State Sen. John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, AP reports

Latest News

• Texas Supreme Court temporarily halts ruling allowing Dallas woman to get an abortion

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Updated: Dec. 8, 2023

  After a Travis County district judge cleared the way for Kate Cox, 31, to terminate her pregnancy, Ken Paxton petitioned the state’s highest court to halt the ruling. Full Story 

• DPS appeal halts release of Uvalde shooting records ordered by Texas judge

  by Zach Despart Updated: Dec. 8, 2023

  The files would shed light on the disastrous police response that day, in which officers waited more than an hour to confront the shooter after learning he had an AR-15 style rifle. Full Story 

• As Israel-Hamas war sparks tensions on Texas campuses, universities struggle with how to respond

  by William Melhado and Julius Shieh Dec. 8, 2023

  A series of incidents across Texas campuses have brought attention to universities’ handling of heated political debates about the war. Full Story 

• With the Mavericks, Miriam Adelson is poised to be a Texas political powerhouse. Will it help her legalize casinos?

  by Patrick Svitek Dec. 8, 2023

  Adelson wasted little time reaching out to the state’s business leaders since news of the deal broke, visiting Austin on Thursday to address the Texas Association of Business, the state’s largest business lobby. Full Story 

• Austin will now allow more homes to be built on single-family lots

  by Joshua Fechter Dec. 7, 2023

  City officials hope that allowing up to three units per lot will increase supply and slow the explosive increase in housing costs. The measure was approved by Austin City Council in a 9-2 vote late Thursday night. Full Story 

• Judge says Texas woman may abort fetus with lethal abnormality

  by Eleanor Klibanoff and Neelam Bohra Updated: Dec. 7, 2023

  Kate Cox, 31, at 20 weeks pregnant, has learned her fetus has a lethal abnormality that is almost always fatal at birth. Full Story 

• Texas DPS absolves its leaders of wrongdoing after investigating migrant mistreatment claims

  by Uriel J. García Dec. 7, 2023

  A DPS medic assigned to the border was so disturbed by what he saw that he blew the whistle. The agency now says its leaders on the ground didn’t break the law or violate agency policy. Full Story 

• Conservative consulting group rebrands with new name after leader met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes

  by Robert Downen Dec. 7, 2023

  In a Nov. 13 filing with the Texas Secretary of State, an attorney for Pale Horse Strategies LLC wrote that the firm would also conduct future business under the name “West Fort Worth Management LLC.” Full Story 

• These rural Texans opted out of a degree. The community college down the street wants them back.

  by Sneha Dey Dec. 7, 2023

  To survive, Texas community colleges have to prove their worth. But residents of this rural north Texas town are questioning what's right for them. Full Story 

• Ted Cruz pushes for car manufacturers to keep AM radio, a tool for emergency communication and conservative talk

  by Grace Yarrow Dec. 7, 2023

  Cruz on Tuesday requested a unanimous consent decision on his AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, who said the mandate on private companies would be an overstep of congressional power. Full Story 

• “The first child is the one that pays the most”: How one family carved out Medicaid coverage for a rare treatment

  by Neelam Bohra Dec. 7, 2023

  Gabe Nolasco was born without a vital immune system gland. His family spent years in quarantines and advocating to state insurance so they could keep him alive. Full Story 

• Texas claims in filings that challenges to 2023 election are invalid, results are final

  by Patrick Svitek Dec. 6, 2023

  In court filings Tuesday, the secretary of state’s office argued that the plaintiffs in the election contests “never served a citation” properly. But there’s no guarantee it’ll work. Full Story 

• Cruz, Cornyn join Senate Republicans in demanding border overhaul for Ukraine aid

  by Matthew Choi Dec. 6, 2023

  Texas Republicans refuse to back continued aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan without a major hardening of border security policy. Full Story 

• Judge overrules Texas, strikes down air pollution permit for Gulf Coast oil terminal

  by Dylan Baddour, Inside Climate News Dec. 6, 2023

  A judge reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that involved its controversial “one-mile rule” to deny hearing requests. Full Story 

• Abbott mum on another special session as he charges into voucher opponents’ primary battles

  by Patrick Svitek and Renzo Downey Dec. 6, 2023

  Abbott is promising to continue the fight for “school choice” but staying mum on whether that means he will call another special session as he has previously threatened. Full Story 

• In this East Texas town, a 45-foot tall oil pump is a holiday symbol and connection to the past

  by Jess Huff Dec. 6, 2023

  Rudolph the Red-Nose Pumping Unit has long been a holiday tradition in Lufkin. The machinery, now used worldwide to extract oil from the ground, was invented by a local businessman. Full Story