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Harris County's top 10 highest-paid government employees earned more than $4M combined in 2025

Harris County’s top earners increased their combined salaries by around $400,000 since last year, according to salary data provided by the Harris County Auditor’s Office. 

Top Stories

Photo by: National Hurricane Center Melissa set to be major hurricane within days, likely to skirt Jamaica as it heads west The storm will feed off of the plentiful heat energy from the unusually warm Caribbean waters and become a major hurricane with wind speeds stronger than 111 mph, forecasters said.

Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Raquel Natalicchio / Houston Chr New Uptown bar and event venue coming from Michelin-starred Le Jardinier team Moon, the bar, and Soleil, the event venue, are themed around light and dark. The two entities open later this month.

Photo by: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Ex-UH player arrested in federal illegal gambling probe that allegedly involves NBA stars Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former UH star Damon Jones were among six people charged Thursday with turning professional basketball into a criminal gambling operation.

Photo by: Kirk Sides, Houston Chronicle Sen. John Cornyn launches attack ad with dunk-tank game targeting Democrats Former U.S. Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke and State Rep. James Talarico are dubbed the "Lone Star Loons" in Cornyn's ad campaign.

Photo by: Annie Mulligan, Contributor Limited tickets: Explore Houston’s Asiatown with dining critic Bao Ong Tickets, on sale now, are only $75 and include all food at three different restaurants and cafes. Buy your tickets here now.

Politics

Photo by: Staff Illustration By Susan Barber, Photos From The Dallas Morning News And AP

How Second Baptist quietly copied a Texas megachurch's bylaws — and silenced its members

Longtime Second Baptist pastor Ed Young’s son runs Fellowship Church in Grapevine, and new bylaws that sparked dissent at Second Baptist closely resemble those at Fellowship. Read More

Hidalgo: Harris County residents should demand change after flood control audit

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo called for renewed scrutiny of the Harris County Flood Control District after a recent audit found transparency issues in its contracting process.  Read More

This Texas Republican joins call to extend Obamacare subsidies

Rep. Monica De La Cruz joins 12 others on a letter pushing House Speaker Mike Johnson to address expiring Obamacare tax credits. Read More

Opinion

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Tomlinson: How political donors keep cashing in on lucrative Texas contracts

State contractors give millions to Gov. Greg Abbott, creating a perception of corruption that most states and the federal government do not allow. Read More

Argentina first? What Trump's $40 billion could build in Houston | Editorial

Houston helps power America. Imagine what we could do if Washington invested $40 billion here instead of Argentina.  Read More

Drug boat or war crime? I have questions about U.S. strikes on boats. | Opinion

"Maybe there were innocent fishermen on the boats and President Donald Trump is guilty of war crimes," writes Patricia Roberts. Read More