Ted Cruz opened a daylong trip to his home state of Texas on Thursday with a warning for other presidential hopefuls looking to make the state a part of their 2016 strategy.

A coalition of undocumented immigrants whose U.S.-born children have been denied birth certificates in Texas will have their case heard in federal court early next month.

Texas abortion providers on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up their legal challenge to two provisions of the state's strict abortion law.

Arguing before the state Supreme Court Wednesday, Houston lawyers defended the city’s right to enforce statewide pollution regulations using fines and criminal charges when state environmental regulators aren't doing the job.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, believes the U.S. House will pass legislation lifting the country’s 40-year-old ban on most crude oil exports — even amid a frenzy of activity in the upcoming session.

Rick Perry's presidential campaign has lost its entire staff in New Hampshire, according to a former top adviser there to the former governor. Earlier this week in Iowa, Perry's presidential campaign reduced its team to a single paid staffer.

The Mexican peso is well below its exchange rate against the dollar compared to a year ago, and store owners on the border are bracing for a prolonged drought of Mexican shoppers. In some cities that could mean a loss of up to 45 percent of business.

A Palo Pinto County family has sued two oil and gas operators, alleging that gas from their wells migrated into the family's water well, which exploded and burned them. While the Texas Railroad Commission has been quietly investigating over the past year, the family's attorney said he has gathered concrete evidence to prove his case.

Texas has long been one of a number of states that does not require the disclosure of real estate sales prices. Yet a recent lawsuit and a proposition on the November ballot could pave the way for change, sales price disclosure proponents say.

Lawyers for the state of Texas urged the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to either dismiss or remand the lawsuit brought four years ago by nearly two-thirds of the state's school districts. A state district judge last year ruled the current system of distributing money to public schools is inequitable and that overall funding to public schools is inadequate. There is no deadline for the Supreme Court to issue its ruling.

State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, announced Wednesday she will not seek re-election in 2016 to represent HD-120. McClendon, an advocate for criminal justice reform and women's healthcare issues, said she felt it was time for a new representative to take her seat.

In recent years, the University of Houston has transferred more than $100 million from its academic side to athletics, aiming to shore up struggling athletic programs and enhance its bid to become a tier one university, and maybe a member of the Big 12.

Racetracks in Texas were able to resume operations Wednesday after state officials agreed to temporarily fund the Texas Racing Commission. But discussions continue over a long-term resolution for the commission.

Disclosure: The University of Houston was a corporate sponsor of the Texas Tribune in 2013. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.