What Texas can learn from Japanese cities that give technology to its senior citizens
Read full article: What Texas can learn from Japanese cities that give technology to its senior citizensAs Texas focuses on digital literacy for its elder residents, some Japanese cities are gifting low-cost devices to its older population so family can better monitor them.
Tensions with landowners rise as a raft of gas pipelines push through Texas properties
Read full article: Tensions with landowners rise as a raft of gas pipelines push through Texas propertiesRising demand for Texas natural gas by data centers and foreign nations has sparked a surge in pipeline projects
Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to revive restrictive immigration policy
Read full article: Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to revive restrictive immigration policyIn a 6-3 decision, the justices green-lit the practice of limiting the number of people who can apply for asylum each day.
As supporters praise Texas’ proposed “Judeo-Christian” curriculum, rabbis say it dismisses Judaism
Read full article: As supporters praise Texas’ proposed “Judeo-Christian” curriculum, rabbis say it dismisses JudaismA required reading list before the State Board of Education would present a predominantly Christian perspective to public school students, Jewish leaders say.
The U.S. last beat screwworm in 1966. Can current leaders learn from the past’s playbook?
Read full article: The U.S. last beat screwworm in 1966. Can current leaders learn from the past’s playbook?Faced with a modern outbreak that could endure for decades, historical documents are offering officials solutions to eradicate the parasite again.
Mexican man dies in ICE custody in Laredo, at least the 20th fatality this year
Read full article: Mexican man dies in ICE custody in Laredo, at least the 20th fatality this yearWebb County’s medical examiner said Felix Alcorta-Rodriguez died from “natural causes,” although the full autopsy is pending. He’s at least the fifth person to die in Texas ICE detention this year.
Texas lawmakers want fixes to statewide voter registration system ahead of midterms
Read full article: Texas lawmakers want fixes to statewide voter registration system ahead of midtermsThe system has been riddled with problems since it was updated last year. Some lawmakers and election officials want it fixed by November.
Texas officials say rodents and other small wildlife could be to blame for New World Screwworm infestations
Read full article: Texas officials say rodents and other small wildlife could be to blame for New World Screwworm infestationsUntil now, cattle were believed to be the main screwworm carriers. Investigations continue.
TribCast: What a new secretary of state could mean for Texas elections
Read full article: TribCast: What a new secretary of state could mean for Texas electionsWith the midterms fast approaching, Texas' top elections administrator is out the door. Who will be next — and what awaits them in the role?
Recent rain gives Corpus Christi a 9-month reprieve on projected water crisis
Read full article: Recent rain gives Corpus Christi a 9-month reprieve on projected water crisisEmergency restrictions are now expected to hit in September 2027, so the coastal city still faces a challenging future.
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck and neck in U.S. Senate race, new poll finds
Read full article: Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck and neck in U.S. Senate race, new poll findsThe vast majority of Republicans indicated they had moved on from the bitter GOP primary and now support Paxton. Talarico had commanding leads among independents and moderates.
Texas Democrats look to rally behind their ticket, draw national attention at state convention
Read full article: Texas Democrats look to rally behind their ticket, draw national attention at state conventionU.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is headlining the event, as Democrats seek to drum up support and excitement for James Talarico and other downballot candidates ahead of November..
Judge blocks feds from using immigration database to check voter eligibility
Read full article: Judge blocks feds from using immigration database to check voter eligibilityA federal judge cited Texas’ use of the SAVE database, which flagged several voters who were actually citizens, and said the checks violated privacy and voting rights.
Austin-area hospitals denied miscarriage care despite clarification to Texas’ abortion ban, federal complaint alleges
Read full article: Austin-area hospitals denied miscarriage care despite clarification to Texas’ abortion ban, federal complaint allegesLynn Callaway says she was sent home from two hospitals, despite an infection, due to healthcare providers’ fear of the state’s abortion ban.
From an indictment to an alleged affair, Ken Paxton’s controversies hang over his Senate bid
Read full article: From an indictment to an alleged affair, Ken Paxton’s controversies hang over his Senate bidThe attorney general has won statewide elections twice since his legal woes began. This time he will be at the top of the ticket, facing a fundraising juggernaut in James Talarico.
Mandated Bible stories in reading lists, revamped history for Texas public schools approved
Read full article: Mandated Bible stories in reading lists, revamped history for Texas public schools approvedThe State Board of Education approved the reading lists and K-8 social studies changes after months of debates.
A Houston drowning tests whether Texas law gives the right to deny brain death testing
Read full article: A Houston drowning tests whether Texas law gives the right to deny brain death testingState leaders and pro-life groups are siding with 2-year-old Annelise Camp’s family, who are suing to stop Texas Children’s Hospital from testing her for brain death.
Texas Supreme Court rejects attempt to block beach closures for SpaceX launches
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court rejects attempt to block beach closures for SpaceX launchesThe state constitution preserves public access to Texas beaches, but it doesn't give private groups the right to sue to enforce that access, the court ruled.
Which Bible passages are in Texas’ proposed student reading list? Here’s what the selections reveal.
Read full article: Which Bible passages are in Texas’ proposed student reading list? Here’s what the selections reveal.The chosen readings, to be voted on soon by the State Board of Education, draw heavily from Christian perspectives.
“Mass euthanasias”: Screwworm could have deeper implications for Texas’ already-crowded animal shelters
Read full article: “Mass euthanasias”: Screwworm could have deeper implications for Texas’ already-crowded animal sheltersMost stray animal shelters are already at capacity. Adding a deadly parasitic infestation could create an even more dire situation.
Texas college watchdog received nearly 70 complaints, opened one investigation, records show
Read full article: Texas college watchdog received nearly 70 complaints, opened one investigation, records showAllegations filed in the first five months of the new ombudsman’s work challenged course content, DEI, academic freedom and employment disputes.
“Survival of the fittest”: Insiders say screwworm could improve the Texas cattle industry, beef
Read full article: “Survival of the fittest”: Insiders say screwworm could improve the Texas cattle industry, beefAs cases of screwworm infections in the state rise, sellers and buyers believe heightened precautions will benefit consumers.
U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sides with Texas man, rules it’s not a crime for marijuana users to have guns
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sides with Texas man, rules it’s not a crime for marijuana users to have gunsAli Danial Hemani successfully challenged a federal law prohibiting people who illegally use drugs from owning guns. Justices said that ban is a Second Amendment violation.
An old well began gushing oilfield wastewater in a West Texas church parking lot, sparking a costly cleanup
Read full article: An old well began gushing oilfield wastewater in a West Texas church parking lot, sparking a costly cleanupBy the time the Texas Railroad Commission shut down nearby oilfield injection wells to control the leak, 1.5 million gallons of toxic wastewater had spilled to the surface.
Former Texas Tribune board member killed in Laredo plane crash
Read full article: Former Texas Tribune board member killed in Laredo plane crashThe plane carrying Joshua Baer, who was also the CEO of Austin-based startup accelerator Capital Factory, was on its way to Austin from San José del Cabo in Mexico.
Texas students saw slight gains in math, stalled progress in reading, STAAR results show
Read full article: Texas students saw slight gains in math, stalled progress in reading, STAAR results showElementary and middle school students attending Texas public schools showed small gains on state math exams but remained relatively flat in reading.
Texas Railroad Commission race pits oil field engineer against energy trader running on culture wars
Read full article: Texas Railroad Commission race pits oil field engineer against energy trader running on culture warsRepublican Bo French is keeping Islam, immigration and LGBTQ+ issues at the fore of his campaign for Texas’ oil regulatory agency. Democratic foe Jon Rosenthal is betting on his technical expertise.
UT fires public radio station leader who challenged university statements about festival security
Read full article: UT fires public radio station leader who challenged university statements about festival securityKUT’s Debbie Hiott believes University of Texas officials terminated her because she publicly pushed back against administration claims that the station’s security plans for an inaugural festival were insufficient.
A Muslim Texan sought to find his place in the party at the state GOP convention. He left in tears.
Read full article: A Muslim Texan sought to find his place in the party at the state GOP convention. He left in tears.Muslim delegates and attendees hoping to participate in the state Republican convention were shunned and rejected by members as they espoused themes of party unity ahead of the November election.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas death row inmate’s appeal challenging hypnosis testimony
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas death row inmate’s appeal challenging hypnosis testimonyCharles Flores argued that his conviction was improperly based on testimony from a witness who changed her recollection after hypnosis by an investigator.
In far West Texas, the threat of land seizures for a border wall has families on edge
Read full article: In far West Texas, the threat of land seizures for a border wall has families on edgeIn the Big Bend region, where some families have lived for generations, government letters seeking access to their land is sparking fear and resistance.
Texas stopped funding gambling addiction programs years ago. A surprising donor is helping fill the void.
Read full article: Texas stopped funding gambling addiction programs years ago. A surprising donor is helping fill the void.A $100,000 donation from Las Vegas Sands will help a nonprofit address treatment needs in Texas, where a state law set up a “compulsive gambling program” that is no longer funded.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says James Talarico will “go to hell” for his view of the Bible
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says James Talarico will “go to hell” for his view of the BibleA GOP leader, Patrick has been a staunch advocate for Christian values in his role presiding over the Texas Senate.
At GOP convention, Abbott vows to “demolish” Democrats, calls for crackdown on H-1B visas and Sharia law
Read full article: At GOP convention, Abbott vows to “demolish” Democrats, calls for crackdown on H-1B visas and Sharia lawThe governor sought to tie the minority party, and its U.S. Senate nominee, James Talarico, to “Bernie Sanders socialism” in a fresh look at his message for the fall midterms.
Democratic land commissioner nominee diagnosed with cancer, announces he’s in remission
Read full article: Democratic land commissioner nominee diagnosed with cancer, announces he’s in remissionBenjamin Flores, who will face GOP incumbent Dawn Buckingham in November, said he would remain in the race.
Midland police ID suspect in shooting that left one victim dead, 10 injured
Read full article: Midland police ID suspect in shooting that left one victim dead, 10 injuredOfficials said that the suspect, who had been wanted for attempted capital murder since Wednesday, was found dead in the building where he was barricaded.
Texas GOP Chair Abraham George ousted by second-in-command D’rinda Randall
Read full article: Texas GOP Chair Abraham George ousted by second-in-command D’rinda RandallRandall’s supporters were animated by a mix of factors, including the perception that George was too friendly to establishment Republicans.
Texas agency to set rules for using treated fracking wastewater on farmland
Read full article: Texas agency to set rules for using treated fracking wastewater on farmlandThe state’s environmental regulator will hold a public hearing June 15 on its proposed rules for how the toxic wastewater can be reused. Here’s what you should know.
Texas Tech QB who placed bets will not play amid Big 12 lawsuit, legal threat from Paxton
Read full article: Texas Tech QB who placed bets will not play amid Big 12 lawsuit, legal threat from PaxtonA Lubbock judge blocked the NCAA from banning quarterback Brendan Sorsby despite an acknowledged gambling addiction.
Corpus Christi’s delayed water response bubbles up to Texas governor’s race
Read full article: Corpus Christi’s delayed water response bubbles up to Texas governor’s raceFrustrated by a lack of progress, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened state action. Gina Hinojosa, his Democratic opponent, accused him of backing industry over people.
James Talarico launches Spanish-language World Cup TV ad
Read full article: James Talarico launches Spanish-language World Cup TV adThe more than $800,000 ad buy — the first by either candidate in the general election — continues the Austin Democrat’s push to win Latino voters as his race against GOP nominee Ken Paxton ramps up.
Texas Republicans open state convention projecting unity after years of infighting
Read full article: Texas Republicans open state convention projecting unity after years of infightingGov. Greg Abbott is a top sponsor and Speaker Dustin Burrows will be the first sitting speaker to address the gathering, as Republicans close ranks ahead of a tough midterm.
Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating sales tax exemption
Read full article: Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating sales tax exemptionThe recommendations for legislative action amount to a striking call for industry regulation by the Republican governor in a state that has long prided itself on being a favorable environment for business.
Texas’ charter school boom may soon bust, experts caution
Read full article: Texas’ charter school boom may soon bust, experts cautionTexas’ charters continued growing this school year, but the pace slowed. Experts warn that the enrollment drop facing traditional school districts could also affect charters.
Texas death row inmate asks Supreme Court to allow appeal challenging hypnotized witness
Read full article: Texas death row inmate asks Supreme Court to allow appeal challenging hypnotized witnessCharles Flores wants to use Texas’ “junk science” law to appeal his conviction, saying it was improperly based on testimony from a neighbor who was hypnotized by police.
East Texas county judge urges state lawmakers to help locals combat data center proliferation
Read full article: East Texas county judge urges state lawmakers to help locals combat data center proliferationA proposed data center in Angelina County will occupy more than 1,000 acres outside of Lufkin. The county judge says there's nothing he can do to stop it.
Government watchdog says detention center wasted up to $11.5 million before detainees arrived
Read full article: Government watchdog says detention center wasted up to $11.5 million before detainees arrivedA U.S. General Accounting Office report found a host of problems at El Paso’s Camp East Montana, including a contractor losing a loaded gun on the property after it opened.
TribCast: How big of a threat is screwworm?
Read full article: TribCast: How big of a threat is screwworm?In this week’s episode, the TribCast team talks to Phillip Kaufman, head of Texas A&M’s entomology department, and Josh Winegarner from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association about the arrival of screwworm in Texas.
Screwworm outbreak hits vacant Texas congressional district, as leading candidates scramble to assist
Read full article: Screwworm outbreak hits vacant Texas congressional district, as leading candidates scramble to assistGov. Greg Abbott has not yet scheduled a special election for the 23rd Congressional District, which was previously represented by disgraced ex-Rep. Tony Gonzales.
Talarico lands endorsement from lawyer who defended Paxton in impeachment, securities fraud cases
Read full article: Talarico lands endorsement from lawyer who defended Paxton in impeachment, securities fraud casesDan Cogdell, who represented Paxton for nearly a decade in two high-profile cases, said his former client “has lost sight of his core mission.”
Balcones Canyonlands wildlife refuge, home to endangered songbird, adds more than 600 acres
Read full article: Balcones Canyonlands wildlife refuge, home to endangered songbird, adds more than 600 acresConservation groups purchased nearly 300 acres in Burnet County after adding a similar-sized tract last year, giving the golden-cheeked warbler more protected habitat.
An unprecedented data center boom means new challenges for Texas. Find out what’s planned near you.
Read full article: An unprecedented data center boom means new challenges for Texas. Find out what’s planned near you.A Texas Tribune analysis identified at least 248 planned data center projects. Opponents fear the projects will spike Texans’ electric bills and make the grid less reliable. But industry representatives say they promise huge economic gains.
Local Texas election officials await appointment of new secretary of state as midterm preparations ramp up
Read full article: Local Texas election officials await appointment of new secretary of state as midterm preparations ramp upAfter Jane Nelson’s unexpected resignation, local election leaders worry her successor could complicate midterm election administration. Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t yet named a replacement.
Second screwworm case in Texas confirmed as Abbott expands state disaster declaration
Read full article: Second screwworm case in Texas confirmed as Abbott expands state disaster declarationA screwworm outbreak would threaten the state’s cattle industry and potentially increase already high beef prices nationwide.
Eight Senate Republicans broke ranks this week. John Cornyn, spurned by Trump in his primary, didn’t.
Read full article: Eight Senate Republicans broke ranks this week. John Cornyn, spurned by Trump in his primary, didn’t.The Texas senator’s defeat to Ken Paxton sparked talk he’d join the “YOLO Caucus” of Republicans defecting from Donald Trump. This week, he sided with Senate GOP leadership on every key vote.
Christian Menefee’s congressional win is a generational shift backed by cryptocurrency
Read full article: Christian Menefee’s congressional win is a generational shift backed by cryptocurrencyMenefee, 38, unseated U.S. Rep. Al Green, 78, to represent a redrawn Harris County congressional district. The men faced off after Republicans combined parts of their current districts into one.
Detained Guatemalan woman who required urgent ovarian surgery for months released by ICE
Read full article: Detained Guatemalan woman who required urgent ovarian surgery for months released by ICEAndrea Pedro Francisco was scheduled for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst in February. Then ICE detained her, repeatedly denying her the procedures.
Texas lawmakers put limits on cities’ abilities to enact progressive policies. Some want to go further.
Read full article: Texas lawmakers put limits on cities’ abilities to enact progressive policies. Some want to go further.Some Republican Texas House members floated want to give more power to the attorney general to sue cities and issue financial penalties.
Texas now requires cities to do an audit before raising property taxes. Some small towns can’t afford it.
Read full article: Texas now requires cities to do an audit before raising property taxes. Some small towns can’t afford it.More than 130 cities, most with fewer than 10,000 residents, were blocked from increasing their property tax revenue because they had broken the law.
Advocates ask court for chance to defend Texas Dream Act, in-state tuition for undocumented students
Read full article: Advocates ask court for chance to defend Texas Dream Act, in-state tuition for undocumented studentsAdvocates want a federal appeals court to allow them to fight for the Texas Dream Act. The law giving eligible undocumented students in-state tuition at colleges was blocked last year.
Big Tech finds a foe in Texas’ robust consumer protection laws and AG Ken Paxton
Read full article: Big Tech finds a foe in Texas’ robust consumer protection laws and AG Ken PaxtonPaxton is banking on his recent lawsuits against tech and social media companies like Meta, WhatsApp and Discord to win a Senate seat, building on notable victories in years past.
National Democrats aim to flip 12 Texas House seats under newly expanded target list
Read full article: National Democrats aim to flip 12 Texas House seats under newly expanded target listRepublicans would have just a 76-74 majority in the Texas House if the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee succeeds in flipping its targeted GOP districts.
Corpus Christi delays decision on nearly billion-dollar water plant despite impending crisis
Read full article: Corpus Christi delays decision on nearly billion-dollar water plant despite impending crisisThe City Council rejected the treatment plant last year over cost and environmental concerns, but plans resurfaced as the city’s water woes continued.
Screwworms are closer than ever to Texas, but not 1 mile away as lawmaker claims
Read full article: Screwworms are closer than ever to Texas, but not 1 mile away as lawmaker claimsOn Monday, state Rep. Don McLaughlin said the parasitic fly that threatens the state’s cattle industry was 1 mile away. U.S. officials said that was not yet true.
Announcing our next round of can’t-miss speakers for September’s TribFest
Read full article: Announcing our next round of can’t-miss speakers for September’s TribFestMarjorie Taylor Greene, Amy Webb, Pete Sessions and Annette Gordon-Reed among newly announced TribFest voices helping us navigate a world in flux.
Eight data centers threaten to transform this small Texas county. Local officials say they have no power to stop them.
Read full article: Eight data centers threaten to transform this small Texas county. Local officials say they have no power to stop them.At least 248 data centers are planned to be built in Texas. Of those, nearly half will be built in unincorporated areas, where county officials are limited in their ability to regulate development, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.
New details released on Texas Children’s Hospital’s planned detransition clinic
Read full article: New details released on Texas Children’s Hospital’s planned detransition clinicThe Houston hospital must set up the facility within 90 days of the $10 million settlement it reached with the Texas attorney general and create a list of potential gender affirming patients.
Texas lifts commercial drivers license ban for temporary agricultural workers
Read full article: Texas lifts commercial drivers license ban for temporary agricultural workersThe policy change was announced hours after the Department of Public Safety removed the Spanish language option for commercial driver’s license tests to align with federal guidance.
Paxton sues Denton to block gender-neutral changing rooms at Pride pool party
Read full article: Paxton sues Denton to block gender-neutral changing rooms at Pride pool partyTwo LGBTQ+ groups called the lawsuit “frivolous,” saying plans for the event at a public pool had already changed to comply with a new Texas law.
Texas schools say they still face budget difficulties despite $8.5 billion boost
Read full article: Texas schools say they still face budget difficulties despite $8.5 billion boostPublic school leaders told lawmakers how they're navigating finances, teacher quality and special education after last year’s state funding overhaul.
Corpus Christi reconsiders building a desalination plant leaders rejected last year
Read full article: Corpus Christi reconsiders building a desalination plant leaders rejected last yearThe almost billion-dollar plant, praised as a drought-resistant option, wouldn’t provide water until 2029. Opponents cite cost and environmental concerns.
ICE sued over “inhumane” conditions at Camp East Montana in West Texas
Read full article: ICE sued over “inhumane” conditions at Camp East Montana in West TexasThe El Paso tent camp has seen at least three detainee deaths, a measles outbreak and nearly 50 detention standards violations in less than a year of operation.
Outside spending blitz defined the close of Texas’ District 35 Democratic runoff
Read full article: Outside spending blitz defined the close of Texas’ District 35 Democratic runoffTo counter what appeared to be a GOP push to elevate Maureen Galindo, who’d voiced antisemitic stereotypes, national Democrats carpet-bombed the San Antonio area with $1.7 million worth of ads.
Accused of a crime after shooting a migrant in Minnesota, ICE agent is arrested in South Texas
Read full article: Accused of a crime after shooting a migrant in Minnesota, ICE agent is arrested in South TexasMinnesota prosecutors say the agent lied about what led up to the shooting. He is now charged with four felonies and one misdemeanor.
Teaching restrictions prompted half of surveyed Texas Tech faculty to alter courses, results show
Read full article: Teaching restrictions prompted half of surveyed Texas Tech faculty to alter courses, results showA faculty senate survey found professors altered or were asked to change material in 277 courses after Texas Tech’s restrictions on race, sexuality and gender.
In Harris County judge runoff, a Democratic upset underscores voters’ desire for new blood
Read full article: In Harris County judge runoff, a Democratic upset underscores voters’ desire for new bloodFormer Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer defeated longtime local politician Annise Parker to win the Democratic nomination for Harris County judge in what political experts say might be a sign of the changing of the guard.
With limited options, Corpus Christi focuses on delaying – not avoiding – its looming water crisis
Read full article: With limited options, Corpus Christi focuses on delaying – not avoiding – its looming water crisisThe city is looking into emergency conservation measures as most options for additional water have been tapped or are years from completion.
A Texas town hopes a new data center will pay to fix its cracked streets and leaking pipes
Read full article: A Texas town hopes a new data center will pay to fix its cracked streets and leaking pipesLacy Lakeview, a Waco suburb, said it is considering a data center project in efforts to boost their spending power to repair aging roads.
From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP’s transformation
Read full article: From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP’s transformationThe power struggle between old-school Bush Republicans and hardline conservatives predates President Donald Trump. But he has used his clout to help tip the scales.