87th LegislatureElections 2022Taxes & SpendingProperty Tax Statewide Ballot Propositions Pass Overwhelmingly
Brad JohnsonMay 7, 2022
State officials estimate the two amendments will reduce average property tax bills between $100 and $200.
HomeTagPaul Bettencourt | The Texan
Local NewsTaxes & SpendingThree Hidalgo Staffers Indicted on Records Tampering, Misuse of Official Information Felony Charges
Holly HansenApril 11, 2022
The Harris County indictments stem from controversy around a $11 million vaccine outreach contract awarded to a well-connected Democrat.
Elections 2022Local NewsEmbattled Elections Administrator Resigns, but Harris County GOP Proceeds With Lawsuit
Holly HansenMarch 9, 2022
The GOP will seek to force the county to turn back on the livestream of the vote counting and implement independent oversight of upcoming elections in Harris County.
Elections 2022Local NewsHarris County Leaves 10,000 Ballots Out of Reported Results
Holly HansenMarch 7, 2022
Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said that 6,000 Democratic and 4,000 Republican ballots were left out of election tallies; enough to change results in some close races.
Elections 2022Local NewsHarris County Elections Fiasco May Need Court Order to Count Votes Past State Deadline
Holly HansenMarch 2, 2022
Appointed Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria allegedly told the Secretary of State’s office she would not be able to complete an unofficial count by the statutory deadline, a Class B Misdemeanor.
87th LegislatureElections 2022IssuesState SenateState Senators Ask Court of Criminal Appeals to Revisit Decision Against Paxton on Ballot Fraud Prosecutions
Hayden SparksJanuary 20, 2022
Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed an amicus brief with 13 of his Republican colleagues supporting the motion for a rehearing.
Elections 2022Local NewsTexas Secretary of State Finds Over 11,000 Potential Non-Citizen Voter Registrations
Holly HansenJanuary 3, 2022
Auditors found and removed registrations for more than 200,000 deceased voters, and nearly 450,000 duplicate registrations.
EducationElections 2021Local NewsConservative-Backed Candidates Win Two Seats on Troubled Houston School Board
Holly HansenDecember 13, 2021
Unofficial results from Saturday’s runoff election indicate that two conservative-backed candidates won seats, while two incumbents fended off challengers.
87th LegislatureCivil SocietyEducationTaxes & SpendingTexas Legislature Guarantees $3.3 Billion in Bonds for Public University Renovations
Isaiah MitchellOctober 19, 2021
The eleventh-hour bill authorizes public colleges to issue $3.3 billion worth of debt to finance building and renovation projects.
Local NewsHarris County to Spend $50 Million to Address Crime Through ‘Environmental Design’
Holly HansenOctober 13, 2021
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.
87th LegislatureState HouseState SenateTrump Threatens Texas House Speaker With Primary Challenge Over Election Audit Bill
Daniel FriendOctober 10, 2021
Donald Trump called on House Speaker Dade Phelan to move legislation requiring an audit of the 2020 election.
87th LegislatureElections 2020Federal2020 Election Audit of Four Major Texas Counties Announced After Trump Calls for Broad Review
Daniel FriendSeptember 23, 2021
After pressure for a 2020 election audit from Trump, the Texas Secretary of State announced it would audit several major counties.