Houston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a 2021 budget that includes a $20 million increase for the Houston Police Department, as the sounds of hundreds of protesters demanding reforms outside City Hall could be heard from inside the council chambers.Protesters chanted slogans like “we have nothing to lose but our chains,” and held signs critical of the Houston police and Chief Art Acevedo, with many echoing calls across the country to defund the police after the death of George Floyd. Despite that pushback, Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday said the decision to...…Houston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a 2021 budget that includes a $20 million increase for the Houston Police Department, as the sounds of hundreds of protesters demanding reforms outside City Hall could be heard from inside the council chambers.Protesters chanted slogans like “we have nothing to lose but our chains,” and held signs critical of the Houston police and Chief Art Acevedo, with many echoing calls across the country to defund the police after the death of George Floyd. Despite that pushback, Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday said the decision to...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…

More than 45,000 incarcerated people have gotten sick with COVID-19 in federal detention since the start of the pandemic. Monty Shelton is one of them.Shelton, who’s incarcerated at the Bastrop Federal Correction Institution in almost total lockdown, was diagnosed in November. There was nothing he could do to stop it, he said: Though the prison took the pandemic seriously, they couldn’t do much more than take temperature checks. He said they removed access to ice and hot water machines, arguing they could be “super spreader” areas. Meals were delivered. Showers were limited to a few minutes...…More than 45,000 incarcerated people have gotten sick with COVID-19 in federal detention since the start of the pandemic. Monty Shelton is one of them.Shelton, who’s incarcerated at the Bastrop Federal Correction Institution in almost total lockdown, was diagnosed in November. There was nothing he could do to stop it, he said: Though the prison took the pandemic seriously, they couldn’t do much more than take temperature checks. He said they removed access to ice and hot water machines, arguing they could be “super spreader” areas. Meals were delivered. Showers were limited to a few minutes...WW…

Updated 1:08 p.m. CT SaturdayHouston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — who has now been accused of sexual assault in 22 separate lawsuits — is now under criminal investigation, according to the Houston Police Department.HPD revealed late Friday afternoon that someone filed a report against Watson earlier in the day. Details of the investigation were not immediately available.HPD Statement— Houston Police (@houstonpolice)In a statement, Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin said the NFL star would cooperate with the investigation.“We welcome this long overdue development,” Hardin said. “Now we...…Updated 1:08 p.m. CT SaturdayHouston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — who has now been accused of sexual assault in 22 separate lawsuits — is now under criminal investigation, according to the Houston Police Department.HPD revealed late Friday afternoon that someone filed a report against Watson earlier in the day. Details of the investigation were not immediately available.HPD Statement— Houston Police (@houstonpolice)In a statement, Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin said the NFL star would cooperate with the investigation.“We welcome this long overdue development,” Hardin said. “Now we...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…

Updated 5:55 p.m. CTThe Federal Highway Administration has asked Texas’ transportation department to halt construction on an Interstate 45 expansion project, citing civil rights concerns.The news comes the same day Harris County announced it was suing the Texas Department of Transportation over the North Houston Highway Improvement Project.In its letter to TxDOT, the FHWA said it was acting in response to public input on the state’s project — which would widen I-45 in three segments from downtown Houston to Beltway 8 — raising concerns under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well...…Updated 5:55 p.m. CTThe Federal Highway Administration has asked Texas’ transportation department to halt construction on an Interstate 45 expansion project, citing civil rights concerns.The news comes the same day Harris County announced it was suing the Texas Department of Transportation over the North Houston Highway Improvement Project.In its letter to TxDOT, the FHWA said it was acting in response to public input on the state’s project — which would widen I-45 in three segments from downtown Houston to Beltway 8 — raising concerns under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well...WW…

To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:XCounty leaders on Friday will debate a proposal to leave the power grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, after ERCOT has come under fire for its role in sustained power outages that left millions without heat and electricity amid the winter storm.Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia asked the county attorney to look into what power he and his fellow commissioners have to pull Harris County out of the state’s power grid. In a letter to Judge Lina Hidalgo and his fellow commissioners, Garcia wrote that...…To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code:XCounty leaders on Friday will debate a proposal to leave the power grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, after ERCOT has come under fire for its role in sustained power outages that left millions without heat and electricity amid the winter storm.Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia asked the county attorney to look into what power he and his fellow commissioners have to pull Harris County out of the state’s power grid. In a letter to Judge Lina Hidalgo and his fellow commissioners, Garcia wrote that...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…