At this West Texas church, “the Lord’s work” is helping the poor, not rewriting law

Latest News

• Amarillo Republican John Smithee joins Texas House speaker race

  By Alejandra Martinez Sept. 14, 2024

  After Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failed impeachment trial, his allies touted Smithee, one of the House’s most senior members, as a speaker candidate. Full Story 

• Texas civic group wants judge to block Ken Paxton’s investigation into voter registration efforts

  By James Barragán Sept. 13, 2024

  Jolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney general’s probe has spurred threatening comments online. Full Story 

• Ken Paxton withdrew an opinion on gun bans weeks after suing Texas state fair for a similar restriction

  By Jasper Scherer Sept. 13, 2024

  Paxton sued Dallas and state fair officials last month, arguing the fair’s private organizer had violated state law by banning firearms on the fairgrounds. Full Story 

• Texas’ battle against deer disease threatens breeding industry

  By Alejandra Martinez and Jakob Maurer Sept. 13, 2024

  Texas has seen a record number of chronic wasting disease cases this year. The state is looking for new ways to contain the spread without driving deer breeders out of business. Full Story 

• GOP bid to remove polling sites from Tarrant County college campuses fails

  By Juan Salinas II Sept. 12, 2024

  County Judge Tim O’Hare said he proposed the cuts to save costs. Critics accused Republican leaders of suppressing the vote of young people who back Democrats. Full Story 

• Federal border agency report on Uvalde massacre recommends policy changes

  By Uriel J. García Sept. 12, 2024

  The review of CBP agents’ response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting found that active shooting training was insufficient. Full Story 

• Power plant expansion tied to Bitcoin mining faces backlash in rural Hood County

  By Keaton Peters, Inside Climate News Sept. 12, 2024

  Granbury residents say a noisy Bitcoin mine keeps them up at night. Now a plan to expand the power plant that fuels the mine is drawing opposition over pollution concerns. Full Story 

• Odessa’s mayor ran to help the West Texas city “repent.” Now he wants a second term.

  By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Photos by Eli Hartman Sept. 12, 2024

  Under Javier Joven’s leadership, his critics say, the Odessa City Council has lost focus on municipal issues like roads and water infrastructure. Full Story 

• Russian captive’s father blasts Ted Cruz in ad endorsing Colin Allred

  By Matthew Choi Sept. 12, 2024

  Joey Reed said the Texas senator did not do enough to free his son Trevor who was held in Russia for three years until he was released in 2022. Full Story 

• Texas leads push for faster certification of mental health professionals

  By Stephen Simpson Sept. 12, 2024

  Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements. Full Story 

• Texas school districts say upgrades to the state’s student data reporting system could hurt their funding

  By Jaden Edison Updated: Sept. 11, 2024

  The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get. Full Story 

• Texas’ highest criminal court declines to stop execution of man accused in shaken baby case

  By Kayla Guo Updated: Sept. 11, 2024

  Lawyers for Robert Roberson say the science used to sentence him to death is questionable and that prior health issues could explain the death of his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. Full Story 

• Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say

  By Pooja Salhotra Sept. 11, 2024

  About 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months. Full Story 

• Dallas juvenile detention center isolated kids and falsified documents, state investigation says

  By Xiomara Moore Sept. 10, 2024

  A Texas Juvenile Justice Department report says Dallas County officers kept kids in their sleeping quarters for days at a time and faked school attendance logs. Full Story 

• National Dems target Texas, but focus remains on protecting Senate incumbents

  By Matthew Choi Sept. 10, 2024

  U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is challenging Sen. Ted Cruz this November, but the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has vulnerable incumbents to defend first. Full Story 

• Abbott says potential power outages from Tropical Storm Francine will be restored within hours

  By Pooja Salhotra Sept. 10, 2024

  Texas isn’t expected to take a direct hit when the storm makes landfall as a hurricane. But storm surge and dangerous winds are possible. Full Story