American politician, attorney, and jurist; governor of Texas since 2015
Since late May, Trump-endorsed candidates have reshaped key Republican primaries: Ken Paxton has beaten John Cornyn in Texas and will face Democrat James Talarico in November; in South Carolina Trump has backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Sen. Lindsey Graham has secured the president's endorsement for his fifth-term bid. Democrats are raising funds and recalibrating strategy in response.
The New World screwworm re-emerged in Texas after decades of eradication, with a calf found in La Pryor marking the first U.S. cattle case since the 1960s. Authorities are deploying sterile flies, expanding production, and tightening cross-border controls as Canada imposes imports limits and additional cases emerge in Texas.
A wave of local and state actions is shaping the data-center boom. New rules aim to curb power use, water consumption and cost pressures, while critics warn of overreach and uneven economic impacts.
Cornyn has acknowledged his defeat in the Texas Senate race, warning that Trump’s continued loyalty requirements risk fracturing the party. He says Republicans will grapple with a bumpy seven months ahead while colleagues gain more room to maneuver.
Police are in a standoff with a suspect after a shooting near a Midland veterinary hospital. Authorities report multiple injuries and a confirmed fatality as the scene remains active this morning. Dozens of officers and armored units are on site, with hospital staff treating victims.
At the Texas GOP convention in Houston, delegates debate the party platform amid pressure for unity. An elephant mascot, Paige, disrupts proceedings when she urinates in the aisle, drawing national attention as Abbott weighs a more assertive stance on key issues.
A shooting in Midland, Texas, has left at least one person dead and multiple others hospitalised. Authorities say the suspect, who barricaded himself in a building, has died after a standoff. The area remains under police operation with road closures.
Solar generation has surpassed coal in the US grid, led by rooftop and utility-scale projects, signaling a growing dominance of renewables. The Energy Information Administration data show renewables outpacing coal in total power delivery, with solar near the gap but not yet yearly total. The trend continues as demand climbs and permitting hurdles persist.
The Texas App Store Accountability Act remains active after the Supreme Court declines to intervene, letting the 5th Circuit panel's ruling stand while litigation continues. The act requires age-verification measures for app stores and parental consent for downloads by minors. Courts have split over whether the law violates the First Amendment, with ongoing challenges in lower courts.
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order imposing a one-year statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centres that use 50 megawatts or more, directing regulators to complete an environmental impact review and consider rules to make developers pay for power, contribute to grid upgrades and lose tax breaks. The move has drawn praise from community and environmental groups and rebuke from industry and national conservatives.
Idahoans United for Women and Families has qualified an initiative for the November ballot that would replace the state’s near-total abortion ban with a law allowing abortions until fetal viability. The measure would align Idaho with pre-Dobbs norms, potentially expanding access and triggering broad political debate ahead of elections.
The National Weather Service has issued alerts as a large, deadly flood wave is barreling down the Guadalupe River in Texas, threatening Kerrville, Uvalde and other Hill Country communities. Rescue teams have already carried out dozens of high-water rescues; governors have declared disasters across dozens of counties as rainfall continues.
West Virginia faces a severe flood emergency as heavy rainfall triggers widespread damage. Governors mobilize National Guard and declare a state of emergency across all 55 counties. Rescues continue as utilities restore power and crews clear debris. Officials warn that the situation remains volatile with high water and saturated ground.
A U.S. ICE officer has killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, during a traffic stop in Houston. Authorities say officers were targeting two Guatemalan men; new disclosures show the incident involved conflicting claims about vehicle collision and possible drugs. The family describes Salgado Araujo as a long-time resident with legal hopes in the U.S.
Torrential rain has driven dangerous floods across Texas Hill Country for a third day, triggering rescues and road washouts. Authorities warn waters will continue to rise, with last year’s deadly floods weighing on response efforts.
The White House has expanded a nonbinding Ratepayer Protection Pledge to include nearly 200 additional utilities, governors and data‑center developers, and President Trump has urged local leaders to welcome data centers as economic opportunities. Critics say the pledge lacks enforcement and will not prevent rising electricity bills as AI-related power demand grows.
Texas Governor has ordered audits of data-center projects seeking grid connections. ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission are reviewing more than 1,800 interconnection requests, the vast majority from data centers. The move aims to verify power and water use, tax incentives and community impacts, and could deny connections to projects that do not comply.
The United States is circulating a nine-page questionnaire to NATO members and other allies, seeking to gauge support for its approach to defense and deterrence. The document asks whether allies have publicly supported US policy, whether they have placed restrictions on US access to bases, and whether they have aligned with the aim of strengthening “strong, clear, and quiet” messaging. Bloomberg reports the questionnaire reflects a push to involve allies in a broader Middle East strategy.
Conversations over AI data centers have stoked protests and reshaped policy in several states, with governors weighing restrictions as communities voice concerns about power, water, noise, and costs. Leaders face pressure from both residents and tech groups as projects move from proposal to scrutiny.
The government has announced 43 transmission projects that will qualify for a new bill-discount scheme. Households within 500 metres of qualifying overhead lines will receive up to £2,500 off electricity bills over 10 years, with payments starting in early 2027 and funded by a small charge on all bills.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its national license-plate camera network after reporting dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 days to seven, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed a federal review of ablution facilities at Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston’s George Bush airports, arguing they amount to unlawful religious discrimination. DFW has paused plans to install washing stations after a state-led review, while IAH already hosts a washing facility. The moves come amid broader concerns about government-funded facilities accommodating religious practices.
Texas politics are shifting as districts face rising backlash over data centers. A four-point plan aims to curb Chinese tech, protect children, and cut tax exemptions, while opponents accuse leaders of courting big tech and dodging local concerns. Polls show broad cross‑party opposition to new centers, potentially altering the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Minnesota seeks to have ICE agent Christian Castro extradited from Brownsville, Texas, where he is detained after a Minnesota arrest for assault and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting in Minneapolis. Texas law requires release after 90 days unless the case ripens; courts are weighing next steps as Abbott weighs whether to sign the warrant.