Ted Cruz bill to regulate college sports in NIL era advances
By Gabby Birenbaum, The Texas Tribune June 18, 2026 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz took a big bipartisan swing last month when he unveiled a compromise bill with Democrats to regulate college sports, a play he believes is the only path to saving the multibillion dollar industry from itself. The Protect College Sports Act, which Cruz…
Read MoreState investigators issue final Camp Mystic report detailing cascading failures during July 4 flood
By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas Tribune June 18, 2026 Camp Mystic did not have state-required written emergency plans or adequate evacuation measures that could have prevented the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors in last year’s July 4 flood, state-appointed investigators told the state lawmakers in their final report released on Thursday. Casey…
Read MoreLandmark $211M tax-break deal could trump SpaceX’s deal in South Texas
By Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune June 18, 2026 McALLEN — A South Texas community once cited as the poorest in Texas is courting an Austin-based defense technology startup that promises to bring 10,000 jobs over 10 years, more than SpaceX’s initial promise of 300 back in 2014. The Cameron County commissioners court approved a…
Read MoreVideo: Texas Primary Elections Policy Forum Pt 1: Overview of TX Primary Structure and Participation
Talarico goes all-in with attack on Paxton plea deal in child sex abuse case
By Taylor Goldenstein, The Texas Tribune June 18, 2026 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico on Thursday slammed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, his Republican opponent, for a plea deal his office offered a Waco man who was charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy. Speaking from the steps of the McLennan County Courthouse…
Read MoreTexas college watchdog received nearly 70 complaints, opened one investigation, records show
By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune June 18, 2026 A new state office received 69 complaints about Texas universities, including allegations of banned DEI initiatives, restrictions on conservative speech and interference in academic affairs. All but one complaint was closed without investigation, records obtained by The Texas Tribune show. The Office of the Ombudsman’s only…
Read MoreWhich Bible passages are in Texas’ proposed student reading list? Here’s what the selections reveal.
By Ellie Ashby, The Texas Tribune June 19, 2026 The State Board of Education is preparing to vote next week on requiring Texas schoolchildren to read about a dozen Bible passages and religious stories, stepping into the long-running debate over religion’s — and specifically Christianity’s — place in the public school classroom. A detailed look…
Read More“Mass euthanasias”: Screwworm could have deeper implications for Texas’ already-crowded animal shelters
By Jayme Lozano Carver, The Texas Tribune June 19, 2026 LUBBOCK — After the New World screwworm was found in a dog in Texas, pet owners across the state worried how it might affect their animal companions. But the state’s uncontrollable stray animal population has the potential to make the spread of screwworm worse. And…
Read MoreSummer donor drought drains Texas blood supply
The blood supply has hit a dry spell. Health officials with Texas’ Carter BloodCare warn blood resources take a drastic drop in the summer. This is largely due to the absence of high school blood drives over the break; these student drives collect 25% of the blood available for local patients. Summer travel…
Read MoreThe Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) announces the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Regional Coaches of the Year for Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field
THSCA recognizes outstanding Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field coaches from across the state for their accomplishments SAN MARCOS, TX (June 18, 2026)– The THSCA and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance have released the regional Coach of the Year honorees for baseball, softball, and track & field. Go to www.thsca.com/coty to access list of 2025-26 Regional Coach of…
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