Podcast appearances and mentions of Houston City Council

On Thursday's show: Budget season continues here in Houston. The City Council is contemplating spending $7 billion next fiscal year -- $3 billion of it from coming from the city's general fund. Council has about a month left to approve a budget, but a key part of it was just locked in, as council members approved a new contract agreement with the union representing Houston police officers. News 88.7's Dominic Anthony Walsh joins us with details.Also this hour: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo joins us to discuss how the county is handling its own budget concerns and other developments affecting the county.Then, in this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we talk about our collective obsession with death and the macabre with the release of Final Destination: Bloodlines, the latest in that series of horror movies.And Lyle Lovett is performing a free concert in Tomball later this month. We revisit our 2023 conversation with the Houston native, who follows that performance with a long summer tour across the country.

On Wednesday's show: Houston City Council members have begun budget hearings this week as the city faces economic uncertainty amid a budget shortfall. But some of that shortfall could be remedied if some proceeds from toll roads are shifted from Harris County to the city, as a bill in the legislature would do. But the county has its own budget concerns.We get some insight on crafting a budget for both the city and the county in uncertain financial times -- all while navigating the intertwining relationship of those two government entities -- from two people who've been there: former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.Also this hour: We break down the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.And we get some advice for paying back student loans (or maybe being forced to) in a changing landscape for student borrowers. MORE: Resources mentioned today about federal student loans For more information on student loan repayment, visit studentaid.gov To contact the Default Resolution Group, call 800-621-3115

A record-breaking heat wave will blanket big sections of the state. Is this a preview of summer?The U.S. has suspended imports of cattle from Mexico as a devastating pest, the New World Screwworm, makes its way north, threatening livestock.The Houston City Council kicks off budget hearings this week, weighing steep cuts.The new book “Freedom Season” by Texas […] The post Potentially historic heatwave settling in over much of Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

On Thursday's show: Houston Mayor John Whitmire clashed with the city's chief financial officer, Controller Chris Hollins, during the city council meeting this week after the controller's office presented an explosive report on overtime expenditures by the police, fire, and solid waste departments. We learn more and get an update on other developments affecting the city from News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh.Also this hour: Houston native Debbie Allen talks about an effort to help people understand what it's like to live with diabetes.Then, we talk with Cary Darling, entertainment editor for the Houston Chronicle, about Goldstone, the film he's presenting for the Movies Houstonians Love series at the MFAH.And we learn about Black Restaurant Week, which is marking its tenth year highlighting Black-owned restaurants across the city.

It's the Friday News Roundup! Host Raheel Ramzanali is recapping the biggest stories in Houston this week. Today, he's joined by Lucio Vasquez, breaking news reporter for The Texas Newsroom. They discuss the details of a Houston-area midwife arrested under the state's near-total abortion ban. Plus, the wildfire near Sam Houston National Forest, and why Houston was ranked one of America's ‘unhappiest' cities!  Stories and links from today's show:  Listen to Lucio's latest reporting for The Texas Newsroom  Texas midwife and 2 others arrested in connection to illegal abortion investigation, state AG says Texas' first abortion arrests stem from monthlong attorney general investigation 2,000 acre San Jacinto wildfire 20 percent contained Thursday morning, officials say As BARC speeds up euthanasia process, Houston City Council considers new organizational structure New study confirms Houston remains one of America's 'unhappiest' cities NASA astronauts splash down off Florida coast, ending 9-month saga Why This Houstonian Is Stuck in Outer Space If You Had $1 Billion, What Would You Do for Houston? Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday's show: We learn about recent actions taken by Houston City Council, including creation of the Office of Recovery and Resilience and a fund for homelessness. We also discuss a new METRO initiative focused on cleanliness, safety, and ridership.Also this hour: The Houston-Galveston Area Council is seeking comments from the public about where to spend money to improve traffic and safety along the Washington Avenue corridor. A long stretch of the street is seen as part of the city's “High Injury Network.” In other words, there are not a lot of good, safe pedestrian crossings. We learn more about the project.Then, the classic 1980s teen drama The Breakfast Club turns 40 this month. In the latest installment of The Bigger Picture, we look back at the movie and consider ways education and the high school experience have changed since then.And an ardent fan remembers Selena on the 30th anniversary of her last major concert at the Astrodome in 1995.

On Tuesday's show: Houston City Council is considering potential regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains what they're discussing.Also this hour: The Texans' Aziz Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for his blow to the head of sliding quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It came the same week a new study was released finding longer ice hockey careers may increase the risks of developing CTE. Some point to the need for better athletic equipment (improvements in helmets, for instance) as a way to reduce those risks. Others believe the more equipment, the more likely athletes are to hit harder. We discuss that debate and whether better protective equipment, better rules, or changes in attitudes towards contact sports can really yield fewer injuries.Then, the family of Austin Tice, a Houston journalist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran kidnapped in Syria more than a dozen years ago, is making a fresh push with the Biden administration to secure his freedom. The Tices planned to go to the White House on Friday to meet with the National Security Council. In light of developments in Syria and how they might affect this story, we revisit a 2014 conversation with Tice's parents, Marc and Debra.And Americana singer Robert Earl Keen brings his annual Christmas show to House of Blues on Dec. 19. We listen back to a 2014 conversation with him about his holiday shows and his foray into bluegrass.

On Friday's show: While we've all understandably been fixated on election news this week, there's actual governing going on, too. Dominic Anthony Walsh joins us with the latest on some leadership changes at Houston City Hall.Also this hour: From Elon Musk seemingly discovering Harris County exists on election day, to someone buying a dime for $500,000, our non-experts weigh in on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And true crime podcasts are very popular. We meet the hosts of the Sistas Who Kill podcast who offer a unique take on the concept. Their live tour arrives in Houston on Sunday at House of Blues.

It's Friday and that means host Raheel Ramzanali is recapping the big news from the week. Joining him today is dynamic media personality Antre'chelle Nova to talk about why hate crimes are going unreported, the heated debate around property tax hikes, the difference between the rapper Big Boi and a train with the same name, and more!  Stories we discussed on today's show:  Your Guide to October 2024 in Houston Hate crimes and incidents in Harris County often go unreported to police, study finds Union Pacific's no. 4014 Big Boy is coming back. Here's what to know. Houston City Council members clash over property tax hike Houston Vietnamese vegan restaurant goes viral in first video made by owner's 15-year-old son Beloved Houston Art Car Museum will live on in new permanent home Learn more about the sponsors of this October 4th episode here:  Downtown Houston+ The Village School Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday's show: Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo discusses the city's budget and whether it will follow Harris County's lead and approve a property tax increase.Also this hour: A gun reform initiative is using AI to generate voicemails from people killed by gun violence. We discuss the ethical questions using such technology raises.Then, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week, including a winning lottery ticket going unclaimed and a Houston woman pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $600,000 in disaster relief from FEMA.And we talk with comedian and actor David Cross, who's known for his stand up comedy, television roles in Mr. Show and Arrested Development, and numerous films. He brings his The End of the Beginning of the End Tour to White Oak Music Hall on Sept. 24.

On Thursday's show: After a two-week delay, Houston City Council again postponed an ordinance prohibiting protests within 200 feet of a “targeted dwelling.” The proposal comes in response to months of pro-Palestinian protests, including several that targeted Mayor John Whitmire's home.At a press conference on Wednesday, Whitmire added more details to his assertion that the groups consist of "paid protestors" and that "they are being paid by Iran." Reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains that story and some other recent developments in city government.Also this hour: We explore the fentanyl crisis in Houston and learn about steps being taken to train first responders and law enforcement to treat overdoses. Then, technically, recreational marijuana is illegal in Texas. Yet, THC products continue to sell, and often tested samples are found to contain THC well over the legal limit. State regulators are short on staff and authority. So, is marijuana essentially legal here? Russell Gold wrote an article on this subject for Texas Monthly and explains what he found.And Houstonian Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour talks aboAll Eventsut directing episodes of TV shows like the FX series Shogun and the Paramount Plus series Star Trek Discovery.

On Thursday's show: We learn about the findings from a new report on HPD's suspended cases controversy. Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite presented the report before Houston City Council on Wednesday.Also this hour: Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, explains how consumers can protect themselves in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.Then, we continue to share examples of some of the summer Olympic sports played in Houston, continuing with a conversation with a pair of Houston sisters about competing together in fencing at several Olympic games. And we learn how Houston became a mecca for competitive air hockey.And we recently got so much feedback from listeners when we discussed how some people might be considering leaving Houston after Hurricane Beryl, that we share some more of those comments.

Another week is in the books, so that means it's time to recap the local news stories you need to know. City Cast Houston producer Carlignon Jones is filling in for Raheel Ramzanali this week and is joined by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Evan Mintz to discuss a massive bust on bail bond fraud, why COVID is on the rise, the growing list of politicians vying for Shelia Jackson Lee's spot, and much more! Dive deeper into the stories we talked about in this episode: Houston candidates pitching themselves to replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on November ballot ‘Colossal': 50 in custody following two-year long bail bond fraud investigation in Harris County Exclusive: Former Police Chief Troy Finner alleges he was pushed out to bury HPD scandal COVID is on the rise again Felix Fraga, former Houston City Council member and longtime activist, dies at 94 Here's what VP Kamala Harris did once she landed in Houston Watch Live: Kamala Harris addresses teachers union in Houston 40,000 Black women rally behind Kamala Harris' campaign, raising $1.5 million in 3 hours Learn more about the sponsors of this July 26th episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Downtown Houston+ Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

pWotD Episode 2636: Sheila Jackson Lee Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 279,639 views on Saturday, 20 July 2024 our article of the day is Sheila Jackson Lee.Sheila Jackson Lee (January 12, 1950 – July 19, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician who was the U. S. representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, from 1995 until her death in 2024. The district includes most of central Houston. She was a member of the Democratic Party and served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council before being elected to the House. She was also co-dean of Texas's congressional delegation.Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee earned a scholarship for Black students at New York University before transferring to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. In 1987, after she had moved to Houston, she was appointed as a municipal judge for the city by Kathy Whitmire. In 1989, Jackson Lee was elected to the Houston City Council. She served in the office until 1994 when she began a campaign for Congress. In the Democratic primary, she defeated incumbent Craig Washington and went on to easily win the general election.During her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee supported many progressive policies. She introduced the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act in 2013 and the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act in 2021. In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a subcommittee in the House Judiciary after a lawsuit filed by a former staffer claimed she was fired due to planned legal action against an alleged rape by a supervisor.Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the 2023 Houston mayoral election in March of that year. In the first round, she placed second behind state senator John Whitmire. However, as no candidate crossed the 50% threshold to win outright, a runoff election occurred on December 9, 2023. Despite several key endorsements, Jackson Lee lost the election in a landslide to Whitmire. On December 11, she filed to run for re-election to her congressional seat and won the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024. She died from cancer in July 2024.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:12 UTC on Sunday, 21 July 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Sheila Jackson Lee on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council members met with HISD Superintendent Miles to discuss leadership, employee firings, and to question what is next for the district. Houston Chronicle reporter Megan Menchaca gives us more detail on the meeting.Also this hour: We discuss concerns about how much the tech industry -- cryptocurrency mining, in particular -- might strain our electric grid as our power needs grow.Then, we learn about barriers that prevent Houstonians from accessing good, nutritious food.And an exhibit at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum details the role railroads played in shaping American sports.

On Thursday's show: With Houston City Council finally approving the city's budget, we talk with Sallie Alcorn, At-Large Council Member Position 5 and the chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.Also this hour: We examine how commercial real estate is doing in Houston.Then, we consider ways that downtown Houston could be changed and revitalized, inviting input from listeners.And we learn about the Houston Show Choir, one of the oldest performing arts groups in the city.

On Wednesday's show: Houston City Council is taking on the city's next budget, and Hunter Biden was convicted on felony gun charges. We discuss those and other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of late President and longtime Houstonian George H.W. Bush. We listen back to Craig Cohen's 2015 conversation with biographer Jon Meacham about Bush, based on Meacham's book Destiny and Power. Meacham has a new book out about Bush to mark the centennial. It's titled The Call to Serve and features some never-before-published photos celebrating the 41st President.And we talk with Varsha Bajaj, the New York Times bestselling author of the middle grade novel Thirst and numerous children's books. She's back with her latest book, A Garland of Henna, and she'll be in Houston for an event at Blue Willow Bookshop on Saturday.

On Monday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles is set to meet with Houston City Council for the first time. We learn more from Houston Public Media reporter Colleen DeGuzman.Plus, ERCOT says Texas could face rolling blackouts in August as energy demand peaks throughout the state.And we learn how recent storms and flooding have damaged the oyster business in Galveston Bay.Also this hour: We find out why home insurance rates in Texas have gotten so high over the past five years and how a disaster-prone area like Houston contributes to those increases.Then, Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers questions about gardening.And we discuss how drug policies in sports may need to evolve as the law and the medical world's views on some drugs change with Jeff Balke.

The conversation on abortion rights and reproductive freedom in Texas has been freshly reinvigorated by the Texas Supreme Court's abject failure to protect pregnant Texans or even to provide guidance to Texas doctors facing pregnancy emergencies. We continue our six part series of conversations with influential Texas progressive women on this all-important issue, in this case gathering three guests, each for the first time: State Representative Gina Hinojosa has represented Austin in the Texas House since 2017, Abbie Kamin has served on the Houston City Council representing District C since 2020, and Dr. Sukh Kaur is one of the newest members of the San Antonio City Council, elected last June to serve District 1. Learn more about Rep. Hinojosa at https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=49. Learn more about Council Member Abbie Kamin at https://www.houstontx.gov/council/c/. And, learn more about Council Member Dr. Sukh Kaur at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/Mayor-Council/City-Council/D1/Biography. Note that the next installment in this series will be recorded LIVE next Thursday June 6 during the Texas Democratic Convention, featuring reproductive rights advocate Amanda Zurawski, former State Senator Wendy Davis, and U.S. Congressional nominee Michelle Vallejo! If you'll be in El Paso, please plan to arrive early enough to join us - we'll start at 5pm MOUNTAIN Time (6pm Central): https://progresstexas.org/blog/live-texas-democratic-party-convention-abortion-and-our-freedoms-2024 Thanks for listening! Learn more about what we do and the various and fun ways you can help support our ongoing work at Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/.

On Thursday's show: We learn what revelations are coming from an independent panel that's reviewing the scandal involving Houston Police Department officers suspending thousands of criminal investigations because of a lack of personnel and resources. The committee shared its preliminary report with Houston City Council members on Wednesday.Also this hour: NPR reporter Sarah McCammon discusses her new book, The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church.Then, we discuss the role music can play in maintaining good mental health.And Cy-Fair ISD theater arts teacher and actor Kedrick Brown joins us. Brown was recently seen on the ABC series The Rookie and has also appeared on Black Lightning, New Amsterdam, Greenleaf and other shows. He talks about how he balances being a teacher and a professional actor.

It was another busy week in Houston so host Raheel Ramzanali is breaking down all of the big stories with independent journalist Camilo Hannibal Smith. The duo are talking about a government official's son being killed in a targeted hit, Senator Ted Cruz's relationship with iHeartMedia, tensions flaring at Houston City Council, and more! Learn more here: Targeted shooting kills son of Dominican Republic government official  Tempers flare during council meeting  Council members looking to extend paid parking hours  iHeartMedia donates to Senator Ted Cruz's PAC  How Tubi is helping black filmmakers in Houston Uplift Harris starts, but only 2% of applicants were approved  Schools closing for the solar eclipse  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday's show: Houston City Council is considering extending the hours for paid parking downtown. And TxDOT is ending its agreement with a private company to run the toll lanes on State Highway 288. We discuss both stories. Also this hour: Houston-area author Leah Lax talks about her new book, Not From Here: The Song of America, which features stories about her Jewish roots interwoven with local immigrant accounts of coming to the United States. We speak to her ahead of an event at Brazos Bookstore on April 4. Then, on the heels of the Houston Open, we explore Houston's golf culture. And we revisit a 2014 conversation with Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr., who died last week at the age of 87.

The Heartland POD for Friday, February 23, 2024A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Primary voting is underway in Texas | Kansas Medicaid expansion update | Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker lays out priorities as a progressive pragmatist | Missouri Democrats filibuster ballot candy | KS Gov Laura Kelly's veto will stand Primary voting is underway in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/julie-johnson-brian-williams-congressional-district-32-colin-allred/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 21, 2024WASHINGTON — In 2018, Rep. Colin Allred flipped Texas' 32nd Congressional District, turning the Dallas-based district into a blue stronghold. Now, as the Democrat vies to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a crowded field of 10 Democrats is lining up to replace him.Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon, and State Rep. Julie Johnson, of Farmers Branch, are leading the field in the Democratic primary with their fundraising efforts, each amassing about a million dollars in campaign donations since their campaigns were registered at the beginning of last summer.Ideologically, Williams and Johnson are aligned. They both rank health care a top priority if elected, and have touted their ability to work across the aisle.Johnson, a trial lawyer in her third term in the state House rode the 2019 blue wave to unseat hardline conservative incumbent Matt Rinaldi, by 13 points. Rinaldi now chairs the state GOP. In her three terms, at least 40 of the bills Johnson has co-authored or joint-authored have been signed into law.As a Democrat in the Republican-dominated state Legislature, Johnson has played a lot of defense trying to kill bills she and other progressives deem harmful. Johnson, who is gay, said she and other members of the House's LGBTQ caucus have had success in killing anti-LGBTQ bills by mastering the rules of procedure and “being better at the rules than the other side.” In 2019, she took down a House version of the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A bill” on a rule technicality. The bill was a response to a San Antonio airport kicking out the fast food restaurant over criticism of its religiously affiliated donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. It was revived in another bill and passed into law.If elected, Johnson would be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from a Southern state. She's drawn notable endorsements from Beto O'Rourke, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, EMILY's List, Equality PAC, and several labor unions.Matt Angle, director of Lone Star Project, a Texas group that works to boost Democrats, said Johnson is the frontrunner in the race, but Williams is a formidable challenger.“Make no mistake about it though,” Angle said. “Julie Johnson has a voter base within the district not only from her old district, but also just from years of being an active Democratic activist and a donor and really a couple of just outstanding terms in the legislature.”While he may be new to the Texas political arena, Williams is no stranger to the halls of Congress.Williams was a health policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy — who endorsed him — to help pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 – the farthest reaching gun safety legislation in decades. The legislation, crafted in the aftermath of the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo New York, allocated millions of dollars to expand mental health resources, strengthens background checks and tightens the boyfriend loophole. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was a lead negotiator on the bill with Murphy, and Williams worked closely with Cornyn's office. In his role as a health policy advisor for Murphy, he worked across the aisle with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on mental health legislation.Williams also worked with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to pass federal health care legislation related to pandemic preparedness and reducing health care costs.Williams said his experience as a trauma surgeon — operating on victims of gun violence and women experiencing reproductive health emergencies — has fueled his priorities to fight for gun restrictions and increase access to abortions and other womens' health. Williams added his perspective as a Black doctor seeing racial disparities in health care will resonate with the district's diverse constituency, given that the district is now a majority-minority district with a 37% Hispanic or Latino population, 22% Black population and 8% Asian population.“They're excited that there's someone that looks like them that can represent them in Congress,” Williams said in an interview.As Allred opted to stay neutral in the race to succeed him – Williams said he had pursued his endorsement while Johnson said she had not – the tension between Johnson and Williams has been heating up.Williams has publicly criticized Johnson for a vote she took that would have made some changes and tweaks to the state's Alternatives to Abortions program, which provides information about resources to women seeking the procedure.“I draw contrast between myself and Representative Johnson about how I am the better candidate,” Williams said.Johnson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, said Williams misrepresented the vote, which she said she cast to bring the already-funded program under the scope of the Health and Human Services Commission so it could be subject to public transparency. Her campaign published a fact-check on her website, likening Williams' misrepresentation of her record to “Trumpian-style, false attacks.”Planned Parenthood was critical of the legislation.Johnson said women's health is also a priority for her, and she stands by her record.“Texas leads the nation of uninsured folks, and in maternal mortality, and in infant mortality. Obviously, we're leading the nation in an attack on women's freedom for women's reproductive health, and I've been a champion of a lot of these issues,” she said.Other candidates vying for the open seat in the March 5 primary include businessman Raja Chaudhry, tech entrepreneur Alex Cornwallis, former Dallas City Councilman and real estate broker Kevin Felder and attorney Callie Butcher, who would be the first openly transgender member of Congress if elected.If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, there will be a runoff in May. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in November but is likely to win given that the district is solidly blue.And, from Dallas we go to Houston whereAfter bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yetJackson Lee faces off against Amanda Edwards, her most formidable congressional opponent in three decades.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/19/sheila-jackson-lee-amanda-edwards-democratic-primary-houston/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 19, 2024In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she'd come to hold for the next 30 years.This March, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, 42, is hoping to replicate that political upset as she faces off against Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 18.Jackson Lee, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has only drawn four primary challengers over her 14-term career, all of whom she defeated by landslide margins.She's a household name in her Houston-based district, known for her frequent visibility at constituent graduations, funerals and baby showers.But last year she ran for Houston mayor against then-state Sen. John Whitmire. It was a bruising primary — unfamiliar territory for Jackson Lee — and her campaign was roiled with negative media after audio of her berating her congressional staffers was leaked. She ended up losing the race by 30 points and then immediately announced she was running for reelection to the U.S. House.Amanda Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee's office, initially announced she was running for Houston mayor until the congresswoman threw her hat in the ring. At that point, Edwards pivoted — endorsing Jackson Lee as mayor and beginning her own bid for Congress.By the time Jackson Lee announced she was running for her House seat again, Edwards had already gained momentum. In the fourth quarter of last year, Edwards outraised the congresswoman 10 to 1 — $272,000 to Jackson Lee's $23,000.Mark Jones, Baker Institute fellow in political science at Rice University said, “This could be the year that Congresswoman Jackson Lee loses. And given that as a safe, Democratic, seat whoever wins the primary will be headed to Washington in January of 2025”Jackson Lee holds a narrow lead in primary polls, while 16% of voters remain undecided. Edwards, a native Houstonian, said her commitment to public service is propelled by her father's battle with cancer when she was a teenager, where she learned firsthand about the cracks in the health care system and how “policy could be a matter of life and death.” She served as an at-large Houston City Council member from 2016 to 2020, where she represented a constituency of more than 2 million people.In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including the Harris County Young Democrats, and the Harris County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races.The Harris County Young Democrats rescinded its endorsement of Jackson Lee in the mayoral race — citing a “zero tolerance policy” for staff abuse.Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy also factored into the committee's decision to not endorse her. On the recording Jackson Lee berates a staffer for not having a document she was looking for and calls two of her staffers “Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose.”He said endorsement committee members were still “quite upset” over the tape and it “wasn't a good look” for Jackson Lee. The leaked tape fueled discourse about Jackson Lee's reputation as an unkind boss on Capitol Hill – she regularly makes Washingtonian Magazine's worst of Congress list and her office has high turnover rates.Polk added that voters felt abandoned by Jackson Lee, who jumped into the mayor's race without endorsing someone to take her place, only to file for reelection a day after losing.Jackson Lee's battle to retain her seat is made tougher by 2021 redistricting, because the 18th district now includes more young white professionals who do not have the same level of loyalty to her as longtime district residents.But despite any damage she may have incurred from her mayoral run, Jackson Lee remains a powerful political force in her district.County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is backing Jackson Lee, said he doesn't know anyone in local politics with her “energy level,” and that Jackson Lee has secured meaningful federal grants for her district – most recently $20.5 million to Harris County Public Health Department's Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot project. He also said she has a reputation for being a reliably progressive voice in Congress.Jackson Lee has a long list of powerful endorsements from House Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clarke. She's backed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other members of Texas' Washington delegation including Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.Ellis said Jackson Lee may not be a strong fundraiser but she will benefit from her incumbency advantage.Linda Bell-Robinson, a Houston Democratic precinct chair, said she is fighting for Jackson Lee to retain her seat because seniority in Congress is important and Edwards would be learning the ropes as a freshman if elected.“We need fighters,” she said. “We don't need people trying to learn how to fight on the battlefield. We need people who are already fighting and know how to fight their fight.SEAN: Super interesting race. For my part, I don't have any problem with members of Congress being extremely tough to work for. I have problems with lying, fraud, criminal activity, and squishy voting records. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and AFL-CIO. She has a 95% rating from League of Conservation VotersNew estimate predicts Medicaid expansion would serve 152K at no cost to stateA $509M federal incentive would help offset state cost for first eight yearsBY: SHERMAN SMITH - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 4:22 PMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly's proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government.The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medicaid expansion for four years.Kansas is one of just 10 states that still haven't expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400.Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.Kelly's proposal includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals.KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured.About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. Of the remaining 31.1% KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans.KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals. The Kansas Sunflower Foundation on Thursday released findings from surveys that found 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans and 83% of small business owners support Medicaid expansion.Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, said in a news release that expanding Medicaid was about “investing in the well-being of our communities.”Baccus said “Our rural communities are often struggling to keep Main Street open and to continue to offer the necessary services to the surrounding agricultural enterprises. A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.”The findings are consistent with a Fort Hays State University poll that was released in October.With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatistThursday, February 22, 2024Governor's spending plan advances progressive-backed policies in tight fiscal landscapeBy HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.comhttps://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/with-budget-proposal-and-fiery-address-pritzker-paints-himself-as-progressive-pragmatistSPRINGFIELD – In delivering his annual State of the State and budget address on Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker cast his administration as both progressive and pragmatic – a balance he's worked to strike as his national profile has grown.Some elements of the governor's proposed spending plan, like using $10 million in state funds to eliminate $1 billion worth of Illinoisans' medical debt, are hardline progressive ideas. Others, including a goal to achieve “universal preschool” by 2027, fit in with a more traditional liberal platform.But Pritzker has also defined his success in traditional economic terms, putting particular stock into how New York City-based credit ratings agencies view Illinois' finances, while also positioning Illinois as a hub for emerging technologies like electric vehicles and quantum computing. As Illinois faces an influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border Pritzker has leaned into a leadership style that prioritizes progressive ideals while projecting an image of fiscal responsibility.As he outlined a proposal to add $182 Million toward the state's migrant response, Gov. Pritzker said, “We didn't ask for this manufactured crisis, But we must deal with it all the same.”“Children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been sent here in the dead of night, left far from our designated welcome centers, in freezing temperatures, wearing flip flops and T-shirts,” Pritzker said. “Think about that the next time a politician from Texas wants to lecture you about being a good Christian.”The governor was met with big applause from Democrats in laying out his proposed “Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act,” which would, in part, ban “prior authorization” requirements for mental health treatment.Pritzker characterized the practice of prior authorization as a way for insurance companies to deny the care that doctors have prescribed.Pritzker is also proposing spending $10 million in state funds to buy Illinoisans' past-due medical debt that's been sent to collections. Partnering with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt for pennies on the dollar on the same market that collections agencies purchase the rights to the debts, the governor said Illinois could “relieve nearly $1 billion in medical debt for the first cohort of 340,000 Illinoisans.”The governor spent time noting two key places he said Illinois fails its Black citizens:  maternal mortality and disproportionate rates of homelessness. To combat Black maternal mortality rates, Pritzker proposed helping more community-based reproductive health centers to open, citing Illinois' first freestanding nonprofit birthing center in Berwyn as a model.He said, “Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” Pritzker proposed spending an additional $50 million on the state's “Home Illinois” program launched in 2021, in part to “attack the root causes of housing insecurity for Black Illinoisans.” He cited a statistic that Black people make up 61 percent of Illinois' homeless population despite only being 14 percent of the state's general population.Additionally, the governor proposed a $1 million pilot program for free diapers for low-income families, as well as a $5 million increased investment in an existing home visit program “for our most vulnerable families” with babies in their first year.His budget also includes $12 million to create a child tax credit for families with children under three with incomes below a certain threshold. Among the successes Pritzker pointed to, perhaps the most salient is his claim that Illinois' new “Smart Start” early childhood program – proposed last year in the governor's second inaugural address – had exceeded its first-year goals.The program aimed to create 5,000 new preschool seats last year, but ended up creating 5,823, Pritzker said – a 15 percent overperformance. “As a result, right now we have over 82,000 publicly-funded preschool classroom seats – the highest number in our state's history. Staying on the Smart Start plan, we will achieve universal preschool by 2027.”Echoing his 2022 election-year call for a temporary pause on the state's 1 percent tax on groceries, Pritzker on Wednesday proposed nixing the grocery tax altogether.He said “It's one more regressive tax we just don't need. If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families' pockets, it's the right thing to do.”Even while proposing a series of progressive expenditures, the governor also sought to cast himself as a pragmatist when it comes to state finances. The state has seen strong revenue performances in the past few years, But in November, the governor's own economic forecasting office predicted a nearly $900 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1.“Our FY25 budget proposal makes some hard choices,” Pritzker said Wednesday. “I wish we had big surpluses to work with this year to take on every one of the very real challenges we face.”Illinois' once-paltry “rainy day” fund now has $2 billion socked away, the governor noted, and the state has paid off high-interest debt during his five years in office.To mitigate Illinois' previously projected deficit, Pritzker is proposing to more than double the tax rate paid by sportsbooks on profits – a change that would bring in an estimated $200 million annually. He also proposed extending an existing cap on operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes, which could help generate more than $500 million, the governor's office claims.Another revenue generator proposed by the governor: raising $101 million by capping a sales tax credit retailers are allowed to claim. But business groups on Wednesday signaled they'd put up a fight. In his first few months in office in 2019, Pritzker used his fresh political capital to muscle a $15 minimum wage ramp through the legislature – a long-fought-for progressive policy goal – followed closely by a trip to New York City to meet with executives at the influential big three credit ratings agencies.When Pritzker took office, Illinois' credit ratings were hovering around “junk” status after a two-year budget impasse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. And though Illinois suffered a final credit downgrade in the early months of COVID, the state has since received nine upgrades.The governor on Wednesday held those upgrades in high regard, saying“My one line in the sand is that I will only sign a budget that is responsibly balanced and that does not diminish or derail the improving credit standing we have achieved for the last five years,”Andrew Adams contributed.Missouri Senate Dems Hold The Line In Ballot Fighthttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/20/democrat-filibuster-forces-removal-of-ballot-candy-from-senate-initiative-petition-bill/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 5:15 PM     A Democratic filibuster that stretched more than 20 hours ended this week when Senate Republicans stripped provisions critics derided as “ballot candy” from a proposal to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions.Ballot candy refers to language designed to trick voters - into thinking the initiative is about ensuring only citizens vote, for instance - when that's totally irrelevant to the question voters are deciding.By an 18-12 vote, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats forming the majority, language that stated non-citizens could not vote on constitutional amendments was removed, as were sections barring foreign governments and political parties from taking sides in Missouri ballot measures.The Senate then, by a voice vote, gave first-round approval to the bill that would require both a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state's eight congressional districts to pass future constitutional amendments.The proposal would alter the way Missourians have approved constitutional changes since the first statewide vote on a constitution in 1846.Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, a Democrat, said, “All we're asking for is a fair fight. And the Republicans know if it's a fair fight, they lose, which is why they have to pump it full of ballot candy and mislead voters.”Meanwhile, the House spent much of Tuesday morning debating legislation that would make changes to the signature gathering process for initiative petition campaigns.Among numerous provisions, the bill would require signatures be recorded using black or dark ink and that signature gatherers be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures.Its most sweeping provision grants new authority to the secretary of state and attorney general to review initiative and referendum petitions for compliance with the Missouri Constitution.The effort to make it harder to get on the ballot and harder to pass a constitutional amendment has been a GOP priority for several years. In the past two election cycles, voters have expanded Medicaid coverage and legalized recreational marijuana, circumventing the GOP majority that opposed both. The push to raise the threshold on amendments proposed by initiative has taken on a new urgency for Republicans as abortion-rights supporters move ahead with a signature campaign to make this year's ballot.The results on abortion amendments in other states has Missouri abortion foes anxious about whether they can defend the state's almost total ban in a statewide election. Voters in Ohio last year rejected an effort to increase the majority needed to pass constitutional amendments before voting 57% in favor of abortion rights. And in 2022, Kansas voters defeated an attempt to restrict abortion rights by a landslide vote.Gov. Kelly Keep Kansas GOP In Linehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/20/kansas-house-republicans-fail-to-override-governors-veto-on-massive-tax-reform-bill/Kansas House Republicans fail to override governor's veto on massive tax reform billBY: TIM CARPENTER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 12:41 PM     TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas House failed Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ‘s veto of a tax reform bill anchored by implementation of a single, flat state income tax rate of 5.25% in addition to elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and creation of a tax exemption for all Social Security income.The GOP holds supermajorities in the House and Senate, but there was skepticism that both chambers could muster two-thirds majorities necessary to rebuke Kelly given opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans to parts of the three-year, $1.6 billion tax cut favoring the state's most wealthy. Kelly said the decision of House members to sustain her veto was a win for working-class Kansans who would have seen “little relief under this irresponsible flat tax experiment.” The Legislature should move ahead with her proposal for reducing $1 billion in taxes over three years.The governor said “I urge legislators to work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth and maintains our solid fiscal foundation while benefitting all Kansans, not just those at the top,”.Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the cost of the tax reform bill could reach $600 million annually when fully implemented, and the plan didn't do enough for the middle class in Kansas. He said a married couple earning $42,000 to $75,000 per year would only see an income tax reduction of about 75 cents.Rep. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott was among Republicans who opposed overriding Kelly's veto. He said the flat tax would force the state's working class to carry a larger burden of the state tax load. And the 2024 Legislature had sufficient time to develop an alternative that provided tax relief to all Kansans rather than just a select few.Good thinking! See it's not just Democrats who think KS Gov Laura Kelly knows what she's doing. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show appeared first in the Missouri Independent, Kansas Reflector, Texas Tribune, and Capitol News Illinois. Thanks for listening, see you next time.  @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

The Heartland POD for Friday, February 23, 2024A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Primary voting is underway in Texas | Kansas Medicaid expansion update | Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker lays out priorities as a progressive pragmatist | Missouri Democrats filibuster ballot candy | KS Gov Laura Kelly's veto will stand Primary voting is underway in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/julie-johnson-brian-williams-congressional-district-32-colin-allred/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 21, 2024WASHINGTON — In 2018, Rep. Colin Allred flipped Texas' 32nd Congressional District, turning the Dallas-based district into a blue stronghold. Now, as the Democrat vies to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a crowded field of 10 Democrats is lining up to replace him.Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon, and State Rep. Julie Johnson, of Farmers Branch, are leading the field in the Democratic primary with their fundraising efforts, each amassing about a million dollars in campaign donations since their campaigns were registered at the beginning of last summer.Ideologically, Williams and Johnson are aligned. They both rank health care a top priority if elected, and have touted their ability to work across the aisle.Johnson, a trial lawyer in her third term in the state House rode the 2019 blue wave to unseat hardline conservative incumbent Matt Rinaldi, by 13 points. Rinaldi now chairs the state GOP. In her three terms, at least 40 of the bills Johnson has co-authored or joint-authored have been signed into law.As a Democrat in the Republican-dominated state Legislature, Johnson has played a lot of defense trying to kill bills she and other progressives deem harmful. Johnson, who is gay, said she and other members of the House's LGBTQ caucus have had success in killing anti-LGBTQ bills by mastering the rules of procedure and “being better at the rules than the other side.” In 2019, she took down a House version of the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A bill” on a rule technicality. The bill was a response to a San Antonio airport kicking out the fast food restaurant over criticism of its religiously affiliated donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. It was revived in another bill and passed into law.If elected, Johnson would be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from a Southern state. She's drawn notable endorsements from Beto O'Rourke, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, EMILY's List, Equality PAC, and several labor unions.Matt Angle, director of Lone Star Project, a Texas group that works to boost Democrats, said Johnson is the frontrunner in the race, but Williams is a formidable challenger.“Make no mistake about it though,” Angle said. “Julie Johnson has a voter base within the district not only from her old district, but also just from years of being an active Democratic activist and a donor and really a couple of just outstanding terms in the legislature.”While he may be new to the Texas political arena, Williams is no stranger to the halls of Congress.Williams was a health policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy — who endorsed him — to help pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 – the farthest reaching gun safety legislation in decades. The legislation, crafted in the aftermath of the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo New York, allocated millions of dollars to expand mental health resources, strengthens background checks and tightens the boyfriend loophole. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was a lead negotiator on the bill with Murphy, and Williams worked closely with Cornyn's office. In his role as a health policy advisor for Murphy, he worked across the aisle with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on mental health legislation.Williams also worked with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to pass federal health care legislation related to pandemic preparedness and reducing health care costs.Williams said his experience as a trauma surgeon — operating on victims of gun violence and women experiencing reproductive health emergencies — has fueled his priorities to fight for gun restrictions and increase access to abortions and other womens' health. Williams added his perspective as a Black doctor seeing racial disparities in health care will resonate with the district's diverse constituency, given that the district is now a majority-minority district with a 37% Hispanic or Latino population, 22% Black population and 8% Asian population.“They're excited that there's someone that looks like them that can represent them in Congress,” Williams said in an interview.As Allred opted to stay neutral in the race to succeed him – Williams said he had pursued his endorsement while Johnson said she had not – the tension between Johnson and Williams has been heating up.Williams has publicly criticized Johnson for a vote she took that would have made some changes and tweaks to the state's Alternatives to Abortions program, which provides information about resources to women seeking the procedure.“I draw contrast between myself and Representative Johnson about how I am the better candidate,” Williams said.Johnson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, said Williams misrepresented the vote, which she said she cast to bring the already-funded program under the scope of the Health and Human Services Commission so it could be subject to public transparency. Her campaign published a fact-check on her website, likening Williams' misrepresentation of her record to “Trumpian-style, false attacks.”Planned Parenthood was critical of the legislation.Johnson said women's health is also a priority for her, and she stands by her record.“Texas leads the nation of uninsured folks, and in maternal mortality, and in infant mortality. Obviously, we're leading the nation in an attack on women's freedom for women's reproductive health, and I've been a champion of a lot of these issues,” she said.Other candidates vying for the open seat in the March 5 primary include businessman Raja Chaudhry, tech entrepreneur Alex Cornwallis, former Dallas City Councilman and real estate broker Kevin Felder and attorney Callie Butcher, who would be the first openly transgender member of Congress if elected.If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, there will be a runoff in May. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in November but is likely to win given that the district is solidly blue.And, from Dallas we go to Houston whereAfter bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yetJackson Lee faces off against Amanda Edwards, her most formidable congressional opponent in three decades.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/19/sheila-jackson-lee-amanda-edwards-democratic-primary-houston/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 19, 2024In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she'd come to hold for the next 30 years.This March, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, 42, is hoping to replicate that political upset as she faces off against Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 18.Jackson Lee, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has only drawn four primary challengers over her 14-term career, all of whom she defeated by landslide margins.She's a household name in her Houston-based district, known for her frequent visibility at constituent graduations, funerals and baby showers.But last year she ran for Houston mayor against then-state Sen. John Whitmire. It was a bruising primary — unfamiliar territory for Jackson Lee — and her campaign was roiled with negative media after audio of her berating her congressional staffers was leaked. She ended up losing the race by 30 points and then immediately announced she was running for reelection to the U.S. House.Amanda Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee's office, initially announced she was running for Houston mayor until the congresswoman threw her hat in the ring. At that point, Edwards pivoted — endorsing Jackson Lee as mayor and beginning her own bid for Congress.By the time Jackson Lee announced she was running for her House seat again, Edwards had already gained momentum. In the fourth quarter of last year, Edwards outraised the congresswoman 10 to 1 — $272,000 to Jackson Lee's $23,000.Mark Jones, Baker Institute fellow in political science at Rice University said, “This could be the year that Congresswoman Jackson Lee loses. And given that as a safe, Democratic, seat whoever wins the primary will be headed to Washington in January of 2025”Jackson Lee holds a narrow lead in primary polls, while 16% of voters remain undecided. Edwards, a native Houstonian, said her commitment to public service is propelled by her father's battle with cancer when she was a teenager, where she learned firsthand about the cracks in the health care system and how “policy could be a matter of life and death.” She served as an at-large Houston City Council member from 2016 to 2020, where she represented a constituency of more than 2 million people.In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including the Harris County Young Democrats, and the Harris County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races.The Harris County Young Democrats rescinded its endorsement of Jackson Lee in the mayoral race — citing a “zero tolerance policy” for staff abuse.Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy also factored into the committee's decision to not endorse her. On the recording Jackson Lee berates a staffer for not having a document she was looking for and calls two of her staffers “Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose.”He said endorsement committee members were still “quite upset” over the tape and it “wasn't a good look” for Jackson Lee. The leaked tape fueled discourse about Jackson Lee's reputation as an unkind boss on Capitol Hill – she regularly makes Washingtonian Magazine's worst of Congress list and her office has high turnover rates.Polk added that voters felt abandoned by Jackson Lee, who jumped into the mayor's race without endorsing someone to take her place, only to file for reelection a day after losing.Jackson Lee's battle to retain her seat is made tougher by 2021 redistricting, because the 18th district now includes more young white professionals who do not have the same level of loyalty to her as longtime district residents.But despite any damage she may have incurred from her mayoral run, Jackson Lee remains a powerful political force in her district.County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is backing Jackson Lee, said he doesn't know anyone in local politics with her “energy level,” and that Jackson Lee has secured meaningful federal grants for her district – most recently $20.5 million to Harris County Public Health Department's Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot project. He also said she has a reputation for being a reliably progressive voice in Congress.Jackson Lee has a long list of powerful endorsements from House Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clarke. She's backed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other members of Texas' Washington delegation including Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.Ellis said Jackson Lee may not be a strong fundraiser but she will benefit from her incumbency advantage.Linda Bell-Robinson, a Houston Democratic precinct chair, said she is fighting for Jackson Lee to retain her seat because seniority in Congress is important and Edwards would be learning the ropes as a freshman if elected.“We need fighters,” she said. “We don't need people trying to learn how to fight on the battlefield. We need people who are already fighting and know how to fight their fight.SEAN: Super interesting race. For my part, I don't have any problem with members of Congress being extremely tough to work for. I have problems with lying, fraud, criminal activity, and squishy voting records. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and AFL-CIO. She has a 95% rating from League of Conservation VotersNew estimate predicts Medicaid expansion would serve 152K at no cost to stateA $509M federal incentive would help offset state cost for first eight yearsBY: SHERMAN SMITH - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 4:22 PMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly's proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government.The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medicaid expansion for four years.Kansas is one of just 10 states that still haven't expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400.Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.Kelly's proposal includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals.KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured.About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. Of the remaining 31.1% KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans.KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals. The Kansas Sunflower Foundation on Thursday released findings from surveys that found 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans and 83% of small business owners support Medicaid expansion.Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, said in a news release that expanding Medicaid was about “investing in the well-being of our communities.”Baccus said “Our rural communities are often struggling to keep Main Street open and to continue to offer the necessary services to the surrounding agricultural enterprises. A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.”The findings are consistent with a Fort Hays State University poll that was released in October.With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatistThursday, February 22, 2024Governor's spending plan advances progressive-backed policies in tight fiscal landscapeBy HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.comhttps://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/with-budget-proposal-and-fiery-address-pritzker-paints-himself-as-progressive-pragmatistSPRINGFIELD – In delivering his annual State of the State and budget address on Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker cast his administration as both progressive and pragmatic – a balance he's worked to strike as his national profile has grown.Some elements of the governor's proposed spending plan, like using $10 million in state funds to eliminate $1 billion worth of Illinoisans' medical debt, are hardline progressive ideas. Others, including a goal to achieve “universal preschool” by 2027, fit in with a more traditional liberal platform.But Pritzker has also defined his success in traditional economic terms, putting particular stock into how New York City-based credit ratings agencies view Illinois' finances, while also positioning Illinois as a hub for emerging technologies like electric vehicles and quantum computing. As Illinois faces an influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border Pritzker has leaned into a leadership style that prioritizes progressive ideals while projecting an image of fiscal responsibility.As he outlined a proposal to add $182 Million toward the state's migrant response, Gov. Pritzker said, “We didn't ask for this manufactured crisis, But we must deal with it all the same.”“Children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been sent here in the dead of night, left far from our designated welcome centers, in freezing temperatures, wearing flip flops and T-shirts,” Pritzker said. “Think about that the next time a politician from Texas wants to lecture you about being a good Christian.”The governor was met with big applause from Democrats in laying out his proposed “Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act,” which would, in part, ban “prior authorization” requirements for mental health treatment.Pritzker characterized the practice of prior authorization as a way for insurance companies to deny the care that doctors have prescribed.Pritzker is also proposing spending $10 million in state funds to buy Illinoisans' past-due medical debt that's been sent to collections. Partnering with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt for pennies on the dollar on the same market that collections agencies purchase the rights to the debts, the governor said Illinois could “relieve nearly $1 billion in medical debt for the first cohort of 340,000 Illinoisans.”The governor spent time noting two key places he said Illinois fails its Black citizens:  maternal mortality and disproportionate rates of homelessness. To combat Black maternal mortality rates, Pritzker proposed helping more community-based reproductive health centers to open, citing Illinois' first freestanding nonprofit birthing center in Berwyn as a model.He said, “Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” Pritzker proposed spending an additional $50 million on the state's “Home Illinois” program launched in 2021, in part to “attack the root causes of housing insecurity for Black Illinoisans.” He cited a statistic that Black people make up 61 percent of Illinois' homeless population despite only being 14 percent of the state's general population.Additionally, the governor proposed a $1 million pilot program for free diapers for low-income families, as well as a $5 million increased investment in an existing home visit program “for our most vulnerable families” with babies in their first year.His budget also includes $12 million to create a child tax credit for families with children under three with incomes below a certain threshold. Among the successes Pritzker pointed to, perhaps the most salient is his claim that Illinois' new “Smart Start” early childhood program – proposed last year in the governor's second inaugural address – had exceeded its first-year goals.The program aimed to create 5,000 new preschool seats last year, but ended up creating 5,823, Pritzker said – a 15 percent overperformance. “As a result, right now we have over 82,000 publicly-funded preschool classroom seats – the highest number in our state's history. Staying on the Smart Start plan, we will achieve universal preschool by 2027.”Echoing his 2022 election-year call for a temporary pause on the state's 1 percent tax on groceries, Pritzker on Wednesday proposed nixing the grocery tax altogether.He said “It's one more regressive tax we just don't need. If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families' pockets, it's the right thing to do.”Even while proposing a series of progressive expenditures, the governor also sought to cast himself as a pragmatist when it comes to state finances. The state has seen strong revenue performances in the past few years, But in November, the governor's own economic forecasting office predicted a nearly $900 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1.“Our FY25 budget proposal makes some hard choices,” Pritzker said Wednesday. “I wish we had big surpluses to work with this year to take on every one of the very real challenges we face.”Illinois' once-paltry “rainy day” fund now has $2 billion socked away, the governor noted, and the state has paid off high-interest debt during his five years in office.To mitigate Illinois' previously projected deficit, Pritzker is proposing to more than double the tax rate paid by sportsbooks on profits – a change that would bring in an estimated $200 million annually. He also proposed extending an existing cap on operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes, which could help generate more than $500 million, the governor's office claims.Another revenue generator proposed by the governor: raising $101 million by capping a sales tax credit retailers are allowed to claim. But business groups on Wednesday signaled they'd put up a fight. In his first few months in office in 2019, Pritzker used his fresh political capital to muscle a $15 minimum wage ramp through the legislature – a long-fought-for progressive policy goal – followed closely by a trip to New York City to meet with executives at the influential big three credit ratings agencies.When Pritzker took office, Illinois' credit ratings were hovering around “junk” status after a two-year budget impasse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. And though Illinois suffered a final credit downgrade in the early months of COVID, the state has since received nine upgrades.The governor on Wednesday held those upgrades in high regard, saying“My one line in the sand is that I will only sign a budget that is responsibly balanced and that does not diminish or derail the improving credit standing we have achieved for the last five years,”Andrew Adams contributed.Missouri Senate Dems Hold The Line In Ballot Fighthttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/20/democrat-filibuster-forces-removal-of-ballot-candy-from-senate-initiative-petition-bill/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 5:15 PM     A Democratic filibuster that stretched more than 20 hours ended this week when Senate Republicans stripped provisions critics derided as “ballot candy” from a proposal to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions.Ballot candy refers to language designed to trick voters - into thinking the initiative is about ensuring only citizens vote, for instance - when that's totally irrelevant to the question voters are deciding.By an 18-12 vote, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats forming the majority, language that stated non-citizens could not vote on constitutional amendments was removed, as were sections barring foreign governments and political parties from taking sides in Missouri ballot measures.The Senate then, by a voice vote, gave first-round approval to the bill that would require both a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state's eight congressional districts to pass future constitutional amendments.The proposal would alter the way Missourians have approved constitutional changes since the first statewide vote on a constitution in 1846.Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, a Democrat, said, “All we're asking for is a fair fight. And the Republicans know if it's a fair fight, they lose, which is why they have to pump it full of ballot candy and mislead voters.”Meanwhile, the House spent much of Tuesday morning debating legislation that would make changes to the signature gathering process for initiative petition campaigns.Among numerous provisions, the bill would require signatures be recorded using black or dark ink and that signature gatherers be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures.Its most sweeping provision grants new authority to the secretary of state and attorney general to review initiative and referendum petitions for compliance with the Missouri Constitution.The effort to make it harder to get on the ballot and harder to pass a constitutional amendment has been a GOP priority for several years. In the past two election cycles, voters have expanded Medicaid coverage and legalized recreational marijuana, circumventing the GOP majority that opposed both. The push to raise the threshold on amendments proposed by initiative has taken on a new urgency for Republicans as abortion-rights supporters move ahead with a signature campaign to make this year's ballot.The results on abortion amendments in other states has Missouri abortion foes anxious about whether they can defend the state's almost total ban in a statewide election. Voters in Ohio last year rejected an effort to increase the majority needed to pass constitutional amendments before voting 57% in favor of abortion rights. And in 2022, Kansas voters defeated an attempt to restrict abortion rights by a landslide vote.Gov. Kelly Keep Kansas GOP In Linehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/20/kansas-house-republicans-fail-to-override-governors-veto-on-massive-tax-reform-bill/Kansas House Republicans fail to override governor's veto on massive tax reform billBY: TIM CARPENTER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 12:41 PM     TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas House failed Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ‘s veto of a tax reform bill anchored by implementation of a single, flat state income tax rate of 5.25% in addition to elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and creation of a tax exemption for all Social Security income.The GOP holds supermajorities in the House and Senate, but there was skepticism that both chambers could muster two-thirds majorities necessary to rebuke Kelly given opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans to parts of the three-year, $1.6 billion tax cut favoring the state's most wealthy. Kelly said the decision of House members to sustain her veto was a win for working-class Kansans who would have seen “little relief under this irresponsible flat tax experiment.” The Legislature should move ahead with her proposal for reducing $1 billion in taxes over three years.The governor said “I urge legislators to work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth and maintains our solid fiscal foundation while benefitting all Kansans, not just those at the top,”.Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the cost of the tax reform bill could reach $600 million annually when fully implemented, and the plan didn't do enough for the middle class in Kansas. He said a married couple earning $42,000 to $75,000 per year would only see an income tax reduction of about 75 cents.Rep. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott was among Republicans who opposed overriding Kelly's veto. He said the flat tax would force the state's working class to carry a larger burden of the state tax load. And the 2024 Legislature had sufficient time to develop an alternative that provided tax relief to all Kansans rather than just a select few.Good thinking! See it's not just Democrats who think KS Gov Laura Kelly knows what she's doing. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show appeared first in the Missouri Independent, Kansas Reflector, Texas Tribune, and Capitol News Illinois. Thanks for listening, see you next time.  @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

  On Monday's show: The game schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been announced. We learn all the details about how many games Houston will host and at what stage. Also this hour: Funding to help move Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens residents living near a contaminated railyard is being reconsidered after being delayed for almost a month. Houston City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on $2 million that would go toward that effort. City Council Member Tarsha Jackson joins us to discuss the matter.  Then, we offer you a chance to share your pet peeves about life in Greater Houston. And we preview the Super Bowl and discuss other developments in Houston sports.

On Thursday's show: We learn how ongoing United flight cancellations at Bush Airport due to the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets is affecting air travel in and out of Houston. And we discuss some recent developments at the latest Houston City Council meeting. Also this hour: We consider where the abortion fight in Texas and nationally might be headed next. Then, Maggie Gordon of Houston Landing explains some ongoing issues she's been reporting on within the Houston Public Library system, from employee dissatisfaction to dysfunction behind the scenes. And the Houston Marathon is Sunday. We meet a former Rice University runner Cali Werner, who's written a children's book about running and mental health, called Anxious Annie.

On Thursday's show: We discuss Mayor Sylvester Turner's last city council meeting, the accomplishments he touted during it, and what challenges are first up for Mayor-elect John Whitmire and the next Houston City Council. Also this hour: We talk with members of the youth-led nonprofit Students Engaged in Advancing Texas that alleges Katy ISD's gender fluidity policy is discriminatory. Also: This month's edition of The Bigger Picture explores some serious issues raised…by a new Godzilla film. And we learn how a math professor at Sam Houston State University's work with artificial intelligence helped restore the music of a lost opera and what that had to do with the 700th anniversary of Lithuania's capital city.

On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved nine proposals the city says should bring some relief to residents experiencing high water bills. Also this hour: Have you been to the pharmacy lately? If it seems like the lines are longer, the pharmacist is busier, and the experience is a bit more complicated than it used to be -- you're not wrong. We learn what is happening and why. And we talk with Houston YouTube chef Joshua Weissmann about his work and his new cookbook, Texture Over Taste.

In the last episode of the year, Andi and Garrett discuss Tim Dunn, a major donor to conservative causes, who recently sold his company for $12 billion. They also discuss the name change of Pale Horse Consulting, a political consulting business associated with Defend Texas Liberty PAC. The hosts highlight the recent elections in Houston, where conservative candidates won a slew of council seats and John Whitmire was elected as the new mayor. They also mention the Bum Steer of the Year award given to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick by Texas Monthly. The episode concludes with a discussion on recent presidential preference polls.Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Texas Supreme Court ruled against Dallas-area mother Kate Cox, denying her emergency emergency care, forcing Cox to leave Texas to receive it: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2023/12/11/kate-cox-flees-state-to-get-abortion-after-supreme-court-decision/ ...Proving that the "exceptions" Texas law provides are really not intended to help Texas mothers: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/texas-abortion-ban.html ...And serves as the ironic "pro-life" protection of a doomed pregnancy at the cost of future children for Cox: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/09/opinions/texas-abortion-laws-kate-cox-ziegler/index.html The filing deadline for the 2024 election yesterday finds U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee squaring off with former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards for the U.S. House: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-house/ ...And State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado challenging State Senator Nathan Johnson: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/11/texas-rep-victoria-neave-criado-to-challenge-state-sen-nathan-johnson-in-march-primary/ ...And a crowded field to face Ted Cruz, still dominated by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and State Senator Roland Gutierrez: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/11/in-march-5-texas-primaries-down-ballot-contests-have-more-lone-star-spice/ Meanwhile, both Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton attack members of their own party out of retribution: https://www.kltv.com/2023/12/12/gov-abbott-endorses-opponents-east-texas-lawmakers-who-voted-against-school-vouchers/ MOVE Texas unveils a $4 million effort to mobilize young voters of color in Texas: https://themessenger.com/politics/move-texas-to-invest-4-million-to-mobilize-young-texas-voters-for-2024-exclusive A new study finds the deterioration of Texas weather accelerating: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2023/12/11/its-not-your-imagination-texas-weather-is-getting-hotter-and-more-extreme-study-finds/ Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting Progress Texas with a donation, at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court stayed a lower court order that would have allowed Dallas mother Kate Cox to terminate a doomed pregnancy that threatens her health: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-hold-kate-cox/ ...Drawing national attention to the contrast of approaches to reproductive freedom between Democrats and Republicans: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4351771-five-things-to-know-texas-abortion-fight/ ...Setting the stage for one of the primary issues that will decide next year's election: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-biden-campaign-condemn-blocking-emergency-abortion-texas-woman-2023-12-09/ ...And providing a preview of what will happen if Trump and the Republicans prevail: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/12/10/texas-abortion-case-judge-permission-healthcare-decisions/71851981007/ Longtime Democratic Texas State Senator John Whitmire wins the race for Houston Mayor, raising important decisions for U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee: https://rollcall.com/2023/12/10/after-loss-in-mayors-race-jackson-lee-faces-decision/ ...While Chris Hollins wins his run for Houston City Controller: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/houston-controller-runoff-results-18534780.php ...And Ken Paxton impeachment attorney Tony Buzbee's run for Houston City Council ends in defeat: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/09/tony-buzbee-houston-city-council-attorney-mary-nan-huffman/ While Ted Cruz and John Cornyn hold U.S. aid to Ukraine hostage, a top Russian lawmaker suggests that by his country's recent example, Texas should be returned to Mexico: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-guyana-venezuelan-mironov-alaska-texas-1851004 A black eye for Texas as Elon Musk reinstates Alex Jones to Twitter: https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-x-account-elon-musk-90cfc990631dec5e8f337167fbe16372 Filmmaker Rob Reiner will release a new documentary on Christian Nationalism in February: https://www.al.com/life/2023/12/rob-reiner-drops-trailer-for-documentary-on-christian-nationalism.html Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting our important work at Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Join Andrea Gomez as she speaks with Julian Ramirez | Candidate, Houston City Council at-large - Position 1 and Roy Morales | Candidate, Houston City Council at-large - Position 4

Sallie for the City: Sallie Alcorn's Vision for Houston and Beyond.   Vote November 7th!  I'm so excited to share and endorse a local leader and dear friend Sallie Alcorn. Join us as we hear how she's working to build strong communities in Houston.   In this episode, you will be able to: Gain inspiration and practical advice on running for Houston City Council. Discover strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence in politics. Learn the importance of effective fundraising for successful political campaigns. Explore the impact of focusing on affordable housing and infrastructure in your community. Find tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance while pursuing a political career. My special guest is Sallie Alcorn Sallie Alcorn is a highly qualified candidate running for Houston City Council At Large Position 5. With over 15 years of experience working at City Hall, Sallie possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in public administration and policy. Her background includes a master's degree in Public Administration and previous work in the Housing and Community Development Department. Sallie's passion for improving Houston's infrastructure, particularly in areas such as drainage, streets, and sidewalks, stems from her firsthand experience with the devastating effects of flooding during Hurricane Harvey. She is dedicated to making the city safer and more accessible for all residents. Sallie's commitment to public service and her understanding of the complexities of local government make her a strong advocate for the community. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Sallie on running for office and making a meaningful impact in the community. You can follow Sallie's candidacy at salliealcorn.com

Casey Curry: Prepared for City Hall and Enjoying the Weather. I'm so proud to present and endorse Casey Curry for Houston City Council at Large, Position 3. With a background in broadcast meteorology, Casey brings a wealth of knowledge on weather, climate, and disaster preparedness to her campaign. Her expertise in these areas makes her a strong advocate for prioritizing these issues in city decision-making. Casey's diverse experiences, including growing up as a military kid and working in television news, have shaped her perspective as a leader who understands the importance of addressing deferred maintenance, public safety, and infrastructure. Join us as Casey shares her insights and experiences on running for office and the significance of women's representation in local politics. Don't miss this informative episode that provides guidance and inspiration for women interested in making a difference in their communities. Follow her campaign at caseycurryforhouston.com/  

On Thursday's show: News 88.7 reporter Ashley Brown recaps Mayor Sylvester Turner's final State of the City address and briefs us on some recent developments at Houston City Council. Also this hour: A conversation with lawyer, educator, and author Anita Hill ahead of her visit to the University of Houston where she will deliver a lecture Oct. 5. Then, we learn more about a planned development in Montgomery County called Two Step Farm, which its developer believes will attract people seeking a small town feel mixed with the natural world – and music. And we listen to the final installment of Hot Stops, a series from News 88.7 examining heat at Houston-area bus stops

On Wednesday's show: From Tony Buzbee's last-minute entry into a Houston City Council race, to why the Texas Young Republicans is distancing itself from the Republican Party of Texas, we mull over the latest developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We take stock of the influence and economic impact of the Hispanic community across the region with the help of Dr. Laura Murillo, the president and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is presenting a State of Hispanics Data Summit and Business Expo today. And Houston writer Jamie Jo Hoang comes to terms with the toll the Vietnam War took on her father and, by extension, its lasting effect on her in her new young adult novel, My Father the Panda Killer.

We're continuing to host Chris' new podcast for Progress Texas through the month of August! If you're enjoying it, please subscribe to the Progress Texas Podcasts feed on the platform of your choice - that will be its permanent home. Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Biden administration and the government of Mexico face off against Texas in federal court today over Governor Abbott's buoys barrier: ⁠https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-texas-oversize-buoy-barrier-us-mexico-river-102442113⁠ ...While a ninth busload of migrants, including 16 children, are sent by Texas into the path of Tropical Storm Hilary: ⁠https://abc7.com/los-angeles-migrants-texas-tropical-storm-hilary/13683042/⁠ A growing number of Texans are aware of the charges against Ken Paxton and support his impeachment: ⁠https://abc13.com/why-ken-paxton-impeached-impeachment-trial-texas-voters-attorney-general-legal-issues/13680969/⁠ ...While Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee has decided he wants to serve on the Houston City Council: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/tony-buzbee-houston-city-council-paxton/⁠ A special session on education looms - a House committee has reported its recommendations, which are likely to be ignored by GOP lawmakers: ⁠https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/politics/2023/08/21/texas-house-members-gear-up-for-expected-education-focused-special-session⁠ ERCOT has issued a "weather watch", anticipating high heat and low reserves starting tomorrow: ⁠https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-issues-weather-watch-for-texas/⁠ ...While U.S. House Democrats call for an investigation into deadly heat in Texas prisons: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/texas-prison-heat-deaths/⁠ And, South Texas is set for a brief break from hot, dry Texas conditions, but there is a storm to endure: ⁠https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/first-look-at-harolds-wind-and-rain-in-texas⁠ Thanks for listening! Please help Progress Texas continue our important work at ⁠https://progresstexas.org/⁠.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Biden administration and the government of Mexico face off against Texas in federal court today over Governor Abbott's buoys barrier: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-texas-oversize-buoy-barrier-us-mexico-river-102442113 ...While a ninth busload of migrants, including 16 children, are sent by Texas into the path of Tropical Storm Hilary: https://abc7.com/los-angeles-migrants-texas-tropical-storm-hilary/13683042/ A growing number of Texans are aware of the charges against Ken Paxton and support his impeachment: https://abc13.com/why-ken-paxton-impeached-impeachment-trial-texas-voters-attorney-general-legal-issues/13680969/ ...While Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee has decided he wants to serve on the Houston City Council: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/tony-buzbee-houston-city-council-paxton/ A special session on education looms - a House committee has reported its recommendations, which are likely to be ignored by GOP lawmakers: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/politics/2023/08/21/texas-house-members-gear-up-for-expected-education-focused-special-session ERCOT has issued a "weather watch", anticipating high heat and low reserves starting tomorrow: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-issues-weather-watch-for-texas/ ...While U.S. House Democrats call for an investigation into deadly heat in Texas prisons: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/texas-prison-heat-deaths/ And, South Texas is set for a brief break from hot, dry Texas conditions, but there is a storm to endure: https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/first-look-at-harolds-wind-and-rain-in-texas Thanks for listening! Please help Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following today at Progress Texas: The McCombs Business School at UT Austin has been hosting a radical white supremacist scholar: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-08-09/new-report-reveals-ut-austin-scholar-wrote-for-white-supremacist-publications/ Houston City Council invites 2028 Republican National Convention to town in near-unanimous vote: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/houston-republican-convention-city-council-votes-18287278.php Yet another record single-day energy demand met by ERCOT yesterday, made possible by renewable energy providers: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-power-use-hits-record-again-amid-heat-wave-2023-08-09/ Democratic lawmakers press USPS on hot weather care for its letter carriers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/09/texas-congressmen-push-usps-to-give-mail-carriers-bottled-water-breaks-from-extreme-heat/ Texas wildfire danger reaches its second-to-highest risk level: https://www.kvue.com/article/weather/texas-drought/wildfire-preparedness-level-texas/269-94ec2f71-b237-4f96-a932-67dbcbe9227f ...While Texas actually remains behind wildfire stats for mid-August (knocks on wood): https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/09/texas-wildfires-2023-heat-wave/ Texas Republicans estimate a 0.1% chance of a conviction in Ken Paxton impeachment trial: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/ken-paxton-trial-senate-conviction-chances/ Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how YOU can join the fun at https://progresstexas.org/.

On Thursday's show: Katy ISD voters will decide in November whether to approve a record $840.6 million in bond proposals, which the fast-growing school district west of Houston wants to use for new campuses and building renovations, security and technology upgrades, and improvements to its athletic facilities.  Also this hour: We talk with a City of Houston transportation official about how her family's been impacted by inequalities in transportation planning. Veronica O. Davis writes about that in her new book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. Then, we revisit the city's contract with ShotSpotter. The company detects shots fired and informs police so they can investigate. What do we make of Houston police saying it's contributing to slowed response times for other emergencies? And we learn about a performance this weekend combining music and dance from multiple south and southeast Asian cultures.

On Thursday's show: A vote has been delayed twice now at Houston City Council over a Heights daycare center's call for the creation of an alcohol-free zone within 300 feet of its facility in order to prevent future bars or liquor stores from opening nearby. We learn more about the story and why the vote continues to be delayed from News 88.7's Ashley Brown. Also this hour: It's been a year since the new 988 crisis hotline number was introduced. How effective has it been? Then, we talk with Houston-based artist JooYoung Choi, whose work is on display this summer at Rice University's Moody Center for the Arts. And the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston performs the famous comic opera The Pirates of Penzance this weekend and next.

On Thursday's show: Houston-area restaurants want to keep expanded outdoor seating established early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston City Council is considering it. We talk it over with the Greater Houston Restaurant Association and discuss the state of area restaurants. Also this hour: We learn more about the wrongful death lawsuit filed in Galveston County against three Texas women over allegedly helping a friend obtain an abortion. The friend's ex-husband is the plaintiff. Then, reacclimating to society after time spent in prison is challenging, to say the least. It's also one of the subplots depicted in the new film Creed III. That film and that challenge are the subject of this month's The Bigger Picture. And we visit Fly Girls of WWII, an exhibit at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum on the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of the 1940s and learn about some who worked through Houston Municipal Airport in the 40s and 50s.

On Thursday's show: This week, Houston City Council discussed a number of proposed low-income housing projects identified by the city's housing department. Some would establish lower rents in portions of properties in higher-income neighborhoods. Residents in some of those neighborhoods have expressed concerns. We discuss the proposed projects with Keith Bynam, director of the Housing and Community Development Department and learn more about what council members had to say about it all from News 88.7's Ashley Brown. Also this hour: What would it actually mean if the state ends up taking over HISD? Then, federal funding is headed to UH-Downtown and UH-Clear Lake to help students experiencing food, housing, and health care insecurities. And we learn how Gulf Coast storms spurred Lake Charles, Louisiana mother Roishetta Ozane to become a climate activist in an excerpt from this weekend's edition of I See U with Eddie Robinson.

Hundreds of new automatic license plate reader cameras are coming to Houston after the Houston City Council approved spending millions of dollars to lease 318 cameras. Reporter Adam Bennett has been covering the story for KHOU in Houston. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of new automatic license plate reader cameras are coming to Houston after the Houston City Council approved spending millions of dollars to lease 318 cameras. Reporter Adam Bennett has been covering the story for KHOU in Houston. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices