Public Health Watch hosted two community town halls in early 2026 focused on environmental health reporting, government accountability and community right-to-know issues in East Harris County.
The first event, held on February 19, focused on recent cancer studies conducted in East Harris County. Reporting by Public Health Watch has found glaring issues around government transparency in relation to these studies. We were joined by experts on cancer data and public health who spoke about the need for state and local governments to inform residents about critical cancer trends in their neighborhoods.
The second event, held on March 5, focused on new reporting from Public Health Watch examining the widespread health risks posed by chemical barges on the San Jacinto River. We were joined by experts on the barge industry and air pollution and discussed how residents can work together to protect themselves and demand action from government regulators.
Local organizations had resources on:
✅ Air quality and air monitoring (how to read a monitor, how to check to see if it’s safe outside)
✅ Healthcare, cancer prevention and detection and how to talk to your doctor
✅ How to report a problem to the authorities
✅ How to contact government agencies and your elected officials
