Death toll from Hill Country flash floods rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue

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• Texas’ immigration law is unconstitutional, appeals court rules

  By Uriel J. García July 4, 2025

  The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling means that Senate Bill 4, which allows local police to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants, continues to be blocked. Full Story 

• Former Democratic state House candidate among nine indicted for alleged vote harvesting in South Texas

  By Alejandro Serrano July 3, 2025

  The charges are the latest escalation in a probe that resulted in Texas authorities indicting six other Frio County area officials in May. Full Story 

• Paxton drops appeal: Texas to pay $6.6 million to whistleblowers

  By Eleanor Klibanoff July 3, 2025

  The Legislature will still have to appropriate the funds to pay the judgment, either during the upcoming special session or during the next regular session. Full Story 

• House Democrats, California leaders weigh tit-for-tat redistricting if Texas Republicans redraw maps

  By Owen Dahlkamp July 3, 2025

  Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s aides have signaled their boss’s willingness to counter Texas redistricting with a similar move to offset GOP gains, lawmakers said. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans vote to send GOP’s tax and spending megabill to Trump’s desk after threatening to tank it

  By Owen Dahlkamp July 3, 2025

  Members of the state’s GOP delegation were among the loudest voices critiquing their own party’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” In the end, each of them voted for it. Full Story 

• Wealthy families are buying homes to get in-state tuition at Texas universities

  By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT News July 3, 2025

  A niche but growing industry specializes in helping students buy Texas homes to save tens of thousands of dollars in tuition at public universities. Full Story 

• Elon Musk hired a dozen Texas lobbyists this year. State law keeps the extent of their influence under wraps.

  By Lauren McGaughy, Texas Newsroom July 3, 2025

  How the billionaire businessman’s lobbyists helped him get so many state Legislature wins is something of a mystery. Full Story 

• Texas’ public ed funding boost brings some relief but erodes districts’ independence, school leaders say

  By Jaden Edison July 3, 2025

  A law providing $8.5 billion in new funding for Texas public schools lacks the spending flexibility that previously let districts address their campuses’ needs as they saw fit. Full Story 

• Texas coastal town in “David and Goliath” fight against planned ammonia plant

  By Clare Carlile and Sara Sneath, DeSmog July 3, 2025

  Ingleside residents are resisting a “charm offensive” as Europe’s largest gas user plans a new facility in their small community across the bay from Corpus Christi. Full Story 

• Judge blocks Trump order barring asylum access at southern border

  By Rebecca Santana and Elliot Spagat, Associated Press July 2, 2025

  U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss postponed his order for two weeks, giving the Trump administration time to appeal it. Full Story 

• Texas says undocumented immigrants visited local hospitals 80K times in three months. That’s 2% of all visits.

  By Terri Langford July 2, 2025

  While the state says undocumented patients cost hospitals $329 million over three months, critics say the data lacks payment information and more context. Full Story 

• More parents sue to stop Texas’ Ten Commandments requirement in public schools

  By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alejandro Serrano Updated: July 2, 2025

  The ACLU has filed a new lawsuit on behalf of 16 parents of various religious faiths, the second such suit against the new law. Full Story 

• Renewing our commitment to political and investigative journalism

  By Matthew Watkins July 2, 2025

  In the last few months, we’ve restructured our teams and made new hires that will help us build on our reputation as the state’s go-to source for news on Texas government and politics. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers update sexual assault laws, allowing more survivors to pursue justice

  By Jessica Shuran Yu July 2, 2025

  After three sessions, Texas lawmakers passed a bill last month that defines consent and fixes what advocates called a loophole in Texas sexual assault laws. Full Story 

• Inside Elon Musk’s stellar year at the Texas Capitol

  By Lauren McGaughy, Texas Newsroom July 2, 2025

  While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in Texas. Full Story 

• Oil companies want to sell their wastewater. The Texas Supreme Court decided who gets the profits.

  By Martha Pskowski, Inside Climate News July 1, 2025

  The ruling comes as more companies are seeking to turn a profit on what has long been considered a vexing waste stream. Full Story