Local Government
Mass shooting in Midland leaves one dead, nine injured
One person is dead and nine others are injured following an active shooting in Midland, Texas, on Friday morning that ended with the suspected shooter also dead, according to city officials and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Education
Governor Abbott Announces $750M in Teacher Incentive Allotment Awards
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency is distributing more than $750 million in funding through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program for the 2025-26 school year.
Education
Texas 2036 Applauds High School Test Progress While Outlining Post-Pandemic Shortfalls
An analysis by the nonpartisan public policy organization Texas 2036 revealed that while Spring 2026 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) results showed growth across all five core high school subjects, but a critical math gap persists compared to pre-pandemic baselines.
Public Safety
Texas Court Voids Attorney General Reporting Rules for Large-County Prosecutors
A Travis County district judge has struck down administrative rules imposed by Attorney General Ken Paxton that required district and county attorneys in the state's largest jurisdictions to submit detailed operational reports.
Agencies
Texas Evaluates Proposed Rules for Applying Treated Oilfield Wastewater on Land
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is approaching the deadline for public comment on proposed regulations that would allow companies to apply treated oilfield wastewater onto land surfaces.
Health Care
Texas Medical Association Outlines Six Core Solutions to Lower Health Care Costs
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) delivered testimony to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability offering a policy framework they say would curb rising health care costs for Texas patients and employers.
Education
Texas High Schoolers Show Academic Progress on Spring 2026 STAAR End-of-Course Exams
The Texas Education Agency released the Spring 2026 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course (EOC) results, revealing academic gains across all five tested high school subjects.
Profiles of Texans
Rep. Don McLaughlin Wants to Strengthen School Safety and Law Enforcement
Mason Ayer on Leading An Iconic Austin Restaurant Into Its Next Chapter
Dr. Wynn Rosser and John Hryhorchuk on Aligning Human Capital With the Industries of the Future
Moving From Good Intentions to Scale: Laura Arnold and David Leebron on the Science of Long-Term Policy Outcomes
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Opinions
OPINION: Cities Should Treat Residents Like Grown-ups, Not Dependents
OPINION: Texans Deserve Lower Drug Prices Without Losing Their Pharmacies
OPINION: Local Governments Failing Victims of Sexual Assault: Law Enforcement Needs State Support
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Latest Policy Clips
"A national security issue": The New World screwworm
Texas' new AI tool "Sam"
Patrón founder shares business advice for entrepreneurs
Texas Talks Podcasts
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When Galveston Was a Pirate Port Launching Revolutions
Long before it was a beach town, Galveston Island was a haven for privateers and revolutionaries. On June 12, 1817, a Spanish-born idealist set sail from its shores with eight ships and 235 men, bent on toppling a king.
Read the Full Story →New World Screwworm
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Analysis: The Return of a Menace—How the First Week of the Screwworm Outbreak Upended Texas Agriculture
This week, a biological threat long considered eradicated from the United States breached the Texas border, instantly disrupting the stability of the state's agricultural sector and triggering a major regulatory and political response. The reemergence of the New World screwworm,
Screwworm Confirmation Prompts Border Closure and $1.8B Economic Threat
During a recent episode of the Texas Tribune TribCast, journalists and agricultural experts discussed the confirmation of the parasitic New World screwworm fly in Texas for the first time since 1982. The initial case was detected on June 4 in
New World Screwworm Cases Rise to Five as Outbreak Spreads into North Texas and New Mexico
The New World screwworm outbreak in Texas widened as federal regulatory officials confirmed three additional cases far beyond the original South Texas containment zone and announced an escalated, multi-agency response. According to reporting from The Texas Tribune, the United States
Commissioner Sid Miller Demands Federal Deployment of Bait Program Amid Three New Screwworm Cases
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller responded to the additional New World screwworm detection by demanding the immediate federal deployment of a specialized fly suppression system. According to a June 8 press release from the Texas Department of Agriculture, the latest
Canada Bars Texas Livestock Over Screwworm; Abbott’s Office Calls Decision an ‘Overreaction’
The international fallout from recent New World screwworm detections in South Texas escalated as the Canadian government moved to restrict imports of Texas livestock, drawing sharp pushback from state officials. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced disease-control measures that
Data Centers
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ERCOT’s New ‘Ride-Through’ Rule Targets Grid Risks from Data Center Influx
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) board of directors has approved a new data center rule that focuses on how these facilities behave once they are plugged into the state’s power grid. Alongside the widely reported "Batch Zero" screening
Governor Abbott Directs PUC and ERCOT to Shield Texas Ratepayers from Data Center Costs
Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to take immediate steps to protect residential electricity customers from the financial impacts of data center expansion in Texas. In an
Texas Data Center ‘Batch Zero’ Framework Tests Limits of Local Government Control
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) board of directors has endorsed a new large-load screening framework that is already reshaping which massive technology infrastructure projects will advance on the state's power grid. The policy shift stems from ERCOT's June
East Texas Counties Repurpose 1960s Planning Law to Combat Solar and Data Center Boom
A proposal for two East Texas counties to jointly study the effects of solar farms, data centers, and high-capacity water wells failed on a tied vote in Smith County Commissioners Court on June 2. According to reporting from KLTV, the
Analysis: The Data Center Crossroads—Texas Navigates Infrastructure Growth and Resource Demands
This week, the explosive expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure across Texas emerged as a central point in economic and legislative debates. Across the state, local municipal leaders, utility operators, and technology conglomerates are working to balance the
Transmission Lines
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Transmission Debate Lands on Abbott’s Desk as Industry Groups Dispute Opposition to 765-kV Buildout
A coalition of five Texas oil and gas industry associations issued a joint memorandum on June 10, 2026, to state leadership defending the necessity of a massive extra-high-voltage power grid expansion in West Texas, calling recent criticism of the project
PUCT Agrees to Hear Landowners’ Route Appeal on Big Hill 765-kV Line as Judges Refuse a Pause
The regulatory battle over Texas's extra-high-voltage grid expansion has taken a new procedural turn, as state regulators agreed to review a landowner complaint even while the evidentiary hearing moves ahead. According to official filings with the Public Utility Commission of
Contested Bell County–Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Line Hearing Opens Following Extension Denial
The expansion of Texas's extra-high-voltage electrical grid faces a regulatory milestone this week as the state's administrative court prepares to review a major infrastructure proposal. The formal hearing on the merits for the proposed 199-mile Bell County East to Big
ERCOT Advances $6.5 Billion Transmission Buildout as Permian Basin 765-kV Plan Takes Shape
Texas's grid operator and regulators are moving on one of the largest transmission expansions in state history. On May 19, 2026, ERCOT's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) endorsed approximately $6.5 billion in transmission projects across Texas, the same day it approved
Growing Coalition of Lawmakers Urge “Pause” on Permian Basin Transmission Plan, Citing Grid Reliability Concerns
A coalition of 25 Texas state legislators has formally requested that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) pause a proposed $33 billion transmission expansion in the Permian Basin, according to a May 13 newsletter sent by Representative Ellen Troxclair (R-Fredricksburg). In
Education
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Governor Abbott Announces $750M in Teacher Incentive Allotment Awards
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency is distributing more than $750 million in funding through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program for the 2025-26 school year. According to a June 12 news release from the Governor's Office,
Texas 2036 Applauds High School Test Progress While Outlining Post-Pandemic Shortfalls
An analysis by the nonpartisan public policy organization Texas 2036 revealed that while Spring 2026 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) results showed growth across all five core high school subjects, but a critical math gap persists compared to pre-pandemic baselines. The evaluation,
Texas High Schoolers Show Academic Progress on Spring 2026 STAAR End-of-Course Exams
The Texas Education Agency released the Spring 2026 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course (EOC) results, revealing academic gains across all five tested high school subjects. The metrics, which include individual student performance in Algebra I, English
TEA Launches Educator Misconduct Dashboard and Student Protection Resource Center
The Texas Education Agency launched a public database tracking certified educators who have been disciplined for misconduct. According to a June 4 news release from the agency, the new Educator Misconduct Dashboard and an accompanying Student Protection Resource Center aim
Dr. Wynn Rosser and John Hryhorchuk on Aligning Human Capital With the Industries of the Future
The intersection of education, workforce development, and economic opportunity is driving a fundamental shift in how Texas defines and scales human capital. Operating as the world’s eighth-largest economy, the state is home to a rapidly growing, exceptionally youthful demographic. "Texas