Religion
Texas conservative group sends anti-Muslim email ahead of 9/11 anniversary
Posted on · The email comes amid a wave of recent anti-Muslim rhetoric from Texas Republicans.
Texas
For one Kerrville vineyard, a season’s harvest washed away in the flood
Posted on · Severe flooding in the Texas Hill Country nearly wiped out an entire vineyard in Kerrville. It'll take years to recover.
Texas
Texas House passes bill cracking down on city assistance for abortion seekers
Posted on · The Texas House on Thursday passed Senate Bill 33, which aims to prevent local governments from using tax money to support people who leave the state to find abortion care. The bill will need final approval from the state Senate before heading to Gov. Abbott's desk.
Environmental Justice
Dioxin levels in soil near Fifth Ward community center exceed levels safe for children, EPA says
Posted on · The discovery is part of an ongoing investigation into contamination linked to the Union Pacific railyard, which is contaminated with creosote — a likely human carcinogen — that resulted in the Kashmere Gardens community being deemed a cancer cluster in 2019.
Harris County
‘The truth finally prevailed:’ Former Lina Hidalgo staffer avoids trial in COVID-19 contract case
Posted on · Alex Triantaphyllis, Hidalgo’s former chief of staff, was charged with misuse of official information and tampering with government records, along with fellow staffers Aaron Dunn and Wallis Nader. The charges against Dunn and Nader were dropped last week.
Court
Harris County courts seek expansion to address population boom, case backlogs
Posted on · The proposed expansion includes seven new non-felony district courts: three new civil courts, three family courts and one juvenile court. Under the Texas Constitution, only the state legislature can approve the creation of a new district court.
Criminal Justice
Another man has died in the Harris County Jail, marking its third death in 2025
Posted on · Kristopher McGregor, 39, died Jan. 30 after being in custody at the Harris County Jail for less than a month. He had been arrested on a theft charge.
Immigration
Texans divided on immigration policies and border security, new University of Houston survey finds
Posted on · The survey found that 64% of respondents support providing undocumented people with a path to legal status in the U.S. if they meet certain requirements.
Housing
Outreach teams conduct annual count of Houston area’s homeless population
Posted on · The annual count, which runs through Thursday, helps officials track trends in homelessness and determine the resources needed to address the issue.
Harris County
Texas AG’s office moves to dismiss charges against two of Lina Hidalgo’s former staffers
Posted on · This comes nearly three years after the former staffers were accused of steering an $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract to a preferred vendor.
Texas
How Trump’s immigration mandates have played out across Texas
Posted on · The state has vowed to assist the president in his efforts to revamp immigration. But the state’s biggest cities and school districts are more reluctant to help.
Criminal Justice
Two more Harris County prisoners die in custody, marking first reported jail deaths of 2025
Posted on · One of the prisoners died after being transferred to a private prison in Louisiana, an ongoing practice used to address chronic overcrowding within the downtown Houston jail.
Crime
Shots fired outside Walmart in Katy by disgruntled former employee, police say
Posted on · According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the former employee was allegedly escorted out of the Walmart and "fired shots towards the freeway."
Criminal Justice
Harris County Jail fails safety inspection after prisoner death related to lapse in observations
Posted on · State safety inspectors found that "face-to-face observations had not been conducted as required" in connection to a recent in-custody death at the downtown Houston jail.
Immigration
Houston-area authorities reluctant to discuss Trump-era immigration enforcement
Posted on · Houston Public Media reached out to several Southeast Texas law-enforcement agencies to see if they plan to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during potential raids in the region. Many questions continue to linger.