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TEXAS NEWS
Starbucks launches limited-edition summer menu, drinkware collection ☕
Read full article: Starbucks launches limited-edition summer menu, drinkware collection ☕Starbucks has introduced a limited-edition summer menu featuring the new Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the returning Summer-Berry Starbucks Refreshers Beverages.
Is it law yet? See how far some of the most consequential bills have made it in the 2025 Texas Legislature
Read full article: Is it law yet? See how far some of the most consequential bills have made it in the 2025 Texas LegislatureWe’re tracking the status of major bills through the final stretch of the session.
Texas inmate to be executed for killing woman he set on fire inside Garland store
Read full article: Texas inmate to be executed for killing woman he set on fire inside Garland storeMatthew Johnson, who testified he did not intend to kill the elderly clerk, received the death penalty in 2013. The execution could be Texas’ fourth and last for 2025.
Stricter bail rules advance through Texas House, which had blocked an overhaul in previous sessions
Read full article: Stricter bail rules advance through Texas House, which had blocked an overhaul in previous sessionsThe House advanced a measure that would ask voters to amend the state Constitution to tighten the state’s bail laws, setting up a major policy win for Gov. Greg Abbott.
East Texas woman arrested after son calls law enforcement saying she was burning family dogs
Read full article: East Texas woman arrested after son calls law enforcement saying she was burning family dogsA woman from a city in East Texas has been arrested after law enforcement found the burned remains of dogs in front of her home.
ATX TV Festival returns for 14th season bringing TV, industry fans together for epic celebrations
Read full article: ATX TV Festival returns for 14th season bringing TV, industry fans together for epic celebrationsMark your calendars! 📆✅ ATX TV Festival, which brings TV fans and industry folks together in downtown Austin to see how their favorite shows are made, hear from creators and cast members, and attend special premier screening events.
Whataburger sued by Harris County man after onion in meal causes allergic reaction
Read full article: Whataburger sued by Harris County man after onion in meal causes allergic reactionA Harris County man, Demery Ardell Wilson, has filed a lawsuit against Whataburger, alleging that the restaurant's negligence led to a severe allergic reaction after he was served onions despite requesting none.
Texas lawmakers are poised to ban minors from social media
Read full article: Texas lawmakers are poised to ban minors from social mediaThe Texas Legislature has already passed a bill requiring age verification to download apps and is seriously considering another to ban children from social media.
Oil companies want protection as Texas considers allowing treated fracking water released into rivers
Read full article: Oil companies want protection as Texas considers allowing treated fracking water released into riversAs the state grapples with a threatened water supply, industry and lawmakers have invested millions in research to clean the toxic backwash for use in for agriculture.
Spring ISD looks for a new superintendent to shape the future of education
Read full article: Spring ISD looks for a new superintendent to shape the future of educationSpring Independent School District (Spring ISD) has officially opened its nationwide search for a new superintendent of schools.
Five district attorneys sue Ken Paxton to block new rule requiring them to hand over case records
Read full article: Five district attorneys sue Ken Paxton to block new rule requiring them to hand over case recordsThe DAs say in two lawsuits that a new rule requiring counties to hand over almost all documents the attorney general’s office requests violates state and federal law.
Long-running lawsuit against Texas’ foster care system appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court
Read full article: Long-running lawsuit against Texas’ foster care system appealed to the U.S. Supreme CourtLawyers representing foster children asked the high court to reinstate a contempt order against the state, and the judge who issued it.
Juvenile detention, imported shrimp, forever chemicals among hundreds of bills cut off by House deadline
Read full article: Juvenile detention, imported shrimp, forever chemicals among hundreds of bills cut off by House deadlineSome measures that made it through before midnight dealt with jail bonds, an unconstitutional ban on gay sex, and the liability of vaccine manufacturers.
Faculty and students blast Texas House panel for limiting testimony on bill that targets state universities
Read full article: Faculty and students blast Texas House panel for limiting testimony on bill that targets state universitiesThe House's higher education committee closed registration to testify on Senate Bill 37 less than half an hour after the hearing started. About 20 people said they didn't get to address lawmakers.
New Hope Housing Berry: A new chapter in affordable housing for Houston’s Northside
Read full article: New Hope Housing Berry: A new chapter in affordable housing for Houston’s NorthsideGreat news for those seeking affordable housing! New Hope Housing (NHH), a leading provider of affordable housing and services, will host the grand opening of its newest community tomorrow.
Bill that would give the Texas Lottery “a two-year lease on life” gets Senate approval
Read full article: Bill that would give the Texas Lottery “a two-year lease on life” gets Senate approvalSenate Bill 3070 would allow the Texas Lottery’s games to continue under a new department, abolish the agency and create restrictions on ticket purchases.
‘No mirrors, no walls, no ballet bars—just a vision:’ How a HISD elementary teacher built an award winning dance program
Read full article: ‘No mirrors, no walls, no ballet bars—just a vision:’ How a HISD elementary teacher built an award winning dance programWhat started with no mirrors, no studio, and a lot of imagination has become one of Houston ISD’s most celebrated elementary dance programs. Under the passionate leadership of Amber Ferguson, Thurgood Marshall’s young dancers are not only winning competitions across all grade levels—they’re building confidence, creativity, and community along the way.
Texas Senate panel approves $8 billion school funding plan as it seeks middle ground with House
Read full article: Texas Senate panel approves $8 billion school funding plan as it seeks middle ground with HouseThe proposal would heavily invest in teacher pay and special education. It includes a modest $55 increase to schools' base per-student funding, significantly lower than what the House had sought.
Abbott wants to stop allowing federal benefits in Texas to be spent on unhealthy, high-processed food
Read full article: Abbott wants to stop allowing federal benefits in Texas to be spent on unhealthy, high-processed foodTexas’ governor joins other Republican governors making similar requests to ban purchases of candy and soda through the SNAP program.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas leaders look to new water supplies to sustain growth
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas leaders look to new water supplies to sustain growthLeaders hope to treat groundwater and capture more rain as the water from one of the nation’s most iconic rivers becomes less reliable.
FEMA ‘not ready’ for hurricane season; Houstonians aren’t prepared either
Read full article: FEMA ‘not ready’ for hurricane season; Houstonians aren’t prepared eitherAn internal review has revealed that FEMA is "not ready" for the upcoming hurricane season, citing issues such as poor coordination with states and paused critical training.
The fastest-growing city in the U.S. is in Texas, and it’s not the one you’re thinking of
Read full article: The fastest-growing city in the U.S. is in Texas, and it’s not the one you’re thinking ofWith Princeton leading the Texas pack, the state continues to set the pace for the rest of the nation, with seven of the 15 fastest-growing cities.
Texas House votes to repeal ban on “homosexual conduct”
Read full article: Texas House votes to repeal ban on “homosexual conduct”An unlikely group of Republican allies joined Democrats to approve repealing the ban, which has been unenforced since 2003. It is the first time the bill has made it to the House floor since it was first proposed decades ago.
Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas House
Read full article: Proposal to enhance Texas’ pioneering junk science law approved by Texas HouseLast year, lawmakers waded into a dramatic feud over the case of death row inmate Robert Roberson, seen as the embodiment of the failures of Texas’ junk science law.
Bill to limit out-of-state donations to Texas candidates gets House approval
Read full article: Bill to limit out-of-state donations to Texas candidates gets House approvalThe bill would cap out-of-state political donations to a candidate or lawmaker to $5,000 for a statewide election, $2,500 for a district office and $1,000 for a county office.
Texas House bill on lawsuits shelved after critics label it harmful to free speech
Read full article: Texas House bill on lawsuits shelved after critics label it harmful to free speechHouse Bill 2988 was centered on who pays the legal fees of those who successfully defend themselves against libel or defamation lawsuits.
Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromise
Read full article: Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromiseThe Texas House must approve changes to the proposal that were brokered by party leaders. It’s part of a package of bills to bring down property taxes statewide.
Bring birthday joy to hospitalized children at Haley’s Happy Birthdays program – May 17th in Houston
Read full article: Bring birthday joy to hospitalized children at Haley’s Happy Birthdays program – May 17th in HoustonHaley Rasco Foundation will host its third annual Haley’s Happy Birthdays event in Houston, aimed at bringing joy to children spending their birthdays in the hospital. The event invites the community to build personalized birthday boxes, donate toys, and learn how to support families facing pediatric illness.
Clock is ticking for Texas lawmakers to settle differences on $8 billion public school funding package
Read full article: Clock is ticking for Texas lawmakers to settle differences on $8 billion public school funding packageSenators will hold a hearing Thursday on their counterproposal to the House's school funding bill. House Democrats and public education advocates have criticized the upper chamber for not moving faster to advance the legislation.
AMC theaters offering ‘50% Off Wednesdays’ this summer; here’s how it works
Read full article: AMC theaters offering ‘50% Off Wednesdays’ this summer; here’s how it worksWhile inflation is reportedly cooling across the country, pockets are still hurting. That's why AMC Theaters, the largest movie exhibitor in the U.S. and the world, is introducing “50% Off Wednesdays.”
Pressing deadlines, unfinished business: Where the Legislature stands on abortion, water, property tax and more
Read full article: Pressing deadlines, unfinished business: Where the Legislature stands on abortion, water, property tax and moreA raft of social conservative priorities backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hang in the balance, including efforts to infuse more religion into public schools.
Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadline
Read full article: Texas bill seeking to keep toxic “forever chemicals” off farmland misses key deadlineSupporters say the bill would protect farmland in Texas. Opponents say limiting PFAS chemicals in biosolids will force water utilities to look at other disposal methods, which will lead to higher utility bills.
Texas lawmakers debating DEI ban in K-12 schools ask: Do students benefit from teachers who look like them?
Read full article: Texas lawmakers debating DEI ban in K-12 schools ask: Do students benefit from teachers who look like them?Conservative lawmakers say DEI efforts are discriminatory and push liberal ideologies on children. Critics point to research showing a diverse teacher body helps students succeed academically.
Bill requiring Texas hospitals to report the citizenship status of patients killed in House
Read full article: Bill requiring Texas hospitals to report the citizenship status of patients killed in HouseIt is unclear whether the House bill could come back as an amendment to another measure before the legislative session ends June 2.
After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future events
Read full article: After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future eventsSen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech.
Can the Texas power grid handle demand amid the summer-like heatwave coming this week?
Read full article: Can the Texas power grid handle demand amid the summer-like heatwave coming this week?With the summer heatwave coming in hot (no pun intended), ERCOT is expecting peak demand for residents looking to cool off. Its dashboard forecasts to shatter last year's records and potentially threaten the all-time demand record.