Harris County has opened up 55,000 new first-come, first-served vaccination appointments next week after an unexpected drop in local demand.Vaccine supply had lagged demand for months, as fewer doses were coming in to the county than doses available. But recently, that rush in demand has dropped, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.“Some of it is vaccine hesitancy,” Hidalgo said. “Part of it, of course, may be community concerns stemming from the fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has now had to be paused.”The county’s launched Friday.Just about 25% of the region is...…Harris County has opened up 55,000 new first-come, first-served vaccination appointments next week after an unexpected drop in local demand.Vaccine supply had lagged demand for months, as fewer doses were coming in to the county than doses available. But recently, that rush in demand has dropped, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.“Some of it is vaccine hesitancy,” Hidalgo said. “Part of it, of course, may be community concerns stemming from the fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has now had to be paused.”The county’s launched Friday.Just about 25% of the region is...WW…

In Houston’s historically Black Third Ward Tuesday afternoon, a crowd gathered around George Floyd’s mural, where a black-and-white, winged image of Floyd is surrounded by a halo with the words: “Forever Breathing In Our Hearts.”But for the first time in almost a year, the mood outside the Scott Food Mart at 3341 Winbern St. was not one of grief, but of celebration: Derek Chauvin — the Minneapolis Police Officer who put his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck last year for more than nine minutes as the man shouted “I can’t breathe” — had just been .Larry Masters, 60, said it came as a surprise...…In Houston’s historically Black Third Ward Tuesday afternoon, a crowd gathered around George Floyd’s mural, where a black-and-white, winged image of Floyd is surrounded by a halo with the words: “Forever Breathing In Our Hearts.”But for the first time in almost a year, the mood outside the Scott Food Mart at 3341 Winbern St. was not one of grief, but of celebration: Derek Chauvin — the Minneapolis Police Officer who put his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck last year for more than nine minutes as the man shouted “I can’t breathe” — had just been .Larry Masters, 60, said it came as a surprise...WW…

Harris County unveiled new voting machines on Wednesday featuring touch screens, multiple languages, and a paper audit trail that county leaders said would provide greater security in future elections.The county began seeking new modern, easier-to-use voting machines about two years ago. With the new machine, voters will get a paper copy of their ballot, to verify selections before submitting them into a secure ballot box onsite.The machines come from Hart InterCivic, the same company Harris County has used since 2000.“This is a promise that Harris County made to voters, to go to a paper...…Harris County unveiled new voting machines on Wednesday featuring touch screens, multiple languages, and a paper audit trail that county leaders said would provide greater security in future elections.The county began seeking new modern, easier-to-use voting machines about two years ago. With the new machine, voters will get a paper copy of their ballot, to verify selections before submitting them into a secure ballot box onsite.The machines come from Hart InterCivic, the same company Harris County has used since 2000.“This is a promise that Harris County made to voters, to go to a paper...WW…

Harris County has administered more than one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and just over 12% of the county's population is now fully vaccinated, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday.Roughly 750,000 people have passed through the county’s vaccine waitlist, half of which come from zip codes targeted by Harris County Public Health. The county has placed heavy emphasis on vaccinating residents in zip codes deemed most vulnerable, based on the CDC's social vulnerability index."Harris County has reason to be proud, and hopeful of where we're headed with our efforts to vaccinate...…Harris County has administered more than one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and just over 12% of the county's population is now fully vaccinated, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday.Roughly 750,000 people have passed through the county’s vaccine waitlist, half of which come from zip codes targeted by Harris County Public Health. The county has placed heavy emphasis on vaccinating residents in zip codes deemed most vulnerable, based on the CDC's social vulnerability index."Harris County has reason to be proud, and hopeful of where we're headed with our efforts to vaccinate...WW…

Outgoing Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo on Tuesday blamed Harris County leaders and the local criminal justice system for a spike in murders over the past year, just a day after confirming he was leaving his position to lead the Miami Police Department.With violent crime increasing in the city, Acevedo had harsh words for the current criminal justice system in Houston, blaming judges, the district attorney, and “people who run the county that don't care enough to actually fight back.""A suggestion: If you want to march, and you want to save lives, let's march on the criminal courts...…Outgoing Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo on Tuesday blamed Harris County leaders and the local criminal justice system for a spike in murders over the past year, just a day after confirming he was leaving his position to lead the Miami Police Department.With violent crime increasing in the city, Acevedo had harsh words for the current criminal justice system in Houston, blaming judges, the district attorney, and “people who run the county that don't care enough to actually fight back.""A suggestion: If you want to march, and you want to save lives, let's march on the criminal courts...WW…

Harris County and the city of Houston are expected to receive more than $1.5 billion combined in federal aid, after President Joe Biden signed into law on Thursday.Houston is projected to receive roughly $615 million, with Harris County expected to take in more than $900 million.City officials said roughly half the money will be available for distribution in 2021, with the other half coming in 2022."It is huge for the city of Houston," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "I certainly want to thank the Biden administration for really stepping up."The funding comes just as Houston prepared to...…Harris County and the city of Houston are expected to receive more than $1.5 billion combined in federal aid, after President Joe Biden signed into law on Thursday.Houston is projected to receive roughly $615 million, with Harris County expected to take in more than $900 million.City officials said roughly half the money will be available for distribution in 2021, with the other half coming in 2022."It is huge for the city of Houston," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "I certainly want to thank the Biden administration for really stepping up."The funding comes just as Houston prepared to...WW…

At a University of Houston vaccination site on Wednesday, nurses helped administer doses to students and faculty who qualified under Texas' current coronavirus vaccination plan.It was just one day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was lifting COVID-19 restrictions — including a mask mandate — and student volunteers from the College of Nursing were concerned. Some were scared. Others accused the governor of playing politics with the virus.Nursing student Jenna Riley said the move was premature. And she questioned its timing, so soon after a winter storm that left millions of Texans without...…At a University of Houston vaccination site on Wednesday, nurses helped administer doses to students and faculty who qualified under Texas' current coronavirus vaccination plan.It was just one day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was lifting COVID-19 restrictions — including a mask mandate — and student volunteers from the College of Nursing were concerned. Some were scared. Others accused the governor of playing politics with the virus.Nursing student Jenna Riley said the move was premature. And she questioned its timing, so soon after a winter storm that left millions of Texans without...WW…

Updated 6:40 p.m. CTAt least 126,000 people will get vaccinated at NRG Park over the next six weeks at a new FEMA vaccination site that city and county officials on Monday said would prioritize the region’s most vulnerable communities.The site will administer 6,000 first doses per day for three weeks, before switching to second doses for the next three weeks, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Both the city and county have also set priorities for how to increase vaccine equity across the region.The news comes a week after a winter storm that left millions without power and...…Updated 6:40 p.m. CTAt least 126,000 people will get vaccinated at NRG Park over the next six weeks at a new FEMA vaccination site that city and county officials on Monday said would prioritize the region’s most vulnerable communities.The site will administer 6,000 first doses per day for three weeks, before switching to second doses for the next three weeks, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Both the city and county have also set priorities for how to increase vaccine equity across the region.The news comes a week after a winter storm that left millions without power and...WW…