By Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune May 18, 2026 The U.S. Senate confirmed Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell to serve as an assistant secretary of defense on Monday, a return to the Pentagon for the five-term Granbury Republican. Birdwell was confirmed on a 46-43 vote in the Senate alongside several dozen other nominees. He previously worked…

By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune May 18, 2026 GOP megadonor Alex Fairly recently gave $2.75 million to U.S. Rep. Chip Roy’s attorney general campaign, a much-needed shot in the arm as early voting begins in the Austin congressman’s runoff against state Sen. Mayes Middleton. The donation, first shared by Fairly with The Texas Tribune,…

By Riddhi Bora, The Texas Tribune May 19, 2026 Texas fuel prices have risen significantly since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran began on Feb. 28, which led to Iran closing a key international shipping lane for oil and gas, the Strait of Hormuz. The average price for a gallon of gas in Texas, which was…

By Neena Satija, Taylor Goldenstein and Molly-Jo Tilton, The Texas Tribune May 19, 2026 WACO — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is under fire for a plea deal his prosecutors offered last month to a Waco man charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy. The deal in the case, which Paxton’s office took over about…

THE LONG ROAD JONATHAN ZIZZO A Family Adventure Across 3,000 Miles of Texas Contributing writer James Wade and his wife, Jordan, took their two children, Juniper and Jonah, on a Texas-size adventure. Or, more accurately, four Texas-size adventures, over which they crossed 3,000 miles of the state. “Are We There Yet?” details the joys and…

“Click It or Ticket” Increased Enforcement May 18- 31   AUSTIN – We are Texans. We wear our Lone Star belt buckles with pride, but it’s the buckle in your car or truck that matters the most. It’s the one that can save your life.   That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working…

Oncor and LCRA TSC complied with all state laws and regulations when providing landowner notice for this project, and in several ways exceeded those requirements. In June 2025, we advertised the project’s multiple upcoming public meetings – triple the amount required – in numerous local newspapers (listed here), going beyond state notification rules to help…

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently held commencement ceremonies to recognize 1,237 students who earned degrees or certificates from the university’s five colleges and graduate school.   UAMS awarded a total of 1,249 degrees or certificates: 167 to students in the College of Medicine, 159 in the College of…