INSIDER
‘I don’t feel secure’: Houston community members react after KPRC 2′s exclusive interview with CenterPoint CEO
Read full article: ‘I don’t feel secure’: Houston community members react after KPRC 2′s exclusive interview with CenterPoint CEOFollowing CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells exclusive interview with KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding, KPRC 2′s Amy Davis brought in five Houston community members to gauge how they feel about Wells responses.
CenterPoint intends to ask Texas PUC for rate increase to recoup losses from Hurricane Beryl response
Read full article: CenterPoint intends to ask Texas PUC for rate increase to recoup losses from Hurricane Beryl response“CenterPoint intends to increase their rates to recoup the cost of recovering from Hurricane Beryl, passing the cost on to the customer,” Senator Carol Alvarado said in a social media post. “That dog won’t hunt.”
Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proof
Read full article: Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proofDemocrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general.
Catalytic converter theft bill increases criminal penalties following death of Harris County deputy
Read full article: Catalytic converter theft bill increases criminal penalties following death of Harris County deputyA bill that would create penalties for catalytic converter theft now awaits Governor Greg Abbott’s signature.
Bill named in honor of Harris County deputy killed by catalytic converter thieves passes Texas legislature
Read full article: Bill named in honor of Harris County deputy killed by catalytic converter thieves passes Texas legislatureOn Tuesday, the Texas State House unanimously passed Senate Bill 224 known as the “Deputy Darren Almendarez Act,” authored by State Senator Carol Alvarado. The bill garnered strong bipartisan support in noth chambers of the legislature.
Texas Democratic lawmakers call for action on gun safety bills following deadly outlet mall shooting
Read full article: Texas Democratic lawmakers call for action on gun safety bills following deadly outlet mall shootingThe Allen Police Department released new information on the condition of the victims who were injured Sunday in a mass shooting at a Dallas area mall outlet that left nine people dead.
Battle over sports betting intensifies in Austin with bipartisan push
Read full article: Battle over sports betting intensifies in Austin with bipartisan pushA competitive match-up in Austin is heating up around mobile sports betting in Texas.The business of sports betting through a mobile device in the Lone Star State has been viewed as an underdog by many, but it is very much alive according to key players in Austin.
Wanna bet? Texas Legislature to reconsider legalizing casinos and sports betting
Read full article: Wanna bet? Texas Legislature to reconsider legalizing casinos and sports bettingGiven the stiff headwinds to getting any expansion in gambling passed, sports betting and casino advocates may be competing against each other, rather than working in tandem.
Texas Senate Democrats renew calls for special session on gun violence
Read full article: Texas Senate Democrats renew calls for special session on gun violenceMembers of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus renewed their pleas Monday for Governor Greg Abbott to call an emergency special session on gun violence in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting.
Fifth Ward residents living in cancer cluster call out Mayor, state senators over campaign contributions from Union Pacific
Read full article: Fifth Ward residents living in cancer cluster call out Mayor, state senators over campaign contributions from Union PacificEver since the first Fifth Ward cancer cluster was confirmed by the state department of health in 2019, numerous city and state elected officials have shown up to meetings declaring support for residents and promising to hold Union Pacific accountable for the decades-long contamination at its nearby rail yard.
Stranded then snubbed? KPRC 2 Investigates finds you may have a hard time getting help if you get bad gasoline in your vehicle
Read full article: Stranded then snubbed? KPRC 2 Investigates finds you may have a hard time getting help if you get bad gasoline in your vehicleWhen gas station pumps dispense contaminated fuel into your tank it can cause thousands of dollars in damage. The station that sold the gas is ultimately responsible but lawmakers made a change recently that seems to be giving gas stations selling bad fuel a pass. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team met with one Galveston man who has been dealing with one bad gas problem and we’ve also uncovered new information about why it may be so hard for him to get answers.
Senator’s filibuster over Texas voting bill passes 12th hour
Read full article: Senator’s filibuster over Texas voting bill passes 12th hourRepublican officials in Texas say law enforcement has now been enlisted to help bring Democrats back to the state Capitol and end a standoff over a GOP voting bill.
Texas Sen. Carol Alvarado filibusters GOP elections bill
Read full article: Texas Sen. Carol Alvarado filibusters GOP elections billThe GOP voting restrictions push that left the Texas House scrambling to round up absent Democrats also shut down work in the Texas Senate Wednesday evening as state Sen. Carol Alvarado launched into a filibuster against the GOP’s priority voting bill.
What is a filibuster? This is everything you need to know as Carol Alvarado launches effort to stop voting bill
Read full article: What is a filibuster? This is everything you need to know as Carol Alvarado launches effort to stop voting billState Sen. Carol Alvarado has announced she would filibuster the GOP’s voting bill, but what does that effort entail and is it allowed?
Texas Senate outlasts 15-hour filibuster by Sen. Carol Alvarado to pass GOP voting-restrictions bill
Read full article: Texas Senate outlasts 15-hour filibuster by Sen. Carol Alvarado to pass GOP voting-restrictions billThe Houston Democrat was on her feet speaking, not allowed to sit or lean against her desk, and unable to take bathroom breaks or drink water, since Wednesday evening. But ultimately the bill she opposed passed Thursday on an 18-11 vote.
Senate Democrats press ahead on voting bill despite dim odds
Read full article: Senate Democrats press ahead on voting bill despite dim oddsSenate Democrats are pledging to move ahead with a vote on their sprawling elections and voting bill next week, even as it faces universal opposition from Republicans as well as from a key senator from their own party.
Two years after disastrous chemical fire, Texas close to creating new safety rules for industry
Read full article: Two years after disastrous chemical fire, Texas close to creating new safety rules for industrySen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, spent years negotiating with industry groups to get new regulations placed on the chemical industry after the ITC fire in 2019. The bill has passed both chambers, but small changes need to be ironed out before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Gov. Greg Abbott appointee to a river authority steps down after contentious confirmation hearing over inflammatory tweets
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott appointee to a river authority steps down after contentious confirmation hearing over inflammatory tweetsGreg Abbott's office, after a rocky confirmation hearing Monday at the Texas Capitol. AdToward the end of the questioning, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, asked Yancy if he had "any regrets with regard to your public discourse." He is not unknown in Texas politics — he ran for Texas Senate in 2010. AdNext up was Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, who asked Yancy about the anti-Reid tweet. Gutierrez asked Yancy if it was fair to say he "misspoke [or] overreached" with the tweet.
Legislation backed by casino giant would allow casinos, sports gambling in Texas
Read full article: Legislation backed by casino giant would allow casinos, sports gambling in TexasLawmakers filed legislation Tuesday seeking to bring casino gambling to Texas. Credit: REUTERS/Steve MarcusTwo Texas lawmakers on Tuesday filed legislation backed by the gaming empire Las Vegas Sands that would legalize casino gambling in Texas. The proposals would create special casino licenses for four "destination resorts" in the state's four largest metropolitan areas: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. At the same time, it would establish a Texas Gaming Commission to regulate the casinos, and it would separately legalize sports betting. The legislation would then create three "Class II" licenses for "limited casino gaming" at horse-race tracks in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
LIST: Food and water distribution sites in the Houston area
Read full article: LIST: Food and water distribution sites in the Houston areaHOUSTON – Many local businesses and organizations have opened food and water distribution sites in the Houston area in the wake of the recent winter storms. Various distribution sites pop up daily, so please keep checking this list if you’re in need. Houston Community College-North Forest CampusTexas State Representative Senfronia Thompson, NACC Disaster Services, Teamsters Union, Houston Community College (HCC)- North Forest campus, HCC Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Peoples United Summit, and other volunteer groups host water and food distribution in northeast Houston. The organizers will provide food and water for about 1,000 vehicles. Pet owners will receive free pet food, supplies, and information on additional resources such as the Houston Humane Society’s free spay/neuter program.
Mayor Turner, Houston officials announce opening of new COVID-19 testing site for high-risk populations
Read full article: Mayor Turner, Houston officials announce opening of new COVID-19 testing site for high-risk populationsHOUSTON – Mayor Turner announced a new Houston COVID-19 testing site Monday that he said will be close to neighborhoods with vulnerable populations considered at high risk for severe illness from the virus. The United Memorial Medical Center testing site will be located at Barnett Sports Complex, which is at 6800 Fairway. Mayor Turner said the testing site is for people with and without symptoms. UMMC is working with the Houston Health Department to target resources where they are most needed. “They’re working every day, hard every day, but they may not be able to afford healthcare,” Turner said.