Jared Counts

Apr 24, 2024 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Jared Counts

The largest school district in Texas lost its elected leaders in the summer of 2023. In their place – a state-appointed board along with a leader unafraid of creating upheaval and massive changes. It's unusual for school districts to lose local control, especially on a scale this large. Suddenly, the Houston Independent School District with its nearly 200,000 students and 11,000 teachers didn't know what would happen next. But the reforms came quickly.

Sep 27, 2023 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Sara Willa Ernst |Katie Watkins |Jared Counts

This story is part of an investigative series into the impact of extreme heat on Metro riders. You can read part one and part two of the investigation. We also produced a podcast, Hot Stops: How Houston Bus Stops Get Dangerously Hot. Some local officials, METRO bus riders and advocates are calling for change after a Houston Public Media investigation found Houston bus stops reached dangerously hot temperatures.

Sep 21, 2023 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Sara Willa Ernst |Katie Watkins |Jared Counts |Adam Zuvanich

This is the second of a two-part investigation into the impact of extreme heat on Metro riders. Read part one of the investigation or listen to the podcast, Hot Stops: How Houston Bus Stops Get Dangerously Hot. Barbara Quattro has been planting trees in Alief for over 20 years. Down the street from her house is a METRO bus stop — a pole with a sign attached. There was no bus shelter or tree offering shade nearby. She noticed riders waiting in the sun.

Sep 20, 2023 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Sara Willa Ernst |Katie Watkins |Jared Counts |Ashley Brown

This is the second of a two-part investigation into the impact of extreme heat on Metro riders. Read part one of the investigation or listen to the podcast, Hot Stops: How Houston Bus Stops Get Dangerously Hot. Barbara Quattro has been planting trees in Alief for over 20 years. Down the street from her house is a METRO bus stop — a pole with a sign attached. There was no bus shelter or tree offering shade nearby. She noticed riders waiting in the sun.

Sep 13, 2023 | houstonpublicmedia.org | Sara Willa Ernst |Katie Watkins |Jared Counts

More from Hot Stops Posted on · Hot Stops: How Houston Bus Stops Get Dangerously Hot premieres on Thursday, September 7th Posted on · An original study by Houston Public Media set out to answer whether bus stops ever reached dangerously hot temperatures and how effective bus shelters are at cooling riders during the hottest times of the day.