Andrea Ball

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Andrea Ball

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, photographed with County Judge Lina Hidalgo, has filed or joined onto seven legal actions against the Trump administration with the permission of the commissioner’s court. An early victory returned $10.5 million in federal funding to Harris County for services for refugees.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Tanya Babbar |Andrea Ball

More than 1 million people count on Houston-area food pantries, which are staring down empty shelves after losing $11 million in federal funding. Until recently, 100 tractor-trailers full of federally-funded food pulled up each month to the Houston Food Bank’s headquarters just east of downtown. Now, it’s down 60. “It’s been a lot like navigating a disaster,” Houston Bank CEO Brian Greene said.

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Andrea Ball

It took a presidential executive order and one nervous donor just a few months to tear up Brandi Brown’s carefully-laid plans for her summer literacy camp. HYPE Freedom School was set to expand this year, ready to welcome 380 students into a six-week, reading-based program that helps youth in Sunnyside and South Park. The program reaches beyond readingtoconflict resolution, problem solving and social action.

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Andrea Ball

The network of local and regional nonprofits that funnel federal money and resources to Houston's refugee community is in an existential crisis. For decades, these organizations have been paid to welcome newcomers in Houston by setting them up to work, go to school and pay taxes in their adopted country.

Mar 3, 2025 | houstonchronicle.com | Samantha Ketterer |Andrea Ball

The University of St. Thomas' institutional accreditation is up for renewal as the school grapples with a shakeup in its administrative ranks and six consecutive years of financial losses. The evaluation is a test of academic quality and integrity, and a passing grade tells students and donors that colleges are well-resourced and uphold high standards of education. Recent events at the private Catholic university in Houston have proven that the status is not a given.