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Support for ranked-choice voting is growing
By Bill King | Nov 16, 2022
Voters in seven states voted on a record ten ranked-choice voting (RCV) initiatives last week, including proposal to use RCV for most elections in the state of Nevada.
Texas dialysis patients under 65 need help getting coverage
By Hal Cherry | Nov 3, 2022
I've had a progressive kidney disease for several years and my doctor eventually referred me to a nephrologist to help manage my kidney health.
Violent crime in Harris County
By Bill King | Sep 26, 2022
Last week, Houston Chronicle’s Jasper Scherer wrote a solid article on recent crime statistics in Harris County. It was a nuanced examination of the data, and he found a new Texas crime database I had not previously seen.
Texas' corporate welfare scheme decreases grid reliability, shrouds property tax pain
By Bill Peacock | Sep 20, 2022
Last year pressure from both progressives and conservatives resulted in the Texas Legislature failing to renew Chapter 313 - Texas' corporate-welfare clause
This is not bail reform - this is insanity
By Bill King | Sep 16, 2022
Last Wednesday, 37-year-old, Omar Ursin, went to pick up take-out for his family.
Mass shootings in America – Part 1
By Bill King | Sep 7, 2022
In 2017, two researchers, Jillian Peterson and James Densley, decided to conduct in-depth research on every mass shooting that had taken place in America.
Harris County funding for law enforcement
By Bill King | Sep 6, 2022
For the most part, I find the “defunding the police” debate little more than partisan rhetoric which serves more to obfuscate than elucidate any meaningful discussion about the appropriate level of law enforcement funding.
Beating the odds isn’t a matter of chance
By Bob Hall | Aug 11, 2022
I was elated to read about a Houston oncologist’s recent breakthrough in treatments for people living with late-stage cancers
The economic costs of trauma are greater than you think
By Cathe Dykstra | Jul 25, 2022
Trauma is costing America hundreds of billions of dollars.
Harris County property tax revenues were up by 7% last year
By Bill King | Jul 18, 2022
The Harris County Auditor’s Office recently released its monthly report for February 2022, which is the County’s fiscal year end.
There’s never been a more urgent moment for youth civic engagement
By Tommy Wan | Jul 7, 2022
The issues facing my generation often feel insurmountable: gun violence; climate change; systemic discrimination—it’s hard to focus on anything else.
Suicide in America
By Bill King | Jun 27, 2022
Over the last 20 years, nearly a million Americans have taken their own lives.
'The lady doth protest too much, methinks'
By Bill King | May 24, 2022
In a jaw-dropping tweet and press conference last week, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that she expects to be indicted in connection with the now infamous vaccine outreach contract scandal.At a press conference, Hidalgo went much further, calling out Harris County District Attorney and fellow Democrat, Kim Ogg, for conducting a “politically motivated” investigation.
It is time for Chapters 312 and 313 to come to an end
By Bill Peacock | May 24, 2022
Property tax abatements under Chapters 312 and 313 of the Texas Tax Code allow counties, cities, school districts, and special purpose districts to reduce the amount of taxes paid by favored businesses that locate or expand within their geographic boundaries.
How tobacco harm reduction could save Texans' lives
By Markus Lindblad | May 3, 2022
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent a draft menthol ban rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for their consideration and feedback.
Harris County Commissioners to consider $40,000 per month for no-bid contract for 'executive protection services'
By Bill King | Apr 25, 2022
On tomorrow’s Commissioners Court agenda (Item No. 201) is a request from the Purchasing Department to approve a no-bid contract to XMi Protection, LLC for three months of “executive protection services for the Harris County Office of County Administration” at a cost of $121,000.
County paid $885,000 on the vaccine contract after Hidalgo decided to cancel it
By Bill King | Apr 18, 2022
The more we learn about Harris County’s vaccine outreach contract, the more it stinks.
Op-ed: Houston controller sounds alarm
By Charles Blain | Apr 7, 2022
Houston Controller Chris Brown sounded an alarm saying that the city’s structural imbalance in its budget is getting “much bigger, rather than smaller” and he was concerned about what could happen once federal relief dollars run out.
Increased oil exports will benefit Americans
By Bill Peacock | Mar 30, 2022
Americans have recently become painfully aware of the international scope of oil markets.
Houston still facing financial hurdles
By Charles Blain | Mar 30, 2022
Houston finances have long been bad, but the city’s elected officials often try to brush over claims by saying that they pass balanced budgets.