As Texas examines foreign influence, UT-Austin is among 30 institutions ordered to provide federal authorities a security audit of certain international ties.
Austin
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State Government
Texas cities eye property tax hikes, spending cuts amid yawning budget gaps
Rising costs, slowing tax revenue and a sluggish economy have saddled some of Texas’ biggest cities with multimillion-dollar deficits.
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Criminal Justice
Can Austin break the costly cycle of homelessness, jail and crisis? A new program aims to do that.
Austin’s No Wrong Door initiative targets a costly cycle of homelessness and arrests by connecting people with long-term support.
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Criminal Justice
Flock license plate cameras are surging in Texas. So is an anti-surveillance backlash.
More than 200 local law enforcement agencies have data-sharing agreements with DPS, providing wide access to vehicle information.
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Immigration
For Texas DACA recipients, a fearful present and an uncertain future as protected status expires
Many of the roughly 80,000 Texas residents in the program are facing renewal delays that can leave them undocumented, unable to legally work and exposed to possible deportation.
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Data Centers in Texas
East Texas data center project pulled after facing community backlash
Diode Ventures said Gov. Greg Abbott’s tougher stance on data center development in rural areas drove the decision to cancel the project
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2026 Texas Elections
James Talarico calls for tighter regulations on data center development
Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, unveiled her own plan this week and called on Gov. Greg Abbott to take executive action to pause data center development.
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Immigration
Texas faith leaders condemn ICE-related deaths, demand end to “terror campaign” against migrants
Christian and Jewish leaders urged limits on using force as well as accountability for immigration agents who go too far.
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2026 Texas Elections
James Talarico raises over $30 million in second quarter, campaign says, more than triple Ken Paxton’s sum
The Austin Democrat’s haul is a record for a U.S. Senate candidate in the second quarter of an election year and is nearly three times what Beto O’Rourke raised in the same period in 2018.
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State Government
Crypto kiosks were used to scam $56 million from Texans last year. Lawmakers are calling for regulation.
Fraudsters are increasingly using the ATM-like machines for fast access to money that’s difficult to trace.
