Supreme Court weakens key pillar of Voting Rights Act, opening door for Texas to redraw political maps

While the court did not strike down the provision entirely, Justice Elena Kagan said Wednesday’s ruling made Section 2 of the VRA ‘all but a dead letter.’

by Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

San Antonio News

Waymo pauses San Antonio service after a car is swept away. Is more regulation needed?

At least six other driverless car companies are expanding into Texas, yet the state’s taking a hands-off approach and has barred cities from making their own rules.

by Sanford Nowlin April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

A man stares at damage caused by the Fourth of July flood in Ingram on July 5, 2025.

San Antonio News

Texas legislators investigating July 4 floods to hold first hearings

The two-day hearing marks the first public session for the joint state House and Senate flood investigating committees. Members previously visited Camp Mystic, where 27 girls and the director died.

by Emily Foxhall, The Texas Tribune April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Gov. Greg Abbott shows off his best beady-eyed squint at the 2024 Republican Convention.

Assclown Alert

Assclown Alert: Starting a gerrymandering bar fight — and losing — with Gov. Greg Abbott

Texas’ governor fired the first shot in the redistricting war, but he’s sure not looking like a winner.

by Sanford Nowlin April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

The Archimedes screw pump is used for moving water and sludge, from a lower to a higher elevation. Wastewater treatment process at SAWS’ Steven M. Clouse Water Recycling Center in San Antonio on Aug. 23, 2024.

Texas News

Texas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says

That new amount is more than double the amount predicted four years ago. The new forecast comes as supply is already drying up.

by Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Colleen DeGuzman and Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Zaena Zamora, executive director of the reproductive-justice group the Frontera Fund, speaks during a SXSW panel discussion.

Texas News

Texas’ abortion ban is hitting immigrant communities hardest, especially those in South Texas

Heightened immigration enforcement has created an additional layer of fear and risk for South Texans seeking abortion care.

by Michael Karlis April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual policy summit at the AT&T Executive Hotel & Conference Center in Austin on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Texas News

Dan Patrick says GOP will ‘have a tough time’ holding Texas House majority in November

The lieutenant governor’s remarks are the latest sign that Republicans are worried about the fall midterms. The GOP has controlled the state House since 2003 and currently has an 88-62 advantage.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune April 9, 2026April 9, 2026

The Texas hemp industry's lawsuit accuses state regulators of illegally overturning stipulations passed by the legislature in 2019.

Cannabis News

Texas hemp industry sues to block state’s ban on smokable products, new fees

Hemp distributors and retailers argue the rules, which went into effect March 31, are designed to spell financial ruin for their industry.

by Sanford Nowlin April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Construction continues on the Meta Platforms data center complex on a 1,000-acre site in far Northeast El Paso, near the Texas-New Mexico state line, as seen March 12, 2026.

Texas News

Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year

The tax break is one of the state’s costliest incentive programs and soon to be the most expensive of its kind in the nation.

by Paul Cobler, The Texas Tribune April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Eloisa Schessler outside of her food truck, Eloisa’s Kitchen, located at Klyde Warren Park near downtown Dallas, on March 12, 2026.

Flavor

Texas to launch a statewide food truck permit on July 1

Business owners are applauding the new law because currently, anytime they want to operate in another city or county, they have to pay that jurisdiction’s permitting fee.

By Zahiyah CarterApril 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Illustrated posters reading “We Belong Here” sit on the Capitol’s rotunda floor during Texas Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s protest of anti-DEI initiatives for public universities, on Mar. 23, 2023. One responsibility of the new Office of the Ombudsman is to investigate allegations that anti-DEI laws have been broken.

Texas News

This state agency was created to investigate Texas universities. How that works is a mystery.

Office of the Ombudsman has no written policies on how to investigate allegations that education laws are being broken, even though it’s been accepting complaints for three months.

by Jessica Priest April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

Both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have put "preventing Sharia law” on their list of legislative priorities. Gosh, we feel safer already.

Texas News

Assclown Alert: Playing a tired, racist game with the ‘Sharia Free Texas Caucus’

The Constitution bars courts from using religious doctrine to decide cases — so why are Texas Republicans obsessed with Sharia law? Could it be, gasp, a distraction?

by Sanford Nowlin March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.

Texas News

Federal trial over air conditioning in Texas prisons set to start Monday

About two-thirds of Texas prisons are not fully air conditioned, and dozens of inmates have died in the sweltering heat.

by Alex Nguyen and Pooja Salhotra, The Texas TribuneMarch 28, 2026March 28, 2026

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces a "Double Nickel" tax proposal to reduce the age on freezing property taxes from its current 65 to 55 years of age on December 9, 2025.

Texas News

Dan Patrick adds data centers, prediction markets and THC to Senate priorities

Patrick’s Friday release of priorities calls on lawmakers to study the emerging issues ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

by Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Drag Queen Brigitte Bandit performs during a Fight The Trump Takeover Rally at the south side steps of the Capitol on Aug. 16, 2025.

Texas News

Texas’ drag show ban takes effect after years of court challenges

A federal court cleared the way for Senate Bill 12, which prohibits drag performances on public property or in front of children, to take effect Wednesday.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune March 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Candy bars and other sweets are displayed in the candy aisle of a convenience store in Austin on March 11, 2026. Beginning April 1, people will not be allowed to purchase candy and certain sweetened beverages using SNAP benefits.

Texas News

What Texans need to know about upcoming SNAP restrictions

Starting April 1, Texans will no longer be allowed to use food stamps to buy sweetened beverages and candy.

by Riddhi Bora and Dan Keemahill, The Texas TribuneMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Henry Herzog, 7, watches his sister play with a family dog as he eats breakfast on Monday, March 9, 2026, at their home in Manvel.

Texas News

Texas students with disabilities struggle to qualify for extra school voucher funds

Confusion over the program’s special education requirements is making it difficult for families to meet a looming deadline — and creating more work for Texas school districts.

by Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

State Rep. Steve Toth, R-Conroe, speaks to protesters from Texans for Vaccine Choice as the Texas House convenes a third special legislative session for controversial legislative items at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Sept. 20, 2021.

Texas News

Hardline House Freedom Caucus gains ground in Texas GOP primaries

If they win in November, Steve Toth and Brandon Herrera are poised to join the group known for its conservative absolutist approach and willingness to defy GOP leaders.

by Gabby Birenbaum, The Texas Tribune March 10, 2026March 10, 2026

Students walk through the hallway at Lago Vista High School on Sept. 9, 2025 in Lago Vista.

News, Texas News

School districts can set aside prayer time under a new Texas law. Few have done so.

School boards had until March 1 to decide whether to establish a daily period for students and staff to pray or read religious texts.

by Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune March 2, 2026

Candidate for Texas Attorney General Aaron Reitz answers a question from a moderator during a Texas Republican candidate debate forum at the Civic Center in Canton on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Texas News

Texas AG candidate says if he wins, he’d try to revoke Democratic leader Gene Wu’s citizenship

Aaron Reitz, who is running for Texas attorney general, issued the threat after an interview of Wu was shared online of him discussing non-white voting strength.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune February 10, 2026February 10, 2026

Buy San Antonio Beer Festival Fest Tickets Now! Join us 10/17 @ Hemisfair

Texas legislature

Supreme Court weakens key pillar of Voting Rights Act, opening door for Texas to redraw political maps

Waymo pauses San Antonio service after a car is swept away. Is more regulation needed?

Texas legislators investigating July 4 floods to hold first hearings

Assclown Alert: Starting a gerrymandering bar fight — and losing — with Gov. Greg Abbott

Texas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says

Texas’ abortion ban is hitting immigrant communities hardest, especially those in South Texas

Dan Patrick says GOP will ‘have a tough time’ holding Texas House majority in November

Texas hemp industry sues to block state’s ban on smokable products, new fees

Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year

Texas to launch a statewide food truck permit on July 1

This state agency was created to investigate Texas universities. How that works is a mystery.

Assclown Alert: Playing a tired, racist game with the ‘Sharia Free Texas Caucus’

Federal trial over air conditioning in Texas prisons set to start Monday

Dan Patrick adds data centers, prediction markets and THC to Senate priorities

Texas’ drag show ban takes effect after years of court challenges

What Texans need to know about upcoming SNAP restrictions

Texas students with disabilities struggle to qualify for extra school voucher funds

Hardline House Freedom Caucus gains ground in Texas GOP primaries

School districts can set aside prayer time under a new Texas law. Few have done so.

Texas AG candidate says if he wins, he’d try to revoke Democratic leader Gene Wu’s citizenship