A must-read from Neena Satija Matt Willoughby-deGrood Mike Morris ⬇️

The first test of Texas' new "rogue prosecutor" law is underway. Taylor Goldenstein & I take a look at how it's playing out so far houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

I LOVE THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES!

New: Houston Police officials have said the department needs another 2,000 officers to adequately conduct investigations and patrols. But its proposed $1 bil budget for 2025 will likely only cover 100 new officers. w/ Matt Willoughby-deGrood houstonchronicle.com/politics/houst… via Houston Chronicle

"Your help in this matter would be so greatly appreciated ..." "It has been impossible to get a response ... " "I am hoping that the courts will be motivated to investigate this issue ..." Read the emails this mom sent to get her son out of jail: houstonchronicle.com/projects/2024/…

After May's derecho hit, Houston Solid Waste discovered four of its chainsaws were missing as workers began the all-hands-on-deck task of cleaning up the mess. It's unclear who took them, when they disappeared or where they are today. houstonchronicle.com/politics/houst… via Houston Chronicle

This story features: a Santa taking a dump, allegations of flagrant lawbreaking, two of the biggest-name attorneys in Texas, and copious use of the word "dick"

Seven days ago, Hurricane Beryl tore through Houston. It left 13 dead and 2.26 million without power. Out of towners wondered: How could anyone possibly choose to live in this place? So I wrote Houston a love letter. (Gift link) Houston Chronicle houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

NEW: CenterPoint spent $800M on 20 generators after the big freeze & rolling blackouts of 2021. The company claimed they would help during extended power outages. So where are they post-Beryl? Turns out almost none of them have been deployed. W/Mike Morris houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…

Houston’s police chief was ousted over a scandal that was, at heart, about ignoring victims’ pain. He will tell you: It is especially bitter because he knows what it’s like to have his own family’s pain ignored. My latest with Matt Willoughby-deGrood houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

A foiled school shooting plot defined his childhood. Now, he defines himself through drag. His story asks: Does a divided America, a nation in the throes of a war over identity, allow for second acts? My latest #longread, co-reported with Jon Shapley houstonchronicle.com/projects/jayse…

A foiled school shooting plot, a drag queen’s joy, and the 20 years between My latest for Houston Chronicle, 16 months in the making (Gift link) houstonchronicle.com/projects/jayse…

BREAKING: Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has named Chris Canetti, president of the city's World Cup host committee, interim CEO. The announcement comes days after the agency's board unanimously fired longtime CEO Janis Burke: houstonchronicle.com/politics/houst… via Houston Chronicle

There are plenty of peculiarities at Houston City Hall. The most interesting of all? The mayor's mysterious private office — a marvel from 1939 that, to this day, is frozen in time. Yi-Chin Lee and I took a peek inside: houstonchronicle.com/politics/houst…

EXCLUSIVE: A woman last month flagged down a Houston police officer to tell them about a car crash. The officer responded by calling federal immigration authorities on her. Her story is one of at least 22 such cases. trib.al/AziU04O

Payouts offered to nearly 20% of Houston Police civilian staffers in an effort to cut city spending trib.al/KsWOgE4

So incredibly honored to be named a Livingston Award finalist with Amelia Winger and Matt Willoughby-deGrood for our investigation into Houston's Lakewood Church shooter. Our work showed that officials could have prevented the tragedy. 🧵Gift link to the investigation in the thread

Three Houston Chronicle reporters named Livingston Award finalists for Lakewood shooting investigation trib.al/Wu0xQUZ

I truly believe in the power of collaborative journalism to hold leaders — in this case, Houston police — to account. Dug Begley, Caroline E Ghisolfi and Matt Willoughby-deGrood’s story on police use of surveillance cameras is a perfect example of this. houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…

NEW: We asked TX leaders if they're really sure CenterPoint Energy is refunding consumers for those massive generators post-Beryl, when documents indicate otherwise. They pointed us to a spreadsheet that is VERY scant on detail. w/Claire Hao houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…