Taxpayers pay the price when Texas education department takes over school districts

Cash-strapped Austin ISD faces big changes under a potential state takeover. It could also face increased costs at a time when reserves are running dry.
Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program

The proposed elimination of the program, aimed at serving lower-income families, comes as Texas leadership has called on agencies to reduce budgets by 3%.
Texas appeals order requiring prison air conditioning, saying it puts operations at risk

TDCJ, which estimates climate control will cost $1.5 billion, said the federal judge’s order imposes “chaos and confusion” on the country’s largest prison system.
Ken Paxton took nearly 1,000 trips with state-funded security detail costing millions of dollars

The Texas attorney general’s use of a taxpayer-funded travel security detail stands out when compared with his predecessor and other state officials, our analysis found.
Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government”

Middleton, a Republican, has long pushed for injecting Christianity into the public sphere. His Democratic opponent, Nathan Johnson, said those views make him unfit for office.
James Talarico returns to campaign trail at ACL festival after illness spurred GOP calls for “proof of life”

Republican Ken Paxton made hay over the Democrat’s nine-day spell between public appearances, while right-wing commentators ran with unverified theories and dismissed that Talarico’s recovery could have been hindered by his Type I diabetes.
When a rural Texas school district struggled with growth, charter schools filled the void

The state has limited how much money it gives to fast-growing school districts, creating million-dollar gaps between what is owed and what’s given.
In attacking Talarico for campaign absence, Trump calls for debate that Paxton has avoided

The Democrat, off the trail with the flu, quickly accepted the president’s call to “immediately report to a Debate Stage” with Ken Paxton.
Trump slams Rep. Henry Cuellar for sticking with Democratic Party despite presidential pardon

Cuellar and his wife, charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiracy, were pardoned in December. In a social media post, Trump indicated he expected Cuellar to run as a Republican.
Firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed, Pentagon says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others, will take place at the military base on Dec. 3.