El Paso County commissioners received updated figures showing the sheriff's office budget deficit rose to $7.6 million as of October 14. The deficit was driven primarily by overtime costs and salary and benefits spending at 108% of budget.
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Eight months after the Arlington City Council suspended an antidiscrimination ordinance, Mayor Jim Ross asked city staff in September to place a previously proposed version on the agenda for discussion. Ross told residents at an October 1 town hall that council members and residents should have another chance to weigh in on the issue.
$roughly $65 million for federal funding at risk
Jim Ross, Mayor of Arlington; Trey Yelverton, City Manager of Arlington; DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health and 1 more
Early voting is underway in the 2026 midterm elections. In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and Republican nominee Ken Paxton are campaigning on economic concerns as they focus on the closely watched Senate race.
James Talarico, Democratic Senate nominee; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate nominee; Donald Trump, President, campaigning for Republican candidates
Early voting started in Smith County on Monday, October 19, with long lines reported at The Hub in downtown Tyler. The county reported 5,859 ballots cast in-person and 1,301 mail-in ballots received on the first day, totaling 7,160 votes.
Smith County, county election authority; Smith County Pct. 1 Constable's Office, traffic patrol assistance
Sul Ross State University established a permanent, endowed fellowship for graduate student groundwater research at the Meadows Research Institute with $500,000 in support from Google.org. The first fellow will be selected in 2027.
$$500,000 for endowed fellowship support
Sul Ross State University, established endowed fellowship; Google.org, provided $500,000 in support; Dr. Carlos Hernandez, president of Sul Ross State University and 1 more
Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas led all U.S. states with 154,300 jobs gained over the past 12 months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an annual growth rate of 1.1 percent.
Republican incumbent Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham faces Democratic challenger Benjamin Flores in the November 2026 election. Buckingham, a former state senator and physician, has served as land commissioner since 2023. Flores says disaster recovery and transparent land management are priorities.
$nearly $890,000 for campaign funds raised in most recent reporting period
Dawn Buckingham, Republican candidate, incumbent Texas Land Commissioner; Benjamin Flores, Democratic candidate for Texas Land Commissioner
Mexico announced it will file a complaint in the United States over the death of a Mexican national in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) custody in Texas.
Mexico, filed complaint; ICE, federal agency holding deceased
El Paso County reported its second-highest first-day early voting turnout for a midterm election, with more than 22,000 ballots cast, 90% higher than 2022. Dallas County broke its all-time first-day early voting record with 76,079 voters. Both counties surpassed previous midterm records.
Lisa Wise, El Paso County Elections Administrator; Clay Jenkins, Dallas County judge