Hemp businesses and consumers asked to block state regulations on THC, but their lawsuit remains pending.
Stephen Simpson
Stephen Simpson is the Houston-region reporter, where he covers the fast-growing city and its surrounding areas. He joined the Texas Tribune in 2023 and previously served as the mental health reporter. Prior to that, he was a politics reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where he covered the state's Supreme Court, House of Representatives and correctional system. Stephen's earliest career experiences include reporting and copy editing at The Jonesboro Sun and The Pine Bluff Commercial. He earned a degree in online and print journalism with a minor in filmmaking from the University of Central Arkansas.
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Screwworm in Texas
Where is screwworm in Texas? Track cases here.
The New World screwworm poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the state’s cattle industry. We’re keeping track of where these cases are reported.
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Houston ICE Shooting
Harris County DA says independent investigation into fatal ICE shooting will cost $2.5 million
District Attorney Sean Teare said his office may need to sue to see evidence in the July shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo because federal agencies aren’t cooperating.
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Courts
Following ban, Texas hemp reps sue state for violating commerce protections
Members of the hemp industry are suing Texas, claiming that the ban on hemp-derived THC products impose an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce.
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Economy
Dream Con brought Black nerd culture to Texas, but to keep it, founders say support is needed
Dream Con, one of the country’s largest Black-owned pop culture conventions, is at risk of looking elsewhere to find financial support and resources.
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Economy
Federal cuts threaten a Houston soccer club for at-risk youth. One state leader hopes to save it.
State and community leaders are working to keep the reVision soccer nonprofit alive after it was featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Screwworm in Texas
Canada suspends animal exports from Texas due to New World screwworm concerns
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is barring horses, pigs, cattle and other animals from Texas due to concerns over New World screwworm, a parasitic fly.
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Houston ICE Shooting
Harris County DA’s office to treat ICE shooting as criminal investigation, says it may take months or years to complete
Harris County officials say they will fund an independent investigation to identify the ICE agents involved in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s killing.
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Houston ICE Shooting
Houston protesters call on feds to release more information, and witnesses, to Tuesday’s ICE killing
Protesters demanded feds release footage of the shooting and the three men who were in the van with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo before he was killed.
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Houston ICE Shooting
Houston ICE shooting witnesses claim driver didn’t try to ram agents
The other men in the van with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo said agents fired into the vehicle unprovoked, according to a lawyer for two of the men.
