Dallas Dart Could End
January 13, 2026 – Voters in several Dallas-area cities could soon reshape the future of regional public transportation as at least five North Texas communities prepare to ask residents whether they want to withdraw from Dallas Area Rapid Transit. There were two deadly shootings on DART trains or at stations in late 2025. These unfortunate events sparked increased anxiety among the public and prompted DART to enhance its...
Commissioner Miller Calls Upon State and Federal Legislators to Protect Vital Farm and Ranchland from Data Center Expansion
Calls for the Creation of Agriculture Freedom Zones January 12, 2026 – AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today unveiled a bold plan to protect the nation’s prime farm and ranchland from the rapid spread of data centers. His proposal centers on creating federal or state-designated Agriculture Freedom Zones, or AFZs, which would use targeted tax incentives to guide data center development into appropriate...
Proposal Would Increase Hemp License Fees
January 11, 2026 – Texas state health officials have proposed sweeping changes to hemp regulations that include dramatic increases in licensing fees, prompting warnings from industry members that the rules could effectively shut down small, in-state businesses while favoring large, out-of-state operators. Under proposed rules published by the Texas Department of State Health Services, manufacturer licenses would rise from $250...
Hopkins County Judge Newsom Enacts Burn Ban on Hopkins County January 9th
January 9, 2026 – ORDER PROHIBITING OUTDOOR BURNING WHEREAS, Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge finds that conditions in the county’sunincorporated areas pose a public safety hazard worsened by outdoor buming, and the TexasForest Service confirms drought conditions; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that outdoor burning is prohibited in the unincorporated areas ofHopkins County from the order’s date, unless terminated earlier by...
Neighboring Hunt County Institutes Burn Ban
January 9, 2026 – Hopkins County has yet to issue a burn ban this fall, but our neighboring county to the west issued one today. Residents of Hunt County are now prohibited from outdoor burning. Hunt County residents are asked to be particularly mindful of any equipment or outdoor work that may cause a spark or ignition source that could go unnoticed. High winds can cause grassfires to spread very quickly and can cause...
Governor Abbott Announces $30,000 Reward For Information On Commissioner Betancourt Shooting
January 8, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest of Reynaldo Mata-Rios. Eddy Betancourt was found deceased on December 27, 2025, and on the following day, the McAllen Police Department issued a warrant for Mata-Rios’ arrest for murder. Betancourt was the vice chairman of the Hidalgo...
‘Cedar Fever’ Time Once Gain
January 8, 2026 – North Texans battling runny noses, itchy eyes, and relentless sneezing may have a familiar culprit to blame this time of year: mountain cedar. Often mistaken for a lingering cold or the aftermath of holiday gatherings, mountain cedar allergies typically peak during the winter months, especially from December through February. The tree, also known as Ashe juniper, releases large amounts of pollen that can travel...
Hopkins County Commissioners Consider Another Solar Farm
January 7, 2026 – A work session was held at the Hopkins County Courthouse on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 to discuss the possibility of a tax break for Cobra Industrial Activites, Inc. Cobra is attempting to push forward a project by Sligsol Solar that was withdrawn from consideration near the end of 2024. The 515-acre facility would produce 81-megawatts of electricity at full capacity. Cobra representatives discussed the build out...
Attorney General Ken Paxton Detains Fifty Illegal Aliens in Raids Throughout the Houston Area
January 7, 2026 – Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Criminal Investigation Division recently detained fifty illegal aliens during continued operational activity in the Houston metropolitan area and turned them over to federal authorities for deportation proceedings. “Texas has been invaded by foreign illegals who rob Americans of their safety and opportunity,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Under the corrupt Biden Administration,...
U.S. Lawmakers Eye “Privateer” Authority to Target Cartel Boats Under Proposed Legislation
January 5, 2026 – WASHINGTON — A controversial new proposal being floated in Congress could open the door for private American citizens to legally seize cartel ships and assets on the high seas, reviving a centuries-old constitutional power and sparking debate over enforcement and legality. A privateer is a private ship owner or seaman authorized by a government’s letter of marque during wartime to attack and capture enemy...
