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TEXAS NEWS
Cracking down on fuel crime: Senate passes bill to target organized fuel theft rings in Texas
Read full article: Cracking down on fuel crime: Senate passes bill to target organized fuel theft rings in TexasThe Texas Senate has passed a bill that will crack down on organized fuel theft rings across the state.
Cornyn wins over Texas GOP leadership after being censured and booed for his gun safety bill
Read full article: Cornyn wins over Texas GOP leadership after being censured and booed for his gun safety billThe senator’s embrace of the state party chair could neutralize a potential threat as Cornyn faces a challenging primary terrain.
House committee considering a cap on school voucher spending, increases to public school funding
Read full article: House committee considering a cap on school voucher spending, increases to public school fundingThe House Public Education Committee released new proposals for creating education savings accounts and determining how much state funds public districts get. But a scheduled meeting about the bills was canceled.
Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials under oath on transgender athlete policy
Read full article: Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials under oath on transgender athlete policyPaxton’s office launched an investigation into the district’s policy after an administrator was caught on tape discussing a possible loophole in the state’s ban.
“Water is the new oil” as Texas cities square off over aquifer pipeline plans
Read full article: “Water is the new oil” as Texas cities square off over aquifer pipeline plansFast-growing Georgetown plans to pump 89 million gallons a day from the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer but the project is being fought by Bryan, College Station and Texas A&M University, which depend on the same water.
Texas officials’ claim that school funding is at an all-time high ignores inflation and temporary federal money
Read full article: Texas officials’ claim that school funding is at an all-time high ignores inflation and temporary federal moneyA Tribune analysis also found the state’s share of the funds that schools receive per student significantly decreased in the last decade until recently.
After years of disappointment at the polls, Texas Democrats will select new party leader
Read full article: After years of disappointment at the polls, Texas Democrats will select new party leaderThe State Democratic Executive Committee will meet on Saturday to elect the successor to party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.
Lawyers for Houston-area midwife accused of illegal abortions condemn state’s investigation
Read full article: Lawyers for Houston-area midwife accused of illegal abortions condemn state’s investigationMaria Rojas’ attorneys got their first chance to address the claims against her Thursday. She was released on bond but a judge ordered the clinics to remain closed.
Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortions
Read full article: Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortionsSome health care providers in support of Senate Bill 2880 said people who are mailed abortion pills aren’t given instructions and do not receive follow-up care.
Amid support from doctors group, bill to clarify Texas’ abortion ban does little to save lives, critics say
Read full article: Amid support from doctors group, bill to clarify Texas’ abortion ban does little to save lives, critics saySenate Bill 31 supporters say it would clarify when doctors should intervene to save a pregnant woman’s life, but critics say its vagueness and a measure to resurrect pre-Roe laws hamper it.
Texas AG investigating insurance company accused of spying on lawmakers, journalists, other Texans
Read full article: Texas AG investigating insurance company accused of spying on lawmakers, journalists, other TexansSuperior HealthPlan’s CEO, whom lawmakers grilled about the company’s alleged hiring of private investigators, was reportedly fired after the inquiry was announced.
NY county clerk refuses to file Texas’ fine for doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills
Read full article: NY county clerk refuses to file Texas’ fine for doctor accused of prescribing abortion pillsA Texas judge last month ordered Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who practices north of New York City, to pay the penalty for allegedly breaking that state’s law by prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine.
Texas senate passes bill expanding death penalty eligibility for child murder under SB 990
Read full article: Texas senate passes bill expanding death penalty eligibility for child murder under SB 990The Texas senate has passed a bill that would expand death penalty eligibility for individuals convicted of murdering children.
New age-progression image shows what missing Texas teen Jeremey Vasquez may look 5 years after disappearance
Read full article: New age-progression image shows what missing Texas teen Jeremey Vasquez may look 5 years after disappearanceFive years after Jeremey Vasquez disappeared from Victoria, Texas, at age 16, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released an age-progression image to aid in the search.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes fail
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes failOnly Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.
Federal judge rules prison heat conditions are unconstitutional, but doesn’t require air conditioning
Read full article: Federal judge rules prison heat conditions are unconstitutional, but doesn’t require air conditioningAbout two-thirds of Texas prisons are not fully air conditioned, and dozens of inmates have died in the sweltering heat.
Houston, we have a Wednesday giveaway: Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade lands at Houston Chick-fil-A
Read full article: Houston, we have a Wednesday giveaway: Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade lands at Houston Chick-fil-ADon't miss your chance to grab this stellar drink before it blasts off into the flavor galaxy!
Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community colleges
Read full article: Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community collegesMore than a year after Texas’ House Bill 8 took effect, some schools have offered free tuition, grown dual credit programs or helped students’ credits transfer when they move on to four-year schools.
Gov. Greg Abbott showing no rush to replace late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott showing no rush to replace late U.S. Rep. Sylvester TurnerRepublicans hold a tiny majority in the House, creating an incentive for Abbott to hold off on calling an election for Turner’s seat, which would likely be filled by a Democrat.
Jewish Texans disagree on how to combat antisemitism in schools during hearing on Senate bill
Read full article: Jewish Texans disagree on how to combat antisemitism in schools during hearing on Senate billLawmakers propose addressing antisemitism by requiring schools to use a set definition. Critics say the measure will stifle speech.
After four prosecutors and nearly six years, El Paso DA decides it’s time to stop pursuing the death penalty for mass shooter
Read full article: After four prosecutors and nearly six years, El Paso DA decides it’s time to stop pursuing the death penalty for mass shooterThe new DA campaigned on seeking the death penalty for the 2019 massacre, but said he offered the gunman a plea deal of life in prison to avoid dragging out the case for several more years.
Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart is offered plea deal to avoid death penalty
Read full article: Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart is offered plea deal to avoid death penaltyThe gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 in one of the the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history has been offered a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas Senate
Read full article: Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas SenateNext step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.
Federal investigators were preparing two Texas housing discrimination cases — until Trump took over
Read full article: Federal investigators were preparing two Texas housing discrimination cases — until Trump took overThe government spent years probing allegations that a Dallas HOA created rules to kick poor Black people out and that Texas discriminated against minority residents in Houston after Hurricane Harvey, only to suddenly reverse course under Trump.
West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needs
Read full article: West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needsReps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf want to divert 10% of taxes collected on oil and gas production to help budget-strapped counties keep up with growth.
Interim UT-Austin president seeks to walk fine line between faculty and lawmakers’ concerns
Read full article: Interim UT-Austin president seeks to walk fine line between faculty and lawmakers’ concernsJim Davis told professors he’ll share their concerns with lawmakers about proposals that would increase oversight on curricula and hiring. Elsewhere on campus, former UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell criticized the bills.
Texas lawmaker will not move forward on bill to dismantle Parks and Wildlife Department
Read full article: Texas lawmaker will not move forward on bill to dismantle Parks and Wildlife DepartmentIn a post on Facebook, State Rep. Pat Curry said the bill he filed, HB 4938, was done so as a mechanism to bring TPWD to the table to discuss proposed regulations on the deer breeding industry in Texas.
And then there were two! Houston, Texas Tech represent Lone Star State in Sweet 16
Read full article: And then there were two! Houston, Texas Tech represent Lone Star State in Sweet 16After five Texas-based college basketball teams were selected in the 2025 men’s college basketball tournament, only two were able to survive the first weekend.
Texas A&M can’t ban “Draggieland” drag show, federal judge rules
Read full article: Texas A&M can’t ban “Draggieland” drag show, federal judge rulesJudge Lee H. Rosenthal said the student group that organizes Draggieland, the Queer Empowerment Council, was likely to succeed in showing the ban violates the First Amendment.
Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discrimination
Read full article: Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discriminationSupporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.