State Lead Story
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Educators rally behind James Talarico at Dallas campaign event
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old Democrat and former teacher, is running for US Senate in Texas.
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Lina Hidalgo won’t seek third term as Harris County chief executive
Harris County voters will choose a new county judge in 2026, as Lina Hidalgo announced she won’t seek a third term.
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Houston celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month amid concerns over ICE arrests
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15, kicks off in Houston this week with music, dance, and festivals across the area. But for many, the celebrations are not just about celebrating culture—it’s also about finding hope and joy at a time when increased immigration enforcement has left many communities on edge.
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Texas A&M fires professor for discussing gender identity in class
Texas A&M fired a professor and disciplined two administrators over backlash from right-wing lawmakers following a viral video showing a professor discussing LGBTQ+ topics in class.
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Rising Democratic star James Talarico announces run for US Senate in Texas
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old Presbyterian seminarian and former middle school teacher, announced Tuesday that he’s running for US Senate.
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After losing two babies, a family wrestled with grief—not jail. Would Texas’s new law change that?
A family condemns Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Republicans for threatening jail time for loved ones who help women obtain abortions.
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From New Orleans to Houston: Hurricane Katrina survivors reflect 20 years later
When cooking a New Orleans staple like gumbo, the first step is to make the roux, a process that requires the cook to meticulously stir a combination of flour and fat. The kitchen becomes hot and steamy as the mixture begins to boil, a savory and earthy scent setting the tone for a perfect stew.…
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In her own words: Why this Texas physician fled to Virginia
I remember very clearly the moment I knew I was done. I could no longer practice as a women’s health care doctor in Texas. I had a patient, probably 18 or 19 years old. I was doing an ultrasound, and she told me she needed an abortion for her safety. She said, “I’m too young.…
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OPINION: Texas voters should decide who gets elected to Congress, not anti-democratic state laws
Its slash-and-burn cuts to Medicaid, senseless restrictions on food assistance programs, and permanent tax breaks for the wealthy are, surprisingly, not the only source of my anger. As a 40-year resident of Houston, I’m more enraged that our district’s needs and demands were cut from the conversation.
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For some Texas students, citizenship isn’t enough to feel safe
Texas college students are fearful that their citizenship status will not be enough to protect them from the current ICE raids.
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Texas Republicans unveil new congressional maps targeting 5 Democratic US House seats
Texas Republicans proposed new maps for US House seats in the state, targeting five Democratic districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and South Texas.
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Op-Ed: To Texas, From a Fellow Survivor: We See You. We’re With You
To the people of Texas: you are part of something bigger now. A growing, fierce, and resilient community of people who refuse to be quiet about what we’ve lost—and what we all deserve.
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Texas native reveals: ‘Why I’ll be terrified to practice in Texas as an OB-GYN’
‘By my second year in medical school, the effects of SB8 were getting more and more real. One night in the emergency room, the consequences just became so obvious in a real life way.’
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Cruz, Cornyn voted to slash weather forecast funding ahead of Texas floods
Sen. Ted Cruz inserted language into President Trump’s budget bill cutting $150 million in funding for weather forecast improvements.
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(Op-ed) Kids don’t vote: How the media, public talks about Texas, Camp Mystic flood matters
While natural disasters can often be tied to politics, is it appropriate to have that conversation immediately after tragedy strikes?
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How to help, donate to Texas, Camp Mystic flood victims
After flash floods devastated Kerr County, leaving over 90 people dead and at least 56 more missing, organizations around Texas are banding together to provide aid.
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Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included
Following a 26-hour marathon voting session and lengthy, late-night negotiations, the U.S. Senate has passed its version of Republicans’ landmark tax and spending bill with both Texas senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, voting for the legislation.
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‘An all-out assault:’ Texas educators stand up to Trump, Abbott attacks on public education
From President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the US Education Department to school voucher plans from Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas educators are standing up to a Republican war on public education.
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Pride Month every month: How to support lesbian bars amidst dwindling numbers
In the United States, there are only 36 remaining lesbian bars compared to an estimated 803 gay bars. The Lesbian Bar Project reports that in 1980 there were 200 lesbian bars.
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Texas on verge of banning THC products, expanding medical marijuana program
Texas lawmakers banned THC and expanded the state’s troubled medical marijuana program, leaving Gov. Greg Abbott with the decision to sign or veto the two laws.
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‘Donut’ stop believing: How Shipley Do-Nuts created a breakfast empire
Behind the fresh, gourmet, glazed “do-nut” recipe was Lawrence Shipley Sr. and his family. Cut by hand and served hot, the donuts were sold wholesale. By the mid-1940s, the breakfast treat became so popular that Shipley was selling them individually to customers.
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Will a new abortion bill save the lives of pregnant women in Texas?
It’s taken state Supreme Court cases, a number of women dying, and massive pressure from the people of Texas for the state Legislature to respond with SB31. But will the new bill help or hurt women who need abortions in Texas?
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Op-Ed: Congressional cuts feed corporate greed at expense of young people
Through a budget reconciliation process, Congress is working on extending major tax cuts originally passed in 2017 that would primarily benefit corporations and billionaires over young people.
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Texas Republicans help pass Trump budget bill cutting healthcare, food stamps
Texas lawmakers played key roles in passing President Trump’s budget bill, which funds tax cuts for the wealthy by cutting Medicaid and food stamps.
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New bill would trap women who want or need abortions in Texas
A bill passed in the Texas Senate allows women and their loved ones who help them get abortions — here or in another state — to be jailed and sued.
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House GOP fast-tracks budget bill that would cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Abortion is already excluded from coverage—the new bill is going after all health care services the clinics provide for low-income Americans.
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Texas women face prosecution for abortions if new bill becomes law
The Texas Senate has passed a new anti-abortion bill which would open the door to women being criminally prosecuted for obtaining an abortion — even in a different state.
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Trade pre-apprentice program is ‘no-brainer’ for Texans looking for a new career
This state-funded program gives cohorts from Austin, Houston, and DFW a pathway into green construction jobs, while paying them to learn.
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Trump’s first 100 days brought chaos, cuts to Texas but inspired resistance
From slashing funding for public health initiatives to closing a US Education Department office in Dallas, the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term have left Texans in a state of wreckage.
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Texas House passes $1 billion school vouchers bill in historic vote
The Texas House passed a $1 billion school voucher bill early Thursday, a measure that provides $10,300 to students to attend private schools.
