โThis is a big deal for all of usโ: Houston city leaders address near-flooding disaster, dam improvements
Just days after hundreds of homes nearly got flooded (again), Houston city leaders talked about the issue and needed dam improvements. Houston City Council approved an ordinance to streamline funds for Lake Houston Dam Spillway improvements. This will hopefully help prevent future flooding in the Houston area.
Houston residents demand action on vacant properties causing eyesores, hazards
Vacant and abandoned properties are a problem in several neighborhoods across the Houston-area. Currently, the City of Houstonโs Department of Neighborhoods has a list of 1,061 residential properties listed as โdangerous buildings.โ
Short-term rentals workshop held in Houston this Saturday to help fed up homeowners
District F Council Member Thomas says she wants to bridge the educational gap by holding a workshop Saturday where homeowners can learn how to combat, through legal means, the growing number of short-term rentals used for house parties in their areas.
HOAs vs neighborhood associations: Understanding the difference
If you live in the Houston area, youโve probably noticed some new developments in your neighborhood. Whether itโs remodeling updates on someoneโs home or developers breaking ground on a new project, construction is happening all over the city.
Why you may see a credit on your next Houston water bill
If you havenโt received your April water bill from the City of Houston, you may be pleasantly surprised. Several customers reached out to Investigative reporter Amy Davis curious about why they received credits to their bills. We are explaining why water customers are getting money back and what to look for on your own bill.
โItโs very disgusting:โ Someone is dumping bags full of dirty adult diapers in Houston Heights
Itโs not uncommon to spot trash littered along streets in Houston. From cigarette butts to beer bottles, itโs an ever growing battle in a city that added 140,000 residents last year alone. However, the junk one Houston Heights neighborhood is seeing isnโt your run of the mill.
Ask Amy: Your FAQ about the new Houston water bill plan
Houston water customers DRAINED from inaccurate, exorbitant bills are hopeful the mayorโs new plan to fix the problems will work. But many of you have questions about the process. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has answers to your most common water bill plan questions.
City of Houston reopening Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library two weeks after closure, rumored relocation
The Houston Public Library has announced plans to reopen the Eleanor Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library in a press release. The announcement comes two weeks after it closed for what was expected to be a relocation effort over safety concerns.
Hereโs how much more you will pay for your water bill this month
Houstonโs latest water rate increase took effect April 1st. The city said the average customer will notice about a 9% increase in their monthly bill. Investigative reporter Amy Davis crunched the numbers to show you what it looks like on real accounts and sheโs sharing what the city may do with the extra money.
Pop-Off Politics: Houston considers extending parking meter hours to boost revenue
There is a lot going on in the nationโs fourth largest city, and keeping tabs on everything is a daunting task. KPRC 2 Investigates has a team dedicated to reviewing agenda items involving your tax dollars and how elected officials plan to spend them.
โToday everyone wants our homes and our land:โ Sunnyside neighbors worry new development will erase history
Part of our mission for โOur Townโ is to look into what people are dealing with in their neighborhood. Just like other parts of Houston the Sunnyside area has caught the eye of developers. Older homes torn down and replaced. But some say their history is being erased they are worried builders are not following building codes. KPRCโs Rilwan Balogun looks into why this is happening and what to do if you have the same issue in your neighborhood.
โDRAINEDโ results: Houston Mayor announces new water bill improvement plan; hereโs what it means for you
After nearly two years of KPRC 2 Investigates DRAINED series exposing failures at the Houston Water Department, Mayor John Whitmire announces major changes. This comes a few weeks after Mayor Whitmire talked with Amy Davis about the ongoing issues and his work to find solutions for people.
Our Town: Sunnysideโs history and residents today who are making a difference
The neighborhood was carved out specifically for the African American community, according to a City of Houston โSuper Neighborhoodโ report. The idea of so-called โrestricted communitiesโ was born out of racism and segregation.
โDRAINEDโ: Huge water bills at apartment complex, what renters can do
While Houston homeowners struggle with inaccurate, seemingly impossible water bills we are hearing from landlords and renters who say they are โDRAINEDโ. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is getting to the bottom of one apartment complex water bill that - if unresolved- could leave renters homeless.
Cracking down on short-term rentals used as โparty houses,โ How a Houston Council Member wants to help you fight back
Many Houston residents have voiced their frustrations with short-term rentals being used as party houses, and a city council member is looking to educate and inform so homeowners have the legal tools necessary to fight back.
Why is the Houston Airport System involved in international airport projects abroad while struggling at home?
While the Houston Airport System has faced heavy criticism and questions focused on the inability to get its international terminal up and running, the airport systemโs previous leadership does have a track record of getting international terminals to operate smoothly, only not here in Houston, as KPRC 2 Investigates is exposing.
โNot approved to open:โ Lazy river pumps, pipes at hotel pool where girl died werenโt approved or inspected by city
A new lazy river pool at whatโs now the DoubleTree by Hilton off the Northwest Freeway was built in 2018, according to City of Houston records, but the plans approved by the City lacked a major component: the system that made it function as a lazy river.
Woman body slammed in Houstonโs Chinatown jugging attack sues Dun Huang Plaza
Nhung Truong, a 44-year-old single mother of three who was left paralyzed from the waist down following a robbery at Houstonโs Dun Huang Plaza on Feb. 13, 2023, along with her legal representatives, held a press briefing at 1:30 p.m. at the Chinese Community Center located at 9800 Town Park Drive, Houston.
Water bill hike coming. So what is the city doing with that extra money?
Houstonโs water rates are going up again in less than two weeks on April 1st. Itโs the fourth increase since September of 2021. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains how much you can expect your bill to increase and what the city is doing with the extra money.
DRAINED: Thousands of water customers can now see water usage by the hour
As the Houston water department replaces remote read sensors on every water meter in the city, customers will have access to a new portal where they can see how much water they are using hour by hour. The portal also lets you set alerts that will be sent to your phone or email warning you if you exceed a certain number of gallons in a day, week or month. This article explains who has access to the portal and how to set up your account.
Houston mayorโs statement on near decade of crime data manipulation echoes KPRC2 Investigates report
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said today that he believes crime data for the city has been manipulated for nearly the past decade, but he vowed to get to the bottom of whoever is responsible. He also vows to fix the issue.
Who is on the independent committee reviewing the Houston Police Departmentโs handling of suspended cases?
Joining forces to uncover the truth! Mayor John Whitmire has announced the formation of an Independent Review Committee to investigate the suspended cases scandal involving the Houston Police Department.
Who will be in charge of the new water bill relief plan? Hereโs what we know
Houston Mayor John Whitmire is sharing new details about a plan to help frustrated water customers. He gave an exclusive interview to Investigative reporter Amy Davis. โDRAINEDโ has been investigating the water department for nearly two years trying to help many of you deal with excessive and confusing water bills. But we wanted to know, who will be in charge?
โDRAINEDโ Results: Homeowner finally in new home after massive water bill issue
For the first time in nearly six years a Houston victim of hurricane Harvey is waking up in her own bed in a brand new home. It wasnโt just the floodwaters that kept Julia Benjamin from getting back home. A $39,000 City of Houston water bill almost kept her from getting the new home she qualified for from the Texas General Land office.
Hereโs what Houston City Council has to say about Houston Police Department investigation scandal
On Tuesday, KPRC 2 Investigates reached out to the offices of all City of Houston Council Members for a reaction to the Houston Police Department suspending more than 260,000 cases, including 4,000 sexual assault cases, as a result of a lack of manpower.
โWaste of taxpayerโs moneyโ: City spends money on trinkets amid water bill crisis
While Houston water customers wait for relief from inaccurate and unexplained high water bills thatโs left them โDRAINED,โ KPRC 2 Investigates has discovered the head of Houston Public Works, memorializing the department with trinkets weโre all paying for.
DRAINED: Here is how to tell if your Houston water meter has been upgraded
At the root of Houston's water bill crisis are tens of thousands of meter reading devices that are no longer functioning. More are failing every day. While Houston Public Works plans to replace the remote read devices on all 500,000 water meters, it is a slow process. We asked for the records to find out where they have already installed approximately 85,000. The water department won't alert you before they replace yours, and you may not even notice a difference when they do. In this video, we show you how you can tell if you have an old remote read sensor or a new one.
Houstonians waiting for โanother shoe to dropโ after former city director William-Paul Thomas sentenced to prison
Waiting for โanother shoe to dropโ after former city director William-Paul Thomas sentenced to prison. City hall insiders, criminal defense attorneys, and Houstonians are concerned about whatโs next
Public Works has $46.3 million in extra revenue. So why raise water rates again?
Each week we in our โDRAINEDโ Investigation are showing you water bills for hundreds, even thousands of dollars that are โdrainingโ Houstonians. NEW TODAY: We are asking questions about the planned water bill increases and extra city money. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains why some are questioning whether the city needs the extra revenue.
DRAINED Results: Denied help for high water bill? Try again right now
KPRC 2 Investigates has exposed systemic meter reading and water billing issues at the city of Houston's water department for the past 2 years. Just this month, the water department used ordinance changes City Council approved in December to wipe out hundreds of high balances.
Houston area customers charged for water theyโre not using can pay one-time fee to have meter locked
Customers who have been hit when never-ending water bills by Houstonโs Public Works Department can see some relief if they are willing to pay a one-time fee of $150. KPRC 2 Investigates have been working closely with the Public Works Department, the city of Houston, and local officials to get answers on the ongoing charges.
City of Houston says water systems stable after freeze but expects increase in demand due to leaks as pipes thaw
Officials with the Houston Public Works stated that the cityโs water systems are stable following the three-day freeze but they expect to see an increase in water demand as pipes begin to thaw out and possibly cause leaks.
LIVE: Mayor Whitmire joins Houston-area public safety leaders to provide update on winter storm
Mayor John Whitmire will join leaders Tuesday from the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, Houston Public Works, the Office of Emergency Management, and others to provide an update on the weather conditions and the cityโs preparedness and response operations.
Change in direction in project leadership at Bush Intercontinental Airport involving the controversial ITRP project
KPRC 2 Investigates has learned the redevelopment of the controversial International Terminal Redevelopment Project (ITRP) at Bush Intercontinental Airport is looking for a new executive to complete the project. This comes at a time when the project has experienced massive delays and seen its budget skyrocket over the last decade.