Houston City Council approved a $7.5 billion budget that includes a new $5 trash fee and other revenue measures. The vote drew criticism from Controller Chris Hollins and some council members who questioned the city’s financial direction.
Houston Controller Chris Hollins has certified Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed $7.5 billion budget ahead of a City Council vote but says the decision should not be viewed as support for the plan.
Houston City Council is set to take a final vote Wednesday on Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed $7.5 billion budget — and one item is getting a lot of attention.
As Houston City Council prepares for a final vote Wednesday on Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed $7.5 billion budget, members of the Houston People’s Budget Campaign are calling on city leaders to consider a different approach to funding city services.
Houston leaders say they’ve spent more than two years planning for World Cup-related events — and that the goal is to be ready to handle the influx of visitors while keeping everyday police, fire and EMS response steady across the city.
Houston Controller Chris Hollins has launched a new online tool aimed at helping residents compare the cost of the city’s proposed $5 monthly trash fee against other revenue options.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has been designated as one of three U.S. entry points for travelers arriving from countries affected by an Ebola outbreak, as Houston prepares to host World Cup matches next month.
A KPRC 2 investigation found the man in charge of that money — Houston Housing Authority President and CEO David Northern — spent millions of federal dollars on expenses that had nothing to do with helping families.
Records obtained by KPRC 2 News show Houston Controller Chris Hollins’ office requested approval for a nearly $4,000 sofa days before Hollins criticized Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed budget and new city fees.
The Texas Ethics Commission has accepted a complaint against Mayor John Whitmire tied to Houston’s “901 Bagby” podcast, raising questions about public spending and political advertising laws.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has unveiled a $7.5 billion budget proposal that includes a new trash administrative fee and changes to utility charges. City officials say the plan aims to reduce the deficit, but Controller Chris Hollins is raising concerns about its impact on residents and transparency.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says a proposed trash fee would improve service and fix long-standing waste system issues. Here’s where the money would go.
City leaders say the fee would help overhaul Houston's trash system without hitting households all at once. But it would also mark the first time residents directly pay for garbage pickup.
The City of Houston is set to reveal plans for one of its biggest annual celebrations — Freedom Over Texas — during an announcement at City Hall on Monday afternoon.
The City of Houston could soon begin charging residents a new monthly fee tied to solid waste services, something city leaders say has never been done before.
The Houston Controller’s Office says it is reviewing complaints surrounding a reported $60,000 “taxpayer-funded podcast” connected to Mayor John Whitmire.
The man accused in one of Houston’s most haunting cold cases has died before he could face justice in court.
Two recent shootings tied to Houston nightlife, including a deadly one in Midtown, are raising broader concerns about public safety at bars and after-hours venues across the city.
Houston city leaders are divided over changes to a controversial immigration policy. The mayor’s proposal aims to address state concerns while preserving key protections.
In contrast to the civil rights groups’ assessment, Houston’s city attorney told council members that the amendment — crafted by the mayor’s staff and the governor’s office — brings no major changes.
Houston city leaders are divided over changes to a controversial immigration policy. The mayor’s proposal aims to address state concerns while preserving key protections.
John Whitmire is expected to release new language for a revised immigration ordinance Tuesday afternoon, an effort he says could help resolve a funding standoff with the state and restore more than $100 million for public safety.
Mayor John Whitmire told KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner in a one-on-one interview that the lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the city is political and that he will not pursue an expensive court fight.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston over its recently passed ordinance that limits when the Houston Police Department can call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced the postponement of a special called City Council meeting as the city continues negotiations with the state over frozen public safety funding tied to its immigration ordinance.
A growing divide is emerging at City Hall over how to respond to a high-stakes threat from the state that could cost Houston $110 million in public safety funding tied to its recently passed immigration ordinance.
For much of President Donald Trump’s second term, Texas city leaders have avoided opposing his immigration crackdown, but that’s changing — and sparking tensions with the state.
Houston immigrant families and advocates are reacting after Mayor John Whitmire moved to reverse a city ordinance limiting certain cooperation between Houston Police Department officers and federal immigration authorities, following a state threat to withhold more than $110 million in funding.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office told Houston Mayor John Whitmire Monday that the state will withdraw $110 million in funding if the city doesn’t axe the ordinance.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says he is considering all options after receiving a letter from the State of Texas threatening to pull $110 million in state public safety grants from the city over its recently passed ordinance limiting when the Houston Police Department can call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Houston’s budget battle is heating up as City Controller Chris Hollins warns the city is facing a projected $174 million deficit, the largest in Houston’s history. Mayor John Whitmire says the numbers are being overstated and insists the budget can be balanced without raising taxes.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire rejected City Comptroller Chris Hollins’ warning of a potential $174 million deficit in 2026, insisting the city will balance its budget without raising taxes.
Houston community groups are pressing city leaders to reverse the closure of the Houston Police Department’s long-running Community Affairs Division, saying the move weakens neighborhood relationships at a time the department is facing heightened scrutiny.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport shows how the partial government shutdown is straining air travel as TSA workers miss shifts without pay.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup quickly approaching, Houston leaders say the city is working against the clock to improve streets, sidewalks, and drainage before hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive.
Community leaders and civil rights advocates are speaking out after a major change inside the Houston Police Department that they say could impact trust between officers and the public.
KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Amy Davis uncovers years of alleged theft inside Houston Public Works, where higher‑ranking employees approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable, taxpayer-funded purchases, raising new concerns about fraud and oversight after the station’s earlier “DRAINED” water department investigation.
During a tense exchange at Houston City Council, Councilmember Edward Pollard pressed Mayor John Whitmire to bring Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles before council to answer questions about the district’s plan to close 12 campuses.
Houston Council Member Edward Pollard urges HISD Superintendent to address 12 school closures, citing transparency and community impact for families.
On Thursday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire laid out a plan to elevate Houston parks and public spaces, including a makeover of Tranquillity Park, a downtown green space next to City Hall that was built to honor the city’s role in the 1969 moon landing.
Mayor John Whitmire will take the stage Thursday to deliver his 2026 State of the City address, offering an update on crime reduction efforts, infrastructure projects and the direction of Houston’s economy.
Community leaders are demanding justice and stronger enforcement of event regulations after a deadly shooting at an unplanned trail rider gathering in Houston left one person dead and five others injured over the weekend.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and the Office of Emergency Management announced another round of warming centers will open across the city in response to a National Weather Service forecast calling for a hard freeze this weekend.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says the city is handling immigration differently than other communities as residents voice fear and frustration at a heated city council meeting.
Dozens of protesters gathered at Houston City Hall Tuesday, demanding the City Council end cooperation with ICE amid nationwide outrage over federal agent shootings.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire forcefully denied rumors that federal immigration agents have been monitoring warming centers across Houston.
Commissioner Lesley Briones and Mayor John Whitmire will be on the ground Monday at Bayland Community Center to update winter storm response efforts, support residents and highlight resources available to those affected by extreme cold, officials said.
Mayor John Whitmire and the City of Houston’s Office of Emergency Management are set to provide Houstonians with an overnight update as freezing conditions continue across the city.
A Houston man has been charged with felony arson after being accused of starting the fire that burned down an abandoned church Monday.
More than a year after construction on an affordable housing project was halted over safety concerns, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and the Houston Housing Authority are expected to provide updates on the $146 million development.
The fire was first reported to KPRC 2 by a caller at around 1 p.m. Monday. The impacted building is located in the 6500 block of the North Freeway.
Another body was found Tuesday in Buffalo Bayou downtown, adding to a growing number of human remains discovered in Houston’s waterways.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire sat down with 2 Investigates first on Wednesday morning to discuss reports that left Houstonians questioning whether the Houston Police Department played a role in referring thousands of individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for arrests.
A north Houston homeowner says she’s frustrated and disappointed after Houston City Council approved a plan that will use stormwater money to tear down abandoned buildings instead of funding drainage projects.
In a new video shared by the Houston Police Department and Mayor John Whitmire, city officials announced a stepped-up law enforcement effort aimed at improving safety on Houston’s roadways.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and City Controller Chris Hollins are at odds over a proposal to use $30 million from the city’s Stormwater Fund to demolish abandoned buildings. City Council is set to vote Wednesday.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has been barred from future endorsements by the Harris County Democratic Party following a precinct chair vote.
Tuesday marks one year since Houston Independent School District loss one of its student-athletes due to a tragic incident involving a Union Pacific train.
After months of heavy trash piling up along curbs in southwest Houston, relief finally arrived on High Star Drive and for neighbors, it felt like Christmas came early.
Plenty of travelers walking through an airport system that has plenty of art, approximately 390 pieces with an appraised value of over $30 million dollars according to HAS leadership.
A problematic roundabout in Houston’s Northside will be demolished just one year after its construction, following numerous crashes and safety concerns.
HFD tells 2 Investigates it's done buying environmentally friendly ambulances after report of issues that resulted in “reducing fleet readiness and response capacity.”
With Polk Street set to close, many East End residents say the loss of this critical route into downtown will make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
Houston City Council approved a $16 million plan to turn the former Star of Hope building in East Downtown into a homeless "superhub.”
Get new details on Houston’s H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and the reimagined Deck the Hall celebration announced by city leaders.
Houston City Council has once again delayed a vote to purchase a $16-million facility that would serve as a “super hub” for people experiencing homelessness.
The removal of Montrose’s rainbow crosswalk marks the first domino to fall under a new federal order targeting colorful street art, leaving other Houston landmarks, like murals in Third Ward and Independence Heights, facing uncertain futures.
Located at 419 Emancipation Avenue, this facility will offer essential services like healthcare, behavioral health support, substance use treatment, and pathways to permanent housing.
With Polk Street set to close, many East End residents say the loss of this critical route into downtown will make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
Houston is moving forward with a $16 million plan to renovate BARC, the city’s animal shelter. The upgrades include a new roof, updated systems, and a safer, modernized facility to help address the city’s stray animal crisis.
A vote on a $16-million homeless shelter in Houston's EaDo area was delayed, though Mayor John Whitmire confirmed plans for the adults-only center, which aims to offer psychiatric and drug addiction support.
“International events like the World Cup bring an influx of visitors, and we need to make sure Houston is prepared,” Organizers said in a news release. “We cannot wait until the international spotlight is on us — we must act before that wave hits.“
Mayor John Whitmire is responding to Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement of a new violent crime task force that will launch in Houston and Harris County.
Houston police have discovered another body in a local waterway — this time near Commerce and Milam — bringing the total number of bodies found in area bayous this year to 15.
HPD is investigating after a woman’s body was found in a downtown bayou early Friday, though investigators say it does not appear connected to other recent recoveries.
Over the past week, five bodies have been pulled from Houston bayous and the Houston Police Department plans to address the discoveries in a press conference.
The message was clear and concise from Harris County Republicans, “We live in Houston, we don’t want Houston to have a similar situation,” said Cindy Siegel, Chairman of the Republican Party of Harris County.
This ceremony will honor the bravery and sacrifice of first responders, like retired NYPD Detective Victoria d’Angelo-Thompkins, who answered the call on that fateful day.