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$2.6 billion

Bexar County budget for fiscal year 2027. Read the fact sheet

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Elections

Musk donates millions to GOP group supporting Paxton's Senate campaign

Elon Musk gave tens of millions of dollars to Senate Leadership Fund in September to support Republican Ken Paxton's U.S. Senate campaign in Texas. Musk's donations funded a new super PAC called Texas PAC, which ran TV, radio and digital ads backing Paxton and attacking Democrat James Talarico.

$ $75 million for donation to Senate Leadership Fund

Elon Musk, donor to Senate Leadership Fund and Texas PAC; Senate Leadership Fund, Senate GOP super PAC that received and distributed Musk's donations; Texas PAC, super PAC created to book airtime supporting Paxton

Reported by 21 outlets   Only left-leaning outlets reported this   Facts and sources

Elections

Talarico raises $64 million in third quarter for Senate race

James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas, raised $64 million in the third quarter, the largest fundraising total for a U.S. Senate candidate in any state for that period. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, raised $18 million in the same period.

$ $64 million for third-quarter campaign fundraising

James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, Austin state representative; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, Attorney General

Reported by 14 outlets   Only left-leaning outlets reported this   Facts and sources

State Government

Governor announces $78 million in rural healthcare grants

Governor Abbott announced $78 million in grants for rural Texas health care providers through the Texas Strong Grants program.

$ $78 million for rural healthcare grants

Governor Abbott, announced grants; Texas Health and Human Services, distributing grants

Reported by 6 outlets   Facts and sources

Transportation, North Dallas/McKinney National Airport, Collin County

Avelo Airlines adds nonstop flights to North Dallas from Florida cities

Avelo Airlines announced two new nonstop routes to North Dallas/McKinney National Airport: one from West Palm Beach beginning Dec. 17, and an expansion of Las Vegas service from four to six weekly flights beginning Dec. 16.

$ $69 for introductory one-way fares

Avelo Airlines, airline announcing new service; Andrew Levy, founder and CEO of Avelo Airlines

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Central Texas

Central Texas fire departments awarded federal grant funding

Central Texas fire departments received federal grant funding to improve emergency response capabilities.

$ $1.1 million for federal grant funding

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections

Texas 2026 midterm election scheduled for November 3

Election Day for Texas 2026 midterm elections is set for November 3. Early voting runs October 19-30. The last day to register for early voting was October 5. Voters will choose candidates for U.S. Senate, governor, Congress, state legislature, county offices and school boards, and will vote on propositions and tax measures.

$ West Oso ISD ad valorem tax rate increase of 8.95% in M&O revenue; Skidmore-Tynan ISD ad valorem tax rate increase of 8.98% in M&O revenue; sales and use tax of 1.25% adoption in an unspecified city location; Nueces County Emergency Services District No. 1 considers local sales and use tax not to exceed 2%.

James Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate candidate; Greg Abbott, Governor candidate

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, El Paso, El Paso County; statewide for Fifteenth Court of Appeals

El Paso judicial races reshape courts in 2026 election

El Paso voters will decide two local district court races and a statewide appeals court race in November 2026. The 120th District Court features a Republican incumbent seeking re-election against a Democrat challenger. The 168th District Court seat is vacant. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals will hold its first election since creation in 2023.

$ $193,000 for base salary for district court judge

Ben Ivey, Republican incumbent, 120th District Court judge; Chris Anchondo, Democrat challenger for 120th District Court; Gov. Greg Abbott, appointed current Fifteenth Court of Appeals justices

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Taxes & Budget, Comal County

Comal County approves fiscal 2026-27 budget and tax rate

Comal County Commissioners approved a $214.02 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and set a property tax rate of $0.305015 per $100 valuation on September 17. The rate is higher than the no-new-revenue rate and is projected to generate $1.86 million in additional revenue.

$ The adopted tax rate is projected to generate an additional $1.86 million in property tax revenue, a 1.7% increase over the previous year. [1]

Comal County Commissioners, approved the budget and tax rate; Kirsten Hoyt, Comal County Judge; Kevin Webb, Comal County Precinct 3 Commissioner

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, San Antonio, Bexar County

Nirenberg and Von Dohlen debate in Bexar County Judge race

Democratic candidate Ron Nirenberg and Republican Patrick Von Dohlen faced off in the only debate of the Bexar County Judge race Thursday night. Nirenberg, the former San Antonio mayor, defeated incumbent Peter Sakai in the Democratic primary by nearly 25 points and is favored in the blue county. Von Dohlen, a conservative activist, was the only Republican candidate.

$ $2.6 billion for bexar County budget for fiscal year 2027

Ron Nirenberg, Democratic candidate for Bexar County Judge; Patrick Von Dohlen, Republican candidate for Bexar County Judge; Peter Sakai, Incumbent Bexar County Judge

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Harker Heights, Bell County

Bell County candidates debate education savings accounts and data center tax breaks

Candidates for Texas House and Bell County offices debated education savings accounts, a proposed hospital district, and county tax breaks for data centers at a LULAC forum in Harker Heights less than three weeks before the November 3 election.

$ 50% for 10 years for county property tax abatement for data center development

Brad Buckley, State Rep. District 54, Republican; Dawn Richardson, District 54 candidate, Democratic, retired educator; Hillary Hickland, State Rep. District 55, Republican

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Taxes & Budget

Texas school districts report shortfalls from property tax exemption increases

Texas legislators have raised the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $140,000 over a decade to reduce property taxes. School districts say state reimbursement through "hold harmless" agreements does not fully compensate for lost tax revenue, leaving funding gaps.

$ State reimbursement to school districts for property tax exemptions does not fully compensate lost revenues under current hold-harmless agreements, leaving districts with funding gaps.

Paul Bettencourt, Houston-area state senator, former Harris County tax assessor-collector; Johnny Hill, Deputy superintendent for business operations, Plano ISD; Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Taxes & Budget

Governor Abbott requests federal disaster tax relief for July storm victims

Governor Abbott sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on October 15, 2026, requesting federal disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding that began on July 14, 2026.

$ Abbott requests temporary suspension of federal tax filing and payment deadlines and waiver of late fees and penalties for taxpayers in all 62 counties affected by July storms.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary

Official record and 1 more   Facts and sources

State Government

Texas Attorney General sends water compliance letters to 156 data centers

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his office sent letters to 156 data center developments across Texas requiring them to provide accurate, up-to-date information about water usage. The letters are part of an investigation launched in September into data center compliance with Texas water use reporting requirements.

Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic opponent in U.S. Senate race

Reported by 14 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Fort Worth, Tarrant County

Senate candidate Talarico speaks at CNN town hall in Fort Worth

Democrat James Talarico appeared at a CNN town hall in Fort Worth on Wednesday, where he answered questions from Texas voters on abortion, energy, immigration, voter ID, and other issues. Republican opponent Ken Paxton was invited but did not respond to CNN's invitation.

James Talarico, Democratic Texas Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, Republican Texas Senate candidate; Paul Begala, Democratic strategist

Reported by 10 outlets   Only right-leaning outlets reported this   Facts and sources

Elections

Texas Senate candidate Talarico discusses Gaza deaths and Netanyahu

Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico spoke to a Jewish voter about deaths in Gaza, stating he directs criticism toward Netanyahu, not the Israeli people.

James Talarico, Democratic Texas Senate candidate

Reported by 7 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Gainesville, Texas

Bodies of missing Oklahoma father and 4-year-old son found in Texas

A 25-year-old father and his 4-year-old son from Norman, Oklahoma, went missing Sunday evening. On Wednesday, two bodies were found in Gainesville, Texas, during the search for them. Police identified the deceased as Caleb Furley and his son, 4-year-old Andres "Harry" Furley.

Caleb Furley, deceased 25-year-old father from Norman, Oklahoma; Andres 'Harry' Furley, deceased 4-year-old son from Norman, Oklahoma; Gainesville Police Department, located the bodies and investigated

Reported by 6 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Governor's Mansion, Austin, Travis County

Democrat Hinojosa challenges Abbott to debate at Governor's Mansion

Democrat Gina Hinojosa appeared at the Governor's Mansion to challenge Governor Abbott to a debate. She brought podiums and sent terms to Abbott for the impromptu debate.

Gina Hinojosa, Democratic candidate; Governor Abbott, Governor

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Atascosa County, Texas

San Antonio woman's killer sentenced to life in prison

Jeffrey Lee Devorah was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tiffany Lynette Garza, who disappeared in March 2019 in Atascosa County. An Atascosa County jury found Devorah guilty on Aug. 13. Human remains believed to be Garza's were found in a burn pit.

Jeffrey Lee Devorah, Man convicted and sentenced for Garza's murder; Tiffany Lynette Garza, Murder victim; Audrey Gossett Louis, Atascosa County's 81st Judicial District Attorney

Reported by 4 outlets   Only left-leaning outlets reported this   Facts and sources

Federal, Austin, Travis County

Democratic Congress members hold hearing in Austin on ICE shootings

Democratic members of Congress held a field hearing in Austin on October 15 to investigate multiple ICE shootings across Texas, including the September 20 shooting of Wilber Garcés-Pérez in Austin. Witnesses included family members and attorneys from immigration advocacy groups.

Greg Casar, U.S. Representative (D-Texas), led the hearing; Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Representative (D-Mississippi), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security; Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative (D-Washington), Ranking Member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement

Reported by 4 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Dallas County

Dallas County prepares poll workers for November 3 general election

Dallas County election officials are training poll workers for the Nov. 3 general election. The county has expanded early voting hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for both early voting weeks, starting when polls open Monday.

Nicholas Solorzano, Dallas County Election Department employee; Tomiko Washington, Dallas County Elections trainer; Dallas County Election Department, Conducting poll worker training and election administration

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Economy & Jobs, Texas

TSMC discusses potential role in Musk's Terafab chip complex in Texas

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is in discussions about potentially participating in Elon Musk's proposed Terafab project in Texas. TSMC sent teams to assess expansion opportunities beyond its Arizona operations, and discussions are ongoing with potential customers for the complex, though no firm conclusions have been reached.

C.C. Wei, TSMC chairman and CEO; Elon Musk, Terafab project originator; Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), World's largest contract chipmaker exploring Texas expansion

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

State Government

Texas lawmaker asks Paxton to investigate trans education toolkit distribution

State Rep. Jeff Leach asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate the Transgender Education Network of Texas after the group sent mass texts promoting a "Back to School Toolkit" to thousands of Texans. Leach said the toolkit contains guidance that appears to encourage circumventing Senate Bill 12, which took effect in September 2025.

Jeff Leach, State Rep., Plano-area Republican, lead House author of Senate Bill 12; Ken Paxton, Attorney General; Transgender Education Network of Texas, Organization that distributed the toolkit

Reported by 3 outlets   Facts and sources

Local Government, Harris County

Harris County commissioners vote to form Flock camera oversight committee

Harris County commissioners voted to delay widespread action on Flock license plate cameras and create an oversight committee to recommend rules for data collection, access and sharing. The cameras continue operating in most precincts while the committee works.

Harris County commissioners, voted to form oversight committee; Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff, to lead oversight committee; Lesley Briones, Commissioner, took all 61 Flock cameras on Precinct Four offline

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Other, Azle, Texas; game in Arkadelphia, Arkansas; Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma

Former Azle High School football player dies after college game injury

Tyler Ulrich, 21, a former Azle High School football player and sophomore safety at Southern Nazarene University, died Thursday, five days after suffering a traumatic injury during a college football game in Arkansas on Saturday.

Tyler Ulrich, former Azle High School football player; sophomore safety at Southern Nazarene University; Mark Ulrich, Tyler Ulrich's father; Keith Newman, Southern Nazarene University President

Reported by 2 outlets   Only left-leaning outlets reported this   Facts and sources

Health, Hidalgo County, Texas; Statewide monitoring

Hidalgo County reports no confirmed New World screwworm cases

Hidalgo County reported no confirmed cases of New World screwworm as of October 14, 2026, while Texas monitors the outbreak statewide. Texas has three active cases and 45 inactive cases across the state.

Hidalgo County, entity reporting no confirmed cases; Texas authorities, monitoring outbreak statewide

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

State Government

Governor Abbott joins pledge to protect Americans from fraud

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed onto Vice President JD Vance's Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud on October 15, 2026, joining 21 other governors in a commitment to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal benefit programs.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; JD Vance, Vice President

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Brookshire, Fort Bend County

15-year-old on electric bike killed in collision with car in Fort Bend County

A 15-year-old from Katy died after his electric bike collided with a car driven by an 18-year-old pizza delivery driver in Fort Bend County on October 10. The teen was riding southbound against traffic with no lights when he hit a Honda Civic traveling northbound.

15-year-old boy from Katy, e-bike rider killed in crash; 18-year-old from Fulshear, pizza delivery driver; Eric Fagan, Fort Bend County Sheriff

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Public Safety, Crosby, Harris County

Harris County Sheriff's Office conducts active shooter training exercise

The Harris County Sheriff's Office conducted an active shooter response training exercise Thursday night at Wildcat Electrical Supply in Crosby. The drill was part of the agency's emergency preparedness efforts.

Harris County Sheriff's Office, Agency conducting active shooter training exercise; Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff overseeing training

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Odessa, Midland County

Democratic Governor nominee Hinojosa holds rally in Odessa before early voting

Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas Governor, is scheduled to headline a Get Out the Vote rally in Odessa on October 22. The rally will focus on voter mobilization and volunteer coordination ahead of early voting for the November 3 election.

Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas Governor; state representative and former civil rights union lawyer; Greg Abbott, Incumbent Governor of Texas

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources

Elections, Federal

Senate Democrats deploy election observers in nine states for 2026 midterms

Senate Democrats deployed over 100 trained staff members as nonpartisan election observers in nine states with closely contested 2026 U.S. Senate races. The observers will monitor voting processes, document irregularities, and report voter-intimidation allegations.

Senate Democrats, deployed election observers

Reported by 2 outlets   Facts and sources