INSIDER
Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effort
Read full article: Judge tosses Ken Paxton’s lawsuit targeting Bexar County’s voter registration effortThe county told a state district court judge that the applications were already mailed out and any ruling would be moot.
Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effort
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effortThe move escalates Texas Republicans’ brewing fight with urban counties over initiatives to proactively send applications to unregistered voters.
Texas AG Ken Paxton warns Bexar, Harris counties in letter over proposed voter registration form plans
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton warns Bexar, Harris counties in letter over proposed voter registration form plansTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning Bexar and Harris counties commissioners about their proposed plans to mail voter registration forms to those he calls “unverified recipients.”
Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
Read full article: Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas RepublicansThe county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law.
Texas will send inspectors to monitor 2024 elections in Harris County
Read full article: Texas will send inspectors to monitor 2024 elections in Harris CountyAn audit by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office found improved elections procedures, but the office is sending monitors because of past problems.
It’s not just South Texas. Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities, too.
Read full article: It’s not just South Texas. Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities, too.Republican gains among Latino voters in urban areas could spell big trouble for Democrats’ hopes of turning Texas blue.
2 toddlers ejected from vehicle after rollover crash in East Houston, authorities say
Read full article: 2 toddlers ejected from vehicle after rollover crash in East Houston, authorities sayA two-vehicle rollover crash caused two toddlers’ ejection from one of the vehicles earlier this week in East Houston.
When Texas jail standards push inmates to lockups in other states, oversight doesn’t follow
Read full article: When Texas jail standards push inmates to lockups in other states, oversight doesn’t followJaleen Anderson’s mom is on a quest for details about her son’s death in a Louisiana prison that houses hundreds of Harris County inmates awaiting trial.
Texas Rangers find no evidence of efforts to sway 2022 election results in Harris County
Read full article: Texas Rangers find no evidence of efforts to sway 2022 election results in Harris CountyOne county employee was charged in the probe, however, after investigators said he failed to make sure polling locations had enough ballots.
Texas’ overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and states
Read full article: Texas’ overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and statesLimits on who can be released without paying bail and difficulties hiring guards worsen the situation.
Ted Cruz touts endorsement from Kim Ogg, a Houston Democrat, in bid for crossover votes
Read full article: Ted Cruz touts endorsement from Kim Ogg, a Houston Democrat, in bid for crossover votesOgg is no darling of the left. She lost her Democratic primary in a landslide election this year after a number of intraparty feuds.
Insurance rates could climb for some Texas coastal homeowners, businesses
Read full article: Insurance rates could climb for some Texas coastal homeowners, businessesHomeowners typically pay $2,300 a year for a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy. The rate increase would bump premiums by 10%.
Houston-area SWAT teams search for killer of deputy who responded to Little Caesars Pizza pistol-whipping
Read full article: Houston-area SWAT teams search for killer of deputy who responded to Little Caesars Pizza pistol-whippingA suspect has been charged with killing a Houston-area sheriff’s deputy and assaulting a pizzeria clerk.
Lina Hidalgo receives ethics fine after endorsing a primary candidate at a Harris County press conference
Read full article: Lina Hidalgo receives ethics fine after endorsing a primary candidate at a Harris County press conferenceThe $500 fine from the Texas Ethics Commission comes after the agency found the Harris County judge broke state campaign laws barring use of government resources for political purposes.
To fight poverty, some Texas cities gave aid with no strings attached. Conservatives are pushing back.
Read full article: To fight poverty, some Texas cities gave aid with no strings attached. Conservatives are pushing back.Guaranteed income programs let participants use funds however they see fit. Critics argue they're not a good use of taxpayer dollars.
Harris County judge whose electoral win was deemed invalid will remain on bench as legal battle continues
Read full article: Harris County judge whose electoral win was deemed invalid will remain on bench as legal battle continuesPolitical experts say court order for new election could spur more challenges to narrow wins.
Head of FEMA tours deadly storm damage in Houston area as more residents get power back
Read full article: Head of FEMA tours deadly storm damage in Houston area as more residents get power backThe head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has toured the Houston area to assess the damage from last week’s deadly storms.
The government wants to buy their flood-prone homes. But these Texans aren’t moving.
Read full article: The government wants to buy their flood-prone homes. But these Texans aren’t moving.In Harris County, the flood control district wants to buy properties along the San Jacinto River that have flooded repeatedly. Some residents aren’t leaving.
Hot weather poses new risk as thousands remain without power after deadly Houston storm
Read full article: Hot weather poses new risk as thousands remain without power after deadly Houston stormAs the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms left at least seven people dead, it will do so amid a smog warning and rising Texas heat.
Two years later, judge orders new election for Harris County judicial seat
Read full article: Two years later, judge orders new election for Harris County judicial seatDemocratic Judge DaSean Jones beat out Tami Pierce by 449 votes in 2022, prompting one of several election challenges filed by unsuccessful Republican candidates. Many other election challenges were dismissed.
Man caught abusing puppy on camera before selling it for $20 to taco truck employee
Read full article: Man caught abusing puppy on camera before selling it for $20 to taco truck employeeA 3-month-old Labrador puppy is getting a chance to start a new life after enduring physical abuse at the hands of a man who sold it for $20.
Floodwaters start receding around Houston area as recovery begins following rescues and evacuations
Read full article: Floodwaters start receding around Houston area as recovery begins following rescues and evacuationsFloodwaters in the Houston area and parts of Southeast Texas are starting to recede, allowing residents to begin returning to their homes and assess damages after days of heavy rainfall.
Floodwaters start receding around Houston area as recovery begins following rescues and evacuations
Read full article: Floodwaters start receding around Houston area as recovery begins following rescues and evacuationsFloodwaters in the Houston area are starting to recede, allowing residents to begin returning to their homes and assess damages after days of heavy rainfall.
Molly Cook beats state Rep. Jarvis Johnson in special election to fill open Texas Senate seat until January
Read full article: Molly Cook beats state Rep. Jarvis Johnson in special election to fill open Texas Senate seat until JanuaryCook will fill John Whitmire’s unexpired term — but will face Johnson again in a Democratic primary runoff for a full four-year term.
Harris County prosecutor hands criminal case into Lina Hidalgo’s staffers over to state attorney general
Read full article: Harris County prosecutor hands criminal case into Lina Hidalgo’s staffers over to state attorney generalHidalgo’s staffers were indicted on felony charges related to how they allegedly helped award an $11 million contract to a political consulting firm headed by a Democratic strategist.
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Harris County to block program that would give cash to poorest households
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Harris County to block program that would give cash to poorest householdsThe program would give roughly 1,900 households payments of $500 for 18 months with no strings attached. Paxton called it “plainly unconstitutional.”
Ken Paxton agrees to community service, paying restitution to avoid trial in securities fraud case
Read full article: Ken Paxton agrees to community service, paying restitution to avoid trial in securities fraud casePaxton, who will not have to enter a plea under the terms of the agreement, faced the prospect of decades in prison if he had been convicted of fraud.
Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring system
Read full article: Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring systemPublic data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe.
Expuestos y en el olvido: El aire tóxico en una comunidad latina de Texas revela los fallos del sistema estatal de control de calidad del aire
Read full article: Expuestos y en el olvido: El aire tóxico en una comunidad latina de Texas revela los fallos del sistema estatal de control de calidad del aireLos datos públicos de una red de monitores de la calidad del aire alrededor del Canal de Navegación de Houston son difíciles de interpretar y a menudo son insuficientes, dejando a vecindarios de mayoría latina, como Cloverleaf, sin saber si el aire que respiran es seguro.
Man dies after being shot in the chest at Port Aransas Beach, police say
Read full article: Man dies after being shot in the chest at Port Aransas Beach, police sayOne man has died, and another was seriously injured after being shot at Port Aransas Beach. The shooting happened around 11:55 p.m. Monday near Marker 42 as officials were moving a large crowd of people.
In leaked audio, Supreme Court Justice John Devine railed against “brainwashed” GOP colleagues
Read full article: In leaked audio, Supreme Court Justice John Devine railed against “brainwashed” GOP colleaguesDevine, a former anti-abortion activist, faces a heated primary challenge that has focused on questions about his ethics.
The EPA sets tougher national soot standards. These 10 Texas counties already exceed them.
Read full article: The EPA sets tougher national soot standards. These 10 Texas counties already exceed them.Some environmental experts are skeptical that Texas can meet the new rules on particulate matter, which can cause serious respiratory problems.
Texas highway chase ends with police ripping apart truck's cab and pulling the driver out
Read full article: Texas highway chase ends with police ripping apart truck's cab and pulling the driver outTexas police ripped apart the cab of a tractor trailer and pulled the truck’s driver out after pursuing him in a slow highway chase that shut down the road for hours.
Prominent anti-LGBTQ+ activist Jared Woodfill running for Texas House
Read full article: Prominent anti-LGBTQ+ activist Jared Woodfill running for Texas HouseIf elected next year, Woodfill also plans to run for House speaker. His campaign accuses his 2024 opponent, conservative state Rep. Lacey Hull, of conspiring with incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan to work against conservatives.
One of Texas’ oldest towns needs $200 million for upgrades. It’s asking voters to approve $44 million this fall.
Read full article: One of Texas’ oldest towns needs $200 million for upgrades. It’s asking voters to approve $44 million this fall.The East Texas town is one of 218 local governments asking voters to approve new debt for repairs and upgrades to city infrastructure. Local leaders say inflation isn’t helping them keep up with capital needs.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extends mental health leave
Read full article: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extends mental health leaveThe county’s top elected official will be discharged from a mental health facility this weekend and plans to return to work on Oct. 2 after two weeks of outpatient therapy.
‘An epidemic’: Syphilis rages through Texas, causing newborn cases to climb amid treatment shortage
Read full article: ‘An epidemic’: Syphilis rages through Texas, causing newborn cases to climb amid treatment shortageSyphilis rates in Texas continue to climb, alarming healthcare workers who see the highest increases among pregnant people and newborns. A shortage of treatment is complicating efforts to combat it.
Trial begins over Texas voter laws that sparked 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021
Read full article: Trial begins over Texas voter laws that sparked 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021A trial is underway over a sweeping Texas voting law that set off a 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021 and resulted in thousands of rejected mail ballots the following year.
Texas Supreme Court lets state law eliminating Harris County elections chief stand, for now
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court lets state law eliminating Harris County elections chief stand, for nowThe ruling means the November elections in the state’s largest county will be overseen by two other county officials. Legislators targeted Harris County’s elections department after taking issue with the way the 2022 elections were run.
Houstonians worry new laws will deter voters who don't recall the hard-won fight for voting rights
Read full article: Houstonians worry new laws will deter voters who don't recall the hard-won fight for voting rightsTexas Republicans passed measures this year to eliminate Harris County’s top election job and give the Republican secretary of state power to take oversight of elections in Houston.
2nd suspect in shooting of Harris County deputy arrested after hours-long standoff, sheriff says
Read full article: 2nd suspect in shooting of Harris County deputy arrested after hours-long standoff, sheriff saysA manhunt came to an end overnight after a second suspect was arrested in the shooting of a Harris County deputy.
Reward offered for information into shooting of Harris County Sheriff’s deputy
Read full article: Reward offered for information into shooting of Harris County Sheriff’s deputyA reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the shooting of a Harris County sheriff’s deputy.
Second suspect arrested in Houston shooting that left a deputy critically wounded, sheriff says
Read full article: Second suspect arrested in Houston shooting that left a deputy critically wounded, sheriff saysAuthorities say a second suspect has been arrested following the shooting of a Harris County deputy sheriff and later shooting and wounding of three other law enforcement officers.
1 man in custody, another at-large after shooting of Harris County deputy in NE Houston, police say
Read full article: 1 man in custody, another at-large after shooting of Harris County deputy in NE Houston, police sayOne of two men accused in the shooting of a 29-year-old Harris County deputy overnight was taken into custody on Thursday morning, authorities said.
Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional; state says it will appeal ruling
Read full article: Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional; state says it will appeal rulingA judge has called unconstitutional a new law passed by the GOP-led Texas Legislature that will dictate how elections are run in the state’s most populous county.
Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional but state says it will appeal ruling
Read full article: Judge calls new Texas election law unconstitutional but state says it will appeal rulingA judge has called a new law unconstitutional that passed in the GOP-led Texas Legislature that will dictate how elections are run in the state’s most populous county.
Texas judge says no quick ruling expected over GOP efforts to toss 2022 election losses near Houston
Read full article: Texas judge says no quick ruling expected over GOP efforts to toss 2022 election losses near HoustonFollowing closing arguments in the first of multiple legal challenges to local election results in Harris County, Texas, a visiting judge said the decision on whether to overturn the outcome based on alleged irregularities is weeks away.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo takes leave of absence to treat depression
Read full article: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo takes leave of absence to treat depressionHidalgo said she was diagnosed with the condition last month and aims to return to her post in September. More people across the country have been diagnosed with the condition since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ken Paxton moves one step closer to trial on long-delayed securities fraud charges
Read full article: Ken Paxton moves one step closer to trial on long-delayed securities fraud chargesThe impeached attorney general appeared in a Houston courtroom, where lawyers from both sides agreed to return in October to set an expected trial date on charges that have been pending since 2015.
A test case challenging election results in Texas’ biggest county follows a post-Trump playbook
Read full article: A test case challenging election results in Texas’ biggest county follows a post-Trump playbookA Republican judicial candidate who lost a district court election in Harris County, Texas, is the first of almost two dozen disappointed contestants to have their case reach a civil trial.
Texas has already seen 25 chemical emergencies this year. Here’s how to protect yourself during the next one.
Read full article: Texas has already seen 25 chemical emergencies this year. Here’s how to protect yourself during the next one.Preparing for a chemical incident means knowing which industrial facilities are near you, creating a disaster supply kit and signing up for alerts from local emergency managers ahead of time.
‘It’s a tragic story’: Bodies of 2 children recovered from San Jacinto River, sheriff says
Read full article: ‘It’s a tragic story’: Bodies of 2 children recovered from San Jacinto River, sheriff saysA Houston-area family is heartbroken after two children drowned while swimming in the San Jacinto River, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Texas courts struggle to resolve criminal appeals that got lost in Harris County for decades
Read full article: Texas courts struggle to resolve criminal appeals that got lost in Harris County for decadesOverlooked in the churn of one of the country’s busiest courthouses, the forgotten appeals included two death penalty cases, and one from a man who’s already finished his 20-year sentence.
Texas Supreme Court says Gov. Greg Abbott’s COVID ban on local mask rules was lawful
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court says Gov. Greg Abbott’s COVID ban on local mask rules was lawfulSeveral of Texas’ largest cities sought to put in place mask requirements, which Gov. Greg Abbott overturned. The ruling is a legal win for Republicans in Austin their ongoing symbolic fight with cities, often run by Democrats.
GOP state legislatures seek greater control over state and local election offices
Read full article: GOP state legislatures seek greater control over state and local election officesLawmakers in several Republican-led states have been looking to exert more authority over state and local election offices.
Texas mother arrested after dangling child out of third-story window, constable says
Read full article: Texas mother arrested after dangling child out of third-story window, constable saysA Texas mother was arrested after authorities said she dangled her four-month-old child out of a third-story apartment window on Friday.
Texas man accused of killing grandparents found on roof of home, shot by deputies, HCSO says
Read full article: Texas man accused of killing grandparents found on roof of home, shot by deputies, HCSO saysA man accused of killing his grandparents in the Houston area overnight was taken into custody following a shootout with Harris County deputies.
Texas district suspends superintendent accused of trying to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex
Read full article: Texas district suspends superintendent accused of trying to meet a 15-year-old girl for sexA North Texas school district suspended a superintendent accused of planning on traveling to meet an underage girl for sex.
Texas superintendent arrested after planning to travel to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, authorities say
Read full article: Texas superintendent arrested after planning to travel to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, authorities sayA superintendent at a North Texas school district was arrested after he planned to travel to Houston to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, according to authorities in Harris County.
1 injured after drunk driver causes rollover crash near Loop 1604, police say
Read full article: 1 injured after drunk driver causes rollover crash near Loop 1604, police sayA passenger was seriously injured after a drunk driver rolled their car in a crash on Loop 1604 overnight Sunday, according to San Antonio police.
Texas governor sent bill abolishing position of Harris County elections chief
Read full article: Texas governor sent bill abolishing position of Harris County elections chiefThe Texas Legislature has approved abolishing a position Democrats in the state's largest county created to oversee more than 2 million voters around Houston.
Eliminating countywide voting in Texas would make the process harder on voters, cost more money, election leaders say
Read full article: Eliminating countywide voting in Texas would make the process harder on voters, cost more money, election leaders sayCurrently, more than 80% of Texas voters can vote anywhere in their home county, a model that originated in Lubbock County. If lawmakers approve new legislation, that would change.
Watch: How language advocates brought Houston voices to the Capitol
Read full article: Watch: How language advocates brought Houston voices to the CapitolIn the months leading up to their committee hearing, Woori Juntos community members trained on how to share their personal stories with legislators — in their own language.
Toxic benzene lingered for weeks after shelter-in-place warnings ended following 2019 Houston-area chemical fire
Read full article: Toxic benzene lingered for weeks after shelter-in-place warnings ended following 2019 Houston-area chemical fireThe Texas Tribune analyzed previously unreported air monitoring data and records from the 2019 ITC chemical disaster near Houston and found that high benzene levels lingered in the air for two weeks after public health measures were lifted. Experts say more shelter-in-place advisories should have been issued.
For years, the EPA and Texas ignored warning signs at a chemical storage site. Then an inferno erupted.
Read full article: For years, the EPA and Texas ignored warning signs at a chemical storage site. Then an inferno erupted.Regulators repeatedly documented — but did little to address — problems at a Houston-area tank farm. Then on March 17, 2019, a fire blew through a corner of the facility, releasing toxic chemicals into nearby communities for weeks.
Passenger killed after tire falls off 18-wheeler, strikes car on I-10 in Houston
Read full article: Passenger killed after tire falls off 18-wheeler, strikes car on I-10 in HoustonA person was killed after a tire fell off an 18-wheeler traveling on Interstate 10 in Houston and struck a car, according to authorities.
Former elections chief Chris Hollins drops bid for Houston mayor
Read full article: Former elections chief Chris Hollins drops bid for Houston mayorFacing a crowded field, Hollins, who served briefly as Harris County clerk in 2020, announced Thursday he will instead run to be Houston’s chief financial officer.
Mother, teen daughter killed in apparent murder-suicide at Houston home, sheriff says
Read full article: Mother, teen daughter killed in apparent murder-suicide at Houston home, sheriff saysAuthorities in Houston are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after a mother and her 15-year-old daughter were found dead at their home.
Texas drops effort to punish Harris County over its law enforcement spending
Read full article: Texas drops effort to punish Harris County over its law enforcement spendingThe fight is the latest skirmish between Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Harris County leaders over whether they “defunded” law enforcement.