Thursday, September 24, 2026·Focal News
Independent local reporting across America
Section
Politics
A revised Texas Department of Criminal Justice health policy directs officials to continue documented hormone treatment for adult inmates unless doctors find a medical reason not to. The policy also establishes evaluations, specialty referrals and tighter limits for inmates under 18.
Politics
More than 102,000 voter-registration records sent through Texas’ driver services portal were delayed for months and delivered to…
Politics
Austin officials are moving toward a civilian leadership role for 911 operations after a feasibility study advised against…
Politics
An unknown number of Texans who registered through the Department of Public Safety’s online driver services portal had their…
Politics
Austin officials released video Tuesday as local authorities investigate the shooting of a Venezuelan food-delivery driver by…
Politics
A federal judge has ordered Texas to air-condition every state prison by the end of 2029, finding that current conditions in…
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed Texas regulators to stop approving permits for new data center projects until state reviews…
Politics
A major overhaul of Texas’ Historically Underutilized Business program has removed thousands of businesses from eligibility,…
Politics
Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Vikki Goodwin has filed a notarized complaint alleging that two videos posted by…
Politics
A federal judge has paused the Republican Party of Texas’ effort to limit GOP primary voting to registered Republicans. The case…
Politics
Democrat Gina Hinojosa and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott are campaigning on competing plans for regulating Texas’ rapidly…
Politics
State Rep. Jeff Leach says he will introduce legislation allowing capital punishment in Texas cases involving child rape,…
Politics
Texas drivers are paying nearly $4 a gallon for regular gasoline, with prices rising despite the seasonal decline usually seen…
Politics
The Texas Supreme Court rejected an Alaska surrogate’s effort to keep a 1-month-old infant in Texas, allowing his biological…
Politics
The Texas Department of Transportation has stopped approving permits for Flock automated license-plate readers and similar…
Politics
A Houston attorney is calling on Texas senators to investigate a contractor involved in state lottery operations over…
Politics
Texas transportation officials have paused permits for Flock and other automated license-plate readers along state-owned roads…
Politics
Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa leads Republican Gov. Greg Abbott 49% to 45% among likely voters in a new ReconMR poll,…
Politics
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit Austin and College Station on Friday as part of a tour focused on military…
Politics
Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 47% to 46% among likely Texas voters in a new survey, a result within the…
Politics
Texas replaced its long-standing Historically Underutilized Business program with VetHUB, removing most minority- and…
Politics
A federal appeals court is weighing whether to require in-person pickup of mifepristone nationwide, a change that could force…
Politics
Texas lawmakers are questioning why prediction-market platforms can offer contracts tied to football outcomes while conventional…
Politics
Texas lawmakers are weighing Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to eliminate school district property taxes on homesteads while keeping…
Politics
Leander ISD has appealed state recommendations targeting its police chief and department after a review found serious gaps in…
Politics
The fatal stabbing of a 62-year-old man at Chandler Creek Park has prompted Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows to…
Politics
San Marcos City Councilmember Lorenzo Gonzalez was arrested in Austin over the weekend and charged with assault on a public…
Politics
Travis County commissioners approved a 6% Central Health tax-rate increase Tuesday, enabling $127.5 million in spending on…