The Houston
Government
The midterm maps changed. So could Black political power
This article was originally written by Joseph Williams for Word In Black. When millions of Americans vote in November’s midterm elections, they may find that the district they knew — and the political power they once held — has disappeared. Congressional maps have changed in nine...
Search suspended for 6 people on air ambulance that disappeared off Massachusetts coast
The search for six people who were aboard an air ambulance that was bound for Boston when it disappeared off the Massachusetts coast has been suspended....
Oct. 5th is the deadline: Check your voter registration, then Round Up Five
If you plan to vote in the Nov. 3 midterm election and aren’t registered, the clock is running out. Oct. 5, is the deadline to register to vote in Texas. And this year, election officials and voting rights advocates are urging Texans to do more than assume everything is in order....
Male boards Houston METRORail with gunshot wound
The man's injury is said to be non-life-threatening. Details about the shooting itself are unknown at this time.
Coast Guard searching for air ambulance that went missing during flight to Boston
Rescue teams are trying to locate an air ambulance that went missing after it departed from Bermuda overnight, along with the six people on board, while en route to Boston....
Harris County processes DPS voter registration backlog after receiving more than 75,000 records
Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Montgomery counties received thousands of delayed Texas DPS voter registration records. Here’s what voters need to know before the Oct. 5 deadline....
Supermarket voted best grocery store in America as customers praise meal kits, variety of offerings
The North Carolina-based grocery store swept five categories including best grocery store, produce, deli, prepared foods and bakery.
NASA, SpaceX’s Crew-13 is onboard the ISS. After swapping places, Crew-12 could return Monday
The two missions, falling under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, will switch roles onboard the ISS before Crew-12 will fly back to Earth.
Texas voter guide 2026: What to know before the Nov. 3 election
Texas voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 for the 2026 general election, with races ranging from U.S. Senate and governor to congressional, judicial and local contests. Your ballot will depend on where you live. Here’s what Houston-area voters need to know before they vote. Elec...
Abbott ramps up attacks on Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, as Texas governor’s race tightens
Gov. Greg Abbott is escalating attacks on Gina Hinojosa as some polls show a closer race and Republicans confront voter concerns about the economy.
How Mike Morath’s agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms
The State Board of Education raised concerns about Alpha School's AI tool. Then the Texas Education Agency helped pilot it in public school districts.
Betting that Abbott will soon restore funding, some Texas agencies accept Flock’s offer to keep cameras on
Some local officials have suggested they expect Abbott will reinstate funding for the surveillance cameras, which are politically unpopular, after the election....
Willis ISD approves 15 new weapons screeners after guns found at high school
After weeks of bag searches, metal detector screenings and a new clear backpack requirement at Willis High School, Willis ISD is moving forward with another security change. The Willis ISD Board of Trustees voted 5-0 Thursday morning to approve the purchase of 15 new Xtract One w...
Willis ISD Considers 15 New Weapons Screeners After Guns Found
Students at Willis High School have already seen major changes to how they enter the building. Bag searches. Metal detector screenings. And now, clear backpacks. Thursday morning, Willis ISD leaders are considering another change. According to the published agenda, the Willis ISD...
Round Up Five, Trump and AI, Hotel Lobby Trend
I don’t know how many different ways I can say this: CHECK. YOUR. VOTER. REGISTRATION. And now we have 75,000 more reasons why. Harris County election officials are processing about 75,000 voter registration records after a Texas Department of Public Safety system problem prevent...
Houston financial advisor Chris Brown defends work amid allegations
A feud over Mayor John Whitmire’s financial advisor for financial integrity that has lasted months spilled onto the City Council floor this week, fueled by sharp accusations about his remote work hours and compensation. During the city council meeting, Brown asserted that he was ...
Galveston ISD ordered to display Ten Commandments posters in classrooms following Paxton lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the district last year after it delayed displaying the posters, which is required by state law. Galveston ISD school board members decided to delay the displays while the law faced legal challenges....
Getting too many political texts? Here’s how Texans can stop or block them
If your phone has been buzzing with political texts lately, you’re not alone. As Election Day approaches, campaigns and political groups are using text messages to reach voters. The good news: There are steps you can take to reduce the number of messages you receive. Here’s what ...
Houston ‘not taking any action’ on $150 million DOJ grant application tied to ‘immigration law enforcement’
The application was slated for consideration by the city council in September, but was delayed as city officials sought clarification from the DOJ.
Houston mayor’s adviser Chris Brown defends $127K salary after admitting he worked 15 hours a week
A heated exchange at Houston City Council Wednesday put renewed attention on former City Controller Chris Brown and his $127,000-a-year role as a senior adviser in Mayor John Whitmire’s administration. Brown appeared before council publicly for the first time to defend his work a...
City of Willis under boil water advisory after water main break
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued a boil water notice for all customers of the City of Willis public water system after a water main broke and pressure was lost. Residents should boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and washing ...
Talarico says data centers shouldn’t be ‘running over’ Texas communities and local governments
Over the past year, artificial intelligence and the data centers needed to power them have become increasingly hot-button issues, particularly as the November midterm election approaches....
Texas says delayed voter registrations will be processed in time
The Texas Secretary of State's Office said voter registrations submitted through the state Department of Public Safety will be processed in time to vote in November's election despite a backlog of applications from the agency....
Problem with financing for a roof or home project? Here’s where Texans can get help
If you financed a big home project — like a new roof, solar panels, windows, HVAC, or other major purchase — and you believe you were misled, overcharged, or pressured into a loan you didn’t understand, Texas has a state agency that may be able to help: the Office of Consumer Cre...
Texas ag commissioner candidates trade charges that the other isn’t legally qualified to serve
The Texas Agriculture Code requires a potential agriculture commissioner to have been engaged in “the business of agriculture” for five of the past ten years....
From 5% to 40%: How one Houston neighborhood is transforming its voter turnout
This Hispanic Heritage Month, a grassroots organization in one of Houston’s oldest Mexican-American communities is working to make sure its neighbors have a stronger voice at the polls. Denver Harbor has historically struggled with low voter participation, but Denver Harbor Cares...
Battling Black Voter distrust
Black voters have been among the Democratic Party’s most dependable supporters for generations. But loyalty and trust are not the same thing. With less than a month to go before the midterm elections, Black voters and political strategists say years of inconsistent engagement and...
Houston’s Own Legendary Stage and TV Star Makes This Golden Night Unforgettable — Even the Mayor Cannot Resist Debbie Allen
What a night it was. Houston Arts Alliance knows how to party and what a party turned celebration it was Saturday when the nonprofit rejoiced in two decades of strengthening the Bayou City’s creative ecosystem through public/private partnerships with a “Gilded & Golden” gala them...
75,000 voter registrations stuck in backlog -- is yours one of them?
Kharyshi Wiginton had voted before without a problem. So when she went to vote in May and election workers couldn’t find her registration, she was confused. “What I do know is I’ve been voting consistently and at no point had my registration been a problem,” the Pearland resident...
Pride banners installed on Westheimer in Montrose
Pride banners are back on Westheimer in Houston’s Montrose Cultural District, bringing a visible display of LGBTQIA+ representation back to a corridor with deep ties to the community. Pride Houston 365, Mayor John Whitmire and Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella announced ...
Houston voters to decide on Prop A in November, which would deprioritize misdemeanor marijuana enforcement
The “Houston Freedom Act” would make misdemeanor marijuana possession HPD’s “lowest law-enforcement priority,” and it would also enshrine a departmental policy banning no-knock warrants....
Mail-In Voting
Who Can Vote by Mail in Texas?
LSU frat pledges allegedly waterboarded, forced to chug milk in hazing rituals: report
Two fraternities at Louisiana State University are suspended following an investigation into allegations of hazing within the organizations.
Voter registration: Who is on Harris County voter “suspense” list?
One in nine voters in Harris County is “in suspense,” which signals a question about the address on their record, according to records obtained by the Defender from the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar’s office. This does not mean that they have lost the rig...
Hello Houston (September 28, 2026)
Today: We break down the latest in Texas politics ahead of the midterm elections, sociologist Harel Shapira talks about his new book “Basic Pistol,” and we discuss a new study that looks at how proximity to food influences our eating habits....
Paxton-Talarico contest on course to demolish Texas record for campaign spending in a U.S. Senate election
Collective spending on advertising by Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, and super PACs supporting each of them has already topped $153 million. AdImpact projects it will reach more than double that by Election Day....
Westbury High School homecoming football game canceled after deadly shooting
The Westbury High School homecoming football game scheduled for Saturday has been canceled following Friday’s deadly shooting of a senior student near campus. RELATED: Westbury senior who was shot and killed identified as LePaul Warren Friday night’s homecoming dance was canceled...
What to know before bringing home a puppy plsu spotting puppy mill red flags
If you’re thinking about adding a dog to your family, experts say one of the most important questions to ask is: Where did that pet come from? Meera Nandlal, a board member with the Texas Humane Legislation Network , and Greg Evans with the Houston Humane Society joined Houston L...
About 75,000 Harris County voter registrations unprocessed in Texas DPS error, county officials say
The Secretary of State on Tuesday notified Harris County officials of backlogged voter registration records that were never provided to the office due to a technical error....
Smart glasses recalled after posing burn risk
INMO AIR3 Smart Glasses were pulled from store shelves because the product could pose a severe injury or burn hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission....
Talarico's lead narrows over Paxton in Texas US Senate race
Democrat James Talarico is continuing to attract the support of independent voters in the race for U.S. Senate over his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton....
Key GOP lawmaker says state should have caught error that delayed at least 178,000 Texas voter registrations
Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott, who appoints the state’s top election official and is locked in a tight race in November, hasn’t commented on the error.
Texas advocates warn proposed cuts to health, assistance programs could hurt vulnerable communities
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed cuts to more than 20 client services programs. Dozens of Texas advocates testified at a legislative budget board hearing Thursday to ask state lawmakers to protect those programs....
Voter registration backlog (Sept. 25, 2026)
On Friday's show: We learn how tens of thousands of voter registration applications got caught in a backlog. And cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his son, filmmaker Nicholas Ma, talk about a performance they're a part of in Galveston....