Will HFD recruiting efforts help quelch its overtime overload? Houston Fire Department has a year-long waiting list for the first time in around 20 years thanks to increased recruiting efforts.

🔥NEW: Houston Fire Department recruitment is at an all-time high, and the wait list to join is a year long for the first time in 20 years.

Will increased recruitment efforts help stave the department's issue with overtime spending? www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... @houstonchronicle.com

Houston Solid Waste officials blame aging fleet for weeks-long recycling delay Houston City Council recently rubber stamped the purchase of around 34 new recycling trucks, which officials hope will help curb the issue.

♻️ Is your recycling behind? There's a reason for that.

Houston officials say they're down about 50 trucks due to wear and tear. Solid Waste so far this month has notched more than 5,700 complaints about missed recycling pickup. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Whitmire may have to report on nixed projects under new council member policy While one council member said the proposal didn't have to do with the mayor, it comes after Whitmire canceled numerous projects without a council alert.

NEW: Houston Mayor John Whitmire may soon be required to give monthly reports to each council member on projects that have changed in their districts.

The proposal from a council member comes after elected officials expressed communication concerns. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Houston to put $50M federal dollars toward repairing housing following Beryl The news comes after the city initially opted to put $0 of $315 million it had received to recover from storms toward housing.

BREAKING: Houston Mayor John Whitmire announces city will be asking HUD to put $50M of its $315M in disaster recovery dollars toward housing after residents and advocates expressed concerns about an initial $0 allocation. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Houston lost 24,000 years of experience in Whitmire's retirement program The mayor offered the retirement program in March in a pitch to save the city money. At the time, Houston was contending with a $330 million deficit.

NEW: Houston City Hall lost 24,000 years of institutional knowledge through Mayor Whitmire's retirement program aimed at cutting costs.

One employee was with the city for 56 years. Another employee had only worked there for 53 days. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Whitmire says letter describing 'riots’ isn't representative of Houston protests Ahead of the weekend ICE protest planned at Houston City Hall, local leaders respond to an offer from U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt to send federal help to Houston.

NEW: Mayor John Whitmire today said a letter from U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt regarding sending federal aid to Houston amid the LA "riots" was "not representative" of Houston protests. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

How Houston's tax rate compares to Dallas, Austin and other Texas cities Houston boasts the second lowest tax rate of Texas' five largest cities, beat only by Austin.

Houston's tax rate is one of the lowest of Texas' large cities. See how Dallas and Austin compare, via @abbschurch.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Residents say elected officials aren't prepared for storms in Kinder survey The Kinder Institute's survey comes after a disastrous 2024 storm season for the Houston region in which 2.2 million people lost power.

Residents tired of being 'Houston Strong' now say local elected officials aren't prepared for storms, via @abbschurch.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Controller Hollins won’t certify $7B budget until judge rules on drainage plan Whitmire proposed a $7 billion budget earlier this month complete with a payment plan on a longstanding street and drainage lawsuit.

Controller Chris Hollins won’t certify Whitmire’s $7B budget until judge OKs drainage payment plan, via @abbschurch.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Exclusive: Dem leaders scold John Whitmire over Dan Crenshaw fundraiser plans Whitmire, a Democrat, is supposed to appear at a fundraiser Tuesday evening for GOP U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

EXCLUSIVE: ~30 chairs @harriscodemocrats.bsky.social have signed a resolution admonishing Mayor Whitmire for his upcoming appearance at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

The resolution also aims to bar Whitmire from seeking the party's endorsement. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Meet Houston Controller Chris Hollins in a live virtual event Chronicle readers are invited to join a private Zoom with the Houston Controller, who is an elected Chief Financial Officer.

Some exciting news @houstonchronicle.com ahead of Houston's upcoming budget season💰 I’m interviewing Controller Chris Hollins about the growing $330M deficit and what to expect as officials look for solutions LIVE on April 22. 🎥💥

Sign up to watch here: www.houstonchronicle.com/events/artic...

Abbott sets date for special election to replace Turner in Congress The congressional seat has been open since Turner's death on March 5 following health complications.

News in the #TX18 race: Gov. Abbott has set a special election date.

The announcement comes more than a month after U.S. Rep. Turner's death, and three lawsuit threats from the House Democrats, TX Democrats and
@cdmenefee.bsky.social. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... @houstonchronicle.com

Invited guest at U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw's upcoming event raises eyebrows Houston Mayor John Whitmire has been known for making inroads in both political parties throughout his career.

So why IS Houston Mayor John Whitmire, a Democrat, listed as a "special guest" for a recently announced event for GOP U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw?🤔

The answer shouldn't really shock you, experts told me: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Christian Menefee threatens lawsuit against Abbott for stalling special election Gov. Abbott has yet to call a special election 26 days after the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

NEW: @cdmenefee.bsky.social threatens legal action against Gov. Greg Abbott if he continues to stall calling an election to fill the open #TX18 seat.

"Your silence is suppression. Your doing nothing is disenfranchising our community.” www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... @houstonchronicle.com

Houston’s Solid Waste director has resigned, Whitmire’s office confirms Wilfalk has been the director of Houston's Solid Waste department since October 2021.

BREAKING: Mayor John Whitmire has accepted Houston Solid Waste Director Mark Wilfalk's resignation, he wrote in a memo to council members this afternoon.

Wilfalk had led the long-troubled city department since Oct. 2021. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Houston delays disparity study vote to glean more feedback ahead of litigation The disparity study came under fire last week after local business owners and officials questioned its accuracy.

NEW: Houston council delayed its vote on a disparity study officials plan to use in a lawsuit attempting to eradicate the city's minority contracting program.

The study hit roadblocks last week due to accuracy concerns. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Mayor Whitmire expands efficiency study to public works, controller's office The efficiency study has already swept across the city's 22 departments in search of savings and improvements.

NEW: Houston council voted today to expand Mayor John Whitmire's comb of city finances and operations into Houston Public Works and the controller's office. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Houston leaders are questioning the accuracy of the city’s new disparity study The study was commissioned by city leaders to help protect its minority business program in a lawsuit attempting to eradicate it.

NEW: Houston is facing a lawsuit attempting to eradicate its minority business opportunity program.

And now, a disparity study commissioned to help bolster the city’s case is facing questions of accuracy. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Protesters ask Whitmire to pick up the pace on drainage projects The Texas Supreme Court in January denied the city's appeal in a lawsuit requiring Houston to put millions more toward streets and drainage.

New: Protesters on Wednesday stood on the steps of Houston City Hall and asked Mayor John Whitmire's team to pick up the pace on discussions surrounding the city's denied drainage appeal and when the cash will come down. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Former Houston council member announces bid to replace Sylvester Turner Former Houston council member Amanda Edwards also ran in the race against Sylvester Turner.

Also in the race: Former Houston council member Amanda Edwards, who announced her campaign today. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Menefee backed by some of state's top Democrats in congressional campaign In his campaign's first 24 hours, Menefee has raised more than $200,000 from 5,000 donors, his team announced Tuesday.

Menefee's first 24 hours came with a "stunning" fundraising effort. His team says they raised $100,000 in the first six hours, ending with $200,000 from around 5,000 people by the day's end. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Menefee’s congressional bid means he has to step down as county attorney Menefee's congressional bid triggers a Texas law that ousts him from his position as county attorney.

Under TX law, Menefee's filing meant he automatically resigned as county attorney. What comes next?

✅Commissioners will meet to vote on his replacement
✅A Nov. '26 election to fill the seat
✅A Nov. '28 election to get the seat back in its reg cycle www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee vying for Sylvester Turner's House seat Christian Menefee's filing for the U.S. Congress position comes hours after Sylvester Turner's funeral in west Houston.

The first to file to replace Turner was Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, who submitted his papers hours after Turner's west Houston funeral on Saturday. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...

Hello Bluesky! Gotta get better at using this.

So what have I been tracking? We're back in another #TX18 race following U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner's death March 5. He took over the seat for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee following her death in July.

Some updates so far: 🧵 via @houstonchronicle.com

Local Government Editor Local Government Editor We’re seeking a Local Government editor with a sharp news sense and the ability to spearhead top-notch breaking news and accountability reporting in Houston City Hall, Harris C...

🚨@houstonchronicle.com is searching for its next local government editor🚨

There’s no shortage of interesting stories in Houston and Harris County politics. Another plus: you’ll get to edit me!

Apply apply apply: eevd.fa.us6.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for the entire Houston area as we get closer to locking in a snowstorm In brief: There have been few changes to the overall forecast today, with higher resolution modeling now coming into range on this storm and essentially validating most of what we’ve seen to …

There are few changes to the forecast today. A legitimate, rare winter storm, with primarily snow and sleet is likely to impact most of the Houston area tomorrow night and Tuesday, causing significant travel disruption through at least Wednesday morning.

#houwx #housky

Houston officials plan to open warming centers during cold front The city of Houston only opens warming centers when the weather reaches 24 degrees for two hours or more.

NEW: Mayor John Whitmire said Wednesday city leaders "worked around" a stringent policy dictating when Houston opens warming centers to provide shelter during last week's cold front, but did not say whether the policy would be revised. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... @houstonchronicle.com

Why Houston didn’t open warming centers during this week’s freeze Houston, which doesn't typically experience cold weather, has the most stringent guidelines for opening warming centers compared to other Texas cities.

NEW: Houston is one of the few Texas metros that hasn't opened warming centers during this recent cold snap. ❄️

The reason? Houston has the most stringent warming facility opening threshold of all the major cities. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com

Abbott said to be exploring deal to send Houston water to West Texas Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the idea could help the city shore up its crumbling infrastructure.

NEW: Gov. Greg Abbott is supposedly in talks with Houston Mayor John Whitmire about buying Houston's excess water. Will local officials use the request as a bargaining chip to fix the city's weakening water infrastructure? www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... via @houstonchronicle.com

Houston, Harris Co. to receive $382M for Kingwood flooding, Beryl Houston will receive around $315 million. Harris County will get another $67 million.

BREAKING: Houston, Harris County set to receive $382M from the Biden administration for Hurricane Beryl, flooding recovery: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou... via @houstonchronicle.com