Dallas County Elections Administrator Paul Adams reported to county commissioners that the number of suspended voter registrations fell from 200,789 on Aug. 31 to 179,946 as of Oct. 7. Adams credited community and political campaigns for the reduction.
$More than 20,000 for mail-in ballots sent
Paul Adams, Dallas County Elections Administrator; Dallas County Commissioners, Received update on voter suspense list and mail-in ballots
Two parents have been charged with two counts of felony murder each following the deaths of their two young children in an August RV fire in Liberty County. The children—a 3-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy—were found dead inside the travel trailer on August 11.
$$1 million for bond
Matthew Allen Chambers, charged with two counts of felony murder; Meaghan Michelle Herrod, charged with two counts of felony murder; Liberty County Fire Marshal's Office, conducted investigation and 3 more
Omaha, Nebraska-based Pinnacle Bancorp announced it will acquire Southern Bancshares, parent company of Moulton, Texas-based SouthStar Bank. The transaction is set to close in January 2027.
$$1.4 billion for SouthStar Bank assets
Pinnacle Bancorp, Acquiring bank; Southern Bancshares, Company being acquired, parent of SouthStar Bank; SouthStar Bank, Texas-based bank being acquired and 2 more
A traffic dispute near Eastlake Boulevard and Rojas Drive in East El Paso County escalated when a man allegedly threw rocks at another driver and his BMW, shattering windows and striking the victim. Edgar Sanchez was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
$$5,000 for property damage from rock-thrown assault
Edgar Sanchez, Man arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Agency that investigated and arrested suspect
Multiple candidates are running for El Paso City Council seats in the November 2026 election. Incumbent Alejandra Chávez faces three challengers in District 1, and incumbent Ivan Niño faces Richard Genera in District 5. City Council members serve four-year terms and are paid $72,800 annually.
$$72,800 for annual salary for City Council representatives
Alejandra Chávez, Incumbent City Council District 1 representative; Matthew James Kozik, Candidate for City Council District 1; Daniela Garcia, Candidate for City Council District 1 and 3 more
Vinton Steel, a minimill owned by Japan-based Kyoei Steel, is undertaking a $255 million expansion at its facility in El Paso County's Upper Valley. The project includes new building and furnace equipment, with a target completion of early 2027.
$$255 million for expansion project cost
Vinton Steel, company undertaking expansion; Kyoei Steel, owner of Vinton Steel; Greg Abbott, Texas Governor who announced funding and 1 more
Brandon Dillard, 48, was arrested in Grapevine on charges including indecency with a child by sexual contact and assault of a family member. He was an associate pastor at IMRSN Church in Fort Worth.
$$230,000 for bond
Brandon Dillard, associate pastor at IMRSN Church in Fort Worth; IMRSN Church, employer
Texas public universities and colleges are waiving undergraduate application fees for state residents applying through ApplyTexas during Free College Application Week. Applications must be fully submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18 to qualify.
Federal prosecutors announced that authorities arrested 19 people following a long-term investigation into an alleged drug trafficking organization operating in Alice, Texas. All 19 are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
$Nearly $100,000 for cash seized
Federal prosecutors, Announced arrests and charges; Villagran family members and associates, Alleged operators of drug dealing locations; Joseph Griffith, Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case
The Trump administration is building a border wall in Texas' Big Bend region as part of a $46 billion project. A federal judge temporarily barred construction in the Big Bend area after plaintiffs argued the administration overstepped its authority. Landowners have opposed the project through protests and court challenges.
$$46 billion for border wall project budget
Trump administration, undertaking border wall project; Federal judge, issued temporary order pausing construction; David Keller, landowner suing to stop Big Bend border projects and 7 more
A federal judge ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install air conditioning in all state prisons by end of 2029. Texas appealed the order to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and asked the judge to suspend it pending appeal.
$$1.5 billion for estimated cost to air condition all state prisons
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, issued order requiring air conditioning in all Texas prisons; Texas Department of Criminal Justice, defendant; asked for suspension of order; Bernie Tiede, inmate who filed initial complaint in 2023 and 4 more
Property tax bills have risen sharply across the country, driven by rising home values and weak assessment limits. Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and other states are experiencing tax revolts, with homeowners filing record challenge numbers and lawmakers debating reforms ahead of midterm elections.
$In Texas, appraisal challenges hit record levels in many counties as rising home values pushed taxes higher. Lawmakers have spent the past four years debating possible solutions.
Texas lawmakers, debating possible solutions to property taxes; Georgia politicians, promising property tax cuts ahead of Nov. 3 midterm elections; Texas politicians, promising property tax cuts ahead of Nov. 3 midterm elections and 2 more
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed eliminating all state funding for the Children's Autism Program in its budget request for the 2028-2029 biennium, citing budget cuts ordered by state leadership.
$$13.7 million for State spending on Children's Autism Program over last two years
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, State agency that proposed eliminating program funding; Gov. Greg Abbott, Governor who directed 3% spending cuts; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor who directed 3% spending cuts and 3 more
Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special-purpose taxing districts received $1.3 billion in sales tax allocations in October, an 11.6% increase from October 2025. Central Texas showed mixed results, with Bell County up 10.01% and Coryell County up 3.23%, while Milam County declined 40.15%.
$$1.3 billion for sales tax allocations
Texas State Comptroller, Distributed sales tax allocations
Texas State Representative James Talarico was absent from in-person campaign appearances for nine to 12 days in late September and early October while running for U.S. Senate against Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico said he was recovering from the flu. Paxton and his allies questioned the absence and called for a debate, which Talarico has challenged Paxton to accept.
$$31.8 million for campaign funds raised through June 30
James Talarico, Texas State Representative, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; President Donald Trump, Supporter of Paxton, called for debate and 4 more
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced it will stop enforcing federal National Firearms Act prior-approval, registration, and tax-stamp requirements for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers. The nationwide policy took effect immediately following an August court ruling by a federal judge in Texas.
$Congress reduced NFA making and transfer taxes to $0 for most covered firearms through Section 70436 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 1, 2026; machine guns and destructive devices retain the $200 tax.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Announced end of NFA enforcement; U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, Issued August 5 ruling on NFA registration requirements; Attorney General Todd Blanche, Announced Department of Justice would not appeal court decision and 1 more
The Arizona Cardinals traded wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans. The Texans received Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
$2027 second-round pick and 2027 sixth-round pick to Arizona; 2027 seventh-round pick to Houston for draft picks in trade
Arizona Cardinals, team trading away player; Houston Texans, team acquiring player; Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver traded to Houston and 1 more
Oklahoma Republicans are considering a tax credit modeled on Texas and Florida programs that would provide dollar-for-dollar tax waivers for business donations to approved family-focused nonprofits. Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton and former NFL coach Tony Dungy testified before Oklahoma lawmakers on Oct. 12 about how similar credits operate in their states.
$Texas' Strong Families Tax Credit allows businesses to claim a franchise-tax credit for donations to approved nonprofits, with the statewide annual cap of $5 million fully spent in 2026.
Angela Paxton, Texas state senator; Tony Dungy, Former NFL coach; John Haste, Oklahoma state senator representing Broken Arrow and 4 more
Deputy constables with the El Paso County Constable's Office arrested a 34-year-old man on multiple felony warrants in East El Paso. He was booked on 45 criminal charges including possession of child pornography, sexual performance of a child, and online solicitation of a minor.
$$250,000 for bond
Mauricio Toscano, arrested man; El Paso County Constable's Office, Precinct Six, arresting agency
The College Football Playoff announced that discussions with ESPN continue after an exclusive 30-day negotiating window ended over media rights for a potential expansion of the playoff field from 12 to 24 teams. ESPN's current deal is worth $7.8 billion over six seasons and includes first option rights for any expansion games.
$$7.8 billion over six seasons for media rights deal value
College Football Playoff, announced continuation of discussions; ESPN, broadcast partner in negotiations; Tony Petitti, Big Ten Commissioner, said he was optimistic about expansion