INSIDER
U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
Read full article: U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South TexasThe amendment to a 1944 treaty will help Mexico catch up with its water deliveries to the U.S. and might help Rio Grande Valley farmers devastated by low rainfall.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz scored big wins in Texas, but the president-elect outperformed the senator on his own turf
Read full article: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz scored big wins in Texas, but the president-elect outperformed the senator on his own turfCruz beat his challenger by 9 points, while Trump prevailed over his by 14 points. Still, Cruz performed better this year than he did in 2018
Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino voters
Read full article: Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino votersThe former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.
Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?
Read full article: Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?Tuesday was another electoral blowout in which Democrats underperformed expectations, weakening their case that Texas is a battleground state worthy of investment and attention from the national party.
Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since Reconstruction
Read full article: Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since ReconstructionHinojosa won the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting Sen. Morgan LaMantia two years after she narrowly defeated him.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secures another term as criminal trial looms
Read full article: U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secures another term as criminal trial loomsThe longtime Laredo congressman fended off Republican challenger Jay Furman despite a federal indictment accusing the incumbent of bribery and money laundering.
Vicente Gonzalez defeats Mayra Flores to hold onto South Texas congressional district
Read full article: Vicente Gonzalez defeats Mayra Flores to hold onto South Texas congressional districtBoth major parties poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into winning the seat, a rematch between Mayra Flores and Vicente Gonzalez.
Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOP
Read full article: Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOPTexas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.
An election about elections: A South Texas town asks itself who should run voting operations
Read full article: An election about elections: A South Texas town asks itself who should run voting operationsThe Rio Grande City mayor and two of his fellow commissioners proposed the changes, claiming the city secretary mishandled their election.
In final days of Senate race, Cruz courts Latino voters along the border and Allred rallies in his hometown
Read full article: In final days of Senate race, Cruz courts Latino voters along the border and Allred rallies in his hometownBoth candidates are making their closing arguments at the culmination of a heated and expensive race which could decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Ted Cruz, Colin Allred make spirited final pitches to Texas voters in Senate race
Read full article: Ted Cruz, Colin Allred make spirited final pitches to Texas voters in Senate raceRepublican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Colin Allred are making their final pitches to Texas voters at campaign stops across the state as Election Day nears.
In South Texas, university students accuse Democratic county officials of suppressing their votes
Read full article: In South Texas, university students accuse Democratic county officials of suppressing their votesThe county decided to not have an early voting site at a Laredo university because of historic low turnout. It will have one on Election Day.
Republicans dominate fundraising in final weeks of Texas House battles
Read full article: Republicans dominate fundraising in final weeks of Texas House battlesAcross a dozen of the most competitive House races, Republicans raked in more than $11 million over the last month, compared to the nearly $3.5 million collectively raised by their Democratic counterparts.
Mexico is offering water to South Texas. But there’s a catch farmers aren’t happy about.
Read full article: Mexico is offering water to South Texas. But there’s a catch farmers aren’t happy about.Farmers say they want the water, but not if it goes against the allotment they need for the spring planting season.
Laredo ends boil-water notice after 11 days, turns attention to illegal connections and old pipes
Read full article: Laredo ends boil-water notice after 11 days, turns attention to illegal connections and old pipesThe South Texas city has hired a consulting firm for $200,000 to provide an interim director for the utility amid a restructuring of the department.
At debate, Mayra Flores shrugs off concern about mandating South Texans carry passports
Read full article: At debate, Mayra Flores shrugs off concern about mandating South Texans carry passportsDuring a tense debate with U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Flores attacked Gonzalez for being soft on border security, then suggested requiring residents to prove citizenship in some instances was appropriate.
Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rolls
Read full article: Watch: Texas lawmakers discuss noncitizens on the voter rollsHere’s what you need to know after a ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat investigation found that Gov. Greg Abbott likely inflated the number of noncitizens on voter rolls.
Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water system
Read full article: Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water systemThe South Texas city is the latest to grapple with aging water infrastructure, which officials suggested could have been the cause for the E. coli outbreak.
Fall in Love with Herbs: Try this easy herb roasted root vegetable dish
Read full article: Fall in Love with Herbs: Try this easy herb roasted root vegetable dishHerb is the word. Fall is the perfect time to start growing delicious and aromatic herbs. The Herb Society of America's South Texas unit is showing us how to use and plant rosemary, sage, and thyme in your home. Plus, a recipe for delicious and healthy herb-roasted vegetables.
A Texas rematch: Republican Mayra Flores aims to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez for U.S. House seat
Read full article: A Texas rematch: Republican Mayra Flores aims to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez for U.S. House seatFlores briefly represented the district after winning a 2022 special election. Gonzalez went on to beat her by nearly 9 points in the general.
South Texas congressional races remain the most competitive — but this time Democrats are playing offense
Read full article: South Texas congressional races remain the most competitive — but this time Democrats are playing offenseThe same candidates will be running in Texas’ 15th and 34th Congressional Districts, though the presidential and Senate races could mix things up.
Here are the Texas House races that Democrats and Republicans think they can flip
Read full article: Here are the Texas House races that Democrats and Republicans think they can flipDemocrats — riding a wave of enthusiasm sparked by Kamala Harris’ nomination — think they can flip just enough House seats to stop Republicans from passing school vouchers.
Republicans raise $1 million targeting South Texas House races as Democrats invest elsewhere
Read full article: Republicans raise $1 million targeting South Texas House races as Democrats invest elsewhereDemocrats have long held an edge in South Texas, but Republicans see an opening there to expand their House majority.
Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 election
Read full article: Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 electionTexan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions.
Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet population
Read full article: Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet populationOne group estimated more than 568,000 cats and dogs entered shelters in 2023. About 82,000 cats and dogs were euthanized.
In South Texas congressional race, Monica De La Cruz and Michelle Vallejo spar over health care
Read full article: In South Texas congressional race, Monica De La Cruz and Michelle Vallejo spar over health careThe topic is playing a major role in one of Texas’ only competitive congressional races this year as the competitors debate Medicare, abortion and expanding coverage.
Cards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas property
Read full article: Cards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas propertyThe card game company crowd-funded money to buy the land in an attempt to block a portion of Donald Trump’s border wall.
Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
Read full article: Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seatThe first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
Texas GOP investing in South Texas races as some Republicans worry about party's performance in November
Read full article: Texas GOP investing in South Texas races as some Republicans worry about party's performance in NovemberSeveral local party officials have signed an open letter warning that “grave and deteriorating” fundraising and voter outreach efforts could leave some candidates vulnerable.
Ken Paxton’s vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiqueras
Read full article: Ken Paxton’s vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiquerasSince the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have dramatically rewritten the state’s voting laws, which have made some long-standing practices illegal.
Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation “nonsense,” call for federal, state reviews
Read full article: Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation “nonsense,” call for federal, state reviewsAt a news conference, Texas House candidate Cecilia Castellano did not address any of the allegations Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office laid out in search warrant affidavits.
Triple-digit temperatures scorch Texas as millions across Southwest under excessive heat warnings
Read full article: Triple-digit temperatures scorch Texas as millions across Southwest under excessive heat warningsThe National Weather Service says a heat dome that has led to nearly 90 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix has moved into Texas.
It’s not just South Texas. Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities, too.
Read full article: It’s not just South Texas. Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities, too.Republican gains among Latino voters in urban areas could spell big trouble for Democrats’ hopes of turning Texas blue.
A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries
Read full article: A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its librariesThe request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back.
Not all officer video from Texas school shooting was released, Uvalde police say
Read full article: Not all officer video from Texas school shooting was released, Uvalde police sayPolice say that not all officer video from the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in 2022 was given to news organizations following a court order.
The timeline of how the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, unfolded, according to a federal report
Read full article: The timeline of how the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, unfolded, according to a federal reportA scathing Justice Department report into law enforcement failures during the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, included a minute-by-minute account of missteps by police at the scene.
‘I don’t want to die,’ Uvalde student told 911 dispatcher during mass shooting
Read full article: ‘I don’t want to die,’ Uvalde student told 911 dispatcher during mass shootingAs a gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, terrified pupils and staff members made frantic calls to 911.
Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South Texas
Read full article: Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South TexasThis week’s ruling was the latest twist since cities and groups in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sued to block the projects.
The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?
Read full article: The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?Local leaders began debating a household limit on the number of pets after two residents were arrested for having 93 dogs and a cat in their home.
Mayra Flores gets boost in training, resources as Republicans seek to flip South Texas district
Read full article: Mayra Flores gets boost in training, resources as Republicans seek to flip South Texas districtRepublicans view Flores’ race against Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez as potentially competitive race.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for waterMany of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative.
Delay of Texas death row inmate's execution has not been the norm for Supreme Court, experts say
Read full article: Delay of Texas death row inmate's execution has not been the norm for Supreme Court, experts sayTexas death row inmate Ruben Gutierrez was only 20 minutes away from being executed when the U.S. Supreme Court granted his request to stay his lethal injection at the state prison in Huntsville.
What’s the value of planting trees? Conservation groups say a new formula can tell them.
Read full article: What’s the value of planting trees? Conservation groups say a new formula can tell them.Donors are increasingly asking conservation groups to produce data on the value of their environmental work. A group’s new method helps them show their impact.
CenterPoint exudes chaos, but also appears to be restoring power faster than it previously has
Read full article: CenterPoint exudes chaos, but also appears to be restoring power faster than it previously hasAccording to state filings, the utility is restoring power at a relatively quicker pace than after prior storms. Texans are still fed up.
1 killed during house fire Monday morning, Houston fire chief says unclear if it was due to Hurricane Beryl
Read full article: 1 killed during house fire Monday morning, Houston fire chief says unclear if it was due to Hurricane BerylDuring an interview with Chief Sam Peña with the Houston Fire Department, he told KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel that they have responded to at least one death overnight from a housefire.
LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Matagorda County as Category 1 Hurricane
Read full article: LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Matagorda County as Category 1 HurricaneTropical Storm Beryl is forecast to re-intensify to hurricane status before making a final landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett calls on Biden to withdraw from presidential race
Read full article: Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett calls on Biden to withdraw from presidential raceDoggett, 77, is the first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the ticket since his debate.
How charges against 2 Uvalde school police officers are still leaving some families frustrated
Read full article: How charges against 2 Uvalde school police officers are still leaving some families frustratedTwo indictments against former Uvalde, Texas, schools police officers were the first charges brought against law enforcement for the botched response that saw hundreds of officers wait more than an hour to confront an 18-year-old gun who killed 21 at an elementary school.
Cook Children’s sues Texas over potential Medicaid contract loss
Read full article: Cook Children’s sues Texas over potential Medicaid contract lossFor years, Cook’s Children, two other children’s hospitals have administered Medicaid health coverage plans. Canceling their contracts would put jobs and coverage at risk, they say.
Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71
Read full article: Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71Cascos began his political career as a Democrat but later flipped to the Republican Party.
South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.
Read full article: South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.The two major reservoirs in South Texas remain near or at record lows, which poses a threat to the region’s agricultural industry and residential users alike.
U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New Mexico
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New MexicoWater law experts say the Supreme Court's recent decision will set a precedent for the federal government to intervene in water conflicts between states moving forward.
Round 2? New tropical system could form this weekend in same area Alberto did
Read full article: Round 2? New tropical system could form this weekend in same area Alberto didWith one system gone, our eyes now turn to potentially another system that could develop in the same area Alberto did this week.
Tropical Storm Alberto dissipates over central Mexico after heavy rains killed 4
Read full article: Tropical Storm Alberto dissipates over central Mexico after heavy rains killed 4Tropical Storm Alberto, the season’s first named storm, has weakened as it moves inland over northeast Mexico — but not before bringing heavy rains to the parched region and leaving at least three dead.
Democrats think they can flip Texas House seats by going after GOP’s education funding and school voucher policies
Read full article: Democrats think they can flip Texas House seats by going after GOP’s education funding and school voucher policiesMuch of the House battlefield is centered in districts with struggling schools, where Democrats hope public education will resonate at the ballot box.
In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a push for more direct democracy
Read full article: In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a push for more direct democracyGround Game Texas, a group that has pushed for progressive policies in cities across the state, is working to make it easier for McAllen residents to change local laws.
National Republicans target Henry Cuellar’s South Texas seat after indictment
Read full article: National Republicans target Henry Cuellar’s South Texas seat after indictmentThe move is a shift in strategy for Republicans who previously focused on other South Texas races even after federal authorities filed criminal charges against the Democrat.
How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation’s top beekeeping state
Read full article: How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation’s top beekeeping stateTwelve years after a state law gave tax breaks for keeping bees on at least five acres, people are still getting into the trade — or throwing in the towel and hiring professionals to do it for them.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales prevails in primary runoff over gun influencer Brandon Herrera
Read full article: U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales prevails in primary runoff over gun influencer Brandon HerreraThe race became a referendum on the San Antonio Republican’s vote to support a bipartisan gun control package after the Uvalde school shooting.
US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas fights off challenge from gun-rights activist in GOP runoff
Read full article: US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas fights off challenge from gun-rights activist in GOP runoffRepublican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas has won his primary over a gun-rights activist who forced the border congressman into a runoff and threatened to unseat a House incumbent.
Proposed Texas GOP platform calls for the Bible in schools, electoral changes that would lock Democrats out of statewide office
Read full article: Proposed Texas GOP platform calls for the Bible in schools, electoral changes that would lock Democrats out of statewide officeThe platform was voted on Saturday, with tallies expected next week. Other planks call abortion homicide and gender-transition care “child abuse.”
At least 5 dead in Texas after severe weather sweeps across Texas and Oklahoma, authorities say
Read full article: At least 5 dead in Texas after severe weather sweeps across Texas and Oklahoma, authorities sayA Texas sheriff says at least five people are dead after powerful storms tore through a rural community, obliterating homes and leaving thousands of people without power Sunday.
Families of Uvalde school shooting victims agree to $2 million settlement with city
Read full article: Families of Uvalde school shooting victims agree to $2 million settlement with cityThe families of 19 of the victims in the Uvalde elementary school shooting in Texas have filed a $500 million federal lawsuit against 92 state police officers who were part of the botched law enforcement response.
Meatless in South Texas: Thousands flock to vegan festival in Rio Grande Valley
Read full article: Meatless in South Texas: Thousands flock to vegan festival in Rio Grande ValleyFrom brisket to carne asada, Texas is known for meat, making this annual gathering in a small Rio Grande Valley town stand out.
After U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s indictment, why aren’t Republicans trying to flip his district?
Read full article: After U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s indictment, why aren’t Republicans trying to flip his district?Instead, Republicans are trying to tie Cuellar’s allegations of bribery and corruption to Democrats in other competitive races in South Texas.
Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery case
Read full article: Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery caseIrada Akhoundova pleaded guilty to facilitating a $60,000 payment to Imelda Cuellar, the congressman’s wife, that she believed would benefit Azerbaijan and its state-run oil company.
Texas delegation urges Congress to withhold aid to Mexico over water treaty dispute
Read full article: Texas delegation urges Congress to withhold aid to Mexico over water treaty disputeA bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers are demanding appropriators withhold funds for the country until Mexico lives up to its end of a 1944 water treaty that requires it to send 1.75 million acre-feet to the U.S. every five years.
Former aide and consultant close to U.S. Rep. Cuellar plead guilty and agree to aid investigation
Read full article: Former aide and consultant close to U.S. Rep. Cuellar plead guilty and agree to aid investigationA top former aide to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and a political and business consultant have agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to help the Democratic congressman from Texas launder more than $200,000 in bribes and to assist prosecutors in a federal criminal investigation.
Texans in Congress stay silent on Cuellar indictment, unlike with Santos and Menendez before him
Read full article: Texans in Congress stay silent on Cuellar indictment, unlike with Santos and Menendez before himSome Texans called on Sen. Bob Menendez and former Rep. George Santos to resign amid their own scandals, but have been silent about the Laredo Democrat.
With indictment, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s deep South Texas ties will again be tested
Read full article: With indictment, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s deep South Texas ties will again be testedCuellar was expected to cruise to reelection. Now he’ll need to rely on support from local and national Democratic leaders to help him overcome scandal.
Democratic US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife are indicted over ties to Azerbaijan
Read full article: Democratic US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife are indicted over ties to AzerbaijanDemocratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife have been indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in connection with a federal probe into their ties with the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
State’s premature release of bid proposal info touches off new battle over $116 billion in Medicaid contracts
Read full article: State’s premature release of bid proposal info touches off new battle over $116 billion in Medicaid contractsThe early release of documents meant a single competitor got an early look at the other bidders’ playbooks before final winners were announced.
Texas politics leave transgender foster youth isolated — during and after life in state care
Read full article: Texas politics leave transgender foster youth isolated — during and after life in state careSupport once afforded LGBTQ+ foster kids has vanished and a culture of silence has blanketed the agency tasked with raising children growing up in the system.
Mayra Flores raises twice as much as U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in bid to unseat him this November
Read full article: Mayra Flores raises twice as much as U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in bid to unseat him this NovemberNational Republicans are investing heavily in Flores’ bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas.
South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — again
Read full article: South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — againWith the hottest days still ahead, local leaders have declared emergencies. And farmers are lobbying for the U.S. government to pressure Mexico to release water.
Proposed changes to state Medicaid plans could shake up health coverage for 1.8 million low-income Texans
Read full article: Proposed changes to state Medicaid plans could shake up health coverage for 1.8 million low-income TexansThe move, which has not been finalized, would drop three large health plans run for two decades by nonprofit children’s hospitals.