Push by Mayor Turnerโs airport director to make canceling airport contracts for the next mayor more difficult
On Wednesday morning at Houston City Hall there will be 74 agenda items heard by city council members. The agenda, which is one of Mayor Sylvester Turnerโs final ones as Mayor, is unusually long.
Sen. Cornyn, Mayor Turner, HPD Chief Finner to highlight new Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act
Sen. John Cornyn will join Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, and community leaders Tuesday at Houston City Hall to discuss the senatorโs new Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act, which was just signed into law on Dec. 27, 2022.
Watch live: Mayor Turner joins community, state leaders to condemn Senate Bill 147
Local, and state leaders will gather Monday to denounce the recently-filed Senate Bill 147, which would prohibit citizens and business entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing land within the state of Texas.
Tenants at deteriorating Timber Ridge Apartments take housing concerns to Houston City Hall
Tenants at Timber Ridge Apartments spoke in front of Houston City Council members and Mayor Sylvester Turner Tuesday to voice their concerns about the hazardous conditions hundreds of them have reportedly been experiencing while living there.
Road Rage in Houston: Law enforcement, experts taking multiple avenues for solutions
At a news conference on road rage earlier this month at Houston City Hall, Mayor Sylvester Turner couldnโt contain his rage anymore regarding the violence impacting Houston area roads and the victims - young and old - caught up in the crossfire.
Announcement on future of HPD leadership coming later this week, Turner says
HOUSTON โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he will announce the future of leadership at the cityโs Police Department later this week. Turner spoke at City Hall on Monday morning after news broke Sunday night that Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is leaving to take the same job in Miami. โI hate to see him leave the city of Houston,โ Turner said as he congratulated Acevedo on his next chapter. Turner said Acevedo, who took the job as chief of the Houston Police Department in 2016, is leaving the department in better shape than he found it. AdโArt was the right person at the right time,โ Turner said.
Turner says future vaccine megasites are dependent on supply
HOUSTON โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that future coronavirus vaccine megasites will be dependent on the supply of doses that is received by the city. Turner said demand for the vaccine is far outpacing the amount of vaccine that is available. Turner said that as soon as more doses of the vaccine are received, the city will start opening up additional appointment slots. Williams said the Houston Health Department is expecting to get more vaccine doses from the state this week. โMiddle of the stormโThe Houston Health Department reported an additional 1,460 cases Monday, bringing the total number of cases to more than 131,000.
Turner gets vaccine as he makes plans to ramp up cityโs clinics
HOUSTON โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner received the coronavirus vaccine Monday as he makes plans to ramp up immunization clinics across the city. After announcing increasing case numbers, hospitalizations and positivity rate, Turner rolled up his right sleeve and received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Turner said about 2,000 people received the shot at the cityโs first vaccine clinic that was opened over the weekend. He said people can also contact their health care provider to arrange to receive the shot if they have the vaccine available. The cityโs 14-day positivity rate was 13.9% as of Monday.
Analyzing 2020: Racial justice and police reform
Demonstrations for racial justice and against police violence began in Texas and across the country after the killing of Houston native George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. But as Novemberโs general election approached, Republican politicians began to rally behind police, decrying protesters and campaigning on law and order. June 4Events โ and their own words โ put Texas Republicans in an election year bindTexas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. June 8With elections coming, Texas Republican leaders join the thin blue lineFreezing local taxes in Texas cities that cut police funding sounds better than it works.
Turner urges Houstonians to get tested, cancel holiday gatherings as positivity rate climbs
HOUSTON โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged everyone Monday to get tested for coronavirus and cancel their holiday gatherings as the cityโs positivity rate rises as Christmas approaches. Turner said an additional 777 coronavirus cases were reported Monday, bringing the cityโs total cases to 111,211. Three more deaths were also reported, bringing the cityโs total deaths to 1,530. The cityโs positivity rate as is at 11.2%, up nearly a point from last week, Turner said. โPlease get tested before Christmas Eve,โ Turner said.
Houston announces $15 million to assist tenants, but passes on mandatory eviction grace period for people behind on rent
Latino workers gathered for a car protest to demand economic, rental and health relief outside of Houston City Hall on Tuesday. Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a new rent relief program, but opposed a mandatory eviction grace period. They have also relied on federal benefits from a congressional pandemic relief package, eviction moratoriums and rent assistance programs to remain housed. In May, Houston's first $15 million in rent assistance ran out in 90 minutes, according to The Houston Chronicle. Dallass $13.7 million rent assistance fund reached capacity within 30 hours of opening.
This LGBTQ Texan says the U.S. Supreme Court ruling is a key step toward fully-realized equality
Fran Watson, Houston attorney and activist, speaks on the steps of Houston City Hall on December 2, 2018. Courtesy of Fran Watson(Audio unavailable. Fran Watson did a double take when the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of workplace protections for gay and transgender people. Watson, a lesbian, says she's experienced some discrimination on the job, as have many of her Houston-area legal clients. In this weekends edition of The Brief podcast, listen to why she says this landmark ruling is a "step in the right direction" toward fully-realized equality.
Police appreciation rally at Houstonโs City Hall met with protesters calling for defunding the department
HOUSTON โ At the steps of Houstonโs City Hall, a group of nearly 100 people gathered for a โPolice Appreciation Rally,โ Thursday evening. โIf we donโt have police on our corner, itโs going to be a bad world,โ Diggs previously told KPRC 2. Many held signs emblazoned with โBlack Lives Matterโ and calling for the defunding of the police department. There has to be a level of respect,โ said Justin James Jones, who was also demonstrating against the rally. โI didnโt really understand the need for a police lives or a blue lives matter movement in the midst of this black lives matter movement,โ Savannah said.
Houston sports world pays tribute to George Floyd
HOUSTON George Floyd loved sports, and was a huge Lebron James fan, according to family members who have spoken at each of the vigils held for the Houstonian. Floyd graduated from Yates High School, and several buildings, such as Houston City Hall, were lit crimson and gold to honor him during Mondays vigil in Houston. Tonight, we turn NRG Park crimson and gold to pay tribute to George Floyd, send our support to his family and our solidarity for meaningful change, NRG said in the post. Tonight we turn NRG Park crimson and gold to pay tribute to George Floyd, send our support to his family and our solidarity for meaningful change. A small memorial was set up on the turf and his face was put on the Jumbotron with the words Rest in power, George Floyd black lives matter.
Houston City Hall lit in crimson and gold to honor George Floyd
HOUSTON Houston City Hall was lit in crimson and gold Tuesday night to honor George Floyd. About 60,000 people packed downtown Houston on Tuesday afternoon to remember Floyd with a march that was organized by his family. The march started at Discovery Green and ended at City Hall, where crowds called for justice for Floyd. As the sun set, crimson and gold lights were shone on City Hall in honor of Floyd. The colors were chosen because they are the school colors of Yates High School, where Floyd graduated.
Thousands crowded downtown Houston for George Floyd march
HOUSTON โ People marched for several hours through downtown Houston Tuesday in protest of the death of George Floyd, who died while being detained by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Police said they were willing to remain at the scene all night as long as the protest remained peaceful. Organizers called for the event, which included a march from Discovery Green to Houston City Hall, to remain peaceful. Watch the KPRC 2 team coverage of the protest in the live blog below. Tap here to view the live blog.
A weekend of protest and mourning: George Floyd's death spurs demonstrations in Texas cities
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo responded to demonstrators Friday at a rally for George Floyd at Houston City Hall. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas TribuneProtesters gathered at a rally for George Floyd in Houston. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas TribuneAlea Rolison wears a mask that reads, "I can't breathe, at a rally for George Floyd in Houston, Texas. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas TribuneProtestors march at a rally for George Floyd in Houston. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas TribuneFirst: Alea Rolison wore a mask that read, "I can't breathe, at a Houston rally.
Gingerbread Build-Off competition draws thousands to watch epic holiday creation
HOUSTON Houston City Hall's Hermann Square was filled with holiday cheer as thousands came to root for teams vying to win in the 11th annual Gingerbread Build-Off competition. Those who took part, participated in an epic battle to win in many different gingerbread building category awards. In honor of the Apollo moon landing, the Gingerbread Build-Off will have a special competition category -- GINGERBREAD IN SPACE. The American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter hosted the Saturday event, which brought 4,000 spectators to cheer on architects, engineers, designers, students and design enthusiasts and local businesses vying to take home a title. We are very excited to be hosting this fun competition for the 11th year, said Rusty Bienvenue, executive director of Architecture Center Houston.