The county will invest in planting trees, adding streetlights and sidewalks, and cleaning up vacant lots in a program designed to reduce the dramatic rise in violent crime.
Although the county has already paid $539,000, a firestorm of controversy over a contract awarded to a well-connected Democrat has prompted county Judge Hidalgo to agree to seek cancellation.
Only representatives from county Judge Lina Hidalgo’s office and the county’s public health department were allowed to participate in vendor selection.
Decrying other proposals as “splashy headlines,” Hidalgo and Garcia sought a 6-month expansion of criminal courts but passed a resolution condemning a legislative fix to felony bond policy.
Despite demand for more time to review a plan only unveiled last week, Hidalgo and Democratic commissioners pushed through a vote to approve a substantial restructuring of county government.
Community leaders and elected officials are sounding the alarm on a proposal from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to realign county government under an appointed administrator.
After the Federal Highway Administration heeded Democrat calls to shut down the I-45 expansion project, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey condemned the decision as one that would hurt underserved communities.
A resolution from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo opposes bans on sex-change procedures for children and efforts to prevent biological males from competing in girls’ sports.
A Harris County report sparked controversy for excluding data from the district attorney’s office, and commissioners clash over felony bail legislation.
Commissioners of the state’s most populous county unanimously approved the exploration of ERCOT alternatives, while Democrats pushed a resolution condemning Republican leadership.
A controversial consulting group hired by Harris County recommended significant reforms and expansion of county services to promote equity and other goals.
As Harris County faces a case clearance backlog and criminal justice staffing shortages, commissioners approve a temporary staff increase for the district attorney’s office.
Under Judge Lina Hidalgo’s initiative, the county will spend more than $2 million to provide legal services to individuals facing deportation.
A historically solid blue, heavily Hispanic district in Houston features a contest between a Democrat with Communist ties and an up-and-coming Republican.
Harris County voted to extend the county's disaster declaration until August 26, granting Judge Lina Hidalgo continued emergency powers until then.
Despite activists and some officials calling for defunding the police department, the Houston City Council approved increased spending for law enforcement.
The court stopped short of defunding police for now, but will explore reforms and alternative approaches to criminal justice that would require future funding shifts.
As officials spar over expanding mail-in ballot provisions during the coronavirus pandemic, Harris County approved new funding to expand their vote by mail efforts.
A proposal to end constable contracts by Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia received immense blowback from both Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday.
The Harris County Commissioners Court, despite constituent opposition, passed a resolution Tuesday calling for universal background checks.
