Area News

by Jennifer Smith Richards, Megan O’Matz, Mollie Simon and Jennifer Berry Hawes Co-published with Arkansas Times, Mountain State Spotlight, and The Assembly July 16, 2026, 5:00 am Listen 24:01 ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. A decade ago, the…

By Lauren Sausser and Renuka Rayasam Jul 17, 2026 One year after the Trump administration announced that dozens of health insurers had signed a six-part pledge promising to reduce barriers to doctor-recommended care, some insurers now say they won’t implement all the promised initiatives. Meanwhile, patients, their advocates, and clinicians say little has improved. “It…

  |  July 17, 2026  | Austin, TX – Sour Lake’s Downtown Historic District was recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places; noted for its historic and architectural significance, the district joins other properties across the state with National Register status. Centered on Sixth and Merchant streets, the Sour Lake Downtown Historic District contains 14 buildings dating from…

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will host an upcoming Church Safety Seminar on Aug. 1 designed to help local places of worship strengthen their security protocols and protect their congregations. The seminar aims to equip faith-based leaders, security teams, and church staff with actionable strategies to mitigate risks and respond effectively to…

Two-year academy culminates in international study and commencement ceremony July 17, 2026 – by Karn Dhingra The Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr. Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program, TALL, celebrated the graduation of 24 professionals as part of Cohort XIX during a commencement ceremony held at the College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. The competitive two-year…

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (July 16, 2026) – Save the date! Tickets for Santa’s North Pole Express and other  Christmas Capital of Texas® events, go on sale Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 10 a.m. Central time. The  official Christmas Capital of Texas features more than 1,400 events over 40 days. Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s beloved North Pole Express®…

By Alejandra Martinez, Emily Foxhall and Ellie Ashby, The Texas Tribune July 17, 2026 First responders on a bridge covered by water after the flood in Kerrville on July 16, 2026. Never miss a story! The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter gives readers the most essential Texas news. Sign up for The Brief. One year after catastrophic flooding…

By Taylor Goldenstein, The Texas Tribune July 17, 2026 The family of the victim in a child sex abuse case prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is speaking out against the use of the case by politicians, saying they are “tired of being used.” Paxton’s Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, in…

 |  July 17, 2026  | San Antonio, TX – Casa Navarro State Historic Site in San Antonio is offering families a morning of fun from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Wednesday through August. Each week features a different hands-on activity, craft, or demonstration designed to help visitors explore history through creativity and play. Activities are…

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…