Bill named in honor of Harris County deputy killed by catalytic converter thieves passes Texas legislature
On 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.
Battle over sports betting intensifies in Austin with bipartisan push
A 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.
Fifth Ward residents living in cancer cluster call out Mayor, state senators over campaign contributions from Union Pacific
Ever 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.
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Stranded then snubbed? KPRC 2 Investigates finds you may have a hard time getting help if you get bad gasoline in your vehicle
When 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.
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Texas Sen. Carol Alvarado filibusters GOP elections bill
The 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.
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Texas Senate outlasts 15-hour filibuster by Sen. Carol Alvarado to pass GOP voting-restrictions bill
The 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.
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Two years after disastrous chemical fire, Texas close to creating new safety rules for industry
Sen. 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.
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Gov. Greg Abbott appointee to a river authority steps down after contentious confirmation hearing over inflammatory tweets
Greg 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.
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Legislation backed by casino giant would allow casinos, sports gambling in Texas
Lawmakers 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.
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LIST: Food and water distribution sites in the Houston area
HOUSTON – 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
HOUSTON – 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.