Modified Rules at Wier and Judson Park
The Parks & Rec Board recommended discontinuing pickleball on the two western courts at Wier Park, effective Friday, October 23. Mandatory soft paddle/ball rules (8–10 p.m.) remain in effect....
Bellaire News
Government
Harris County reports nearly 328,000 early voters through third day of voting
Nearly 328,000 voters have cast ballots in Harris County through the third day of early voting, according to unofficial numbers from the Harris County Clerk’s Office. As of Wednesday, Oct. 21, the county reported 327,691 total early voters for the Nov. 3 general and special elect...
Recreation Center Improvements
On Oct 12, City Council awarded Synth Construction the contract for the Rec Center Improvement Project. Work will occur in two phases to keep fitness equipment accessible: Phase 1 starts Oct 26, and Phase 2 runs late Jan 2027 through May....
Council Corner
Highlights of the October 19, 2026, City Council meeting.
Harris County crushes midterm first-day early voter turnout record
During the 2018 midterm election, 855,711 people cast a ballot in Harris County across the entire early voting period.
Gov. Greg Abbott, Rep. Gina Hinojosa working to boost turnout as early voting begins
Abbott told ABC13 he is working hard to turn out the vote in Harris County, but a new poll reveals it could be a heavy lift for the three-term Republican governor....
Harris County has 46 data centers and almost no power to regulate them
Harris County officials are pushing for greater local control over data center development, citing concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, air quality and neighborhood safety as the industry expands across Texas. County Attorney Abbie Kamin joined Commissioners Lesl...
HISD board votes to make lower tax rate official
On Thursday, the HISD board voted to make a slight decrease in the tax rate official.
Houston City Council approves affordable housing development in southwest Houston
Houston City Council voted to sell a 12-acre property in southwest Houston to a developer for more than $13 million to build dozens of affordable single-family homes....
61 Flock cameras taken offline in Harris County Precinct 4 amid privacy concerns
All 61 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras operated by Harris County Precinct 4 have been taken offline following a decision by Commissioner Lesley Briones, who cited growing concerns about residents’ privacy. Briones’ office confirmed to KPRC 2 that all 61 cameras were phy...
Houston ISD takeover commission calls for limits to state interventions
The 81-page report says, under the takeover, HISD has “diminished the curriculum”, “dismantled relationships,” severing bonds between students, teachers, and families, “destroyed democratic governance,” and “degraded financial stewardship.”...
Harris County confirms 11k voters' registration have been processed after major backlog in September
Last month, the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar's Office found that nearly 75,000 voter records needed to be processed before early voting....
Harris County gets one-year extension to use federal funds for post-Harvey flood bond projects
A Harris County Flood Control District report earlier this year revealed that several of the county's disaster relief flood projects -- which were authorized by voters in 2018 as part of a $2.5 billion bond -- would not meet a state-imposed deadline early next year....
Harris County leaders urge Texans to check if voter registration is on ‘suspense’ list
With the deadline to register to vote less than two weeks away, election officials are also urging Texans to check whether their registration is on the suspense list. Harris County’s voter registrar said there are roughly 300,000 voters in the county on the suspense list. The imp...
Deadline to register to vote fast approaching
The deadline to register to vote in the November election is fast approaching. For those registering by mail, their application must be postmarked by the October 5 deadline or turned in at a Harris County Tax Office. Even for those already registered, Harris County leaders urged ...
3 Harris County commissioners defend largest property tax increase in county history and blame Trump, Abbott
Three Harris County commissioners voted Thursday to raise property taxes and immediately after the vote, shared the reasons for the hike and who they believe is to blame. Commissioners Court approved a tax rate increase in a 3-1 vote. The new tax rate represents approximately a 7...
Harris County commissioners approve one of the largest tax rates in recent history
Harris County commissioners approved one of the largest tax rate increases in recent history that could add at least $100 to your property tax bill.
Harris County raises property taxes: How much more you will pay
Harris County homeowners will be paying more property taxes after Commissioners Court approved higher tax rates Thursday, adding another expense to household budgets already dealing with the cost of housing, insurance, groceries and utilities. Commissioners approved the tax rates...
Harris County approves largest property tax hike in county history. Here’s what homeowners could pay
Harris County Commissioners approved a historic property tax increase Thursday that will raise the combined tax rate to about 67 cents for every $100 of taxable value. That means if you own a home assessed at $400,000 your taxes will increase by almost $200 a year. The public com...
Harris County commissioners advance proposed property tax rate increase
Harris County commissioners have tentatively approved a proposed property tax rate increase as part of the county’s budget process, with another vote and public hearing scheduled for September 17. The proposed rate represents an increase of 9.6% and is capped at 41.75 cents per $...
Harris County commissioners decline $40,000 pay raise for embattled county treasurer
Last month, a publicly-led Harris County committee established to field elected officials’ salary complaints voted to recommend the raise for Wyatt -- about $126,000 less than the raise she originally requested....
Swarthmore Road Project
The City Council has approved reconstruction of the 4000 block of Swarthmore Rd. Work is expected to begin after Independence Day. Nearby residents will receive direct updates on construction details, traffic impacts, and what to expect....
This Week in Texas: Harris County Judge Candidates, Voter 'Suspense' List
This Week in Texas, we speak with both candidates for Harris County Judge, Republican nominee Orlando Sanchez and Democratic nominee Letitia Plummer.
Harris County Clerk first elected official to reject $305,000 salary from commissioners court
Hudspeth told Houston Public Media Tuesday that she does not plan to file a salary grievance after rejecting the boosted salary.
Harris County budget proposal could increase property taxes by hundreds of dollars
A Harris County commissioner calls it one of the largest tax increases in county history, and now we know how much it could cost taxpayers.
Harris County constables will make $305,000 next year, a 129% increase since 2024
It comes a year after some commissioners -- previously titled the 'GOP 3' by Hidalgo -- championed a law enforcement pay parity initiative that raised constable salaries by 62% from the previous year and exacerbated a multi-million dollar budget deficit....
Harris County commissioner warns homeowners could soon see a large property tax increase
Commissioners voted to increase pay for several Harris County leadership roles and raise constable pay to over $300,000. Data shows constable pay has increased by more than 120% since 2024....
Commissioners approve $2.5M for Harris Co. DA's independent investigation into fatal ICE shooting
Harris County officials have approved $2.5 million in funding for the DA's office to cover expenses related to the independent investigation of the Houston shooting involving ICE....
Harris County DA’s investigation into fatal ICE shooting gets $2.5 million boost from commissioners
The longtime Houston man's death drew national attention and raised questions surrounding the incident -- which federal authorities said happened when he attempted to run over an ICE agent with his vehicle....
Lina Hidalgo’s proposed tax-rate hike for Harris County education programs fails for the second year in a row
The rejection came almost one year after commissioners voted against Hidalgo's first penny-tax proposal and said the county judge's efforts to pass the measure to support a slate of education programs disrupted decorum as she brought a group of children to the meeting in 2025....
Harris County considers ballot measure for early childhood funding through proposed tax increase
Harris County commissioners discussed a proposal Thursday that could ask voters to decide whether to increase property taxes to fund early childhood programs, but no vote was taken. The proposal is for commissioners to consider the county’s proposed 2026 tax rate, including a rat...
Beat the back-to-school heat: Harris County Precinct 4 serving up free snow cones on Monday
Families looking for a last splash of summer before classes begin can stop by a free snow cone event Monday hosted by Harris County Precinct 4. Constable Mark Herman and Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, partnering with Sunny Daze, plan to hand out snow cones from 10 a.m. to...
Hello Houston (July 30, 2026)
Today: We learn about the creation of a synthetic cell, talk with Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis about the county’s budget, hear a conversation with Houstonian playwright Cris Eli Blak, and more....
Mayor's Blog
Check out the Mayor's Blog with Gus E. Pappas - Mid-Year Report Card Strong!
FY2027 Proposed Budget
The FY2027 Proposed Budget was presented to City Council on July 20, 2026.
Hello Houston (July 23, 2026)
Today: We talk with Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas, Harris County Criminal Court Judge David Fleischer discusses his approach to courtroom proceedings, and Bill King breaks down financial challenges for Harris County....
Fulshear weighs tougher e-scooter rules as Harris County constable pushes new e-bike safety policies
As electric scooters and bikes continue to grow in popularity, local leaders are considering new steps they say could improve safety for riders and the public. The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to discuss whether additional regulations — or even a prohibition on e-scooters —...
Houston City Council approved local agreement to add more affordable housing
On Wednesday, Houston City Councilmembers approved an agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County for Texas Reinvestment Zone Number 2.
Hundreds protest at Houston City Hall as Whitmire says city shared evidence with DA’s office
Residents spoke out Tuesday against ICE operations in Houston and last week’s fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, which is being investigated by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Mayor John Whitmire says the city is assisting....
New report shows Harris County faces financial struggles ahead of budget discussion
A new report shows the financial challenges Harris County faces just weeks before commissioners will adopt a new budget.
Harris County breaks ground on $32.7 million flood project
Harris County is taking a major step forward in the fight against flooding. Commissioner Rodney Ellis joined federal, state and local leaders Monday morning to break ground on the Poor Farm Ditch Project — a $32.7 million investment aimed at protecting roughly 500 homes in West U...
Harris County leaders seek funding for independent investigation into ICE shooting that killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis announced Monday he will ask Commissioners Court to fund the Harris County District Attorney’s independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a federal immigration operation last week.Ellis and Harris Cou...
Residents ask Harris County commissioners to cancel Flock contract over surveillance concerns
Residents showed up to Harris County commissioners court to voice their concerns and demand that officials cancel contracts related to Flock safety cameras....
Special panel upholds reprimand of Harris County District Judge Natalia Cornelio
The three-judge panel agreed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct in its action against Judge Natalia Cornelio.
Free heavy trash drop-off, community cleanup planned Saturday in Houston’s East End
East End residents will have a chance to clear out bulky household items and help spruce up the neighborhood Saturday as Harris County Precinct 2 hosts a Keep2Clean Community Cleanup Event.Commissioner Adrian Garcia is expected to join community partners for the event, scheduled ...
Baylor teen health clinics provide free medical care, mental health services
According to the latest U.S. Census data, Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured residents.Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones is reminding families that free, accessible healthcare is available to young people in need.“It’s called the Baylor teen health clinic, ...
HISD approves Bluebonnet curriculum with Bible references for elementary classrooms
Houston ISD trustees voted Thursday night to adopt the state’s Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary school students, reversing last year’s decision and prompting debate over the role of biblical references in public education.The curriculum, developed by the Texas Educat...
Houston ISD board unanimously approves controversial Bible-infused curriculum for 2026-27 school year
Adopting the state-approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary students will come with a funding boost of more than $3 million for the district, which also approved a $2 billion operating budget on Thursday....
HISD board unanimously approves controversial bible-infused Bluebonnet curriculum
HISD board members unanimously approved the use of the bible-infused Bluebonnet Learning curriculum.
Harris County appoints Marcus Stuckett as new Flood Control District executive director
Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday unanimously appointed Marcus Stuckett as the new executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, making him the first African American to lead the agency.The appointment comes two weeks after former Executive Director ...
Parents concerned after Bluebonnet curriculum was spotted on HISD board agenda
While classrooms are quiet because of summer break, some HISD parents say they won't be silent during Thursday night's board meeting.
Harris County commissioners appointed a new flood control director. Here’s what to know
Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Marcus Stuckett, a former director of engineering at the Harris County Flood Control District who has been working for a Houston-based private engineering firm, Pape-Dawson....
State oversight of local elections (June 22, 2026)
On Monday's show: Three years ago, Texas lawmakers approved a measure eliminating Harris County’s chief elections official and allowing state officials to supervise elections here. We learn how the state is using that law to take over elections in some other, much-smaller countie...
Supreme Court of Texas denies appeal in case challenging Harris County’s 2024 elections conduct
Conservative activist Steven Hotze claimed Harris County’s Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office was failing to maintain the integrity of the county’s voter roll and was thus allowing illegal voting. The high court upheld a lower court ruling that Hotze lacked standing to sue....
Conceptual City Logo
On June 15, 2026, the Bellaire Culture & Arts Board presented a conceptual design for a city logo to the Bellaire City Council for consideration and feedback....
Remembrance Park planned along Buffalo Bayou to honor legacy of African Americans
A new public space planned for downtown Houston aims to become a national destination for remembrance, reflection and learning along the banks of Buffalo Bayou.Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis is set to unveil concept designs for Remembrance Park, a 5.8-acre project descri...
Houston City Council approves new pedestrian, bike route between Memorial Park and Uptown
The shared-use trail and bridge, estimated to cost $22.5 million, will cross Loop 610 near Buffalo Bayou, between Post Oak Boulevard and Woodway Drive in the Galleria area....
Notice of Intent to Issue Certificates of Obligation
On June 15, the Bellaire City Council approved an ordinance. This ordinance authorizes a notice of intention to issue Certificates of Obligation. The funding will support the renovation of the Public Works facility at 5235 Glenmont Drive, Houston, TX....
Former Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Kamin sworn in as Harris County Attorney
Hundreds of people turned out to Kamin's swearing-in ceremony at the Sylvester Turner Conference Center downtown Monday where she vowed to fight for vulnerable Harris County communities upon taking the seat....
Houston ISD board postpones vote on 2026-27 budget
The district’s state-appointed board of managers opted to delay voting on the $2 billion proposed budget. The vote has been rescheduled for June 25, less than a week before a deadline....