Government and Politics

Political science experts say it's a sign Republicans are concerned about how key races will play out, including in the decades-long GOP stronghold of Texas. They expect the convention's effects to be negligible in polls, but its impact at the ballot box is less certain.

Texas laws taking effect Sept. 1 will change how consumers repair electronic devices, strengthen oversight of residential solar sales and allow certain forms of gold and silver to be used as legal tender.

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has called on local governments to provide property tax relief and for school districts to cut "bloat." Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick reports on Huffines' comments. Officials in Granbury are reversing course on five recall petitions targeting the mayor and four city council members over transparency concerns regarding a data center project in the city. KERA's Emmanuel Rivas explains the decision is a reversal of a rejection from earlier this summer.

Granbury officials will present five recall petitions to the city council after previously rejecting them. Petition organizers are asking an appeals court to enforce the charter's timeline.

As Republicans prepare for the party's first national midterm convention in Dallas, we asked Texas Republicans what — and who — defines the Lone Star State's GOP in 2026.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says frustration among rural Republicans over data centers, transmission lines and other state policies has grown so intense that he and some other GOP voters may refuse to vote for some Republican candidates in the November election.

The state agency said it could collect information from more than 400 large and medium-sized energy consumers.

Texas families are challenging the state’s new law calling for the 10 Commandments to be posted in every public schoolroom. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports families want to take it to the nation’s High Court. The criminal case against the former head of the Texas Lottery Commission returns to court today. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports Gary Grief faces a felony charge tied to a controversial 2023 jackpot. In Lubbock, Hub City Comic Con returns to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center this weekend, and on Monday at 7 a.m. at Citizens Tower, Coffee with the Mayor will give citizens a chance to sit down one-on-one with city staff.

The state's power grid operator had already planned on auditing several data center proposals, but Abbott's directive reworks the timeline and adds new requirements.

Granbury residents are asking a Fort Worth appeals court to order recall elections after the city rejected petitions targeting the mayor and four council members over the Project Patriot data center.