Federal Government Orders Texas To Delay November SNAP Benefits
October 18, 2025 – MISSOURI CITY, Texas — Millions of Texans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could face delays in receiving their November benefits after the federal government instructed states to temporarily hold payments amid the ongoing shutdown in Washington. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, told state agencies this week to pause early benefit issuance while...
17 Propositions On The Ballot November 4, 2025
October 17, 2025 – On November 4, Texas voters will head to the polls to decide the fate of 17 constitutional amendments, appearing as statewide propositions at the top of the ballot. Among the most closely watched measures are proposals tied to billions of dollars in property tax cuts for both homeowners and businesses. Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature approved the package with a two-thirds majority, authorizing the...
Prop 4 On November Ballot Will Prop Up Texas’ Water Infrastructure
October 17, 2025 – With the November 2025 election approaching, Texas voters will consider Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment intended to steer billions into statewide water infrastructure efforts—just as the state grapples with explosive growth in data centers and their consequential water demands. Proposition 4 would direct up to $1 billion per year of existing sales tax revenues—after the first $46.5 billion is...
Governor Abbott Presented With “Champion For Choice Award” Following Historic Texas School Choice Victory
October 17, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott last night accepted the John T. Walton Champion for Choice Award from the American Federation for Children in recognition of the Governor’s leadership in delivering the largest day-one school choice program in America. “This May, I signed into law the largest day-one school choice program in America, empowering parents, not bureaucrats, to decide what is best for their children,”...
Neighboring Fannin County Institutes Burn Ban
October 15, 2025 – Hopkins County has yet to issue a burn ban this fall, but our neighboring county to the northwest issued one today. Residents of Fannin County are now prohibited from outdoor burning. Due to dangerous conditions that could lead to fast-moving grassfires, Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to implement a countywide ban on all outdoor burning. That decision came during a regular meeting of Fannin County...
Abbott Announces $278 Million Loan for Freestone County Power Plant Ahead of Data Center Boom
October 15, 2025 – Governor Greg Abbott has announced a new Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan to support construction of a 460-megawatt natural gas power plant in Freestone County, part of Calpine Corporation’s new Pin Oak Creek Energy Center. The $278.3 million low-interest loan—covering 60% of the $464 million project—marks the fourth TxEF agreement since the program began earlier this year. Set to begin operation before summer...
Target and Walmart Push Back on New Retail Theft Laws, Citing Self-Checkout Losses
October 14, 2025 – Large retailers including Target and Walmart are pushing back against a newly proposed law aimed at curbing retail theft by increasing oversight and regulation of self-checkout lanes. The proposed legislation would require stricter rules for self-checkout systems, including more staff monitoring, item caps, and possibly removing access to some kiosks altogether. Retailers argue that while theft is a growing...
Data Center Water Use in Texas Remains Unclear Amid Limited Reporting
October 14, 2025 – State officials say Texas still does not have a clear picture of how much water its rapidly growing data center industry is consuming, raising concerns about resource management in one of the nation’s most drought-prone states. A spokesperson for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) confirmed that the state lacks a comprehensive list of data centers, though estimates place the total between 350 and 400...
Governor Abbott Honors Fentanyl Victims At 3rd Annual Fentanyl Awareness Walk In San Antonio
October 14, 2025 | San Antonio, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott yesterday honored the hard work of Texas families and community members raising awareness of the nationwide fentanyl crisis at the 3rd Annual “Soles 4 Souls” Fentanyl Awareness Walk. “We will continue to grow this movement until we purge fentanyl forever in the United States of America,” said Governor Abbott. “There’s an unfortunate fact...
The Co-Chairs of the 2025-2026 Hopkins County United Way Dropped by for a Chat on This Second Cup Of Coffee
October 13, 2025 – The Co-Chairs of the 2025 Hopkins County United Way, Ashley Crump and Kaitlyn Hankins, sat down with John Mark Dempsey to chat about the United Way campaign on this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. Learn how your local United Way is helping your community, see what’s new with them this year, and find out how you can help them out on this interesting episode of A...
