Galveston Co. commissioners unanimously vote for new redistricting map
The map passed after at least 48 speakers addressed it, which impacts residents in Bolivar and Galveston.
Government News
Galveston County commissioners approve new precinct map despite criticism from residents
The decision comes as the county continues to defend itself against claims that its previous precinct map weakened the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters....
Luigi Mangione to stand trial in Manhattan federal court in January; State trial set for September
Luigi Mangione will stand trial in Manhattan federal court beginning January 5 with jury selection followed by opening statements January 25.
Brazil, Japan fans turn out for down-to-the-wire World Cup knockout match in Houston
More than 1,000 Brazil fans marched to NRG Stadium on Monday morning, solidifying the team's status as having one of the most devoted fan bases in the world. Brazil scored a late goal against Japan to advance....
Texas Democrats leave convention united in effort to end GOP’s 30-year hold on state politics
Texas Democrats spent their 3-day convention in Corpus Christi rallying party activists, training volunteers and making the case for Democratic policies and candidates across the state ahead of the 2026 midterm elections....
Fort Bend braces for legal fight over Daniel Wong’s status as county judge
Wong, the Republican nominee for county judge who was appointed to the role as part of a now-dismissed civil lawsuit, is at odds with the two Democrats on commissioners court who claim his appointment has been invalidated....
Texas State Board of Education votes to add Christian texts to list of required reading materials
The board also approved changes to social studies curriculum that reframe history and minimize diversity.
Houston ISD board unanimously approves controversial Bible-infused curriculum for 2026-27 school year
Adopting the state-approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary students will come with a funding boost of more than $3 million for the district, which also approved a $2 billion operating budget on Thursday....
Houston City Council approves $18 billion, 5-year capital improvement plan. Many existing projects are delayed
The city of Houston’s new Capital Improvement Plan outlines investments in infrastructure over the next five years. But projects in the plan are often delayed — and many Houstonians have trouble getting improvements to their neighborhoods added to the list....
Colorado court rejects November ballot initiatives aimed at redrawing congressional districts
Colorado voters will not get a say this November on whether to replace the state's congressional districts with ones that could help Democrats win additional seats in future elections. The state Supreme Court on Monday struck down a series of proposed ballot initiatives that woul...
Supreme Court ruling gives a reprieve to states with grace periods for receiving mail ballots
States that allow mail ballots to be counted after Election Day reacted with relief Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican effort to outlaw the practice.A decision favoring the state of Mississippi over the Republican National Committee delivered an immediate r...
Royalties. Teaching gigs. A concert in Puerto Rico. Financial forms offer view inside Supreme Court
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was gifted concert tickets in Puerto Rico last year as members of the high court continued to accept paid teaching gigs and receive royalties for books they have written, according to financial disclosure forms released Monday that provide in...
The Supreme Court says the U.S. can turn away asylum seekers at the border
By a 6-3 vote, the high court ruled that federal law allows the government to stop asylum seekers from physically setting foot in the United States, effectively keeping them from applying for asylum....
Supreme Court will weigh Trump-backed Republican appeal to enforce Arizona voting laws
The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider a Republican push to enforce strict Arizona voting laws passed in the swing state after the 2020 election.The high court has allowed some similar rules to take effect as lawsuits play out, including Arizona's proof-of-citizenship req...
Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can count ballots that arrive after Election Day, a persistent target of President Donald Trump.The 5-4 decision rejected a Republican-led attack on laws in more than half the states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed bal...
Less diverse history, more Bible stories in public schools get initial OK by Texas board
The State Board of Education will hold a final vote Friday on incorporating more Christian stories into classrooms and deemphasizing race and cultural diversity in history lessons....
300 free A/C units distributed to Precinct 4 families, commissioner says
Commissioner Lesley Briones and her team distributed the A/C units to pre-selected Precinct 4 families as part of the Cool 4 the Summer program.
Andy Burnham says he’d hand more power to local governments if he becomes UK leader
Andy Burnham, likely the next U.K. prime minister, pledged Monday to give away a chunk of his power by handing greater autonomy to local leaders in a “circuit-breaker” for the sclerotic British state.The former mayor of Greater Manchester also said he would move part of the prime...
Will Texas’ new top voting official be a ‘disruptor’? Locals are preparing for it
Just ahead of closely contested midterms, Texas is about to get a new top voting official. Many locals there fear the frontrunner is a state lawmaker and pastor with no election experience....
Republican Daniel Wong, Democratic commissioners at odds about his status as interim Fort Bend County judge
Wong’s appointment is tied to a civil lawsuit filed against suspended county judge KP George. The suit was dismissed on June 17. Wong is facing Dexter McCoy in November's election for county judge....
Harris County commissioners appointed a new flood control director. Here’s what to know
Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Marcus Stuckett, a former director of engineering at the Harris County Flood Control District who has been working for a Houston-based private engineering firm, Pape-Dawson....
Inside the World Cup knockout stage bracket: Some teams have an easier path than others
If the World Cup was the NCAA basketball tournament, then teams like Morocco and the Netherlands would have some serious anger toward the selection and seeding committee right now. England, Mexico, Portugal and Spain might not be all that happy, either.Lionel Messi and Argentina,...
Chinese dissident who fled to South Korea by dinghy arrives in Canada
A Chinese political dissident who fled to South Korea last month in a dinghy has arrived in Canada, his friend said on social media on Saturday. Dong Guangping was aboard a 3.3-meter (10.8-foot) inflatable boat in the waters off a western South Korean island in May when he was de...
Jasmine Crockett’s silence could hurt James Talarico’s U.S. Senate chances in November
The Dallas congresswoman, Talarico’s erstwhile rival in the Democratic primary, has yet to say whether she’ll campaign for him in the general election against Republican Ken Paxton....
Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska's primary ballot, judge rules
A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday.Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director ...
Free heavy trash drop-off, community cleanup planned Saturday in Houston’s East End
East End residents will have a chance to clear out bulky household items and help spruce up the neighborhood Saturday as Harris County Precinct 2 hosts a Keep2Clean Community Cleanup Event.Commissioner Adrian Garcia is expected to join community partners for the event, scheduled ...
Texas board approves adding Bible stories to required reading for over 5M public school students
A Texas board approved adding Bible stories to required reading for the state's more than 5 million public school students.
Baylor teen health clinics provide free medical care, mental health services
According to the latest U.S. Census data, Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured residents.Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones is reminding families that free, accessible healthcare is available to young people in need.“It’s called the Baylor teen health clinic, ...
Election worker says federal officers confronted her at polls over social media post criticizing ICE
A poll worker said two federal officers visited her at a voting location during New York’s primaries to confront her about a social media post she’d written criticizing the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis.Paigelynne Gonyea said the confrontation happened Tu...
HISD approves Bluebonnet curriculum with Bible references for elementary classrooms
Houston ISD trustees voted Thursday night to adopt the state’s Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary school students, reversing last year’s decision and prompting debate over the role of biblical references in public education.The curriculum, developed by the Texas Educat...
Bible stories are approved as required reading in Texas public schools
Texas' education board on Friday approved a required reading list for more than 5 million public school students that includes Bible stories, widening conservative efforts to bring Christian teachings into U.S. classrooms.The state-mandated list of assigned reading — which includ...
A Trump commission urges 'bridges' between church and state in sweeping draft report
A new report by a Trump administration commission suggests replacing the idea of separating church and state with the idea of building bridges between them.The assertion — challenging a longstanding concept in American law — comes amid a raft of recommendations in a draft report ...
Former president of Boling ISD school board sentenced for sexually exploiting child, possessing child pornography
The former president of the Boling ISD Board of Trustees has been sentenced for possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child, the Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced Friday.Jerry James Svatek Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2025.U.S. District Judge Ewi...
New street sign unveiled for renamed 'MSG Joe E. Ramirez Boulevard' in east Houston
After the Houston City Council voted to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard after claims of sexual assault were made public, Joe Ramirez was chosen for the newly renamed street in east Houston....
HISD board unanimously approves controversial bible-infused Bluebonnet curriculum
HISD board members unanimously approved the use of the bible-infused Bluebonnet Learning curriculum.
Does Fort Bend County have a judge? It depends on who you ask
Despite questions over whether he is still the Fort Bend County judge, Daniel Wong and two commissioners voted to keep him on. Two other commissioners argued the vote was illegal....
2 Newsletter: Another hot & sunny weekend ahead
Good morning, Houston.☀️Happy Friday! Hope you’re easing into the day (and the heat) with an extra sip of coffee, or tea, or milk, or whatever you’re drinking this morning.We’re in Austin again today. The Texas State Board of Education is expected to make a decision on proposed c...
The Latest: Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump administration on 2 immigration cases
The Supreme Court voted 6-3 on Thursday to allow the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands more people to potential deportation.The Department of Homeland Security can no...
Houston’s financial outlook revised to ‘stable’ by S&P Global Ratings, Mayor Whitmire says
S&P Global Ratings has revised the City of Houston’s financial outlook from negative to stable, a move Mayor John Whitmire says reflects the city’s recent efforts to strengthen its finances.The revised outlook comes about two years after S&P changed Houston’s outlook to negative,...
Fort Bend County Commissioners walk out of meeting over Daniel Wong dispute
A dispute over whether Daniel Wong can legally continue serving as Fort Bend County judge brought county business to a brief standstill Thursday after two commissioners walked out of a Commissioners Court meeting, leaving the court without enough members to proceed.The standoff s...
Waco judge who won’t marry gay couples awarded $640,000 in lawsuit against Texas judicial agency
A Travis County judge sided with a McLennan County Justice of the Peace who refused to marry gay couples and sued the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for disciplining her for her choice....
Key inflation gauge jumps to 3-year high in latest sign of affordability challenges
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose to a new three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, a sign rising costs could pose political problems for President Donald Trump and his political party as midterm elections near. Consumer prices rose 4.1% in May from a year ...
Federal judge halts Trump’s election executive order seeking to create a federal voter list
A federal judge on Thursday halted President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and limit who can receive a mail ballot.U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, sided with a coalition ...
Harris County appoints Marcus Stuckett as new Flood Control District executive director
Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday unanimously appointed Marcus Stuckett as the new executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, making him the first African American to lead the agency.The appointment comes two weeks after former Executive Director ...
Fort Bend County Interim Judge Daniel Wong fights back against claims he is no longer county judge
Fort Bend County Interim Judge Daniel Wong is no longer legally the county judge, according to Commissioner Dexter McCoy.
Senate Republicans reject war powers resolution after Trump berates them at Capitol meeting
Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran held a late-night vote Wednesday to try to appease him, rejecting a war powers resolution a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in th...
Parents concerned after Bluebonnet curriculum was spotted on HISD board agenda
While classrooms are quiet because of summer break, some HISD parents say they won't be silent during Thursday night's board meeting.
Hello Houston (June 22, 2026)
Today: We receive an update on how the city of Houston is handling the 2026 FIFA World Cup, talk with Houston City Councilmember Joe Panzarella, learn all about Stages' production of “Spamilton: An American Parody,” and more....
2 Newsletter: Class is in session - Texas SBOE to vote today on big curriculum changes
Good morning, Houston.☀️Happy Friday Eve! Hope you’re easing into the day (and the heat) with an extra sip of coffee, or tea, or milk, or whatever you’re drinking this morning.We’re in Austin today. The Texas State Board of Education is expected to make a decision on proposed cha...
Harris County Flood Control Director possible pick sparks rift among commissioners over process
A sharp division has emerged within the Harris County Commissioners Court on the eve of a discussion to appoint a new head for the region's embattled Flood Control District....
From an indictment to an alleged affair, Ken Paxton’s controversies hang over his Senate bid
The attorney general has won statewide elections twice since his legal woes began. This time he will be at the top of the ticket, facing a fundraising juggernaut in James Talarico....
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD approves $1.2 billion budget amid $80.9 million projected deficit
The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees adopted a $1.25 billion budget and staff compensation plan for the 2026-27 school year in a 6-1 vote during its regularly scheduled board meeting June 22. Trustee Christine Kalmbach cast the lone dissenting vote.The general fund budget ...
Mamdani's success in New York tests Democratic Party's willingness to change
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stepped into the national spotlight this week as an ascendant political force within the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders aren't so sure that's a good thing.As progressives cheered across the nation, some of the most powerful Democrats in th...
Senate Republicans hold new vote on war powers after Trump berated them at Capitol meeting
Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump on Wednesday over opposition to his war in Iran held a late-night vote to try to appease him, voting down a war powers resolution a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier ...
Trump's showdown with Republican Sen. Cassidy: Inside the blow-up on Capitol Hill
“Would you really like to know?” Sen. Bill Cassidy asked President Donald Trump.Just hours after refusing to sign a bipartisan housing bill that Republicans hoped would boost their election-year prospects, the president was attending a private lunch Wednesday with the Senate GOP....
State Board of Education to vote on new curriculum emphasizing Texas, Christian themes
The Republican-majority State Board of Education is scheduled to vote this week on adopting curriculum changes statewide. Critics say the new social studies lessons and reading lists over-emphasize Christianity....
Fort Bend Commissioner Grady Prestage says Daniel Wong no longer has authority as interim county judge
Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage says he will preside over Thursday’s Commissioners Court meeting after county officials concluded that Daniel Wong’s appointment as interim county judge expired following the dismissal of the civil lawsuit that led to his ap...
Houston Rodeo chairman details vision for $300 million expansion, says Reliant Park remains organization’s home
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s planned $300 million expansion represents more than just a new facility — it’s a long-term investment in youth, agriculture and the future of the organization, according to Chairman of the Board Wesley Sinor.Speaking with KPRC 2’s Michael Ho...
Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote
A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote.The ruling by U.S. ...
State oversight of local elections (June 22, 2026)
On Monday's show: Three years ago, Texas lawmakers approved a measure eliminating Harris County’s chief elections official and allowing state officials to supervise elections here. We learn how the state is using that law to take over elections in some other, much-smaller countie...
Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote
The Constitution "does not grant the President any specific powers over elections," the judge wrote.
Trump-endorsed de la Espriella declared winner of Colombia’s presidential runoff election
Conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire political neophyte, will be Colombia’s next president after electoral authorities on Wednesday declared him the winner of Sunday’s runoff election.The businessman and lawyer, whose ventures include a clothing line, win...
Colombia's vote may reshape the Amazon's future as political winds shift across Latin America
The rise of Abelardo de la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer set to be Colombia's next president, is raising questions about whether political shifts underway across Latin America could reshape the future of the Amazon rainforest.The Colombia election result comes as Peru appea...
New York sweep by Israel critics shines light on a fraught issue for Democrats
When Varun Venkatesh cast his ballot in New York’s primary this week, he thought about “a good litmus test for me as a voter.” He wanted to know what the candidates are doing for the Palestinian cause. The 27-year-old Brooklyn resident decided to support Claire Valdez, who was ba...
Jewish voters express growing isolation amid rising antisemitism in both major political parties
Faced with anti-Israel and even anti-Jewish sentiment by party activists, and by an increasing number of political candidates, many Jewish voters are facing uncomfortable choices as they cast their ballots this year....
Mamdani proves his power with New York endorsements, plus more takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani waded into Democratic U.S. House primaries to boost three progressives over establishment-backed candidates. All of them won Tuesday, defeating two incumbents and essentially ensuring that two self-described democratic socialists will be elected...
Chaos erupts on American Airlines flight as unruly passenger allegedly bites fellow traveler midair
An American Airlines flight descended into chaos Sunday morning after a passenger was accused of biting another traveler and attempting to fight others onboard....
Texas lawmakers want fixes to statewide voter registration system ahead of midterms
This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Texas’ free newsletters here.Texas lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Texas Secretary of State’s Office for assurances that ...
Philippine devotees honor St. John the Baptist with a mud-covered display of faith
Hundreds of Catholic devotees wrapped themselves in dried banana leaves and covered their bodies with mud on Wednesday in the Philippine village of Bibiclat, taking part in a display of faith honoring St. John the Baptist. The Taong Putik, or Mud People, festival is held annually...
Congress passes bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply, lowering prices
The House gave final approval Tuesday to a broad bipartisan bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing, with lawmakers in both parties eager to show progress on affordability issues ahead of this year's midterm elections....
Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Selected in 2026 NBA Draft First Round
University of Houston point guard Kingston Flemings and forward/center Chris Cenac Jr. became First-Round picks with their selections during the 2026 NBA Draft inside Barclays Center on Tuesday night.Flemings was taken with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks while Cenac was...
The Latest: Mamdani successfully backs three primary candidates as he reshapes New York politics
The latest round of primary elections took place Tuesday in four states: Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Utah.The midterm elections in November will determine control of both chambers of Congress and will also see the election of dozens of governors and other state and loc...
Mamdani slate sweeps Democratic primaries in New York, ousts 2 incumbents from Congress
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s slate of fiery progressives swept establishment-backed Democrats in the state's congressional primaries on Tuesday, ousting two sitting congressmen in a resounding show of force for the democratic socialist leader of America’s largest city, wh...
Tucker Carlson says he'll no longer support the Republican Party
Longtime conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said on a podcast that "there's no chance I would support the Republican Party" ahead of the November midterm elections....
Maryland Democrats make Adrian Boafo their choice to replace his former boss, Rep. Steny Hoyer
Maryland Democrats chose state Del. Adrian Boafo on Tuesday to advance to November's general election in the race to succeed his retiring former boss, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, opting for a continuation of Hoyer's pragmatic style of politics over a more progressive, antiestablishmen...
Supreme Court of Texas denies appeal in case challenging Harris County’s 2024 elections conduct
Conservative activist Steven Hotze claimed Harris County’s Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office was failing to maintain the integrity of the county’s voter roll and was thus allowing illegal voting. The high court upheld a lower court ruling that Hotze lacked standing to sue....
Alan Wilson wins South Carolina Republican governor runoff after Trump hedges his bet on race
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson won a runoff election on Tuesday, swiftly routing the candidate initially endorsed by President Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee for governor.Wilson defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, whom Trump backed in the closing days of the ...
More Bible stories for public schools given initial approval by Texas education board
Texas students may soon attend social studies and reading classes that minimize racial, geographic and cultural diversity while emphasizing the Bible. The majority-Republican State Board of Education granted preliminary approval Tuesday afternoon to a reading list for all public ...
Houston, Austin in consideration for NHL expansion franchise
The National Hockey League has taken a major step toward expanding into Texas, with Houston and Austin emerging as the leading candidates for a new franchise.Following Tuesday’s NHL Board of Governors meeting in New York, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league has app...
National Hockey League seeking expansion in Houston and Austin as potential targets
The expansion will be discussed at the NHL board of governors meeting in New York this week.
NHL exploring Texas expansion in Houston or Austin with billionaire Dan Friedkin and family
The NHL is exploring potential expansion in Texas in either Houston or Austin under an agreement with billionaire Dan Friedkin and his family, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday.Bettman said the Board of Governors executive committee endorsed a term sheet agreed to with the F...
Trump heads to battleground Pennsylvania but keep focuses on himself ahead of midterm elections
President Donald Trump visited a Mack Trucks facility in battleground Pennsylvania on Tuesday, attempting to shift attention to the U.S. economy in his first major public event outside the nation's capital since he signed an interim agreement to end the Iran war. The trip to Macu...
TribCast: What a new secretary of state could mean for Texas elections
Longtime public official Jane Nelson is stepping down as Texas’ top election officer later this summer, after more than three years at the helm. As rumors swirl about who Gov. Greg Abbott will appoint as the next secretary of state, TribCast dives into the challenges Nelson has f...
Which Bible passages are in Texas’ proposed student reading list? Here’s what the selections reveal
The chosen readings, to be voted on soon by the State Board of Education, draw heavily from Christian perspectives.
Judge blocks Trump administration’s database to check citizenship, personal information
A federal judge has ruled that a revamped federal tool that state election officials have used in their efforts to identify illegally registered noncitizen voters is unlawful and cannot be used....
Has controversial home demolitions stopped illegal dumping?
Mayor Whitmire claimed it was a fair use of the money because the buildings were attracting illegal dumping and clogging ditches, but critics worried it could set the city up for legal repercussions....
Public Utility Commission of Texas finalizes new data center standards
The state's grid operators are trying to sort through a backlog of data centers and other large energy consumers looking to connect to the grid.
How Brexit broke British politics
Brexit fractured the European Union, and broke British politics.The U.K. is about to get its seventh prime minister since June 23, 2016, a decade ago Tuesday, when the country voted 52%-48% to leave the EU after more than four decades of membership. Conservative Prime Minister Da...
As Native American boarding schools project ends, survivors describe feeling honored and restored
Hundreds of Indigenous people have testified. They’ve sobbed, cursed and laughed in spite of it all. Many told stories about their time in boarding schools that they’ve kept inside for decades, finally able to begin recovering from childhood trauma.An oral history project led by ...
Democratic socialists surge in mayoral races across the country as anti-Trump fervor rises
As Janeese Lewis George paves a path to the mayor's office in Washington, D.C., she's told voters they could have it all.Her unapologetically expansive, left-wing agenda includes subsidized or even free childcare, increased down payment assistance for homebuyers and community res...
