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TEXAS NEWS
Texans can use school vouchers for pre-K, but the pool of families who qualify is limited
Read full article: Texans can use school vouchers for pre-K, but the pool of families who qualify is limitedA limited group of families with 3- and 4-year-olds who already qualify for free public pre-K can receive state funds to attend private preschool.
Blamed for the nation’s historic measles outbreak, West Texas Mennonites have hardened their views on vaccines
Read full article: Blamed for the nation’s historic measles outbreak, West Texas Mennonites have hardened their views on vaccinesMonths after public health officials say they caused the nation’s largest measles surge in 30 years, some West Texas Mennonites have grown more skeptical of the mainstream medical system.
Woman charged after Mississippi Walmart shoppers say they found razor blades in loaves of bread
Read full article: Woman charged after Mississippi Walmart shoppers say they found razor blades in loaves of breadA woman who allegedly pushed razor blades into loaves of bread at two Biloxi, Mississippi, Walmart stores has been arrested.
Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfire
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfireThe lawsuit alleges Minnesota-based Xcel Energy failed to maintain utility poles that started the 2024 Panhandle fire that killed three people and thousands of livestock.
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Powerball jackpot reaches $1.25 billion ahead of Wednesday drawing
Read full article: Powerball jackpot reaches $1.25 billion ahead of Wednesday drawingThe Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.25 billion for the drawing on December 17, 2025, after no winners in Monday night’s $1.15 billion drawing.
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New Texas law enforces tougher app store controls and stricter protections for minors
Read full article: New Texas law enforces tougher app store controls and stricter protections for minorsTexas Governor Greg Abbott signed the App Store Accountability Act yesterday, mandating stricter controls on mobile app marketplaces to protect minors from online predators and safeguard their personal data.
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Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State Park
Read full article: Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State ParkOne of three possible routes would border the North Texas park. The project is part of a statewide effort to keep pace with Texas’ rapidly growing energy needs.
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Immigrant families in Texas have gone into hiding after latest Trump administration policy
Read full article: Immigrant families in Texas have gone into hiding after latest Trump administration policyLast month the Trump administration made people from 19 nations ineligible to obtain legal status. “Fear won,” said one woman who came from Venezuela nearly a decade ago.
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Rep. Marc Veasey drops bid for Tarrant County judge
Read full article: Rep. Marc Veasey drops bid for Tarrant County judgeThe Fort Worth Democrat had filed to challenge GOP incumbent Tim O’Hare just before last week’s deadline to get on the 2026 ballot. His withdrawal gives Commissioner Alisa Simmons a clear path to the Democratic nomination.
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Hockley man honored with Carnegie Medal for subduing Pasadena school shooter
Read full article: Hockley man honored with Carnegie Medal for subduing Pasadena school shooterJuan F. Lopez of Hockley, Texas, received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism after subduing an armed shooter at a Pasadena high school event.
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Houston Mayor John Whitmire barred from future Harris County Democratic endorsements
Read full article: Houston Mayor John Whitmire barred from future Harris County Democratic endorsementsHouston Mayor John Whitmire has been barred from future endorsements by the Harris County Democratic Party following a precinct chair vote.
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Texas universities deploy AI tools to review and rewrite how some courses discuss race and gender
Read full article: Texas universities deploy AI tools to review and rewrite how some courses discuss race and genderRecords obtained by The Texas Tribune show how universities are using the technology to reshape curriculum under political pressure, raising concerns about academic freedom.
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Trump’s pardon of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar leaves local Republicans surprised and disappointed
Read full article: Trump’s pardon of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar leaves local Republicans surprised and disappointedSome county GOP officials said the president’s pardon could complicate their plans to unseat the Laredo Democrat in South Texas’ battleground 28th Congressional District.
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In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie Johnson
Read full article: In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie JohnsonThe primary between predecessor and successor arose from a combination of redistricting and the entry of Rep. Jasmine Crockett into the U.S. Senate race, which prompted Allred to drop out.
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Rob Reiner mourned by Barack Obama, Jerry O’Connell, James Woods and many others
Read full article: Rob Reiner mourned by Barack Obama, Jerry O’Connell, James Woods and many othersMany prominent people are paying tribute to Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, after they were killed in their Los Angeles home on Sunday.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Father of Queen of Tejano Selena, Passes Away at 86
Read full article: Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Father of Queen of Tejano Selena, Passes Away at 86Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father of late Tejano icon Selena, has passed away at 86. His son, A.B. Quintanilla III, shared the news on Instagram, reflecting on the deep loss. Quintanilla Jr. played a key role in Selena’s rise to fame and spent his life preserving her legacy.
Enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill” draws challenges as colleges, cities implement new policies
Read full article: Enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill” draws challenges as colleges, cities implement new policiesIn its first week, one group’s test of the new restrictions was met with ID checks at women’s restrooms at the Capitol while the Austin City Council moved to circumvent the law's intent.
Southwest Airlines will bring 2,000 new jobs to Austin as city works to expand crowded airport
Read full article: Southwest Airlines will bring 2,000 new jobs to Austin as city works to expand crowded airportAustin and the state offered the Dallas-based airline a package of economic incentives totaling $19.5 million to locate a new crew base at Austin’s airport.
Trump administration freezes federal funding for South Texas migrant shelter
Read full article: Trump administration freezes federal funding for South Texas migrant shelterSister Norma Pimentel with Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley founded the shelter in McAllen, which serves undocumented immigrants released from federal custody.
Jasmine Crockett leads James Talarico by 8 points in Senate Democratic primary, new poll finds
Read full article: Jasmine Crockett leads James Talarico by 8 points in Senate Democratic primary, new poll findsCrockett had higher name recognition and an overwhelming edge among Black voters, while Talarico kept her margin to single digits through greater support among white and Latino voters.
Allegations against a legendary’s football coach’s son fracture a North Texas town
Read full article: Allegations against a legendary’s football coach’s son fracture a North Texas townThe top-ranked Celina High School football team is barrelling toward another state championship this month. Its coach is barred from the field.
A Lubbock County commissioner announced his congressional campaign. Then he was removed from office.
Read full article: A Lubbock County commissioner announced his congressional campaign. Then he was removed from office.Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish removed Commissioner Jason Corley from office this week, the latest twist in the Republicans’ fraught relationship.
Texas Education Agency taking over Lake Worth, Connally and Beaumont school districts
Read full article: Texas Education Agency taking over Lake Worth, Connally and Beaumont school districtsThe three interventions come after the state’s education agency announced plans to take over Fort Worth ISD in October.
Texas Agriculture issues urgent alert as invasive pest detected in multiple counties, including Houston area
Read full article: Texas Agriculture issues urgent alert as invasive pest detected in multiple counties, including Houston areaTexas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued an urgent alert this week to producers across the state to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest.
After Trump pardon, Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to homeland security funding post
Read full article: After Trump pardon, Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to homeland security funding postAfter his corruption indictment last year, the Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees more than $65 billion in annual spending.
Last Christmas: An East Texas Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years, despite booming sales
Read full article: Last Christmas: An East Texas Christmas tree farm closes after 40 years, despite booming salesChristmas tree sales are up in the Lone Star State, even as many tree farmers are aging out of the business with no successors.
H-E-B recalls Red Lentil Dal Soup after milk allergen found in mislabeled containers
Read full article: H-E-B recalls Red Lentil Dal Soup after milk allergen found in mislabeled containersH-E-B recalls Meal Simple Red Lentil Dal Soup in Texas after some packages were found to contain turkey and wild rice soup with undeclared milk.
Gov. Greg Abbott wants a tighter lid on home values. Tax policy experts warn that’s a bad idea.
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott wants a tighter lid on home values. Tax policy experts warn that’s a bad idea.Conservative and liberal tax policy experts said Abbott’s proposal would lead to higher housing costs and tax benefits flowing disproportionately to wealthy homeowners.
National Democrats put Texas House on list of legislative targets for 2026
Read full article: National Democrats put Texas House on list of legislative targets for 2026Rep. Christina Morales, the new chair of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee, said she wants to initially target five GOP-controlled districts, with a broader list to come later.
Migrants held at Fort Bliss suffering physical abuse, unsafe conditions, human rights groups claim
Read full article: Migrants held at Fort Bliss suffering physical abuse, unsafe conditions, human rights groups claimThe ACLU and other groups interviewed more than 45 migrants held at the detention center and call it a “human and civil rights catastrophe.”
Why Gov. Greg Abbott wants to let taxpayers decide whether cities can raise — or cut — taxes
Read full article: Why Gov. Greg Abbott wants to let taxpayers decide whether cities can raise — or cut — taxesTexas cities and counties already face limits on how much revenue they can generate. Local leaders have warned that further restrictions would mean fewer services like parks and libraries.
How the political tide turned on Mark Welsh, the four-star general ousted as Texas A&M president
Read full article: How the political tide turned on Mark Welsh, the four-star general ousted as Texas A&M presidentThe A&M Board of Regents came to want a more explicitly conservative leader who would shut down controversy before it reared its head, as members grew weary from the steady drumbeat of online posts accusing the university of embracing liberal ideology.
Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ people
Read full article: Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ peopleCity Council voted 5-4 to continue the temporary removal of language in its ordinance, which was initiated in September in an effort to avoid losing federal funding.
Is Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign an asset or a liability for Democrats? It depends on who you ask.
Read full article: Is Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign an asset or a liability for Democrats? It depends on who you ask.Some Democrats dismissed the Dallas congresswoman as too polarizing to capture the swing voters needed to win. Others said her turnout-over-persuasion approach is the recipe to break through.
Rod Paige, former U.S. education secretary also known for the “Houston Miracle,” dies at 92
Read full article: Rod Paige, former U.S. education secretary also known for the “Houston Miracle,” dies at 92The former Houston ISD superintendent was the first Black person to lead the Department of Education and helped launch the No Child Left Behind Act.
Texas’ plan to stop a parasitic fly from destroying its cattle population is far from complete
Read full article: Texas’ plan to stop a parasitic fly from destroying its cattle population is far from completeTexas lawmakers heard conflicting reports on the state’s readiness to fight the New World Screwworm, which is approaching the southern border.
Glenn Hamer resigns as CEO of Texas Association of Business weeks after sexual assault allegations
Read full article: Glenn Hamer resigns as CEO of Texas Association of Business weeks after sexual assault allegationsAn unidentified woman sued Hamer two weeks ago, accusing him of sexually assaulting and harassing her before retaliating against her using his position at the powerful business group.
Texas AG probe of nearly 1,000 cities’ finances to seek violations of new property tax law
Read full article: Texas AG probe of nearly 1,000 cities’ finances to seek violations of new property tax lawWhile Ken Paxton did not allege any wrongdoing, his move is intended to enforce a new law that prevents cities from raising property taxes if they fail to follow transparency requirements.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to increase the homestead exemption for school property taxes again
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to increase the homestead exemption for school property taxes againThe lieutenant governor also doubled down on his stance that property taxes can’t be totally eliminated, putting him at odds with Gov. Greg Abbott.
About 400 immigrant children were detained longer than the recommended limit, ICE admits
Read full article: About 400 immigrant children were detained longer than the recommended limit, ICE admitsLegal advocates concerned over the prolonged detention of immigrant children in federal custody are sounding the alarm before the federal court.