Concerns grow about superfund site in NW Harris County; Commissioner now demanding action
More than 20 years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency listed a Northwest Harris County shopping center at the 11600 block of Jones Road as a superfund site after county officials say a former dry cleaning business spent more than a decade improperly dumping toxic waste.
Suspect wanted for 4 aggravated robberies arrested after leading deputies on chase, breaking into 2 homes, HCSO says
A man who was wanted for four aggravated robberies has been arrested after leading deputies on a chase and breaking into two homes, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Recognize them? Police searching for armed man who shot store clerk during robbery in north Houston; 3 other suspects on the run
Officers with Houston police are searching for four men, including an armed suspect who shot a store clerk in the chin during a robbery at a north Houston convenience store.
District Attorney’s Office overspends on raises, then asks for $4.3 million for new hires – Houston Public Media
Harris County commissioners voted 3-1 to provide the funding. Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained and called the request by District Attorney Kim Ogg’s office “extortion.”
houstonpublicmedia.org‘I don’t feel safe’: Frustrated residents say broken cameras, vehicle gate may be cause of more than 50 cars getting broken into at SW Houston apartment complex
As many as 50 vehicles were broken into Sunday night while parked inside a parking garage at the Ashford Apartments located off Dairy Ashford.
Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally shooting longtime friend over stolen items in Houston’s south side, DA says
A Harris County Jury sentenced a 36-year-old man to 35 years in prison for fatally shooting his friend over stolen money and items in Houston’s south side, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said.
Suspected drunk driver seriously hurt after crashing into HCSO patrol vehicle following brief chase with alleged reckless driver, officials say
A woman is in the hospital and is expected to face charges after she crashed into a Harris County Sheriff’s Seargent’s patrol vehicle early Saturday, deputies said.
Maintenance for flood control projects to face delays as county agency deals with a smaller budget – Houston Public Media
Regular maintenance is critical for flood mitigation projects to work as they’re supposed to. But the Harris County Flood Control District’s maintenance budget isn’t keeping pace with its growing portfolio of projects.
houstonpublicmedia.orgLina Hidalgo returning to Houston after spending a few weeks away, staff member says – Houston Public Media
The Harris County judge planned to meet with officials in tornado-ravaged Pasadena upon her return Wednesday. Hidalgo visited an ill family member in Colombia and then took a vacation, according to her staff.
houstonpublicmedia.orgBody found in wooded area in southeast Houston confirmed to be missing 43-year-old woman, Leslie Obi
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that the body found in a wooded area in southeast Houston is that of Leslie Obi, a 43-year-old woman who was reported missing earlier this month.
The Evidence Room, Ep. 8 - “Uncle Ronnie”
KPRC 2 Investigates’ hit docuseries ‘The Evidence Room’ is back with a new season. The series examines the Houston area’s most notorious crimes and convictions utilizing unprecedented access to evidence stored at the Harris County criminal archives. Season 2 begins with the case of Ronald Haskell.
The fallout of last year’s budget war in Harris County forces some of its biggest agencies to make cuts to programs – Houston Public Media
We’re doing a four-part series to examine how Harris County’s 2023 fiscal year is being impacted by the smaller budget it was forced to work with after Republican commissioners boycotted meetings late last year.
houstonpublicmedia.orgThe fallout of last year’s budget war in Harris County forces some of its biggest agencies to make cuts to programs – Houston Public Media
We’re doing a four-part series to examine how Harris County’s 2023 fiscal year is being impacted by the smaller budget it was forced to work with after Republican commissioners boycotted meetings late last year.
houstonpublicmedia.orgHarris Health’s $45 million deficit finds American Rescue Act stopgap after last fall’s budget battle – Houston Public Media
The federal funding will help protect services, expansion projects and keep Harris Health in good financial standing for its hopes to build a replacement hospital.
houstonpublicmedia.orgCommissioners to vote on new ‘equitable, affordable’ policy to save Harris County toll road drivers money
Harris County commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia, along with Harris County Toll Road Director Roberto Trevino, announced a new proposal Tuesday aimed at helping local drivers feel less burn due to the hike in inflation. Officials said the county will soon be cutting toll rates by 10 percent.
Harris County’s public safety agencies focus on violent crime and conditions in the jail as they’re forced to work with a smaller budget – Houston Public Media
Public safety officials say they have to cover essential services and new mandates passed by lawmakers with dwindling resources.
houstonpublicmedia.org2 men killed, another injured in ambush-style attack by 3 masked suspects with rifles at north Harris County gas station, HCSO says
An investigation is underway after two men were killed and another was injured during an “ambush-type attack” at a gas station in north Harris County on Monday afternoon, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
What a $50 savings per taxpayer is costing Harris County residents – Houston Public Media
Republican officials contend last fall’s boycott of Harris County Commissioners Court was more than worth it, forcing cuts to what they saw as a bloated budget and granting relief to taxpayers burdened by inflation. But the bill is coming due in the form of starved departments and fewer services.
houstonpublicmedia.orgWATCH LIVE: Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Sen. John Whitmire to announce legislation to speed up murder trials
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Sen. John Whitmire, Crime Stoppers of Houston, and members of Parents of Murdered Children will announce the filing of Senate Bill 402 Friday, which would require judges to give trial priority to capital murder and murder cases.
Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for 2017 shooting death of teen classmate over $250, Harris County DA says
A man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing his then-classmate for $250 during a gun transfer in northeast Houston, according to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Thursday.
Houston mom who said 4-year-old was ‘now in heaven’ after fatally stabbing own daughter sentenced to 40 years in prison, DA says
A Houston woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder last week in the stabbing death of her 4-year-old daughter, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Tuesday.
GOP claims of Election Day mismanagement, fraud don’t explain Democrats’ 2022 sweep of Harris County – Houston Public Media
Republicans are seeking fresh elections in nearly two dozen contests, alleging Election Day woes cost them thousands of votes, but a surge in Democratic registration and long-term demographic trends provide simpler explanations for GOP losses.
houstonpublicmedia.orgSearch underway for man accused of barricading himself inside home during SWAT standoff in NE Harris County after firing shots at wife, HCSO says
Deputies with Harris County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a man accused of firing shots at his wife and then barricading himself inside a home in northeast Harris County Tuesday.
Grand jury to determine whether to bring charges against Houston taqueria customer who shot attempted robber – Houston Public Media
The 46-year-old man who shot and killed a suspected robber last week at a Southwest Houston taqueria met Monday with the Houston Police Department, which said the case is being referred to a Harris County grand jury.
houstonpublicmedia.orgA.J. Armstrong, facing third capital murder trial in parents’ 2016 deaths, has grandparents’ support – Houston Public Media
Keith Whitely and Kay Winston asked the Harris County District Attorney's Office to stop pursuing a conviction against their grandson, saying they believe he is innocent.
houstonpublicmedia.org‘Concerned citizen’ posts $1 million bond for Patrick Clark, the Houston-area man accused of fatally shooting Migos rapper Takeoff – Houston Public Media
Clark had been jailed since his Dec. 1 arrest and was originally being held on a $2 million bond, which was subsequently reduced by half by a Harris County district court judge.
houstonpublicmedia.orgHarris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to take personal leave to visit ill grandfather in Colombia – Houston Public Media
Hidalgo is expected to be out of the country for about a week and likely will not participate in next Tuesday's meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court, according to her deputy chief of staff.
houstonpublicmedia.orgHarris County needs “immediate” upgrades to voting infrastructure, internal report finds – Houston Public Media
The post-election analysis by the Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office could not yet determine whether alleged paper ballot shortages had kept people from voting, as the Harris County Republican Party has charged.
houstonpublicmedia.orgJack Cagle calls for continued work on flood remediation, parks construction, in his final regular commissioners court meeting – Houston Public Media
The outgoing Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 4 cited the need for both natural flood mitigation, such as preserving the Katy Prairie, and building stormwater tunnels.
houstonpublicmedia.orgLawyers continue to push for equitable bail for felony defendants in Harris County – Houston Public Media
A 2019 lawsuit alleges Harris County's "wealth-based felony pretrial detention system" fails to provide "clear and convincing evidence" to justify the pretrial detention of low-income defendants.
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