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TEXAS NEWS
Texas medical marijuana industry to push for hemp age restrictions and delta-8 ban
Read full article: Texas medical marijuana industry to push for hemp age restrictions and delta-8 banMedical program leaders want a ban on synthetic delta-8 THC, which makes up the bulk of consumable hemp products.
Judge dismisses Ken Paxton lawsuit challenging State Fair of Texas gun ban
Read full article: Judge dismisses Ken Paxton lawsuit challenging State Fair of Texas gun banTexas’ attorney general alleged the City of Dallas and the fair were violating state law and the second amendment with the ban, which was adopted after a 2023 shooting.
Texas lawmakers have gotten used to state budget surpluses. That era may be ending.
Read full article: Texas lawmakers have gotten used to state budget surpluses. That era may be ending.As federal pandemic aid ends and sales tax revenues cool, analysts say it could constrain the Texas Legislature in coming years. But they don’t see an immediate budget crisis on the horizon.
Texas capital murder case attempts to severely punish abortion pill use by treating a fetus as a person
Read full article: Texas capital murder case attempts to severely punish abortion pill use by treating a fetus as a personA North Texas man charged with capital murder after slipping mifepristone into his girlfriend’s food signals another attempt to rein in abortion pills.
Top Texas Democrats ponder the state’s future at forum amid questions about what’s next for their party
Read full article: Top Texas Democrats ponder the state’s future at forum amid questions about what’s next for their partyFormer U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke was joined at his San Antonio town hall by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and state Rep. James Talarico, whose names have been floated for statewide office.
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seatThe contest coincides with the state’s November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to decide local offices and ballot measures.
Texas education board approves Native Studies course, skirting concerns about state’s K-12 DEI ban
Read full article: Texas education board approves Native Studies course, skirting concerns about state’s K-12 DEI banThe long-awaited vote survived objections from the panel’s most right-leaning Republicans, who criticized the lessons as “un-American woke indoctrination.”
Gov. Greg Abbott, AG Ken Paxton do not have to release Uvalde or Jan. 6 emails, Texas Supreme Court rules
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott, AG Ken Paxton do not have to release Uvalde or Jan. 6 emails, Texas Supreme Court rulesThe decision, stemming from a 2022 lawsuit, narrows the public’s legal options to challenge Texas officials under the state’s open records law.
Report: Texas State expected to finalize move to Pac-12 at Monday board meeting
Read full article: Report: Texas State expected to finalize move to Pac-12 at Monday board meetingAccording to the Austin Sports Journal, the Pac-12 Conference formally extended a membership invitation to Texas State to begin competition in Fall 2026.
Texas can require porn websites to verify users’ ages, Supreme Court rules
Read full article: Texas can require porn websites to verify users’ ages, Supreme Court rulesThe case involves a 2023 state law requiring adult websites to verify users’ ages, but the ruling is expected to have broader implications for free speech law.
Ted Cruz wants to stop states from regulating AI. Some of his Republican colleagues aren’t so sure
Read full article: Ted Cruz wants to stop states from regulating AI. Some of his Republican colleagues aren’t so sureSenate Republicans, Democrats and outside groups are mounting an offensive against Cruz’s push to withhold AI money from states that regulate the technology.
Fate of birthright citizenship order unresolved after Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions
Read full article: Fate of birthright citizenship order unresolved after Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctionsThe ruling was a partial victory for President Donald Trump who has made immigration his signature issue.
Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten college access for nearly 500,000 Texas college students
Read full article: Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten college access for nearly 500,000 Texas college studentsProposals in the federal budget bill would cut the maximum Pell Grant award amount by $1,500 and take away eligibility for students enrolled less than half-time.
Is THC as dangerous as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick makes it out to be?
Read full article: Is THC as dangerous as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick makes it out to be?Although Patrick and hemp industry leaders have quarreled over the risks and benefits of THC, cannabis researchers say it can be addictive but doesn’t usually cause widespread psychosis or brain damage.
Texas A&M, university systems in other red states will create their own agency to review schools’ quality standards
Read full article: Texas A&M, university systems in other red states will create their own agency to review schools’ quality standardsThe creation of the new accrediting agency comes as Republicans have criticized existing ones for reinforcing a liberal bias in the country's higher ed institutions.
Top Paxton deputy accused of witness tampering during impeachment trial
Read full article: Top Paxton deputy accused of witness tampering during impeachment trialIn dueling lawsuits, current and former employees of the attorney general’s office sling allegations that threaten to intrude on Paxton’s U.S. Senate bid.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders preemptive strike on screwworm in Texas
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott orders preemptive strike on screwworm in TexasAbbott ordered two Texas agencies to begin working together and with residents and business leaders to stop the spread of the invasive fly before it even starts.
‘Liver King’ arrested for making terrorist threat toward Joe Rogan, Austin police say
Read full article: ‘Liver King’ arrested for making terrorist threat toward Joe Rogan, Austin police sayAustin police said Johnson threatened Rogan over the course of multiple Instagram posts while travelling towards Austin, where Rogan lives.
Progressive Rep. Greg Casar has a playbook he wants Democrats to use in 2026
Read full article: Progressive Rep. Greg Casar has a playbook he wants Democrats to use in 2026Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, thinks economic populism and “authentic candidates” can win back recently converted GOP voters.
Texas Lottery Commission to be disbanded as state game gets new restrictions
Read full article: Texas Lottery Commission to be disbanded as state game gets new restrictionsGov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.
Texas to create its own psychology licensing test amid pushback on national exam
Read full article: Texas to create its own psychology licensing test amid pushback on national examTexas and other states have criticized a decision by the national psychologist licensing board to add another expensive test in order for psychologists to become certified.
State Rep. Nate Schatzline drops Texas Senate bid, endorses conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss
Read full article: State Rep. Nate Schatzline drops Texas Senate bid, endorses conservative activist Leigh WambsganssThe North Texas district opened up last week when Republican Kelly Hancock resigned from the upper chamber to take over as the state’s acting comptroller.
What Texas lawmakers did this session to close the state’s workforce gaps
Read full article: What Texas lawmakers did this session to close the state’s workforce gapsLegislation approved this year is partly aimed at helping Texas meet its goal of helping 60% of working-age Texans get a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030.
Texas directs public universities to identify undocumented students
Read full article: Texas directs public universities to identify undocumented studentsThe directive comes after a court rescinded undocumented students’ eligibility for in-state tuition. It’s unclear what information schools might ask from students and how their immigration data will be protected.
With prospects of a THC ban eroded, Texas hemp industry supports age restrictions, more regulation enforcement
Read full article: With prospects of a THC ban eroded, Texas hemp industry supports age restrictions, more regulation enforcementHemp industry leaders say they agree with regulations similar to how the state regulates alcohol.
Sen. Joan Huffman joins GOP field vying to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general
Read full article: Sen. Joan Huffman joins GOP field vying to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney generalIn her announcement, Huffman framed herself as the most experienced candidate, pointing to her time as a prosecutor, judge and chair of key Senate committees.
Lt. Gov. Patrick rips Gov. Abbott for vetoing THC ban, digs in against calls for regulation
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Patrick rips Gov. Abbott for vetoing THC ban, digs in against calls for regulationThe clash marks a rare break between two of the most powerful Republicans in Texas after a legislative session that ushered in a series of conservative victories.
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for federal summer lunch program for low-income children
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for federal summer lunch program for low-income childrenAbbott cited uncertainty over federal funding of the program as his reason for rejecting the state’s participation.
Did Texas lawmakers do enough for children with disabilities? These child care advocates say no.
Read full article: Did Texas lawmakers do enough for children with disabilities? These child care advocates say no.Lawmakers added $100 million to a child care scholarship program but failed to expand access to free preschool for children with disabilities.
Rural Americans more likely to live with chronic pain than urban peers, UT-Arlington study finds
Read full article: Rural Americans more likely to live with chronic pain than urban peers, UT-Arlington study findsMore than 3 million people call rural Texas home, and many lack access to a primary care doctor.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 bills
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 billsAbbott will call lawmakers back to Austin to tackle Senate Bill 3, a proposed ban on THC products that he vetoed, as well as five others from his veto list.
Texas politicians react to US striking 3 Iranian nuclear sites
Read full article: Texas politicians react to US striking 3 Iranian nuclear sitesNumerous Texas politicians have taken to social media to express their support or opposition to the U.S. military strike on three sites in Iran, as announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi dies at 63
Read full article: Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi dies at 63Farenthold, a local radio personality, served in Congress from 2011 to 2018 and is credited with securing funding for the port. He resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Big Bend National Park expansion bill unanimously clears US Senate hurdle
Read full article: Big Bend National Park expansion bill unanimously clears US Senate hurdleA bipartisan bill in Washington proposing an expansion of Big Bend National Park in West Texas unanimously cleared a recent U.S. Senate hurdle.
Texas is illegally keeping people with disabilities in nursing homes, federal judge rules
Read full article: Texas is illegally keeping people with disabilities in nursing homes, federal judge rulesA federal judge determined the state illegally institutionalized severely disabled people for decades, often in poorly run facilities.
Meals On Wheels waiting lists grow as Texas braces for federal funding cuts
Read full article: Meals On Wheels waiting lists grow as Texas braces for federal funding cutsState chapters of the nonprofit group that provide meals to seniors are waiting to hear from Washington how much of a hit their battered budgets will take.