Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners inundated with border wall concerns during annual meeting
Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:35:40 +0000
After bulldozers entered Big Bend National Park, hundreds of Texans came to Wednesday’s meeting to ask the agency to keep federal border barriers out of state parks.
A surrogate’s fight for parental rights in Dallas could discourage surrogacy use in Texas, lawyers say
Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000
A surrogate’s fight for custody over the baby she birthed last week could lead to more restrictions on the rights of biological parents and on abortion clauses in surrogacy agreements. 
How Corpus Christi’s water emergency exposed flaws in Texas’ water planning
Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:01:30 +0000
State water planners don’t use climate projections when they plan for future water supply. Experts say they should model for more extreme droughts rather than relying on historical data.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17423219/texas-water-planning-drought-corpus-christi
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes penalties for schools that keep “vulgar” books on library shelves
Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:48:15 +0000
“We’re coming for the books,” the lieutenant governor said in announcing plans to lower the performance rating of Texas schools that violate a recent law targeting obscene titles in school libraries. 
Minnesota sues Abbott to force extradition of ICE agent accused of shooting Venezuelan man
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:58:02 +0000
Christian Castro, accused of assault and lying about the circumstance leading to the Jan. 14 shooting, was arrested in Cameron County in May.
Special election set to replace Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell, who resigned for Pentagon post
Tue, 19 May 2026 00:11:38 +0000
The longtime state legislator, who announced in June 2025 he wasn’t seeking reelection, vacated the seat to serve as a U.S. assistant secretary of defense.
Gov. Abbott proposes ban on H-1B visa use for Texas public schools during campaign stop
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:31:36 +0000
Some districts use the temporary work permits to fill critical teacher shortages in roles such as bilingual education. 
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17422554/texas-public-schools-h1b-visa-ban-proposal
What to know about possible border barriers in Big Bend
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:04:29 +0000
The Trump administration has said the remote West Texas region needs measures to stop illegal immigration. But a bipartisan group of elected officials is pushing to halt that plan, especially in the national park.
TribCast: Should we believe the polls about Paxton and Talarico?
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:46:35 +0000
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin about the polls showing a tight race for U.S. Senate. Are they reliable? Is Talarico really in the lead?
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17422496/tribcast-talarico-paxton-polls
Buyouts offered to nearly a quarter of UT Tyler employees amid budget shortfall
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:14:14 +0000
The university in East Texas is among other state colleges facing financial strains.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17371953/ut-tyler-texas-university-buyouts
Texas Tribune Festival 2026: Our full lineup is here
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000
Raphael Warnock, Kevin Stitt, Dolores Huerta, Maggie Haberman and other prominent voices in American political and civic life join us in Austin next month
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17422153/texas-tribune-festival-2026-lineup
Colorado school district rejects controversial reading curriculum because of errors, Texas focus
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000
The Colorado district scrapped plans to use Bluebonnet materials just days into the school year.
Protecting Texas university research from foreign adversaries focus of House hearing
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000
As Texas examines foreign influence, UT-Austin is among 30 institutions ordered to provide federal authorities a security audit of certain international ties.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17422155/texas-universities-education-foreign-influence
Rio Grande Valley residents are feeling more negative about their lives. That could spill into the voting booth.
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:00:16 +0000
Rio Grande Valley residents are unhappy with the economy, salaries, and other factors. That could sway their political views, according to political watchdogs.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17417349/texas-rio-grande-valley-life-satisfaction-survey
Families ask U.S. Supreme Court to rule on Texas’ Ten Commandments requirement for public schools
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000
Texas can enforce the state's law requiring Ten Commandments posters in public schools. Here's what to know about the latest legal challenges.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17258411/texas-ten-commandments-5th-circuit-court
Greg Abbott threatens Dallas, Houston airports’ grant funds over Islamic washing facilities
Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:45:20 +0000
DFW said late Friday that plans to install the religious washing station had been canceled. 
Texas counties sue feds for trying to tie election security policies to anti-terrorism funding
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:14:13 +0000
El Paso and Harris counties joined cities in Tennessee and Ohio in the suit arguing the new requirements are unconstitutional and would cost millions to implement.
Feds pausing Big Bend border construction while CBP commissioner visits the park
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:13:16 +0000
It was not immediately clear how long CBP plans to implement the pause. The Trump administration had announced plans to build an access road and vehicle barriers in the park.
Texas cities eye property tax hikes, spending cuts amid yawning budget gaps
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Rising costs, slowing tax revenue and a sluggish economy have saddled some of Texas’ biggest cities with multimillion-dollar deficits. 
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17421462/texas-city-budgets-cuts-tax-hikes
Can Austin break the costly cycle of homelessness, jail and crisis? A new program aims to do that.
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Austin's No Wrong Door initiative targets a costly cycle of homelessness and arrests by connecting people with long-term support.
https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17421463/austin-no-wrong-door-jail-homelessness-program