Ken Paxton demanded Odessa freeze its tax hike. Then, he went silent.
By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas Tribune May 7, 2026 Subscribe to The Y’all — a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state. ODESSA — Last October was like any other for most Odessa city employees. Parks employees unveiled a new sign.…
Read MoreThat Discount at the Pharmacy Counter May Pack Hidden Costs
By Rachel Spears May 7, 2026 (iStock/Getty Images Plus) Next time you go to the pharmacy, you might be offered a coupon on your prescription drugs. While it may sound like a great deal — with the prospect of saving hundreds of dollars — the decision to accept it is complicated, especially for people with…
Read MoreTrump Promised Cheaper Drugs. Some Prices Dropped. Many Others Shot Up.
By Elisabeth Rosenthal and Arthur Allen May 7, 2026 President Donald Trump speaks at an announcement for the launch of the TrumpRx website at the White House on Feb. 5. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Since his second term started, President Donald Trump has announced, negotiated, or floated a flurry of initiatives aimed at taming…
Read MoreConnally schools superintendent appointed during Texas’ takeover of district
By Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune May 6, 2026 In a takeover of Connally ISD, the state brought in an educator from a neighboring Waco district to accelerate academic gains. Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath picked Josie Gutierrez to lead the 2,000-student district, citing her success in improving outcomes and strengthening teacher retention as…
Read MoreNew Texas A&M president confirmed as university seeks stability
By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune April 13, 2026 Regents on Wednesday unanimously appointed Susan Ballabina as president of Texas A&M, putting her in charge of the state’s largest public university as it continues to deal with the fallout from its last president’s resignation. Ballabina, who assumes the role on May 11, most recently served…
Read MoreTexas Tech cautions broadcasting research restrictions to prospective students
By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune May 6, 2026 Texas Tech leaders told faculty not to widely share the chancellor’s memo restricting graduate work related to sexual orientation or gender identity, a move some experts say could cost prospective graduate students time and money. Instead, an April 17 email from Mark Sheridan, Texas Tech’s vice…
Read MoreGas power leapfrogs wind for first time in 10 years in Texas’ grid connection queue
By Brandon Mulder and Chris Essig, The Texas Tribune May 7, 2026 Brandon Mulder is a journalism fellow at the University of Texas Energy Institute. A decade ago, wind power was surging in popularity and attracting huge investments that made Texas a national leader in renewable energy. But today, gas generation is making a big…
Read MoreTexas Republicans have a data center problem
By Taylor Goldenstein, The Texas Tribune May 7, 2026 This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. The Republican Party has felt like home to Rena Schroeder since her teenage years when she joined a high school club for conservative Latinos. She cast her first presidential vote for Ronald Reagan. And she’s lost friends over her…
Read MoreActing Comptroller Kelly Hancock Distributes $1.4 Billion in Monthly Sales Tax Revenue to Local Governments
(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.4 billion in local sales tax allocations for May, 7.7 percent more than in May 2025. These allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report tax monthly and sales made in…
Read MoreTexas DPS Identifies Suspect in Fort Worth Officer-Involved Shooting
DENTON COUNTY – On May 5, 2026, investigators with the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) were serving an arrest warrant for indecency with a child at an apartment complex located in the 3600 block of Outlet Boulevard in Fort Worth. Investigators located the subject of the warrant, identified as Matthew Cruz, 36, hiding…
Read More