Nearly 350 Houston retirees still waiting on buyout payments
| September 9, 2025
Houston City Council member Edward Pollard is demanding accountability as nearly 350 of the 1,000 city workers who took early retirement buyouts are still waiting for their pension payments months after they were promised.
The buyout program, launched to help close a $330 million budget shortfall, offered lump-sum payouts of 25% of annual salary to eligible employees. The employees were promised the payments within 60 days of their May 1 retirement.
Pollard has expressed growing concern over the city's handling of the program, and wants a timeline from Mayor John Whitmire’s administration on when the retirees will be paid. He questioned the mayor during an Aug. 27 city council meeting.
Houston City Council wants public feedback. They got an earful.
| September 5, 2025
The Houston City Council is experimenting with evening sessions to make it easier for people to speak out at their meetings—and they did.
Dallas and Fort Worth end their diversity efforts to keep federal funding
| August 12, 2025
City councils have cut funding for programs and policies that consider religion, race, gender, and other identity markers.
Here’s everything to know about the May 3 Dallas City Council election
| March 12, 2025
Over 40 candidates are vying for 14 Dallas City Council seats in May, with just one council member running unopposed. Here’s what you need to know.