Elections

At least three Texas counties were contacted this week by the Department of Homeland Security for detailed records about individual voters.

Some vocal Texas voters say they want to get rid of politicians who've served the state for decades. Much of that sentiment can be boiled down to a preference for younger candidates with new energy — or even older ones who buck long-held status quo.

The lieutenant governor's remarks are the latest sign that Republicans are worried about the fall midterms. The GOP has controlled the state House since 2003 and currently has an 88-62 advantage.

A former city council representative filed to run for District 4's council seat in March, shortly after sitting councilor Brayden Rose announced his resignation, but the application has since been denied on the grounds that he did not meet the residency requirements under state law. And as the Texas State Board of Education discusses plans for a new Social Studies curriculum, KUT’s Greta Díaz González Vázquez reports some educators have taken issue with the proposal.

Election Day for city offices and school districts is coming up on May 2. Our Samantha Larned reports on two proposed voter bonds from Slaton Independent School District. Texas outpaced the nation in job growth in January, according to numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission. But Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider says unemployment ticked up from December.

The lawsuit alleges Texas' use of a federal immigration database to review voter eligibility could have put eligible voters at risk.

Lubbock City Council has approved June 27 as the date for the District 4 special election. Early voting will run June 15-23. Following a New York Times report outlining years of alleged sexual harassment and abuse from Cesar Chavez, KERA's Bill Zeeble explains Texas Education Agency is directing public schools to eliminate lessons and references to the late union organizer. Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer is hosting Coffee with the Mayor in District 2 tomorrow. The event starts 7 a.m. tomorrow at the Mae Simmons Community Center.

Former Lubbock city councilman Gary Boren has declared his intention to run for city council District 4 after Brayden Rose announced his resignation last week. Lubbock’s Chamber of Commerce kicked off its annual Lemonade Day campaign yesterday, launching an initiative that aims to teach kids entrepreneurship through running lemonade stands. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more from the ribbon cutting. And Texas families now have at least another two weeks to apply for the state's new school voucher program after a federal judge in Houston ordered an extension.

Texas is already poised to break a record this year for the largest turnover in its congressional delegation in a single cycle – either because of voluntary retirements or reelection losses. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that will hurt Texas’ ability to address its needs in Washington. And KTTZ's Mia Shephard reports on Covenant Children’s new Small Baby Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, designed for infants born before 30 weeks of gestation.

This weekend, Texas Tech University announced the immediate pause of business travel to certain countries in the Middle East. The U.S. Court of International Trade has ordered the Trump administration to repay tariffs imposed by President Trump just over a year ago. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports many Texas businesses may wait years for any reimbursement. Former candidate competing to represent the Republican Party for Lubbock County Clerk, Jim Baxa has dropped out of the May runoff race.