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- MRT 2/17-20/26 (free): DART Cities Working on Resolution // SA Mayor Reprimand to be Discussed by Council Today // Rehmet Sworn In // Wave Election Alarms for GOP
MRT 2/17-20/26 (free): DART Cities Working on Resolution // SA Mayor Reprimand to be Discussed by Council Today // Rehmet Sworn In // Wave Election Alarms for GOP
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
Matt Mackowiak
February 23, 2026
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TUESDAY 2/17/2026 - FRIDAY 2/20/2026
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“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
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TOP NEWS
“UT System limits how professors can teach ‘controversial topics’ in the classroom” via Dallas Morning News – The University of Texas System passed new restrictions Thursday that limit how “controversial topics” can be taught in the classroom, raising concerns about the rigor and quality of education students will receive.
The system’s Board of Regents voted unanimously to set teaching expectations for faculty, which includes fostering welcoming class environments, presenting differing views on “unsettled issues” and omitting “controversies” that are not relevant to the course.
The policy charges the UT System’s 14 institutions — which include UT Arlington and UT Dallas — with building “breadth and balance” in the faculty body and curriculum to ensure a variety of viewpoints.
Officials at each university will decide whether “controversial material” is required for a degree in a field of study. They will also have to tweak required general education courses, which students must take to graduate, so that students do not have to “study unnecessary controversial subjects.”
(DMN)
“Parents of missing Camp Mystic camper sue camp, seek to preserve evidence” Texas Public Radio’s None – The parents of the only Camp Mystic victim still missing after the July 4, 2025, Guadalupe River flooding in Kerr County are suing the camp and seeking to preserve evidence.
Will and Cici Steward of Austin are asking a judge for a temporary restraining order against the camp’s owners and operators in connection with the death of their 8-year-old daughter, Cile Steward.
The lawsuit seeks to block the camp from reopening this summer and to halt construction or renovations at the site until the case is resolved.
It accuses members of the Eastland family, who operate Camp Mystic, of moving “hastily” to make changes at the camp, including remodeling the main office and removing communications equipment.
The suit also alleges that high-water marks previously visible inside the camp’s recreational hall can no longer be seen, and that a new commissary staircase appears to have been added since the flood.
(TPR)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Attorney General Paxton launches investigations into three Texas school districts over students protesting ICE” Texas Tribune’s Alejandra Martinez – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into three school districts over student protests against immigration enforcement, alleging that school officials failed to ensure student safety and minimize classroom disruptions.
The move, announced Monday, targets North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Dallas Independent School District and Manor Independent School District, following a similar inquiry into the Austin Independent School District. Paxton said his office is also examining claims that administrators and faculty helped organize the demonstrations.
“I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical Left’s open borders agenda,” Paxton said in a statement. “Let this serve as a warning to any public school official or employee who unlawfully encourages or facilitates such protests.”
(TX TRIB)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“DART Cities Working on Funding and Governance Resolution, Might Not Leave Transit Network” The Texan’s Kim Roberts – Perhaps the ice is thawing in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) network as cities that previously indicated a desire to leave are now reconsidering their stance.
Plano, Irving, Highland Park, University Park, Farmers Branch, and Addison have called elections for May 2 to determine whether the cities will remain members of DART.
(THE TEXAN)
“San Antonio City Council to discuss possible reprimand for Mayor Jones on Monday” via Texas Public Radio – The San Antonio City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 23, to discuss recent accusations of misconduct against Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. The allegations are outlined in a five-signature memo filed on Feb. 9 that says Jones has demonstrated “repeated instances of unprofessional conduct” with fellow council members, city staff, and residents of San Antonio since she took office last June.
The signatories were councilmembers Phyllis Viagran, Teri Castillo, Marina Alderete Gavito, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, and Misty Spears.
Under the city charter, at least three council members can request a special meeting on a subject through a direct request via memorandum to the city clerk. This memo process has been used in the past to force a discussion on an Israel-Palestine cease-fire in 2023 and last summer to oppose changes Mayor Jones requested to the city’s council consideration request process.
(TPR)
“Court overturns McAllen Anti-Corruption Act after mayor’s friend sues” MyRGV’s Alexandrea Bailey – Javier Villalobos, the Mayor of McAllen, told MyRGV.com this week that the plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging campaign finance caps is a friend of his who sought his help with the suit. The mayor, an attorney, says he told his friend that he could not help with the litigation.
The will of 22,924 voters was overturned in the name of “unconstitutionality” after a single plaintiff challenged the Anti-Corruption Act, a campaign finance reform aiming to reduce big-money influence in local elections.
In 2024, over 5,000 residents signed a petition penned by Ground Game Texas, an Austin Texas-based boots-on-the-ground organization pushing for social justice and strong democracy for historically disenfranchised Texans.
The petition outlined Proposition A, which capped campaign contributions to $500 per donor, per race, framed as a measure to counterbalance the influence of wealthy donors in city politics.
On Nov. 5, 2024, by a margin of 56.33% to 43.67%, McAllen voters approved the reform, despite Villalobos’ public campaign against it.
(MY RGV)
“Could a wastewater plant forever alter this suburban Fort Worth community?” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s None – Though it lies only minutes from Interstate 35, Michelle Quant’s property off FM 1187 near Burleson seems a world away from the city and its crowds.
Down the hill from the plantation-style home, pecan and walnut trees surround a spring-fed pond that provides water for horses and cattle, as well as a home for catfish and bass. If you look, you can make out a nearby subdivision and some commercial buildings through the treeline, but those are about the only reminders of encroaching urban sprawl, at least for now.
In April 2025, Greg Coontz, a Burleson attorney, and his sister, Cathy Frederick, a Burleson Realtor, filed an application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to allow a privately owned wastewater treatment facility to discharge treated wastewater into a normally dry creek bed that runs through Quant’s property into Village Creek, which in turn runs into Lake Arlington.
The wastewater system is meant to support a proposed mobile home community that’s slated to go on a vacant 65-acre lot directly across from Quant on the north side of FM 1187.
(FWST)
“San Antonio, county moves toward jail diversion center; City Council approves funding for feasibility study” Community Impact Newspaper’s Parks Kugle – In an effort to reduce incarceration rates and increase rehabilitation for low-level offenders who have mental health conditions, substance abuse issues or are experiencing homelessness, the San Antonio City Council voted to fund $30,000 of a $100,000 study to create the Bexar Jail Diversion Center on Feb. 11.
The City Council also voted to form an ad hoc committee composed of city and county officials, and housing and local nongovernment organizations to lead the effort.
According to city documents, the ad hoc committee will bring together local government, health and housing organizations to create an alternative to incarceration for individuals in need of mental health or substance abuse support, or who are experiencing homelessness.
(COMMUNITY IMPACT)
“Like other urban centers, Bexar County will move to new private voter registration vendor” San Antonio Report’s Andrea Drusch – Bexar County faced repeated issues with registration backlog when it was forced to move to a state system that was undergoing a major update. Forced to choose between a new paid voter registration system or a free state program that’s been faulty, Bexar County Commissioners voted Tuesday to move to a new private vendor for the 2026 midterm election.
The contract totals roughly $2 million for a voter registration and elections management system software package.
Like other large counties, the Bexar County Elections Department was thrust into chaos last summer when its longtime voter registration vendor, Votec, went under.
They had to quickly onboard to a free state system, known as TEAM, at the same time that system was undergoing a massive update.
The result was a massive backlog of voter registrations that the county had to hire temporary staff to manually enter in the days before early voting for the state’s November constitutional amendment election.
A similar backlog occurred in the lead up to the March 3 primary and was also resolved in the nick of time.
(SA REPORT)
“San Marcos Council nixes data center re-zoning plan” KXAN’s None – Early Wednesday morning, the San Marcos City Council rejected plans to allow re-zoning for a site where a planned data center was to be built. Dozens of people packed the meeting, which lasted until 2 a.m., opposing the plan.
The nearly 200-acre data center would have been built on Francis Harris Lane, just southwest of downtown San Marcos.
There are several artificial intelligence data centers either proposed or already under construction in Hays County, and some neighbors are concerned about how it could affect them, from noise to environmental impacts.
“There are so many people here,” one resident said. “San Marcos is never this united.”
One of the major issues brought up during public comment is the amount of water that would be used.
“We are actually in a water bankruptcy. So, obviously, we should not be doing this. Not only are we in Stage 4 drought, but the entire world is in a water bankruptcy,” another resident said.
Amazon explains data centers as a physical location that stores computing machines and their related hardware equipment.
(KXAN)
#TXLEGE
“Taylor Rehmet sworn in as north Tarrant County’s first Democratic senator in decades” Community Impact Newspaper’s Hannah Norton – Taylor Rehmet was sworn in Feb. 19 as Texas’ newest state senator, becoming the first Democrat to represent State Senate District 9 in decades.
Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and union leader, will serve an 11-month term in the state Senate. He fills a seat vacated by former Republican Sen. Kelly Hancock, who resigned from the Legislature last summer to lead the state comptroller’s office.
Rehmet won the north Tarrant County seat by 14 percentage points during a Jan. 31 special runoff election, flipping a district he said had been held by Republicans for years.
(COMMUNITY IMPACT)
2026
“Former Gov. Rick Perry urges Texas Republicans to stick with John Cornyn in Senate primary” via Dallas Morning News – Rick Perry urged Texas Republicans to stick with John Cornyn in the Senate primary, warning that Texas risks losing clout if they replace Cornyn with a political newcomer in Washington. “A rookie can’t get that done,” Perry said, arguing that Cornyn’s seniority helped secure $11 billion for border reimbursements and gives Texas leverage that would disappear with a first-term senator.
Perry joined Cornyn at a Mexican restaurant in Austin to rally supporters on the first day of early voting, underscoring the establishment muscle lining up behind the four-term senator.
Cornyn faces a bitter March 3 primary against Attorney General Ken Paxton, a favorite of many grassroots conservatives and fans of President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston also is running as a Trump-aligned alternative without Paxton’s baggage.
(DMN)
“Sparks Fly Between GOP Candidates for Texas Attorney General at Nationally Televised Debate” The Texan’s Holly Hansen – Four candidates vying for the Republican Party’s nomination for Texas attorney general met on Tuesday in a candidate forum in Dallas, where they sparred over experience, voting records, and how to grapple with so-called rogue prosecutors.
At the forum moderated by Allie Beth Stuckey of BlazeTV and hosted by the Republican Attorney Generals Association, state Sens. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Aaron Reitz, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) agreed on most issues, but clashed when asked what the Office of Attorney General could do when local prosecutors fail to act.
(THE TEXAN)
“’Wave election’ signs send alarms through congressional primaries” San Antonio Report’s Andrea Drusch – Kyle Sinclair said he was ending his campaign to support Trump’s newly endorsed candidate, former MLB player Mark Teixeira, in Texas’ 21st Congressional District.
In the final heat of the Texas primary, signs of a potential wave election have GOP leaders scrambling to batten the hatches in races where they never dreamed they’d be playing defense.
The White House is making last-minute endorsements to get the strongest candidates in three deep-red Bexar County congressional districts, a well-funded business group is pulling back on its expensive revenge quest in a San Antonio-area statehouse race, and some of the party’s candidates are warning primary voters about tougher-than-expected races this November.
It’s a district Republicans should have no problem holding with any of 12 candidates seeking their party’s nomination, but they’re now taking no chances after a Fort Worth state Senate seat swung 31 points to support Democrat Taylor Rehmet in a Jan. 30 special election.
In the clearest sign yet of the changing political winds, this month former Bexar GOP chair Kyle Sinclair said he was ending his campaign to support Trump’s newly endorsed candidate, Teixeira, in Texas’ 21st Congressional District.
(SA REPORT)
“Trump Endorses in Several Key Texas Congressional Seats Ahead of 2026 Primary Election” The Texan’s Mary Elise O’Bar – President Donald Trump has laid his stake in several Texas congressional races after issuing a rolling list of endorsements Monday night, ahead of the start of early voting for the 2026 primary.
In one of his more unanticipated endorsements, Trump threw his support behind Republican candidate Alex Mealer in her bid for Congressional District (CD) 9, against state Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and seven other GOP primary candidates.
(THE TEXAN)
“Texas Democrats Plan $30 Million Coordinated Effort to Mobilize Voters” The Texan’s Kim Roberts – Texas Democrats are “all in” for races across the state in hopes of achieving victories for their party in statewide elected positions for the first time since the early 1990s.
Their Texas Together coordinated voter mobilization effort already is planning to spend at least $30 million to provide resources to candidates across the state as soon as the primary is over.
(THE TEXAN)
“Annise Parker, Orlando Sanchez Lead in Democratic and GOP Primaries for Harris County Judge” The Texan’s Holly Hansen – Annise Parker, Orlando Sanchez Lead in Democratic and GOP Primaries for Harris County Judge | 2026 New polling from the University of Houston’s (UH) Hobby School of Public Affairs shows former Houston Mayor Annise Parker leading in the Democratic primary for Harris County judge, while former Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez leads in the GOP primary, though most Republicans are still undecided.
According to the survey released Tuesday, Parker leads former Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer 46 percent to 25 percent, while Matt Salazar trails with 5 percent and 24 percent of respondents were unsure.
(THE TEXAN)
“What to know about the Trump administration’s plan to ‘clean’ Texas voter rolls” Houston Chronicle’s Taylor Goldenstein – The Trump administration announced last month that it planned to help more than two dozen states, including Texas, clean their voter rolls.
The process typically involves looking for ineligible voters and flagging them for removal.
The administration will be using data shared by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who in December struck a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to hand over the names, addresses and social security numbers of almost all of the 18.6 million Texans registered to vote.
No removals are happening right now. There is a federal law, the National Voter Registration Act, that prohibits any major changes to the voter rolls within 90 days of an election. Early voting is already underway in the March 3 primary and the runoff election is set for May 26.
The process will likely pick up over the summer heading into the November election, when Republicans are fighting to maintain control of Congress.
The goal of the effort is unclear. The administration has said that it needs the information to check for list maintenance and make sure states are in compliance with federal laws.
(HOU CHRON)
TEXANS IN DC
“Congressman Tony Gonzales Denies Staffer Affair Amid Husband’s Allegations, Released Text Messages” The Texan’s Matt Stringer – After text messages obtained by news media appeared to corroborate prior reports alleging that U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) engaged in a relationship with his now-deceased regional director, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles — which would violate U.S. House rules — her husband has now come forward in a tell-all interview affirming the claims.
Gonzales, however, continues to deny the allegations and now says he is being “blackmailed” following a settlement request from the husband’s attorney.
(THE TEXAN)
BUSINESS NEWS
“D-FW-based ‘TEXITcoin’ creator accused of fraud, hit with cease-and-desist order by Texas” via Dallas Morning News – Financial regulators in Texas have issued an emergency cease and desist order to a McKinney-based cryptocurrency and its operator, asserting the venture was perpetrating fraud through an unregistered investment scheme.
The Texas State Securities Board filed the order last week against ‘TEXITcoin’ and the digital coin’s creator, McKinney resident Robert Gray; additionally, the state agency named two more affiliated ventures, MineTXC and Blockchain Mint, in its emergency order.
MineTXC serves as the cryptocurrency’s digital mining operation, while Blockchain Mint serves as the venture’s marketing arm and also manufactures cold storage coins, or the physical coins that crypto owners can use to access their digital holdings. All the entities are controlled by Gray, according to the order.
The order largely relates to Gray’s promotion and sale of passive crypto mining investments that were dubbed “Mining Packages.” They were promoted through multi-level marketing, the controversial business model where sales agents sell products to consumers and earn commissions by recruiting new sellers.
(DMN)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> HOU CHRON: “What to know about the Trump administration’s plan to ‘clean’ Texas voter rolls“ HOU CHRON
> DMN: “UT System limits how professors can teach ‘controversial topics’ in the classroom“ DMN
> HOU CHRON: “When does early voting end in Texas? What to know about primary voting days.“ HOU CHRON
> TPR: “Rural areas brace for Medicaid cuts, but also influx of temporary funding“ TPR
> SA REPORT: “‘Wave election’ signs send alarms through congressional primaries“ SA REPORT
> HOU CHRON: “Hitchcock mayor arrested in Galveston County illegal gambling investigation“ HOU CHRON
> EP TIMES: “Talarico raises $2.5M after ‘censored’ Stephen Colbert appearance“ EP TIMES
> THE TEXAN: “DART Cities Working on Funding and Governance Resolution, Might Not Leave Transit Network“ THE TEXAN
> MRT: “Texas’ Senate primary race between Crockett and Talarico ramps up after pulled Colbert interview“ MRT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Q&A: Meet the 2 Democratic candidates running for Texas House District 76“ COMMUNITY IMPACT
> KXAN: “Questions abound after University of Texas regents vote to limit ‘controversial topics’ from courses“ KXAN
> SAEN: “FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC’s ‘The View’ over equal time rule“ SAEN
> MY RGV: “Court overturns McAllen Anti-Corruption Act after mayor’s friend sues“ MY RGV
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Taylor Rehmet sworn in as north Tarrant County’s first Democratic senator in decades“ COMMUNITY IMPACT
> KXAN: “Rainbows, paintings removed from some Austin crosswalks after state, federal orders“ KXAN
> THE TEXAN: “Tarrant County Candidates Compete for Open Texas House Seat Vacated by Tinderholt“ THE TEXAN
> SA REPORT: “Get to know the Democrats running for Bexar County DA“ SA REPORT
> FWST: “Burleson police investigate family violence stabbing at restaurant“ FWST
> HOU CHRON: “Lone Star Throwdown returns to Conroe, and sheriff will launch task force again“ HOU CHRON
> DMN: “2026 Texas Rangers roster projection 2.0: Spring training storylines, X-factors, more“ DMN
> HOU CHRON: “Tomlinson: Texans don’t prejudge Christians for scandals. What about Muslims?“ HOU CHRON
> DMN: “Developer Harwood’s financial woes continue with another foreclosure“ DMN
> DMN: “D-FW-based ‘TEXITcoin’ creator accused of fraud, hit with cease-and-desist order by Texas“ DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “How Harris Health is using data to bring health care closer to home“ COMMUNITY IMPACT
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Fri
> NBA: Minnesota 122, Dallas 111
Sat
> NBA: New York 108, Houston 106
> NBA: San Antonio 139, Sacramento 122
> NCAAM: #4 Arizona 73, #2 Houston 66
> NCAAM: #13 Texas Tech 100, Kansas St. 72
> NCAAM: Texas A&M 75, Oklahoma 71
> NCAAM: Georgia 91, Texas 80
> NCAAM: TCU 60, West Virginia 54
> NCAAM: Baylor 73, Arizona St. 68
> NCAAM: SMU 94, Boston College 70
> NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin 81, Nicholls 78
> NCAAM: Louisiana 67, Texas St. 54
Sun
> NBA: Dallas 134, Indiana 130
> NCAAM: North Texas 73, Temple 62
> NCAAM: Tulsa 100, UTSA 74
> NCAAM: Tulane 81, Rice 754
Today’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NBA: San Antonio at Detroit (Peacock)
> 7:30pm: NCAAM: New Orleans at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN+)
> 9pm: NCAAM: #2 Houston at #8 Kansas (ESPN)
> 9:30pm: NBA: Utah at Houston (Peacock)
Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NCAAM: Cincinnati at #13 Texas Tech (ESPN2)
> 7:30pm: NBA: Dallas at Brooklyn
> 9pm: NCAAM: #4 Arizona at Baylor (ESPN2)
> 9pm: NCAAM: Arizona St. at TCU (CBS Sports Network)
TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS:
TEXAS TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL: “Texas Tech star JT Toppin out for the year after injury against Arizona State” DMN
TEXAS RANGERS: “Will Rangers be competitors or complainers? Fixing clubhouse culture will be key in 2026” DMN
TEXAS RANGERS: “Newly acquired Brandon Nimmo in line to take over as Texas Rangers’ new leadoff hitter” DMN