Reporter message: Black space pioneers, midterm voters, HBCU achievement

Nassau Bay monument honors Black space pioneers

A new monument near NASA’s Johnson Space Center will honor Black pioneers whose contributions helped shape America’s space program.

EarthRise recognizes eight individuals and groups, including Ed Dwight, Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., George Robert Carruthers, Ruth Bates Harris, NASA Astronaut Group 8, Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., Sunita Williams, and former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr.

The EarthRise installation will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Nassau Bay.

The project, funded with more than $125,000 through the Talbot Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, was designed by Genesis Art Collaborative following an international competition. It will be the Houston area’s first permanent public monument dedicated to African American trailblazers connected to the nation’s space efforts. The monument will remain free and open to the public year-round.

“EarthRise reminds us that history is strongest when every story is told,” said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. “The discoveries, leadership, advocacy, and service of these pioneers helped transform America’s space program, and recognizing their legacy reflects our commitment to truth, justice, and the inherent dignity of every human being.”

The location carries special significance. Nassau Bay developed alongside what was then NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in the 1960s and became closely associated with the space program. St. Thomas’, founded in 1964, has also counted astronauts and NASA leaders among its congregation.

Black voters back Texas Democrats in 2026 poll

Black voters are showing support for Democratic candidates in Texas’ 2026 statewide races, even as Republicans lead most contests statewide, according to a new Texas Southern University poll.

The Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center surveyed 1,200 likely Texas voters, of whom Black Texans accounted for 12% of the likely-voter population.

The sharpest divide appears in the U.S. Senate race.

Democrat James Talarico receives support from 79% of Black likely voters, compared with 12% for Republican Ken Paxton. Statewide, however, Talarico holds a narrow 2% advantage.

Black voters also favor Democrat Gina Hinojosa over Republican Gov. Greg Abbott by 74%-15%, although Abbott leads the overall electorate.

The pattern extends down the ballot. Among Black likely voters, Democrat Vikki Goodwin leads Dan Patrick 69%-14% for lieutenant governor, while Nathan Johnson leads Mayes Middleton 73%-12% for attorney general.

The results show Black voters remain a strongly Democratic constituency heading into November, despite Republican advantages in most statewide races.

Houston-area HBCU earns national recognition

Prairie View A&M University, located northwest of Houston, has been ranked No. 3 among the nation’s top public Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Forbes’ inaugural “Top HBCUs” list.

Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M is Texas’ oldest public HBCU and the state’s second-oldest public institution of higher education. The university is part of the Texas A&M University System.

Prairie View has more than 9,000 undergraduate students and about 1,000 graduate students. It is known for programs in engineering, nursing, business, agriculture, and architecture, as well as research in renewable energy and cybersecurity.

The ranking also points to strong earnings for Prairie View graduates. Median early-career pay is $72,300, while median mid-career earnings reach $117,900.

Forbes evaluated schools using measures including graduation rates, graduate earnings, student debt, and outcomes for Pell Grant recipients.

We look, for example, at how likely students are to graduate, what they earn, and how much student debt they carry, giving extra credit to schools that achieve good outcomes for students receiving Pell Grants.