Texas GOP faces legal opposition in bid to close state’s open primary system
The state party claims crossover votes by Democrats and independents infringe on Republicans’ freedom of association under the First Amendment. Disability advocates argue the move to require party registration would discourage political participation. Read more: Texas GOP faces legal opposition in bid to close state’s open primary system
Read MoreTexas Demographic Center: Your Monthly Data Update
MONTHLY DATA UPDATE Happy Holidays from the Texas Demographic Center! As we wrap up the year, we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve Texans with data that matters. Wishing you and your loved ones peace, joy, and a season filled with warmth. Texas Demographic Center Vintage 2024 Population Estimates We are pleased to announce the release of…
Read MoreThe Rio Grande Valley among Texas counties most impacted by expiring health insurance subsidies
By Berenice Garcia, Gabby Birenbaum and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune December 29, 2025 McALLEN — Alix Flores, 62, has jumped from different careers over the years, working with nonprofits, in corporate America, as a teacher at a Brownsville school and with the regional office of the Texas Department of State Health Services. He wanted to…
Read MoreHere are the most important stories from our data visuals team in 2025
By Chris Essig, The Texas Tribune December 29, 2025 The Texas Tribune’s data visuals team contributed to roughly 100 impactful stories that helped Texans understand the policy and political decisions affecting their lives. Our coverage spanned the legislative session, the state’s water crisis, the July 4 floods and key education data releases. Here’s some of…
Read MoreTexas Weekly Gas Price Update
December 29, 2025 Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 8.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.33/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 19.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 25.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The…
Read MoreTrails to Trout’ Brings Fishing to Tyler’s Nature Center
Dec. 22, 2025 TYLER – Celebrate the start of the new year by introducing a kid to the Texas winter tradition of rainbow trout fishing. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) “Trails to Trout” fishing days are scheduled for Jan. 4 and Jan. 10 at the Tyler Nature Center. TPWD will stock 900 rainbow…
Read MoreGovernment liable for damage to homes near Houston dams during Hurricane Harvey floods, court rules
By Colleen DeGuzman, The Texas Tribune December 24, 2025 A federal appeals court has ruled that the government is liable for damage to homes that flooded upstream of the Addicks and Barker dams after Hurricane Harvey unleashed more than 50 inches of rainfall on the Houston region in 2017. A three-judge panel in the U.S.…
Read MoreU.S. Coast Guard to return Station Pascagoula to full operations
Dec. 23, 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday it will return Station Pascagoula in Pascagoula, Mississippi to full response operations. In conjunction with assignment year 2026, Station Pascagoula will go from scheduled mission operations to full response operations. “After temporarily reducing capabilities at Station Pascagoula in 2023 due to severe workforce shortages,…
Read MoreQuinn Minute – Cold weather activities
By Rix Quinn I just talked to an old friend who told me it is very cold in his town. He wonders what he can do for fun in icy conditions. Well, it is cold because it is winter. If it were hot, we would worry that there’s a hole in the ozone layer.…
Read MoreKick Start 2026 With a First Day Hike at a Texas State Park
Dec. 18, 2025 AUSTIN – Celebrate the beginning of a new year and the start of America’s semiquincentennial (America 250) with a First Day Hike at a Texas State Park. This annual tradition is a unique opportunity for people of all ages and skill levels to experience Texas’ wild places through ranger-guided and self-guided walks,…
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