University of Houston poll shows Democrats likely to keep Harris County hold in key races
A new University of Houston survey shows Democratic candidates leading in the Harris County judge race, as well as two commissioner races.
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Harris County Precinct 4 shuts down 61 Flock cameras amid privacy concerns
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones is decommissioning all 61 Flock surveillance cameras and license plate readers controlled by Precinct 4, citing residents' concerns about privacy, access to collected data and potential misuse....
Harris County confirms all 75K voters' registration records from backlog have been processed
Harris County officials confirmed they have finished processing all 75,000 late voter records after reports of a voter registration backlog.
Harris County commissioner spends $223k on billboards since 2024
13 Investigates looks into how your elected officials are spending taxpayer money under Harris County's advertising contract.
State leaders raise concerns over Harris County's pace to distribute 2024 disaster relief money
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham not only raised concerns over Harris County's flood projects, but also said the county hasn't started programs with the millions it received to help 2024 storm victims....
Harris County works to process backlog of voter registration submissions
This comes after it was reported last week that a technical error at the state level kept applications made at Texas Department of Public Safety offices from being sent to home counties....
Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo said she won't vote for fellow Democrat, Commissioner Lesley Briones
After losing the budget battle, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is eyeing the November elections and said she won't support one of her Democratic colleagues....
2 Helps You: Can you offset the historic Harris County property tax rate hike? Here is a reality check
Property taxes remain a major concern for Harris County homeowners, with higher tax rates translating into higher tax bills for property owners following Thursday’s vote by Harris County Commissioner’s Court to increase the county’s tax rate. While homeowners cannot control the t...
Harris County commissioners approve $1.4 million fund for 24/7 ankle-monitoring services
On Thursday, Harris County commissioners approved a $1.4 million fund for 24/7 ankle-monitoring services, according to Adrian Garcia's press secretary, Scott Spiegel....
Harris County officials vote to proceed with major tax-rate increase
On Tuesday, commissioners voted to move forward with a proposed 7.6% increase for the upcoming fiscal year.
Judge Lina Hidalgo calls for special meeting to discuss Flock cameras in Harris County
In a Substack article, Hidalgo said that in May the Harris County Commissioners Court "quietly passed a one-year extension of the Flock contract through June 2027."...
Judge Dolores Lozano among 300,000 Harris County voters on suspense list
Judge Dolores Lozano tells ABC13 she was quite surprised when she checked her voter-registration status over the weekend and found it listed as "suspense."...
Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt may get salary bump as she faces DWI charge
Treasurer Carla Wyatt was approved for a 30% raise that has yet to be finalized, but her job remains in limbo as Harris County commissioners have expressed interest in eliminating her role altogether....
Harris County weighs $3.1B budget as commissioners debate cuts, property taxes
Harris County's proposed FY27 General Fund budget is about $327 million more than last year's budget. Here's what's driving costs, what commissioners could cut and what the debate could mean for property taxes....
Harris County commissioners to discuss 2026-27 budget, tax rates
Commissioners are expected to review the budget, as the county is projected to face a $178 million shortfall.
Cy-Fair ISD to hold November bond, voter-approval tax rate election
Cy-Fair ISD's board of trustees called for a 12-cent voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, and a four-proposition bond election.
Houston’s water utility receives ‘negative’ financial outlook from S&P Global
The lowered outlook comes after significant financial restructuring by Mayor John Whitmire’s administration.
Election 2026: Make your voice heard
Tell us what matters to you and help shape our election coverage.
Judge who appointed Daniel Wong as Fort Bend County judge denies request to vacate that decision
This week's ruling by Judge Jeth Jones solidifies the likelihood that Wong, a Republican who is facing Democratic Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy in the county judge race, will continue to serve in that position through the November election....
CBP commissioner defends agency’s border project in Big Bend National Park
Rodney Scott, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, indicated Thursday the agency would stick with its plan to build vehicle barriers and patrol roads in the West Texas park despite growing public outcry. "We are securing this park to protect its legacy," Scott said in ...
As John Whitmire turns 77, the ‘spry’ and ‘vigorous’ Houston mayor wants to stay in office into his 80s
After 50 years in the Texas Legislature and nearly three at City Hall, Whitmire says he will seek a second term as mayor.
Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters
Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Paxton says he was “delivered by God” to protect Texas from leftists. Talarico’s focus: “You can’t love God and hate other people.”...
Texas’ mail ballot ID requirements restored by federal appeals court
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rebuked the lower court’s 2025 ruling that struck down nine provisions of a sweeping election law related to voter assistance....
Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
On Thursday's show: We learn about a pair of issues voters will decide in the November election. And a Houston biologist considers how living on Mars might affect the human body and mind....
Houston voters to consider deprioritized enforcement of cannabis laws, ban on no-knock warrants
A progressive advocacy organization said it submitted more than 40,000 signatures to place the measures on the November ballot.
League City voters to give input on Flock cameras in November — but council reserves final say
League City council members voted unanimously to add a proposition to the November ballot that will ask voters if the city should continue using controversial automated license plate readers on public roadways for law enforcement purposes. The election result will be non-binding,...
Cy-Fair ISD trustees vote to put tax rate increase, $1.6B bond on November ballot
In what were some of the first big decisions by a school board that was reconfigured last year, a total of five propositions were ordered to be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election....
Commissioners earmark funds for AI program responsible for ensuring new construction complies with regulations
The process will hinge on the AI software pre-checking plat applications and performing technical reviews to ensure the builds comply with county codes and regulations, according to county documents....
Hello Houston (August 11, 2026)
Today: We talk with Houston City Council Member Edward Pollard, learn about Texas Southern University's landmark investment in breast cancer prevention, explore Houston’s rich jazz history, and more....
Harris County constables will make $305,000 next year, a 129% increase since 2024
It comes a year after some commissioners -- previously titled the 'GOP 3' by Hidalgo -- championed a law enforcement pay parity initiative that raised constable salaries by 62% from the previous year and exacerbated a multi-million dollar budget deficit....
Harris County commissioner warns homeowners could soon see a large property tax increase
Commissioners voted to increase pay for several Harris County leadership roles and raise constable pay to over $300,000. Data shows constable pay has increased by more than 120% since 2024....
Commissioners approve $2.5M for Harris Co. DA's independent investigation into fatal ICE shooting
Harris County officials have approved $2.5 million in funding for the DA's office to cover expenses related to the independent investigation of the Houston shooting involving ICE....
Harris County DA’s investigation into fatal ICE shooting gets $2.5 million boost from commissioners
The longtime Houston man's death drew national attention and raised questions surrounding the incident -- which federal authorities said happened when he attempted to run over an ICE agent with his vehicle....
Daniel Wong expected to stay in contested Fort Bend County judge role through November election
Wong is the Republican nominee for county judge and is facing Dexter McCoy, one of two Democratic commissioners who have boycotted commissioners court meetings since June. That leaves quorum questions as budget and tax rate discussions approach....
Lina Hidalgo’s proposed tax-rate hike for Harris County education programs fails for the second year in a row
The rejection came almost one year after commissioners voted against Hidalgo's first penny-tax proposal and said the county judge's efforts to pass the measure to support a slate of education programs disrupted decorum as she brought a group of children to the meeting in 2025....
Harris County considers ballot measure for early childhood funding through proposed tax increase
Harris County commissioners discussed a proposal Thursday that could ask voters to decide whether to increase property taxes to fund early childhood programs, but no vote was taken. The proposal is for commissioners to consider the county’s proposed 2026 tax rate, including a rat...
Rice University will expand its free tuition program to students whose families earn up to $200K per year
Starting in the fall of 2027, the private university in Houston also will offer free mandatory fees and room and board for students whose families earn less than $100,000 annually....
James Talarico accused Ken Paxton of voter fraud. His own voter registration is raising questions
After hitting his GOP foe for voting under an address where he no longer lived, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica found the Democratic Senate candidate also appears to have done so....
Proposed Galveston Bay desalination plant clears initial TCEQ review, enters public comment period
Residents have 30 days after July 24 to submit public comments to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or request a public meeting about the Bayshore Desalination Facility before officials make a final decision on the project's wastewater discharge permit....
Latino voters could decide key races in Texas. They’re still weighing their options
Conversations at the UnidosUS conference in Austin revealed growing frustration over housing costs, food prices and immigration enforcement as Democrats and Republicans compete for one of the country's fastest-growing voting blocs....
Beat the back-to-school heat: Harris County Precinct 4 serving up free snow cones on Monday
Families looking for a last splash of summer before classes begin can stop by a free snow cone event Monday hosted by Harris County Precinct 4. Constable Mark Herman and Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, partnering with Sunny Daze, plan to hand out snow cones from 10 a.m. to...
State finds some registered Texas voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens
The secretary of state told counties to immediately reinstate any Texans who were removed from the voter roll despite showing DPS proof of citizenship....
Hello Houston (July 30, 2026)
Today: We learn about the creation of a synthetic cell, talk with Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis about the county’s budget, hear a conversation with Houstonian playwright Cris Eli Blak, and more....
Senate panel delays vote on Blanche AG nomination as key Republicans, including John Cornyn, withhold support
The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination to the full chamber.
Fort Bend County postpones cadet graduation after state inspection finds documentation, compliance issues
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement found compliance issues at the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy with student attendance records, required paperwork, and internal checks to ensure the academy was meeting the state’s training requirements....
Talarico leads Paxton by 5 points in new poll of Texas’ U.S. Senate race
The poll found the Austin Democrat with a commanding lead among independents and a surprising edge with non-college-educated voters, who have consistently favored Republicans....
What Happens if the Results of an Election is Challenged?
When Election Disputes Become Constitutional Questions
Fort Bend resident whose lawsuit led to Daniel Wong’s appointment as county judge wants that decision vacated
As the county’s Democratic and Republican commissioners spar over Wong’s legitimacy to serve as county judge, a position he’s seeking in the November election, a visiting judge from Galveston County has been asked to provide clarity....
Hello Houston (July 23, 2026)
Today: We talk with Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas, Harris County Criminal Court Judge David Fleischer discusses his approach to courtroom proceedings, and Bill King breaks down financial challenges for Harris County....
Hello Houston (July 22, 2026)
Today: Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy discusses the county’s ongoing leadership fight, we learn about how Houstonians can preserve local bee populations, talk with Houston area food and travel content creator Shawn Singh, and more....
Fulshear weighs tougher e-scooter rules as Harris County constable pushes new e-bike safety policies
As electric scooters and bikes continue to grow in popularity, local leaders are considering new steps they say could improve safety for riders and the public. The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to discuss whether additional regulations — or even a prohibition on e-scooters —...
James Talarico pledges $25 million to win over Black voters in U.S. Senate campaign
Most polling shows Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Senate, in a statistical dead heat against his Republican rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton....
Texas Sen. John Cornyn appears on the fence about Todd Blanche’s nomination to be Trump’s attorney general
Cornyn, whose reelection defeat Trump ensured in May, expressed concerns during Blanche’s confirmation hearing about President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” – which Blanche helped craft as Trump’s personal lawyer....