Convenience Big Store: New FEMA maps could add 350K homes to flood zones

Get Unlimited Digital Access for 25¢

For readers who want more stories, more depth.

Act Now

Sale Ends March 8

If you read one thing...

New FEMA maps may require flood insurance for twice as many Harris County homes

Draft maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would dramatically expand Harris County's 100-year and 500-year floodplains.

Top Stories

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, discusses a $4.2 million grant to support school safety enhancements in NEISD in front of the new Wilshire Safety Training Center on Feb. 6, 2026.

Photo by: Blaine Young, Contributor

Tony Gonzales says he's being 'blackmailed' over affair with staffer

The Texas Republican posted an email in which a lawyer for the staffer's husband made a settlement offer in exchange for an NDA.

'Abused his power': Husband of aide who set herself on fire breaks silence about affair

Photo by: Crazy Cajun

Where to find the best crawfish in Houston

Crawfish season has arrived in Houston, and the mudbugs are plentiful. Here's where to roll up your sleeves and dig in.

This is a building mug, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle

Suburban Houston school board votes to create daily prayer period under new Texas law

Magnolia ISD recently became one of the first school districts in Texas to do so under Senate Bill 11.

Photo by: Houston Chronicle

Hitchcock mayor arrested in Galveston County illegal gambling investigation

Hitchcock Mayor Christopher Armacost was arrested on suspicion of engaging in organized crime and was taken into custody from his home.

CeeDee Lamb, Trey Williams and D.J. Lagway all left their mark on Houston high school football.

Photo by: Illustration By Jon Poorman

High school football record book: A guide to Houston area's all-time bests

A historical guide to some of the greatest Houston high school football players and performances of all-time

Food

Chef Mike Hartley and his wife and co-owner, Miriam Leek-Meira will open Yuma, a Brazilian and Cuban sandwich shop in the spring.

Photo by: Rebekah Flores

Houston chefs lean on 'wacky confidence' to open restaurants during brutal time

Local restaurants close weekly, impacted by high costs across the board and customers pulling back on going out, but many in Houston believe they can beat the odds. Read More

Arizona-based Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles will open its first Houston location on the Gulf Freeway.

Photo by: Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

Arizona-based Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles open first Houston location

Bun B is excited that he won't have to travel to Arizona for Lo-Lo's, he said on Instagram recently. Read More

📬 Sign up for the Houston Chronicle Food newsletter.

Politics

Photo by: Matt Zdun

What Houston congressional district am I in? Search our interactive map.

Early voting is underway for the March primaries, marking the first election in Houston under newly redrawn congressional district lines upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court late last year. Read More

Texas Take: Sid Miller versus Nathan Sheets in Agriculture Commissioner primary

In this "almost-debate," candidates in the GOP primary for Texas Agriculture Commissioner discuss everything from declining bee colonies and the THC fight to the cattle industry's growing crisis. Read More

Stephen Colbert show drama comes at right time for James Talarico

There is zero doubt who is already the winner of the first week of early voting in Texas, even if a single ballot hasn't been counted yet. Read More

Explore more Politics news

Opinion

Members of Friends of the Boulevard, a group of Montrose residents advocating for a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, protest at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Monday evening during the Montrose TIRZ open house, which was held to present preliminary information on the planned reconstruction of West Alabama Street in Houston, Monday, June 23, 2025.

Photo by: Ashleigh Lucas, Houston Chronicle

Why is Mayor Whitmire wasting taxpayer dollars to redo a road design — again?

Yet again, City Hall is overriding community input on a long-planned project to make Houston streets safer and easier to use. This time it's on West Alabama Street, writes the Editorial Board.