Texas Legislature

The seat to represent Texas’ Senate District 28 in the state legislature is on the ballot in the November midterm elections. The seat is currently held by incumbent Charles Perry, who is facing against his first opponent since he was elected in 2014. KACU interviewed the first-time candidate Riley Rodriquez about his campaign and priorities.

The seat to represent Texas’ Senate District 28 in the state legislature is on the ballot in the November midterm elections. Charles Perry is the incumbent Republican running for the position. This is the first time since he was elected in 2014 that Perry has had competition for the seat. KTTZ sat down with Perry to discuss the issues he would be focused on in next year’s legislative session if re-elected, primarily those affecting rural communities, including data centers, public education, and affordability.

Texas officials say nearly 1.5 million homeowners now pay zero school property taxes. The state is supposed to hold districts "harmless," but some say there is a "gap."

Last month, Lubbock City Council began the procedure to adopt a pause on large-scale data center development. If the moratorium passes, it will be two years until another one can be put in place. With more information and potential changes likely to come out of the state’s legislative session, one councilman has argued that the city should hold off on playing its moratorium card. All the while, the clock may be ticking on the statewide pause on data centers.

This semester marks one year since the state’s private school voucher program launched with a $1 billion budget. And this week, West Texans appeared before the Texas Senate committee on education to talk the impact. Our Brad Burt reports on Levelland ISD and Lubbock ISD.

During Wednesday’s Texas Senate Education Committee meeting, lawmakers hinted at possibly strengthening a law designed to give parents more control over library materials.

A federal appeals court will consider whether restrictions on protests at Texas’ public universities and colleges violate constitutional rights.

Texas lawmakers are exploring what it would take for Texas to annex parts of New Mexico. But Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports a House hearing last week highlighted significant legal hurdles—and concerns about damaging relations with the neighboring state. Online scams are becoming more sophisticated, and experts say anyone can be targeted. PBS Film Producer Peter Klein has been looking into scams as part of a documentary. He encourages people to independently verify any unexpected messages or calls asking for money or personal information.

Lubbock’s city council passed a resolution on Tuesday initiating the procedure to adopt a 90-day pause on the development of any large-scale data centers. The council will need to hold two public hearings before the moratorium can officially begin.

Lawmakers recently learned of the slow progress made by the companies, which have four months to come under compliance with the law prompted by the 2024 Panhandle wildfires.