Area News

John Whitehead’s Commentary By John & Nisha Whitehead October 20, 2026 “The problem is whether the American people have loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough, to live up to their own Constitution.”—Frederick Douglass There was a time when thinking for yourself was considered a virtue. These days, it can make you a political outcast. Question…

  Funding Awarded Through its Members Will Create 3,109 Housing Units DALLAS, TEXAS, October 22, 2026—The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded nearly $60 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to 37 affordable housing projects located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. The grants, totaling $59,792,101, will help…

By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune October 23, 2026 Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, for allegedly deceiving and harming Texans. This is the latest in a flurry of lawsuits filed against Big Tech companies and private corporations by the state’s top lawyer, who is running for U.S. Senate. The…

By Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune October 23, 2026 The head of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, which manages the state’s five youth prisons, has resigned. TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter on Friday stepped down from the leadership role, which she had held since 2022. It’s not immediately clear why she resigned, but the decision…

By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune October 23, 2026 Immigrants who entered the country illegally don’t have a right to seek bond while they’re in custody and going through deportation proceedings, even if they’ve set roots in the U.S., a federal appeals court ruled Friday. In a 10-7 ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court…

Texas A&M Health experts break down the new immunization option and weigh benefits, efficacy and side effects By LASHA MARKHAM for VITAL RECORD   BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas—As the 2026 flu season ramps up and millions of Americans prepare for their annual flu shot, they may encounter a new option: the first FDA-approved messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine that gained approval for adults ages…

By Renzo Downey, The Texas Tribune October 20, 2026 This article was adapted from our premium politics newsletter, The Blast, which delivers exclusive reporting, nonpartisan analysis and the first word on political moves across the state. Subscribe today. Multiple counties are reporting record-breaking turnout on Day 1 of early voting, offering fresh tea leaves for…

October 22, 2026 (AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines today launched the Texas Fraud Investigation and Recovery Strike Team (Texas FIRST), a new statewide unit within the Comptroller’s Law Enforcement Operations Division built to hunt down fraud, government corruption, and financial crimes that steal from Texas taxpayers. “Texas FIRST finds those who lie and cheat to…

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service awarded nearly $20 million to 518 rural volunteer fire departments across the state today to support firefighting equipment and emergency response capabilities. The $19.6 million will help departments purchase firefighting apparatus, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing and other essential resources needed to safely and effectively respond…

Bowie County   Interstate 30 (I-30) – From Farm to Market road (FM) 989/Kings Highway to Arkansas state line, widening highway. Westbound lanes back to traditional, two-lane traffic pattern. Westbound entrance & exit ramps open. Traveling I-30 eastbound: Exit 217 to access Kings Highway & FM 2148. Lanes split. Exit 218 for local access east of Pecan…