Politics
Texas Lawmakers Face Tough Choices Over State Budget Impacted By COVID-19
Posted on · Cuts to key programs like public education are in the works, despite Governor Greg Abbott’s promises
In-Depth
Houston
Houston-Area Judges Are Evicting Renters Who Could Be Protected Under Federal Order
Posted on · More than 13,000 evictions have been filed since a CDC moratorium was issued, and more than 24,000 evictions have been filed in the Houston area since the start of the pandemic.
Weather
Racial Inequities Emerge As Houston Recovers From Last Week’s Winter Storm
Posted on · Already devastated by COVID-19, the winter storm is another blow to Houston's communities of color.
In-Depth
Fletcher Demands Investigation Into ERCOT Following Mass Power Outages
Posted on · Democratic Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher represents West Houston and western Harris County.
Energy & Environment
When Electricity Went Down And Temperatures Dropped, Frustrated Houstonians Made Do
Posted on · With more than 1 million people in Greater Houston losing power, some since early Monday morning, residents have found warmth where they can -- fireplaces, blankets and ski gear.
Health & Science
Essential Workers Vie For Vaccine Priority As Texas Enters Phase 1C
Posted on · Frontline essential workers were not part of the first two rounds of COVID-19 vaccine priority. Now, they want to make sure they're included in the next phase.
Immigration
Undocumented Houstonians Face Misinformation, Scams In Vaccine Rollout
Posted on · Getting vaccinations to Greater Houston's half a million undocumented immigrants is critical to achieving herd immunity, but mistrust and misinformation have already caused confusion and disillusionment.
Education News
HISD Proposal To Cut Off Student Congress Draws Controversy
Posted on · The HISD school board will consider a proposal at its meeting Thursday to dissolve the relationiship between HISD and the official voice of the district's 200,000 students.
Health & Science
History Of Medical Racism Threatens To Hinder COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Among Black Texans
Posted on · Vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans doesn’t come from paranoia, but rather a long history of racism in medicine, experts say.
Health & Science
‘We Know What We Want’: 5th Ward Residents Demand Action After Another Confirmed Cancer Cluster
Posted on · A state investigation revealed another cancer cluster in Northeast Houston last month, but the news only confirmed what residents already knew.
Coronavirus
1 Region, 2 Different Approaches To Vaccinating Greater Houston
Posted on · At its vaccine clinics, the city has been using a first-come, first-served approach, while the county has created a waitlist online to promote more equitable access to the vaccine.
Energy & Environment
Texas Lawmakers Look To Tighten Rules For Storage Tanks In Flood-Prone Areas To Prevent Chemical Spills, Fires
Posted on · Storage tanks have been the source of several chemical disasters, including the fire at ITC Deer Park and a major gasoline spill during Hurricane Harvey. Now, they’re the focus of two bills this Texas legislative session.
Business
2,000 Greater Houston Restaurants Closed In 2020. Innovation Is A Priority For Those That Remain
Posted on · “I stopped keeping a list of my customers that I saw going bankrupt. The pandemic on top of the oil bust has been just traumatic,” said Alex Brennan-Martin of Brennan's of Houston.
Politics
How Conservative Activist Steven Hotze Became A Harris County Power Broker
Posted on · The physician and conservative activist has long had an outsized influence on local and state Republican politics – funded in large part by GOP candidates and officeholders
Energy & Environment
It’s Been 1 Year Since The Watson Explosion In Houston. What’s Being Done To Prevent More?
Posted on · This is the first story in a series about chemical disasters in Texas. Fire Triangle is produced by Texas Public Radio in collaboration with Houston Public Media.