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Harris County Agencies Reportedly Spent Millions With No Paper Trail
Last year, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the Harris County Toll Road Authority, Engineering Department, and Flood Control District had procurement issues.
Harris County Faces $1.3 Billion Shortfall in Flood Bond Projects
Only about 30 percent of the bond’s allocated funds have been spent so far.
24/7 Ban on Homeless Sleeping Outdoors Coming to Houston Under Updated Ordinance
In a bid to curb street homelessness and connect people with shelters, Houston plans to implement a 24/7 outdoor sleeping ban in key neighborhoods, backed by new funding and federal support.
Prosecutors Seek Cell Phone of Student Solicited for Sex by Elgin ISD Coach
Coach Devin Anderson was charged last year with having an illicit sexual “relationship” with a female student.
Local Archive
Harris County Reveals $120 Million Shortfall for Active Flood Drainage Projects
Harris County Engineering Department Executive Director Milton Rahman said his department is $120 million short for approved projects. According to Commissioner Rodney Ellis (D), the county established a framework to prioritize drainage projects that was not followed....
Harris County Empowers Attorney to Sue Trump Administration Over Executive Actions
Democrats on the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to give the county attorney the authority to file lawsuits or join existing lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s executive actions without needing to wait for a vote of approval by the commissioners. Harris...
North Texas Teacher Arrested for ‘Improper Relationship’ With Student
Another Texas teacher has been arrested and charged with sexual misconduct involving a student. Ruel “JR” Barbee, 53, was jailed Thursday on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. A...
Analysis: Victoria County Residents Face Varied Outcomes in Recent Property Tax Shifts
Victoria County, situated near the Gulf Coast, has experienced a relatively steady taxing environment over the three years from 2019 to 2022. Only a couple of taxing entities in the county bucked the trend of lowered taxing rates, failing to keep rising property...
Mother Plans to Sue Houston ISD After Daughter’s Alleged Assault by Dance Teacher
After her daughter was allegedly assaulted by a dance teacher at Fleming Middle School, a mother is now suing Houston Independent School District, claiming campus administration failed to address the situation appropriately. Mom LaNita Milligan is taking legal action...
Alvin Ex-Gymnastics Coach Faces Prison for Child Pornography Charges
An Alvin man who worked closely with children has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and now faces decades in prison. Franklin Joseph Perkins, 41, was arrested in November 2023 on multiple child pornography charges. Now, he has pleaded guilty to two offenses...
Attorney General Drops Charges Against Harris County Judge’s Former Chief of Staff
The Office of the Attorney General dismissed one of two charges that were pending against the last of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s staffers accused of public corruption. The OAG agreed to pretrial diversion, a program that allows defendants to avoid criminal...
South Texas Teacher, Coach Caught in Snapchat Sex Solicitation Sting
Federal authorities arrested a “state-recognized” South Texas teacher and coach for trying to solicit sex from a minor using the social media app Snapchat. Kenneth Mulkey, 43, was charged with attempted enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in...
Northeast Texas Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting a Child
A now-former northeast Texas teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a child. Jimmy Lee Hanks, 52, was arrested Monday and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age. Hanks was a teacher and coach at Wills Point High School. Superintendent...