State / Local

A New Generation of Industries Emerges in Texas as Feds Push to Mine More Rare Minerals
The U.S. doesn’t produce the minerals and metals needed for renewable energy, microchips or military technology. Major oil companies are drilling in East Texas again, but not for oil. This time, they’re after lithium for batteries and other rare elements.
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Texas Voters Have Final Say on $20 Billion Package to Secure State’s Water Supply
No new taxes would be collected for the package that would give the state’s water department $1 billion to spend on projects like cleaning salty water, flood control and reservoirs.
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Federal Judge Extends Order on NYC Anti-Terrorism Funds
The Trump administration has been given another week to make its case to withhold more than $33 million in counter-terrorism funds for New York City’s transit system. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan has extended a temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Homeland Security from clawing back the grant funding approved by Congress for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority until at least Oct. 22.
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Despite Widespread Interest, Only 3 States Passed License Plate Reader Laws This Year
Lawmakers in at least 16 states this year introduced bills to regulate the use of automated license plate readers responsible for collecting large amounts of data on drivers across the country. But just three states —Arkansas, Idaho and Virginia —enacted laws. Critics say automated license plate readers raise data and privacy concerns.
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Texas AG Ken Paxton Announces Undercover Investigations of “Leftist Terror Cells”
Paxton cited the recent attack on a Dallas immigration field office, though the shooter’s political affiliation was unclear and there was no evidence he was linked to organized “cells.”
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Texas Counties Struggle to Process Voter Registrations Using State’s New System
State officials push back on complaints about software problems. Meanwhile, unprocessed applications are piling up.
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More States Protect Access to the COVID Shot as Feds Restrict Eligibility
At least 17 states have taken steps to ensure broader access to the COVID-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted eligibility for the shot. The moves represent an extraordinary state rebellion against the public health authority of the federal government.
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Elon Musk Pushed Back on Our Reporting on His Houston Tunnels Plan. Experts Say His Comments Are Misleading.
Elon Musk is taking issue with a recent investition by the Houston Chronicle and The Texas Newsroom that raised questions about a flood tunnel project he’s pitching to address Houston’s chronic flooding woes. But experts said his response, which he did not explain to the newsrooms, isn’t supported by facts or data.
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California, New York Could Become First States to Enact Laws Aiming to Prevent Catastrophic AI Harm
California and New York could become the first states to establish rules aiming to prevent the most advanced, large-scale artificial intelligence models —known as frontier AI models —from causing catastrophic harm involving dozens of casualties or billion-dollar damages.
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20 Years After Katrina, New Orleans’ Levees Are Sinking and Short on Money
The city’s $14 billion flood system faces new threats from climate change, land subsidence, and Trump budget cuts.
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Justice Department Demand for State Voter Lists Underscores Their Importance
DOJ is demanding that states turn over their voter registration lists and other election information, citing unspecified concerns with voter list maintenance. Power over voter registration lists is the power to shape the electorate.
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Denying Quorum Has Been a Texas Political Strategy Since 1870
While the Democrats could technically derail the GOP’s redistricting map, such efforts have been largely symbolic and had limited success blocking past legislation, experts say.
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Building Nevada’s Cyber Future One Summer Camp at a Time
UNLV’s Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering launched GenCyber Camp to create awareness of college and career pathways in cybersecurity among Nevada’s youth. The program has secured an impressive share of success stories. Organizers search for funding to keep the momentum going.
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Texas Senate Once Again Tries to Give the Attorney General Authority to Prosecute Election Crimes
A similar proposal stalled out earlier this year over disagreements between the House and Senate. This time, lawmakers might clash over whether to approve the new bill along with a constitutional amendment.
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Stand-Your-Ground Laws Linked to Higher Homicide Rates, New Report Finds
Stand-your-ground laws, which are in effect in more than half of U.S. states, are associated with higher homicide rates, increased racial disparities in legal outcomes and broader public costs. And homicides with white shooters, Black victims ruled justifiable 4 times more often than when roles were reversed.
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