INSIDER
A Texas rematch: Republican Mayra Flores aims to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez for U.S. House seat
Read full article: A Texas rematch: Republican Mayra Flores aims to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez for U.S. House seatFlores briefly represented the district after winning a 2022 special election. Gonzalez went on to beat her by nearly 9 points in the general.
Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
Read full article: Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seatThe first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South Texas
Read full article: Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South TexasThis weekโs ruling was the latest twist since cities and groups in Texasโ Rio Grande Valley sued to block the projects.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for waterMany of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative.
Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71
Read full article: Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71Cascos began his political career as a Democrat but later flipped to the Republican Party.
State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucioโs death sentence
Read full article: State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucioโs death sentenceIn a rare joint statement, the district attorney and the defense agreed that prosecutors withheld evidence that could point to a Rio Grande Valley womanโs innocence in the death of her toddler.
Texas greenlights negotiations with SpaceX for Boca Chica State Park land exchange
Read full article: Texas greenlights negotiations with SpaceX for Boca Chica State Park land exchangeMondayโs vote lets Texas Parks and Wildlife staff begin negotiations to swap 43 acres in the park for 477 acres next to a federal wildlife refuge.
New George Soros-backed, Democratic PAC aims to turn Texas blue
Read full article: New George Soros-backed, Democratic PAC aims to turn Texas blueThe group is โhelping to build party infrastructure at the regional level, because the various regions of our state are distinct and therefore require different strategies,โ a PAC official said.
Company confirms it has found new funding to build a massive gas terminal at the Port of Brownsville
Read full article: Company confirms it has found new funding to build a massive gas terminal at the Port of BrownsvilleBrownsville is the last major deepwater port in Texas that doesnโt have large fossil fuel projects. The 750-acre facility will export Texas natural gas to other countries.
One dead as tornado hits south Texas town near the Gulf coast
Read full article: One dead as tornado hits south Texas town near the Gulf coastAuthorities say one person was killed and a curfew was imposed after a powerful tornado tore through a community near the southern tip of Texas on the Gulf coast.
Texas troopers renew inspections of commercial vehicles at Brownsville border bridge, triggering long delays
Read full article: Texas troopers renew inspections of commercial vehicles at Brownsville border bridge, triggering long delaysTruckers have reported waiting up to 24 hours to cross the border because of the inspections. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered similar inspections last year to stop smuggling, but troopers found no contraband after checking more than 4,000 vehicles.
Federal agency failed to weigh possible environmental impacts of SpaceX rocket launch, lawsuit claims
Read full article: Federal agency failed to weigh possible environmental impacts of SpaceX rocket launch, lawsuit claimsEnvironmental groups claim the Federal Aviation Administration let SpaceX do its own environmental assessment before its rocket self-destructed above the Texas coast and debris rained down over a wide area.
In South Texas, opponents say planned natural gas export facilityโs carbon capture promises are โgreenwashingโ
Read full article: In South Texas, opponents say planned natural gas export facilityโs carbon capture promises are โgreenwashingโA company planning to build a massive liquefied natural gas export facility near Brownsville says carbon capture technology will reduce its pollution, but some locals say itโs a โBand-Aid on a bullet hole.โ
State continues negotiating with landowners to construct more portions of Texas border wall
Read full article: State continues negotiating with landowners to construct more portions of Texas border wallSecuring the land rights to build Texasโ portion of a border wall is proving to be a tedious and daunting process according to officials with the Texas Facilities Commission. The comments came during a Jan. 4 TFC meeting when another border wall construction contract was awarded.
Why some Texas cities and counties had to return millions of dollars meant to help renters during the pandemic
Read full article: Why some Texas cities and counties had to return millions of dollars meant to help renters during the pandemicFor some local relief programs, a lack of staffing, political support and effective community outreach got in the way of spending federal funds to prevent evictions, a new report found. More than $30 million went unspent and had to be returned.
Republicans flip U.S. House seat in South Texas, historically a Democratic stronghold
Read full article: Republicans flip U.S. House seat in South Texas, historically a Democratic strongholdMayra Flores, a Republican, won a special election to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. Another election will be held in November.
In South Texas, aging water system meets growing population
Read full article: In South Texas, aging water system meets growing populationDesigned more than a century ago, the Rio Grande Valleyโs canal system in South Texas was built to irrigate the booming agricultural industry that once dominated the local economy.
Correction: Virus Outbreak-Allen West story
Read full article: Correction: Virus Outbreak-Allen West storyIn a story published Oct. 9, 2021, about Allen West being diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia, The Associated Press misspelled Texas Gov. Greg Abbottโs last name in two references in the story and once in the summary.
Tell us how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting you
Read full article: Tell us how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting youCameron County residents line up in the early hours of the morning to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-in distribution site in Los Fresnos. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Almost a year into the pandemic, COVID-19 is still rampant across the state. While doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have begun to arrive โ and more are coming โ it will be months still before it is broadly available to the public. And for the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic, you can sign up for our newsletter here.
SpaceX aborts first attempt of Starship SN8โฒs high-altitude test flight
Read full article: SpaceX aborts first attempt of Starship SN8โฒs high-altitude test flightBOCA CHICA, Texas โ Space fans will just have to wait another day after SpaceX aborted its first attempt at a high-altitude test flight for its SN8 Starship Prototype in Boca Chica on Tuesday. Starship SN8 is expected to fly more than 41,000 feet into the air, do a now-iconic bellyflop or skydiving-like maneuver and then correct itself just before landing on the launchpad. The spacecraft is a two-stage vehicle that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. Itโs the first Starship to be fully outfitted with a nosecone and flaps. You can watch a replay of the first attempt below.
Texas county threatened with lawsuit over COVID-19 order
Read full article: Texas county threatened with lawsuit over COVID-19 orderBut attorneys for two private religious schools have told the county that the order is unlawful and goes against Republican Gov. Laguna Madre Christian Academy in Laguna Vista and Calvary Christian School of Excellence in Harlingen plan to open for face-to-face classes on Aug. 31 and Sept. 8, respectively. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevio Jr. said First Liberty is misconstruing the countys order regarding schools as an attack on religious freedom. The number of reported coronavirus cases in Texas increased by 3,493 and there were 104 more deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, Texas health officials reported Sunday. State health officials reported 114,391 active cases of the virus and that 451,776 people have recovered.
South Texas prepares for Tropical Storm Hanna amid pandemic
Read full article: South Texas prepares for Tropical Storm Hanna amid pandemicHOUSTON Officials in South Texas, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks, said theyre also prepared to handle any challenges from Tropical Storm Hanna, which was headed their way and expected to make landfall this weekend. Areas of South Texas could see anywhere from 3 to 8 inches of rain, with some parts possibly seeing up to 12 inches. We could be dealing with significant flash flooding across much of deep South Texas, Birchfield said. South Texas officials' plans for any possible rescues, shelters and monitoring of the storm will have the pandemic in mind. Greg Abbott has announced that various resources to respond to the tropical storm are on standby across the state, including search-and-rescue teams and aircraft.
Mexican border city tightens checks on US visitors coming from Brownsville
Read full article: Mexican border city tightens checks on US visitors coming from BrownsvilleCIUDAD VICTORIA โ Officials in a Mexican border city are tightening checks on travellers coming from Texas, saying they fear U.S. visitors may be helping feed a spike in COVID-19 cases. Municipal and state officials in Matamoros, together with Mexico's National Guard began setting up checkpoints Saturday at the three border crossings to question U.S. citizens and residents coming from Brownsville, Texas. At least 180 people were turrned back at a single point on Saturday, according to city officials. Commercial traffic, critical to the economy on both sides of the border, has continued on a large scale. Residents and officials on both sides have asserted that travellers from across the border were bringing the infection.