How Ken Paxton and allies fanned a false conspiracy to convince voters James Talarico was mentally unfit

While James Talarico was recovering from the flu, Paxton supporters said the Democrat was being treated for mental illness in Ohio. The debunked story was shared by White House officials, Elon Musk and social media influencers.
TribCast: Houston is a model for school takeovers. Is it sustainable?

This week, the podcast explores what can be learned from Houston ISD as more school districts face state takeover.
El Paso and New Mexico spent millions on climate plans. Three new data centers could undo them.

El Paso and New Mexico planned to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Neither plan considered how three new data centers could upend their climate goals.
Texas sued for failing to process more than 500,000 voter registrations

Voting rights groups are asking a judge to enforce a 2021 settlement aimed at providing reliable online registration through DPS.
Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light

Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
House Republicans pull $3 million reserved for ads against Henry Cuellar

The Laredo Democrat’s 28th District was one of five seats Republicans redrew last summer to flip to GOP control. But the new map has proven less ironclad than the party hoped.
In competitive North Texas Senate race, GOP candidate sheds her “ultra MAGA” label

In a district Trump won by 17 points, Republican Leigh Wambsganss no longer describes herself as ultra-MAGA in her rematch with Democrat Taylor Rehmet.
On the issues: A Q&A with U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico, Ken Paxton and Ted Brown

Ken Paxton and James Talarico are in a close race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, with Ted Brown also on the ballot. See where they stand on THC, data centers and Flock cameras. Talarico and Brown answered our questions; Paxton did not, so we used his past public statements to describe his positions.
Some Texas colleges get OK for new Workforce Pell that pays for job training

At least five Texas colleges are among the first in the country that can use the federal funding for jobs training.
How a bid to beat the drought drove Corpus Christi to the brink of disaster

What started as a novel plan to provide an unrestricted water supply to the oil and gas industry turned into a political quagmire that has consumed the city.