As 2025 draws down, the Tribune reflects on some of its most memorable storytelling of the year.
Greg Abbott
Posted in
Courts
Government liable for damage to homes near Houston dams during Hurricane Harvey floods, court rules
The ruling came in a lawsuit from a group of homeowners and could be appealed. An estimated 14,000 homes were inside the Addicks and Barker reservoirs when Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain in 2017.
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Economy
“Construction can’t continue”: South Texas builders say ICE arrests have upended industry
More than 300 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
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State Government
Federal judge temporarily blocks Texas law restricting kids from app stores
Senate Bill 2420, which would have gone into effect on Jan. 1, likely violates the First Amendment, according to the ruling.
Posted in
Courts
“Terrorist” designation doesn’t apply to local CAIR chapters, Paxton argues in defending Abbott order
In his office’s response to a lawsuit filed by Texas chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the AG said the governor’s “foreign terrorist organization” proclamation applies only to CAIR’s national entity.
Posted in
Politics
Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock suggested schools that hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations or are linked to China could be disqualified from the new program.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas Democrats fill every state and federal race on 2026 ballot, a first for either party
Texas Majority PAC and the Texas Democratic Party recruited 104 candidates to fill uncontested races. Gov. Greg Abbott’s strategist said it amounts to a gimmick “if they don’t back it up with serious resources.”
Posted in
Transportation
Southwest Airlines will bring 2,000 new jobs to Austin as city works to expand crowded airport
Austin and the state offered the Dallas-based airline a package of economic incentives totaling $19.5 million to locate a new crew base at Austin’s airport.
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Higher Education
6 takeaways from our investigation into the ouster of Texas A&M’s president
Mark Welsh III’s two-year tenure as president of Texas A&M University was marked with political controversies.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Gov. Greg Abbott wants a tighter lid on home values. Tax policy experts warn that’s a bad idea.
Conservative and liberal tax policy experts said Abbott’s proposal would lead to higher housing costs and tax benefits flowing disproportionately to wealthy homeowners.
