How a small East Texas town turned a devastating tornado into funding for sirens
As the public scrutinizes parts of the Hill Country for a lack of sirens during the July 4 floods, Crockett turned its own tragedy into preparedness. Full Story
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![A siren alert system in Comfort on Thursday July 10, 2025. Across the state in East Texas, the city of Crockett has secured the funding and has embarked on installing its own auditory alarm system.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Newly formed Texas disaster preparedness and flooding committee will visit Kerr County
The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns. Full Story
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![An excavator picks up items damaged in the flood to be discarded in Hunt on Friday July 11, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Why Greg Abbott refuses to release his emails with Elon Musk
The governor’s office said some of the correspondence with the billionaire and his companies contains “intimate” information that isn’t of “legitimate concern to the public.” Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference.]()
Credit: Michael Minasi/KUT News -
Mental health programs could bear the brunt of $600M federal cuts to Texas schools
Federal cuts and a lack of dedicated mental health funding from the state could erode programs to address chronic absenteeism, crises and more. Full Story
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![Louise ISD social/emotional counselor April Cubriel teaches students about different ways to be courageous as she visits a 2nd grade classroom at Louise Elementary School Monday, March 10, 2025.]()
Credit: Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman/ USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
Divorce between Ken and Angela Paxton will proceed outside public view, reports say
A Collin County judge’s reported decision could keep details of the divorce from spilling into Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate race. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on January 6, 2025.]()
Credit: Photo by Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Trump defends federal government’s response to Hill Country floods during Texas visit
The president met with state and local officials, who praised the White House response, and lashed out at a question on whether aid and rescue efforts occurred fast enough. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott receive a briefing from first responders as they visit a scene of devastation along the banks of the Guadalupe River, after catastrophic floods, in Kerr County on July 11, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -
Texas leaders have repeatedly claimed the state’s voting maps are race blind. Until the Trump DOJ disagreed.
Gov. Greg Abbott has acknowledged DOJ concerns that some districts were drawn “along strict racial lines.” Critics say it’s a political ploy. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing creating a Texas DOGE office at the capitol building in Austin on April 23, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. John Cornyn outraises AG Ken Paxton by $1 million in first three months of Senate primary matchup — but there’s a catch
Cornyn will need to use his deep coffers to overcome an early polling deficit to Paxton, who is looking to deny the GOP incumbent’s bid for a fifth term. Full Story
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![from left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is challenging Cornyn in the Republican primary.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
In West Texas, an independent publisher’s arrest sparks First Amendment questions
Publisher David Flash has been documenting the happenings in Jeff Davis County since 2020. Last year, he was banned from county buildings over allegations of harassment. Full Story
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![David Flash, independent publisher of the Big Bend Times, is forcibly removed from a Jeff Davis County commissioners' meeting, seen during a Facebook livestream, on June 27, 2025.]()
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Did fiscal conservatism block plans for a new flood warning system in Kerr County?
In the last nine years, federal funding for a system has been denied to the county as it contends with a tax base hostile to government overspending. Full Story
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![Trees are bent around the pier of a bridge on Louise Hays Park in Kerrville on July 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton
In a statement, Angela Paxton said she moved to end her 38-year marriage “on biblical grounds,” citing “recent discoveries.” Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife Senator Angela Paxton wave to conventioneers during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
As Texas Republicans prepare for mid-decade redistricting, cautionary tales loom from the past
Spurred by President Donald Trump’s political team, Texas lawmakers will try to redraw the state’s congressional map to boost Republicans — but some GOP incumbents are uneasy. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities
The Republican governor laid out an ambitious agenda that includes an unexpected array of conservative bills that failed during the regular session. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville on Saturday, July 5, 2025.]()
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SpaceX wins OK to build plant that creates liquid oxygen for rockets near South Texas beach
Cameron County commissioners approved the request this week over the objection of some residents and SpaceX critics. Full Story
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![A SpaceX platform behind a dune at Boca Chica beach on Aug. 8, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
“Disasters are a human choice”: Texas counties have little power to stop building in flood-prone areas
Experts suggested that more data and education are needed as Texas and the rest of the country build in known flood plains. Full Story
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![Damage from the flood around a bridge on Highway 39 in Hunt on July 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Randall County GOP chair charged with felony election fraud
Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat. Full Story
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![Randall County Republican Party Chairman Kelly Giles.]()
Credit: Kelly Giles for Randall County Republican Chairman campaign -
Ted Cruz was vacationing in Greece when the deadly Texas floods broke out. His office says he took the first flight home.
Texas’ junior senator was visiting Greece Friday when the Texas flood turned deadly. Cruz, who did not return until Sunday night, communicated with officials from Athens. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 30, 2025.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Former Democratic state House candidate among nine indicted for alleged vote harvesting in South Texas
The charges are the latest escalation in a probe that resulted in Texas authorities indicting six other Frio County area officials in May. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Republican Party of Texas convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Paxton drops appeal: Texas to pay $6.6 million to whistleblowers
The Legislature will still have to appropriate the funds to pay the judgment, either during the upcoming special session or during the next regular session. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press May 26, 2023 a day before a scheduled impeachment vote in the Texas House in a long-running ethics complaint.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House Democrats, California leaders weigh tit-for-tat redistricting if Texas Republicans redraw maps
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s aides have signaled their boss’s willingness to counter Texas redistricting with a similar move to offset GOP gains, lawmakers said. Full Story
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![California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks next to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as he announces a $750 million film and TV tax credit to help boost one of California's hallmark industries and the local economy from The Ranch, a Warner Bros. production facility, in Burbank, California, U.S., July 2, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake]()
Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake
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