Area News

By Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune May 6, 2026 Texas Tech leaders told faculty not to widely share the chancellor’s memo restricting graduate work related to sexual orientation or gender identity, a move some experts say could cost prospective graduate students time and money. Instead, an April 17 email from Mark Sheridan, Texas Tech’s vice…

By Brandon Mulder and Chris Essig, The Texas Tribune May 7, 2026 Brandon Mulder is a journalism fellow at the University of Texas Energy Institute. A decade ago, wind power was surging in popularity and attracting huge investments that made Texas a national leader in renewable energy. But today, gas generation is making a big…

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.4 billion in local sales tax allocations for May, 7.7 percent more than in May 2025. These allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report tax monthly and sales made in…

DENTON COUNTY – On May 5, 2026, investigators with the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) were serving an arrest warrant for indecency with a child at an apartment complex located in the 3600 block of Outlet Boulevard in Fort Worth. Investigators located the subject of the warrant, identified as Matthew Cruz, 36, hiding…

In celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation has launched a special grant opportunity for veteran-serving nonprofit organizations. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation plans to invest up to $250,000 in each of the states CenterPoint serves by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen veteran resilience through: Mental health…

AUSTIN – Since its inception in 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) has collaborated with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to deliver nearly 100 fish habitat conservation projects in Texas public waterways. Backed by more than $1.2 million in grant funding from NFHP matched 1:1 by contributions from local project partners, these projects…

Accessible public tool breaks down permitting barriers and removes confusion to unleash American prosperity WASHINGTON (May 6, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching the EPA Permitting Authority Map. The interactive map—accessible via EPA’s website—identifies which regulatory agencies have the authority to issue permits covering all of EPA’s permitting programs and environmental…

May 6, 2026 BRYAN–COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System today voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Susan Ballabina as 28th president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Ballabina will assume her new role on May 11. The vote follows the state’s required 21-day waiting period after which Dr. Ballabina…

AgriLife Extension program to focus on product selection, use for plant species management in ponds May 5, 2026 – by Sarah Fuller The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a webinar, “Aquatic Vegetation Herbicides and Application,” on May 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. The event is a component of the agency’s AquaExtension programming. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a webinar,…