Area News

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat Sep 23, 2026 at 6:18pm EDT Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Texas’ free newsletter here. Update, Sept. 23,…

By Colleen DeGuzman, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2026 Hours after a federal officer shot a Venezuelan man during a chaotic traffic stop Sunday in Austin, the city’s mayor was clear that he wanted the police department to investigate the shooting. Mayor Kirk Watson said he didn’t trust federal investigators to conduct a thorough probe…

By Zach Leggio and Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2026 Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was shot Sunday by federal immigration officers in Austin, needs surgery to remove the bullet lodged near his spine, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar said Wednesday after visiting the Venezuelan man in a detention center in Pearsall. Casar said…

By Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2026 The second of two men sentenced to death for killing three people in a 2005 robbery was executed Wednesday, a week after his codefendant was put to death. Ker’Sean Olajuwa Ramey, 41, was executed by lethal injection and pronounced deceased at 6:34 p.m., according to the…

By María Méndez, Jayme Lozano Carver and Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune September 24, 2026 Editor’s note: To help readers learn more about the candidates running for statewide seats, The Texas Tribune is sharing information about the Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates. For more information on midterms and the voting process, check out our election…

By Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2026 Houston ISD administrators directed some campuses to cut staff and slash spending a month into the start of school, as the district confronts the mounting financial pressure of enrollment losses three years into a state takeover. On Monday, The Texas Tribune published an investigation revealing the…

By Gabby Birenbaum, The Texas Tribune September 24, 2026 GRAPEVINE — Jill Tate has spent 30 years building and maintaining the Republican majority in Texas. In all that time, she’s never been more worried about an election. “This is truly the first time I’ve felt in my bones we could lose the Texas House, and…

Iconic Central Texas Hat Shop Will Throw a Huge Public Party Nov. 7 There is perhaps nothing more closely associated with Texas culture than the cowboy hat. Recognized around the world, the iconic headwear from the Lone Star State is both admired and imitated on a global scale. Yet, workshops producing the real deal in…

By Dr. Gleb Tsipursky On September 22, the U.S. Department of Education approved Texas programs for the new Workforce Pell Grant, which expands federal aid to eligible short-term training. At Kilgore College, approved programs include Electrical Power Lineman, Phlebotomy Technician and Pharmacy Technician. That is good news for East Texas. But the timing also exposes…

Fast-growing, cool-season herb delivers fresh flavor for salsas, salads and more – by Adam Russell   Few herbs earn a permanent spot in Texas gardens and kitchens quite like cilantro. The fast-growing, cool-season favorite has been named a Texas Superstar plant. Also known as coriander, or Chinese parsley, cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, is a staple herb…