More Texas Students Receive School Choice Funds
May 5, 2026 – More than 53,000 additional Texas students are set to receive school choice funding this week, marking a significant expansion of the state’s new education program. The latest group of accepted applicants falls under Tier 2 eligibility, which includes families earning at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level—approximately $66,000 annually for a family of four. The announcement builds on an earlier round...
Low Turnout in Sulphur Springs City Council Race Reflects a Broader Texas Trend of Civic Apathy
May 4, 2026 – SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — Voter turnout in Sulphur Springs’ city council election was strikingly low this cycle, continuing a pattern seen across many small Texas cities where local races struggle to draw even a fraction of eligible voters to the polls. Election officials and political observers say the outcome isn’t surprising—but it is concerning. In many municipal elections like Sulphur Springs’, turnout often...
Decline in SNAP Participation Sparks Debate Over Reform and Access
May 4, 2026 – WASHINGTON – Since President Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has undergone its most significant contraction in decades. New federal data reveals that nearly 4.3 million Americans—approximately 10% of total participants—exited the program between January 2025 and January 2026. The shift follows the implementation of the “One Big Beautiful Bill...
Paxton Wins on Texas Workforce Commission and EPIC City Battle
May 4, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — Ken Paxton announced that a temporary injunction involving the proposed EPIC City development has been suspended following an appeal to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, allowing state officials to pause compliance with a lower court order while the case proceeds. EPIC City, now known as The Meadow, is a planned 402-acre master-planned community near Josephine, Texas, is spearheaded by members of the...
Hopkins County Hospital District Will Seat Three New Board Members
May 2, 2026 – The May 2nd election saw seven candidates running for three of the spots on the Hopkins County Hospital District Board. Newcomers Tanner Ragan, Jaime Mitchell and Sharla Tanton Campbell received the most votes edging out two incumbents (Chris Brown and Rosario Mejia) as well as hopefuls Robin Boshears and Jennifer McCoy. The new members should be installed at the next regular meeting of the Hopkins County Hospital...
Runoff Needed for Sulphur Springs City Council Races
May 2, 2026 – City Secretary Natalie Burling reports that a runoff will be needed for both Place 6 and Place 7 of the Sulphur Springs City Council after the May 2 election did not produce a clear winner in each seat. A candidate must receive more than 50% of the cast votes to be declared the winner and as there were multiple candidates in each election (3 for Place 6, and 4 for Place 7) no candidate received the required votes...
Camp Mystic Will Not Open for 2026
April 30, 2026 – Camp Mystic announced it will not reopen for the upcoming summer season, citing the ongoing grief of families and continuing investigations into last year’s tragedy at the longtime Hill Country camp. Previously, the camp had planned a partial reopening for 2026 at its Cypress Lake location, but this was met with significant backlash from the public and families, according to Facebook posts and reports. In a...
Texas Parks and Wildlife Goes On Record About Mexican Wolves
April 30, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) issued a public statement this week addressing growing public concern about the transport of Mexican gray wolf through the state, emphasizing that no wolves have been released in Texas and there are no plans to do so. The clarification comes amid increased attention and speculation tied to reports of wolf movement. TPWD officials said that while...
Paxton Investigates Trucking Schools
April 29, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — Ken Paxton has launched a sweeping statewide investigation into several commercial trucking schools accused of certifying unqualified drivers, including individuals who may not meet English-language requirements mandated by federal law. The probe, announced by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, targets five companies: EP Texas Trucking School, Trucker Certified LLC, Fast Track CDL LLC,...
Cooper State Park Superintendent Aron Maib had a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey April 28th
April 28, 2026 – Cooper State Park Superintendent Aron Maib visited on this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey April 28th, 2026. Aron and John Mark chatted about the improved pier going in at Cooper State Park, what type of fish the lake at Cooper State Park is most known for, activities planned at Cooper State Park for the month of May, 2026, and much more. Be sure to check out this...
