The Fiscal Note: $10 Billion Opportunity for Taxpayer
Friend, Welcome to your Friday Fiscal Note. This week, Governor Abbot has officially requested that the federal government reimburse the billions of dollars Texas taxpayers spent to secure the southern border during the Biden Administration. If successful, the reimbursement would create an unprecedented opportunity to expedite the elimination of property taxes. Also, Austin voters will…
Read MoreOp-Ed: Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution de facto repealed
Texas A&M Forest Service works alongside the U.S. Forest Service through the Good Neighbor Authority
The Good Neighbor Authority allows state forestry agencies to conduct forest management work on national forest lands. In Texas, this partnership helps both agencies meet forest management needs while creating meaningful benefits for forests, wildlife and communities. June 26, 2026 Kennard, Texas Through the Good Neighbor Authority, Texas A&M Forest Service is working alongside the USDA Forest Service to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk and support local…
Read MoreHarris County immigrant legal services program paused as court battle continues
By Brandon Formby, The Texas Tribune November 11, 2025 The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily blocked Harris County’s legal aid program for undocumented immigrants while a legal battle continues, saying on June 26 it’s not clear that the county has “constitutional statutory authority to conduct” it. The ruling marks a new chapter in the lawsuit…
Read MoreTexas Supreme Court rejects lawsuit by survivors of Uvalde school shooting
By Colleen DeGuzman, The Texas Tribune June 26, 2026 The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by Robb Elementary students and teachers who argued failures by the Department of Public Safety and Uvalde County contributed to a botched response to the 2022 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. The court’s order,…
Read MoreCornyn says closed primaries could backfire on Texas GOP, breaking with Abbott, Paxton
By Samanta Habashy, The Texas Tribune June 26, 2026 WASHINGTON — Sen. John Cornyn on Friday came out against top Texas Republicans’ efforts to close the state’s GOP primaries, warning that to do so would be “paving the way to minority party status.” Texas is one of 17 states with open primaries, where eligible voters…
Read MoreDolores Huerta tells Texas Democrats to organize and “save democracy” in surprise convention appearance
By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune June 26, 2026 CORPUS CHRISTI — Dolores Huerta, the iconic Latina labor and civil rights leader, addressed Texas Democrats in a surprise Q&A on stage at the state party’s convention Friday, urging the crowd of rank-and-file activists to go all out in stirring up voter turnout this fall and…
Read MoreDemocratic land commissioner nominee diagnosed with cancer, announces he’s in remission
By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune June 12, 2026 Benjamin Flores, the Democratic nominee for Texas land commissioner, said Friday that he is in remission, two weeks after his campaign revealed he had been diagnosed with leukemia. Flores provided the update on his health while addressing Texas Democratic Convention attendees in Corpus…
Read MoreAbbott trolls Talarico with tacos and cattle at Texas Democratic Convention, ignoring opponent Hinojosa
By Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune June 26, 2026 CORPUS CHRISTI — As thousands gathered Friday for the first full day of the Texas Democratic Convention, a pair of Texas Longhorns down the street gazed listlessly at the Corpus Christi Bay. Gov. Greg Abbott and his campaign commissioned the bulls, 18-year-old Buckero and 17-year-old Dallas.…
Read MoreJames Talarico, Gina Hinojosa attack GOP with parallel populist pitches at Texas Democratic Convention
By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune June 26, 2026 CORPUS CHRISTI — James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa, who will lead Texas Democrats’ ticket in November, closed the first full day of their party’s state convention Friday with speeches that sharply focused on populist economic politics and accused Republicans of fixating on culture wars to distract…
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