arkema leak and new housing plans north of town. Let’s get started!

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In This Edition of Houstonicity:

Thursday: 90F / 79F | 🌧️ | 91% | NE 21 MPH
Friday: 94F / 77F | 🌤️ | 25% | S 10 MPH
Saturday: 95F / 77F | ☀️ | 3% | S 8 MPH
Sunday: 96F / 78F | 🌩️ | 55% | S 7 MPH
Monday: 97F / 79F | ☀️ | 12% | SSW 7 MPH

Link for more weather information.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Friday, July 24, 2026

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Houston residents can now find relief at several city cooling centers as dangerous heat settles over the area. The Lansdale Community Center on Roos Road is among the locations open to anyone who needs a safe place to cool down, especially people without air conditioning.

City health officials urged residents to drink water, limit outdoor activity, wear light clothing and check on people at higher risk. Warning signs of heat illness include dizziness, headaches, muscle cramps, nausea and heavy sweating. Anyone showing signs of heat stroke should receive emergency help.

Houston police leaders repeatedly contacted Freddy, an anonymous German World Cup influencer, before arranging a barbecue lunch at HPD headquarters and a police escort to an Astros game. Records show department staff sent the same invitation three times over two days before the account responded.

Freddy’s posts about Houston reached a large online audience, but HPD did not answer the Chronicle’s questions about the visit or escort. Officials also said they had no records showing department spending on the event. Experts said cities often court influencers to improve tourism and public views.

Arkema officials issued an all-clear Wednesday after a small hydrogen sulfide release at the company’s facility on Haden Road. The release was detected at 9:17 a.m. and remained fully contained inside the plant, according to company updates shared through the Community Awareness Emergency Response Line.

Emergency crews worked to stop the leak and clean up the release. Officials declared the site clear at 10:45 a.m. Arkema said protecting workers and nearby residents was its main concern. The exact cause had not been determined, and the company said it would investigate.

Two Step Farm is moving forward with the second phase of its Montgomery County development. The 156-acre phase will add seven builders, several housing styles and homes expected to range from the mid-$300,000s to more than $1 million. Homesite deliveries are expected to begin in December, followed by construction.

Plans also include a village center with dining, an event space, a town green and a wellness center. Work is underway on a road connecting Superior Road with FM 1488, which is expected to open by the end of 2026. The community is planned for more than 4,000 homes.

Houston-area families now have a clearer picture of when students will return for the 2026-27 school year. Crosby ISD will be first, starting Aug. 5, followed by New Caney ISD on Aug. 6. Houston and Galveston schools return Aug. 10, while Fort Bend and several other districts begin Aug. 11.

Many of the region’s largest districts, including Cy-Fair, Katy, Spring, Conroe and Clear Creek, start Aug. 12. Alvin, La Porte, Pasadena and Spring Branch begin Aug. 13. Tomball returns Aug. 18, and Pearland ISD closes the list on Aug. 19.

Williams Companies has purchased its namesake 64-story office tower in Uptown Houston. The July 20 deal includes the 1.4-million-square-foot building and its parking garage. The company did not disclose the price, but an industry publication reported that the sale topped $300 million.

Williams already has about 700 workers in the tower and another 100 downtown. A company executive said Williams plans to hire 100 more Houston employees by year’s end. The tower is about 83% occupied and includes major tenants such as LyondellBasell, Camden Property Trust, CBRE and Morgan Stanley.

The Audrey Restaurant and Bar plans to open a larger location in Houston’s Post Oak area this summer. Omar and Denise Khan opened the original Woodlands restaurant in 2023, combining classic American food, European-inspired style and their interest in movies.

The new restaurant will be about 2,000 square feet larger than the original and include a private room for 24 guests. Omar Khan said the location will keep the same timeless feel while adding details suited to the neighborhood. The project is expected to create 75 to 100 Houston-area jobs and was about 90% staffed when reported.

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🌡️ That’s it for today, Houston. Stay safe, stay cool and have a great Thursday!

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