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City Cast Houston

Some of you did awesome last week on the practice STAAR exam! The rest of you might want to brush up on your science and math skills 😉 This week, we’re back to our regular news quiz. Have you been keeping up with all of the Houston happenings, from bayou deaths to light rail system delays? Test yourself with our news quiz!

Did you follow the big news stories this week? 

Did You Keep Up With Houston's Top Stories This Week?

What Houstonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Houston are the way they are and how they work.

Houston, Explained

new state law ended the Vehicle Safety Inspection program

 for non-commercial vehicles in Texas. So, what does this mean? Do you still need a vehicle inspection and emissions test – or can you skip the process altogether? The answer is more complicated than you think.

No, if you have a non-commercial vehicle then you don’t need a vehicle inspection. Instead, you will have to pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee when you register your vehicle with the 

. If you’re new to Texas and have not registered your car yet, then you’ll pay $16.75 to cover two years.

Yes, emissions tests are still required in major metropolitan areas. If you live in one of the major counties in our region – Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, or Montgomery – then you’ll still need to get an emissions test. 

Although safety inspections are gone, you still have

 You can do it online, by mail, or in person at a county tax office or a grocery store, such as HEB or Kroger.

If you have a commercial vehicle that you use for your business, then you will still have to get it inspected. Since you have to pay for an actual vehicle inspection, you don’t have to pay the $7.50 fee to replace the inspection.

Is it still required to get a car inspection in Texas? 

Do You Still Need a Car Inspection in Texas?

By now, you’ve probably heard about Trump Burger. The restaurant, 

 and homage to President Donald Trump, has been embroiled in controversy all summer. And, why is that? Two Trump Burger owners, both who have spoken highly of the current president, 

have been detained by ICE in recent months

. So, how did a burger place for Trump fans wind up in the Houston area and make national news? Let’s unpack.

opened the first version of the restaurant

 in Bellville, a community over an hour northwest of Houston. The couple originally started a cafe that was just another restaurant with no Trump branding. As the presidential election neared in October 2016, the couple decided to rebrand their business and call it Trump Cafe. Now, customers could devour a “Trump Burger” for $12.95 and meet with like minded individuals. However, only a year into the business, Trump Cafe abruptly closed in 2017.

Still, Trump Burger gained new life when Roland Beainy, described as a Lebanese immigrant in news reports, 

opened a new and improved version in 2020

. Now, customers could order burgers with “Trump” emblazoned on the bun. American flags and Pro-Trump banners were also easy to spot. The burger business expanded to other locations including Kemah, Houston, and Flatonia. Then, trouble started to brew.

 and has been accused of overstaying his visa, which expired in Feb. 2024. Beainy also allegedly has an assault charge on his record and has been accused of creating a fake marriage to gain permanent residency in the U.S. But, the trouble doesn’t stop there.

Eddie Hawa, also known as Iyad Abuelhawa, 

 and is being held in a detention center in Montgomery County. He allegedly has been in the country illegally since 2009, when a judge ordered his deportation. Meanwhile, Hawa and Beainy are fighting over ownership of the business and both have sued one another over the burger franchise.

With all the news swirling about this restaurant, how does the Trump burger actually taste? “The chargrilled burger patties are thick but bland, topped with a waxy cheese that lacks any memorable flavor,” Brittany Britto Garley, Eater's former regional editor, 

Houston Chronicle restaurant critic Bao Ong also 

: “Most dishes are unremarkable and far from making the Chronicle’s best burgers guide.”

So, will Trump Burger outlast its legal drama? It’s unclear. But, in the meantime, grab your popcorn, 

 a Trump Burger, and enjoy the show! 🍔

Shout-out to Houston Chronicle reporter Sarah Smith who unpacked all of the Trump burger drama 

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated when Trump Burger owner Roland Beainy's visa expired. The correct date is February 2024. A previous version of this article also had the incorrect spelling of the community where the original Trump Burger is located. It is Bellville.

How The Trump Burger Saga Unfolded in Houston 

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast and forever changed New Orleans. It killed over 1,800 people, and more than 200,000 people evacuated to Houston. Many of them end up staying. Even with time, the storm's legacy lingers, and many Houstonians still remember how our city stepped up to help our neighbors.

Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, there was an evacuation order. But an 

estimated 150,000 to 200,000 New Orleans residents stayed in the city

. Some residents didn’t have a way to get out, or didn’t want to leave their pets or belongings. Then the levees failed, putting more than 80% of the city under water. The devastation quickly became deadly. Thousands of New Orleans residents took shelter at the Superdome, but conditions were bad with no air-conditioning, dirty bathrooms, and reports of trash everywhere. On Aug. 31, Houston was 

only given 24 hours to welcome 75,000 evacuees

New Orleans Residents Evacuate to Houston

Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels had already been preparing. About 25,000 people were sent to the Astrodome and more went to other shelters across the city. Eckels 

recalls seeing the first bus drive up to the Astrodome

. It was an Orleans Parish school bus, and the young driver had never driven before. Busloads of people continued to show up for days. They prepared meals to serve a stadium full of people, as if it were a football game. Doctors flew in from all over the world to assist. They negotiated with phone carriers to turn cell phones back on for displaced New Orleans residents whose bills were unpaid.

Meanwhile, Mayor White made it his mission to 

“treat your neighbors the way you’d want to be treated.”

 Although FEMA offered to set up thousands of temporary trailers and hotel rooms for evacuees, White instead set up a housing voucher program with help from the private sector. “I thought that what was needed was to get people back on their feet,” White told City Cast Houston. 

White said he took a lot of leaps of faith

 during that time, working with landlords to provide housing for evacuees — and unsure when the federal government would reimburse the city. The hard work paid off. About 

Initially, there were some pockets of tension between New Orleans and Houston residents. For example, in February 2006,

 74% of Houstonians said that Katrina evacuees had put a strain on the city,

 according to the Kinder Houston Area Survey. But, the overwhelming feeling was one of compassion as tens of thousands of Houstonians helped volunteer, earning our city a reputation for generosity, something we still pride ourselves on today. In fact, when residents were surveyed again in 2008, 46% of Houstonians said they would want the city to help if a storm like Hurricane Katrina happened again.

Two decades later, New Orleans residents 

 New business ventures from New Orleans evacuees popped up and have stuck around like the beloved Heights bookstore 

. Our food scene became even more delicious – it’s not hard to find crawfish, boudin, or gumbo. Kermit Ruffins, a prominent New Orleans trumpet player, 

made his home in Houston for a time after the storm, regularly playing at Axelrad

. He recently came back for a benefit concert for the July 4 flood victims. If you look around, you can see how New Orleans’ flair has etched its way into the diverse fabric of Houston. And, I don’t think we would have it any other way 💟

What memories do you have from Hurricane Katrina? Did you evacuate to Houston or help out those affected by the storm? 

How Houston Stepped Up After Hurricane Katrina 

Houston ISD has been dealing with a state takeover since June 2023, when elected school board members were ousted and the state installed a new superintendent after years of poor academic performance at a single high school. So, how long will the takeover last, and what’s changed in HISD since?

announced that Mike Miles would take over as superintendent

 in June 2023, HISD entered a period of dramatic change. Miles 

 overhauling dozens of schools to improve their academic performance. NES schools 

 timed lessons, higher pay for educators, and turned libraries into “team centers.” Many parents and community members have criticized the system, claiming it has led to high principal and teacher turnover and creates a rigid learning environment. In June, the Texas Education Commissioner announced the state takeover will continue until 2027, so HISD

What’s Happened in HISD Since the Takeover?

More than 7,000 students and over 160 principals 

have left the school district since the state takeover

more than 2,300 teachers of the district's 10,000 teachers departed.

 At the same time, academic performance has improved. HISD’s passing rates on the STAAR exam increased closer to the statewide performance. High school students who took end-of-course exams also increased passing rates, except English I. Meanwhile, HISD is reporting that 

 from the state’s accountability ratings, compared to 121 receiving a “D” or an “F” before the state takeover.

In order to exit the state takeover, HISD must have no campuses with multiple years of failing ratings; comply with special education laws; and improve board governance. In June, Miles 

 and an $82,000 raise. HISD doesn’t plan to expand the New Education System this school year, and the administration may 

have to close about 10 schools due to low enrollment

How long will Houston ISD's takeover go on? 

How Long Will Houston ISD's State Takeover Last? 

Texas House Democrats fled the state on Aug. 3 in an effort to block a vote on new congressional district maps and 

Lawmakers can update congressional district maps 

. Redistricting was not included in this year’s legislative session and was not going to be on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda until President Donald Trump got involved.

, called Abbott and convinced him to put redistricting on the agenda in an effort to pick up five congressional seats.

, Trump said, “I got the highest vote in the history of Texas. And we are entitled to five more seats.”

More than a million Harris County residents 

will have a different congressional representative

 if the map goes into effect. The new map would also eliminate U.S. Rep Al Green’s predominantly African American district, shifting it to the eastern part of Harris County.

🗳️ Fleeing the State Deprives the House of a Quorum

By leaving Texas, Democrats are denying the House a quorum, which is the number of lawmakers it needs to be able to vote on a measure. The 150-member House has to have at 

 present to conduct business. More than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state on Sunday for Illinois, New York, and Boston (where some were 

Lawmakers have used breaking quorum as a strategy 

The Texas House adjourned due to lack of quorum 

 on Tuesday. While most House activity is now on pause, some legislative committees 

The Texas House has issued civil arrest warrants for the missing lawmakers. Abbott has told the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest lawmakers, and has 

 to investigate them. Both departments only have jurisdiction in Texas.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday 

requesting help finding and arresting lawmakers

 from their seats, and leaders have given members until Friday to get back to Austin or face 

, according to Attorney General Ken Paxton. Abbott has also suggested that those who fundraise to cover a $500-a-day fine for breaking quorum may be committing bribery.

Texas Democrats fled the state on Sunday has created a political showdown during the special session. 

 What’s Happening With Redistricting in Texas?

From big news involving our favorite donut shop to more Houstonians moving out to thousands of NASA employees taking a buyout, there was a lot to keep track of across the city this week. Did you pay attention to all the big stories? And are you craving a Shipley donut like me after all of it 😉 Take our news quiz to find out!

Did you keep up with the big news stories the week of July 28, 2025?

Houston's Biggest News Stories July 2025

Houston's Biggest News Stories This Week

Every summer, Houstonians pick out their best white outfit and gather on a sweltering summer night in the Heights for White Linen Night. What exactly goes on at 

, and why has it remained a summer staple for nearly 20 years? As someone who went to multiple White Linen Nights in my early twenties, let me just say it's peak Houston summer: you’re sweating in a crowd, eating something delicious, dancing to live music, and most importantly, getting to explore one of Houston’s most popular neighborhoods.

More than 10,000 people decked out in their best white outfit 

celebrated the first White Linen Night in August 2006

. The night actually has roots as a French Quarter celebration in New Orleans, but was started in Houston by a 

husband and wife who evacuated to Houston

 after Hurricane Katrina. They wanted to create a way for Houstonians to support local businesses and artists in the Heights – basically a street festival. As the years progressed, White Linen Night became a can't-miss summer tradition for Houstonians, usually held during the first Saturday in August.

After going to White Linen Night year after year, I’m starting to understand why Houstonians love it. Picture this, you’re on 19th street, and it’s blocked off, so you can stroll alongside thousands of others in their best white button-up, linen pants, or summer dress. You get to peruse through local shops and admire artwork from Houston artists. There’s music blaring in the streets. Some people are dancing on the sidewalk. You usually run into someone you know. It kind of feels like you’re walking down Houston’s own mini Bourbon Street.

White Linen Night also stretches into other parts of the Heights. If you walk through the Heights neighborhood, you’ll probably see neighbors having mini-parties on their front porches. On 

, you can hop from bar to bar and sip on a beer or delicious cocktail. Shop jewelry, painting, and other crafts from artists a few blocks away at the 

 artist event. This is the kind of summer block party that makes our big city feel smaller and like you’re partying alongside your neighbors. See you this year for the celebration on Saturday, Aug 2. 🤍

Your best White Linen Night memory

White Linen Night, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2, has become a summer tradition in Houston. 

How White Linen Night Became Houston's Summer Tradition

How Did White Linen Night Become a Summer Tradition?

Have you been following Houston’s busy new week? Do you know what Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s latest approval rating is? Which freeways Houston police are monitoring for reckless driving? How many Houstonians are signed up for emergency alerts? Test your knowledge with our fun news quiz 😉

What are the biggest news stories for the week of July 21, 2025 in Houston?

The Biggest Houston News Stories This Week?

From a new order for those facing homelessness to Trump protests across Houston, it was another busy week for news. So, did you keep up with all that’s going on? Test yourself with our fun news quiz.

Take the weekly Houston news quiz for July 14,  2025. 