Harris County

Texas Democrat’s Chief of Staff Faces Corruption Indictment for COVID Vaccine Promo Contract

HOUSTON, Texas — A Harris County grand jury handed down felony indictments on Monday against three aides to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, which stem from a Texas Ranger’s investigation into alleged improprieties about an $11 million contract for a COVID-19 vaccine advertising project. The awardee was a one-woman firm with a 19-month operational history specializing in Democrat candidate campaign work based in a residential apartment unit.

Lina Hidalgo

‘Stay Home’ Order Issued for Harris County, Including Houston

HOUSTON, Texas — Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D) issued a “Stay Home, Work Safe” order for the nation’s third-most populous county in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The order impacts the nation’s 3rd most populated city, Houston, and second largest seaport.

Barber Carlos Vasquez sits on the porch of his family's barber shop as he waits for a customer Friday, March 20, 2020, in Houston. Vasquez estimates their business has dropped in half since the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Largest Texas County Continues Trend from Purple to Blue

Democrats marched to the polls in record numbers in Harris County and the effort to shift the state’s largest voting jurisdiction from purple to blue continues. Democrats in Harris County turned out 167,396 voters in the 2018 primary. This compares to 53,788 in 2014–an increase of 211 percent.

Harris County CD7 Protest at Town Hall

Roughly 40 LGBTQ Texans Running for Office in 2018, Says Community Mag

Houston Magazine OutSmart reports that at least 35 LGBTQ Texans are running for office in the 2018 primary and general elections–including governor and lieutenant governor contests. Five candidates identify as transgender. More than one-third are from Harris County. The publication added five to the list by Wednesday afternoon.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, left, waves as her partner, Kathy Hubbard, right, holds the Bible during a public inauguration ceremony Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 in Houston. Houston is the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Family Reports Six Likely Drowned as Van Swept Away in Houston Flood

HOUSTON, Texas — The death toll from Hurricane Harvey and the resulting floods may have climbed to 14 as a family reports six of their members may have drowned. The clan claims two great-grandparents, in their 80s, along with four children were swept away by flood waters on Houston’s northeast side and are feared dead. Texas officials report eight other people died in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

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