Harris County at risk of losing $600m in federal funding
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warns that the county could lose up to $600 million in federal grants due to President Trump’s funding freeze. Last month, the White House announced a temporary halt on federal payments to ensure alignment with Trump’s policy agenda. However, ongoing legal battles have left the funding in limbo, creating uncertainty for county leaders about when—or if—reimbursements for critical programs will arrive.
The stalled funds support essential services, including infrastructure, disaster relief, flooding mitigation and healthcare, with the majority earmarked for disaster response. Programs at risk include the Ryan White Program, Ship Channel Security grants, and the Urban Area Security Initiative. Additionally, funding for 50 sheriff’s deputies is on the line, raising concerns about public safety and emergency preparedness.
Apple to open Houston manufacturing facility, creating thousands of jobs
Apple is investing in Houston with a new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility set to open in 2026 as part of a larger $500 billion US expansion. The facility will produce servers for Apple Intelligence, the AI system powering features like photo clean-up tools and writing assistance on iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple says the energy-efficient servers will also support its Private Cloud Compute system for secure AI processing. Manufacturing partners will begin production later this year, creating thousands of jobs. The tech giant is also expanding data centers across multiple states and investing $5 billion into an advanced manufacturing fund.
Fort Bend offers down-payment assistance for homebuyers
The Fort Bend County Housing Finance Corporation is launching a down-payment assistance program to help 60 eligible homebuyers. Households earning 120% or less of the area’s median income can receive $5,000 for home purchases. The funds, which must be repaid upon resale, refinancing, or transfer, will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis starting in March. The program is funded by fees from developers working with the county to build multifamily housing. For more information, homebuyers can have their lenders contact Sonia Aldrett at 713-383-7273 or Sonia@CovenantCapital.org.
TxDOT warns of toll payment scam targeting Texas drivers
Texas drivers are being warned about scam text messages claiming they owe a toll balance. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says these messages are a form of phishing, known as “smishing,” designed to steal personal information. While TxTag does send official texts, it never issues final payment reminders via text. Customers can verify their notification preferences by logging into their TxTag account or calling 1-888-468-9824. If you receive a suspicious message, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
