At least 248 data centers are planned to be built in Texas. Of those, nearly half will be built in unincorporated areas, where county officials are limited in their ability to regulate development, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.
Politics
Stay informed with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth political coverage, including Texas elections, state government, policy debates, and the leaders shaping the future of the state.
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State Government
Texas’ app age verification law allowed to go into effect for now
A federal appeals court allowed Texas to require app stores to verify users’ ages and seek parental consent before a minor can download apps.
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Courts
Paxton sues Denton to block gender-neutral changing rooms at Pride pool party
Two LGBTQ+ groups called the lawsuit “frivolous,” saying plans for the event at a public pool had already changed to comply with a new Texas law.
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Higher Education
Teaching restrictions prompted half of surveyed Texas Tech faculty to alter courses, results show
A faculty senate survey found professors altered or were asked to change material in 277 courses after Texas Tech’s restrictions on race, sexuality and gender.
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Public Education
Texas school police pepper-sprayed, tackled and tasered students
School officers across the state turned to heavy-handed tactics on children, often in response to minor misbehavior, investigation shows.
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2026 Texas Elections
Outside spending blitz defined the close of Texas’ District 35 Democratic runoff
To counter what appeared to be a GOP push to elevate Maureen Galindo, who’d voiced antisemitic stereotypes, national Democrats carpet-bombed the San Antonio area with $1.7 million worth of ads.
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Immigration
Members of pro-immigration group hit by Trump crackdown on immigration
La Union Del Pueblo Entero has seen engagement at its 8,000-member organization drop off after the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
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Politics
In Harris County judge runoff, a Democratic upset underscores voters’ desire for new blood
Former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer defeated longtime local politician Annise Parker to win the Democratic nomination for Harris County judge in what political experts say might be a sign of the changing of the guard.
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Texas Legislature 2027
Texas Democratic chair calls for party to abandon GOP House Speaker Dustin Burrows
Burrows relied on Democratic support to win the gavel last year, then green-lit a wave of conservative priorities.
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2026 Texas Elections
From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP’s transformation
The power struggle between old-school Bush Republicans and hardline conservatives predates President Donald Trump. But he has used his clout to help tip the scales.
