Area News

By Susan Jaffe Jul 7, 2026 Jude Pare and his partner, Diane Tix, live in rural Minnesota until temperatures dip below freezing, when they take refuge in Arizona for the winter. While away, their mail is forwarded. But Pare, 77, said he didn’t receive any warning from his Medicare prescription drug plan that his $0…

By Paul Cobler and Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune May 28, 2026 Texas can continue enforcing a law requiring app marketplace operators like Google and Apple to verify all users’ ages after the U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to intervene.  Senate Bill 2420, which was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, establishes age verification requirements…

By Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune July 7, 2026 Texas community colleges have struggled with enrollment over the past 15 years as many high school graduates opted to go straight into the workforce, but a new report points to signs of the campuses pivoting to stay relevant. More students are graduating from Texas high schools,…

By Katlyn Ma, The Texas Tribune July 7, 2026 State lawmakers are exploring prohibiting foreign nationals from using Texas surrogates, elevating a niche fertility issue into a larger battle over immigration and birthright citizenship, surrogacy experts say. The Texas Senate health committee will hear testimony on Wednesday about potentially banning foreign nationals from contracting with…

Public comment period open July 3 – Aug. 3 July 6, 2026 AUSTIN – Help shape the future of Texas roadways by sharing your thoughts on the new 10-year transportation plan. From neighborhood sidewalks to projects that transform daily commutes, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) wants to hear what investments matter most.  As Texas continues…

BATON ROUGE – A Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Avoyelles Parish to help Louisianians continue their recovery from Tropical Storms Arthur that occurred June 17-18. Residents and business owners in Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes can visit the center in Mansura to get in-person help applying for federal assistance, learn about…

BATON ROUGE – FEMA is supporting state and local recovery efforts for Louisiana homeowners and renters in four parishes who sustained damage from Tropical Storm Arthur that occurred June 17-18. Financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners and renters in Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes. FEMA may be able to help with…

Five defendants were sentenced to 903 months in federal prison as U.S. Attorney’s Office advances DOJ mission to protect the Homeland   PLANO, Texas – The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels,…

By Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune July 3, 2026 Last month, the leader of a small Texas state commission — tasked with aiding criminal defense for low-income Texans — received an unusual request from top officials working with the Trump administration. The U.S. Department of Justice needed their help providing legal services to immigrant children…

By Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune July 5, 2026 Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Archer, who represented west Houston for three decades in Congress, died on Saturday in Virginia. He was 98. His death was announced Sunday by the Archer Center, which he co-established after he retired from Congress. Best known for his time in…