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February 14, 2026

February 14, 2026

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Five years after preservationists saved the River Oaks Theatre, they are sounding the alarm again, this time over the nearly 80 year old Garden Oaks Theater on North Shepherd.

The 1947 Art Deco landmark has been sold to a Houston investment firm, and advocates fear demolition could follow. A protest is planned this weekend as supporters push to preserve it as a future arts and film center.

Cary Darling has more on what to know about the effort to save another piece of Houston's cinematic past.

Here's the rest of the news.

Lauren Mitchell, Digital Production Editor

lauren.mitchell@houstonchronicle.com

3 stories you shouldn't miss

Five years later, is the Texas power grid still at risk of winter blackouts?

Five years ago, the ERCOT power grid shockingly gave out for days amid extreme cold. If Texas saw the same frigid temperatures, would the grid fail again?

Texas Voter Guide 2026: See races, candidates and endorsements in the March 3 primary

The early voting period for Texas' March 3 election begins Feb. 17. Explore our guide to key Texas and Houston-area races, including U.S. Senate, a slew of congressional races and several county judge seats.

How HISD's Yates High School has endured 100 years: 'Lion for life'

Jack Yates High School — the second high school established for Black students in Houston ISD — celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.

PLUS: What alumni say about its legacy.

1 story to bring you joy

A very Houston love story: From freshman hellos to forever vows, 18 years later

They exchanged hellos in the hallway, then he went off to boarding school in North Carolina. And they went their separate ways for more than a decade.

7 stories you may have missed this week

Ryan Zink of Lubbock holds up a bible as he talks to a large crowd of people attending the Take Our Border Back Convoy rally at One Shot Distillery and Brewery on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Dripping Springs, Texas. Zink was charged with one felony and two misdemeanors due to his involvement in the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.

Texas man convicted in attack on Congress wants a new job — in Congress

Lubbock's Ryan Zink is one of seven Republicans in a crowded GOP primary for the 19th Congressional District. Read More

Nicole Nichols, left, and Karla Atwood at Bellerive Ice Center in Houston on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The two bonded while coaching Olympian Emily Chan early in her career.

Coaches recall how Olympic skater Emily Chan's journey began in Houston

As Chan fulfills her Olympics dream, her first coaches look back on how it all began. Read More

Rep. Erica Lee Carter talks about her mother during the dedication of 1111 Fannin after Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Sheila Jackson Lee's daughter named new Harris County administrator

Commissioners unanimously voted Thursday to appoint Erica Lee Carter to the position of county administrator. Read More

Search our database to see which City of Houston employees earned the most in 2025.

Houston's top-paid employees of 2025: Search our database

Browse our interactive salary database to see which city employees were the top earners in 2025 and which department accounted for nearly a quarter of the city's salary expenses. Read More

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez (59) points to the fans at first base after finish pitching the bottom seventh inning against the New York Mets on Opening Day during an MLB game at Daikin Park in Houston, Thursday, March 27, 2025.

'Thank you for trusting in me': Framber Valdez posts message to Houston, fans

Former Astros ace Framber Valdez wrote a heartfelt message to Houston and its fans as he prepares for his first season with the Detroit Tigers. Read More

Over the past five years, a handful of Texas police departments have reported extraordinary success during traffic stop-and-search operations. See how agencies compare in our searchable tool.

Racial disparities emerge in areas where Texas police tout stunning drug seizure rates

The numbers suggest the agencies have cracked the code of knowing which drivers are lawbreakers, but the Chronicle's analysis shows that Black drivers faced more searches yielding nothing worth prosecuting. Read More

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Find out how much you know about the week's news. Sign up for the news quiz newsletter to get next week's quiz emailed directly to you. Read More

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TODAY'S TOP STORIES

We took the GeekWire Podcast on the road this week, but not very far — recording the show in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, the “Center of the Universe,” just a few blocks from our own offices, with a lively crowd, great beer, and plenty to talk about in Seattle tech and beyond.

The special event at Fremont Brewing was presented by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

We debate whether Seattle is positioned for the next wave of tech, float future candidates for Seahawks and Sonics ownership, and hear from Fremont Chamber Executive Director Pete Hanning about the neighborhood's tech scene. Plus, Fremont-themed Seattle tech trivia.

Read more and listen here, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Tech Moves: Smartsheet CTO departs; Overland AI hires legal expert; and more key personnel changes.

Global Washington, a nonprofit based in Seattle, is closing after 16 years of supporting philanthropy, technology, businesses and academics working in global development. Read more.

Upcoming events: Tech and startup community gatherings on our radar in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Feb. 18: The Future Of Food Robotics – Northwest Robotics Alliance
Feb. 24: Winter Data & AI Meetup 2026 is coming!
Feb. 26: AI for Innovators Happy Hour

Check out the GeekWire Calendar for more.

Hot Links:

Amazon workers and activists gathered at the Amazon Spheres in Seattle to protest the company’s ties with ICE and CBP. (FOX 13; YouTube)
Former Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell joined Anthropic’s board of directors. (CNBC)
Some food delivery workers in Seattle say they aren’t receiving as many orders, two years after the city’s minimum wage law took effect. (KUOW)
AWS is working with Seattle startup Row Zero, which offers a cloud-based spreadsheet tool. (Row Zero)
Microsoft Translator is the secret to this couple’s happy marriage. (New York Times)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter and have a great weekend. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.

SPONSOR MESSAGE

Community nominations for the GeekWire Awards are open through February 25th!

The highly anticipated and hotly contested GeekWire Awards celebrate the top innovators, amazing entrepreneurs and technology leaders in the Pacific Northwest.

Submit nominations here!