Houston Fire Department has a year-long waiting list for the first time in around 20 years thanks to increased recruiting efforts.

Houston City Council recently rubber stamped the purchase of around 34 new recycling trucks, which officials hope will help curb the issue.

While one council member said the proposal didn't have to do with the mayor, it comes after Whitmire canceled numerous projects without a council alert.

The news comes after the city initially opted to put $0 of $315 million it had received to recover from storms toward housing.

The mayor offered the retirement program in March in a pitch to save the city money. At the time, Houston was contending with a $330 million deficit.

Ahead of the weekend ICE protest planned at Houston City Hall, local leaders respond to an offer from U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt to send federal help to Houston.

Houston boasts the second lowest tax rate of Texas' five largest cities, beat only by Austin.

The Kinder Institute's survey comes after a disastrous 2024 storm season for the Houston region in which 2.2 million people lost power.

Whitmire proposed a $7 billion budget earlier this month complete with a payment plan on a longstanding street and drainage lawsuit.

Whitmire, a Democrat, is supposed to appear at a fundraiser Tuesday evening for GOP U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

Chronicle readers are invited to join a private Zoom with the Houston Controller, who is an elected Chief Financial Officer.

The congressional seat has been open since Turner's death on March 5 following health complications.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has been known for making inroads in both political parties throughout his career.

Gov. Abbott has yet to call a special election 26 days after the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

Wilfalk has been the director of Houston's Solid Waste department since October 2021.

The disparity study came under fire last week after local business owners and officials questioned its accuracy.

The efficiency study has already swept across the city's 22 departments in search of savings and improvements.

The study was commissioned by city leaders to help protect its minority business program in a lawsuit attempting to eradicate it.

The Texas Supreme Court in January denied the city's appeal in a lawsuit requiring Houston to put millions more toward streets and drainage.

Local Government Editor We’re seeking a Local Government editor with a sharp news sense and the ability to spearhead top-notch breaking news and accountability reporting in Houston City Hall, Harris C...

In brief: There have been few changes to the overall forecast today, with higher resolution modeling now coming into range on this storm and essentially validating most of what we’ve seen to …

The city of Houston only opens warming centers when the weather reaches 24 degrees for two hours or more.

Houston, which doesn't typically experience cold weather, has the most stringent guidelines for opening warming centers compared to other Texas cities.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the idea could help the city shore up its crumbling infrastructure.

Houston will receive around $315 million. Harris County will get another $67 million.

Council Member Edward Pollard is rebranding his district to "J City." But while it means more services for residents, the name is just a name.

Mayor John Whitmire hit one year as Houston's top elected official Jan. 1. Here's what he's done so far.

John Whitmire was handed a series of challenges in his first year as Houston mayor, and they came with statements that captured the curiosity of residents.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Houston Mayor John Whitmire was wrong when he said she may decide not to run for reelection.

Texas Republicans are poised to pick the statehouse lower chamber’s next leader this weekend.

The city was slated to approve an $850,000 settlement to a firefighter whose intimate video was shared by a colleague.

The city was supposed to put $2.6 million toward the project, but the cash is now going toward the homeless plan.

The council member's request comes as officials move to approve an $850,000 settlement for former firefighter Melinda Abbt.

“Brain rot” is the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year, adding to a growing list of Internet-specific words that are chosen by dictionaries as words of the year.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who spoke at a Trump rally on Jan. 6, is still withholding his communications related to that trip, watchdog group says.

Houston City Council changed the law to allow Randy Macchi to head Public Works, the city's largest department at nearly 3,900 employees.

ALT: a white cat is typing on a computer keyboard with a bottle of water in the background

Council will hear an ordinance change Wednesday that will allow a non-engineer to lead Houston Public Works.

Randy Macchi has led the largest Houston city department since April alongside City Engineer Richard Smith since director Carol Haddock stepped down.

Famed restaurant critic Alison Cook is retiring from the Houston Chronicle. Readers are invited to celebrate her career and impact on Houston dining.

Ryan Walsh will step away from his position as the head of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation to be the authority's new CEO.

The former congressman resigned soon after being nominated as President-elect Trump’s attorney general.

Get the latest news on Houston, Texas, the United States and the world from the Houston Chronicle on HoustonChronicle.com.

To celebrate and discuss her career at the Chronicle, we invite readers to attend a panel discussion between Cook and restaurant columnist Bao Ong.