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It’s time for local leaders to embrace connectivity
By Scott Dunaway | Mar 20, 2023
We live in a digital first world where the need for fast, reliable connectivity is not just something people want--it’s a necessity.
Students, get involved with the State Legislature
By Tommy Wan | Mar 20, 2023
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, place much responsibility into our governing bodies.
2022 Harris County crime stats
By Bill King | Feb 27, 2023
During the last election, the severity of crime in Harris County was hotly debated.
Why Houston streets are so bad
By Bill King | Feb 8, 2023
I had a friend from Austin in town over the weekend. We were talking about her visit and she said, “I just can’t believe how bad the streets are here.”
Electricity markets will work if Texas politicians will let them
By Bill Peacock | Feb 7, 2023
The Public Utility Commission of Texas recently voted to proceed with a redesign of the Texas electricity market despite opposition concerned about its high cost and poor chances to improve reliability.
Aggressive anti-innovation bills should move to the graveyard of bad ideas
By Asheesh Agarwal | Dec 9, 2022
Amidst the surprises and uncertainty of election season, at least one policy issue may have received some national clarity: voters do not want Congress to enact aggressive anti-innovation bills that would lead to even higher prices for consumers.
Support for ranked-choice voting is growing
By Bill King | Nov 16, 2022
Voters in seven states voted on a record ten ranked-choice voting (RCV) initiatives last week, including proposal to use RCV for most elections in the state of Nevada.
Texas dialysis patients under 65 need help getting coverage
By Hal Cherry | Nov 3, 2022
I've had a progressive kidney disease for several years and my doctor eventually referred me to a nephrologist to help manage my kidney health.
Violent crime in Harris County
By Bill King | Sep 26, 2022
Last week, Houston Chronicle’s Jasper Scherer wrote a solid article on recent crime statistics in Harris County. It was a nuanced examination of the data, and he found a new Texas crime database I had not previously seen.
Texas' corporate welfare scheme decreases grid reliability, shrouds property tax pain
By Bill Peacock | Sep 20, 2022
Last year pressure from both progressives and conservatives resulted in the Texas Legislature failing to renew Chapter 313 - Texas' corporate-welfare clause
This is not bail reform - this is insanity
By Bill King | Sep 16, 2022
Last Wednesday, 37-year-old, Omar Ursin, went to pick up take-out for his family.
Mass shootings in America – Part 1
By Bill King | Sep 7, 2022
In 2017, two researchers, Jillian Peterson and James Densley, decided to conduct in-depth research on every mass shooting that had taken place in America.
Harris County funding for law enforcement
By Bill King | Sep 6, 2022
For the most part, I find the “defunding the police” debate little more than partisan rhetoric which serves more to obfuscate than elucidate any meaningful discussion about the appropriate level of law enforcement funding.
Beating the odds isn’t a matter of chance
By Bob Hall | Aug 11, 2022
I was elated to read about a Houston oncologist’s recent breakthrough in treatments for people living with late-stage cancers
The economic costs of trauma are greater than you think
By Cathe Dykstra | Jul 25, 2022
Trauma is costing America hundreds of billions of dollars.
Harris County property tax revenues were up by 7% last year
By Bill King | Jul 18, 2022
The Harris County Auditor’s Office recently released its monthly report for February 2022, which is the County’s fiscal year end.
There’s never been a more urgent moment for youth civic engagement
By Tommy Wan | Jul 7, 2022
The issues facing my generation often feel insurmountable: gun violence; climate change; systemic discrimination—it’s hard to focus on anything else.
Suicide in America
By Bill King | Jun 27, 2022
Over the last 20 years, nearly a million Americans have taken their own lives.
'The lady doth protest too much, methinks'
By Bill King | May 24, 2022
In a jaw-dropping tweet and press conference last week, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that she expects to be indicted in connection with the now infamous vaccine outreach contract scandal.At a press conference, Hidalgo went much further, calling out Harris County District Attorney and fellow Democrat, Kim Ogg, for conducting a “politically motivated” investigation.
It is time for Chapters 312 and 313 to come to an end
By Bill Peacock | May 24, 2022
Property tax abatements under Chapters 312 and 313 of the Texas Tax Code allow counties, cities, school districts, and special purpose districts to reduce the amount of taxes paid by favored businesses that locate or expand within their geographic boundaries.