Houston council approves $7.5 billion budget with new trash fee and right-of-way charge
Houston City Council approved a $7.5 billion budget in a 15-1 vote on June 10, 2026, introducing a $5 monthly trash fee and a new right-of-way charge.
Texas
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Austin opens FY27 arts grants with more than $23 million available for cultural programs
Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment office has opened applications for four FY27 funding programs, with more than $23 million available and an Aug. 18 deadline.
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San Antonio and police union reach tentative contract agreement
San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association announced a tentative contract agreement July 17, 2026, that includes significant wage increases for police officers. The agreement still requires ratification or another required approval step.
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Houston City Council schedules Aug. 12 Arts and Culture Committee meeting
Houston City Council’s Arts and Culture Committee is scheduled to meet Aug. 12 to review matters within its oversight of city arts and culture activities.
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Texas data center tax break faces scrutiny as audits find compliance problems
Texas lawmakers are reviewing a data-center tax break projected to cost $3.3 billion in 2028-29 after Comptroller officials reported that only 20 of 138 qualifying facilities had received five-year audits and six audited facilities failed at least one compliance check.
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Texas Universities Face a January Deadline Under SB 37
Texas public colleges must complete initial general-education reviews and certify compliance by January 1, 2027, as lawmakers monitor Senate Bill 37’s rollout.
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Texas Requests Audit of Broadband Office After Questions Over Grant Terms
Texas legislative leaders requested a performance audit of the Broadband Development Office after lawmakers questioned grant transparency and payment terms for low-Earth-orbit satellite providers.
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Texas Energy Agencies Seek More Authority Over Data Centers
Texas regulators want lawmakers to expand oversight of data centers as the state weighs who will pay for new grid infrastructure and how large users respond in emergencies.
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Texas leaders set 3% lower baseline for 2028-29 agency budget requests
Texas leaders are requiring agencies, appellate courts and universities to build 2028-29 budget requests around a 3% lower baseline, with major exemptions.
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Supreme Court lets Texas app-age-verification law stand after denial
On July 6, 2026, the Supreme Court denied a request to lift a stay in CCIA v. Paxton—so Texas app age checks and parent consent stay in force.
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Supreme Court keeps Texas app age-verification law in place while case continues
United States Breaking National Politics — The Supreme Court’s July 6 emergency-docket denials leave Texas’s app age-verification and parental-consent rules in effect for now.
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Texas adds Bible passages to school reading list, setting up church-state fight
United States Church State and Religious Liberty Watch – Texas approved a required reading list with Bible passages on June 26, but the change is slated to take effect in 2030-31.
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OSHA proposes $3.5M after Channelview spill cleanup injuries
United States Labor Workers and Federal Enforcement – OSHA says three companies exposed cleanup workers to hazardous conditions after a Channelview sulfuric-acid spill.