Russia released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard on Wednesday after he had been imprisoned for over four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. President Trump said he had negotiated the release with Russian President Putin.
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.
FEMA denied Gov. Abbott's request for public assistance for infrastructure damage in eight Texas counties affected by severe weather July 12-Aug. 4. The agency also denied requests for individual assistance and hazard mitigation grants. Abbott's office said Texas will appeal and deliver resources to affected communities.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Denied public assistance request; Gov. Greg Abbott, Requested public assistance for affected counties; President Donald Trump, Previously approved public assistance for 23 counties and 4 more
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released a digital tool allowing residents to purchase National Flood Insurance Program policies online. The FloodSmart.gov platform enables users to get quotes and buy policies in minutes across more than 22,700 participating communities nationwide, including over 2,500 in FEMA Region 6.
A Guatemalan man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in a 2022 human smuggling operation that killed 53 migrants in a tractor-trailer in Texas. Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco was convicted of arranging travel for people who died or were seriously injured in the operation.
Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, Guatemalan man sentenced for human smuggling deaths; Federal Judge Orlando Garcia, Judge who sentenced Miranda-Orozco; U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons, U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case and 5 more
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday, October 18, 2026, to review whether Congress had constitutional authority to ban home distilling of spirits, enacted in 1868. The decision creates a split between lower federal appeals courts that issued conflicting rulings in April 2026.
$$10,000 for maximum fine for home distilling violation
Supreme Court, Agreed to review the case; Hobby Distillers Association, Plaintiffs challenging the ban; Robert Alt, President and CEO of Buckeye Institute; attorney for the challengers and 3 more
A federal grand jury in Dallas indicted four Texas residents on charges of promoting a fraudulent trust scheme that sheltered more than $1.5 billion in income from taxation and caused an estimated $200 million in federal tax losses.
$The alleged scheme sheltered more than $1.5 billion in income from federal taxation and caused an estimated tax loss of over $200 million to the U.S. government.
Duncan John MacDonald, Defendant; Sarah Duren, Defendant; Richard Ronald Cayce, Defendant and 2 more
A federal judge held the first public court hearing in two years on a 15-year-old class action lawsuit against the Texas foster care system. The state asked to dismiss the case and end federal court oversight.
$$4.9 billion for Texas foster care system budget
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane, Judge overseeing the case; Allyson Ho, Attorney for the state, Gibson Dunn partner; Paul Yetter, Attorney representing foster children and 2 more
Early voting is underway in Texas for Nov. 3 midterm elections. Voter registration backlogs caused by state errors have created situations where voters' names may not appear in polling place lists. Voters in this situation can cast provisional ballots, which are kept separate and reviewed after the election.
Texas Department of Public Safety, caused backlog of voter registration updates through driver's license portal; Early Voting Ballot Board, makes determinations on provisional ballots
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa held a campaign rally in San Antonio and announced plans to hold a rally in El Paso on October 28, 2026.