Lauren McGaughy

Texas House Democrats break quorum, bolt state after GOP congressional redistricting map passes committee | Houston Public Media The move effectively brings the state House of Representatives to a standstill and prevents any consideration by the full chamber of HB 4, which would dramatically redraw Texas’ congressional maps.

NEWS TONIGHT: Texas House Democrats flee Capitol to stall GOP redraw of congressional maps.

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

The Drill Down

THE DRILL DOWN: Want to catch up on the investigative work being done at @npr.org stations across Texas?

Click here to read and hear stories we've done going back 18 months. www.texasstandard.org/texas-newsro... #txlege

Austin Police investigating assault of trans woman at Barton Springs as possible hate crime APD is asking the public for information about an attack over the weekend of a trans woman and someone who was injured trying to defend her.

ICYMI: Austin Police investigating alleged assault of transgender woman at Barton Springs as possible hate crime.

www.kut.org/crime-justic...

7/30/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION A Texas-sized gamble: Details on the new mapGDP, Fed meeting on tap as U.S. economy faces big dayThe Senate’s race to the

Rumors of what Republicans’ new Texas congressional map will be. #txlege

punchbowl.news/archive/7302...

The Rescissions Act of 2025 read by Zoe

Need a new podcast for falling asleep?

Local public radio has you covered. The latest episode of “Marfa Public Radio Puts You to Sleep” includes a full reading of the Recissions Act that clawed back funding from stations like this.

Take a listen and 💤

www.marfapublicradio.org/podcast/marf...

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.

For one Texas vineyard, a season’s harvest washed away in the flood. Read the latest from @luciov120.bsky.social.
www.kut.org/texas/2025-0...

Prosecutors for Ken Paxton cut this alleged sex trafficker a deal. He was just rearrested. Rakim Sharkey, 31, could have spent the rest of his life in prison for sex trafficking three people — two of whom were children. But in 2023 a prosecutor with Ken Paxton’s office let the man plead gui...

Two years ago, a lawyer in Texas AG Ken Paxton's trafficking unit cut a deal for a man accused of forcing two girls into sex work.

Now, the deal is falling apart. Read why in the latest from @paulflahive.bsky.social.

www.tpr.org/criminal-jus... #txlege

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not disclose real estate interests for years. That just changed. Paxton, a Republican, is challenging John Cornyn for his seat in the U.S. Senate while undergoing divorce proceedings with his wife, Angela.

For years, we've reported on Texas AG Ken Paxton choosing not to disclose his real estate interests to ethics regulators.

The state issued new guidance on what assets politicians must disclose in Dec. Now, Paxton's changed his tune — but it still isn't the whole picture.
www.kut.org/politics/202...

As Texans start to rebuild after the floods, many face the reality of being uninsured Just 7% of homeowners in Texas have flood insurance through the federal government, which runs the biggest flood insurance program in the country. That percentage drops to 2% when you move inland, to ...

Just 7% Texas homeowners have federal flood insurance.

But the state also saw one of the biggest drops in people with this coverage in the past year. The July 4 floods, like other disasters before it, are forcing people to rethink that.

By @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social: www.kut.org/housing/2025...

Finally, it also looks like a member of the public is attempting to intervene in the case.

I'd guess it's to fight the order to seal the case records from the public. But that's just a guess because, well, the case is sealed and I can't read the appeal.

Background: www.kut.org/politics/202...

For now, it appears the Paxton divorce case is being handled by Judge Cynthia Wheless, who is the wife of the second judge on the case. (The first judge on the case recused herself)

More background on the Whelesses here: www.kut.org/politics/202...

Update in Angela and Ken Paxton divorce case.

The case has been transferred to a new judge, as I reported. This would be at least the third on the case.

It may have been transferred to a fourth judge. Hard to know now that the case has been sealed. www.kut.org/politics/202...

To view this email as a web page, go here.

How could the rescission affect Austin's @npr.org station?

@kutnews.bsky.social GM Debbie Hiott sent out an email this morning that says, her best guess is about $1.2M lost a year if CPB funding is eliminated.

Her note: view.email.kut.org?qs=3a17a185e...

NPR coverage: www.npr.org/2025/07/17/n...

Judge orders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce records sealed from public State Sen. Angela Paxton, the attorney general’s wife, asked last week for the records to be sealed. A new judge brought on after the initial judge recused herself granted the request.

But Ken Paxton's lawyers tell us the current judge won't remain on the case. He'll likely transfer the case to another judge.

Read all about why and how the records in the Paxton divorce case were sealed (and read the records themselves) here:

www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

Judge orders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce records sealed from public State Sen. Angela Paxton, the attorney general’s wife, asked last week for the records to be sealed. A new judge brought on after the initial judge recused herself granted the request.

Also, the original judge has recused herself. She did not give a reason why but she and her husband, the county DA, have long ties to the Paxtons.

The new judge on the case and his wife have donated to the Ken and Angela's campaigns.

www.kut.org/politics/202...

#txlege

Judge orders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce records sealed from public State Sen. Angela Paxton, the attorney general’s wife, asked last week for the records to be sealed. A new judge brought on after the initial judge recused herself granted the request.

Some more info on this case:

Angela Paxton asked for the record to be sealed. Her lawyer argued this "will not have an adverse affect on the public health or safety, and the records do not involve matters that should be available to the general public."

www.kut.org/politics/202...

#txlege

Judge orders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce records sealed from public State Sen. Angela Paxton, the attorney general’s wife, asked last week for the records to be sealed. A new judge brought on after the initial judge recused herself granted the request.

NEW: The judge overseeing Texas AG Ken Paxton's divorce case has put it under seal, meaning the public won't be able to access the record.

We got all the documents filed before the case was sealed and have published them here:

www.kut.org/politics/202...
#txlege

Texas has funded hundreds of millions in flood projects. The State Flood Plan says it needs $54 billion. The first State Flood Plan, published last year, identified $54 billion in flood mitigation, warning and data needs. The state has awarded around $660 million since the plan was published, with a spec...

NEW: More than five million Texans live in a flood plain.

Last year, Texas release its first every statewide comprehensive flood plan. Addressing every flood need across the state could cost $54B, the plan says.

Lawmakers head back to Austin next week.
www.tpr.org/government-p... #txlege

FYI I deleted my previous tweet bc the link wasn't working.

Gov. Greg Abbott says emails with Elon Musk are too ‘intimate and embarrassing’ to make public When we asked for the emails, the governor’s office said some of the correspondence with the billionaire and his companies contains “intimate” information that isn’t of “legitimate concern to the publ...

NEW: As part of my effort to track Elon Musk's influence in Texas, I asked for his emails with Gov. Greg Abbott for the last several months.

Abbott's office rejected my request, saying the records are too "intimate and embarrassing" to release. www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

Live Updates: Death toll from Texas floods hits 128. Here's more on how to help and this weekend's flood risk The Texas Newsroom has the latest in Texas on flood victims, recovery efforts, donation and volunteer opportunities and more.

LATEST: Flash flood warnings issued again. Residents warned to STAY AWAY from river.

"There is a high probability of the Guadalupe River at Hunt reaching flood stage today. All persons, equipment and vehicles should be removed from the river immediately."

www.tpr.org/live-updates...

‘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...

a cat wearing a blue shirt is sitting on a laptop computer ALT: a cat wearing a blue shirt is sitting on a laptop computer

Seems like a good time to reintroduce myself.

I'm an investigative reporter & editor for The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration of public radio stations across the state. Lived here for 12 years.

This year I've focused on Elon Musk.

Got a tip? DMs open. Email tips@kut.org. Signal is lmcgaughy.40.

State Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, has been attorney general since 2015. His wife, Angela Paxton, is a state senator. Both are Republican.

NEW INFO: We just got Angela Paxton's divorce petition. She accuses her husband Ken Paxton of adultery and noted the couple ceased living together in June 2024.

More: www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

State Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, has been attorney general since 2015. His wife, Angela Paxton, is a state senator. Both are Republican.

BREAKING NEWS: State Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to court records. www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

This is major.

Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home After agreeing to some concessions, Musk got the OK from the West Lake Hills City Council to keep the fencing around his local home — with some changes.

While you were sleeping…

Elon Musk has been feuding with his neighbors over fencing he built at his $6M Austin-area home. Last night, the city council sided with Musk, letting him keep the fencing — with some big changes.

The vote was tight. Read more:

www.kut.org/politics/202...

Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home After agreeing to some concessions, Musk got the OK from the West Lake Hills City Council to keep the fencing around his local home — with some changes.

BREAKING: Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home. www.kut.org/politics/202...

A former commissioner of a flood-ravaged Texas county says a siren warning system would have saved lives and that he believes state officials will act promptly to implement a warning system.

Read More👉 www.tpr.org/2025-07-09/form...

Floods, abortion and THC: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces packed special session agenda On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released his official proclamation announcing a special legislative session. Texas lawmakers will be back in Austin starting on July 21. The session, which ori...

NEW: The bathroom bill and redistricting also on the list of the governor's priority items for the special session. Latest from @BlaiseGainey.

www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege