Neiman Marcus is turning up the volume on its sustainability efforts as more customers, particularly Millennials and Gen Zs, consider the environment and retail’s impact on society into account as they shop. Neiman Marcus has started working with consultants to assess areas important to a luxury retailer, identify investment opportunities and come up with a strategy later this year. The …

AUSTIN — The Texas House late Thursday passed a $246.8 billion, two-year state budget that would move cautiously and delay spending tens of billions in forthcoming federal aid. “These are one-time relief dollars,” said Rep. Greg Bonnen, the House’s chief budget writer, referring to nearly $35 billion in federal COVID-19 money already approved by Washington for the state and its …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As Texas continues to up the number of people who get the COVID-19 vaccine, the state’s largest public school district is making some adjustments to its Communicable Disease Plan. According to an update issued by HISD on Thursday, all school playgrounds will be opened and recess will be permitted, with masks required for both. Not only …

A 19-year-old man was found fatally shot in a car Thursday evening in DeSoto, police said. Authorities were dispatched just after 5 p.m. to the 1100 block of Westlake Drive, where they found the wounded man in the driver’s seat of a 2013 black Honda Accord, police said. The man, whom authorities did not identify pending next-of-kin notification, was pronounced …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As the days and weeks go by, some nurses at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital are dreading what’s to come. The hospital system is requiring staff members to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Empoyees must comply by the June 7 deadline or face losing their jobs. “There’s so many ‘What ifs?’ out there,” said a nurse, who wished …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Thursday marked one year since U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was last seen alive. The beloved daughter and sister vanished from Fort Hood in central Texas, and her remains were found 69 days later dismembered and burned. Guillen was bludgeoned to death by Spc. Aaron Robinson, who killed himself on July 1 as police were trying …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Hurricanes, flooding, and a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm. Storms of a historic nature are seemingly now a part of life in southeast Texas. “What we’re discovering is how unpredictable the weather is these days,” said Dr. Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute of Urban Studies. “Many of these events that occur once in a …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — At least half a dozen women who filed civil lawsuits against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson joined their lawyer in court Thursday for a routine hearing that was anything but routine. So far, 22 women have filed civil lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault or harassment during scheduled massage sessions. Of those, several appeared in person Thursday, …

HOUSTON, Texas — Shaftel Diamonds is no stranger to outfitting celebrities at the Oscars. The family-owned business, a staple in Houston since the 1970s, has lent precious jewels to stars, including Yara Shahidi of the hit spinoff “Grown-ish,” “The Office” actress Kate Flannery and Minnie Driver. In years past, Shaftel’s timeless pieces and dazzling diamonds showed up on the wrists …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Severe “supercell” thunderstorms are possible Friday. That’s what we call rotating thunderstorms that can produce large hail, severe wind gusts, and tornadoes. We expect the sky to stay cloudy with an occasional brief shower possible through Friday morning. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid to upper 60s. You’ll really want to stay weather aware during …