Harris County
Harris County receives $1.4 million in federal funding to address Black maternal mortality rates
Posted on · Texas has a rate higher than the country’s average, and Harris County’s average is even higher than the state’s overall.
Tag: Rodney Ellis
Obituary
Ada Edwards, community activist and former Houston City Council member, dies at 80
Posted on · Edwards chaired city council committees that dealt with affordable housing, flooding and the HIV/AIDS epidemic and was described by colleagues as compassionate, selfless and community-minded.
Houston Matters
Saving Fairfield Lake State Park (Feb. 7, 2023)
Posted on · On Tuesday's show: Fairfield Lake State Park between Houston and Dallas is under threat of being closed permanently. We find out why.
Traffic
County commissioner offers to amend Third Ward bike-lane project if Houston officials contribute millions more
Posted on · Work began nearly a year ago on a $12.1 million road reconstruction project near Texas Southern University, where bicycle lanes are being added and vehicular lanes are being reduced. The Houston City Council member who represents the area has said some nearby residents do not want the project and were not adequately consulted beforehand, but Mayor Sylvester Turner says it should move forward.
Traffic
Third Ward bike-lane project moving forward despite pushback from Houston City Council member
Posted on · Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz has organized a townhall meeting Thursday to discuss the details of an ongoing road reconstruction project that includes the addition of bike lanes and reduction of vehicle lanes. But Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, putting up most of the money for the project, says it's proceeding as planned.
Harris County
Harris County announces $4.7 million for domestic violence assistance fund
Posted on · The program will provide funding assistance to approximately 3,800 households and 6,650 individuals.
Voting
Harris County officials announce new changes for election process, inform voters to be aware of possible ballot rejections
Posted on · The Election Administrator’s Office reported that 19% of the ballots in the March primaries were rejected due to Senate Bill 1 compared to 0.3% in the 2018 primary election.
Harris County
Harris County libraries have a majority of the state’s banned books available to borrow
Posted on · The Harris County Library System currently has more than 600 of the state's 801 banned titles in circulation.
Guns
Harris County gun buybacks get nearly $1.1 million in funding from commissioners
Posted on · Up to eight gun buyback events will be held by the county, potentially starting in November, that aim to reduce instances of gun violence and gun-related deaths. They'll be structured similarly to a buyback event held in Houston in August.
Transportation
Bike path to NRG Stadium under construction in South Houston
Posted on · Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is funding the project, says it will provide another transportation option for residents near NRG Stadium and other popular destinations.
Politics
A Houston gun buyback event nets 845 guns — and prompts criticism from the Harris County DA
Posted on · The anonymous collection of guns could create roadblocks in the investigation and prosecution of a crime, according to Kim Ogg's top assistant, who said the office otherwise supports buyback initiatives such as the event held Saturday by city and county leaders.
Health & Science
Harris County approves $7.7 million program to fight maternal and infant mortality
Posted on · The county’s maternal morbidity rate soared by more than 50% between 2008 and 2015.
Houston Matters
A spike in upstream oil and gas jobs, and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis (March 29, 2022)
Posted on · On Tuesday's show: Why Texas added 5,100 upstream oil and gas jobs last month, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis answers your questions, and a conversation with poet Nikki Giovanni.
Politics
Republican Harris County leaders sue over new precinct maps they say benefit Democrats
Posted on · The new maps drastically change three of four Harris County precinct boundaries, and the two GOP lawmakers believe that would lead to the loss of at least one of their seats.
Politics
Harris County Leaders Agree To Cut Property Taxes By 3%, Avoiding A Possible Quorum Break
Posted on · Republican commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey had threatened to break quorum the day of the vote, forcing the tax rate to revert to an even lower level, but ultimately reached a deal on a 3% cut.