Convenience Big Store: A $418 million settlement will make Houston home buying much cheaper

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A for sale sign is shown outside a home Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Spring.

Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photographer

How a $418M Realtors settlement could save homebuyers billions of dollars

A landmark settlement reached surrounding real estate commissions could buying a home in Texas a lot cheaper.

Stay in the Loop

Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a press conference at the Houston Emergency Center on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Houston. The news briefing touched on how the City of Houston is preparing for extreme cold weather with warming centers, road safety and other tips for residents.

Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Who Mayor Whitmire has met with in his first two months in office

Mayor John Whitmire met with elected officials, big-name Houston executives and many of his department heads during his first two months at City Hall, according to his internal calendars.

The Newt's Margherita pizza from Grace's Pizza & Shakes in the Heights

Photo by: Alison Cook, Staff

Alison Cook: Grace Pizza surprises with thoughtful ingredients, serious ice cream

Grace Pizza & Shakes in Houston makes a coal-fired Margherita pie good enough to make our critic eat the whole thing.

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2011 file photo, Dr. Love Paul, left, Pearl Paul, and their son Nate Paul, right, attend the 2011 Texas Inaugural Celebration at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas. The Texas businessman at the center of the scandal that led to the historic impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton has been charged with additional federal crimes. The new indictment of Nate Paul alleges that he defrauded business partners, adding to earlier charges that the Austin-based real estate developer made false statements to mortgage lenders to obtain $172 million in loans. (Laura Skelding/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)

Photo by: Laura Skelding, AP

Austin investor at center of Paxton impeachment faces 10 days in jail

The state's highest civil court narrowly denied Nate Paul's petition in a 5-4 decision. He had been sentenced to 10 days in jail by a Travis County judge.

Hillwood Communities recently broke ground on Legacy, a projected 1,600 home lakefront master planned community located between I-45 and FM 528 and just south of Friendswood Dr.

Photo by: Hillwood Communities

League City's new 700-acre home development starts construction with 60 acres of connected waterways

Work has begun on a 700-acre residential development in League City that will expand access and mobility in the Bay Area region.

Board Member Robert Scarfo assures members of the community attending the board meeting and those viewing via live stream that the Humble ISD board will not leave it up to the parents and community to make the decision for the district in light of Gov. Abbott's executive order in Humble, TX on March 9, 2021.

Photo by: Hillory Broussard / Contributor

Humble, Angleton ISD's accused of violating Voting Rights Act

A Texas law firm has sent letters of warning to 11 school districts, two in the Houston area, accusing them of violating the Voting Rights Act and asking for immediate plans for change.

Pick of the Day

Alex Padilla was the executive chef of the Original Ninfa's for nearly two decades

Photo by: Becca Wright

Tex-Mex favorite the Original Ninfa's parts ways with longtime executive chef

Alex Padilla joined the Original Ninfa's in 2006 as the restaurant's executive chef.

What else is going on

Danielle Hunter (left) wore No. 99 ever since he entered the NFL, but he's going to change numbers with the Texans out of respect for J.J. Watt (right).

Photo by: Getty Images

Texans' Danielle Hunter won't wear No. 99 in deference to J.J. Watt

"Man, 99, that's J.J.'s number," Hunter told reporters at Thursday's introductory press conference. "He's done a lot with that number. I'm not even going to mess with it.

The Exxon Mobil Baytown Olefins Plant is see after high winds and rains ripped through the region, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Baytown. ( Jason Fochtman / Houston Chronicle )

Photo by: Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer

Polluting plastic producers received more than $1B in Texas subsidies

An Environmental Integrity Project report found Texas plastics plants saved more than $1.6 billion in school tax abatements with no pollution requirements.

Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer

Tiger Woods-backed PopStroke will add another modern mini-golf location in Houston

PopStroke joins Great Wolf Lodge and Chicken N Pickle at Webster's Flyway, a new development that local leaders hope will become a Houston and Texas destination.