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- MRT 5/14-15/26 (free): TX Has 8/15 Fastest Growing U.S. Cities // Cornyn v. Paxton Heats Up // Abbott Proposes State Prosecutor, Bail Reform // Court Refuses Removal of State Rep. Wu
MRT 5/14-15/26 (free): TX Has 8/15 Fastest Growing U.S. Cities // Cornyn v. Paxton Heats Up // Abbott Proposes State Prosecutor, Bail Reform // Court Refuses Removal of State Rep. Wu
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
Matt Mackowiak
May 16, 2026
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THURSDAY 5/14/2026 - FRIDAY 5/15/2026
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TOP NEWS
“Corpus Christi Faces Water Crisis as Drought and Industrial Growth Strain Supply” via The New York Times‘s Lauren McGaughy – Corpus Christi’s industrial port has been expanding, but new water sources have not been keeping pace, especially amid a drought that has stretched on far longer than local officials expected.
The mayor of Corpus Christi called an emergency meeting last month to deliver a dire warning: The city, among the largest in Texas, was running out of water. City leaders had to make a plan, and fast.
“Every day of delay increases uncertainty,” the mayor, Paulette Guajardo, told the City Council. Officials had warned that demand for water could outstrip supply within months.
Corpus Christi, a coastal city of more than 300,000 and home to a large industrial port, is not alone in grappling with water shortages. Half the nation is dealing with a persistent drought, according to federal data, at the same time as industrial water demand has risen because of growing needs from power plants and data centers. (The New York Times)
“Census: Texas had 8 of country’s fastest growing cities in 2025” via The Texas Tribune‘s Joshua Fechter and Dan Keemahill – Fewer people are moving to Texas cities amid the country’s broader immigration slowdown, but the state remains home to some of the fastest growing cities in the country, new U.S. Census Bureau data show.
Celina, a city about an hour north from downtown Dallas, was the fastest growing city in the country last year, according to census data released Thursday. The city grew by 24.6%, adding more than 12,710 residents between July 2024 and July 2025.
Eight of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are in Texas — primarily suburbs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, the state’s largest urban area. Meanwhile, some of the state’s biggest cities like Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth are still adding tens of thousands of residents — despite a slowdown in international migration to the United States and lower birth rates.
Other places in Texas are struggling, including some of its biggest cities. Out of the state’s 15 largest cities, six lost residents: Dallas, El Paso, Arlington, Plano, Irving and Garland. (TX TRIB)
“Austin’s population surpasses 1 million residents for the first time in history” via KEYE — For the first time in its history, Austin’s population has surpassed 1 million residents.
New census data confirmed that Austin’s population broke 1 million people in 2025, the City saying that 1,002,632 residents now call Texas’ capital city home, an increase of over 4,000 residents since July 2024.
Austin is now the 12th most populous city in the country, according to the City.
“This is a historic moment for Austin, and one that my predecessor Edwin Waller probably didn’t even think about when he surveyed the site that would eventually become our beloved city back in 1839,” said Mayor Kirk Watson. “There’s no denying now that Austin is a big city, and we have big challenges. But we also still have small town heart, and that’s part of what makes it the best place in the country to raise a family or to seek out new opportunities.” (KEYE)
2026
“Cornyn and Paxton go scorched earth in Senate GOP runoff” via The Texas Tribune‘s Kayla Guo – From the jump, the battle for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination has featured a massive cash imbalance, with incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and his allies in Senate GOP leadership unleashing millions in ads to pull him to a first-place finish in the March primary over Attorney General Ken Paxton. That financial disparity has persisted in the runoff after neither Cornyn nor Paxton broke 50% of the vote in round one.
Through Wednesday, pro-Cornyn forces had outspent the Paxton side more than four to one, according to media tracking firm AdImpact, allowing the incumbent senator’s allies to dominate the airwaves with ads attacking Paxton, a warrior of the far right, as incompetent, corrupt and adulterous. Lackluster fundraising on Paxton’s side, meanwhile, has handicapped his ability to counter that messaging on TV, though he has ramped up his airtime in the week ahead of early voting, which begins Monday.
Paxton’s spots in the runoff have tagged Cornyn as a generational relic, weak on red-meat issues and an ally to Democrats. The spending gap, while still large, has narrowed since the first round, when pro-Cornyn groups — including Senate Republican leadership, which has been quieter on the airwaves in the runoff — spent $69 million, roughly 17 times as much as Paxton and his allies.
Some of that paid for attack ads against U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, who placed a distant third in the March 3 primary after coming under fire from both sides. “We were never going to be at dollar-for-dollar parity against the Washington, D.C. establishment and someone like John Cornyn, who’s got so many industries and corporations in his back pocket,” said Gregg Keller, a spokesperson for the pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC. “But the fact that we’ve been able to close the gap by such a huge margin — I think you’re going to see the results of that on election night.” (TX TRIB)
“Outside cash floods U.S House runoffs in Texas” via The Texas Tribune‘s Gabby Birenbaum — The John Cornyn-Ken Paxton Senate runoff may be sucking up most of the political oxygen in Texas, but outside groups are pouring millions more into the state’s key U.S. House runoffs.
With under two weeks to go until the May 26 runoff, an array of political action committees — some powered by untraceable dark money — has spent close to $6 million since the March 3 primary across seven of Texas’ most meaningful congressional runoffs.
They range from perennial players, like the Democratic centrist Blue Dog PAC and the conservative Club for Growth, to well-heeled PACs supporting the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries. And one mysterious group seemingly aligned with the GOP is boosting a candidate with a history of antisemitic comments in a San Antonio-area Democratic primary, suggesting an effort to line up a candidate the party sees as more easily beatable.
Voters from Abilene to Dallas to Houston to Lubbock are being blitzed with ads, mailers and texts from these groups. And while overall House ad spending on television, digital and radio lags prior cycles, the share covered by outside sources has skyrocketed, according to AdImpact, an ad tracking firm. (TX TRIB)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Abbott wants legislation on statewide prosecutor, more bail reform” via The Texas Tribune‘s Alex Nguyen – Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday unveiled his public safety priorities for the 2027 legislative session, renewing his focus on restricting bail and opposing progressive district attorneys.
Flanked by several Republican state lawmakers, the governor rolled out his agenda at a campaign event at the Austin Police Association’s headquarters. Topping his wish list was denying bail to all unauthorized migrants accused of certain felonies. He also will champion creating a statewide prosecutor and the ability to impeach what he characterized as rogue district attorneys.
It could prove difficult for lawmakers to pass Abbott’s agenda, as some would entail a constitutional amendment, which requires supermajority support in the Legislature.
“When these strategies get passed, we will achieve our goal to make sure as a state, we are protecting our communities,” Abbott said. (TX TRIB)
“Greg Abbott expands task force targeting repeat offenders from Houston to other large cities” via The Texas Tribune‘s Alex Nguyen – A violent crimes task force targeting repeat offenders, set up seven months ago in Houston, will broaden its activities to other big cities across Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to “immediately expand” the task force to the Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. The unit would coordinate with local and federal partners to identify and arrest violent repeat offenders, he said.
“Decades of criminal justice research and operational experience demonstrate that most violent crime is committed by repeat offenders,” Abbott said in a letter to DPS Director Freeman Martin.
The Houston operation has led to the arrest of 728 repeat offenders, with 455 considered to be a high threat, and more than 300 drug and weapon seizures, the governor said in the letter. (TX TRIB)
“Abbott shares new public safety agenda: ‘Impeach rogue district attorneys’” via KXAN Austin‘s Dylan McKim – Greg Abbott, Texas Governor, sharply criticized Travis County and Austin’s public safety approach while outlining his vision for public safety over the next four years. He emphasized that securing communities should be the top priority for all Texans and legislators, stating, “If we can secure communities, and ensure that you can walk to the store, your kids can play in the neighborhood, you can drive around your community without being harmed — that is a success.”
Speaking at the Austin Police Association headquarters, Abbott presented a four-point public safety plan. He reaffirmed his focus on bail reform, noting the failure of a measure to automatically deny bail to undocumented detainees who commit felonies. Abbott expressed determination to get this legislation passed in the current session, emphasizing stricter confinement and denial of bail to illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes.
Abbott also advocated for the creation of a Texas statewide prosecutor, a position intended to assist local district attorneys when overwhelmed and to intervene if a district attorney is perceived as too lenient. Citing Travis County as an example, Abbott criticized the local district attorney for failing to indict over 200 arrested individuals within the mandated 90-day period, highlighting cases where accused murderers were released on $1 bonds. He called for this state prosecutor to serve as a backstop to ensure justice for victims.
Responding to Abbott’s proposal, Travis County District Attorney José Garza called it a “distraction” and attributed the backlog of unindicted cases to the pandemic. He noted that his office has since resolved this backlog and expressed willingness to accept help from a statewide prosecutor if needed, although he currently believes his office can manage without additional support. (KXAN)
“State auditor flags DMV for shortcomings in protecting drivers’ information” via KXAN -– A report released by the Texas State Auditor’s Office on Monday states that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles needs to make major changes to how it releases and stores Texas drivers’ data.
Audit findings point to various deficiencies in data protection measures, raising concerns about the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The report highlights lapses in procedural safeguards and the need for enhanced cybersecurity protocols within the DMV system to better protect driver information.
Officials are expected to review and implement recommendations to address these shortcomings as part of an effort to strengthen data security and restore public trust. (KXAN)
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blocks more than 130 cities from raising property taxes” via The Texas Tribune‘s Joshua Fechter – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday his office has told more than 130 Texas cities they can’t raise property taxes because they’re not complying with a new state law.
The push is part of an ongoing effort by Paxton to make sure cities aren’t unduly raising property taxes under Senate Bill 1851, which passed last year. That law is part of a GOP-led push to rein in the state’s high property taxes. It bars cities from raising more in property taxes than they did the previous year if they don’t conduct an annual financial audit and release an annual financial statement based on that audit.
“I will not allow cities to unlawfully raise taxes on hardworking Texans,” Paxton said in a statement. “That is why I took aggressive action against over 130 Texas cities to hold them accountable and ensure they comply with state law. Cities cannot fail to abide by state audit requirements without consequences.” (TX TRIB)
#TXLEGE
“Parts of Texas immigration law are likely unconstitutional, federal judge signals” via The Texas Tribune‘s Alejandro Serrano – During a hearing to block parts of a Texas law that would let state police arrest people suspected of having crossed the border illegally, a federal judge asserted he believed parts of it were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra said Wednesday the request to temporarily stop the law from going into effect in two days raised complicated questions and he may not hand down any rulings before Friday, when the law will become effective.
The Legislature passed the law, often referred to as Senate Bill 4, to create a state crime for crossing the Texas-Mexico border without authorization. It also created a pathway for a state judge to find someone guilty and order their removal.
This month two people filed a lawsuit challenging the component of the law that involves the state’s judicial system, arguing it is unconstitutional because the enforcement of immigration law — like the expulsion of people — rests solely in the hands of the federal government. (TX TRIB)
“Texas high court rejects removal of Democratic lawmakers who led quorum break over redistricting” via AP – The Texas Supreme Court on Friday refused to declare that Democratic lawmakers who briefly fled the state in 2025 to block a vote on new congressional maps pushed by President Donald Trump had vacated their office.
The all-Republican court dealt a blow to Gov. Greg Abbott and state Republicans in their efforts to severely punish the more than 50 Democrats who bolted for New York, Illinois and Massachusetts in a bid to stop a vote on the maps during a special session.
The Texas redistricting effort kick-started cascading efforts by both parties across the country to redraw voting maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections: Republicans, pushed by Trump, seek to hold their slim majority in Congress as Democrats try to counter them.
Those efforts have gained new intensity after the U.S. Supreme Court further weakened the Voting Rights Act by no longer allowing race to be considered in how congressional and other districts are drawn.
In Texas, Abbott had argued in a lawsuit filed directly to the state’s highest civil court that state Rep. Gene Wu, the leader of the House Democratic caucus, and others had effectively abandoned their office.
If successful, they hoped to wield a new hammer to threaten lawmakers considering any future quorum breaks.
Wu had argued that he was not abandoning his office, but was exercising a right to dissent. (AP)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Austin ISD staff will learn of job cuts this week under $181M deficit” via Austin American-Statesman‘s Keri Heath – Austin Independent School District staff will know this week whether they will have to look for a new job before next school year.
The district plans to cut about 200 positions, decrease teacher planning time and increase class sizes at some elementary schools in hopes of reducing a staggering $181 million deficit from its $1.03 billion budget.
Because some positions are vacant, it’s not yet clear how many staff members may face change, but that number is unlikely to be more than 150 people, Superintendent Matias Segura told the Austin American-Statesman’s Editorial Board on Tuesday. The final numbers are still unclear, according to the district.
Administrators plan to work with Austin ISD staff whose positions are changing to find another job within the district, Segura said. (AAS)
“Meet the teams the Spurs hired to make their $1.3B downtown arena a reality” via San Antonio Express-News‘ Madison Iszler – A new Spurs arena downtown will anchor Project Marvel, the city’s proposed sports and entertainment district. Spurs Sports & Entertainment has hired a group of real estate, architecture, engineering, construction and financial advisory firms to plan and build its $1.3 billion arena downtown.
Architecture firm Overland International will design the arena at the former Institute of Texan Cultures site at Hemisfair. The Dallas-based firm has several offices nationwide and has worked on AT&T Stadium, the Cotton Bowl, U.S. Bank Stadium and Kawasaki Arena, among other sports venues.
Chicago-based Marquee Development will lead development of retail and hospitality projects and “community-focused spaces” around the arena. The firm is the real estate arm of the Ricketts family, the majority owners of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Stars. It has spearheaded mixed-use projects around sports venues such as Wrigley Field, Target Field and Nissan Stadium.
CACA ICON will manage construction of the arena and surrounding development. The project management firm’s portfolio includes the Oklahoma City Thunder’s future arena, the Toyota Center where the Houston Rockets play and the Delta Center, the home of the Utah Jazz. (SAEN)
“Tarrant County judge applauds state takeover of Fort Worth ISD” via Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Rachel Royster – While overviewing the Tarrant County successes from the past year, County Judge Tim O’Hare said the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD was “badly needed.”
The 15th annual State of the County, hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, focused on the benefit of Arlington’s entertainment district and how Tarrant County elected officials have saved taxpayer dollars.
There are typically two State of the County events each year, one hosted in Arlington and another by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
“I believe the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD, which was badly needed, will end up being a huge success story for Fort Worth, for Tarrant County and for those kids,” O’Hare told the crowd of roughly 200. (FWST)
BUSINESS NEWS
“Toyota files to build $2 billion assembly line in Texas” via Reuters – Toyota Motor has sought approval to build a new vehicle assembly line at its existing manufacturing complex in Texas with about $2 billion in planned investment, according to a filing.
Construction at the proposed project in San Antonio, named “Project Orca,” is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with vehicle production targeted to start in 2030, the filing with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts showed.
Toyota’s plans include investing $1.05 billion in buildings and other property improvements and $950 million in machinery and equipment. The project is expected to create 2,000 new jobs from 2028 to 2030. (Reuters)
“New Texas law for autonomous vehicles takes effect end of May” via Spectrum News — Just like human drivers, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have to follow the rules of the road: use turn signals when changing lanes, seatbelts for all passengers and no speeding, among other safety practices.
But with no driver behind the steering wheel, AVs are also subject to some different laws that humans don’t have to follow.
Beginning May 28, AVs now have to abide by Texas Senate Bill 2807.
“It creates a required authorization for commercial operation of automated vehicles on Texas roads,” said Alison Ross, the senior government relations coordinator for the City of Austin. “It puts a lot of that authority on the DMV.” (Spectrum News)
“A hot new Houston energy company just went public — but it doesn’t drill for oil” via Houston Chronicle‘s Claire Hao – Fervo Energy, a fast-progressing geothermal energy startup based in Houston, made its highly anticipated debut on the stock market Wednesday. Shares started trading Wednesday afternoon around $36 each — higher than Fervo’s upsized initial public offering of $27 per share — the latest sign of Wall Street’s enthusiasm for companies that pitch themselves as a solution to artificial intelligence’s voracious appetite for electricity.
Sarah Jewett, Fervo’s senior vice president of strategy, said in a statement that the company believes it has developed a repeatable way to add clean, firm power to the grid. “Today marks a major milestone for Fervo, the geothermal industry, and our future energy system at large, as the market urgently needs more dependable new power supply,” Jewett said.
Fervo’s debut also makes it a rare publicly traded renewable energy company in the city of Big Oil, highlighting the growing diversification of Houston’s energy industry even as the Trump administration hampers other clean-tech sectors. “For Houston, it’s a chance to have a ringside seat and really drive a whole new industry,” said David Baldwin, a partner overseeing energy transition investments at the private equity firm SCF Partners.
Founded in 2017, Fervo attracted much excitement even before AI’s emergence for the startup’s use of oil-and-gas fracking technology to greatly expand geothermal’s potential. Now, as tech companies race to build AI data centers, Fervo’s promise of around-the-clock power without climate-warming emissions is more in demand than ever, Baldwin said. (HOU CHRON)
“Smoke shops face uncertainty amid Texas’ hemp lawsuit” via The Texas Tribune‘s Paul Cobler – Hemp flower buds and rolled joints were piled into boxes and tucked out of public view by the staff of Dream Planet Smoke and Vape last Thursday after the state filed an appeal that triggered an hourslong ban.
By Friday, the items were back on the store shelves, and are flying off them once again as customers rush to stock up while they still can, said Leroy Sims, a cashier at the East Austin smoke shop.
“My boss is really big on keeping us all informed because he’s aware of the fact that Texas can’t really make its mind up,” Sims said. “We just put stuff in a box until they can make a decision because we can’t send it anywhere else to sell.”
Some of the most profitable products at smoke shops around Texas have been forced off store shelves, then allowed back on, then forced off again, then allowed to return — all within a 45-day span — amid a dizzying slew of court actions centered on the state’s ban on smokeable hemp products. This ping-ponging regulatory landscape in recent months has injected economic uncertainty into and bled revenue for an industry that employs more than 30,000 people around the state. (TX TRIB)
QUICK LINKS
TX TRIB: “Trump administration sues Catholic diocese to seize land on religious site near El Paso for border barrier” TX TRIB
TX TRIB: “Texas executes 600th inmate since death penalty was reinstated in 1976” TX TRIB
TX TRIB: “Texas can execute death row inmate Edward Busby, U.S. Supreme Court says” TX TRIB
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (.gov): “R&D in Texas is key to innovation and economic success” Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (.gov)
AAS: “Texas humidity will make weekend heat feel worse. How hot are we talking?” AAS
SAEN: “El Niño is almost here. Could it cause a cooler summer in Texas?” SAEN
TX TRIB: “Here are the donors bankrolling John Cornyn and Ken Paxton’s record-breaking Senate primary” TX TRIB
TX TRIB: “Outside cash floods U.S House runoffs in Texas” TX TRIB
SA REPORT: “Redistricting roils both parties’ runoffs in redrawn TX35” SA REPORT
TPR: “Democratic runoff in Texas’ 35th Congressional District roiled by comments about Jews and Israel” TPR
SAEN: “First flood sirens go up near camps on the Guadalupe River. Here’s what to know.” SAEN
SAEN: “Watson proposes slashing more $50 million from I-35 ‘cap’ plan” SAEN
DMN: “Most Dallas City Hall concept submissions favor saving I.M. Pei landmark over demolition” DMN
DMN: “Homelessness in Dallas, Collin counties down for fifth consecutive year” DMN
DMN: “West Nile-positive mosquitoes found in Fort Worth, Grand Prairie. Here’s what to know” DMN
HOU CHRON: “FEMA flood maps derail Irvington Village redevelopment” HOU CHRON
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Thursday 5/14
> MLB: Seattle 8, Houston 3
> WNBA: Minnesota 90, Dallas 86
Friday 5/15
> MLB: Houston 2, Texas 0
> NBA: 2 San Antonio 139, 6 Minnesota 109) (SA wins 4-2)
Today/Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 6:10pm: MLB: Texas at Houston
> 7:30pm: MLS: Kansas City at Austin (Apple TV)
> 7:30pm: MLS: Vancouver at Houston (Apple TV)
> 9:30pm: MLS: Dallas at San Jose (Apple TV)
Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
> 1:10pm: MLB: Texas at Houston
> 8:30pm: NBA: 2 San Antonio at 6 Minnesota (Prime Video) (SA leads 3-2)
TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS