A Historic $84 Million Investment of American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA) Funds Judge Lina Hidalgo shared evidence-based strategies as the cornerstone of an $84 million investment in Harris County children and families. The Brighter Futures for Harris County Kids was announced in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Judge Hidalgo along with Commissioner Ellis, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Congressmember Al Green, and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announced the $84 million initiative at the Children’s Museum […]
Harris County
Harris County Public Health Continues Distribution of Limited Monkeypox Vaccines
Harris County and The City of Houston continue efforts to ramp-up vaccination availability by sending joint letter to CDC requesting additional doses In a joint letter (attached) sent today, Judge Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner have requested additional Monkeypox vaccine doses from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “We are eager and ready to vaccinate at-risk populations before the virus spreads exponentially, rather than wait for exponential growth and then catch up like other […]
Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner Provide Latest on Monkeypox Virus
Monday, July 25, 2022, Judge Lina Hidalgo, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Dr. Vandana Shrikanth, experts from Legacy Community Health, and public health officials today held an update on Monkeypox to share the latest information regarding cases in Harris County and Houston. In addition, Hidalgo and Turner presented a response and preparedness plan. “Today’s conversation was about working together to chart a different path. Together, we can get ahead of this virus.–It’s not the time for fear, […]
Harris County Court Blocks Enforcement of Pre-Roe Laws
Houston, Texas (June 28, 2022)— Today a Harris County court issued a ruling that temporarily bans certain prosecutors from enforcing Texas’s abortion bans that predate Roe v Wade. Attorney General Ken Paxton had previously said that prosecutors could pursue criminal charges based off these state laws that were not repealed. “I’m glad to see that a Harris County court blocked enforcement of pre-Roe anti-abortion laws that have been on the books since the 1920s. It’s shameful that […]
Harris County Selected as One of Six Jurisdictions for Inaugural National “Putting Assets to Work” Incubator
Houston – Harris County has been selected by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA, through its Rethinking Revenue initiative), in partnership with the Sorenson Impact Center and Urban3, as one of six jurisdictions announced today that have been selected to participate in the inaugural Putting Assets to Work (PAW) Incubator. Through PAW, local governments identify underutilized assets like dormant parking lots and draw on public and private expertise to make them revenue-generating while government retains […]
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Requests Help Locating Next of Kin
We are requesting the public’s assistance in locating next of kin for the following deceased individuals: MICHAEL JAY ONISIFOROU – White Male, 51 Years: Mr. Onisiforou died in the 400 block of FM 1960 in Houston, TX on 05/12/2022. Please call the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 832-927-5000 and refer to case ML22-2045. (https://www.namus.gov/UnclaimedPersons/Case#/91967) JOHN AUSTIN PAUL – White Male, 41 years: Mr. Paul died at Houston Methodist Hospital, Willowbrook in Houston, TX […]
Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management 2020 Annual Report: “A Year Like No Other”
Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) releases its 2020 Annual Report. HCOHSEM had a strong year in spite of the global challenges presented by COVID-19. – In a year of unprecedented challenges with the outbreak of the Coronavirus – the greatest test of our organization – HCOHSEM responded with flexibility, resilience, and commitment. Last year, Harris County activated its Emergency Operation Center 22 times and received 2,066 media inquiries and 11,378 broadcast, social media, […]
Appraisal Review Board Seeks Applicants for Service In 2022
Applications for Appraisal Review Board (ARB) members are being accepted by District Judge Robert K. Schaffer, administrative judge for the state district courts in Harris County. Service on the ARB would begin in January 2022. Applications from Harris County citizens interested in ARB service must be submitted by the applicant directly to Judge Schaffer through the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) human resources division to be considered. Applications from third parties will not be accepted. […]
New $30 Million COVID Relief Fund Kicks Off
2-Week Application Period Runs 7/28–8/11; 20,000 Families to Each Receive $1,500 in Economic Relief Tomorrow marks the first day of the two-week application period for Harris County Recovery Assistance, a new $30 million COVID relief fund created to help families still struggling with the pandemic’s economic effects. Sourced by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the program will provide 20,000 families with one-time payments of $1,500 which can cover any type of urgent […]
HCOHSEM, MOPD and Sight Into Sound Create Emergency Preparedness Tips for Blind and Visually Impaired Community
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM), in collaboration with the Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Sight Into Sound, have developed emergency preparedness tips for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The partnership is designed to ensure that the blind and visually impaired have 24/7 access to emergency preparedness information in audio formats spoken in both English and Spanish. The messages explain what to do during […]