(Jeannie Kever, Houston Chronicle)
The Houston metro area officially topped 6 million people last summer, surpassing Philadelphia to become the nation’s fifth-largest metropolitan area.
The growth is part of a continued Texas juggernaut led by Harris County, which added more people than any county in the nation between April 1, 2010, and July 2011, according to census estimates released on Thursday. The estimates are an update to the official 2010 Census. One thing is clear: Texas remains a powerful draw.
“People are voting with their feet,” said Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. “It’s a huge validation.”
Four of the 10 counties posting the largest numeric gains between 2010 and 2011 were in Texas: Harris, Dallas, Bexar and Tarrant. Texas’ population grew from 25.1 million in 2010 to an estimated 25.7 million in mid-2011.
(Read more at Houston Chronicle)
OTHER HEADLINES:
- Celebrating The Transformation Of Houston’s East End (KUHF Public Radio)
- New Clinic Starts Positive New Legacy in Fifth Ward (KRIV 26 News)
- Charity City: Houston’s 11th Million Dollar Gala in 2012 Brings Out The Tears (Houston Culture Map)
- Owner Arrested in Medicare Fraud Was Already on Probation (Houston Chronicle)
- A Huge Spill Disaster and Many Smaller Ones (Houston Chronicle)
- Campus Carry Debate Likely to Return Next Legislative Session (Texas Tribune)
- Feds Respond to Houston Judge Questioning Obama on Health Care (Houston Chronicle)
OPINIONS ON THE NEWS:
AmeriCorps: National Service Always Facing Challenges
- Congress Needs to Step Up for AmeriCorps
(Editorial, New York Times)
“After months of Republican obstructionism, the Senate last week unanimously confirmed Wendy Spencer – herself a Republican – to lead the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps and other programs that encourage Americans to serve in their communities.” - AmeriCorps: The Next Generation of Volunteers Make a Difference
(Lisa King, Washington Times)
“In difficult and tumultuous times like these, it’s hard to have faith in anything. When today’s young adults are discussed, they’re often described with words like “spoiled” and “privileged.” Their elders have little faith in them, but I have reason to believe they are our best hope.”