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Texas and feds announce noncitizen voting charges against seven people
State officials also referred 117 people for investigation related to noncitizen voting, but confirmed nearly 600 other flagged voters are U.S. citizens....
Houston City Council unanimously approves $6.7M contract to keep senior meal, transportation services running
Thousands of Houston-area seniors will continue receiving hot meals and medical transportation after Houston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $6.7 million contract renewal extending services through September 2027. The vote keeps nine organizations in the gre...
Houston Public Media Foundation Announces New Board Leadership and Members
The Houston Public Media Foundation today announced the appointment of new directors and officers to its board. Michael Stewart has been named president of the board of directors, succeeding John Bradshaw, who will continue to serve the board in an ex-officio role as immediate pa...
After backlash, power grid officials back away from agreement to give ERCOT CEO millions in additional bonuses
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick balked at the contract two boards approved for Pablo Vegas. The ERCOT chief said officials then decided not to execute the deal.
Kennedy Center demolition worries rise with closing after judge blocks Trump name restoration
The Kennedy Center will close most of its facility for renovations after its Trump‑aligned board voted Tuesday to proceed with the shutdown just hours after a federal judge again blocked the institution from restoring Donald Trump’s name to the building, as lawyers warned the ven...
Tax break for proposed $10B Tesla solar cell factory in Fort Bend advances after Lamar CISD school board vote
In exchange for the projected tax revenue that’ll come from the proposed Tesla facility anchored in the southeastern portion of the county, the company's tax bill would be cut in half from 2029 through 2038, according to the application....
Things to do to create an effective voting plan
November will arrive whether voters are ready or not. And in Houston, where elections can include everything from statewide races and congressional contests to judicial seats, school boards, propositions, and local offices, “I’ll figure it out later” is not much of a voting strat...
CenterPoint Energy confirms data breach of customer personal information
CenterPoint Energy has confirmed a third-party has obtained customer personal information in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday....
'Narrow-minded': UT student speaks out after Texas GOP candidate's controversial posts about student diversity
More people are speaking about the controversial comments made by the Texas GOP candidate for Railroad Commissioner about a diverse group of University of Texas students, including the students themselves....
Texas data centers could face penalties over water reporting
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the state's water development board to start penalizing major water users if they haven't complied with water use reporting requirements....
House votes to end penny production permanently: What to know
The House has advanced legislation that would formally end penny production. Here's what to know.
CenterPoint Energy reports customer data breach
CenterPoint Energy is investigating a cybersecurity incident involving the personal information of some of its customers, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it became aware of an online post in September claiming that a third ...
Kennedy Center board votes to close venue after judge blocks plan to honor Trump: report
The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees voted to close the iconic performing arts venue amid financial issues and an ongoing dispute over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building, according to Associated Press reporting citing sources familiar with the vote....
Houston officials consider applying for grant tied to immigration enforcement
After Houston Public Media asked about the grant, Mayor John Whitmire’s office said it was “requesting clarification” on the guidelines.
Don’t be surprised at polls! Check to see if your name is on voter suspension list
If you’re planning to vote in November, today is your last chance to register. You don’t want to show up at the polls and find out your name is on the suspended list! In 2024, Governor Greg Abbott announced that over 460,000 Texans were placed on the suspended voter list. If your...
Houston's $5 solid waste administration fee: What to know
Houston’s new $5 monthly solid waste administration fee hit most residents’ water bills in September. Here’s what it costs, what it raises, and what a city-commissioned study says about service gaps. RELATED: Houston’s new $5 trash fee is hitting water bills. But it won’t cover t...
GOP candidate’s racist comments (Sept. 15, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: A member of the Houston Chronicle editorial board explains why it's not enough to simply condemn the racist comments of a GOP political candidate. And we consider how our understanding of postpartum depression and psychosis have changed over the years....
James Talarico continues Houston Black voter outreach as midterms near
James Talarico made another visit to Houston to continue to garner support from Black voters ahead of the midterms in November. Credit: Getty Images James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, held another rally in Houston’s historic Third Ward, appealing to Black voter...
OpEd: Registered to Vote? Good. Go round up five
Every election season, we hear the same message: Register to vote. And yes, you absolutely should. But this National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 15, and National Black Voter Day on Sept. 18, I want us to think bigger. I’m asking you to Round Up Five. Not five strangers. Not fiv...
Gov. Abbott directs Texas water board to penalize data centers over water reporting failures
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Water Development Board to take action against major water users, including data centers, that have failed to comply with state water-use reporting requirements. Abbott said Monday that some data centers could have committed civil and...
Galveston County votes to take administrative control of health district
Galveston County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve an agreement that would give the county administrative control of the Galveston County Health District. The County Judge and commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the shared-services agreement during Monday morning’s...
Texas Supreme Court strikes Harris County commissioner candidate’s effort to remove incumbent from office
A Sept. 9 ruling by the Texas Supreme Court denied Richard Vega's lawsuit against Harris County Commissioners Court, which argued Commissioner Adrian Garcia effectively vacated his seat in 2021 when he was appointed to the Gulf Coast Protection District....
Houston City Council vote Wednesday could keep meals, medical rides running for thousands of seniors
Houston City Council is set to vote Wednesday on a $6.7 million contract renewal that would keep meal delivery and transportation services running for thousands of seniors across the greater Houston area through September 2027. If the ordinance passes, nine local organizations wi...
Talarico leads Paxton in new Texas Senate poll, but race shifts among older voters
The race for U.S. Senate in Texas is getting national attention as Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico continue to campaign across the state. A new AARP poll shows Talarico in a slight lead over Paxton, but Paxton has an advantage over older voters....
Statewide GOP nominee Bo French sparks outrage after targeting UT football fans online
The Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission is facing fierce backlash from within his own party after posting inflammatory remarks on social media about students celebrating a University of Texas football victory....
Houston’s anthem (Sept. 14, 2026)
On Monday's show: The Texas Supreme Court has blocked Galveston County from using a new precinct map in the November election. And we consider what words and themes should be included in a Houston anthem....
Bo French faces backlash over posts criticizing UT student demographics
Texas Railroad Commission Republican nominee Bo French is facing backlash from fellow Republicans after posting social media comments that mischaracterized a photo of celebrating University of Texas football fans as evidence of Americans being displaced by foreigners....
Alaska drops voter misconduct cases against American Samoans who checked ‘U.S. Citizen’ box
Alaska prosecutors are dropping voter misconduct cases against 11 residents born in American Samoa after a state appeals court ruled that prosecutors must prove defendants knowingly intended to break the law....
Pastor dies after severe spinal injury during cruise celebrating son’s wedding
A Minnesota pastor died after suffering a severe spinal cord injury and nearly drowning in a pool aboard a cruise ship in Italy while celebrating his son’s wedding....
How to register to vote in Texas: Deadlines, IDs, requirements
A completed and signed Texas voter registration form is all it takes to make your vote count — but there’s a catch. The form must be submitted at least 30 days before Election Day. To register, voters must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a Texas resident. How to register Vote...
Dolly Parton could soon have major airport named in her honor after unanimous vote
Nashville International Airport is one step closer to undergoing a name change honoring late country music icon Dolly Parton.
Texas extends SNAP replacement deadline for food lost during Tropical Storm Edouard
Texas SNAP recipients affected by Tropical Storm Edouard have additional time to request replacement benefits for food that was lost or destroyed because of the storm. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved extending the re...
Over 2 million bottles of Ricky Joy Sour Crush candy recalled over choking risk
Consumer Product Safety Commission officials said the Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy Bottles were sold at various stores including Walmart between January 2023 and May 2026....
Galveston County cannot use new precinct map in November, Texas Supreme Court rules
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Galveston County cannot use its newly drawn precinct map in November’s election.
Texas Supreme Court blocks Galveston County from using new precinct map in November election
The 2026 precinct maps were redrawn and approved on June 29 — between the March primary election and the November general election. The Texas Supreme Court now barres the county from using those new boundaries in November....
Jimmy Kimmel to air Talarico interview on YouTube instead of ABC
Late-night television talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has made the decision to pull an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico from network TV and air it on YouTube due to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission....
Trump tells Republicans they ‘go to hell’ if they don’t vote in November
President Donald Trump closed out the Republican’s inaugural midterm convention being held in Dallas with a fervent plea to the crowd to vote as if he’s on the ballot in November....
Fort Bend County approves budget, lower tax rate amid heated meeting as Democrats return to court
Tensions rose between Democrats and Republicans throughout the budget and tax-rate votes, including between interim county judge Daniel Wong and Commissioner Dexter McCoy, who are both vying for the judge position in the upcoming November election. They ultimately approved a 1.2%...
Dallas mayor brags about party switch during Republican midterm convention speech
The mayor of Dallas was among the Texas contingent to speak Thursday at the second and final night of the Republican midterm convention.
Key takeaways from day one of the Republican midterm convention
The two-day convention ends tonight, but not before many other speakers address the event, including Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. NPR's Tamara Keith joined us to break down the events....
Pearland ISD partners with UTHealth Houston for new student mental health program
Pearland ISD is partnering with UTHealth Houston on a new program designed to help students better understand mental health and encourage more open conversations about it. The district’s Board of Trustees approved the agreement with UTHealth Houston’s Department of Psychiatry dur...
Trump promises $5,000 dividend in convention speech, but only if Republicans win
Calling it a "Trump dividend," the president announced a $5,000 payment for every adult citizen if the Republican Party maintains control of the House and Senate in the midterm election....
Data centers are driving some conservative Texas voters away from the GOP
A handful of conservative voters in Hood County say they're either voting for Democrats or sitting out the election.
Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ named Billboard’s No. 1 Song of the Summer for 2026
Texas had a pretty good summer, and apparently, so did Ella Langley. Langley’s country hit “Choosin’ Texas” has officially been named Billboard’s No. 1 Song of the Summer for 2026, giving the Texas-inspired anthem the top spot on the publication’s annual summer ranking. The song ...
Voters push Democrats beyond centrist consensus
From Zohran Mamdani to Summer Lee and beyond, recent victories and voter reactions are forcing Democrats to reconsider how they define electability. Credit: U.S. House of Representatives and City of New York’s Mayor’s Office Democratic victories normally bring celebration, partic...
Two Houston-area communities suspend Flock camera use over privacy concerns
The decisions by both municipalities come as Flock faces growing national scrutiny over its nationwide camera network.
Mail-in voters weigh flying to vote in person and other backup plans amid uncertainty
Voters and election officials are navigating uncertainty about mail-in voting for the midterms as the legal fight drags on over the U.S. Postal Service plan for President Trump's bid for restrictions....
Harris County commissioners advance 7.6% property tax hike in 2027
They will still need to finalize a proposed $3.1 billion budget and take a final vote on the tax rate next week before the county's next fiscal year begins Oct. 1....