Democrat Nathan Johnson pitches back-to-basics attorney general’s office after 12 years under Paxton
By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune October 8, 2026 To learn more about Republican nominee Mayes Middleton, read our profile of him from the GOP primary. In 2018, a little-known Dallas lawyer named Nathan Johnson took on a well-funded, far-right state senator and won, flipping a district that had been in GOP hands for 30…
Read MoreWhat to know about Texas’ affordability crisis and how candidates want to fix it
By Joshua Fechter, Dan Keemahill, Paul Cobler, Terri Langford, Alex Ford, Megan Menchaca, Jess Huff and Sasha Draeger-Mazer, The Texas Tribune October 8, 2026 Never miss a story! The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter gives readers the most essential Texas news. Sign up for The Brief. As Texas voters fret about the high cost of living,…
Read More‘We have to suck it up’: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce national deficit
By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune October 8, 2026 Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event. “There’s no doubt…
Read MoreVet warns owners not to dress their pets up for Halloween
Veterinarian Dr. Kelly Hood explains the dog and cat stress signals owners can miss during costumes, family photos and trick-or-treat visits. A dog that suddenly freezes in a Halloween costume may look perfectly posed for a photograph. But that stillness can be a sign of stress, rather than a willingness to cooperate. Ahead…
Read MoreAging workforce, immigration crackdown are depleting skilled workers
By Tim Henderson, Stateline October 8, 2026 A perfect storm of harsh immigration enforcement, aging journeymen and a building boom for data centers is wreaking havoc on the nation’s supply of skilled trade workers. Automakers and construction contractors say they need more access to workers through accelerated training, steady immigration and a cultural shift to…
Read MoreMedical Debt Is Crushing Hospital Patients in Los Angeles. Health Officials May Have a Fix.
By Noam N. Levey Oct 8, 2026 LOS ANGELES — Every Tuesday, Naman Shah sees tuberculosis patients at a small public clinic in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Shah, a physician and epidemiologist at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, pores over images of battered lungs, listens to labored breathing, and checks medications.…
Read MoreVideo: Gilmer’s Brendan Webb finding success at Northwestern State
Food Aid Enrollment Tanks After SNAP Rule Changes
By Halle Parker, Verite News Oct 7, 2026 Aaranika Macon of LaPlace, Louisiana, says it took two months to receive benefits after she applied to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program this year. “Usually when you fill out, they’ll get back with you in, like, two weeks,” she says. (Halle Parker/Verite News) After President Donald Trump…
Read More‘Medicare for All’ Message Attracts Voters Buckling Under Medical Bills
By Kate Wells Oct 7, 2026 Christina Starks-Clay is an early childhood special education paraprofessional and small-business owner who attended Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s town hall in Lansing, Michigan, last month. Like many Americans, she likes the idea of “Medicare for All,” even if she’s unsure how it would work. It sounds like…
Read MoreTrump’s Invasion of Iran Could Cost Texans Thousands
Higher fuel and food prices are on track to cost the average household over $1,300 by the end of the year. By Amy Hanauer Affordability is getting worse, especially if you have to drive to work or anywhere else. By late September, the total cost of the higher gas and diesel prices triggered…
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