City Hall
Houston City Council members question a housing program at the center of Mayor Turner’s ethics allegations
Posted on · The council is taking a closer look at the department’s finances as multiple investigations are reportedly underway.
Housing
Landlords could be held more accountable under a newly proposed Houston apartment inspection process
Posted on · City council is considering stronger requirements to make landlords more accountable for unsafe conditions.
City Hall
Mayor Turner’s handling of a development deal went unaddressed at a special council meeting that focused on the housing department’s budget
Posted on · The hearing revealed that a city housing program was millions overbudget under former housing Director Tom McCasland, but did not touch on any allegations that the mayor influenced an affordable housing process to favor a preferred developer.
Politics
A bill to increase criminal penalties for illegal voting has passed in the Texas Senate
Posted on · Senate Bill 10 would make illegal voting a second-degree felony, after a last-minute change to Texas' controversial voting law rendered it a Class-A misdemeanor.
Houston City Council
Mayor Turner promises to release information about housing project after ethics allegations
Posted on · Tensions flared at a Houston city council meeting over recent ethics allegations made against the Turner administration.
Politics
Houston Housing Director Fired After Accusing Sylvester Turner Of Awarding $15 Million To Favored Developer
Posted on · The former director accused the Turner administration of favoring an affordable housing developer in a process to secure $15 million in federal disaster recovery funding meant to replace housing lost during Hurricane Harvey.
Health & Science
Houston Mayor Mandates COVID-19 Testing For Unvaccinated City Employees
Posted on · Fully vaccinated city employees, and those with religious or medical exemptions, will not need to comply with the order.
Housing
$250,000 In Relief Money Will Go To Eviction Legal Aid And Rent Payment, Harris County Constable Says
Posted on · The Harris County Constable Precinct One Foundation raised the money last October through a GoFundMe account.
Housing
Houston Parents Evicted, Separated From Their Toddler After Landlord Rejects Rent Relief
Posted on · The Houston-Harris County rent relief program has helped more than 48,000 families this year. But some are still getting evicted anyway.
Health & Science
Galveston County Planning Public Push For Vaccine Boosters, County Health Authority Says
Posted on · Galveston County Health Authority Dr. Philip Keiser said he expects a high demand for vaccine boosters in the coming months.
Politics
Houston City Council Votes To Delay Ballot Measure That Would Limit Mayor’s Power To 2023
Posted on · The mayor and most council members haven’t expressed support for the ballot measure, which would give city council representatives the chance to put items up for consideration on the agenda.
Criminal Justice
Texas GOP Bill Could Make It Harder For Nonprofits To Bail People Out Of Jail
Posted on · A new law could keep people in custody much longer -- people like Hervis Rogers, the Houston man recently arrested for alleged illegal voting and held on $100,000 bond.
Housing
Thousands Of Houston Evictions Paused During The Pandemic Could Resume In Coming Weeks
Posted on · The federal eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of July. Houstonians won't have a state or local moratorium in place to pause their eviction either -- unlike renters in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Criminal Justice
Texas AG’s Office Arrests Houston Voter Hervis Rogers For Alleged Illegal Voting
Posted on · Rogers captured national attention in March 2020 when he waited for hours to vote on Super Tuesday.
Politics
Houston City Council Approves 18% Salary Increase For Firefighters
Posted on · Despite the federal dollars, the years-long battle between Mayor Sylvester Turner and the firefighters union over pay may not be over yet.