Texas Tribune

09/04/2026

After rescoring STAAR exams, 11 Texas districts seeing A-F grades improve.

The score changes are part of an annual process to review the accuracy of STAAR results, state officials said.

The score changes are part of an annual process to review the accuracy of STAAR results, state officials said.

09/04/2026

AG Ken Paxton hasn’t challenged the Trump administration over Texas’ $10-billion Medicaid cut even though he sued Biden. https://bit.ly/4iwHG0z

The attorney general won a lawsuit against the feds for withholding a Medicaid funding stream three years ago. Texas faces the same cut, but Paxton has stayed quiet.

09/04/2026

Who is being held in Texas’ ICE detention centers, and what does it mean for their families and communities?

Don’t miss “Inside Texas’ ICE Detention Centers” on Saturday, Sept. 26, where Rochelle Garza, Sigrid Gonzalez and Joaquin Castro will take a closer look at conditions inside the facilities and the broader implications for the rule of law, moderated by Perla Trevizo.

Explore the full program and get tickets: https://trib.it/tribfest26-facebook-fullprogram.

09/04/2026

Elon Musk’s super PAC recently dropped almost a quarter-million dollars boosting Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee, who has seen a recent surge in outside support yet continues to lag in fundraising. https://bit.ly/4ylLJB9

09/04/2026

New: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears to have violated federal ethics law in significant ways when filing recent disclosures of his assets and liabilities, creating confusion about his net worth and holdings, a review by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found.

The Republican U.S. Senate nominee appears to have violated federal ethics law, which requires candidates to report their income and disclose mortgages on properties other than personal residences, experts said.

09/04/2026

New: Gov. Greg Abbott has blocked state agencies from spending money on Flock cameras, but the Texas Department of Public Safety has no apparent plans to stop using its existing roadside surveillance cameras. Law enforcement agencies from across the country search the DPS Flock database once every four seconds, on average.

Law enforcement agencies from across the country search the DPS Flock database once every four seconds, on average. After the Tribune inquired, DPS said it will limit which agencies can access the network.

09/03/2026

Federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with lying to investigators about events leading up to the shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown earlier this year, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Christian Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after Gov. Greg Abbott declined to immediately sign extradition papers from Minnesota.

09/03/2026

New: Texas Comptroller Don Huffines requested that lawmakers double the amount of money available for the state’s private school voucher program.

This is the first year for education savings accounts, which allow Texas families to use taxpayer dollars for private and home schooling.

09/03/2026

More Texans have become food insecure due to a rise in natural disasters and less qualifying for SNAP benefits. Rural food banks in particular face additional pressures.

More Texans have become food insecure due to a rise in natural disasters and less qualifying for SNAP benefits. Rural food banks in particular face additional pressures.

09/03/2026

What could the race for U.S. Senate mean for Texas?

Don’t miss “One on One with James Talarico” on Thursday, Sept. 24, when James Talarico sits down with Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins to discuss his race against Attorney General Ken Paxton and his vision for the state.

Explore the full program and get tickets: https://trib.it/tribfest26-facebook-fullprogram