Central Texas

A new poll in Texas finds 91 percent of respondents believe the war involving Iran is driving up oil and gas prices. The overwhelming share points to broad public concern about the conflict's economic impact, particularly on energy costs in a state central to the US oil and gas industry.

Voters across Texas are heading to the polls in a midterm election cycle featuring several genuinely competitive races, an unusual development in a state long dominated by Republicans. Public radio outlets in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are all raising the same question: whether President Trump might intervene in the election, through endorsements, campaign appearances or pressure on candidates, and what effect that could have on close contests. His continued influence over Republican primaries remains a central storyline.

Texas's closely contested US Senate race is becoming a test of whether President Trump's hardline immigration policies help or hurt Republicans at the ballot box. The campaign is examining how the crackdown resonates with Texas voters, including Latino communities, in a state where immigration remains a defining political issue and the party's traditional dominance is being challenged.

Attention is turning to the 2026 midterm elections in Texas, with coverage focused on the key races, the candidates running, and a look back at past results. As one of the largest and most politically significant states, Texas is expected to play a central role in shaping the balance of power in Congress after the midterms.

Voters in Central Texas are being given a guide to the federal races on their ballots, covering candidates for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The rundown aims to help residents identify who is running for Congress in their districts ahead of Election Day. Coverage of ballot guides typically draws attention as early voting approaches and people finalize their choices in the closely watched Texas races.

An opinion piece in the San Angelo Standard-Times examines the dangers strong winds pose to birds migrating along the Central Flyway, the major migration route crossing Texas and the Great Plains. It highlights how severe wind events can exhaust, displace or kill migrating birds and weighs what that means for conservation in the region.

A new legal analysis examines how renewable energy and battery energy storage system projects in Texas are shaped by environmental rules, land use considerations and financing challenges. It looks at what developers and lenders must navigate to bring wind, solar and storage projects to completion in the state, which has become a leading US market for such buildout.

Several Central Texas school districts have called bond elections, asking voters to approve bond propositions aimed at improving school facilities. The measures will appear on the November 3 ballot, giving residents in those districts a direct say in funding upgrades to campus buildings and infrastructure. Local outlet KXAN is covering which districts are involved and what the proposed bonds would pay for.

Several candidates are running to fill a State Board of Education seat covering the Austin area, according to local reporting. The race will determine who represents Central Texas on the board, which sets curriculum standards and policies for Texas public schools. Details about the individual candidates and their platforms are being shared with voters ahead of the election.

KUT has published a voter guide for Austin-area residents ahead of the November 3 election. The guide covers what voters in the region need to know to participate in the election, including key races and voting information. It is aimed at helping Central Texas residents navigate the ballot ahead of Election Day.

Early voting has begun in Texas, with affordability emerging as a central concern for voters as they head to the polls. At the same time, new polling is tracking how enthusiastic the state's electorate is ahead of election day. Observers are watching turnout closely to see whether economic frustrations translate into higher participation and shape results across key Texas races.

Lawyers for Texas have appealed a federal judge's order requiring the state's entire prison system to be climate controlled before 2030, taking the case to the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The move continues a yearslong legal fight over air conditioning in the country's largest prison system, where extreme summer heat has been a central concern in litigation over conditions for inmates and staff.

Nebraska-based Pinnacle Bancorp has agreed to buy SouthStar Bank, a Texas community bank. The deal pushes Pinnacle beyond its current Dallas-Fort Worth concentration into Austin and central Texas, expanding its footprint in one of the country's fastest-growing banking markets. Banking industry observers are watching the acquisition as another example of community bank consolidation across the region.

A home care agency based in Wimberley, Texas has joined a larger business serving families across Central Texas. The move consolidates local home care services under a regional provider, expanding options for families needing in-home support for elderly or disabled loved ones. Details about the acquiring company and terms were not disclosed.

Forecasters warn that widely scattered severe storms capable of large hail, damaging winds, and possibly a tornado are expected across portions of the central and southern Plains into the Lower Missouri Valley through this afternoon and tonight. More isolated severe weather may extend as far as southwest Texas, with residents urged to stay alert to warnings.

An NBA analyst says a Dallas Mavericks trade of star guard Kyrie Irving 'makes sense,' predicting the team could move on from the veteran playmaker. Irving, a nine-time All-Star, has been central to Dallas's plans alongside Luka Doncic-era roster questions, and speculation about his future in Texas is now circulating across basketball coverage and fan discussion.

Central Washington's Wildcats travel to Kingsville, Texas on Saturday to face Texas A&M-Kingsville, another undefeated conference team. The matchup pits two unbeaten programs against each other, with the Wildcats looking to protect their record on the road. Central Washington Athletics announced the game as a key test in the Wildcats' conference schedule.