TEXAS NEWS
How a 27-year-old upstart unseated longtime Texas House Democrat Chris Turner
Read full article: How a 27-year-old upstart unseated longtime Texas House Democrat Chris TurnerJunior Ezeonu, a Grand Prairie City Council member, defeated Turner in the Democratic primary, becoming the representative-elect for the southeast Tarrant County House district.
Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdown
Read full article: Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdownWait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are expected to worsen over the weekend as agents miss a second paycheck and increasingly call in sick.
After Minnesota scandal, Texas reviewed its child care spending. It found little fraud.
Read full article: After Minnesota scandal, Texas reviewed its child care spending. It found little fraud.An investigation ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott found that less than half a percent of federal money spent on child care scholarships in Texas was considered “improper.”
Speaker Dustin Burrows lists data centers, property taxes and annexing slice of New Mexico among 2027 priorities
Read full article: Speaker Dustin Burrows lists data centers, property taxes and annexing slice of New Mexico among 2027 prioritiesThe Republican speaker’s interim charges also covered water resources, foreign threats and government accountability.
Legislators, business leaders highlight Texas policies driving competition with Wall Street
Read full article: Legislators, business leaders highlight Texas policies driving competition with Wall StreetThe panelists at the Dallas event hosted by The Texas Tribune said “Y’all Street” is poised to become the nation's financial capital.
Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census finds
Read full article: Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census findsWaller County, near Houston, was the second fastest growing county in the U.S. Another three Texas counties were among the 10 fastest growing in U.S.
Measles spike in federal detention facility reaches the Texas public, records show
Read full article: Measles spike in federal detention facility reaches the Texas public, records showMost of the state’s measles cases reported so far this year are inside the West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County, where four infected El Paso residents worked.
Forced to sell medications at a loss, rural Texas pharmacies seek new survival tactics
Read full article: Forced to sell medications at a loss, rural Texas pharmacies seek new survival tacticsIndependent rural pharmacists are starting other businesses or selling baby shower gifts to keep their stores operating. Pharmacy deserts affect 4 million Texans.
Texas State University professor sues to block firing after Israeli-Palestinian comments
Read full article: Texas State University professor sues to block firing after Israeli-Palestinian commentsPhilosophy professor Idris Robinson argued that his comments, made in an off-campus setting, were protected speech.
Ken Paxton won’t represent Comptroller Kelly Hancock in school voucher suit amid grudge match
Read full article: Ken Paxton won’t represent Comptroller Kelly Hancock in school voucher suit amid grudge matchIn a Thursday letter, Paxton said Hancock jeopardized the state’s defense in the case by leaking a separate letter he sent to the AG’s office on Tuesday.
Mayes Middleton nabs former opponent Aaron Reitz’s endorsement in GOP attorney general runoff
Read full article: Mayes Middleton nabs former opponent Aaron Reitz’s endorsement in GOP attorney general runoffReitz, a former aide to Texas AG Ken Paxton, had sharply criticized both Middleton and Chip Roy on the campaign trail.
After years of pushing for better jobs, Rio Grande Valley leaders land high-skilled manufacturing plant
Read full article: After years of pushing for better jobs, Rio Grande Valley leaders land high-skilled manufacturing plantMcAllen leaders hope the new Valeo manufacturing plant is a sign that the region, one of the most impoverished in the state, can attract better-paying jobs for its college graduates.
After killing its desalination project, Corpus Christi explores buying water from a privately owned plant
Read full article: After killing its desalination project, Corpus Christi explores buying water from a privately owned plantThe City Council rejected building a plant to turn seawater into drinkable water because of the cost and environmental concerns. Now it’s looking at water from a different plant.
Texas will require proof of legal immigration status to get professional licenses
Read full article: Texas will require proof of legal immigration status to get professional licensesOfficials approved the change after hearing from speakers who argued it would hamper the state’s economy and push immigrants to work without licenses in the black market.
Abbott legal brief criticizes Paxton’s rushed lawsuit against Harris County’s immigrant legal fund
Read full article: Abbott legal brief criticizes Paxton’s rushed lawsuit against Harris County’s immigrant legal fund“Perhaps the Attorney General only recently learned of this program; perhaps the office’s attention was focused elsewhere,” lawyers for Abbott wrote, noting the fund has existed for five years.
Taylor Goldenstein and Lomi Kriel join Texas Tribune’s revamped investigative team
Read full article: Taylor Goldenstein and Lomi Kriel join Texas Tribune’s revamped investigative teamThe Texas Tribune has added some new faces to the roster who will be digging deep and investigating some of the state’s most urgent and interesting storylines.
Texas will ban smokeable hemp cannabis on March 31. Here’s what you need to know.
Read full article: Texas will ban smokeable hemp cannabis on March 31. Here’s what you need to know.New rules from state health officials ban smokeable intoxicating hemp products, including pre-rolled joints and hemp flower.
Corpus Christi is scrambling to ward off a water crisis. Here’s a guide to its water projects.
Read full article: Corpus Christi is scrambling to ward off a water crisis. Here’s a guide to its water projects.From drilling groundwater wells to recycling wastewater, Corpus Christi has launched a host of projects as it races against the clock to find more water.
Fire out and shelter-in-place order is lifted after oil refinery explosion near Texas coast
Read full article: Fire out and shelter-in-place order is lifted after oil refinery explosion near Texas coastOfficials say an oil refinery fire near the Texas coast has been put out and a shelter-in-place order has been lifted following air quality testing.
Texas Education Agency orders public schools to remove mentions of Cesar Chavez from lessons
Read full article: Texas Education Agency orders public schools to remove mentions of Cesar Chavez from lessonsSchools were also directed to cancel or change celebrations of the late civil rights leader amid allegations of sexual abuse.
Dead gardens, dusty cars: Frustrated Corpus Christi residents take precautions as water crisis nears
Read full article: Dead gardens, dusty cars: Frustrated Corpus Christi residents take precautions as water crisis nearsThe city’s water supply has been nearly depleted by a prolonged drought and a recent boon of oil refineries in the area. Locals have been limiting outdoor watering, shower time and car washes.
Blocked from Texas vouchers, this private Islamic school wants a chance to prove its pro-America values
Read full article: Blocked from Texas vouchers, this private Islamic school wants a chance to prove its pro-America valuesSeveral Islamic schools sued Texas for excluding them from the voucher program. Iman Academy is instead calling for fairness while hoping to be judged by its work — not stereotypes.
Feds plan to install 536 miles of floating barriers on Rio Grande to deter migrants
Read full article: Feds plan to install 536 miles of floating barriers on Rio Grande to deter migrantsThe government is installing the first 17 miles of industrial-grade buoys in Brownsville. Experts warn the buoys could intensify flooding and change the river’s course.
Corpus Christi says two new developments will buy it more time before reaching water crisis
Read full article: Corpus Christi says two new developments will buy it more time before reaching water crisisThe city manager said the city received permits to pump more groundwater and will avoid water reductions from a shrinking reservoir for now, pushing a potential water crisis to July.
University of North Texas to cut more than 70 programs and minors to trim $45 million deficit
Read full article: University of North Texas to cut more than 70 programs and minors to trim $45 million deficitOffering new details, President Harrison Keller said no state official pushed for the changes, which include phasing out degrees in linguistics and Latin American and women’s and gender studies.
Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisis
Read full article: Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisisThe city produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.
Texas has taken over issuing permits to store carbon underground. Here’s what to know.
Read full article: Texas has taken over issuing permits to store carbon underground. Here’s what to know.The move of authority to the Texas Railroad Commission from the federal government now makes it easier for energy companies to apply for permits to store carbon underground.
Texas inmate seeks to stop looming execution after codefendant confesses to double murders
Read full article: Texas inmate seeks to stop looming execution after codefendant confesses to double murdersIn his appeal, James Broadnax, who also wants a new trial, included a signed confession by his cousin saying he committed the 2008 Garland murders.
Union Pacific train cars derailment in Texas town causes ethanol leak, no injuries reported
Read full article: Union Pacific train cars derailment in Texas town causes ethanol leak, no injuries reportedMore than two dozen cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Wednesday morning in a Texas town near Houston, causing an ethanol leak from two of the cars that officials said didn’t pose a threat to the public.
Texas jails aren’t meeting deadlines to free inmates, costing some counties thousands in settlements
Read full article: Texas jails aren’t meeting deadlines to free inmates, costing some counties thousands in settlementsThe state does not track the prevalence or provide guidance on the issue, leaving inmates to languish in jail and eventually sue counties for damages.
How to monitor airport security lines at US airports while TSA officers go without pay
Read full article: How to monitor airport security lines at US airports while TSA officers go without paySpring break travelers are facing unpredictable lines at airport security as the partial U.S. government shutdown strains TSA staffing.
Court approves new manager for Dallas-area foster care program after deaths of 2 infants
Read full article: Court approves new manager for Dallas-area foster care program after deaths of 2 infantsAn experienced child welfare manager was appointed to take over case management after “systemic failures” placed children in danger, court records said.
Texas cities, state government cancel Cesar Chavez Day in wake of report on activist
Read full article: Texas cities, state government cancel Cesar Chavez Day in wake of report on activistThe New York Times on March 18 published allegations that the labor rights leader had sexually abused women and girls.
Here’s how to vote in Texas’ May 26 primary runoff elections
Read full article: Here’s how to vote in Texas’ May 26 primary runoff electionsVoters will decide over 30 races, including a nationally watched battle between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. The registration deadline is April 27, and early voting is May 18–22.
Corpus Christi water emergency may be just two months away, city leaders say
Read full article: Corpus Christi water emergency may be just two months away, city leaders sayTwo out of the five projections city leaders presented Tuesday showed water shortages beginning in May. The city has yet to detail plans for how to reduce water use for residents and businesses.
147 measles cases reported in Texas so far this year, most of them in federal detention centers
Read full article: 147 measles cases reported in Texas so far this year, most of them in federal detention centersThe state health department reports that 99 of the cases originated in a contracted detention facility in Hudspeth County.
Dallas County GOP will agree to countywide voting sites after primary election chaos
Read full article: Dallas County GOP will agree to countywide voting sites after primary election chaosVoters in the May 26 primary runoff will be allowed to again cast ballots at countywide voting sites on election day.
Jace Yarbrough is GOP nominee in North Texas congressional district after second-place finisher bows out
Read full article: Jace Yarbrough is GOP nominee in North Texas congressional district after second-place finisher bows outAfter finishing a distant second in the March 3 primary, Ryan Binkley dropped out of the runoff. Yarbrough is favored to win the general election for the redrawn 32nd District.
Harris County to vote on means for labor groups to represent employees for salary, policy talks
Read full article: Harris County to vote on means for labor groups to represent employees for salary, policy talksIf passed, the policy would be the first for a Texas county. Some cities and school districts have similar policies.