Texas in numbers

October 5 to October 11, 2026

263Fact sheets

113State a tax or dollar figure

15Topics covered

47Counties named

The biggest figures

$4 trillionDeficit increase from One Big Beautiful Bill Act over next decadeKen Paxton signals openness to cutting Social Security in leaked audio
$1 trillionMedicaid cut in 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill ActKen Paxton signals openness to cutting Social Security in leaked audio
$104.9 billionState budget for K-12 educationTexas comptroller announces financial review of four school districts
$50 billionProperty tax relief devoted by TexasAbbott and Hinojosa clash on taxes, spending, public safety in Texas governor race
$46 billionBorder wall project budgetTexas landowners oppose Trump administration border wall project
$46 billionBorder-security campaign valueFederal judge halts border barrier construction in Big Bend region

All the figures

Tax rates and fees stated

about $4 billionProperty tax cut cost estimateTexas state agencies oppose mandatory 3% budget cuts ordered by Republican leaders
three cents per $100 of taxable valueM&O tax rate increase in Leander ISDFive Central Texas school districts seek voter approval for tax rate increases
$5,141Estimated annual district tax bill for Leander ISD home if VATRE passesFive Central Texas school districts seek voter approval for tax rate increases
$1.1169 per $100 of taxable valueLeander ISD 2026-27 total tax rate if VATRE passesFive Central Texas school districts seek voter approval for tax rate increases
$1.0869 per $100 of taxable valueLeander ISD 2026-27 tax rate if VATRE does not passFive Central Texas school districts seek voter approval for tax rate increases
nine cents per $100 of taxable valueM&O tax rate increase in Georgetown ISDFive Central Texas school districts seek voter approval for tax rate increases

Stories by topic

Counties in the news

Harris 20 Bexar 19 Dallas 17 El Paso 13 Tarrant 11 Travis 9 Lubbock 4 Smith 4 Starr 3 Brewster 3 Collin 3 Cameron 3

Most widely reported

ElectionsSan Antonio, Freeman ColiseumOct 8, 2026

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 and 1 more

Reported by 37 outletsFound via Google News

ElectionsSan AntonioOct 9, 2026

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 35 outletsFound via Google News

OtherCotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, TexasOct 10, 2026

No. 1 Texas faces Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl

The University of Texas Longhorns played the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry football game on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Texas entered the game ranked No. 1 with a 4-0 record, while Oklahoma was unranked with a 2-2 record.

Texas Longhorns, college football team; Oklahoma Sooners, college football team; Steve Sarkisian, Texas head coach and 4 more

Reported by 32 outletsOnly left-leaning outlets reported this Found via Google News

OtherDallas, TexasOct 11, 2026

No. 1 Texas faces Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry game at Cotton Bowl

No. 1 Texas played Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday, October 12, 2026. The game was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Texas entered the game undefeated at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Oklahoma was 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Texas Longhorns, competing team; Oklahoma Sooners, competing team; Bevo XV, Texas mascot and 5 more

Reported by 27 outletsFound via Google News

CourtsSilsbee, Texas (approximately 100 miles northeast of Houston)Oct 7, 2026

Texas executes Jamaal Howard by lethal injection for 2000 murder

Jamaal Howard, 46, was executed by lethal injection on October 7, 2026, for the 2000 fatal shooting of convenience store clerk Vickie Swartout during a robbery in Silsbee, Texas. Howard was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. CT.

$114 for money taken during robbery

Jamaal Howard, Man executed for 2000 murder of convenience store clerk; Vickie Swartout, Convenience store clerk fatally shot during 2000 robbery; Greg Abbott, Texas Governor

Reported by 27 outletsFound via Google News

Coming up

Thu, Oct 22 Hinojosa Get Out the Vote rally in Odessa (fact sheet)
Fri, Oct 23 Mail ballot applications due
Fri, Oct 23 Mail ballot application deadline (fact sheet)
Fri, Oct 23 Deadline to apply for mail-in ballot in November midterm (fact sheet)
Sat, Oct 24 No. 7 Ole Miss plays No. 18 Texas football game (fact sheet)
Mon, Oct 26 Rachel Engeler begins role as Aviation Director (fact sheet)
Before the 90th Legislature. Bill prefiling is expected to open November 9, 2026. The session convenes January 12, 2027. Session Tracker
Election Day is November 3. Elections

Counts include only fact sheets published in the period, and leave out old records that resurfaced. Past weeks: Oct 12 to Oct 18 Oct 5 to Oct 11 Sep 28 to Oct 4 Sep 21 to Sep 27 Sep 14 to Sep 20 Sep 7 to Sep 13