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
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
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
The Coastal Texas Study proposes several projects working together to protect Galveston Bay with multiple lines of defense. (Courtesy Army Corps of Engineers)
Experts accept public input as Coastal Texas Study nears completion
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
Originally, the Coastal Texas Study included a proposal to build 76 miles of flood walls and levees to protect Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula from flooding during hurricanes. (Courtesy Coastal Texas Study)
Officials discuss funding options for coastal barrier
Harris County is moving forward with several new initiatives that will put $2.5 million into programs meant to help immigrants in the county obtain legal services and for immigrant crime victims obtain visas that allow them to get legal representation without fear of deportation. (Courtesy Fotolia)
Harris County moves forward on immigrant legal service fund, protections for crime victims
Pearland City Council typically meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month. (Haley Morrison/Community Impact Newspaper)
City of Pearland moves forward on Shadow Creek Sports Complex
About 236,000 businesses in the Houston area were approved for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration in fiscal year 2019-20. (Courtesy Pexels)
U.S. Small Business Administration lending in Houston during FY 2019-20 amounts to 19 years of typical lending