MRT 7/7-10/26 (free): Fatal Houston ICE Shooting Draws Scrutiny // Cruz: Talarico Has ‘A Real Shot’ // Q2 Fundraising: Talarico $30M, Paxton $9M // Toyota to Build $3.6B Plant in SA

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TOP NEWS

“Immigration agent fatally shot a man in Houston during an enforcement operation, authorities say” via AP – A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a man in Houston after he attempted to evade arrest in his vehicle during an operation Tuesday, the agency said.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the man ignored commands to stop and attempted to ram an agent who fired his weapon in self-defense. The man’s car struck an ICE vehicle, according to the department, which oversees ICE.

The statement identified the man as a Mexican national, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and said he was living in the country without legal permission. It said federal agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation against Araujo and that he died at a hospital.

The FBI’s Houston field office is investigating a potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer, said spokesperson Connor Hagan. In addition, representatives of the office’s evidence response team responded to the shooting at the request of DHS to process the scene, he said. (AP)

“Houston mayor questions city’s authority to probe ICE shooting amid calls for independent investigation” via The Texas Tribune‘s Alex Nguyen and Uriel J. García – Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Wednesday cast doubt that the city’s police department could open a criminal investigation into the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo — killed a day earlier by a federal immigration agent — as family and advocates pressured city leaders to spearhead an independent probe.

Whitmire expressed his condolences to the family and described the shooting as a “tragedy” during a morning City Council meeting. But he questioned whether the city had the authority to conduct its own investigation, saying “there cannot be two ongoing investigations, certainly when there’s not jurisdiction by one of them.”

“We’re monitoring it very carefully,” Whitmire added. “We’re in constant touch with our federal elected officials, insisting that there’s a transparent, independent investigation — and if I learn of any new information, I’ll certainly share it with the council.”

The mayor stressed that responsibility for the shooting lies entirely with federal agents. (TX TRIB)

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“Toyota picks San Antonio for $3.6B plant expansion that will add 2,000 jobs” via San Antonio Express-News‘s Kelsey Brown – A $3.6 billion investment will add a second vehicle assembly line to the South Side plant to transfer production of the Tacoma truck from Mexico to Texas.

Toyota Motor Corp. confirmed San Antonio will be the location of a $3.6 billion expansion that will add 2,000 jobs at its sprawling South Side campus.

The investment, which will roughly double the size of the manufacturing complex, will move production of the Tacoma midsize pickup back to San Antonio from Mexico, where it was shifted early this decade. The new jobs are to be filled by the end of 2031, with an average wage of $32.46 an hour.

The plant’s annual capacity will increase to about 350,000 units from 200,000, Toyota said. It currently produces full-size Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs. (SAEN)

“Job market, pandemic hurt Texas community college enrollment” via The Texas Tribune‘s Sneha Dey – Texas community colleges have struggled with enrollment over the past 15 years as many high school graduates opted to go straight into the workforce, but a new report points to signs of the campuses pivoting to stay relevant.

More students are graduating from Texas high schools, yet the state’s junior college enrollment hasn’t kept pace with that growth. Along with those choosing the workforce, students are increasingly going to colleges out of state, researchers with the Federal Reserve of Dallas found.

Texas community colleges have made small but steady gains in enrollment since the pandemic, signaling some success with recovery, their report found. Now the state has about 700,000 students enrolled in those schools, which is still down from about 750,000 students 15 years ago, according to state data.

In recent years, administrators have dramatically expanded dual credit offerings that allow teens to take courses at the community college that also count toward their high school diploma. They’ve also increasingly offered short-term credentials that can appeal to young people who want some training but are not in a position to get an associate’s degree. (TX TRIB)

“Dallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district” via The Texas Tribune‘s Jess Huff – Two companies tied to a Dallas investor filed a federal lawsuit to lift a moratorium in an ongoing East Texas water dispute, alleging a groundwater district has illegally blocked their efforts to extract water from beneath land they own.

This is the latest legal action taken in a growing battle over groundwater resources in East Texas.

Kyle Bass, a venture capitalist and owner of Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC and Pine Bliss LLC, is seeking to end a moratorium on large-scale water extraction projects imposed by the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. The lawsuit, filed through Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss, argues that the conservation district violated the constitutional rights of Bass and his companies by denying access to water beneath the land and also seeks an undisclosed amount of compensation.

Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss, both funded by Bass’ private equity firm Conservation Equity Management, filed permits with the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District to drill 43 water wells across two counties that, when fully operational, could extract billions of gallons of water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. (TX TRIB)

2026  

“Ted Cruz warns Talarico has “real chance” to flip Texas’ U.S. Senate seat” via The Texas Tribune‘s Renzo Downey – Calling in to Sean Hannity’s radio show Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz offered a blunt warning cry to his party: Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has a legitimate shot at flipping Texas this year.

“Unfortunately, I do think he has a real chance,” Cruz told Gov. Greg Abbott, who guest hosted the three-hour talk radio program. “I think this is a real race. I think it’s going to be close. I think we’re going to win, I think we’re going to keep Texas red, but the polling right now shows this is a 1- or 2-point race.”

Cruz went on to call the Austin Democrat “radical” and “extreme” for labeling God nonbinary, saying there are six recognized sexes and previously running a “non-meat” reelection campaign, all part of the trove of attacks Republicans have unfurled against the Democratic Senate nominee.

Cruz, Texas’ future senior senator, speaks from some experience. At 2.6 points, his 2018 reelection margin marked Texas’ closest statewide race this millennium. Recent public polling has shown Talarico running neck and neck with the GOP nominee, Attorney General Ken Paxton — well ahead of where the polls had Cruz’s opponent, Beto O’Rourke, at the same point six years ago. (TX TRIB)

“James Talarico raises over $30 million in second quarter, campaign says, more than triple Ken Paxton’s sum” via The Texas Tribune‘s Kayla Guo – James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, raised a staggering $30 million from April through June, his campaign announced Wednesday — more than triple the amount brought in by his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The haul is a record total for a U.S. Senate candidate in the second quarter of an election year, Talarico’s campaign said, noting he has now raised more than $70 million from over 1.5 million donations, including 780,000 individual contributors, since launching his bid in September.

“I’m honored to stand alongside more than 780,000 neighbors who are tired of being divided into teams — red versus blue, left versus right, rural versus urban,” Talarico, D-Austin, said in a statement. “We are uniting Texans onto one team to change this broken, corrupt political system and bring down costs for working families.”

Earlier Wednesday, Paxton’s campaign said he had raised over $9 million in the second quarter of the year — a personal best and the largest amount announced by any non-incumbent Senate GOP candidate this cycle, per his campaign. Both campaigns had yet to file their second-quarter reports, due July 15 to the Federal Election Commission, identifying their donors and how much cash they have on hand. (TX TRIB)

“Ken Paxton raises over $9 million in Q2, Senate campaign says” via The Texas Tribune‘s Gabby Birenbaum — Attorney General Ken Paxton raised over $9 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to his campaign, easily outpacing his prior fundraising hauls in a sign the GOP donor class is lining up behind their U.S. Senate nominee in Texas.

The majority of the $9 million, which was raised from April through June, came in after Paxton won the nomination in a May 26 runoff against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, his campaign said. The three-month total eclipsed the roughly $7.7 million Paxton had collectively raised up to that point in his campaign, a yearlong span dating back to his April 2025 launch.

Paxton lagged Cornyn in fundraising throughout the primary — a trend Cornyn and his allies in Washington framed as evidence that Paxton would need help from national GOP coffers to fund a general election campaign. Senate Republican leaders initially preferred Cornyn because they believed he could finance his own bid, though they have pivoted to supporting Paxton since his landslide win in May.

The Paxton campaign said his haul is the largest fundraising quarter for any non-incumbent Senate GOP nominee this cycle. (TX TRIB)

“Talarico polling stronger with Texas’ Black voters than expected, but enthusiasm questions remain” via KUT‘s Blaise Gainey – It was standing room only at the Texas Democratic Convention when James Talarico, the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate, was set to address the party’s Black Caucus in Corpus Christi. But his introduction, given by Texas Coalition of Black Democrats chair Frederick Nickens, reflected some of the crowd’s lingering hesitation around the 37-year-old candidate.

“We’re going to be respectful,” said Nickens. “Y’all might have some feelings about it, right?” Still, a warm round of applause filled the room as Talarico took the stage.

This scene at last month’s convention reflected a narrative that has followed Talarico ever since he won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: that he could struggle to win votes from Black voters in Texas who overwhelmingly supported Crockett in the primaries.

But recent polling from The Texas Politics Project suggests Talarico may actually be in a stronger position with Black voters than public perception would suggest. The poll found 67% of Black voters surveyed said they support Talarico — of note considering what those numbers looked like for previous Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate at similar points in their campaigns. In 2024, the group’s polling around this time showed Colin Allred drawing 47% of the state’s Black voters, while Beto O’Rourke had 49% in 2018. (KUT)

“Ken Paxton vowed to crack down on “illegal voting.” He may have violated Texas election law.” via The Texas Tribune‘s Zach Despart – Two weeks before this year’s primary elections, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the creation of a tip line for the public to report people or groups suspected of voter fraud.

“Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of a thriving republic, and with the authority granted to my office by the Legislature, we will stop at nothing to uncover and stop any illegal voting activity,” Paxton said in a February news release announcing the tip line.

The announcement linked to guidance from his office about election laws in Texas, which included a requirement to be a U.S. citizen, a prohibition on collecting mail ballots on behalf of others and a warning that “it is illegal to misrepresent your residence on election records or to establish a residence for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election.”

Despite his own warnings, Paxton appears to have used an address where he did not live while voting in six elections in the past two years, including in May’s runoff that made him the Republican nominee for U.S. senator, according to records obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. (TX TRIB)

“Gina Hinojosa proposes sending every Texas household $1,500 in her bid to oust Greg Abbott” via The Texas Tribune‘s Kayla Guo – State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, is promising to send each Texas household a $1,500 check drawn from the state’s rainy day fund if she defeats Gov. Greg Abbott this November.

“The government is broken,” Hinojosa said Tuesday in front of Pyburn’s Farm Fresh Foods in Houston’s South Union neighborhood while announcing the proposal. “It is more, right now, a burden than a help for people. That changes when I’m governor.”

The $1,500 one-time rebate program — which Hinojosa dubbed a “corruption tax refund” — would cost the state $17 billion, her campaign estimated. It would be drawn from Texas’ rainy day fund — which is formally known as the Economic Stabilization Fund and serves essentially as a state savings account — which stood at a record $24.8 billion as of November 2025.

Hinojosa’s rebate proposal — which would require legislative approval — would draw down roughly two-thirds of the current account and leave around $10 billion in reserves. Her campaign pointed to estimates by the comptroller’s office that the fund will grow by roughly $2.5 billion to $3 billion a year, and historical trends that kept the account at around $10 billion for several years before swelling after 2022. (TX TRIB)

STATE GOVERNMENT  

“Abbott launches teacher-led commission to shape Texas education” via Dallas Morning News‘s Silas Allen – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is launching a teacher-led commission to help shape the future of education in Texas ahead of the 2027 legislative session, the governor’s office announced Tuesday.

The commission is tasked with developing recommendations to improve classroom environments. Former Dallas and Richardson ISD teacher Courtney Boswell MacDonald of Kerrville will lead the panel. MacDonald is the chair of the State Board for Educator Certification.

In a statement, Abbott said the educators who serve on the board will help state leaders and policymakers find ways to help students succeed and strengthen the state’s schools.

“By empowering those on the front lines of education, we will build on Texas’ success and ensure our state becomes the national leader in the education of our kids,” he said. (DMN)

Jerome Greener Guest Column: “By cutting red tape at Texas agencies, we can fuel prosperity and freedom” via Austin American-Statesman – The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office recently launched Efficiency.Texas.Gov to make it easier and faster for every Texan to find the exact rules, licenses and forms they need for their industry, profession or activity.

Texas has always been the state where a person can start with an idea and end with a livelihood. That promise is renewed by a government willing to be measured, willing to listen and willing to change.

In 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the most consequential regulatory reform legislation in state history, which established the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, known as TREO.

Its mission: Combat regulatory excess in the Lone Star State, making Texas more efficient and less intrusive in the lives of Texans. (AAS)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Interim Fort Bend County judge sues county attorney to keep top office” via Houston Chronicle‘s Claire Goodman – Daniel Wong, interim Fort Bend County Judge, filed a lawsuit Monday against County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, asking a district court to declare that he remains the county’s lawful judge despite Smith-Lawson’s conclusion that his appointment ended last month. The lawsuit asks the court to declare that Wong’s appointment remains valid, that the Texas Constitution requires him to continue serving until a successor is qualified, and that Smith-Lawson exceeded her legal authority by directing county employees to treat his appointment as terminated. It also seeks temporary and permanent injunctions preventing further actions that interfere with his appointment.

Smith-Lawson said Monday she stands by her legal opinion that Wong’s appointment ended when the civil removal lawsuit was dismissed and called the lawsuit “a professional bullying tactic disguised in a lawsuit.” She said her office has a duty to advise county officials when it believes legal exposure exists and that a formal response to the lawsuit is forthcoming.

The dispute stems from Wong’s appointment in April after visiting Judge Jeth Jones suspended former County Judge KP George during a civil removal proceeding initiated by a Fort Bend County resident. Jones appointed Wong to the seat. On June 16, George was sentenced to 180 days in the Fort Bend County Jail, five years of community supervision, and a $5,000 fine after his conviction for felony money laundering. George has appealed the conviction. After George’s sentencing, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the civil removal lawsuit and it was dismissed.

Smith-Lawson subsequently issued a legal opinion concluding Wong’s temporary appointment ended when the civil lawsuit was dismissed. In a June 24 memorandum to department heads, she wrote that Wong “no longer holds the legal authority to act as County Judge” and directed county officials to begin offboarding procedures, including revoking his building and computer access. She also advised that the county’s four commissioners could continue conducting county business without a county judge. Wong said he disagrees with that interpretation. (HOU CHRON)

“Assistant Chief Jesse Salame named acting San Antonio police chief” via San Antonio Report‘s Diego Medel – San Antonio Police Department Assistant Chief Jesus “Jesse” Salame Jr. will serve as acting chief of the department beginning Saturday, following the retirement of Chief William McManus.

City Manager Erik Walsh announced Wednesday that Salame will lead the department on an interim basis while the national search for a permanent police chief continues. Interviews are expected to take place in August, with a final appointment anticipated in September.

Salame has spent more than 26 years with SAPD. He was appointed deputy chief in 2022, serving as chief of staff and overseeing Internal Affairs, the Training Academy, the Public Information Office and Open Records. He was promoted to assistant chief in 2024 and currently oversees the Operations Support Bureau.

“I know Jesse well and he is a strong leader who is well respected within and outside the department,” Walsh said in a statement. “I have full confidence in Jesse leading the police department.” (SA REPORT)

“San Antonio renews push to land Defense Health Agency headquarters” via San Antonio Express-News‘s Brandon Lingle – The Defense Health Agency already has substantial operations in San Antonio, including Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

San Antonio and Bexar County officials are pressing forward with their bid to lure the headquarters for the military’s health system to Fort Sam Houston even though they’re still $5 million short of the $30 million they say is needed to fix up an old building for the unit.

Bexar County commissioners will vote Tuesday on a proposed “proffer letter” that offers $25 million to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston to renovate the 1930s-era South Beach Pavilion building for the Defense Health Agency, which is currently based in Falls Church, Va.

The move would consolidate some of DHA’s administrative functions and bring more than 650 jobs to San Antonio while also saving the agency money currently being used on high-cost leases it holds nationwide, according to the county. (SAEN)

“Austin cleaned up 127 homeless camps. Many didn’t stay cleared” via Austin American-Statesman‘s Austin Sanders – The city of Austin cleared 127 homeless encampments, removed more than 300 tons of debris and connected 44 people to shelter or services during the first month of an expanded cleanup program.

The figures, sent to Austin City Council members in a July 2 memo from Homeless Strategies and Operations Director David Gray, offer the first detailed look at the controversial operation, which was first reported by the American-Statesman.

“This information is provided to support transparent oversight of program performance, operational capacity, and service outcomes,” Gray wrote in the memo, which covered program activity from May 11 through June 5. (AAS)

“Former Travis County tax employees face organized crime charge” via Austin American-Statesman‘s Austin Sanders – Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Celia Israel said the case reflects a broader problem with motor vehicle fraud in Texas.

Two former Travis County Tax Office employees and a third person have been indicted on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity in connection to a broader unlawful vehicle title and registration scheme, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

A Travis County grand jury on June 25 indicted former tax office employees Ana Marina Hernandez and Maira Yesenia Reyes, along with Edwin Mauricio Hernandez, who did not work for the tax office, on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.

The indictment alleges that Ana Marina Hernandez and Reyes tampered with government records on Oct. 2, 2025 while working for the tax office. During the investigation, Ana Marina Hernandez told investigators that her father, Edwin Mauricio Hernandez, helped carry out the scheme by working with residents seeking to obtain unlawful vehicle registrations, according to the district attorney’s office.(AAS)

“City of San Antonio buys Hemisfair sites for Project Marvel plan” via San Antonio Express-News‘s Madison Iszler – The city of San Antonio has closed on several downtown properties where development around a new Spurs arena will be built — a key step in officials’ plan to create a sports and entertainment district.

The city used $31 million from Spurs Sports & Entertainment to buy an office building at 727 E. César E. Chávez Blvd. and parking lots across the street from the federal government.

It will lease the properties to the Spurs organization and companies that the team owner hires to build $1.4 billion worth of projects around the arena. The arrangement is crucial to financing for the $1.3 billion arena: the city’s $489 million contribution is tied to bonds that would be backed in part by rent from those leases and rising property tax revenue from the development.

The acquisition “gives the city a chance to help guide future growth and redevelopment in the heart of our city as we work toward a downtown sports and entertainment district and a new Spurs arena,” City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement. (SAEN)

“5 Fort Worth City Council members call for data center moratorium” via Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Harrison Mantas – Five members of the Fort Worth City Council called for a data center moratorium on Thursday following feedback from two public meetings.

Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Flores, District 6 council member Mia Hall, District 8 council member Chris Nettles, District 9 council member Elizabeth Beck, and District 11 council member Jeanette Martinez signed a letter calling for the pause.

The group acknowledged the potential economic benefit of data center development, citing their role in supporting industries like healthcare, finance, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

At the same time, the group argued there are legitimate concerns about the impact of data centers on water, energy, noise and neighborhoods. (FWST)

#TXLEGE  

“Why Texas lawmakers can’t keep up with data centers” via Politico – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed banning data centers in rural areas, repealing sales tax exemptions, establishing setback rules, and requiring water-efficient technology. But the Texas Legislature can’t start considering such bills until January — likely too late to catch the first big round of data center construction, Shelby Webb reports.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is scheduled to approve plans next April allowing a massive wave of data centers, known as Batch Zero, to connect to the state’s electric grid. Any new laws from the next Legislature wouldn’t take effect until April or May 2027 at the earliest — and only if a two-thirds majority in both chambers agrees to expedite the bills.

“Even in that case, the Batch Zero studies would be finished,” said Chris Kirby, a partner at the Balch & Bingham law firm who represents data center clients. “I would be surprised if [bills passed in 2027] applied to the Batch Zero projects.” (Politico)

“Supreme Court won’t block Texas from enforcing a law requiring age verification for app downloads” via AP — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to block Texas from enforcing a state law that requires apps stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors seeking to download apps or make in-app purchases on mobile phones.

Justice Samuel Alito, in a pair of one-sentence orders, denied petitions by plaintiffs who claim that the Texas App Store Accountability Act violates users’ constitutional rights to free speech.

Last month, a three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law can take effect. The panel suspended a district court’s ruling last December that the law is unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs suing to block the law include the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is a defendant in both cases. (HOU CHRON)

“State lawmakers to explore banning foreign nationals from using Texas surrogates” via The Texas Tribune‘s Katlyn Ma – State lawmakers are exploring prohibiting foreign nationals from using Texas surrogates, elevating a niche fertility issue into a larger battle over immigration and birthright citizenship, surrogacy experts say.

The Texas Senate health committee will hear testimony on Wednesday about potentially banning foreign nationals from contracting with Texas surrogates to have children, after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made examining the issue an interim charge for the chamber ahead of the legislative session that starts in January. Last month, the Texas GOP also approved in its latest platform a ban on commercial surrogacy for foreign nationals, arguing that the practice lets children born under such circumstances obtain U.S. citizenship.

Surrogacy is a medical procedure where a woman carries and delivers a child for another party. This is typically accomplished by transferring an embryo to the surrogate via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the surrogate and the child are not biologically related. Among the most common users of surrogates are families who are suffering from fertility issues, as well as LGBTQ+ families.

Surrogacy experts and advocacy groups in Texas say arrangements with foreign nationals account for a small percentage of the thousands of surrogacy births that are estimated to occur in the U.S. every year. The exact number is unknown because surrogacy contracts are private and the government does not collect data. (TX TRIB)

“Texas lawmakers continue push to ban THC at public hearing” via The Texas Tribune‘s Stephen Simpson – The Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a public hearing Tuesday to gather information that will shape future legislation on THC products sold in the state.

Lawmakers made arguments against THC that harkened back to the days of the “Just Say No” campaigns of the ’80s regarding the risks of THC usage and its effects. Members of the committee used the frying-pan-and-brain analogy as an example of how these products cause mental health problems among young people.

The purpose of the meeting was to address the societal impacts of THC product consumption. No decision was made at the meeting because it was meant to be just for analysis.

“Nancy (Regan) is the one who started the war on drugs; she was made fun of, and still is today. But you know, she was right. She saw the big picture of how this stuff is so insidious and gets into every fiber of society and every element of family,” said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, who confirmed he will once again file a bill to ban consumable hemp products at the next legislative session. (TX TRIB)

BUSINESS NEWS  

“Texas home insurers saw record profits last year as rate hikes slowed” via Houston Chronicle‘s Megan Kimble – Last year was a good one for Texas home insurers. That’s according to the preliminary 2025 financial figures, which were recently made public. Insurers earned roughly 22 cents for every dollar in premiums they collected — their best year in two decades. The record profit came after several years of double-digit rate increases for policy holders and flat or slightly negative returns for insurers, meaning they paid more in claims than they collected in premiums.

Statewide, rates increased by an average of 4.3% in 2025, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. That’s significantly lower than the double-digit increases in recent years, though homeowners were still paying about 80% more for home insurance in 2025 than they were in 2020 — roughly $3,500 for an average policy, up from $2,000.

TDI Commissioner Amanda Crawford said in an interview that she is “cautiously optimistic” that homeowners will see some relief on insurance premiums. Rates in Texas are among the highest in the country, largely because climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of storms. Given the profits reported last year, Crawford said insurance companies should “strongly consider whether or not a rate decrease might be in order.”

“We’re certainly seeing a leveling off,” she said in an interview. “We haven’t quite seen a decrease yet.” There’s little the state agency can do to force companies to charge less. Texas is a file-and-use state, which means insurers can change their rates without waiting for state approval. (HOU CHRON)

“Caterpillar eyes multimillion-dollar expansion of global headquarters” via Dallas Morning News‘s Nick Wooten – Industrial giant Caterpillar has started the multimillion-dollar expansion of its global headquarters in Irving, state records show.

A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation last week shows that Caterpillar plans to renovate an office property at 901 W. Walnut Hill Lane. The site is less than 3 miles from its current headquarters at The Towers at Williams Square and is meant to give the company more space as it grows in North Texas.

Caterpillar is expected to spend $36 million to renovate portions of the building. The project’s first phase covers 107,000 square feet of the larger campus. Work was scheduled to begin earlier this week and is expected to finish by August 2027. Gensler is the project’s architect. State filings refer to the work as “Project Stone.”

Caterpillar did not immediately return requests for comment about the expansion. Details in TDLR are preliminary and subject to change without notice. (DMN)

“Former employee claims Odessa company dumped hazardous chemicals; state opens investigation” via CBS7‘s Sierra Burnett -- A former employee of West Texas Cementers says the company has been dumping hazardous chemicals onto public land, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has opened an investigation into the allegations.

Enrique Godinez, who has worked in the oilfield for 17 years, said he was fired from West Texas Cementers last month after raising safety concerns about the dumping.

He said he worked in the company’s acid department, where he witnessed the disposal of chemicals including hydrochloric acid and xylene.

“They were being told to connect the lines with the tankers and just run it into public land, which is right next door, outside of their property line,” Godinez said. “You could literally see the acid bubbling and boiling, eating the dirt. I mean, it was eating the asphalt.” (CBS7)

“European spacecraft company opens Houston lab, plans major US hiring” via Houston Chronicle‘s Andrea Leinfelder – A European spacecraft company is opening a Houston lab and plans to double – or triple – its U.S. workforce in 2026 as it taps into the area’s human spaceflight expertise.

The Exploration Co., based in Germany, celebrated the grand opening of its Rapid Innovation Lab on Wednesday. The facility for light manufacturing will help develop a capsule that could eventually carry humans into space.

The company, founded in 2021, has more than 500 employees working across Europe, the U.S. and United Arab Emirates. About 30 people are in the United States, mostly working from Houston.

Its new 3,500-square-foot facility could be used to develop crew displays and controls, flight software and astronaut training procedures. (HOU CHRON)

“Mark Cuban goes to court for records on Dallas Mavericks’ Valley View arena deal” via Dallas Morning News‘s Devyani Chhetri and Brad Townsend – Mark Cuban has taken his increasingly public dispute with Dallas Mavericks majority owner Patrick Dumont to court, accusing his business partner of shutting him out of the team’s plans for a new arena and other lucrative development opportunities.

A new court filing alleges Dumont engaged in “adversarial business practices” and asks a Dallas County judge to force the Mavericks’ ownership to disclose details about its planned Valley View arena development, financing and corporate structure.

Cuban believes he still has a right to be involved in the Mavericks’ business opportunities, despite selling his majority stake in the team to Miriam Adelson and Dumont, her son-in-law, the filing shows.

The billionaire businessman filed a petition in Dallas County this week to review the contract to buy the former Valley View mall site to build a new basketball arena. Cuban also requests details on how the arena project will be financed and to see the corporate structure behind the team’s real estate deal. (DMN)

“Austin nuclear company to expand after meeting White House reactor deadline” via San Antonio Express-News‘s Karoline Leonard – On Saturday, Austin-based Aalo Atomics achieved criticality at its reactor inside the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, meaning it reached a stable, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

An Austin nuclear energy company is preparing to expand after reaching a critical milestone tied to a White House initiative to expand nuclear energy.

Aalo Atomics will grow its production facility by 25 times and hire hundreds of people after the modular nuclear reactor maker achieved criticality over the weekend at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho nuclear test site.

It was one of several nuclear companies chosen by the department to build reactors at the Idaho National Laboratory as part of a Trump administration directive to produce a stable, self-sustaining nuclear reaction by July 4, part of a broader effort to expand nuclear energy production in the United States. (SAEN)

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION  

“Aaron Reitz, former attorney general candidate, appointed U.S. attorney in Texas’ southern district” via The Texas Tribune‘s Eleanor Klibanoff – Aaron Reitz has been appointed the next U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Reitz previously worked as a top deputy to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and worked in the Trump Justice Department before running for attorney general earlier this year.

Reitz finished fourth, despite Paxton’s endorsement, in a crowded and expensive primary. The Marine Corps veteran ran on a militant platform of destroying the left, going after DEI and waging “counter-jihad” on radical Muslims.

As U.S. attorney, Reitz will be responsible for federal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the federal government in a vast region that includes Houston and large swaths of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Our office will relentlessly combat violent crime, illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, corruption, and fraud,” Reitz said in a statement. “Things are about to get very bad for criminals in the Southern District of Texas.” (TX TRIB)

Editorial: “Trump’s decision on USMCA unleashes uncertainty over trade” via Dallas Morning News – Steel workers at the ArcelorMittal Dofasco plant in Hamilton, Canada, March 12, 2025. Industries that rely on raw goods from Canada or Mexico rely on trade agreements.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America was the perfect occasion to celebrate our shared free trade success with Canada and Mexico. Instead, the Trump administration has undermined the agreement, triggering uncertainty for businesses that are fully integrated with their supply chains and investments.

Last week, the Trump administration declined to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. This decision was not unexpected, but it still leaves a dark cloud looming over free trade. While not a full break-up, it starts a 10-year countdown to expiration with the requirement for annual joint reviews.

This decision will make it harder to plan long-term investments across the region. Businesses that are intertwined through supply chains, with products crossing borders multiple times during production, depend on free trade agreements. (DMN)

QUICK LINKS  

HOU CHRON: “What to know about the fatal shooting of a Houston man by an ICE officer” HOU CHRON

TX TRIB: “Immigrant killed by ICE was not target of operation, Congress member says” TX TRIB

TX TRIB: “Historic Rio Grande Valley church saved from being cut off behind border wall” TX TRIB

TX TRIB: “Houston Democrats demand feds release footage of ICE agent fatally shooting migrant” TX TRIB

TX TRIB: “Planned Texas data centers could emit more greenhouse gases than many countries” TX TRIB

WIRED: “Watch The AI Business Is Booming in Texas—but Residents Feel Blindsided” WIRED

FOX 7 Austin: “Three Texas tax preparers sentenced to federal prison after multi-million dollar fraud scheme” FOX 7 Austin

TPR: “Federal panel shoots down proposal to rename Boca Chica Beach to ‘Cyber Beach’” TPR

NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth: “Texas Senate race enters new phase with fundraising” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Spectrum News: “After praising him in the past, Re­pub­lican Tano Tijerina now crit­i­cizes his De­mo­c­ratic opponent Henry Cuellar” Spectrum News

AAS: “Bid to revive Texas Dream Act fails, barring thousands from in-state tuition benefits” AAS

Houston Public Media: “Judge orders Texas to admit all mentally ill jail detainees to state facilities within 21 days” Houston Public Media

FWST: “What Texas parents should know about the new Bible curriculum mandate” FWST

Texarkana Gazette: “Texas universities are offering AI degrees. Is it the answer for a changing workforce?” Texarkana Gazette

COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Officials ask Texas lawmakers for more resources to respond to mental health crisis calls” COMMUNITY IMPACT

KXAN: “Republican Party of Texas will continue in lawsuit to close primaries, for now” KXAN

DMN: “Plans to redevelop Oak Cliff property affected by blast have halted” DMN

FWST: “‘Unimaginable grief’ for Fort Worth family who lost 5-year-old son in house fire” FWST

TX TRIB: “A data center proposed at a quiet corner of East Texas leaves a community bracing for a boom” TX TRIB

KXAN: “Her son was murdered in Austin; She buried him in her front yard” KXAN

TPR: “Hundreds march in protest of fatal ICE shooting in Houston’s Magnolia Park” TPR

DMN: “Dallas libraries, community centers to close Friday under city furlough” DMN

DMN: “DFW startup steels houses for the future with digital tech” DMN

HOU CHRON: “H-E-B confirms plans to open new San Antonio-area store in late 2026” HOU CHRON

MyNorthwest.com: “Suncadia sells Tumble Creek golf community to Texas-based company” MyNorthwest.com

SAEN: “Texas butterfly garden plants that attract more species” SAEN

AAS: “Why Texas football has found consistent success and Texas A&M hasn’t, per Mack Brown” AAS

KXAN: “‘It’s how he lives,’ Cedar Park resident a rising MMA star” KXAN

FWST: “TCU QB Jaden Craig opens up about taking a bigger leadership role (Video)” FWST

SAEN: “San Antonio boxer Ramon Cardenas disappointed after WBC title bout scrapped” SAEN

EXTRA POINTS 

Recent Texas sports scores:
Tuesday 7/7
> MLB: Texas 8, LA Angels 3
> MLB: Houston 6, Washington 3
> WNBA: Dallas 88, New York 77
Wednesday 7/8
> MLB: LA Angels 13, Texas 1
> MLB: Washington 8, Houston 2
Thursday 7/9
> MLB: Texas 7, LA Angels 6
> WNBA: Dallas 86, Connecticut 83
Friday 7/10
> MLB: Texas 7, Houston 3
> WNBA: Dallas 108, Toronto 95
Saturday 7/11
> MLB: Houston 9, Texas 3

Today / tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 1:35pm: MLB: Houston at Texas
> 6pm: WNBA: Chicago at Dallas (ESPN)

Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
None.

TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS

HOUSTON ASTROS: “Main need’ for Astros at trade deadline remains elusive lefty outfield bat” Houston Chronicle

DALLAS MAVERICKS: “Dallas Mavericks add Red Oak product Marcus Sasser as part of 6-team trade, per report’” DMN

HOUSTON FOOTBALL: “’Stay in the moment.’ How UH is focused on a Big 12 football championship” Houston Chronicle

TEXAS STATE FOOTBALL: “How Texas State football joining Pac-12 opened more recruiting options AAS