McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley filed a lawsuit after a state agency warned her about refusing to marry gay couples. She hopes a recent U.S. Supreme Court case about religious freedom helps her cause.
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Energy
Company confirms it has found new funding to build a massive gas terminal at the Port of Brownsville
Brownsville is the last major deepwater port in Texas that doesn’t have large fossil fuel projects. The 750-acre facility will export Texas natural gas to other countries.
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Higher Education
Professors sue Texas over TikTok ban, signaling First Amendment fight
The professors said the ban immediately halted research projects into TikTok and derailed their plans to lead classes discussing the social media app’s benefits and risks.
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Higher Education
University of North Texas can charge out-of-state students higher tuition than undocumented Texans, appeals court rules
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a federal judge’s previous injunction that barred the college from charging out-of-state American citizens more than undocumented immigrants living in the state.
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Politics
Texas agency renounces workplace training that mentioned gender identity definitions
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s elected leader, Sid Miller, has fought protections for trans workers.
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Environment
A Comal County ranch owner ponders selling his land, setting off another clash between property rights and environmental concerns
When the owner applied for a state permit that could pave the way for a subdivision, neighbors and environmentalists rallied against it in the name of protecting the area’s rivers and the Edwards Aquifer.
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Health care
Rural Texas — already starved for health care — faces a dearth of volunteer first responders
The number of volunteer firefighters has dropped sharply nationwide, a trend that appears to be gripping rural Texas communities.
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Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott raised $15 million in 12-day window after regular legislative session
The governor, whose term ends in 2026, closed June with $23 million in his campaign fund.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Property tax cuts hit the fast track as Texas Senate advances long-awaited agreement
The package could land on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk by the end of the week. Voters must pass the plan in a constitutional election in November for it to take effect in the 2023 tax year.
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Climate Change in Texas
Limited regulations make Texas workers responsible for preventing on-the-job heat injuries
In triple-digit temperatures, drinking water frequently and resting in the shade are minimum safety measures for avoiding injuries and deaths. But they are not applied to every job site.
