Area News

Milestone reached as new scratch ticket game launched to increase total revenue generated for the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance AUSTIN — Ahead of Memorial Day, the Texas Lottery has hit an historic milestone in its mission to support those who have served. With its most recent revenue transfer, the Texas Lottery has now generated more than…

By Blair Bryant Honey bees are regarded as one of the most important species on the planet, and their value to humanity is priceless.  Sure, they have a painful sting and encourage many of us not to go barefoot outside, but what they give back is way beyond any pain or inconvenience.  Fruits and vegetables…

LIVING ON PURPOSE By Dr. Billy Holland Memorial means to “remember” and every year on the last Monday in May, we honor those who sacrificed their life in the line of active military service. The first Amendment was not only signed into existence with ink, but with the blood of over 1.3 million Americans who…

By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune May 18, 2026 Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sued a group calling itself Texas American Muslim University, accusing it of operating without state approval, misleading prospective students and using a name too similar to Texas A&M. The lawsuit asks a Collin County judge to stop the group that…

By Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune May 18, 2026 The U.S. Senate confirmed Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell to serve as an assistant secretary of defense on Monday, a return to the Pentagon for the five-term Granbury Republican. Birdwell was confirmed on a 46-43 vote in the Senate alongside several dozen other nominees. He previously worked…

By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune May 18, 2026 GOP megadonor Alex Fairly recently gave $2.75 million to U.S. Rep. Chip Roy’s attorney general campaign, a much-needed shot in the arm as early voting begins in the Austin congressman’s runoff against state Sen. Mayes Middleton. The donation, first shared by Fairly with The Texas Tribune,…

By Riddhi Bora, The Texas Tribune May 19, 2026 Texas fuel prices have risen significantly since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran began on Feb. 28, which led to Iran closing a key international shipping lane for oil and gas, the Strait of Hormuz. The average price for a gallon of gas in Texas, which was…

By Neena Satija, Taylor Goldenstein and Molly-Jo Tilton, The Texas Tribune May 19, 2026 WACO — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is under fire for a plea deal his prosecutors offered last month to a Waco man charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy. The deal in the case, which Paxton’s office took over about…

THE LONG ROAD JONATHAN ZIZZO A Family Adventure Across 3,000 Miles of Texas Contributing writer James Wade and his wife, Jordan, took their two children, Juniper and Jonah, on a Texas-size adventure. Or, more accurately, four Texas-size adventures, over which they crossed 3,000 miles of the state. “Are We There Yet?” details the joys and…