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City Hall Reporter

Dylan McGuinness

Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics for the Houston Chronicle. He initially joined the paper through the Hearst Journalism Fellowship program after covering the same beats for the San Antonio Express-News.

McGuinness previously covered the Rhode Island statehouse for the Associated Press and breaking news for the Boston Globe. He grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and is a die-hard Red Sox fan.

Stories By Dylan McGuinness

Hidalgo fires back at Ogg on staffers' indictments, calling DA investigation a 'political vendetta'

Ogg responded on Thursday to Hidalgo’s comments in a statement: "We will try this case, like every other criminal case, in a court of law before a jury of peers, and we will look to them for a fair outcome. When all the evidence is seen by a... By Jen Rice and Dylan McGuinness

10 key takeaways from Houston's new $5.7B budget

Here are 10 key takeaways from Mayor Sylvester Turner's newly unveiled $5.7 billion budget for the next fiscal year. Dylan McGuinness

Turner's $5.7B budget plan includes raises for all city employees

The city, which often faces nine-figure budget deficits, will rely on $160 million in federal COVID-19 relief money to avoid a gap and focus on the mayor’s priorities. Dylan McGuinness

With lemonade stands, Houston kids get a business crash course

Justin Washington was among dozens of kids to fan out across Houston over the weekend to set up stands and try their hands at entrepreneurship, part of the city’s annual Lemonade Day celebration. By Dylan McGuinness

In transcript, Hotze talks about plan to make 'citizen's arrest'

Two days before a private investigator looking into a voter fraud conspiracy theory smashed into an air conditioning repairman’s truck and pulled a gun on him, far-right activist Steven Hotze called then-U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick and told him... By Dylan McGuinness and St. John Barned-Smith

Houston Chronicle earns top newsroom in Texas honor

The Texas Managing Editors, which oversees the contest, made the announcement at the final day of its convention Sunday in Irving. The newspaper took home 18 first-place awards in the contest for work produced last year, including two other top... By Dylan McGuinness, Houston Chronicle Staff

Chronicle wins 15 first-place awards in journalism contest, with high marks for coverage of February freeze, Astroworld disaster

The Houston Chronicle won 15 first-place awards in the state’s annual journalism contest overseen by the Texas Managing Editors, which made the announcement at its annual convention Saturday in Irving. The organization will award several other... By Dylan McGuinness

Hotze charged for funding voter fraud investigation

Steven Hotze, the far-right activist who funded a private investigation into voter fraud that ended with a private investigator pointing a gun at an innocent air conditioning repairman, has been indicted for his role in the episode. Dylan McGuinness, Nicole Hensley

Police chief: Galleria shooting in viral video involved gangs

Speaking at a news conference just before noon, Mayor Turner and Police Chief Troy Finner said the person has been caught and the department is drawing up charges “as we speak.” By Dylan McGuinness

Houston's trash trucks are constantly behind schedule. Why?

The city’s Solid Waste Management Department’s workforce has reached its lowest point in decades, and the department rarely is able to assign drivers to all of its routes. Dylan McGuinness

A Houston park named for Tejano star Selena is getting a $1M makeover

A Houston park named for the Tejano star Selena is getting a $1 million makeover, with new playgrounds, swings and lighting. By Dylan McGuinness

Mayor Turner tells council to return to in-person meetings

It would be the first time since May 2020 that the full council met in person at City Hall. By Dylan McGuinness

Houston is redrawing its City Council maps. Here’s what that means and how to get involved.

As Houston begins to redraw its City Council map for the 2023 elections, two districts representing western portions of the city, including Montrose, the Heights, River Oaks, and Uptown, among other neighborhoods, have out-sized populations that... Dylan McGuinness

Houston does not give its employees paid parental leave. That could change next week.

The proposal would give eligible workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child. By Dylan McGuinness

Council OKs new Houston police contract, despite calls for a more public process

The city on Wednesday unanimously approved a new, three-year contract with the police union, cementing a deal that gives officers 10.5 percent in raises over objections from advocates who want negotiations to take place publicly. By Dylan McGuinness

A year after the February freeze, Houston to get $30M in disaster recovery money from feds

Houston is slated to get about $30 million in disaster recovery money to help address lasting needs from the February 2021 winter storm — the largest such grant in Texas, federal officials announced Tuesday. Marcia L. Fudge, secretary of the... Dylan McGuinness

After snubbing Houston, regional board now wants $750M in Harvey funds promised for Harris County

First, a regional council of government officials left Harris County and most of its cities out of a plan to distribute $488 million in federal flood mitigation funds stemming from Hurricane Harvey. As justification, the Houston-Galveston... By Dylan McGuinness

Authorities seize computers in probe of county vaccine contract

The Harris County DA's office and Texas Rangers seized computer equipment at the county administrative buildings Friday for evidence relating to a controversial $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract that was rescinded last year. Dylan McGuinness

The 25 highest-paid employees working for the City of Houston

Who are Houston's top-paid employees? See the list of the 25 highest-paid employees working for the City of Houston, according to public information. Rebecca Hennes, Dylan McGuinness

Houston to pay municipal pension system $16M to settle lawsuit

Houston City Council voted unanimously and without comment Wednesday to settle the lawsuit. By Dylan McGuinness