Urban Edge

Insights, perspectives and stories about building better cities and better lives

Census Finds Houston Ranks High for Minority Entrepreneurs

Houston outranks Austin, despite the latter's reputation as a startup hub.

The Most Economically Segregated School District Boundaries in the Country

A new study shows the majority of income segregation is happening between, not within, school districts.

In Houston, Muslim Community Enjoying a Surprising Source of Growth: Latinos

A Houston organization just opened the city's only Spanish-language mosque as part of an effort to tap into the 10 percent of U.S.-born Muslims who are Hispanic.

Weekly Roundup: How Welfare Reform Changed the Nation

Twenty years ago, Bill Clinton signed welfare reform into law. Though fewer people are on welfare today, the reforms haven't saved the federal government money, and poverty is higher than it was 20 years ago, according to Washington Post analysis.

I Moved to Houston From 9,000 Miles Away. What I Saw Surprised Me

Nearly a quarter of Houstonians are foreign-born, like me. This is what the city looks like through my eyes.

New Recommendation Says Every School Should Have a Nurse. Many Don't

Health experts and data researchers agree: school nurses are good for students. So why don't all schools have them?

Not Just Food: Book Deserts Also Characterize Poor Neighborhoods

In poor neighborhoods, there are few places where parents can purchase books for their kids. That matters, since reading at home is closely tied to academic success.

Weekly Roundup: How Parking Became One of Urban Planners' Biggest Enemies

More than 30 percent of the area in many downtown cores is taken up by parked vehicles. Today, many planners are hellbent on doing something about it.

Guest Post: Why the Quest for "High Opportunity" Housing May Destabilize Communities and Schools

No matter how noble the advocates for the policy may view themselves, they are missing the complexity of community, families and schools.

A Year After Bus Redesign, METRO Houston Ridership is Up

A year into the overhaul of the region's bus network, METRO officials say they're pleased with the results -- and have more improvements in the works.