Texas State

The latest episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver covers the upcoming Texas midterms and Brazil's 2026 elections, airing September 27, 2026. The satirical deep dive is drawing large audiences and strong engagement as viewers react to Oliver's take on the two high-stakes votes.

San Diego State's football program is dealing with a mumps outbreak as the Aztecs prepare to face Texas State. The illness has raised questions about player availability and health protocols ahead of the matchup, drawing attention to how the team will manage preparations while containing the spread within the squad.

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, has repeatedly won elections despite a political career dotted with scandals, including legal challenges and impeachment proceedings. A review of his timeline highlights how he has survived allegations that would typically end careers, maintaining strong support among Republican voters in Texas and remaining a significant figure in state and national conservative politics.

A ProPublica report reveals a little-known effort to bring an AI learning tool into Texas public school classrooms, an initiative that began about a year ago with backing from the state's top education official. The report has drawn attention to how artificial intelligence is being introduced into public education with limited public awareness, prompting questions about transparency and oversight.

A commentary piece argues that the United States should adopt Texas' approach to nutrition. The article, published by The Facts, presents the state's nutrition policies as a model the rest of the country should emulate. Details of the specific policies or the author's arguments were not provided.

A nonpartisan analyst, cited by The Washington Post, says Republican control of the governors' races in Florida and Texas is weakening. The assessment suggests Democrats are becoming more competitive in two large states that have recently been Republican strongholds, a shift that could shape the national political map and party strategy heading into the next election cycle.

Voter registration deadlines are falling this week in several US states ahead of the November election. October 4 is the cutoff in Alaska, Rhode Island and South Carolina, while Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas close registration on October 5. Voters are being urged to check their registration status now and remind friends and family to do the same before their state's deadline passes.

The Guardian's Politics Weekly America podcast is examining whether Texas state lawmaker James Talarico could help Democrats finally win in Texas. The discussion centres on Talarico's rise as a prominent young progressive figure and what his candidacy could mean for the party's long-shot efforts to turn the traditionally Republican state blue.

The Dallas Morning News has published its recommendation in the race for Texas State Board of Education District 14, offering voters its pick ahead of the election. State board races draw attention because the board sets curriculum standards and textbook policies for Texas public schools, and endorsements can shape low-profile contests where many voters know little about the candidates.

Attention is turning to the race for the Texas 15th Court of Appeals, with coverage outlining which candidates are running and what voters should know ahead of the election. The appellate court race is drawing interest as part of Texas's judicial elections, where contests for appeals benches can shape how key state laws are interpreted and applied.

Amendment 86, a Colorado ballot measure covered by the Denver Gazette, would limit the ability of state officials to redraw political maps outside the normal once-a-decade redistricting cycle, a practice known as off-cycle redistricting. Supporters frame it as a safeguard against mid-decade gerrymandering; opponents argue it could constrain legitimate map adjustments. It is drawing attention amid national battles over partisan map redrawing.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin aimed at expanding clinical trials in the United States. The initiative, announced during a visit to Austin, is intended to strengthen the country's clinical research capacity, though details of funding and scope have not been made clear.

Election forecaster Sabato's Crystal Ball has shifted Texas away from the Republicans, with commentators blaming scandal-plagued Attorney General Ken Paxton for hurting the party's broader chances in the state. Observers say Paxton is 'dragging down the entire ticket', raising the prospect of a competitive statewide race in Texas that Republicans have long counted on winning comfortably.

The Texas Education Agency, led by Commissioner Mike Morath, helped introduce an artificial intelligence tool into public school classrooms across the state. Reporting traces how the agency facilitated the technology's adoption in schools, raising questions about procurement, oversight, and the role of AI in Texas education.

Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with an alleged mass shooting threat targeting the Texas State Capitol in Austin, according to sources cited by ABC News. The report, picked up by ABC affiliates in Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, has drawn wide attention, with many awaiting details on the suspect's identity and motives.

Texas State is preparing for its first-ever Pac-12 appearance, a milestone moment for the university's athletics program. Reports from Texas indicate a health scare is hanging over the historic debut, raising concerns about players' availability and dampening what would otherwise be a celebratory occasion for the school as it enters a new conference era.