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Hermann Park's trees are showing signs of heat, drought stress

Leaves are wilting, roots are drying out and the ground around the trees is cracking.

News

Barbers Hill student suspended over locs

The move comes as the Texas CROWN Act took effect earlier this month.

Ike Dike's progress is slow 15 years after hurricane

Wednesday marks the anniversary of Hurricane Ike's landfall.

Houston sees rise in hate crimes

Houston's hate crimes surged last year to their highest levels since 2002, according to a new report.

Houston mayoral candidates compare street improvement visions

Nine of 14 candidates spoke at a forum Saturday.

Transit

Houston&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mayoral candidates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/23/mayoral-candidates-november-election-houston" data-vars-content-id="af6c4715-df74-488c-81ce-264b89dc6932" data-vars-headline="Houston mayoral candidates compare street improvement visions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/23/mayoral-candidates-november-election-houston" target="_self">mayoral candidates</a> are offering a range of visions for how best to improve the Bayou City&#x27;s streets.Driving the news: Nine of 14 candidates spoke at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="forum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/LINKHouston/videos/348621337517556" data-vars-content-id="af6c4715-df74-488c-81ce-264b89dc6932" data-vars-headline="Houston mayoral candidates compare street improvement visions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/LINKHouston/videos/348621337517556" target="_blank">forum</a> on the topic organized by nonprofit LINK Houston on Saturday.

Nearly 200 people listen to Houston mayoral candidates 

Houston to host Republican National Convention in 2028

Officials said the convention will likely bring more than 50,000 visitors.

Houston will host the 2028 Republican National Convention.Driving the news: The Republican National Committee hosted a meeting Friday to select the host city where the GOP will officially choose its presidential candidate for 2028.

Declared mayoral candidates for the November election

Over a dozen candidates are vying for the Houston mayor position.

Politics

More than a dozen candidates are vying for the Houston mayor position in the upcoming November election.Driving the news: The deadline to file for a place on the ballot — for mayor, City Council and controller — was earlier this week.

Illustration of a political campaign button with the words MEET THE CANDIDATES on it. 

Flashback: Republican National Convention in Houston

Republicans held their national convention in Houston 31 years ago.

Republicans held their national convention in Houston 31 years ago Thursday, selecting Houstonian George H.W. Bush as their pick to take on Bill Clinton that November.<ul><li>Clinton ultimately won the presidency.</li></ul>

George H.W. Bush, flanked by Barbara Bush and young family members, waves to the crowd at the 1992 GOP convention in Houston

UH poll: Mayoral election voters prioritize crime, flooding

UH poll results show the issues that are greatest concerns for likely voters.

Voters think the next mayor should prioritize crime, flooding, road conditions and the economy, according to a University of Houston survey released this week.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="UH Hobby School of Public Affairs poll" data-vars-click-url="https://uh.edu/hobby/houston2023/policies.pdf" data-vars-content-id="b58779fd-93d2-4800-9f8a-2458680988cd" data-vars-headline="UH poll: Mayoral election voters prioritize crime, flooding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://uh.edu/hobby/houston2023/policies.pdf" target="_blank">UH Hobby School of Public Affairs poll</a> shows the issues that are the greatest concerns for likely voters ahead of November&#x27;s mayoral elections.

Illustration of the Houston skyline with word balloons with exclamation points in them popping up above it from left to right.

Texas leads in anti-trans bills

More than half of the bills are sponsored by Houston-area representatives.

Texas has more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="anti-transgender legislation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/18/gender-affirming-health-care-bans-transgender-lgbt" data-vars-content-id="69f78016-0e16-4418-955a-d106b4734e65" data-vars-headline="Texas leads in anti-trans bills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/18/gender-affirming-health-care-bans-transgender-lgbt" target="_self">anti-transgender legislation</a> filed this session than any other state, with 57 bills, and more than half of those are sponsored by Houston-area representatives.Driving the news: The flood of state-level efforts to restrict transgender rights is being fueled by many of the Christian and conservative groups that led the charge against Roe v. Wade.

Chart showing that Texas has 57 bills filed in 2023 vs. 16 in 2021. 

The fight in Texas to lower speed limits

Proposed legislation would allow cities to lower speed limits on residential streets to 20 mph.

It&#x27;s difficult for Texas cities to lower speed limits on residential streets, and a series of bills in the Texas Legislature aim to make it a bit easier.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate Bill 1663" data-vars-click-url="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&amp;Bill=SB1663" data-vars-content-id="3680660d-d2f0-4295-a700-3343fe2312af" data-vars-headline="The fight in Texas to lower speed limits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&amp;Bill=SB1663" target="_blank">Senate Bill 1663</a>, filed by Houston Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado, would allow cities to lower speed limits on residential streets to 20 mph without having to go through a series of costly traffic studies.

Illustration of a road sign with a snail icon on it.

What to know about Harris County's election challenges

Jim McIngvale is suing the county over election records.

With furniture mogul Jim McIngvale&#x27;s new lawsuit targeting public records from Harris County&#x27;s 2022 election, here&#x27;s your catch-up-quick on the long list of election challenges the county is facing in response to voting issues, including a paper shortage and late poll openings.Driving the news: McIngvale, known to many as Gallery Furniture&#x27;s Mattress Mack, is suing the county over records related to the election.

A close shot of a person wearing a blue and green top sports an "I Voted" sticker

Houston might lose LGBTQ+ representation in City Hall

Houston was the first major city to elect a gay mayor.

Houston is at risk of losing LGBTQ+ representation in elected office. State of play: Since Annise Parker joined city government in 1998 as a City Council member and went on to serve as mayor from 2010 to 2016, Houston has always had at least one LGBTQ+ leader in elected office.

Photo of rainbow colors projected on a building. 

How to spend our share of the state surplus

Texas is sitting on an unprecedented $32.7 billion state surplus. And it is our money, after all, as  Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted.

It&#x27;s raining money here in Texas. What could be in it for Houston?Driving the news: Texas is sitting on an unprecedented $32.7 billion state surplus.

Illustration of a pattern of stacks of money. 

Politics 🇺🇸