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 […]
Katy News
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
FEMA Announces Emergency Aid for Texas
FEMA announced federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a severe winter storm beginning on Feb. 11, 2021 and continuing. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals […]
City of Katy Remains under Boil Water Advisory, Will Resume Garbage Pickup Monday
By George Slaughter A boil water advisory remains in effect for the City of Katy as the weather improves from the frigid temperatures of earlier this week and power is restored around the city. In a statement released Friday, the city said it has achieved operable water system pressure. Now, it said it must disinfect the water and test its quality, in part through flushing the fire hydrants around the city. The city said it […]