Tag Archives: Commissioners Court

We need to know who these judges are

Posted on September 6, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I want names. Some attorneys are making millions of public dollars representing poor defendants through a long-criticized appointment system that has become a key driver of Harris County’s budget woes despite Commissioners Court aggressively ramping up funding for the public defender’s … Continue reading →

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Tarrant County to cut voting locations

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. Republican officials in a major battleground Texas county voted Tuesday to slash Election Day polling locations by 30% for the November midterm elections. Under the new plan, Tarrant County will have 224 Election Day voting locations, down from 316 … Continue reading →

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The Astrodome Conservancy would like your input

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Want to do something about the Astrodome? Make your pitch. The Astrodome Conservancy today announced the release of a Request for Information (RFI) inviting interested parties to provide ideas, feedback, and potential development concepts for the future of the historic … Continue reading →

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More on Galveston’s post-primary redistricting

Posted on August 19, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron picks up the story. Two Galveston residents and a constable are asking the Texas Supreme Court to stop the county from using a newly redistricted map in the November general election, They argued in an emergency petition that … Continue reading →

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Harris County allocates funds to investigate ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

Posted on August 10, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Super annoying that we have to do this, but given that we do it’s good that we’re doing it. Harris County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to dedicate $2.5 million over the next three years to support a local investigation … Continue reading →

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Post-primary redistricting

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

There’s always some new trick. In what could signal an alarming new precedent, a Texas county revealed it plans to move some local candidates to new districts under a revised map drafted between the primary and general elections. If allowed … Continue reading →

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It looks like Daniel Wong will remain in office for now

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

So says a judge. A Fort Bend County judge said Tuesday that Daniel Wong will continue serving as county judge while a quo warranto lawsuit—a legal proceeding used to determine whether someone has the legal right to hold public office—moves … Continue reading →

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The 2021 election isn’t quite finished yet

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Amazing. A recent court ruling invalidating an amendment to the Texas Constitution could complicate Harris County’s plan for financing the Toro District and send ripples through a network of little-known taxing districts the county formed prior to the ruling. The amendment, which … Continue reading →

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Fort Bend update

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Still waiting on the courts. Fort Bend County’s Democratic commissioners remain in a stalemate with their Republican counterparts over Daniel Wong’s authority to serve as county judge – a key question as the suburban Houston-area county approaches tax rate discussions … Continue reading →

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July 2026 campaign finance reports: Harris County

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: Statewide candidates Legislative candidates Here we go with the now much shorter list of Harris County candidates and officeholders. The January 2026 reports are here, the July 2025 reports are here and the January reports are here. Letitia Plummer … Continue reading →

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It’s getting weird in Fort Bend

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Is there a court date set to address this? The fight over who is legally entitled to serve as Fort Bend County Judge is now disrupting the basic workings of county government, with officials clashing over whether Commissioners Court can … Continue reading →

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An ICE pause?

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Don’t fall for any hype. The Trump administration has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to halt most vehicle stops while carrying out operations across the country, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to … Continue reading →

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We have some video of ICE and Loranzo Salgado Araujo

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The NYT pieced together what we currently have. Shortly before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, immigration officers were trailing a white work van in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Houston. Minutes later, the driver had been fatally shot in his abdomen. … Continue reading →

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Countersuit filed in Fort Bend County Judge dispute

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s go. Just hours after interim County Judge Daniel Wong sued County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson on Monday, Smith-Lawson responded with a legal action seeking to remove Wong from office. The fight has played out in news conferences, contentious Commissioners Court … Continue reading →

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Interim County Judge Wong sues to stay in office

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

One way or another, this needs to be decided by a judge. Fort Bend’s battle over who is legally running county government is now headed to court. Fort Bend interim County Judge Daniel Wong filed suit Monday against County Attorney … Continue reading →

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How temporary was that appointment?

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Probably for a court to decide. Fort Bend interim County Judge Daniel Wong said Thursday he will remain in office despite the county attorney’s conclusion that he no longer has the legal authority to serve. Wong rejected calls to step … Continue reading →

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Abbie Kamin sworn in as Harris County Attorney

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

With a repeat performance in January, one hopes. Dozens of elected officials and hundreds of residents, staff members and supporters gathered downtown Monday to watch as Abbie Kamin was sworn into office as the first woman to lead the Harris … Continue reading →

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More on the Carla Wyatt DUI

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

More details emerge. Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt told a Texas City police officer she was “in heaven” before she was arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the … Continue reading →

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Carla Wyatt arrested again

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is getting to be more than just sad. Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was arrested Saturday in Texas City and charged with driving while intoxicated, her third arrest during her time in office, authorities say. Wyatt, 56, was stopped … Continue reading →

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Harris County is still where the Texans and the Rodeo want to be

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I never really thought that other places were a live possibility, and now that has been confirmed. Team owner Cal McNair said the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have decided to make things work in Harris … Continue reading →

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Kamin appointed as Harris County Attorney

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Beginning in June. Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 Thursday to appoint Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin as county attorney. Kamin will be the third county attorney to lead the office in less than a year. U.S. Rep Christian … Continue reading →

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Astrodome to be considered for National Historic Landmark status

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. It’s hard to believe that the Astrodome, which became the world’s first domed sports stadium when it opened on April 9, 1965, doesn’t already have National Historic Landmark status. Often nicknamed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ the Astrodome is now one … Continue reading →

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KP George removed from office

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

A rough year gets worse. Fort Bend County Judge KP George was suspended from office Friday following his felony money laundering conviction, a rare move that removes the county’s top elected official from power and puts county government under temporary leadership. During a … Continue reading →

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Grand jury no-bills Carla Wyatt

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Okay then. A grand jury on Wednesday declined to indict Harris County’s elected treasurer, Carla Wyatt, on a burglary of a vehicle charge, court records show. The decision followed the prosecution’s decision to skip a public hearing over the merits of Wyatt’s … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court declines to pursue RodeoGate

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Our long countywide nightmare is over. Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s call for Judge Lina Hidalgo’s resignation failed to pass Tuesday after commissioners voted 2-1 to strip a reference to her March 10 expulsion from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from a resolution. … Continue reading →

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Wyatt case goes to grand jury

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. The criminal case against Harris County’s elected treasurer, Carla Wyatt, will go before a grand jury following the repeated postponement of a hearing aimed at deciding whether her burglary of a vehicle charge should proceed, according to court records. … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court moves to abolish Treasurer’s office

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Harris County commissioners unanimously voted Thursday to strip County Treasurer Carla Wyatt’s office of a key responsibility and pursue abolishing the office entirely during the next legislative session. It’s the first step in a long process that could require approval from … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit successfully filed to add back early voting days for CD18

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Seems reasonable. A pair of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit Sunday seeking an emergency court order to extend early voting in Harris County past Tuesday after severe weather forced the closure of polling locations in the runoff election for Texas’ … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the District Clerk race

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty comprehensive and worth the read. Eight Democrats will battle it out in the March primaries for a chance to succeed Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, who announced in September she would not be seeking reelection. Whoever gets a … Continue reading →

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January 2026 campaign finance reports – Harris County offices

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

New year, new finance reports. You know the drill. This is the busiest report of the cycle, the one that shows who’s who in the primaries. I’ll be doing the usual with the other offices as well. The July 2025 … Continue reading →

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Is there an Astrodome decision coming soon?

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. But probably not. The fate of the Astrodome — a beloved Houston landmark that’s sat largely unused for more than 20 years — could soon be decided. Commissioners are expected to discuss options for the 1 million square-foot building at … Continue reading →

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Will Carla Wyatt be removed from office?

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, but too soon to say. It’s too early to consider removing Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt from office or reducing her duties following her arrest, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday. The embattled treasurer was arrested and charged with … Continue reading →

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Fombonne named County Attorney

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

White smoke emerges from the chamber of Commissioners Court. Jonathan Fombonne, first assistant county attorney to Christian Menefee, was named Harris County attorney Thursday. The appointment came more than nine months after Menefee technically resigned to run for Congressional District … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s attempt to block Harris County Immigrant Legal Services Fund denied

Posted on December 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

For now. It’s the first step. An attempt by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to stop Harris County from funding legal services for immigrants facing deportation hit a roadblock Tuesday after a district court judge denied his office’s request for a preliminary … Continue reading →

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