Harris County constables keep growing in power, despite rarely tackling serious crimes

Plus: New pickleball restaurant opens this week. Why Houston chefs are doing pottery.

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Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer

Harris County's constables keep growing in size and power, despite rarely tackling serious crimes

The second part of the Chronicle series "Unchecked Forces" explores a popular Harris County program that lets you pay to get more constable or sheriff's deputies on your street corner. The program has helped the county's constable's offices grow at a dizzying pace. But is it worth the cost? Our investigation found the constables rarely tackle serious crimes. 

 

 

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Stay in the Loop

Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer Houston's $650M firefighters union backpay settlement may not be finalized for months Mayor John Whitmire's administration and the Houston firefighters union are hoping to get final approval in May or June on a massive settlement deal to end their years-long contract stalemate.

 

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer Drivers pay for 160 constables to patrol Sam Houston Tollway, even when there's little road to cover Want to understand how constables flex their political muscle to balloon their ranks at the expense of taxpayers for questionable benefit? Look at the Sam Houston Tollway.

 

Photo by: Jordon Kelly, Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images Son of Texas A&M football coach charged with two counts of murder Blaise Taylor, son of Carl "Trooper" Taylor, has been indicted in the 2023 poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her 5-month-old fetus.

 

Photo by: Becca Wright New pickleball restaurant-bar opening this week near Washington Avenue PKL Social is the newest pickleball restaurant to open in Houston. It has food from FM kitchen, lawn games and more.

 

Photo by: Greystar The top-selling neighborhoods in Houston suburbs in February, according to HAR data These were the top-selling suburban Houston neighborhoods for homes in February such as Fort Bend County, Cypress and Katy, according to the latest HAR data.

 

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Pick of the Day

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

From cooking to ceramics: Why Houston chefs are turning to pottery outside the kitchen

For some chefs, jumping into pottery is as much a creative outlet as it is a way to shape the dining experience.

 

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What else is going on

Photo by: Michael Wyke, Contributor Despite No. 1 seed, UH not getting much respect from national TV analysts ESPN's Jay Williams was especially harsh on the Cougars and only one analyst on CBS or ESPN picked Houston to win the national title.

 

Photo by: Submitted By Spring ISD Spring ISD names first Black athletic director in district history New Spring ISD Athletic Director Derrell Oliver took an unusual career path before becoming the first African American in district history to hold the position.

 

Photo by: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Trader Joe's confirms Sugar Land store opening slated for this year This will be the sixth location of the cult-favorite grocery store in the Houston area.

 

Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Astros' José Urquidy has forearm strain, likely headed to IL If José Urquidy opens the season on the injured list, he'll join other Astros starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers and Luis Garcia on the shelf.

 

Photo by: Blue Bell Ice Cream Blue Bell debuts St. Louis-inspired Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream Blue Bell Ice Cream announced a new flavor in its lineup of ice cream flavors — Gooey Butter Cake, a nod to St. Louis.

 

Chris Shelton, Audience producer chris.shelton@houstonchronicle.com

 

 

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