This Week in Texas: Harris County Judge Candidates, Voter 'Suspense' List
This Week in Texas, we speak with both candidates for Harris County Judge, Republican nominee Orlando Sanchez and Democratic nominee Letitia Plummer.
The Bellaire
Government
State education board finalizes anti-Islamic rewrite of Texas social studies lessons
The contentious process to rewrite social studies has stretched several years. Hundreds of people have testified at meetings that often extended overnight, well into the early morning....
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire in December after transformative and tumultuous tenure
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring at the end of the year, bringing to a close her seven-plus years at the helm of the league and a stewardship that has been transformative and at times tumultuous....
Texas State Board of Education set to OK anti-Islam social studies curriculum
The State Board Education is expected to give final approval Friday to controversial social studies and history curricula that all Texas high school students must learn. Lessons depict Islam as a violent religion and Christianity as an essential cornerstone of the nation....
Vice President JD Vance says Iran fight isn't a 'war' as Trump tries to navigate unpopular conflict as election nears
Vice President JD Vance says he wouldn't call the U.S. conflict with Iran a “war,” despite recent escalations.
Trump again appeals to Supreme Court on mail-voting restrictions with midterm elections looming
The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject an order by a federal judge that halts it from implementing a new rule regulating mail ballots,...
Hello Houston (September 3, 2026)
Today: The sons of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo share how their family has been impacted by the fatal ICE shooting of their father, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones discusses the proposed county budget, and we talk with Tony and Grammy-nominee Orfeh....
Republican Midterm Convention schedule: Trump, Vance and what happens each night
The RNC released full schedule details for its Midterm Convention in Dallas, featuring keynotes from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance ahead of November elections....
More than a million Texans are on voter suspense lists, face Oct. 5 deadline to update addresses
Voters on suspense lists who don’t meet the Oct. 5 deadline may still vote in the midterm elections, but they will have to fill out additional paperwork on Election Day to confirm their new addresses....
Houston City Council approves $50M deal to block annexation of The Woodlands
Houston City Council approved an agreement on Wednesday that would block the city from ever trying to annex The Woodlands. In return, Houston will receive about $50 million in near-term funding....
Texas voters split on top races, oppose data centers and Flock-style cameras
A new Texas poll shows the U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton effectively tied.
Houston City Council approves deal that blocks future annexation of The Woodlands
The deal would end the The Woodlands Regional Partnership Agreement with Houston - which is a joint fund used to pay for projects that benefit the city and the township....
Tarrant County removes 92 polling sites ahead of November election
Historically a Republican stronghold, Tarrant County has emerged as a key battleground as voters narrowly supported Democratic candidates at the top of the statewide ballot in recent elections....
Middleton leads Johnson in race for Texas attorney general, but the contest is unusually close
State Sen. Mayes Middleton spent lavishly to capture the Republican nomination and build statewide name recognition. But the most recent polling shows him just five percentage points ahead of Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson -- with more than a fifth of voters still undecided...
State renews medical license for local plastic surgeon facing malpractice suits
Two weeks after the Texas Medical Board made disciplinary action public against a local plastic surgeon, the board renewed his license to practice in the state....
Whistleblower warns new USPS mail-in ballot system could threaten midterm elections
An anonymous whistleblower warns an untested online system for mail-in ballots could cause severe election disruptions as a legal battle over the Trump executive order plays out in federal court....
Amid public outcry, Tarrant County, Texas cuts polling locations ahead of 2026 midterm elections
Officials in Texas' third most populous county voted on Tuesday to reduce polling locations by 92.
Texas A&M fans narrowly top UT Austin fans as Texas’ most obnoxious, survey finds
Texas A&M has officially been voted the most obnoxious college football fan base in Texas, though a major split among younger voters suggests a new rival might be coming for the crown....
House passes short-term funding bill to avoid federal government shutdown before election
The House passed a short-term measure Tuesday to fund the federal government into early December, a move designed to avoid a chaotic shutdown as lawmakers campaign for reelection....
Texas Board of Education considers religious influence and framing in curriculum overhaul
Texas education leaders are debating controversial proposed high school social studies standards that emphasize America's biblical roots while framing early Islam around military conflict....
Judge Dolores Lozano among 300,000 Harris County voters on suspense list
Judge Dolores Lozano tells ABC13 she was quite surprised when she checked her voter-registration status over the weekend and found it listed as "suspense."...
Train Operator Taneisha Moody credits the women of SEPTA for their leadership and mentorship
When Taneisha Moody stepped aboard her first train as an operator 22 years ago, she relied on the women of SEPTA to train, support and mentor her.
Loud Luxury DJ accuses trainer of negligence after death of 2-year-old dog
A celebrity couple is seeking justice after accusing a dog trainer and boarding facility of negligence after their dog died.
Jury selection underway for man charged for alleged role in 'Texas Killing Fields' case
James Elmore Jr. was charged with manslaughter in connection with two deaths that went unsolved for over four decades.
Texas Killing Fields trial: Jury selection starts Monday for criminal trial
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the first criminal trial directly tied to the deaths of women whose bodies were found in the area known as the Texas Killing Fields....
Over 1 million Texans are on the voter suspense list; check your voter status
Nearly two months before Election Day, more than one million Texans have been placed on a list that could lead to complications at the polls.
Why 1.2 million Texans are on the voter ‘suspense’ list and how to fix it
About 1.2 million Texas voters have been placed on the state’s "suspense" list with early voting in the 2026 midterm elections less than two months away....
Texas suspense list — over 1.2 million voters may face extra step at polls
More than 1.2 million Texas voters are on the state’s “suspense list” ahead of the midterm elections — and while it doesn’t cancel your right to vote, it could mean an extra step at the polls if you don’t act before the deadline. Election officials place voters on the suspense li...
Tropical disturbance in the Gulf (Aug. 31, 2026)
On Monday's show: We learn the latest on a tropical disturbance in the Gulf. And we find out why Fort Bend County commissioners stripped funding and staff from the office of the elected county attorney....
Texas should establish three-year bachelor's degree options, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to work on pathways for students to earn bachelor's degrees in three years.
East Downtown community question structure of management district board
HOUSTON — The fight over the future of Bastrop Promenade in East Downtown is now raising questions about more than grass and decomposed granite. Residents who have been pushing to restore the promenade’s green space say they are questioning the structure of the East Downtown Mana...
Ontario Premier Doug Ford premier answers Donald Trump’s ‘Lake America’ with giant ‘Lake Ontario’ sign
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has responded to President Trump’s “Lake America” decree with a billboard declaring “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.”
Brazoria County judge apologizes for offensive comments at commissioners court meeting
Brazoria County's top elected official is apologizing after Eyewitness News asked about comments he made at Tuesday's commissioners court meeting.
New Pasadena entertainment district plans in the works, city leaders say
It comes after approval of a $370,000 contract by the economic development corporation board on Thursday night.
About 15k water customers collectively owe $30M, service will soon be cut off, City of Houston says
The city said customers were given leeway over the past several years following instances of inaccurate billing. Mayor Whitmire said those who haven't paid could soon see their taps run dry....
Trump administration appeals latest ruling blocking mail ballot executive order from taking effect
The Trump administration is appealing a judge's ruling that blocked limitations on mail voting before the midterm elections, the latest twist in a court fight unfolding days before the first states begin sending out mail ballots for the pivotal November elections....
Canadian council considers changing street named after Trump to Taco Avenue
A Canadian city council is considering renaming a street named after US President Donald Trump to “Obama Avenue” or “Taco Avenue.”
Manvel mayor calls for review of Flock Safety camera contract
Manvel Mayor Dan Davis is calling on the city to reconsider its relationship with Flock Safety, saying concerns over privacy, data security, costs and the broader use of information collected by the company’s automated license plate reader cameras have led him to no longer suppor...
Civil rights groups make urgent plea for voting rights
Thousands of protesters are rallying on the National Mall in support of voting rights and racial justice ahead of the midterm election
Fort Bend commissioners vote to shift legal staff, funding from county attorney’s office
Critics say the move weakens the independence of country lawyers by transferring resources from the elected county attorney's office to a separate civil legal department that reports strictly to Commissioners Court....
New poll shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton by 6 percentage points in Senate race
The event comes fewer than 70 days before the midterm election and as Paxton trails Talarico in recent polling.
Fort Bend Commissioners Court cuts judges, guts county attorney's office in ongoing dispute
After voting to gut associate judge positions and restructure the county's attorney's office, Commissioner Andy Meyers walked right past ABC13's cameras without commenting....
President’s visit brings fundraising and political momentum for republicans
President Donald Trump’s visit to Houston could give Republicans a boost in both fundraising and momentum heading into the 2026 elections. FRIDAY TRAFFIC UPDATES: Trump at NASA Friday; road closures expected as president heads back to Ellington Air Force One touched down at Ellin...
New polling shows Texas Republicans leading in several key statewide races
New polling shows Republicans leading in several key statewide races with just a few weeks to go before voters head to the polls for the midterm elections....
The Woodlands approves proposed $50M deal to permanently block Houston annexation
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposed amendment to its long-standing agreement with the City of Houston that would permanently block Houston from annexing the community and end a sales-tax-funded regional project fund. Houston still has to vote...
Talarico leads Paxton as Texas voters rank affordability top concern, poll finds
A new Texas poll finds Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. The survey also found affordability and cost of living are voters’ top concerns....
HPD chief a no-show at safety meeting (Aug. 27, 2026)
On Thursday's show: We learn why HPD Chief Noe Diaz was a no-show at a Houston City Council public safety committee meeting this week. And we get an update on developments in the bid for NHL expansion to Houston or Austin....
Democratic states file new lawsuit seeking to block Trump's order limiting mail voting in midterms
Democratic-controlled states filed another lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to limit mail voting in this year's midterm elections....
Error in mail-in ballot application from nonprofit, sent to thousands of Texans
Beware if you received a mail-in ballot application recently from the Voter Participation Center. The nonprofit says there's an error in the identification section....
Texas education board exploring 3-year college degree programs
Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to form a working group to develop a statewide framework for three-year bachelor's degrees....
Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in US Senate
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina's general election ballot, notching another win for President Trump after he threw his support behind the political novice....
Pearland city council member asks Brazoria County to publicly display pesticides used in mosquito spraying
A Pearland City Council member is requesting Brazoria County officials to be more transparent about the pesticides used during mosquito control operations, following a 2 Helps You report about the deaths of millions of bees in the county this summer. Layni Cade traveled to the Br...
Texas appeals court denies bid to block Galveston County’s new voting map
A Texas appeals court denied a request to block Galveston County from using voting maps drawn after the March primary elections for its November elections....
Fort Bend County attorney takes commissioners to court over a potential new legal department
After calling an upcoming agenda item "political retribution," the Fort Bend County attorney is taking four commissioners to court.
Fort Bend Democratic commissioners return as Wong recuses himself from economic zone vote
Fort Bend County has been embroiled in political and legal turmoil since former county judge KP George was convicted of federal money laundering in June. The turmoil has centered, in part, on whether Daniel Wong has the authority to remain in office after he was appointed by a vi...
Harris County Clerk first elected official to reject $305,000 salary from commissioners court
Hudspeth told Houston Public Media Tuesday that she does not plan to file a salary grievance after rejecting the boosted salary.
Erick Lopez, deported to Honduras after HPD traffic stop, misses the ‘freedom’ of his life in Houston
Lopez was one of at least 19 people HPD handed over to ICE from April through June. On Tuesday, HPD Chief Noe Diaz was slated to face questions from a city council committee about the coordination — but he skipped the meeting....
Ag Commissioner Sid Miller: Some Texas Republicans will lose in November due to rural voter outrage
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says frustration among rural Republicans over data centers, transmission lines and other state policies has grown so intense that he and some other GOP voters may refuse to vote for some Republican candidates in the November election....
Texas adds 1,600 jobs in July as private-sector employment grows
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas added 1,600 nonfarm jobs in July, while employment increased from June across the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metro areas....
Fort Bend County commissioners' return from boycott may be short-lived
Two boycotting Fort Bend County commissioners returned on Monday, but their presence may be short-lived.