Civil rights groups sue to stop Texas immigration law

Senate Bill 4, scheduled to take effect next week, lets Texas police arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Classic unfunded mandate”: San Antonio school districts reveal costs of new seat belt requirements

Texas wants all school buses to have 3-point seat belts by 2029-30. But the price tag is high for local districts also facing budget challenges.
Nearly 96,000 students receiving Texas school voucher award notices

Families have until July 15 to opt in to the education savings accounts, or ESAs, which launches next school year.
Texas leads nation in utility shutoffs as electric bills rise, federal report finds

The state accounted for more than 3 million of the 13.4 million disconnections that occurred in the U.S. in 2024, the highest total in the country.
How the Voting Rights Act reshaped Texas’ electoral maps by empowering voters, candidates of color

The Supreme Court weakened Section 2, the linchpin of the 1965 civil rights legislation that prohibits diluting the electoral power of voters of color. But the statute’s fingerprints can be seen all over Texas’ maps.
How the unreported killing of an American by ICE shattered two Texas families

Josh Orta was the sole witness of Ruben Martinez’s death to dispute the government’s account. Months later, he died in a crash after learning an ICE agent killed his friend. Their mothers blame the government for their loss.
Texas’ 18th Congressional District Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to know

The Democratic runoff for the Houston-based seat — a longtime bastion of Black political power — pits the Texas delegation’s newest member, Christian Menefee, against one of its longest-tenured, Al Green.
Dallas’ Highland Park votes to leave Texas’ second-largest public transit system

Voters in Highland Park chose to leave Dallas Area Rapid Transit amid complaints that the transit service isn’t worth the cost.
Sen. Ted Cruz makes Iowa appearance, fueling speculation about another presidential bid

The U.S. senator won the Hawkeye State during the 2016 Republican primaries. This year he used his appearance to blame Democrats for anti-Semitism and call out GOP Trump foes Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Republican Brett Ligon, former Montgomery County DA, wins special election for open Texas Senate seat

A rematch is scheduled for November, as Ligon’s win only puts him in the seat through January. But the former prosecutor will be heavily favored, given the district’s solidly Republican makeup.