Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department commission would not vote on a potential sale of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX anytime soon. A Parks and Wildlife spokesperson stated the commission is not considering the sale at its November meeting.
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.
Attorney General Ken Paxton's office launched a statewide inquiry into data center water consumption. Official notices were sent to 156 data center developments across 32 Texas counties after state officials noted noncompliance with mandatory environmental reporting requirements and failure to complete the Texas Water Development Board's water use survey.
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; Texas Attorney General's Office, Enforcement agency launching inquiry; Texas Water Development Board, Agency whose water use survey was not completed by data centers
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
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced a new whistleblower portal allowing Texans to report suspected fraud, tax evasion, corruption, and misuse of taxpayer money. Reports go directly to investigators in the comptroller's Law Enforcement Operations Division, with options to submit detailed information, upload documents, and remain anonymous.
Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Keith Brainard and appointed Karen Smith to the State Pension Review Board. Their terms expire January 31, 2031. The board reviews Texas public retirement systems for actuarial soundness and state law compliance.
Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; Keith Brainard, Reappointed member of State Pension Review Board; Karen Smith, Appointed member of State Pension Review Board
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas employers added 154,300 nonfarm jobs over the past 12 months, with an annual job growth rate of 1.1%, exceeding the national rate by 0.8 percentage points.
$more than $20 million for jobs and Education for Texans career training grants
Corpus Christi placed Proposition B, the "Fair Water Amendment," on the ballot. The measure would amend the city charter to eliminate a drought surcharge exemption for large industrial water users. A coalition gathered over 12,000 verified signatures to add it to the ballot.
$31 cents for drought surcharge exemption fee
Chloe Torres, Coastal Bend regional coordinator, Texas Campaign for the Environment; Roland Barrera, Corpus Christi City Council member at-large; Texas Campaign for the Environment, organization that worked to place measure on ballot
A scheduled search for a missing Texas woman was called off on Oct. 20 before volunteers could begin. Christin Munn Holliday was last seen in Katy on Sept. 29; her BMW was found abandoned after a crash on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge in Louisiana, and witnesses reported seeing her walk away from the scene.
Republican Mark Keough is running for a third term as Montgomery County judge against Democratic challenger James Graf in the Nov. 3 general election. Keough, who took office in 2019, said he wants to continue building on his accomplishments. Graf pledged to serve just one term and focus on long-term financial planning.
$$480 million for road bond
Mark Keough, Republican candidate for Montgomery County judge, incumbent serving third term; James Graf, Democratic challenger for Montgomery County judge