Recently approved policy says Harris County employees must continue to wear masks unless they qualify for certain exemptions that include obtaining a “visible identifier” showing they are fully vaccinated.
In a rare show of bipartisanship, Harris County state lawmakers and county officials have soundly condemned GLO systems that excluded the county and city of Houston from flood mitigation funding.
After maintaining Harris County at the highest threat level for 47 weeks, Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a revision to the alert system allowing for a reduced COVID-19 rating.
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.
Voters in hurricane-ravaged Harris County overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion bond for flood mitigation in 2018, but a significant shortfall is forcing the county to seek additional funding.
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.
Last August a Harris County judge released a murder suspect who claimed to be a devil worshipper on a $25,000 bond. The defendant has now been charged in the November shooting death of another man.
Instead of complying with instructions to rescind the appointment of an elections administrator, the Harris County attorney will draft a response to the attorney general on a challenge to the legality of the process.
A letter to Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan says the county failed to follow legal procedures and must take corrective action and rescind the appointment of the elections administrator.
Under Judge Lina Hidalgo’s initiative, the county will spend more than $2 million to provide legal services to individuals facing deportation.
Judge Hidalgo rejected working directly with Crime Stoppers Houston on bail reform impact studies, saying the county should instead work with groups who do not have “an axe to grind.”
A new proclamation from the governor reinstates poll watchers for mail-in ballot delivery activities and thwarts Harris County plans to accept in-person drop off of marked mail ballots at multiple locations.
In Texas’ largest county, a grant from Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg injects an additional $9.6 million into an elections administration rife with controversy and legal challenges.
Following a State District Court ruling, the Texas Supreme Court blocked Harris County Clerk Hollins’ plan to send unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to every voter.
After Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins failed to meet a Monday deadline for halting plans to send mail-in ballot applications to each voter, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit.
The Secretary of State gave Harris County a Monday deadline to halt plans to send mail-in ballot applications to all voters, calling the plan an abuse of voters' rights.
Harris County's election budget will increase nearly seven fold to provide vote-by-mail applications to all voters, drive-thru voting, new outreach, and extra COVID-19 safety precautions for this year.
