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TEXAS NEWS
ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPoint’s mobile generators to San Antonio
Read full article: ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPoint’s mobile generators to San AntonioAll Texans connected to the state grid will now pay for the generators rather than just CenterPoint customers.
“We’re in competition”: An East Texas school district faces hard choices as education options grow
Read full article: “We’re in competition”: An East Texas school district faces hard choices as education options growThe Lufkin school district says it must do a better job of promoting itself amid growing competition from charter schools and homeschooling.
U.S. Supreme Court hears Texas death row inmate’s appeal for DNA test of evidence
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court hears Texas death row inmate’s appeal for DNA test of evidenceRuben Gutierrez wants to be able to sue prosecutors to compel them to test evidence that he says will prove he did not kill a Brownsville woman in 1998.
Texas Lottery remains in lawmakers’ sights despite move to ban third-party sales of tickets
Read full article: Texas Lottery remains in lawmakers’ sights despite move to ban third-party sales of ticketsThe policy shift was announced before state senators, skeptical of the move, grilled officials with the department and courier services in a hearing on SB 28.
Feds target “criminals and illegal immigrants” in Houston-area development, Abbott says
Read full article: Feds target “criminals and illegal immigrants” in Houston-area development, Abbott saysThe Colony Ridge development has long been under scrutiny from conservative lawmakers, think tanks and influencers who cast it as a hotbed for undocumented immigrants and cartel crime.
Republican lawmaker files bills to ban DEI in Texas K-12 public schools
Read full article: Republican lawmaker files bills to ban DEI in Texas K-12 public schoolsSen. Brandon Creighton has filed bills that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies related to hiring and programming, while creating ways for parents to complain about violations to the DEI ban.
Young Democratic social media star, frustrated by campaigns, sees another path to turn Texas blue
Read full article: Young Democratic social media star, frustrated by campaigns, sees another path to turn Texas blueOlivia Julianna, 22, loves politics but hates the in-fighting she sees in too many Democratic campaigns in the state.
Texas Lottery commissioner resigns as agency faces legislative scrutiny
Read full article: Texas Lottery commissioner resigns as agency faces legislative scrutinyClark Smith, one of five members of the commission, stepped down Friday as lawmakers have raised questions about the role of lottery couriers and agency governance.
Texas A&M regents may soon decide the university system’s next leader
Read full article: Texas A&M regents may soon decide the university system’s next leaderSources indicate the board has narrowed its search to five candidates: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, University of Alabama President Stuart Bell and state Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin.
FEC clears Ted Cruz of wrongdoing over podcast syndicator’s donations to super PAC
Read full article: FEC clears Ted Cruz of wrongdoing over podcast syndicator’s donations to super PACThe agency dismissed a campaign finance watchdog complaint after finding no evidence Cruz “solicited, directed, received, transferred, or spent the funds.”
Texas Lottery ticket sales to third-party services fuel controversy and questions about the agency’s future
Read full article: Texas Lottery ticket sales to third-party services fuel controversy and questions about the agency’s futureWhile the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.
Texas lawmakers want to make it easier to convert office space into apartments and condos
Read full article: Texas lawmakers want to make it easier to convert office space into apartments and condosSupporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.
In first full day leading UT-Austin, Jim Davis replaces chief academic officer
Read full article: In first full day leading UT-Austin, Jim Davis replaces chief academic officerDavis, who was named interim president one day earlier, replaced a provost who was named to the position by the university’s previous leader last month.
In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and work
Read full article: In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and workA naturalized citizen, along with other business leaders, are working to create new resources for undocumented people living in the Permian Basin.
Under Texas House bill, value of education savings accounts would be tied to public school funding
Read full article: Under Texas House bill, value of education savings accounts would be tied to public school fundingThe proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.
National leaders mount pressure campaign on Texas House GOP to pass voucher bill
Read full article: National leaders mount pressure campaign on Texas House GOP to pass voucher billSupporters of voucher-like education savings accounts are trying to press their advantage early and build a sense of inevitability.
Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coast
Read full article: Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coastThe terminal continues an oil export infrastructure buildout that pushes growth in U.S. oil production as momentum fades on a phase-out of fossil fuels.
Texas Teacher Retirement System leader says Senate voucher proposal would not harm retirement funds
Read full article: Texas Teacher Retirement System leader says Senate voucher proposal would not harm retirement fundsA recent budget analysis noted the Texas Senate’s voucher bill could affect the fund if it leads students and teachers to leave public schools.
Texas mental health licensing board gives initial OK to remove training requirement associated with DEI
Read full article: Texas mental health licensing board gives initial OK to remove training requirement associated with DEIOfficials say the motive for the change to the rule requiring mental health providers to receive cultural diversity or competency training for license renewals has been misunderstood.
Texas Senate votes in favor of proposals to deny bail to certain accused violent criminals
Read full article: Texas Senate votes in favor of proposals to deny bail to certain accused violent criminalsThe package was fast-tracked after Gov. Greg Abbott declared “bail reform” an emergency item. The bills now head to the House for consideration.
Robert Roberson files first new appeal since his execution was delayed
Read full article: Robert Roberson files first new appeal since his execution was delayedThe appeal includes new testimony from experts who say Roberson’s daughter died of natural causes, and cites the court’s exoneration of a man in another shaken baby syndrome case out of Dallas County.
Texas Senate bill would give public school teachers free pre-K and raises based on experience and performance
Read full article: Texas Senate bill would give public school teachers free pre-K and raises based on experience and performanceThe proposal would expand a program that allows districts to award bonuses to educators based on their students’ academic growth.
TribCast: The ins and outs of the debate over school choice and vouchers
Read full article: TribCast: The ins and outs of the debate over school choice and vouchersIn this week’s episode, we discuss the details of the plan to let parents use state funds to pay for their children’s private schooling.
As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants”
Read full article: As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants”A Texas pilot program aims to show how residents could participate directly in the wholesale power market.
As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homes
Read full article: As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homesSome Texans who install residential batteries, solar panels and smart thermostats can now send power back to the grid and get a credit on their bill.
How a South Texas community college embraced apprenticeships to ease a growing nursing shortage
Read full article: How a South Texas community college embraced apprenticeships to ease a growing nursing shortageSouth Texas College in McAllen launched one of the first registered nursing apprenticeships in the country as area hospitals expect the need for nurses to increase.
Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state
Read full article: Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in stateThe 5.0 magnitude earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in state history. Scientists have warned for years that increased fracking in West Texas is causing higher earthquake activity.
Winners and losers: Who came out on top — and who didn’t — in the Texas House’s committee assignments
Read full article: Winners and losers: Who came out on top — and who didn’t — in the Texas House’s committee assignmentsThere were only so many chair positions to go around, with 30 committees for 88 Republicans, making it inevitable that some would miss out on plum appointments.
Texas is poised to become a film haven — but not without a fight
Read full article: Texas is poised to become a film haven — but not without a fightThe Texas Senate has proposed injecting a staggering half a billion dollars into film production, as economists and fiscal hawks question the return on investment.
Texas migrant shelters are nearly empty after Trump’s actions effectively shut the border
Read full article: Texas migrant shelters are nearly empty after Trump’s actions effectively shut the borderThe shelters began seeing fewer people dropped off by customs and border agents following former President Joe Biden’s executive order limiting some asylum claims.
Texas’ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panic
Read full article: Texas’ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panicSome experts are skeptical the grid would see as much demand growth as ERCOT predicts, and other ERCOT models showed things getting tight but not tipping into a deficit.
Texas could sell 100 miles of border to feds, Abbott says
Read full article: Texas could sell 100 miles of border to feds, Abbott saysAbbott is in Washington this week to lobby Congress for $11 billion to compensate Texas for money spent on his Operation Lone Star, to secure the border during the Biden Administration.