Southwest
Texas county reworks guaranteed income program after legal blow by state’s Supreme Court
Harris County, Texas leaders on Thursday approved changes to a guaranteed income program after it was challenged and struck down by the state’s Supreme Court.
“Hundreds of Harris County families were counting on $500 monthly payments back in April to help lift them out of poverty, and they were left in the lurch because of Texas state leaders’ political posturing,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a press release.
Due to the legal challenges against the guaranteed income program, Uplift Harris, the Harris County Commissioners Court placed restrictions on the program participants’ spending.
Under the new version of Uplift Harris, approximately 1,600 families who were enrolled in the program back in March will receive a preloaded $500 monthly debit card that is limited to essential needs like grocery shopping and medicine. Participants are expected to receive the debit cards in four months.
“While launching this new program instead of a guaranteed income program isn’t ideal, it’s the best way we can try to keep our promise to these families,” Hidalgo said.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo were “left in the lurch because of Texas state leaders’ political posturing” after the guaranteed income program Uplift Harris was legally challenged by the state and struck down by the Texas Supreme Court.
Uplift Harris was passed by a 4-1 vote last year. The Harris County Commissioners Court is an elected body of four policymaking actors and the county judge that meets bi-weekly to serve Harris County, Texas. The county judge serves as the county’s chief executive officer.
JUDGE PUTS PAUSE ON ST. LOUIS GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM THAT PAYS POOR FAMILIES $500 A MONTH
The program was funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, the largest city in Texas, makes up most of Harris County’s population.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey of Precinct 3 told Fox News Digital that “this is not the way to do it.”
“While all of us on the court want to help Harris County residents, this is not the way to do it. This court has a history of trying to rewrite the lines and rules and laws and this is just another example,” Ramsey said.
He added that “this program will benefit a very few, select people and this same amount of money could help so many more if it was used properly.”
The Uplift Harris guaranteed income program was funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, the largest city in Texas, makes up most of Harris County’s population. (iStock)
Ramsey went on to say, “Harris County has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. You can invest $20M in the most underserved neighborhood in Harris County and change it for 50 years. Instead, we’re spending $20M to give less than 2,000 families $500/month for 18 months.”
He continued, “We’re told what they can spend can be somewhat restricted through a debit card, but why attempt to do something we have already been told is not legal? This is bad policy.”
SAN FRANCISCO SUED OVER GUARANTEED-INCOME PROGRAMS BLASTED BY CRITICS AS RACIST
Last week, the commissioners were looking to revive Uplift Harris after it was struck down by the Texas Supreme Court. Ramsey told Fox News Digital that his colleagues were trying to “sidestep” the legal challenge against the program.
Harris County officials met to discuss reviving the program and limiting the funds to approved spending categories, a move that Hidalgo said should prevent any legal challenges against the program.
The effort came after the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in June that prohibited Harris County from operating Uplift Harris.
The court raised “serious doubt” about the constitutional merits of the program.
Uplift Harris was never able to distribute the funds due to the court order. It would have distributed $500 per month for 18 months to selected participants, The program started on Jan. 12, and enrolled over 1,900 applicants among a pool of more than 80,000 applications.
Hidalgo’s office stated that the number of applications demonstrates “the huge need for anti-poverty programs in Harris County,” citing data that 1 in 6 people in Harris County live in poverty and 2 in 5 reported that they could not afford a $400 emergency.
A Harris County attorney defended a guaranteed income program that’s been targeted in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Texas Supreme Court’s ruling on Uplift Harris came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit arguing that Uplift Harris is “plainly unconstitutional.: Paxton’s lawsuit stemmed from Republican State Sen. Paul Bettencourt urged the attorney general to review Uplift Harris’ constitutional merits soon after the program launched.
In response to Harris County Commissioners Court efforts to revive Uplift Harris, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee told Fox News Digital that the original version of the program was “legal.”
“The county may create a new program with spending restrictions to address politically charged challenges brought by Republican officials. It is my hope that this new program will not bring another lawsuit from the AG, and allow Harris County residents to receive much needed relief,” Menefee told Fox News Digital.
Harris County is among many municipalities and lawmaking bodies pushing guaranteed income programs. The programs have become a trend across the U.S., with some facing legal and funding challenges.
Some studies have shown that the pilots have produced positive results, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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Los Angeles, Ca
Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him
A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday.
“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.”
The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.
No further details were immediately available.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
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