GENE WU

The Houston mayor called movement on the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Rights Advancement Act "a defining moment."

On Tuesday's show: Does natural immunity developed from a previous COVID infection provide anywhere near the same protection as a vaccine? And what kind of immunity do people really have after recovering?

A Texas Republican candidate for the House of Representatives has ignited controversy after calling for a ban on Chinese students from universities in the state. “Chinese students should be BANNED from attending all Texas universities,” Shelley Luther originally wrote in a since-revised tweet. In subsequent tweets, Luther went on to say the state’s taxpayers “should not be subsidizing the next generation of CCP [Chinese Communist Party] leaders” and that it is “common sense” that CCP members “should not have access to our schools.”

The Dallas salon owner recently tweeted “Chinese students should be BANNED from attending all Texas universities”

Luther became nationally known at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 when she refused to shut down her Dallas salon in defiance of emergency orders. She was sentenced to a week in jail but was released after only a few days.

Texas House wants to use federal COVID relief funds to send $525 checks — but only to homeowners.

Republican lawmakers have faced pressure to provide some form of property tax relief this year. Critics of a new proposal say it’s politically timed.

The Texas Supreme Court cleared the way for absent House Democrats’ civil arrests after it temporarily blocked Harris County judges’ orders protecting them from such a move.

Governor Greg Abbott and other state leaders have engineered a temporary fix, but Abbott’s veto of the Legislature’s budget may have permanent ramifications for the balance of power in Texas politics.

State Rep. Gene Wu of Houston will temporarily avoid civil arrest if law enforcement tracks down Texas House Democrats that are still absent from the chamber.

Wu said he was working to have the same protections granted to other House Democrats who left the state capitol to block GOP-backed voting legislation.

On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott continued to hammer members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, who are breaking quorum in Washington, D.C.

Democratic members of the Harris County Delegation discussed why Texas Democrats broke quorum and talked about what their next plans are during a virtual meeting Tuesday.

Local health experts were concerned that the arrival of the highly contagious Delta variant of the disease coupled with the Fourth of July holiday weekend could be the source of another spike in local cases, as folks gathered with loved ones to grill and watch fireworks in a community with a still disconcertingly...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sheltered in a downtown D.C. hotel, the Democratic lawmakers who left Texas to block a restrictive voting bill are living a life of stress and scrutiny.

Sheltered in a downtown D.C. hotel, the Democratic lawmakers who left Texas to block a restrictive voting bill are living a life of stress and scrutiny. After bolting the state Monday in order to sabotage the bill by denying a quorum in the Texas House of Representatives, the more than 50 state legislators find themselves balancing a punishing schedule of political lobbying, outside work and family obligations, all under a national spotlight. Many have left young children behind; most have other professional obligations back in Texas.

Sheltered in a downtown D.

Sheltered in a downtown D.C. hotel, the Democratic lawmakers who left Texas to block a restrictive voting bill are living a life of stress and scrutiny. After bolting the state Monday in order to sabotage the bill by denying a quorum in the Texas House of Representatives, the more than 50 state legislators find themselves balancing a punishing schedule of political lobbying, outside work and family obligations, all under a national spotlight. Many have left young children behind; most have other professional obligations back in Texas.

Gene Wu mocks Fox News for reporting on what he had for dinner with humorous response

Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu called in from Washington D.C., while Republican state Rep. Mayes Middleton was in Austin, waiting for his Democratic colleagues to return.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s move will primarily affect the more than 2,100 full-time employees at the Texas Capitol -- not the lawmakers he intended to punish.

Several Texas lawmakers were briefed Wednesday on the status of our state’s power grid. Gov. Greg Abbott also spoke about the recent calls for energy conservation after several power generators went offline for unexpected maintenance.

Texas lawmakers are seeking to place harsher penalties on those caught selling or buying stolen catalytic converters, KSAT reported.

AUSTIN, Texas — Ending a turbulent 140-day ride, the Texas Legislature gaveled its 87th regular session to a close Monday after a chaotic Memorial Day weekend — and the prospect of more to come with at least one special session in sight.

‘This is petty and tone-deaf even for Texas’

The legislative session at the Capitol comes to a close on Monday, and the power supply system in Texas is as vulnerable as ever.

The Democrats delayed and deflected as they tried to run out the clock on bills they oppose. Republicans strategized to push through bills they’d worked on all session.

Hours after canceling its emergency conservation notice issued Tuesday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued another advisory warning of a potential shortage of reserve power Wednesday.

Graphic details from 14th lawsuit filed against Deshaun Watson The massage therapist alleges Deshaun Watson warned her to never talk about what happened. The most amazing furniture designed by local Houston artisans Check out what Houston furniture artisans are working on and take home something no one else...

On Tuesday’s show: The latest on sexual assault allegations against Deshaun Watson, State Rep. Gene Wu answers your questions, we reflect on the women of the Bush family, and how music venues are returning to staging concerts. On Tuesday’s Houston Matters: We get an update on sexual assault allegations against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Also this hour: State Rep. Gene Wu addresses recent hate crimes against Asian Americans across the nation and answers your questions. And we learn what local music venues are doing to safely return to staging concerts. Subscribe to Today in Houston Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.

Houston police are now intensifying patrols in Asian communities around Houston in the wake of Tuesday's Atlanta massage parlor murders. "To our Asian community, @houston police is closely monitoring threat environment, and currently there are no specific threats. Outrage and fear have now spread across the nation after eight people were killed and one was wounded in the Tuesday massage parlor attacks. Since the pandemic began, authorities have seen an uptick in Anti-Asian hate crimes across the country. HPD released this statement on Twitter about the crimes targeting Asian Americans, reassuring Houstonians of increasing patrols.

Houston police are now intensifying patrols in Asian communities around Houston in the wake of Tuesday's Atlanta massage parlor murders. "To our Asian community, @houston police is closely monitoring threat environment, and currently there are no specific threats. Outrage and fear have now spread across the nation after eight people were killed and one was wounded in the Tuesday massage parlor attacks. Since the pandemic began, authorities have seen an uptick in Anti-Asian hate crimes across the country. HPD released this statement on Twitter about the crimes targeting Asian Americans, reassuring Houstonians of increasing patrols.

HOUSTON – Houston police stepped up patrols in Asiatown Wednesday in the wake of the Atlanta massage parlor murders. HPD said they have not seen an increase in hate crimes against Asians in Houston, but continue to monitor for threats. “We were dreading the day when there would be a mass shooting of Asian Americans and unfortunately that day has come,” he said. You don’t know when it’s going to happen or where it’s going to happen,” said Ellas Seto. According to the nonprofit group, Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate, there have been at least 503 reports of racist incidents against Asian Americans so far in 2021.

A national group monitoring violence and discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities has logged almost 4,000 incidents during the pandemic. "It's meant to be derogatory," said Wu, who introduced a resolution Monday condemning the rise of anti-Asian racism in Texas. And [Asian communities] know that this puts a target on our backs." Incidents of violence and harassment aimed at AAPI — or Asian American and Pacific Islander — communities have spiked during the pandemic. A national group monitoring violence and discrimination against AAPI communities logged almost 4,000 incidents from March 2020 to February of this year.

HOUSTON – Frustration is still boiling over the deadly freeze that ravaged Texas last month. A freeze, that according to ERCOT’s records, show’s a large number of facilities in the state going down. Some of them are the same ones that went down during a paralyzing North Texas freeze in 2011. Ten years ago, as a state senator, Hager authored legislation requiring the winterization of generators to avoid future failures. Ad“It’s the same lessons learned,” said deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas, Michael Webber.

HOUSTON – Texas Senate and House hearings are only the beginning of the investigations into our state’s power grid failures during a blistering winter storm. Ten days after the winter storm blanketed Texas, Anderson still has no water in her Yorkdale neighborhood home in Northwest Houston. Like millions of Texans, Anderson lost power as temperatures dropped, pipes in the ceiling froze and then cracked. Hearings in the House and Senate will start the work to get those answers. We should have taken action then, what prevented that from happening, why did we not take the action?”

Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast . First, Representative Gene Wu, Texas House of Representatives District 137, walks us through the “cascade” of problems that caused multiple generators to go out without back-ups in place. Including, water vapor inside natural gas generators that condensed and froze shutting down the machines and nuclear power plants whose cooling ponds froze, setting off automatic shutdowns. Also, Space City Weather meteorologist Eric Berger talks to us about what to expect in the next 24 hours, as freezing rain returns tonight. Subscribe to Today in Houston Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.

The new charges bring the total number of officers or former officers charged in connection with the investigation of the raid to 12. Oscar Pardo: Charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and first-degree tampering with a governmental record. Cedell Lovings: Charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and first-degree tampering with a governmental record. Nadeem Ashraf: Charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and first-degree tampering with a governmental record. New charges for officers already chargedSome of the charges announced Monday were new charges against officers who have already been charged in connection with an investigation of the Harding Street raid.

HOUSTON – It doesn’t matter if you live in downtown Houston or really anywhere across the state of Texas, if you’re someone who is wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine, chances are you’re probably anxious to get it. Recently, hospitals in the medical center have been sending out invites to those who are eligible to receive the vaccine, making many feel very fortunate to have already received the vaccine. District 146 Rep. Shawn Thierry is one of many lawmakers pushing for their community clinics and physicians to get vaccines. Greg Abbott to look into investigating why it was being distributed in an unproportionate way, noticing many African-American and Latino communities are a part of this. Lawmakers said they are suggesting the state open up drive-thru vaccination sites, to make it more accessible to those who currently don’t have the ability to get it.

HOUSTON – There are no less than 20 bills up for consideration regarding marijuana this legislative session in Texas but don’t bet the farm that any of them will become law. He said he believes that without the governor and lieutenant governor on board, marijuana legalization in Texas is destined for failure. “Criminal Justice Chair John Whitmire is right that HB63 is dead in the Texas Senate,” Texas Lt. Gov. In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a marijuana “Compassionate Use” law that allows doctor-prescribed low-THC-level marijuana to epilepsy patients. There are more bills up for consideration this legislative session that would further expand marijuana treatment options.

HOUSTON – A federal judge has derailed the City of Houston’s efforts to push a civil lawsuit regarding the deadly botched raid on Harding Street in federal court. The family is seeking to secure records from the Houston Police Department, including ballistic, as well as interviews with those involved in the deadly raid that killed Tuttle and Nicholas on Jan. 28, 2019. Every step of the way they are obviously happy that the court says no, we are not going to let this stay covered up. KPRC 2 Investigates exposed the botched raid was built on a fabricated warrant in February 2019. The deadly incident has resulted in several federal and state criminal indictments of HPD officers from that night, including murder charges for former narcotics officer Gerald Goines.

HOUSTON – For the first time in 36 years, State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) was forced into a runoff for his seat in State House District 142. That’s all that happened to them,” Dutton said, in reference to the voters of District 142. A candidate named Natasha Ruiz entered the Democratic primary hoping to defeat Dutton last March. “There is evidence that a person entered into the primary race, whose last name was not their last name,” Dutton said. “We, as elected officials, have to protect the integrity of the election process,” Dutton said, adding he also believes voters need to see accountability.

HOUSTON Texas lawmakers and family members of the two people killed in police raid more than a year ago will discuss Thursday a recently released audit of the Houston Police Departments narcotics division. Since then, a total of six officers and one civilian have been charged in connection with the raid. Prosecutors have said the warrant used to raid the home was obtained by an officer who lied on an affidavit. An audit released Wednesday showed there were more than 400 errors across more than 200 cases brought by the narcotics division. Wu said the lawmakers will also discuss legislation stemming from the raid that they plan to file in the next legislative session.

HOUSTON State and national lawmakers continue to push Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo for the release of an audit in the wake of the deadly botched Harding Street raid. One of the few people to actually see a redacted copy of the audit is state Representative Gene Wu, a Democrat representing the 137th district. Wu, along with state Senator Paul Bettancourt, was one of a handful of lawmakers who obtained a copy through legislative privilege. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Chief Acevedo said he would release the audit to the public if District Attorney Kim Ogg gave the okay. "We're looking to Chief Acevedo to hold up and do what he has said that he is willing to do," said Wu.

HOUSTON Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Friday morning that he is taking a look at the audit that the Houston Police Department has yet to make public. Since its completion, HPD has held the report close to its chest, even as Turner and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo have touted transparency. On Friday, with political pressure in Austin and in his backyard growing, Turner told Channel 2 Investigates the audit will be made available. I will say to Chief Acevedo and to HPD, with respect to that audit, we will make it available to our legislators, Turner said during a news conference. This is a public audit.

HOUSTON – State Rep. Gene Wu gets right to the point regarding his second letter calling on Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo to release a completed audit of the department’s narcotics division. Why are you hiding, if you have nothing to hide?” Wu told Channel 2 Investigates. The acronym consists of keywords that Acevedo relies on for law enforcement. The bottom line for him regarding this pivotal HPD audit is simple,” Rep. Garnett Coleman said. “The public has a right to know what is in that report.”There are six other state reps who signed Wu’s letter.

HOUSTON Houston police Chief Art Acevedo spoke to a national television audience Thursday night about transparency during an NBC News special. But just a few hours earlier, Houston Polie Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi had criticized Acevedo for his lack of transparency in a surprising statement. Ive said before and Ill say it again, I believe in transparency, Acevedo said last week. If the Chief is committed to transparency and he says it out loud then lets do it, Wu said. Pollard feels Acevedos "actions need to match his words.The Houston Police Officers Union sent all city council members and Mayor Sylvester Turner a statement calling for transparency from Acevedo.

Mayor Sylvester Turner ate at Ocean Palace Restaurant in Chinatown Thursday imploring Houstonians to "enjoy your life" and not let fear get the best of them. The Mayor visited Chinatown for lunch with State Representative Gene Wu, as well as his executive staff and community membersand not on the taxpayers dime. A show of confidence from the mayor of Houston could only be because a massive wrong is taking place the unfounded fear that by frequenting an Asian establishment, the coronavirus might be contracted. The rodeo is working daily with the Houston Health Department to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests. [This is affecting] not only the Asian community, the American community too, the food industry, the airline industry, says La.