Largest figure in the news

$45 billion

Additional energy costs for Texas households by 2035. Read the fact sheet

Elections

Paxton blames Texas Senate campaign struggles on Iran war and fuel prices

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, told donors and lobbyists at a closed-door fundraising event that the Iran war and high gasoline and diesel prices are the main factors hurting his campaign. An audio recording of his remarks was published by Axios on October 7, 2026.

$ $5.72 for average diesel price per gallon in Texas

Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate; James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

Reported by 48 outlets   Facts and sources

Other, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Plano

Michelin Guide Texas 2026 awards new stars and designations to restaurants

The 2026 Michelin Guide Texas announced restaurant awards on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, via email. Three Texas restaurants earned new one Michelin stars: Goldee's Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth, and Kappo Kappo and Fabrik in Austin. Two San Antonio restaurants earned "recommended" status: Lovers Pizzeria and Petit Coquin. One San Antonio restaurant, Barbecue Station, fell from "recommended" status.

$ $2.7 million for three-year contract with Michelin Guide

Michelin Guide, Announced restaurant awards; Goldee's Bar-B-Q, Fort Worth restaurant awarded one Michelin star; Kappo Kappo, Austin restaurant awarded one Michelin star

Reported by 12 outlets   Facts and sources

Taxes & Budget, Carrollton (Paxton-Talarico exchange); Statewide (Abbott's actions)

Paxton and Talarico clash over federal gas and diesel taxes

U.S. Senate candidates Ken Paxton (Republican) and James Talarico (Democrat) debated federal gas and diesel taxes. Talarico called on Paxton to condemn the Iran war and suspend those taxes; Paxton said the gas tax should be permanently eliminated.

$ Talarico proposed suspending federal gas and diesel taxes; Paxton proposed permanently eliminating the gas tax.

Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

Reported by 11 outlets   Facts and sources

Economy & Jobs, Texas

Talarico says Paxton-backed tariffs threaten free chips and salsa

Democrat James Talarico released a Facebook post claiming that tariffs backed by Republican Ken Paxton could end free chips and salsa at Texas restaurants by driving up tomato costs. The Trump administration announced a 17% tariff on fresh tomatoes from Mexico in July.

$ 17% for tariff on fresh tomatoes from Mexico

James Talarico, Democrat candidate; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and opponent to Talarico; Trump administration, Announced tariff

Reported by 7 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools

Texas waives college application fees for one week in October

Texas holds Free College Application Week from Oct. 12-18, 2026, allowing residents to apply to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities with no application fees. Applicants must use ApplyTexas portal and apply by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18.

$ $0 for application fee waiver

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; Wynn Rosser, Higher Education Commissioner; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Government agency overseeing the program

Official record and 4 more   Facts and sources

Elections

Gina Hinojosa calls on Greg Abbott to debate her in governor race

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa held a press conference in San Antonio on Thursday calling for a debate with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Hearst Newspapers and NBCUniversal TV stations invited both candidates to debate in Fort Worth on Oct. 15; Hinojosa accepted but Abbott's campaign did not respond. Hinojosa said she would appear at the governor's mansion in Austin on that date.

$ $146 million for campaign spending

Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas Governor; Greg Abbott, Republican Governor of Texas; Hearst Newspapers and NBCUniversal TV stations, Invited both candidates to debate

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Resurfaced 2020 clip shows Talarico opposing healthcare budget cuts

A 2020 podcast interview clip emerged in which James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, stated he opposed cutting healthcare benefits to balance the state budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the appearance, Talarico said he did not care what taxes would need to be raised to avoid healthcare cuts.

$ $4.6 billion for budget shortfall projected

James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas; Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Huntsville, Texas

Texas executes Jamaal Howard by lethal injection in Huntsville

Jamaal Howard, 46, was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday at the state prison in Huntsville. He was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. after receiving pentobarbital. Howard was the first person executed in the United States since Tennessee's botched execution attempt of Christa Pike on September 30.

$ $114 for cash taken in robbery

Jamaal Howard, Death row inmate executed; Vickie Swartout, Convenience store clerk killed by Howard in 2000; Dr. Jeff Hood, Spiritual advisor who spoke with Howard before execution

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Dallas County

Former Dallas County Fire Marshal chief arrested on theft charges

Zack Masri, former Assistant Chief of the Dallas County Fire Marshal's Office, turned himself in to police and was arrested on theft and official oppression charges. He bonded out after posting $15,000. The arrest follows his firing four months earlier.

$ $15,000 for bond posted

Zack Masri, Former Dallas County Fire Marshal Assistant Chief; Mark Lassiter, Masri's lawyer; Texas Rangers, Investigating the case

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Taxes & Budget, Dallas County

Dallas County voters to decide on property tax increase for homelessness

Dallas County will hold a Nov. 3 election for voters to approve a property tax rate increase. The measure, called Proposition A, would redirect money to address homelessness countywide through mental health treatment and housing programs.

$ County property taxes will increase; the rate rises to about 22.5 cents per $100 of value at voter-approval level or reaches about 24.9 cents per $100 with approval of the higher measure, and taxes will increase regardless of the election outcome.

Dallas County leaders, proposing the tax increase; Dallas County Commissioners, voted 3-2 in August to place item on November ballot; Clay Jenkins, County Judge

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools

Texas STAAR rescoring requests triple as schools question computer grading

Texas school districts submitted 64,489 requests to rescore open-ended reading responses on STAAR exams this spring, nearly tripling from the prior year. The Texas Education Agency has used an automated scoring engine since December 2023 to grade open-ended questions, with humans manually reviewing a quarter of exam scores.

$ $15 million to $20 million for additional annual cost to score essays by hand

Texas Education Agency, State agency that implemented automated scoring and conducts manual reviews; Allison Matney, Director of Texas Center for School Accountability; Jake Kobersky, Texas Education Agency spokesperson

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Other, Todd Mission, Texas (between Plantersville and Magnolia, northwest of Houston)

Texas Renaissance Festival opens for 52nd season in Todd Mission

The Texas Renaissance Festival returns for its 52nd season starting October 10, 2026. The 70-acre festival in Todd Mission will run on weekends through November 29 and on Thanksgiving Friday, with eight themed weekends featuring stages, shops, vendors, entertainment and food.

$ $16 to $40 for ticket price

Texas Renaissance Festival, event; George Coulam, founder in 1974; Paladin, the Errant Fool, new wandering jester performer

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, San Antonio

Trump campaigns for Paxton at San Antonio rally; calls for debate

President Donald Trump campaigned for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday night. Trump attacked Democrat James Talarico over his absence from the campaign trail due to illness and called for Talarico to debate. Paxton has not publicly accepted debate invitations, while Talarico has agreed to four debates. The rally was interrupted by protesters multiple times.

Donald Trump, President, campaigning for Paxton; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democrat Senate candidate

Reported by 172 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, San Antonio, Freeman Coliseum

Trump holds rally in San Antonio to support Paxton Senate campaign

President Trump held a rally at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio on Wednesday evening to support Ken Paxton's campaign for U.S. Senate. The event came amid a closely contested Texas Senate race between Paxton and challenger Talarico.

Donald Trump, President, rally speaker; Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate candidate; Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate

Reported by 97 outlets   Facts and sources

Federal, Federal

Ken Paxton suggests cuts to federal benefit programs at private fundraiser

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton said during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists that he would support cuts to federal benefits programs to reduce the national deficit. Audio from the Sept. 24 event was recorded by an attendee and leaked to The Texas Tribune.

Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democratic opponent

Reported by 15 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Analyst says Texas Senate race about Paxton, not Democratic shift

NewsNation analyst Chris Stirewalt said the Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is more about Paxton than a Democratic shift in the state. Stirewalt brought his show to the State Fair of Texas with two weeks until early voting began.

Chris Stirewalt, NewsNation analyst; host of "The Hill Sunday"; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

Reported by 13 outlets   Facts and sources

State Government

Abbott orders Texas flags lowered to honor October 7 victims

Governor Abbott ordered US and Texas flags to be lowered to half-staff on October 7 to honor victims of October 7.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

Reported by 10 outlets   Facts and sources

Other, Fort Worth, Texas

Seven Texas tennis players compete in ITA Regional Championships

Seven University of Texas men's tennis players are competing in the ITA Texas Regional Championships being held at the Friedman Tennis Center in Fort Worth from October 8-12. Two singles players and one doubles pair will qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Jeremiah Braswell, Sophomore, Texas men's tennis player in singles qualifying; Tomasz Berkieta, Freshman, Texas men's tennis player in singles main draw and doubles; Mariano Dedura-Palomero, Sophomore, Texas men's tennis player in singles main draw and doubles

Reported by 8 outlets   Facts and sources

Other, Dallas

Oklahoma lists 13 players on SEC availability report before Texas matchup

Oklahoma released its initial SEC availability report on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's Red River Rivalry game against No. 1 Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Running back Xavier Robinson is out; four other Oklahoma players are out or doubtful. Texas has four players listed with Coleman out and Smothers cleared.

Xavier Robinson, Oklahoma running back; Taylor Heim, Oklahoma linebacker; Trell Harris, Oklahoma wide receiver

Reported by 8 outlets   Facts and sources

Health, Dallas County

Dallas County reports first West Nile virus death of 2026

Dallas County reported its first West Nile Virus-related death of 2026 on Wednesday. The deceased was a man in his 60s with underlying medical conditions, diagnosed with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease.

Philip Huang, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services

Reported by 7 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Multiple polls show Talarico leading Paxton in U.S. Senate race

Multiple polls conducted in September and early October show Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas. A New York Times/Siena poll shows Talarico ahead by six points, a Fort Bend County poll shows him leading by 18 points in that county, and a YouGov poll shows him ahead by six points statewide, with stronger support among younger voters.

James Talarico, Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas Attorney General; Ruth Igielnik, New York Times poll analyst

Reported by 6 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools, Lubbock, Texas

Frontline Education data breach exposes Lubbock ISD employee information

Frontline Education, a software company used by Texas school districts, experienced a data security incident on Aug. 14, 2026, exposing employee Social Security numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses. Lubbock ISD leadership was notified on Oct. 6, 2026, more than seven weeks after the incident occurred and was remediated on Aug. 15, 2026.

Lubbock ISD, School district affected by data breach; Frontline Education, Software company that experienced data security incident; TransUnion, Partner managing incident response and credit monitoring

Reported by 6 outlets   Facts and sources

Border & Immigration, Rio Grande Valley, including McAllen (Hidalgo County) and Starr County, Texas

Federal military troops surge to Rio Grande Valley border

Hundreds of federal military troops have been repositioned to the Rio Grande Valley from other border posts and are actively patrolling. The operation, called Operation Unified Resolve, began Friday through the Joint Task Force-Southern Border. The surge follows a Coast Guard encounter with gunfire from Mexico in Starr County.

Becky Farmer, U.S. Northern Command spokesperson; U.S. Coast Guard, Federal agency; Joint Task Force-Southern Border, Military command operating Operation Unified Resolve

Reported by 6 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Most Texas Republicans decline to debate Democratic opponents in statewide races

Most Republican nominees for Texas statewide office have not accepted debate invitations from Democratic opponents with two weeks left before early voting. Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, has not accepted any debate invitations despite his July statement that he would debate. James Talarico, his Democratic opponent, has accepted at least four debate invitations. Abbott's campaign has not publicly agreed to debate Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, though he debated his opponents in each of his three previous races.

Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate; Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate; Greg Abbott, Governor; Republican gubernatorial nominee

Reported by 5 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools, Bullard, Texas

Bullard ISD superintendent placed on leave, resignation to be considered

Bullard ISD placed Superintendent Dr. Micah Dyer on paid administrative leave on Monday following an active personnel matter. The school board will consider his voluntary resignation at a special meeting on Tuesday, October 13 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Micah Dyer, Superintendent of Bullard ISD; Bullard ISD Board of Trustees, School board considering superintendent's resignation

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Texas

Trump stands by Ken Paxton Senate endorsement after leaked audio

Audio of Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton was leaked in which he blamed his campaign's struggles on an ongoing Iran war. President Donald Trump, who endorsed Paxton, said he has no regrets about the endorsement.

Donald Trump, President; endorser of Ken Paxton; Ken Paxton, Texas Republican Senate candidate

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools

Texas Senate committee examines school library book law compliance

The Senate Education Committee held a hearing Wednesday to examine implementation of Senate Bill 13, a 2025 law restricting library materials and expanding parental oversight. Witnesses testified that some school districts are not fully complying with the law by retaining explicit materials.

Brent Hagenbuch, State Senator, R-Denton; Donna Campbell, Senate Education Committee chair; Shannon Trejo, Deputy commissioner, Texas Education Agency Office of School Programs

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Courts

Notre Dame scholars urge Supreme Court to strike down Texas Ten Commandments law

Religious liberty scholars at Notre Dame Law School filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging it to strike down a Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms. The scholars argue the law forces state-sponsored religious instruction on children and violates the First Amendment establishment clause.

Greg Abbott, Texas Republican Governor who signed the law; Fred Biery, U.S. District Judge; Lindsay & Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Filed amicus brief with Notre Dame Law School scholars

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Rockdale, Texas

Brandywine Valley SPCA removes 82 dogs from Texas ranch

The Brandywine Valley SPCA removed 82 dogs from Dogtown Ranch Sanctuary Rescue and Rehab in Rockdale, Texas. The founder has been charged with animal cruelty by the Milam County Sheriff's Office.

Brandywine Valley SPCA, Organization that removed dogs and negotiated surrender; Adam Lamb, Brandywine Valley SPCA CEO; Mike Clore, Milam County Sheriff

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Health

UT MD Anderson announces five-year plan to eliminate cervical cancer in Texas

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced the Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2027-2032, a five-year roadmap developed by a statewide coalition of health systems, academic institutions, and community organizations. The plan aims to reduce Texas cervical cancer incidence to fewer than four new cases per 100,000 women per year by 2032.

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Lead organization announcing the plan; Cancer Alliance of Texas Cervical Cancer Elimination Priority Area Workgroup, Developed the plan; Ernest Hawk, M.D., Vice president and division head of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at UT MD Anderson

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Health, Texas (and Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland)

USDA issues health alert for Grace chicken sausage sold in Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert on October 6 for Grace ready-to-eat chicken Vienna sausages distributed to Texas retailers. The products were illegally imported from Jamaica, a country not eligible to export meat or poultry to the United States.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Issued public health alert

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Local Government, Houston, Harris County

Harris County Attorney seeks court order to shut down Houston spa

The Harris County Attorney's Office filed a civil lawsuit seeking to close QQ Spa in southwest Houston. A civil court judge granted a temporary restraining order and ordered the business to comply with all licensing requirements within two days or face closure.

Harris County Attorney's Office, filed civil lawsuit to shut down spa; Abbie Kamin, County Attorney; Houston Police Department, conducted raids on the spa

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Paxton and Talarico pursue endorsements ahead of Texas Senate race

Ken Paxton and James Talarico are competing for endorsements from political figures, celebrities, and other public figures ahead of the Nov. 3 Texas Senate election. Paxton has President Donald Trump's endorsement and GOP establishment backing, while Talarico has support from former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate; James Talarico, Austin state representative and Democratic Senate candidate; Donald Trump, President; endorses Paxton

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Schools

Texas Attorney General opinion strips school police of child abuse investigative authority

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion in September 2026 stating that school district police departments cannot serve as the appropriate law enforcement agency to receive or investigate suspected child abuse or neglect reports. The ruling follows Senate Bill 571, which took effect in 2025 and defines appropriate law enforcement agencies as the Department of Public Safety, municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, and county constable's offices.

Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; Paul Bettencourt, State Senator, authored Senate Bill 571; Larry Baimbridge, Spring Branch ISD Police Chief

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources