Lucio Vasquez

Texas halts CDL issuance for DACA recipients, refugees and asylees The move follows a federal emergency rule that tightened CDL eligibility for people without legal status.

Texas halts commercial driver licenses for DACA recipients, refugees and people granted asylum after new federal rule tightens eligibility.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Gov. Abbott signs Texas camp safety, flood protection bills following deadly July floods The legislation was crafted in response to the state’s historic July 4 floods which killed more than 130 people, including nearly 40 children.

#NEW: Gov. Abbott signs sweeping camp safety and flood preparedness bills following deadly July floods that claimed more than 130 lives, including nearly 40 children.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Houston state Sen. Carol Alvarado says she will filibuster Republicans’ new congressional map | Houston Public Media "Republicans think they can walk all over us," Alvarado said in a post on social media Friday afternoon. "Today I'm going to kick back ... Going to be a long night."

From @houstonpublicmedia.bsky.social: Houston-area Democratic state Senator Carol Alvarado says she intents to filibuster the Texas Senate’s vote on the state's controversial new congressional map.

www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/new...

Texas House passes flood relief bills as private donors announce $40 million for housing assistance It's been nearly two months since floodwaters tore through the Texas Hill Country, leaving more than 130 people dead.

Texas House passes flood relief bills as private donors pledge $40M to help Hill Country families rebuild after July 4 floods.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Texas' Senate Bill 10, which requires the commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in the state, is set to take effect Sept. 1.

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Sen. Cornyn says FBI will help track down Texas Democrats who fled state over redistricting More than 50 Texas House Democrats left the state to stall a Republican-backed redistricting plan, effectively shutting down legislative business at the state Capitol.

#BREAKING: Sen. Cornyn says the FBI will help track down Texas Democrats who fled state to block a Republican-backed redistricting plan.

The FBI has declined to comment on its involvement.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Texas House quorum break grinds special session to a halt, leaving legislative future uncertain A growing quorum break in the Texas Legislature is halting progress in both chambers, delaying all legislative activity as House members remain absent.

A coordinated quorum break in the Texas House is paralyzing the state’s special legislative session — casting doubt over what, if anything, can be accomplished before the session ends later this month.

More from The Texas Newsroom's @luciov120.bsky.social ⬇️

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

For one Kerrville vineyard, a season’s harvest washed away in the flood Severe flooding in the Texas Hill Country nearly wiped out an entire vineyard in Kerrville. It’ll take years to recover.

The Texas Hill Country floods wiped out nearly all of John Rivenburgh’s vineyard — just weeks before harvest. Now, he’s facing years of rebuilding.

“This is the hardest thing I've ever navigated in my life.”

www.kut.org/texas/2025-0...

As number of missing in Central Texas flood drops, volunteers, residents assess long-term recovery Major Philip Swyers with the Salvation Army said the organization is anticipating being in the area for up to two years, "or until the funds run out." 

Search and rescue crews hope to return home soon as volunteer organizations and residents survey the long-term effects of one of the deadliest flash flooding events in the state's history.

When every phone alert sounds the same, Texans may miss the one that matters A crisis communication expert says everyday notifications are weakening the impact of life-saving emergency alerts.

In a state where extreme weather is a constant threat, the shrill tone of an emergency alert is supposed to cut through the noise. But for many Texans, those urgent warnings compete with countless other pings and buzzes from their phones.

‘Throw me the baby’: Floodwaters took a family and his RV park before his eyes Bob Canales spent the early morning hours of July 4 frantically trying to help people near the Kerrville RV park he and his wife own.

Stories keep coming out from Kerr County. Most are difficult to read but, like this one from @luciov120.bsky.social, contain some modicum of hope.

“We're gonna bounce back,” Bob Canales said. “We owe that to the memory of the people that were lost.”

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

As searches continue for flood victims, Gov. Greg Abbott said he's shifting the focus of an upcoming legislative session to proposals for making the state more prepared for natural disasters.

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Kerr County residents: Emergency alert messages sporadic, inconsistent in wake of floods Residents say Kerr County’s use of CodeRED alerts was sporadic and inconsistent. Local officials have not answered questions about when and how they utilized the system, which has been in place since ...

Some Kerr County residents say they never got a warning. Others say they received flood alerts hours too late.

Now officials are facing tough questions about why emergency alerts failed as floodwaters surged.

New from @paulflahive.bsky.social & @lmcgaughy.bsky.social

www.tpr.org/news/2025-07...

Live updates: Everything to know about the Hill Country flooding We're updating you with the latest in Texas on flood victims, recovery efforts, donation and volunteer opportunities and more.

The Texas Hill Country is reeling after catastrophic flash floods claimed more than 100 lives, with many still missing.

Follow live updates from The Texas Newsroom below:

www.keranews.org/live-updates...

More than 100 people died in Texas’ historic floods. Here are some of their stories At least 104 people are confirmed dead following catastrophic flash flooding that tore through Central Texas last week, with dozens more still missing — a toll that continues to rise as communities gr...

More than 100 dead. Dozens missing.

Texas communities are reeling after flash floods devastated the Hill Country over the holiday weekend.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Texans could face higher costs, fewer services under Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ The bill is moving quickly through Congress and could reshape life for millions of Texans.

#NEW: Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could cost Texas billions. Cuts to food aid, Medicaid and other safety nets may force the state to raise taxes or slash services.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

New Texas laws target roadside pet sales and puppy mills Under the new laws, which will go into effect on Sept. 1, counties across Texas will have more power to stop the sale of dogs and cats in outdoor spaces.

#NEW: Starting this fall, Texas is tightening the leash on roadside pet sales.

New laws will let more counties ban outdoor animal vendors — a move aimed at curbing puppy mills.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Judge blocks Texas AG's reporting rules for big-city prosecutors The rules require counties with over 400,000 residents to submit detailed reports and grant the Texas Attorney General’s Office access to case files.

#NEW: A judge has blocked new reporting rules from Texas AG Ken Paxton that targeted large, mostly Democratic DA offices. Prosecutors say the rules are unconstitutional and a waste of resources.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Texas prisoner pleads guilty to capital murder in 2023 death of correctional officer from Houston area Jovian Motley, 27, died during a tussle inside of a prison cell in the Wainwright Unit in Lovelady, about 20 miles north of Huntsville. It happened while five officers worked to restrain Jabari Lewis, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to Motley's murder.

A Texas prisoner has pleaded guilty to killing a 27-year-old correctional officer from the Houston area in 2023. 

Text reads: "Trump Administration Will End LGBTQ Suicide Prevention Service" over a photo of someone wearing a headset. Photo by Brandon Thibodeaux for The New York Times

Breaking News: The national suicide prevention hotline will no longer work with the Trevor Project or provide specialized support to LGBTQ callers under a new Trump administration directive effective July 17. nyti.ms/444VrdN

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors, big loss for transgender rights The Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a stunning setback to transgender rights.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a huge setback for transgender rights.

State audit finds major lapses in Texas jail oversight system The oversight agency missed key inspections and left prisoner complaints unresolved.

Prisoner complaints ignored. Inspections skipped. Death cases left open. A new state audit says the Texas jail system has a serious oversight problem.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Texans rally statewide on ‘No Kings Day’ to oppose Trump polices More than 60 rallies are planned across Texas in a nationwide protest targeting the Trump administration.

The Texas Newsroom has been covering protests across the state today. You can read more here:

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Some photos from today's "No Kings" protest in Houston. Organizers say about 15,000 people gathered in front of Houston City Hall this morning before marching through the city.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signals readiness to deploy state troopers as immigration protests escalate While protests in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas remained mostly peaceful, tensions flared in Austin Monday evening.

#NEW: TX Gov. Greg Abbott's office says he's prepared to crack down on any civil unrest following days of protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

#NEW: Colleges across Texas are bracing for the fallout, and uncertainty, of a court decision that could price thousands of students without legal status out of higher education.

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Texas led the nation in active shooter incidents in 2024, FBI report says Despite a drop in shootings nationwide, Texas saw more incidents than any other state last year.

#NEW: Texas led the nation in active shooter incidents in 2024, according to the FBI.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

‘A historic one for public education:’ Texas nonprofit reflects on what legislative session means for schools State policy makers passed two major education-related bills this legislative session, one establishing a school voucher-like program and another allocating more than $8 billion for public school funding.

The 89th Texas Legislature could be largely defined and remembered for its conservative push on education policies. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs $8.5 billion school funding bill with big boosts for teacher pay, special ed and safety House Bill 2 includes $4.2 billion for pay raises and nearly $2 billion to overhaul special education.

#NEW: Texas public schools are about to see a major cash infusion.

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an $8.5 billion funding bill that delivers sweeping investments in teacher pay, early learning and campus security.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...

Vouchers, property taxes and abortion: Here’s what the Texas Legislature did in 2025 The last day of Texas' 2025 legislative session is here. After 140 days at the Capitol in Austin, the Texas Legislature has passed more than 3,400 bills and resolutions. Here’s a look at some of the m...

Today is the last day of the Texas 2025 legislative session. After 140 days at the Capitol in Austin, the state Legislature has passed more than 3,400 bills and resolutions.

Here’s a look at some of the most significant bills that could soon become law.

www.keranews.org/texas-news/2...