As we welcome warmer days ahead, there is a lot of work to do at the Texas Capitol to get to the bottom of what went wrong with the state’s power grid during last week’s storm, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. The Texas House and Senate will have hearings beginning this week to determine what decisions were made and how they can be fixed. I urge you to watch the hearings and decide for […]
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Mayor Issues Declaration of Disaster, Enabling Residents to Apply for Federal Aid
By George Slaughter Mayor Bill Hastings Monday issued a declaration of disaster within the City of Katy, which makes federal funding available to city residents following last week’s winter storms. President Joe Biden Saturday declared 77 Texas counties eligible for federal aid. The three counties in which the city sits–Fort Bend, Harris, and Waller—are on that list. Citizens affected by the storm can apply for disaster assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov. They can also call the Federal […]
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Eight Candidates File for Katy ISD School Board Seats
By George Slaughter Katy Independent School District voters will decide who will serve on two trustee positions, as well as a proposed $676 million bond. Term of office for trustees is three years. Election Day is May 1. Position 6 Incumbent Susan Gesoff, an engineer, has filed for reelection. She was elected in 2018. Gesoff has drawn five opponents, one of whom, Rebecca Fox, is a former trustee. Fox served in the Position 2 seat […]
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Voters to Decide Two City Council Seats, $6 Million Bond Proposal, and Charter Changes
By George Slaughter The Katy City Council on February 12 set a municipal election in which voters will decide who will serve on two council seats, a proposed $6 million bond, and proposed changes to the city charter. Term of office for the council members is three years. Election Day is May 1. Ward A Incumbent Dusty Thiele, an insurance executive, was appointed to the council last year following the resignation of Frank Carroll, an […]
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City Clarifies Permit Policies following Winter Storm
By George Slaughter Katy city residents or businesses impacted by broken pipes during the recent winter storm will not need a plumbing permit for emergency pipe damage repairs, the city announced Friday. However, a no-fee permit is required, along with an inspection, for water heaters and all other plumbing altercations, including gas pipe repairs and replacements. The city said the requirement is intended to protect city residents and their properties. To check whether the damages […]
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Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Cause of Midway Bar-B-Que Fire
By George Slaughter Katy Fire Marshal Gregg Peterson and his staff are investigating the cause of a multiple-alarm fire that occurred early Saturday morning at Midway Bar-B-Que, 6025 Highway Blvd. Nobody was hurt in the fire. City Emergency Management Coordinator Greg Goedecker said Katy firefighters were on the scene at 2:58 a.m. Nine Katy units responded to the call, and firefighters from six other, non-Katy, departments were also involved in fighting the fire. Firefighters had […]
UPDATE: Winter Weather Recovery Resources
Last week’s winter weather left thousands of residents with loss of property, home damage, and a variety of other needs. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) is working with partners from across the community to help connect residents with available resources. The ReadyHarris Winter Weather Recovery Page is the one-stop-shop for recovery information. Residents can find links to applying for FEMA aid, help from non-profit partners, information on finding clean-up assistance, and […]
OPENING TOMORROW: New $159 Million Houston-Harris County Rental Assistance Relief Fund
As Region Recovers from Devastating Winter Storm Uri, Program Brings Good News for Thousands of Local Tenants, with up to a Year of Rental Assistance BakerRipley and Catholic Charities Tapped to Administer Program HOUSTON, TX – A new $159 million fund launches tomorrow and will start accepting online applications. The Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is pooling together new federal funds allocated to the City and County and will help local families struggling to make ends […]
Houston Grand Opera Presents Live from The Cullen with Jack Swanson
Virtual recital features sensational tenor Jack Swanson What: Houston Grand Opera presents the March installment of Live from The Cullen on March 12. Tune in to HGO Digital and be transported to the Wortham Theater Center’s Cullen Theater for a performance by sensational tenor Jack Swanson. Swanson is best known for his interpretations of Rossini and Donizetti. A finalist in HGO’s 2016 Concert of Arias, Swanson performed in HGO’s 60th-anniversary gala in 2015 and had been set to appear in […]
Houston Arboretum hires new Conservation Director and promotes two staff members to director level
HOUSTON, February 24, 2021 – Houston Arboretum & Nature Center announces personnel changes with the hiring of a new Conservation Director and the promotion of two staff members to the director level. Stephen Benigno, Ph.D., has been named Conservation Director, while Tiffany Ritter has been promoted to Education Director from Senior Naturalist – School Programs Manager, and Katie Campbell moves up to Director of Operations and Special Events from Senior Manager of Operations and Events. “We […]
Sens. Cruz, Cotton Introduce Bills to Reform NEPA, Streamline Infrastructure Projects
‘Legislation that will loosen NEPA’s stranglehold on infrastructure permitting and allow jobs to flourish’ WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to streamline infrastructure projects. The first bill, the Federal Permitting Modernization Act of 2021, establishes a series of deadlines for agency action under the FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act), which gives project proponents […]
Sen. Cruz Discusses Biden’s Controversial Cabinet Nominees and Texas’ Recovery Following Historic Storms
Appears on ‘Hannity,’ ‘The Dana Loesch Show,’ and the ‘Ruthless’ podcast WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this week appeared on Fox News’ ‘Hannity’, the ‘Ruthless’ podcast, and ‘The Dana Loesch Show’ to talk about President Biden’s cabinet nominees, his call for an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 cover-up, and Texas’ recovery efforts in the wake of historic winter storms. Highlights of his interviews are below. WATCH: Cruz on Fox Blasts Dems for Politicizing Winter […]
Public Input Sought on Texas Freshwater Fishing Regulation Proposals for 2021-2022
AUSTIN – Changes to length and bag limits for blue and channel catfish statewide and at specific locations highlight this year’s list of proposed freshwater fishing regulation changes. The proposed changes also include minor modifications to passive gear float dimensions. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2021-2022 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamation, with input to be considered before any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife […]
Public Help Sought to Report Fish and Wildlife Impacted by Winter Storm Uri
AUSTIN – Recent snowfall and freezing temperatures affected many fish and wildlife species throughout the state and now Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is asking for the public’s help in reporting any animal mortality events they observe on their property, ranches, or in their neighborhoods through this project on the iNaturalist website. Citizens are encouraged to report observations so that biologists can better understand the impacts of Winter Storm Uri to natural resources. The prolonged […]