Harris County is staring down a $200 million budget shortfall, and the tension over how to handle it has reached a boiling point on Commissioners Court.

Tensions are rising within Harris County leadership after a contentious Commissioners Court meeting led to the formal censure of County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The fallout has sparked debate among commissioners, and the public, about whether the judge should remain in office.

On Wednesday, the Houston community was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of U.S. Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

The Texas Supreme Court previously paused the program

As we enter the fifth day since Hurricane Beryl swept through southeast Texas, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo expects to share additional information on relief efforts for thousands of residents still without power.

Judge Hidalgo's expected to brief the public the day after Hurricane Beryl roared across Harris County.

Following her announcement, several of her colleagues, elected officials and community leaders responded to her decision.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday that she is temporarily stepping away from her elected position and has checked herself into an inpatient facility where she is receiving treatment for clinical depression.

A sergeant employed by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is pursuing legal action against Harris County and elected officials following a sexual assault inside the jail over a year and a half ago.

It’s an issue that Harris County Commissioners have been going back and forth over for weeks, and now, the time is up to vote on the county’s tax rate.

Harris County commissioners are set to attend a special meeting at 2 p.m. Monday.

The impasse over the Harris County budget continued Tuesday with Republican commissioners skipping a meeting for a third time in a row, blocking the Democratic majority commissioners court from adopting a new proposed tax rate.

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle outlined a proposed tax reform plan Tuesday that he calls a “compromise” to break a stalemate over the property tax rate.

In an attempt to pass a budget for Harris County, Judge Lina Hidalgo said she is considering “any and all action” that would bring commissioners into Commissioners Court to allow a vote that she said would fund the budget.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will provide an update on the monkeypox response and vaccination efforts Tuesday morning.

Judge Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis held a news conference Tuesday to introduce a new program that aims to combat maternal and infant mortality in Harris County.

Five months before the next big election, Harris County has selected a new Elections Administrator.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has tested positive for COVID-19, her office announced Sunday.

Judge Lina Hidalgo will join Commissioner Garcia and community leaders Monday to unveil a proposed pilot program that aims to increase accessibility to high-quality childcare and early childhood development in Harris County.

Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Adrian Garcia held a news conference Tuesday to release new data showing an increase in guns being used in homicides in Harris County.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will introduce a resolution Tuesday to Harris County Commissioners Court opposing the draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion striking down Roe v. Wade.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo spoke to the community Tuesday on the county’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and encouraged eligible residents to obtain their second booster as a new omicron variant emerges. Hidalgo was joined by Erica Brown, MD, MBA, FACHE, of Harris County Public Health.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s legal team is now sharing more into the criminal investigation of a nearly $11-million dollar COVID contract by the Texas Rangers and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

When the Texas Rangers executed search warrants at the offices and residences connected to members of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s inner circle on March 11, the takeaway was clear according to KPRC 2′s Legal Analyst Brian Wice.

Court records revealed new details about the investigation into Judge Lina Hidalgo’s office and a nearly $11 million dollar contract for COVID-19 vaccine outreach.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced on Thursday that she is lowering the county’s COVID-19 threat level from Orange (Level 2) to Yellow (Level 3). Hidalgo cites lower hospitalization rates and COVID-19 cases dropping at a safer level.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is urging parents who work in the service industry to apply for one year of free childcare.

Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Adrian Garcia held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss a new proposal to invest $7.9 million in American Rescue Plan funds for early childhood programs.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez highlighted the county’s new “Clean Streets, Safe Neighborhoods” program in a news conference Wednesday morning.

For the first time in the past two years, the Harris County jury selections process will be moving back to downtown Houston.

Community college and school district officials will join Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Adrian Garcia and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Wednesday to announce a $200,000 Disparity Study Fund.

Some Harris County residents said that they believe the extra patrols in unincorporated parts of the county will be beneficial.

Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Tuesday another public safety proposal designed to reduce crime in the most violence-prone areas of unincorporated Harris County.

Two commissioners have filed a lawsuit against Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Commissioner Cagle and Ramsey filed a lawsuit against Harris County's new redistricting.

Judge Lina Hidalgo, in partnership with BakerRipley, unveiled a new program that will help more families living below the poverty level in Harris County to receive the federal child care tax credit.

At Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting, Judge Hidalgo will present a resolution denouncing the 2020 election audit.

Judge Hidalgo held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss the ongoing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Harris County.

Harris County files a lawsuit Thursday against Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order that bans local entities and school districts from requiring masks and vaccines.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo discussed her support for Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II Tuesday on his desire to have a mask mandate for the district, as well as her feelings about Gov. Greg Abbott.

Judge Lina Hidalgo held a press conference Tuesday morning to announce a proposal for a new $30 million relief fund to support micro and small businesses recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOUSTON – As key metrics like the infection rate and ICU hospitalizations trend downward for the first time in months, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says it’s not yet time to reduce the county’s COVID-19 threat level. At present, Harris County is at the highest threat level: Red level 1. Hidalgo told KPRC 2 Monday that scaling back to orange on the COVID-19 Threat Level system is on the horizon. Harris County COVID-19 Threat Level System (KPRC)“We can go to orange in a matter of days, you know, a week or two. “The positivity rate in Harris County is around 8% we needed to be at five.

HOUSTON Social media is reacting to a water park in the Houston-area for failing to follow COVID-19 health regulations. Typhoon Texas in Katy recently live-streamed a video that received a lot of comments from people criticizing guests of failing to social distance. We have taken several steps to ensure a safe family-friendly waterpark experience with acceptable social distancing for loungers, cabanas and seating areas. Measures taken include hand sanitation stations, tube disinfecting at every use, health & social distance signage, and tips on a Good. As for masks, the Centers for Disease Control advises against wearing them in water as they can be difficult to breathe through when wet.

Greg Abbott signed an executive order Thursday requiring all Texans to wear masks or face coverings while in public and in businesses. Local law enforcement and officials “can and should enforce this executive order,” when appropriate, the order states. They are also expected to enforce any other statewide executive orders and local orders that are consistent with Abbott’s orders. If a business was caught in violation of the Harris County order, Hidalgo said that they could face a fine of up to $1,000. A representative for her office shared this message with us: “Our order is staying in place, but the governor’s order supersedes local ones.

HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Tuesday that she tested negative for coronavirus after she went into self-quarantine over the weekend due to potential exposure. “I’ve tested negative for COVID-19. I’ll continue to follow CDC guidelines and quarantine until Monday, which is 14 days after initial exposure. Hidalgo began quarantining over the weekend after one of her staffers, with whom she came in contact with on June 22, tested positive for the virus. While in quarantine, Hidalgo has continued her duties as Harris County judge virtually.

The Texas Medical Center released In a statement Sunday, saying the following:Yesterday, the Texas Medical center posted an incomplete slide deck in order to allow time to fully develop a number of new slides. The new slides as well as a number of updated slides that were absent yesterday will be released later today. The TMC ICU beds are at 93% capacity with 31% of those identified as COVID-19 patients. What Judge Hidalgo is saying about thisHidalgo had some tough criticism of TMCs change in data reporting over the weekend. She says the recent change in numbers and projections when it comes to hospital ICU bed capacity is alarming and hard to understand for everyone.

HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, County Commissioners and the Coalition for The Homeless will make an announcement about the permanent housing initiative that will house and limit the spread of COVID-19 for people experiencing homelessness.

HOUSTON – Harris County Commissioners voted 3-2 to extend the county’s disaster declaration till August 26 Tuesday afternoon. BREAKING: By a 3-2 vote, Harris County Commission extends COVID-19 Disaster Declaration until August 26. According to spokeperson for Judge Hidalgo, because the mask order falls under this declaration, that is also extended to August 26. But a group of Harris County business owners took the mask order to court, asking a judge to stop it. The mask mandate went into effect Monday, June 22, and was set to expire Tuesday if the Harris County Commissioners did not vote to extend it.

HOUSTON – Houston and Harris County residents are split on how they feel about Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s executive order that requires business owners to mandate that all customers and employees wear masks. In a Facebook poll posted Friday night, KPRC 2 viewers were split 61% to 39% on how they felt about the order. 📣 SOUND OFF: 📣 Do you agree with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's decision to have businesses require employees and customers to wear masks or face a $1,000 fine? https://bit.ly/2YORbxq Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Friday, June 19, 2020Many made their feelings known in comments on Facebook as well. A question KPRC 2 asked people on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments with people explaining why they agreed or disagreed with the order.

Judge Lina Hidalgos office told KPRC 2 Hidalgo hopes to finalize the mask order by Friday. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that he and Hidalgo had reviewed the order first issued by Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. Greg Abbott was not supportive of issuing a mask mandate, he told KWTX in Waco that the Bexar County order was in line with his own executive order. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is reportedly mulling a mask order as well. Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn, associate professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine supports the idea of issuing a mask order.

HOUSTON – “We may be approaching the precipice, the precipice of disaster.”Those were the ominous words Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo used Thursday while unveiled a new COVID-19 threat level system. But Hidalgo warned if current trends continue, she may elevate the threat level to red, which means a recommendation that everyone stay home. Right now, that county’s threat level is red due its current COVID-19 situation. The state of Utah has been using a colored COVID-19 system since April, but individual counties can be at different levels. Hidalgo said she assesses the threat level every day.

HOUSTON We may be on the precipice of disaster, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday as she announced a new system to help residents understand the threat level of coronavirus in the Houston area. In a joint press conference, Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner explained the new system that breaks down threat levels in four tiers that are color-coded. Hidalgo said the system was designed so residents could break through the noise of all the information available on coronavirus and case trends. What to do: At this level, residents may resume normal contact with others unless sick. If youve been exposed to COVID-19, quarantine for 14 daysYou can read more about Hidalgo and Turners threat level system on the Ready Harris website.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Line Hidalgo asked for eviction hearings to be postponed until late August due to the economic fallout of COVID-19. The recommendation was sent to 16 Harris County Justice of the Peace courts Thursday.

HOUSTON – The controversial ‘Tent Hospital’ that was assembled, sat unused and then deconstructed, is being replaced with another facility inside NRG Arena. The price tag is to keep the makeshift 150-bed facility in a state of readiness, Hidalgo said. Air filtration in the section of NRG Arena, where the facility is located, has been upgraded to accommodate patients. Hidalgo said that the new facility is more cost-effective than the old temporary hospital and will be managed by Harris County instead of a third-party contractor. When I hear people talk about ‘in case there’s a second surge,’ last time I checked, we didn’t have the first surge,” KPRC2 Analyst Ed Emmett said.

Published: May 2, 2020, 11:36 am Updated: May 2, 2020, 11:42 amHOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed a new stay-home, work-safe order Saturday morning. Non-essential Harris County businesses and others that were not designated to reopen by Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order must remain closed through May 20, Hidalgo announced on Twitter. Abbott said he is aiming for May 18 as the target date for the second phase of reopening the Texas plan. Park benches, communal playgrounds, and playground equipment may increase the spread of COVID-19 and, therefore, shall remain closed.

Greg Abbott issued a public health disaster declaration, a move the state has not done in nearly 120 years. March 24Harris County, Houston could extend ‘stay home, work safe’ order Tuesday, judge saysHarris County and Houston officials issue a stay-home-work-safe order on March 24. April 3At 2,029, Houston-area coronavirus cases account for 38% of all cases in Texas on April 3. The protest, similar to others taking place across the country, highlighted the growing tension between personal liberty and public health in a time of national crisis. April 30Nearly two months after the first case was confirmed, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Houston-area crosses 10,000.