City of Houston
Mayor Turner Releases 150-Page Houston Police Reform Task Force Report
Posted on · The document contains 104 reform proposals, including changes to the Independent Police Oversight Board and additional mental health crisis training.
Coronavirus
Houston To Launch COVID-19 Mental Health Support Program
Posted on · The program -- called “Let’s Beat COVID-19: Health Education, and Support Services,” or HESS -- launches Thursday, and includes a support hotline, virtual support groups, and other resources, according to the city’s health department.
Criminal Justice
Mayor Turner Signs Order Allowing Cite-And-Release For Some Low-Level Offenses
Posted on · The program gives Houston police officers the authority to issue citations instead of arresting them on certain Class A and B misdemeanors.
Weather
Update: Tropical Storm Beta Weakens To Tropical Depression, Stalls Over Texas Coast
Posted on · Forecasters expect more rain as Tropical Storm Beta slowly moves northeast.
Business
As Texas Restaurants Expand Service, Struggling Bar Owners Say They’re Being Ignored
Posted on · Bars who don't serve food are still not allowed to reopen, causing frustrated owners to accuse the governor of picking winners and losers in the reopening process.
Transportation
Houston Launches New Street Rehabilitation Program
Posted on · "I asked Public Works to come up with a plan that would go beyond just repairing, to improving our city streets," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "Our approach is to increase transparency, accountability, and rehabilitation frequency citywide."
News
Houston Health Department Launches COVID-19 Antibody Testing Survey
Posted on · The goal is to better understand how many people in the city have previously had COVID-19.
Health & Science
Contact Tracers Play A Key Role In Controlling COVID-19 In Houston
Posted on · One challenge contact tracers face is reaching Houstonians who don’t speak English.
Weather
Update: Texas Sees First Laura-Related Deaths; Galveston Evacuees Set To Return From Austin
Posted on · Thousands of residents along the Gulf Coast evacuated inland, and Houston-area leaders urged the region to prepare for severe winds, as Hurricane Laura approached landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border.
Coronavirus
To Stop COVID-19 Spread, Houston And Harris County Health Leaders Bank On The Public
Posted on · City and county officials have set ambitious COVID-19 benchmarks the community is not close to hitting, but which health officials believe can be reached if the public takes the virus seriously.
Coronavirus
Conoravirus In Greater Houston: COVID-19 Numbers Dropping Locally, But Still Not Hitting Benchmarks
Posted on · As Greater Houston enters week 23 of the coronavirus, numbers appear to be improving, but at rates much lower than city and county leaders say they need to reach key benchmarks.
Education News
Harris County Recommends Phased School Reopenings With New Nonbinding Guidelines
Posted on · Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued non-binding guidelines Wednesday outlining several COVID-19 metrics.
Coronavirus
Coronavirus In Greater Houston: Number Of Tests Drops In Houston; Housing Market On 2-Month COVID-19 Rebound
Posted on · It has been 23 weeks since the coronavirus hit Greater Houston. Local officials hope to siginficantly drop the region's positive rate by the end of August.
Health & Science
Houston Hospitals Are Struggling Financially Amid COVID-19
Posted on · Public and private hospitals are both struggling with their finances as COVID-19 stresses the system and cuts off important revenue streams.
Coronavirus
Coronavirus In Greater Houston: Fort Bend COVID-19 Cases Set to Spike After Backlog Discovered
Posted on · After 22 weeks, the virus is still surging in the Greater Houston region.