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OHIO ABORTION RIGHTSOhioans voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, Edison Research projected, which will render moot a six-week abortion limit signed into law by Republican Governor Mike DeWine. The ban is currently on hold pending litigation at the conservative state Supreme Court. The success of Ohio's ballot measure initiative, which put the question of abortion rights to voters directly, adds to a string of ballot measure victories for abortion rights supporters since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURTThe race for a new state Supreme Court justice will not alter the liberal tilt of Pennsylvania's highest court but could have future implications for abortion rights and election laws in the state. Democrats have a 4-2 majority in the partisan state court, with one vacant seat to be filled in this election.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Jon Cherry, Daniel Cameron, Republican Donald Trump, Beshear, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Reeves, Presley, Elvis Presley, Roe, Wade, Glenn Youngkin, Mike DeWine, Cherelle Parker, Republican David Oh, Jim Kenney, Sheila Jackson Lee, John Whitmire, Sylvester Turner, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio, Gabriella Borter, Colleen Jenkins, Lincoln Organizations: Democratic, Capitol, REUTERS, Republicans, KENTUCKY, Edison Research, Republican, MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR Republican, Democrat, Democratic Governors Association, NEW, General, U.S, PENNSYLVANIA, New York Times, Democrats, Thomson Locations: Frankfort , Kentucky, U.S, Kentucky, Mississippi, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, COVID, MISSISSIPPI, Northern Mississippi, Southern, VIRGINIA, Virginia's Senate, U.S ., NEW JERSEY, Democratic New Jersey, OHIO, Philadelphia, Houston

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most-watched races in Tuesday’s off-year general election have all been dominated by the ongoing debate over abortion rights. Here's a look at three major races and how abortion has shaped each contest. Andy Beshear seeks a second term in a heavily Republican state Donald Trump carried twice. Ohio constitutional amendment on abortionOhio voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution to protect access to abortion services. The date for the new primary has not been set but will take place after Tuesday’s general election.

Persons: Wade, Here's, Andy Beshear, Donald Trump, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Cameron, Steve Beshear, Matt Bevin, Mitch McConnell, ”, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley outraised Reeves, Reeves, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Gabe Amo, Republican Gerry Leonard, David Cicilline, Cicilline, Democrat Patrick Kennedy, Sylvester Turner, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen, John Whitmire, Kimberly Mata, Rubio, Cody Smith, Veronica Martinez, Joe Ganim, Tuesday’s, Richard Dziekan, Gino DiGiovanni, Yusef Salaam Organizations: WASHINGTON, Supreme, Roe, Kentucky, Democratic Gov, GOP, U.S, Trump, Black Republican, Reconstruction, Associated Press, Republican Gov, Democrat, Republicans, Pennsylvania, Court, Rhode, Rhode Island U.S . House, Republican, Democratic U.S . Rep, Mayors, U.S . Rep, Robb Elementary School, Democratic, Capitol Locations: Tuesday’s, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, U.S, Kentucky , Ohio, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Houston, Uvalde , Texas, Bridgeport , Connecticut, Derby , Connecticut, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Biden administration officials hosted big city mayors at the White House on Thursday to discuss how to manage a growing number of migrants, one day after those leaders sent a letter asking for more federal help. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson met with White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and Homeland Security Department officials before heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. If they could work, the cities would require less federal aid to help house them. “I think they seem receptive,” Johnston said of federal officials. It's unclear whether House Republicans will fund any of Biden's request for help for the cities.

Persons: — Biden, Mike Johnston, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Jeff Zients, “, ”, Johnston, Joe Biden, Karen Bass, Sylvester Turner, Houston, Eric Adams, Adams, Biden, ” Johnston, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ We're Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Denver, Chicago Mayor, White House, Homeland Security Department, Capitol Hill, Democratic, Adams, Republicans Locations: Los Angeles, New York, Washington, United States

In Denver, the number of migrants arriving has increased tenfold and available space to shelter them has withered. With fewer available work authorizations, these migrants cannot find work that would allow them to get into proper housing. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who is leading the coalition, said nearly every conversation he has had with arriving migrants is the same: Can he help them find a job, they ask. He is increasingly under fire from members of his own party who are managing the growing number of migrants in their cities. “Our cities need additional resources that far exceed the amount proposed in order to properly care for the asylum seekers entering our communities," the mayors' letter says.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnston, ” Johnston, Biden, Johnston, Eric Adams, Karen Bass, Brandon Johnson, Chicago, Sylvester Turner, Houston Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, The Associated Press, Denver, Republicans, Republican Locations: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and New York, In New York, U.S, Mexico, United States, New York, “, Los Angeles

I recognize that in my zeal to do everything possible to deliver for my constituents I have in the past fallen short of my own standards and there is no excuse for that,” said Jackson Lee, who has been in Congress since 1995. “To anyone who has listened to this recording with concern, I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent, that worked to exploit this,” Jackson Lee said. Sue Davis, a spokesperson for Whitmire, said the state senator’s campaign had nothing to do with the recording. Jackson Lee is one of 18 candidates vying to lead the nation’s fourth-largest city. They are seeking to replace Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has served eight years and can’t run again because of term limits.

Persons: Sheila Jackson Lee, Jackson Lee, ”, Sen, John Whitmire, ” Jackson Lee, Sue Davis, “, ” Davis, Sylvester Turner, can’t, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, — U.S . Rep, Democratic Locations: Houston

HOUSTON (AP) — The challenges facing Houston’s next mayor are familiar to many big cities: crime, crumbling infrastructure, budget shortfalls and a lack of affordable housing. “This (new) mayor comes along at a time when the city is doing well, though the city faces issues,” said Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, a local business group. They highlight what they see as Houston’s failings while touting it as an international city teeming with diversity. Others in contention are former head of Houston’s public transit system Gilbert Garcia, attorney Lee Kaplan, Houston City Councilman Robert Gallegos and former council members Jack Christie and M.J. Khan. The city’s challenges are due in part to its explosive growth over the past decade.

Persons: Houston’s, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sen, John Whitmire, ”, Bob Harvey, Houston, Sylvester Turner, Gilbert Garcia, Lee Kaplan, Robert Gallegos, Jack Christie, M.J, Khan, ” Garcia, Garcia, Greg Abbott, Troy Finner, Patrick Jankowski, Bill King, Brandon Rottinghaus, Jackson Lee, Johnny Mata, “, ” Mata, Jankowski, Harvey, ” Harvey, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, U.S . Rep, Texas Legislature, Texas Democrats, Greater Houston Partnership, Houston, Republican Gov, Houston Police, pothole, University, Greater Houston Coalition for Justice Locations: November’s, U.S, Houston, Texas, Houston City, Harris County, America

Now the Rangers get another chance at the Astros when they meet for the first time in the playoffs in a Texas-sized showdown with a trip to the World Series on the line starting Sunday night in Houston. The Astros completed the regular season matchup against the Rangers with a three-game sweep at the beginning of September. But despite the lopsided results this season, both teams say they’ll start with a clean slate for the American League Championship Series. As manager of the San Francisco Giants in 2002, he lost the World Series to the Anaheim Angels. “In California we were in the World Series, two teams, us and the Angels, battling for bragging rights in California,” he said.

Persons: — Houston, Justin Verlander, Josh Jung, Adolis, Nathaniel Lowe, Evan Carter wasn’t, “, Evan, ” Lowe, Dusty Baker, ”, I’ve, Robbie Grossman, Jordan Montgomery, Verlander, Cy Young, Louis, Houston’s Framber Valdez, Nathan Eovaldi, Max Scherzer, Bruce Bochy, Scherzer, “ Max, ” Bochy, “ He’s, we’ll, Chris Young, Bryan Abreu, Abreu, hasn’t, Ryan Pressly, Jim Ross, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Turner, Stephen Hawkins, ___ Organizations: HOUSTON, Rangers, Astros, The Astros, Houston, American League, AL West, Lone Star, San Francisco Giants, Anaheim Angels, Angels, Mets, Minnesota, Montgomery, Orioles, Detroit, Dodgers, Arlington, Houston Mayor Locations: Texas, Houston, “, California, ”, Montgomery, St, Washington

☆ American cities are ramping up security around places of worship following Israel attacks as they assure residents there are no credible threats locally
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Nouran Salahieh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —While assuring Americans there are no credible threats locally, cities throughout the United States are ramping up security around houses of worship after the large-scale attack by Gaza militants on Israel on Saturday. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued “public safety concern” bulletins Saturday to state and local law enforcement and said they are monitoring for any impact on the US domestic threat environment, a law enforcement official said. Israel then launched airstrikes on Gaza while its forces clashed on the ground with Hamas fighters. In Israel, at least 300 people have died and thousands of others are wounded, officials said. In Gaza, at least 232 Palestinians have died and more than 1,600 are wounded, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Persons: Eric Adams, “, ” Adams, Kathy Hochul, Matthew J, Platkin, Sylvester Turner, Sean Hickman, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday, Washington “, Netanyahu, ” Organizations: CNN, Saturday, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Gaza, Hamas, New, New York City, NYPD, , New, Israel’s, US, New Yorkers, New York State Police, ”, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Mayor Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, New York, ,, , New York, Jerusalem, New, Houston , Texas, Washington , DC, District, ”, West Coast, Los Angeles

☆ The mayor of deep blue Dallas has ditched the Democratic Party, citing his disdain for 'virtue signaling.' It gives the GOP a foothold in one of America's biggest cities.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Eric Johnson, the mayor of Dallas, has left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP. Johnson, in a WSJ op-ed, called out Democrats for what he said was their "virtue signaling" on issues. The party switch gives Republicans a major foothold in one of the country's most populous cities. AdvertisementAdvertisement"In other words, American cities need Republicans — and Republicans need American cities," he continued. "Mayors across the country, Democratic mayors, we are the boots on the ground.

Persons: Eric Johnson, Johnson, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Johnson —, —, Republicans —, Theodore Roosevelt, Rudy Giuliani, Richard Riordan, he'll, Ken Paxton, Matt Rinaldi, Sylvester Turner, Turner Organizations: Democratic Party, GOP, Service, Republicans, Dallas Mayor, Wall, Republican Party, The Dallas mayoralty, Democratic, Texas, Representatives, Texas Republican, Houston, New York Times Locations: Dallas, Wall, Silicon, America's, America, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Texas is about to shut down an election office in a heavily Democratic county that includes Houston less than two months before the city's mayoral election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Harris County, which includes Houston, must close its election administration office by Friday. Losing Republican candidates blamed the Harris County election office for their losses in 2022. But that election will no longer happen under the authority of Harris County elections officers. Harris County election office shut downLegislators passed the bill abolishing the Harris County elections office after so far unproven claims by losing Republican candidates that administrative issues at the office swayed the results of the November 2022 general election, the Texas Tribune reported. The Texas Office of the Attorney General did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

Persons: Sylvester Turner, Greg Abbott, Christian Menefee, Menefee, Turner, Sheila Jackson Lee, State Sen, John Whitmire Organizations: Houston, Service, Democrat, Republicans, Democratic, Texas Gov, Republican, Texas Tribune, Houston Public Media, Texas Office, State Locations: Harris, Houston, Wall, Silicon, Harris County, Texas, Democratic Harris County

☆ A Texas judge has declared unconstitutional a law championed by Gov. Greg Abbott that limits the power of Democrat-led cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Texas judge declared a law that prevented cities from passing some local ordinances unconstitutional. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a bill into law in June that prohibited cities from passing certain local ordinances. "I am thrilled that Houston, our legal department, and sister cities were able to obtain this victory for Texas cities," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wrote in a statement. "While the judge declared HB 2127 unconstitutional, she did not enjoin enforcement of the law by Texans who are harmed by local ordinances, which HB 2127 preempts," Willey wrote to Insider. "This is a HUGE win for the working people of Texas, local govs, and communities across our state," the Texas AFL-CIO posted in response to the decision.

Persons: Greg Abbott, Maya Guerra Gamble, Sylvester Turner, Gamble's, Paige Willey, Willey Organizations: Republican Gov, Democrat, Service, Republican, Houston, Legislature, Texans, Texas AFL Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, Houston

☆ Texas Revamps Houston Schools, Closing Libraries and Angering Parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( J. David Goodman | More About J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“It doesn’t feel right,” said Jessica Campos, 41, a parent at Pugh Elementary, a Spanish dual-language school slated for immediate changes. Schools will also hire community members to teach elective courses like photography and spin classes. Miles has said that given limited space and resources, the decision was a trade-off and that students in schools where libraries have been converted into team rooms would still be able to borrow books before or after school. “He’s gone too far, and he’s dismantling the largest educational district in the state of Texas,” Mr. Turner said of Mr. “You cannot have a situation where you are closing libraries for some schools in certain neighborhoods, and there are other neighborhoods where there are libraries, fully equipped.

Persons: ”, Jessica Campos, we’re, Miles, Sylvester Turner, He’s, ” Mr, Turner Organizations: Pugh, Houston’s Locations: Spanish, Texas

☆ Houston rapper Big Pokey dies after collapsing on stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Rapper Big Pokey has died at the age of 45 after collapsing on stage in Texas. “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Big Pokey’ Powell,” the post reads. “Big Pokey will forever be ‘The Hardest Pit in the Litter,’” it adds, referencing the title of his debut album, which was released in 1999. A video posted on Twitter showed Big Pokey collapsing backward while holding a microphone at a bar in Beaumount, Texas on Saturday. The rapper hailed from the city of Houston, Texas and was a member of the Screwed Up Click rap collective.

Persons: Pokey, Milton Powell, Milton ‘, ’ Powell, Houston Sylvester Turner, ” Sylvester, Bun, ” Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Mayor, Houston Locations: Texas, Beaumount , Texas, Houston , Texas, The City, Houston

☆ Justice Dept. Reaches Cleanup Deal With Houston After Civil Rights Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department has reached an agreement with the City of Houston to improve trash removal and environmental monitoring after an investigation into the widespread dumping of garbage, including human bodies, in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods. The pact, announced on Tuesday, was the result of a yearlong inquiry by the department’s civil rights division into dozens of complaints from residents. It includes a commitment by Mayor Sylvester Turner to fund cleanup projects, under the supervision of federal officials for three years. The agreement, which followed weeks of negotiation between department officials and municipal leaders in Houston, is part of the Biden administration’s larger environmental justice agenda, which seeks to redress the disproportional impact of waste, air and water pollution on communities of color around the country. “No one should have to live next to discarded tires, bags of trash, rotting carcasses, infected soils and contaminated groundwater, all caused by illegal dumping,” Alamdar S. Hamdani, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said on Tuesday during a news conference in Houston.

Persons: Sylvester Turner Organizations: Department, City, Biden, Southern, Southern District of Locations: Houston, Black, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of Texas

☆ With New Voting Bills, Texas Legislature Targets Elections in Democratic Stronghold
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It Matters: Harris County could tilt the power balance in Texas. Harris County, the state’s most populous county, has become a reliable Democratic stronghold. Senate Bill 1750 eliminates the appointed position of elections administrator, which has been in place in Harris County only since late 2020. Yet another bill, House Bill 1243, increases the penalty for illegal voting from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bills invite new scrutiny of elections, especially in Harris County, where officials would be expected to revamp their system just months before important elections.

☆ Houston ranks as top city in Power City Indexes as Occidental rises 116% in '22
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHouston ranks as top city in Power City Indexes as Occidental rises 116% in '22Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss his thoughts on the city of Houston, long-term impacts from the energy transition there and more.

☆ New LA Mayor Karen Bass to declare state of emergency on homelessness
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Maeve Reston | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Karen Bass was sworn in as the first female mayor of Los Angeles on Sunday, marking another historic achievement in her career. Kamala Harris – the first woman and first woman of color to become vice president – administered the oath of office at Los Angeles City Hall. Bass focused her remarks Sunday on her plans to solve the city’s housing crisis, with some 40,000 people living on the streets, and said her first act as mayor will be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness. Bass’ plan calls for housing 15,000 people by the end of one year and ending tent encampments using existing funding. Elected to the California state Assembly in 2004, Bass made history some four years later as the first Black woman to serve as speaker of any state legislature.

☆ Suspect in murder of Migos rapper Takeoff arrested in Houston
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Dan Whitcomb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 2 (Reuters) - A suspect has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of rapper Takeoff last month, Houston police and city officials said on Friday, in what the mayor called the latest tragic example of "a young man taking the life of another young man." Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was taken into custody on Thursday evening and charged with murder, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a news conference alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner. Two other people were wounded in the shooting, which police said erupted during an argument over a "lucrative" dice game. He was an innocent bystander," Houston Police Sergeant Michael Burrow told the news conference." Ball is the latest rapper to be slain by gunfire in recent years, following Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke and King Von.

☆ Houston lifts boil-water order affecting more than 2 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON — Houston officials lifted an order Tuesday that had called for more than 2 million people in the nation’s fourth-largest city to boil their tap water before drinking or using it. The boil order had been in effect since Sunday, when a power outage at a purification plant caused pressure to drop. The order led to the closure of businesses and schools, including the Houston Independent School District, which canceled classes Monday and Tuesday. The city said water quality samples sent to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed the tap water meets regulatory standards and is safe to drink. The power system at the water plant undergoes regular maintenance, Turner said, but he did not give a timeline for how often.

Although both were caused by power outages — the boil order when an outage Sunday at a water purification plant caused water pressure to drop, triggering concerns of possible contamination — that's where the similarities end, he said. According to Turner, two transformers failed, causing power outages at the East Water Purification Plant, which he said provides water for much of Houston's 2.2 million residents. The East Water Purification Plant is outside the city, in Galena Park. The entrance to the East Water Purification Plant in Galena Park, outside Houston, on Monday. The city issued the boil water notice in an "abundance of caution" after the main transformer and its backup failed, Turner said.

Residents of the country's fourth-largest city were told to boil water Sunday after pump-driven water system pressure dropped because of an electrical outage, triggering concerns of possible contamination. "We believe the water is safe but based on regulatory requirements when pressure drops below 20 psi we are obligated to issue a boil water notice," Turner said. A power outage Sunday at the East Water Purification Plant caused pressure to drop below 20 psi, or pounds per square inch, the state threshold that triggers boil water notices, Houston Public Works said. Water system pressure can use the weight of liquid to occupy cracks and crevices that might otherwise be exposed to outside incursions, such as urban runoff. "Houston’s water system is different than other systems in that we don’t use water towers to provide pressure to the system," it tweeted.

CNN —Houston officials vowed to deliver justice in the killing of rapper Takeoff, with the chief of police calling the 28-year-old Atlantan a “peaceful” man and urging any witnesses to the shooting to come forward. There were roughly 40 people at the event, many of whom left “possibly out of fear,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. “This great city, with our great citizens, with our police department – we will find who’s responsible for it. Finner was clear, however, that investigators do not believe Takeoff was “involved in anything criminal at the time,” he said. Rap star was on an upward trajectoryThe news of Takeoff’s death was a blow to the hip-hop community, still reeling from the fatal shooting of rapper PnB Rock in September.

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