Government and Politics

The food pyramid informs government nutrition programs, as well as what the military eats.

The Department of State Health Services is considering new rules for the Texas hemp industry that would require child-resistant packaging, stronger warning labels, sharply higher fees and effectively ban smokeable flower and extracts.

Legal questions remain in the “resign-to-run” disagreement between Lubbock County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jason Corley and County Judge Curtis Parrish. Corley was restored to the commission, at least temporarily, at the end of December, while the case for his possible replacement is under review by the Texas Supreme Court. Meanwhile, KERA's Bill Zeeble reports that the state has launched a website where folks can file complaints about public colleges and universities, tied to recent laws like anti-DEI legislation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to send "bridge" payments to farmers who grow soybeans, cotton and other crops before March. Commodity groups and economists say the aid brings relief to farmers and their lenders, but they need long-term solutions.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board office of the Ombudsman has opened a new website where people can report alleged violations of state law in colleges and universities.

A new state sales tax report shows improvement for Lubbock businesses in November—ranking the city second statewide in percentage sales tax increase compared to last year. Plus, Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports faith leaders across Texas are urging school boards to reject new rules carving out time for prayer and Bible readings in public and charter schools as a key deadline approaches.

Democratic leaders in Minneapolis and D.C. say there appears to be no justification for the use of force in Wednesday's fatal ICE shooting and are calling for a thorough investigation of the incident.

The Texas Education Agency received more than 350 complaints involving teachers and staff who commented on the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media.

D.C. police officers experienced some of the most intense violence during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. We sat down with two of them to rewatch their body camera footage from that day.

Texas will have more than 30 new laws on the books come New Year's Day, touching on everything from artificial intelligence regulation to property tax exemptions.