More than 30,000 San Antonio-area students applied for school vouchers in program’s first year
Read full article: More than 30,000 San Antonio-area students applied for school vouchers in program’s first yearIn Region 20, which encompasses students in the San Antonio area, there were 30,815 applications submitted.
Judge allows Attorney General Ken Paxton to withdraw from representing comptroller’s office in voucher case
Read full article: Judge allows Attorney General Ken Paxton to withdraw from representing comptroller’s office in voucher caseThe Houston federal judge said Paxton’s office can pull out of the case as soon as acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock finds new lawyers. The unusual request comes amid a bubbling feud between the two Republicans.
Ken Paxton won’t represent Comptroller Kelly Hancock in school voucher suit amid grudge match
Read full article: Ken Paxton won’t represent Comptroller Kelly Hancock in school voucher suit amid grudge matchIn a Thursday letter, Paxton said Hancock jeopardized the state’s defense in the case by leaking a separate letter he sent to the AG’s office on Tuesday.
Judge orders Texas to extend school voucher deadline in response to lawsuit from Islamic schools
Read full article: Judge orders Texas to extend school voucher deadline in response to lawsuit from Islamic schoolsThe application period, set to close Tuesday night, must now remain open until March 31, according to an attorney representing Islamic schools.
Nearly 20,000 students in San Antonio applied for school vouchers
Read full article: Nearly 20,000 students in San Antonio applied for school vouchersMore than 163,000 applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts are in for students across the state. San Antonio students represent 19,422 of the total applicants so far.
Former state Sen. Don Huffines wins GOP primary for Texas comptroller
Read full article: Former state Sen. Don Huffines wins GOP primary for Texas comptrollerHuffines avoided a runoff in a big-money race against acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick to be the state’s chief financial officer.
Texas’ school voucher applications set to close tonight after judge declines to extend deadline
Read full article: Texas’ school voucher applications set to close tonight after judge declines to extend deadlineA federal judge previously gave families an additional two weeks to apply after Muslim parents and Islamic schools sued, arguing they had been improperly excluded from the program.
Judge temporarily reinstates women, minority-owned businesses into Texas HUB program
Read full article: Judge temporarily reinstates women, minority-owned businesses into Texas HUB programA judge has sided against the state after acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock stripped women- and minority-owned businesses of their Historically Underutilized Business certifications in December.
President Trump endorses Sid Miller and Don Huffines, countering Abbott’s picks
Read full article: President Trump endorses Sid Miller and Don Huffines, countering Abbott’s picksTrump’s last-minute primary endorsements that directly oppose the Texas governor’s selections came hours after he spoke at an event in Corpus Christi on Friday.
Gov. Abbott visits Bexar County on three-city tour ahead of March primary
Read full article: Gov. Abbott visits Bexar County on three-city tour ahead of March primaryGovernor Greg Abbott visited Bexar County as part of a three-city stop to encourage voters visit the polls ahead of the March primary election.
Texas’ comptroller is the state’s top accountant. The candidates are campaigning on culture wars.
Read full article: Texas’ comptroller is the state’s top accountant. The candidates are campaigning on culture wars.Don Huffines, Christi Craddick and Kelly Hancock are talking more about fighting DEI, trans athletes and illegal immigration than the office’s traditional fiscal duties.
Some Abbott-backed candidates face political headwinds in Republican primaries
Read full article: Some Abbott-backed candidates face political headwinds in Republican primariesThe governor is supporting two U.S. House candidates whose opponents were recently endorsed by President Donald Trump, while his picks for comptroller and agriculture commissioner are trailing in the polls.
Comptroller candidate Don Huffines’ family owns former Epstein ranch in New Mexico
Read full article: Comptroller candidate Don Huffines’ family owns former Epstein ranch in New MexicoHuffines' campaign said the candidate’s family bought the ranch at a public auction four years after Jeffrey Epstein died.
Chip Roy, Mayes Middleton leading Texas attorney general GOP primary in new poll
Read full article: Chip Roy, Mayes Middleton leading Texas attorney general GOP primary in new pollThe poll, released Wednesday, also showed Sid Miller and Don Huffines with comfortable leads in their Republican primary bids for agriculture commissioner and comptroller.
These maps show how Latino voters helped Democrats flip a reliably red Texas Senate seat
Read full article: These maps show how Latino voters helped Democrats flip a reliably red Texas Senate seatDemocrat Taylor Rehmet’s stunning upset victory is explained in part by the massive swing by Latino voters toward his campaign compared to other Democrats in recent elections.
TEFA applications hitting record numbers on program’s first day, acting Texas comptroller says
Read full article: TEFA applications hitting record numbers on program’s first day, acting Texas comptroller saysActing Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that a record number of students have applied for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) since applications opened on Wednesday.
Texas stunner: Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate district Trump won by 17 points
Read full article: Texas stunner: Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate district Trump won by 17 pointsDemocrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate and flipped a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet takes early lead in special election for red Texas Senate seat
Read full article: Democrat Taylor Rehmet takes early lead in special election for red Texas Senate seatRehmet had an unexpectedly strong performance in the November special election for the solidly red seat. He faces Republican Leigh Wambsganss in the runoff.
Ken Paxton: Comptroller can exclude schools from voucher program under anti-terror laws
Read full article: Ken Paxton: Comptroller can exclude schools from voucher program under anti-terror lawsA CAIR official blasted the Texas AG’s opinion, saying the law does not permit the comptroller to scrutinize Muslim schools because of their religious identity.
Texas comptroller GOP primary attracts big money from donors with business before the agency
Read full article: Texas comptroller GOP primary attracts big money from donors with business before the agencyOne candidate received about $1 million within an eight-day span from the head of a Dallas tax firm — and 72 of his employees — that helps corporations secure tax breaks under comptroller-run programs.
Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program
Read full article: Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher programActing Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock suggested schools that hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations or are linked to China could be disqualified from the new program.
Women, minority small business owners confused, worried after Texas kicks them off HUB program
Read full article: Women, minority small business owners confused, worried after Texas kicks them off HUB programThe decision to limit certification to companies owned by disabled veterans will shrink the Historically Underutilized Business program from more than 15,000 to 485 participants — all men.
How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
Read full article: How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in courtIn 2023, Texas overcame lawsuits that sought to prevent constitutional amendments from going into effect, but one that voters approved in 2021 is still blocked.
Texas removes women and minorities from Historically Underutilized Business program for state contracts
Read full article: Texas removes women and minorities from Historically Underutilized Business program for state contractsThe program will now only be eligible for service-disabled veterans. It will be called Veteran Heroes United in Business.
Abbott sets Jan. 31 special election runoff for North Texas Senate seat
Read full article: Abbott sets Jan. 31 special election runoff for North Texas Senate seatDemocrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss will face off to succeed Kelly Hancock after winning the most votes in the Nov. 4 election.
Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss head to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seat
Read full article: Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss head to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seatWith the GOP vote fractured between Wambsganss and another Republican, Rehmet led the three-person contest for the red-leaning district.
Texas put its chief financial officer in charge of school vouchers. Here’s what you need to know.
Read full article: Texas put its chief financial officer in charge of school vouchers. Here’s what you need to know.The Texas comptroller holds tremendous power over the program, including choosing which companies the state will pay millions to help manage it. Voters will decide who runs the agency next year.
Texas freezes program to help minority-owned businesses
Read full article: Texas freezes program to help minority-owned businessesThe state comptroller’s office said it would stop issuing or renewing certifications under the Historically Underutilized Business program. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said it was the latest step toward ending DEI in Texas.
Texas selects company that will help develop its school voucher program
Read full article: Texas selects company that will help develop its school voucher programFinance and technology company Odyssey will help design the application process, manage payments and review complaints for the state’s education savings accounts.
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seatThe contest coincides with the state’s November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to decide local offices and ballot measures.
State Rep. Nate Schatzline drops Texas Senate bid, endorses conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss
Read full article: State Rep. Nate Schatzline drops Texas Senate bid, endorses conservative activist Leigh WambsganssThe North Texas district opened up last week when Republican Kelly Hancock resigned from the upper chamber to take over as the state’s acting comptroller.
Former Texas state Sen. Kelly Hancock to become acting comptroller, run for permanent job
Read full article: Former Texas state Sen. Kelly Hancock to become acting comptroller, run for permanent jobHancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, announced his candidacy shortly after being sworn in as chief clerk at the comptroller’s office.
Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fund
Read full article: Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fundThe legislation would require voters to approve the $3 billion start-up cost, and then the fund would be maintained at no more than $300 million annually.
“People aren’t thinking about us”: How new ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates impacts medically-vulnerable Texans
Read full article: “People aren’t thinking about us”: How new ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates impacts medically-vulnerable TexansThe ban applies to all private businesses, including health care facilities like hospitals, which can jeopardize the health of those with compromised immune systems or other underlying conditions.
GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes
Read full article: GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes“I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,” said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. “But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.”
These 2 senators were the only Republicans to vote for Paxton impeachment articles
Read full article: These 2 senators were the only Republicans to vote for Paxton impeachment articlesKelly Hancock and Robert Nichols broke from the rest of their party, but longtime observers said they weren’t surprised.
Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proof
Read full article: Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proofDemocrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general.
Sen. Kelly Hancock opens up about rare kidney disease, as he advocates for Texas bill to increase living organ donors
Read full article: Sen. Kelly Hancock opens up about rare kidney disease, as he advocates for Texas bill to increase living organ donorsHancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, was diagnosed at age 27 with a rare genetic kidney disease that occurs when the immunoglobulin A antibody builds up in the kidneys.
Texas senators draw lots to determine how long their terms will be
Read full article: Texas senators draw lots to determine how long their terms will beAfter redistricting, the state constitution requires senators to draw lots to determine which half of the chamber will have four-year terms and which will have two-year terms. This keeps Senate district elections staggered every two years for the rest of the decade.
Texas lawmakers deplore mistreatment of National Guardsmen sent to border duty
Read full article: Texas lawmakers deplore mistreatment of National Guardsmen sent to border dutyLegislative leaders overseeing the Texas Military Department say they are looking into reports of suicides, habitual pay problems and poor working conditions on Gov. Greg Abbott's highly touted border mission.

WATCH LIVE: Gov. Abbott to debut Texas border wall construction in Rio Grande City
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Abbott to debut Texas border wall construction in Rio Grande CityGov. Greg Abbott is holding a press briefing to debut the Texas border wall construction in Rio Grande City, along the Texas-Mexico border.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WE5A7MMWLZEDTE55SHTPR5J7IE.jpg)
Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runs
Read full article: Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runsThe redistricting process in the GOP-dominated Legislature made many political districts less competitive, which some experts believe might hurt civic engagement.
Energy industry showers Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas politicians with campaign cash after they passed power grid bills
Read full article: Energy industry showers Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas politicians with campaign cash after they passed power grid billsFor some energy experts, the increase in donations for the officials at the close of the session looks like a reward for not passing more stringent regulations and raises questions about whether lawmakers let the oil, gas and the broader energy industry off easy for its massive failures.