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Businesses at Galveston’s Pier 19 are pushing back against a proposed waterfront redevelopment plan, arguing that pedestrian amenities could disrupt the historic working harbor and their daily operations.

Rare blue dragon sea slugs have washed up along several Texas beaches, prompting researchers to warn beachgoers not to touch the striking creatures because of their powerful sting.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials reopened a previously closed oyster harvesting area in Matagorda Bay on March 7 after surveys found abundant market-size oysters, offering relief to Gulf Coast harvesters during a difficult season.
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A crash involving an H-E-B 18-wheeler and a Ford pickup shut down multiple northbound lanes of Interstate 45 in League City on Tuesday morning, spilling about 150 gallons of diesel fuel and sending two people to the hospital.

Galveston collected about $27.95 million in hotel occupancy taxes in fiscal year 2025, falling short of the city’s projected $29.7 million as hotel demand declined and travel patterns shifted.
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Felony charges against the owner of the Galveston smoke shop franchise Hazy Daze were dismissed Friday “in the interest of justice.” According to court records, the state may refile the charges later.
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A Galveston County jury has found Houston mother Channel Yonko guilty of capital murder in the death of her 17-month-old daughter, who fell from a hotel balcony in 2024. The conviction carries an automatic life sentence, and an appeal has already been filed.

The 10-story Tiara on the Beach condominium has topped out in Galveston, marking a major construction milestone for the island’s first large-scale beachfront condo development in nearly two decades.
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Galveston officials approved a change allowing half-hour parking increments downtown, but a new 30-cent fee for app payments is drawing criticism from residents and visitors.
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Travelers heading to Mexico may face steep fines or even jail time if they bring vaping devices into the country. Mexico recently expanded a nationwide ban on e-cigarettes and similar devices, prompting travel advisers and health officials to warn U.S. tourists—including cruise passengers departing from Texas ports—to avoid carrying vaping gear.
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Jury selection started Monday in the capital murder trial of Channel Yonko in Galveston County. Yonko is accused of the October 2024 death of her daughter, Hannah. The case moves forward after months of delays and a courtroom dispute that stalled earlier proceedings.
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The Galveston Seafarers Center continues its decadeslong mission of supporting cruise and cargo ship crews with shopping assistance, transportation, counseling and spiritual care as ships dock at one of the nation’s busiest ports.
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Galveston officials have approved a monthlong amnesty for parking tickets, giving drivers a chance to pay base fines without penalties before the city begins booting vehicles with three or more unpaid citations.
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New research shows coyotes roaming Galveston Island and the Texas Gulf Coast carry genetic ancestry from the red wolf, a species once native to the region. Scientists say remote coastal marshes have helped preserve those genes by limiting human disturbance and boosting survival rates.

A fiber connection outage between Galveston City Hall and the Justice Center has cut internet and phone service to several key municipal facilities, city officials announced on social media.
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The Texas General Land Office and its partners have restored more than 5,300 linear feet of Hershey Beach on Galveston’s West End, depositing 378,000 cubic yards of dredged sand ahead of Spring Break. Officials say the project will help combat erosion estimated at nearly 7 feet per year.
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department closed another oyster harvest area in Galveston Bay on Feb. 14 after surveys found too few legal-sized oysters, leaving only two of eight areas open as restoration efforts intensify.

Galveston officials say all Mardi Gras parades and events will continue as planned despite rain in the forecast Saturday. The island will host 12 parades this weekend, including the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade, as part of its 115th annual celebration.
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Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Davie Defense Inc. will expand shipbuilding operations in Galveston and Port Arthur, investing more than $730 million and creating over 2,400 jobs. The state awarded the company a $21.7 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant to support the project, which will focus on building Arctic icebreakers and other specialized vessels.
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The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data. The Census Bureau shows that Texas gained more individuals than any other state in 2025, by more than 391,000 people. But the state's general growth rate slowed because fewer people came from other countries across the country.
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Moody Gardens is mourning the loss of Hendrix, a northern rockhopper penguin who spent more than 20 years delighting guests. Aquarium staff say the charismatic bird made an impression on visitors and caretakers alike.
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A 12-foot, 1,009-pound massive female white shark tagged in Nova Scotia has traveled nearly 2,000 nautical miles and was tracked Jan. 30 near Mississippi’s Chandeleur Islands, according to OCEARCH researchers.
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A 27-year-old man faces an aggravated kidnapping charge after police say he forced a 12-year-old girl into his car, took her to a local hotel and assaulted her. Officers located the girl early Jan. 31 after tracking her phone to a Galveston hotel.
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The mid-century Commodore on the Beach hotel in Galveston is scheduled for foreclosure auction on Tuesday after a $12 million loan default. The long-closed Seawall property has sat fenced off since 2023, with renovations unfinished and permits expired.
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A Galveston County man has amended his lawsuit against a California physician, invoking Texas’ new House Bill 7 to seek at least $75,000 in damages and potentially $100,000 per violation for allegedly providing abortion-inducing medication to his partner. The case marks the first known attempt to use the law against an out-of-state doctor.
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Pensacola received initial approval for a $76 million grant to help fund a $275 million shipbuilding center that would expand Navy manufacturing along the Gulf Coast and bring an estimated 2,000 jobs to Northwest Florida.
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Wildlife officials released 100 rehabilitated sea turtles into the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston after rescuing about 150 cold-stunned turtles during a recent freeze. Fifty-two turtles died following the cold snap.
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Jury selection and testimony are set to begin Wednesday in the trial of Cianna Mims, who is accused of helping cover up a hit-and-run crash that killed a well-known Galveston physician riding her bicycle in 2022.
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Forecasters say another cold front will push subfreezing temperatures across parts of Louisiana and Alabama this weekend, bringing gusty winds and a brief chance of rain but no wintry precipitation.
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After winter weather closures Monday, Galveston ISD and most school districts across the coastal region plan to reopen Tuesday, urging families to prepare for frigid morning conditions and possible transportation delays.
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An Extreme Cold Warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect through noon Tuesday for Galveston County, with wind chills in the single digits and several local warming centers open to help residents, officials said.
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As an arctic front pushes freezing temperatures across Texas, cruise departures from Galveston are moving forward with caution, offering some travelers a warm-weather escape even as state officials warn of icy roads and hazardous travel.
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As extreme cold approaches the Upper Texas Coast, the Galveston Fire Department is urging residents to follow fire safety guidelines when using heaters, generators and fireplaces, warning that winter is the most dangerous season for home fires.
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As a winter storm threatens several days of subfreezing temperatures in the Houston area, energy experts and state officials are urging residents to prepare by protecting pipes, gathering supplies, and checking on vulnerable neighbors to avoid outages and costly damage.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife has closed an oyster harvesting area in Matagorda Bay after samples showed too few legal-sized oysters. The closure reflects ongoing strain on the state’s shellfish industry following years of weather and environmental losses.
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A deadly crash involving a Jeep and a truck closed the northbound lanes of the Galveston Causeway for several hours on Monday afternoon. One driver died after being taken to UTMB, while traffic was heavily delayed until the lanes reopened.
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A new genetic testing study found fewer Galveston-area restaurants are falsely claiming imported shrimp as Gulf-caught, though researchers say mislabeling remains a persistent problem despite a new Texas law.
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The Texas Department of Transportation's Grand Parkway extension is starting in the southeast. The Segment B-1 project will extend State Highway 99, the Grand Parkway, 14 miles from FM 646 in League City to south of FM 2403 in Alvin, starting in 2027.
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A Galveston County auto shop owner has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after investigators say he stole dozens of vehicles and thousands of dollars in parts from customers over a years-long scheme.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has extended an invitation to Galveston boat captain Sky Decker for his heroic actions in rescuing a woman from the wreckage of a Mexican Navy medical plane that crashed into Galveston Bay in December. The invitation follows widespread praise for Decker’s quick response amid heavy fog.
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A solar-powered NOAA research buoy nicknamed “Bob” has drifted away from its moorings in the Gulf of Mexico for the second time in less than a year, prompting a lighthearted but serious appeal from federal scientists who rely on its data.
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Houston-area transit riders now have expanded ways to pay after METRO launched its new RideMETRO fare system, which introduced a $2 reloadable card, mobile payments, and a loyalty perk with no fare increases.
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A Galveston man is facing felony charges after authorities say he impersonated a federal immigration officer and detained two men in a downtown parking lot, an incident partially captured on video by local activists.
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Before sunrise Friday, five caskets carrying victims of a Dec. 22 plane crash were escorted across Galveston as part of a coordinated effort to return the remains of Mexican Navy personnel and a civilian doctor to their families in Mexico.
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Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, Texas Children's Hospital, and St. Luke's Health welcomed healthy newborns in 2026 within minutes of the New Year.
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Two women who survived a fatal plane crash in Galveston Bay last week are hospitalized and recovering, according to the nonprofit that chartered the aircraft for a medical transport mission.
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A newly approved League City ordinance requiring permits and inspections for liveaboards has prompted an online petition and debate over safety, environmental protection and personal privacy at local marinas.
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Roughly 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid spilled from an industrial facility east of Houston early Saturday, with some of the material reaching the Houston Ship Channel. Despite ongoing environmental monitoring, officials declared no need for evacuations and no immediate public health impacts.
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Volunteer birders in Galveston joined thousands across the hemisphere in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count, documenting more than 180 species locally and contributing to a long-running dataset used to track bird population trends.
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Five people were killed when a plane carrying eight occupants crashed near the Galveston Causeway amid dense fog, prompting a significant emergency response and a federal investigation.
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Environmental groups and Florida Republicans are opposing the Trump administration's proposal to increase offshore oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, citing ecological, military, and economic hazards near the Everglades.
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League City police are urging drivers to use extra caution near the intersection of Interstate 45 and FM 646 after a recent spike in traffic crashes, which officers attribute to increased holiday traffic and distracted driving.
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Authorities recovered a submerged vehicle from Jarbo Bayou early Tuesday morning after a reported crash near FM 2094. One body was found inside the car, and the incident remains under investigation.
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Nearly two miles of Galveston’s West Beach are being reinforced with dredged sand from the Galveston Ship Channel as part of a $23 million, multi-agency project aimed at slowing erosion and strengthening storm protection along the island’s vulnerable west end.
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As avian flu spreads across the Texas Gulf Coast, Moody Gardens in Galveston has implemented emergency precautions, relocated vulnerable species, and tightened visitor requirements to protect its animal population.
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A new bus route, The Splash, now connects Galveston and Texas City with hourly service six days a week. The Gulf Coast Transit District and Galveston Island Transit partnered on the project, offering $1 fares and direct transfers to improve regional mobility.
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Texas officials say more than 93,000 cubic yards of sand have been added to 1,000 feet of West Galveston Beach as part of a joint erosion-control project led by the Texas General Land Office, the City of Galveston, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Galveston County health officials have confirmed cases of H5 avian influenza in local birds. Ten people who had contact with the birds tested negative, and the risk to the public remains low. Cat owners are urged to monitor outdoor pets.
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A U.S. Coast Guard buoy broke free and washed ashore near Galveston’s 63rd Street on a rainy Sunday morning, drawing beachgoers, jokes, and speculation online. The Coast Guard says it is investigating the buoy’s origin and expects removal to require coordination with salvage crews.
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Recent Consumer Affairs research rates Allen, Frisco, and Plano as the top Texas communities to migrate to, with seven of the top 10 in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas score low for safety and affordability.

Multiple law enforcement agencies in Galveston County have joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program, allowing trained deputies and officers to perform certain immigration enforcement duties under federal authority.

Galveston will pay $600,000 to become a promotional partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aligning with Houston’s host committee as the region prepares for the global sporting event.

Galveston police arrested 88-year-old Ernest Leal after he allegedly admitted to shooting his 89-year-old wife, Anita Leal, at their home early Monday. A judge later lowered his bond from $250,000 to $80,000.
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The Galveston City Council approved more stringent rules for short-term rentals, including a three-strike system that could revoke a property's rental license after multiple violations.
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Two undocumented fathers were detained near Austin Elementary School in Galveston County, sparking community concern about immigration enforcement near schools despite assurances that campuses would remain safe zones. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and federal authorities have not clarified the details of the incident or their enforcement policies near school property.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Friday against the Galveston Independent School District for not displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms as required by a new state law, Senate Bill 10. A federal court is currently challenging the law on constitutional grounds.
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Texas tourism and fishing industries are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to act against nurdle pollution, warning that unchecked plastic discharge could threaten marine ecosystems and the state’s $31 billion outdoor recreation economy.
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With warm weather drawing bigger-than-usual fall crowds, Galveston officials announced that amenities at East Beach and Stewart Beach will remain open on weekends through Nov. 30. Restrooms, showers, and changing rooms will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Firefighters in Galveston contained a fast-moving brush fire that burned about 90 acres on Wednesday evening near the San Luis Pass Bridge. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Aspira Women’s Health Inc. has entered into a new laboratory services agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as part of its strategy to expand access to its ovarian cancer diagnostic tests across Texas.

Galveston police are searching for a man accused of trying to kidnap a 13-year-old girl on her way to school Monday morning. The student escaped after biting the suspect twice, police said.
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Galveston County officials have issued a burn ban for unincorporated areas, joining more than 160 Texas counties that have restricted outdoor burning as drought conditions persist.
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Galveston Island, a short drive from Houston, continues to shine as one of Texas’ premier beach destinations—offering sun, history, and festivals. This October, the island adds Bavarian flair with the return of its family-friendly Island Oktoberfest celebration.
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The cost to replace the only bridge linking Galveston and Pelican Island has soared to at least $250 million, delaying a long-overdue infrastructure project that may take nearly a decade to complete.
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Just off Pelican Island lies the weathered skeleton of the SS Selma, a concrete shipwreck over a century old that defies expectations. Built in 1919 as part of a wartime experiment, the tanker now rests in Galveston Bay—serving as a local curiosity, navigational aid, and avian sanctuary.

Hershey Beach on Galveston’s West End will remain closed through 2025 as crews begin a large-scale restoration project to rebuild nearly two miles of eroded shoreline.

Authorities confirmed that a 21-year-old man who went missing while swimming with his family on Sunday off Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard was found dead Monday morning.
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An early morning police pursuit from Hitchcock to Galveston ended in a deadly officer-involved shooting at Seawolf Park, after authorities say the suspect fired multiple shots and pointed a weapon at officers.
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Jordan Wilmore, who once dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player, is now sacrificing his aspirations to serve the city of Kemah as a police cadet. Standing at 7 feet 3 inches, he is poised to become one of the tallest law enforcement recruits in the country.
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Moody Gardens in Galveston announced the birth of a pygmy slow loris, one of the world’s endangered primates. The male infant was born Aug. 18 and marks a conservation milestone for the park’s Rainforest Pyramid.
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The Galveston Bay Foundation has finished a multi-partner restoration project in Jones Bay, creating nesting islands for American oystercatchers and rebuilding oyster reefs using funds from the BP Deepwater Horizon settlement.
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Federal officials have designated three offshore locations in the Gulf of Mexico as Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, paving the way for large-scale commercial farming of seaweed, shellfish, and finfish near the Texas coast.
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A wrong-way crash just after midnight on Interstate 45 in Galveston County killed one person, shut down all southbound main lanes and shoulders near Tiki Drive, and is prompting traffic detours for morning commuters.
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A Galveston-to-Mexico cruise became a nightmare for a Conroe family after a young passenger suffered a sudden medical emergency, resulting in more than $13,000 in bills and an urgent warning about travel insurance.
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Gulf Coast municipalities, including Galveston, New Iberia, Morse, and Lake Charles, have implemented fines to curb improper disposal of yard waste in public streets and storm drains. The growing issue of grass clippings and garden debris being improperly discarded has led to stricter penalties as communities unite to keep their roads and drainage systems clear.
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Sachs on the Seawall, a $540 million development project in Galveston, aims to revitalize the city with world-class hotels, dining, green spaces, and luxury housing. The initiative is expected to boost the local economy, generate jobs, and restore historic assets, all while preserving the island’s iconic charm.
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A suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft of a tractor and trailer in Alvin, Texas. The stolen items were recovered in Sugar Land following an investigation by the Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force.
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A 39-year-old Houston man drowned Sunday near Galveston, becoming the sixth drowning victim this year. Authorities said rip currents may have contributed to the tragedy and urged beachgoers to remain near lifeguard stations.
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Sachs on the Seawall, a $540 million development project in Galveston, aims to revitalize the city with world-class hotels, dining, green spaces, and luxury housing. The initiative is expected to boost the local economy, generate jobs, and restore historic assets, all while preserving the island’s iconic charm.

A sniper killed 31-year-old conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, during a Utah Valley University event. Utah's governor called the shooting a "political assassination." Kirk was speaking to a big gathering. Searches for the shooter continue. The attack generated criticism and alarm concerning US political violence.

Galveston marks 125 years since the nation’s deadliest natural disaster, the 1900 hurricane that killed as many as 12,000 people. Experts say the storm’s overlooked lessons still resonate today.

The Texas Department of Transportation plans to replace paper medical passes for the Galveston-Bolivar ferry with a digital system, citing fraud and misuse of the program.

An 8-year-old girl from Central Texas is recovering in the hospital after being bitten by a shark while swimming in shallow water off Galveston Island over the Labor Day weekend.

Residents in Galveston sounded the alarm after noticing brown sludge in a canal near Moody Gardens, later confirmed as part of a 2,500-gallon sewage overflow from a city wastewater plant. Crews contained the spill, but officials warn people to avoid the water for now.

As crude prices hovered at break-even levels and global production remained strong, the number of jobs in the upstream oil and gas industry in Texas decreased by about 3,000 during June and July.

This week, Galveston’s beaches are more visible due to the shifting Gulf currents that have paused the flow of sediment from the Mississippi River. The rare phenomenon, which happens only a few times a year, has beachgoers flocking to the coast to enjoy the temporary beauty.

A new study shows more than half of restaurants along the Texas coast falsely market imported shrimp as Gulf-caught. A state law taking effect Sept. 1 will impose penalties on businesses that mislabel their seafood.

A stolen trailer investigation in La Marque led Galveston County deputies to a Houston home, where SWAT teams seized stolen firearms, vehicles and more than 31 pounds of drugs.

Gov. Greg Abbott has activated state emergency resources as a tropical weather system approaches the Texas Gulf Coast, bringing threats of flooding, strong winds, and hazardous travel starting Friday.