GOVERNMENT
The Harris County Justice Administration Department is working to release final reports and launch pilot programs in early 2021. (Courtesy Fotolia)
Harris County Justice Administration Department makes headway on countywide criminal justice studies
Laura Colangelo
Q&A: Laura Colangelo discusses challenges facing private schools during pandemic
"Remember, we don't want to invite COVID-19 to the dinner table," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a Nov. 23 press conference urging caution amid rising COVID-19 positivity rates. (Screenshot via ABC13)
Mayor Sylvester Turner urges caution heading into Thanksgiving holiday
Schools now have the power to temporarily suspend on-campus instruction if “a significant number of the instructional staff at the campus is impacted due to a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak." (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
Texas Education Agency authorizes schools to close doors for 14 days due to coronavirus-related staffing concerns
Houston purchased the Spring Village Apartments and plans to tear them down to use the site as greenspace for flood mitigation. (Matt Dulin/Community Impact Newspaper)
Houston City Council OKs $11.4 million apartment buyout for Westbury flood mitigation
main street downtown houston
Houston approves patio dining in downtown on Main Street
Isabel Longoria was sworn in as Harris County's first-ever elections administrator in a virtual ceremony Nov. 18. (Screenshot via Zoom)
Isabel Longoria sworn in as Harris County's first-ever elections administrator
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo called on county residents to limit gatherings to people already living within the same household ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. (Screenshot courtesy Ready Harris)
Hidalgo calls on residents to cancel gatherings, citing 'narrow window' to 'turn the ship around'
Umair Shah, the executive director of Harris County Public Health, will be leaving the department after 16 years to serve as the secretary of health for the state of Washington, effective Dec. 18, HCPH officials announced Nov. 17. (Courtesy Harris County Public Health)
Umair Shah to step down as Harris County Public Health executive director effective Dec. 18
Harris County Commissioners Court authorized funds to establish the Office of the Elections Administrator and infused an additional $20 million into the Harris County COVID-19 Emergency Direct Assistance fund during a special meeting Nov. 17. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
Harris County ups COVID-19 Emergency Direct Assistance fund to $60M, funds Office of the Elections Administrator
Bellaire parking lot vote
Bellaire City Council shoots down request to keep overflow parking lot
The Greater Houston Partnership hosted a panel Nov. 13 on the November general election and Texas politics. (Liesbeth Powers/Community Impact Newspaper)
Public policy panelists discuss general election results, 87th Legislature
County officials recommend minimizing travel this holiday season. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
Harris County Public Health offers best practices for celebrating holidays during a pandemic
With her second year in office coming to a close, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo made her second State of the County address Nov. 12 in a conversation with H-E-B President Scott McClelland hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. (Screenshot courtesy Greater Houston Partnership)
Hidalgo defends coronavirus precautions, calls for federal pandemic strategy in State of the County address
West U city council came to a consensus not to move forward with the HomeSecure program. (Hunter Marrow/Community Impact Newspaper)
West U program to watch homes while residents are away will not move forward