Criminal Justice
After secret negotiations, Houston City Council will vote on a new contract with the police union. Here’s what’s in it
Posted on · Union members have already voted to approve the agreement.
Jen Rice
Reporter
Policing
After negotiations away from the public eye, Houston has a new contract with the police union
Posted on · With negotiations happening in secret, there's also less transparency regarding a potential conflict of interest on city council this year.
Flooding
Houston snubbed in Houston-Galveston Area Council’s flood mitigation funding plan
Posted on · The city of Houston will receive only 2% of the nearly $500 million in federal flood mitigation funding.
Politics
Meet the primary candidates running for Harris County’s justice of the peace seats
Posted on · Here's why candidates say they're running to serve as the judges who preside over evictions, truancy cases and small civil disputes.
Housing
Houston eviction courts are packed again as numbers return to pre-COVID levels
Posted on · With the increase in eviction filings comes crowded courtrooms, despite the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
Q&A
Texas eviction protections have ended. The state’s chief justice talks about what’s next
Posted on · Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht talks to Houston Public Media about his recent New York Times op-ed praising Texas' eviction protections, and his goal for courts going back to normal.
The Coronavirus in Greater Houston
Houston fire and police staff still have the lowest COVID-19 vaccine compliance rates among city employees, records show
Posted on · Mayor Sylvester Turner's requirement has been in effect since October.
Politics
Texas landlords must now disclose flood risk information to renters. Housing experts say it doesn’t go far enough
Posted on · Housing experts say the new law is a good first step to inform renters of flood risk, but will need more work in the future.
housing
Houston-area community land trusts could help fill a widening gap in housing affordability
Posted on · Programs like the Houston Community Land Trust aim to help residents buy homes and keep them affordable, while also breaking down misconceptions about affordable housing.
City Hall
Houston fire and police staff have the lowest COVID-19 vaccine compliance rates among city employees, records show
Posted on · City employees have had over six weeks to comply with the mayor’s COVID-19 order.
Politics
Houston won’t hire outside lawyers to investigate Mayor Turner’s ethics allegations
Posted on · The council voted unanimously not to pursue an independent investigation into whether Turner tried to influence a competitive affordable housing process in order to steer millions to a favored developer.
Politics
A Houston affordable housing program is now on hold, following a state review
Posted on · The Texas General Land Office released the findings of its investigation into the city’s housing department, following ethics allegations against Mayor Sylvester Turner from the city's former housing director.
Housing
Montgomery County leaders returned $7 million in unspent rent relief. Residents are still getting evicted
Posted on · County Judge Mark Keough said there’s been minimal demand for county funds, but others said that’s because the county didn’t make it available to renters.
Politics
Galveston County officials approve controversial redistricting plan, removing the sole minority represented precinct
Posted on · The vote will likely cost the seat of Precinct 3 Commissioner Stephen Holmes, the only Black member of the court and the only Democrat.
Education News
Rice University named its first Black and foreign-born president in the school’s history
Posted on · He'll be the first immigrant, the first Black man and first engineer to become Rice's president.