In the two weeks following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, the President-elect has wasted no time announcing his picks for the major departments in his administration.

KPRC 2′s Michael Horton spoke with Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, to break down Trump’s victory.

Some Texas lawmakers have signaled an appetite to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis when they convene next year.

Earlier this week, the Governor had a lot of tough talk for CenterPoint Energy.

Vermont's Goddard College is closing at the end of the semester after years of declining enrollment and financial struggles.

The British Museum has appointed Nicholas Cullinan as its new director.

The debate, scheduled for Sept. 16, 2024, will be the first of four for the general election. The San Marcos school would be the first Texas university to hold a presidential debate, Texas State officials said.

If you missed this week's episode, check it out here.

The race to become the 63rd Houston mayor is headed for a runoff between two popular Democratic candidates.

Opponents of a sweeping Texas bill blocking local governments from enforcing their laws say it would deprive workers of water breaks during a historic heat wave, among other dangers.

A recent poll from the University of Houston shows a tight race for Houston mayor with two clear front runners.

Amanda Edwards stops by Houston Newsmakers to talk about how she’s throwing her hat in the ring and running for Congress.

The bill by State Representative Jarvis Johnson aimed to use the registry to help with a cure and treatment for sickle cell disease in Texas, but Governor Abbott vetoed it, writing it “would force hospitals to share reams of sensitive health information … putting the privacy of patients at risk.”

Tennessee House Republicans expelled two democratic state lawmakers after they took part in a gun violence protest on the chamber floor. Under the state’s law, it’s allowed so long as two-thirds of the chamber votes for it. Texas has a similar law.

Host Khambrel Marshall takes a look at what’s in store for the Texas Legislative Session. He sits down with Mark Jones, Ph.D, political science fellow for the Baker Institute of Public Policy, and Bill King, chair for the Texas Forward Party.

A new poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs shows the race for Harris County judge is in a statistical dead heat.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Harris County’s newly minted Elections Administrator puts it plainly:

She is the incumbent, but if an early poll is an accurate indication, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will have a fight on her hands to stay in office.

With the polls long closed, the unofficial results show ten incumbent judges in Harris County lost in Tuesday's Democratic primary election and one is headed to a runoff.

A handful of Americans donated at least $1 billion to charity last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking of the 50 Americans who gave the most to charity in 2021.

Critical Race Theory is not taught in schools. College professors say it is an overarching theory researched in college-level courses.

Houston Newsmakers: Texas Dems stymie GOP voting bill…for now

The group that manages the grid that provides electric power to most of Texas assures that the grid will provide sufficient power to meet peak summer demand.

HOUSTON – Texas’ already restrictive voting laws may become even stricter. Greg Abbott, during his visit to Houston last week, said he plans to support the proposed laws, such as SB7 and HB6, to crack down on voter fraud and protect voter integrity. There has been no evidence of voting fraud, said political science professor Mark Jones of Rice University. The proposed election bills in the Texas Legislature would do away with them all. Jones said he does not expect all the election laws to pass, only some of them.

Investigating the Texas power gridThe forecast was for record breaking cold for Texas, including Houston. KPRC Investigates reporter Robert Arnold takes a deep dive into what went wrong and is a guest on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. After his second impeachment acquittal, former president Trump may have a renewed ability to play a pivotal role in the future of the Republican Party but to what end? “He has the ability to make life very difficult for the Republican party, particularly in seats that are competitive seats where they want some moderate or centrist moderate candidates,” Jones said. “I think that he’s going to be the butt of national jokes for a while,” Professor Rottinghaus said.

Here are things to know for Wednesday, Feb. 3:1. CVS to administer COVID-19 vaccines at 70 pharmacy locations across TexasCVS has announced pharmacies will begin to administer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations at 70 CVS Pharmacy locations across Texas Thursday, Feb. 11. For CVS Pharmacy locations that will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on Feb. 11, appointments will become available for booking as early as Feb. 9 as stores receive shipments of the vaccine. Black Houston entrepreneurs changing narrative, numbers in beauty supply store industryLloyd Ford and his business partner, Randy Shelby, opened The Black Store: Beauty Supply Experience in January 2020. The Black Store also features more than 70 Black-owned brands, giving shelf space to small business owners who can’t find it elsewhere.

HOUSTON – A new survey from the University of Houston found about one-third of the Texans who responded may refuse a COVID-19 vaccine. AdThe Hobby School of Public Affairs conducted the survey online among Texans 18 and older from Jan. 12 to Jan. 20. Another question asked whether getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a personal choice or everyone’s responsibility to protect the health of others. Among the results of people who chose a side, 51% said personal choice while 49% said everyone’s responsibility. To read more of the UH survey questions, click here.

HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit seeking to throw out millions of votes in four states. Many legal experts say it’s unlikely the Supreme Court will even hear the case. “The Supreme Court almost never takes cases where one state sues another state. The Attorney General is also still awaiting trial on felony security fraud charges returned in 2015. The Supreme Court has given the states named in Paxton’s lawsuit until Thursday to respond.

Election stress? “Election stress is something that existed even hundreds of years ago because people get fixated to the election,” he said. Free Job Training through Houston Community CollegeThe pandemic has been tough on thousands of people in our community and across the country. Thousands of jobs have been lost in our community and that’s what makes the free job training offerings from Houston Community College even more special. Houston Community College in partnership with Capital IDEA Houston is offering a free four week training to help students land jobs as computer support specialists.

HOUSTON – There is more money in Texas politics than ever before. No doubt in the case of Texas House races, where tens of millions have been raised. On Monday, the third-party group Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee announced over $10 million raised thus far in 2020. “There is no contest that is more significant than control of the Texas House in the entire country,” said Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University. Once the smoke clears post-Election Day officials are expecting over $40 million to be raised and spent on Texas House races.

NOT SO FAST says Brandon Rottinghaus, Ph.D. and professor of political science at the University of Houston. He says there is a certain element about polling regarding President Trump that can’t be trusted. When asked what the biggest surprise will be on November 3rd, he said it could be a landslide against President Trump. They were given proper legal advice.”Watch this week’s Houston Newsmakers Sunday morning at 10:30amMore Information:Mark Jones, Ph.D., Fellow in Political Science, Baker Institute, Rice University· Website: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/experts/mark-p-jones/· Twitter: @MarkPJonesTXBrandon Rottinghaus, Ph.D. Political Science Professor, University of Houston· Website: https://uh.edu/class/political-science/faculty-and-staff/professors/rottinghaus/index· Twitter: @bjrottingjausConstable Alan Rosen, Author: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out· Website: https://pct1constable.net/· Twitter: Pct1Constable

HOUSTON – The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed earlier decisions supporting Harris County’s plan to mail unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters, most of whom do not qualify to vote by mail. On Aug. 25, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins tweeted his plan to mail an application for a mail-in ballot to each of the county’s more than 2 million registered voters. Two days later, the Texas Secretary of State threatened to sue Harris County if it did not “immediately halt” its plan. His office released a statement titled “Texas Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Voter Suppression" condemning the decision. Jones said whether or not Texas should allow anyone to vote by mail is a valid, but separate question.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan talked on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall about the district’s decision, why it was made and the plans to resume in-person teaching. Lathan acknowledged that in-person teaching is the most effective way to educate our children but points to several factors that call for virtual teaching. While only 14% of HISD teachers say they are ready to return to the classroom for in-person teaching. HISD is also working to assist parents with students that need technology for virtual learning. M.J. Hegar beat State Senator Royce West for the right to face Senator Cornyn.

“We are going through very hard moments as small business owners," Perekalski said. According to the Texas Restaurant Association, a staggering 61% of those workers are currently out of a job. Statewide, restaurants contribute $70 billion each year, with Houston producing $15 billion of that on its own. “I think it would be risky for my staff and risky (for customers).”One thing most restaurant owners agree on is that it won’t be business as usual. “It’s a new lifestyle for all of us, not only for us in the restaurant business.

HOUSTON – The debate over gun control has ramped up once again in Texas following the mass shooting at Santa Fe High School. He said Democrats see the Santa Fe tragedy as a call for gun control. Florida lawmakers defied the NRA and passed a gun control package after lobbying by student survivors of the attack. In the Santa Fe High School shooting, restrictions on bump stocks, assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and more strident background checks would not have affected suspect Dimitrios Pagourtzis' ability to obtain weapons. And there has been no groundswell of support for gun law reform from students, with some Santa Fe students openly rejecting gun control as a method of preventing further incidents.

HOUSTON – Senator Ted Cruz says he feels energized after ending a marathon session of standing and speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate to draw attention to his fight to de-fund the Affordable Care Act. The Texas Republican began speaking Tuesday afternoon and ended his verbal assault on the health care law nearly 22 hours later. "As a middle-aged cancer survivor I want and need health care," said Parks. "I just admire Ted Cruz. Witt says the new health care law will drive up the cost of coverage for her family of five and they are bracing for the financial hit.

HOUSTON – There was no shortage of opinion or passion as political experts joined Khambrel Marshall on this weeks' Houston Newsmakers. Calhoun's organization works to recruit African Americans into the Republican Party and says this is the year when Blacks will return in big numbers to the Republican fold to defeat President Obama. Jenard Jenkins is the Communications Chair for the Harris County Democratic Party and says the Republican party is "reeling" and is engaging in an "assault on women's rights and reproductive health." Professor Mark Jones is the Chair of the Political Science Department at Rice University. Professor Franklin Jones is Chairman of the Political Science Department at Texas Southern University and Professor Jeremy Bailey is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, specializing in U.S.