This Week's Hot Headlines

2 Houston universities declared among world's best and more top stories

Rice University and University of Houston are at the top of the class.

Rice University

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with two Houston universities earning global honors. Plus, America's best cities for 2025, and a local TV favorite's home hits the market. Get the details below, then visit our event planner to fill your weekend agenda.

1. 2 Houston universities named among world’s best in 2026 rankings. Two Houston universities are in a class of their own, earning top spots on a new global ranking of the world's best universities. Rice University and University of Houston are among the top 1,200 schools included in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Ten more schools across Texas make the list.

2. Houston loses top-10 rank in 2025 list of America's best cities. A just-released national report ranking the best cities in America has declared Houston is the 13th best U.S. city in 2025. Houston's new placement is three spots lower than its triumphant No. 10 rank in 2024. Still, the report hails Houston as a "coveted hometown for the best and brightest on earth."

3. Houston fave Frank Billingsley's house hits the market for $1.5 million. Set just off Mid Lane is a beautiful, custom-built home with local celebrity ties. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home, currently owned by Houston broadcast veteran Frank Billingsley, is now on the market for $1.525 million.

38 Hackberry Lane exterior 38 Hackberry Lane, currently owned by Frank Billingsley, is on the market for $1.525 million. Josh Gremillion for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

4. Houston declines on list of best places for celebrating July 4th. A new national report delivers good news and bad news when it comes to celebrating the 4th of July in Houston. While the city is one of the most affordable places in the country for star-spangled celebrations, it falls behind overall.

5. Chris Shepherd salutes his favorite Houston restaurant — and its new hot dog tower. Shepherd pens a love story to Brennan's, detailing his nine years working there and gushing about its exciting new bar.

This Week's Hot Headlines

Sudden shutter of Killen's Barbecue leads our top 5 Houston stories

Killen's barbecue meat platter with sides

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a sudden shutter and our favorite dishes of the month. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then plan your weekend right here.

1. Exclusive: Killen's Barbecue will soon shutter in The Woodlands. Killen’s Barbecue’s location in The Woodlands closed for good on Thursday, December 4, just a few days after the shutter was announced.

2. 2-acre Houston patio bar rebrands with new name and family-friendly menu. A bar in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood is switching things up with a new name and revised menu. Effective immediately, Woodland Social is now known as White Oak Social.

3. 2 Houston suburbs named top-10 best Texas cities to move to. Several Houston neighbors have been deemed the best Texas cities to move to, with two local suburbs placing in the top 10.

4. CultureMap editor's 10 favorite dishes at Houston restaurants in November. November’s dining adventures consisted of a couple of new restaurants; an upscale, contemporary Chinese restaurant in River Oaks; an ambitious neighborhood eatery in Garden Oaks; and a buzzy barbecue spot on the border of Conroe and The Woodlands. Here are Eric Sandler's favorite dishes.

Lazy Lane birria beef paccheri Lazy Lane is already winning fans in Garden Oaks. Photo by Eric Sandler

5. Astros and Rockets finally launch streaming service for Houston sports fans. Houston sports fans finally have a way to watch their favorite teams without a cable or satellite subscription.