The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the state’s smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.

Texas Rural Funders hopes a one-stop resource for grant applications and writers could help small towns win money to fund innovation and capital needs.

On a daily basis, water managers in cities across the state move from crisis to crisis hoping to keep the water flowing to residents.

Voters would have the final say on whether the state sets aside billions of dollars to acquire new water sources and invest in aging infrastructure.

A cascade of issues including inflation and growing distrust in government aren’t helping local governments hire for critical positions in public safety and utilities.

Officials said the water levels at the local reservoir were too low to meet safety standards.

Zavalla lost all water for several days. The Texas Department of Emergency Management has sent pallets of bottled water and a team to help.

ZAVALLA, Texas – A 40-year-old pilot died when his small plane crashed as he tried to land on a private runway in East Texas early Saturday morning, officials said. The Texas Department of Public Safety said James Duke VanLue, of Tomball, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said it appears the crash happened at about 2 a.m. but the scene wasn't located till about 12:30 p.m.Capt. Alton Lenderman with the Angelina County sheriff's office tells KLTV that the single-engine plane crashed north of Zavalla. The pilot clipped the top of some trees and crashed just north of the runway.