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.
Teachers and parents face record-breaking back-to-school costs in 2025
| August 12, 2025
Another back-to-school season has arrived, bringing with it the familiar scramble of supply lists, clothes shopping, and, of course, financial stress. But this year hits different. There's an elephant in the classroom that's becoming impossible to ignore, and its crushing financial pressure is squeezing teachers and parents alike.
As DEI faces pushback, Houston partners with Kroger to launch jobs initiative
| July 2, 2025
As DEI programs face pushback nationally, Houston is leaning in. Roderick Batson, with support from the city of Houston and Kroger, has launched Helping Heroes Staffing to create real job opportunities for people with special needs.