Austin City Council District 1 candidates pitch housing affordability plans at forum
As Austin voters prepare to choose their next City Council representative for District 1 in November, housing affordability and displacement are emerging as cen...
Westlake News
Government
Austin residents push back on Mayor Watson’s call to petition for TEA school closures
Some Austin ISD parents and community members are pushing back against Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s call for families to petition the Texas Education Agency to cl...
Bo French doubles down after Texas Republicans condemn UT Austin student posts
After criticism from Republican leaders including Dustin Burrows and John Cornyn, Railroad Commission candidate Bo French defended social media posts targeting a group of UT Austin students, insisting his comments were about policy, not race....
Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions ahead of midterms
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump's bid to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections, capping a flurry of last-minute legal action with voting already underway. The decision allows states to continue sending out mail ballots under...
Travis County Clerk begins Logic and Accuracy testing ahead of Nov. 3 elections
The Travis County Clerk held a public event Monday to showcase its Logic and Accuracy testing ahead of the midterm elections in November.
ICE has no plans to 'sweep polling locations' for noncitizens, Homan says
White House border czar Tom Homan on Sunday said there are no plans in place for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to "sweep polling locations" in the November midterm elections....
Talarico leads Paxton in new Texas Senate poll, but race shifts among older voters
The race for U.S. Senate in Texas is getting national attention as Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico continue to campaign across the state. A new AARP poll shows Talarico in a slight lead over Paxton, but Paxton has an advantage over older voters....
Statewide GOP nominee Bo French sparks outrage after targeting UT football fans online
The Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission is facing fierce backlash from within his own party after posting inflammatory remarks on social media about students celebrating a University of Texas football victory....
Bo French faces backlash over posts criticizing UT student demographics
Texas Railroad Commission Republican nominee Bo French is facing backlash from fellow Republicans after posting social media comments that mischaracterized a photo of celebrating University of Texas football fans as evidence of Americans being displaced by foreigners....
Alaska drops voter misconduct cases against American Samoans who checked ‘U.S. Citizen’ box
Alaska prosecutors are dropping voter misconduct cases against 11 residents born in American Samoa after a state appeals court ruled that prosecutors must prove defendants knowingly intended to break the law....
Pastor dies after severe spinal injury during cruise celebrating son’s wedding
A Minnesota pastor died after suffering a severe spinal cord injury and nearly drowning in a pool aboard a cruise ship in Italy while celebrating his son’s wedding....
Metro Nashville Airport Authority approves renaming BNA in honor of Dolly Parton
In a unanimous 6-0 vote, the board approved a resolution to change the airport's name.
Dolly Parton could soon have major airport named in her honor after unanimous vote
Nashville International Airport is one step closer to undergoing a name change honoring late country music icon Dolly Parton.
Big push for both parties begins for November midterm elections
On Friday, the sprint toward the November midterm elections hit a new gear, fueled by new cash and tough words.
Mistrust of government information is rising across major issues: Poll
Those suspicions extend to the results of the upcoming midterm elections.
Central Health board approves tax increase to fund mental health programs
The hospital district's budget sets aside $127.5 million for those services. $54 million of that will be for "new investments to begin building a connected system of mental health care."...
Galveston County cannot use new precinct map in November, Texas Supreme Court rules
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Galveston County cannot use its newly drawn precinct map in November’s election.
Trump tells Republicans they ‘go to hell’ if they don’t vote in November
President Donald Trump closed out the Republican’s inaugural midterm convention being held in Dallas with a fervent plea to the crowd to vote as if he’s on the ballot in November....
Business owners bring Lake Austin drawdown concerns to Austin City Council
Several business owners who operate on Lake Austin brought concerns about a planned drawdown to Austin City Council.
Dallas mayor brags about party switch during Republican midterm convention speech
The mayor of Dallas was among the Texas contingent to speak Thursday at the second and final night of the Republican midterm convention.
Austin council approves 2 items changing rules for density bonus housing
Austin City Council on Thursday approved two measures that will affect when developers can opt to pay a fee in lieu of providing affordable housing, and how the money collected from those fees will be used....
Kyle voters could have a say on Flock cameras in May
Council members voted unanimously to consider putting a non-binding question about Flock technology on the May 2027 ballot, giving Kyle voters a chance to weigh in....
Kimmel pulls Talarico interview after FCC 'threat'
ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel said an interview he conducted with Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico will not air on broadcast because of what he called threats issued to his network by President Donald Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC)....
Liberty Hill City Council votes to end Flock contract
The Liberty Hill City Council voted unanimously to terminate its contract with Flock Safety.
Hays County considering guidelines for AI use
Hays County commissioners are considering new guidelines for how artificial intelligence is used by the county.
Bastrop City Council votes to end Flock contract
Bastrop City Council unanimously voted to shut down Flock cameras.
'Gender Bender Gina': Abbott's first attack signifies new stage of midterm races
After spending months largely ignoring Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa, Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign is now attacking her by name as statewide races enter a new phase ahead of Election Day....
Central Health to vote on proposed property tax increase for Travis County
Your property taxes could go up again next year. Central Health, which is the hospital district for Travis County, is proposing an increase to provide mental health services to those in crisis....
Red River Cultural District urges city to follow through on promises as development puts culture at risk
Change in a growing city is inevitable, but the Red River Cultural District has faced more than its fair share lately, local venue owners, musicians, district leaders, and city council members say....
Republican Midterm Convention: When will Texas leaders speak each night
Republicans will hold its first ever midterm convention in Dallas this week and the program will feature several key Texas Republicans as the party looks to rally and unify voters ahead of the November elections....
Bastrop cancels Flock contract
Bastrop city leaders voted Tuesday to end the city's contract with Flock Safety, the company behind a network of automated license plate reader cameras that has come under increasing scrutiny across Central Texas....
Senate is 'pure toss-up' ahead of midterms: DDHQ
The fight for control of the Senate hangs in the balance with just eight weeks to go until the midterm elections, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ)....
Bodies of 4 recovered after plane goes missing in Bahamas
Family members say the bodies of four people aboard a small plane that disappeared shortly after taking off from the Bahamas have been recovered.
Nearly a third of AI chatbot replies to voting questions inaccurate, outdated: Study
Artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming a go-to source for voters to ask questions about upcoming elections, but a new study determined nearly a third of AI-generated replies could be inaccurate or outdated....
Midterm elections head into the home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell workers they need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, e...
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire in December after transformative and tumultuous tenure
Engelbert is the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner, and she helped negotiate a lucrative collective bargaining agreement this past spring that resulted in the league's first set of million-dollar player salaries....
State education board finalizes anti-Islamic rewrite of Texas social studies lessons
State Board of Education members on Friday approved a rewrite of what Texas high schoolers learn in social studies, disregarding pleas from Muslims who testified that schools should teach how people of Islamic faith positively contributed to world history....
Texas education board approves controversial school curriculum changes
The State Board of Education gave final approval to changes to Texas' high school social studies curriculum. The changes involve how students will learn about Islam and Christianity....
Elmo teething toy recalled over choking hazard
The new recall involves Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teethers which were sold in stores and online between January 2025 and March 2026, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission....
Tennessee official says Flock CEO should be hanged 'publicly for treason’ as controversial cameras face revolt
A Tennessee county commissioner is going viral after he told a Flock Safety representative at a public meeting that the company's CEO should be hanged for treason, marking a fever-pitch surrounding personal privacy and open public hostility over the nationwide rollout of the cont...
Months past first deadline, Abbott says Capitol ban lawsuit moot after bans expire
Gov. Greg Abbott, who also chairs the Texas State Preservation Board, on Monday filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit brought against the board by three women who were banned from the state Capitol following an anti-redistricting protest in Aug. 2025....
Austin has no mold-specific code; new regulations could be coming
Austin City Council has begun the process of creating mold-specific regulations, directing staff to draft new inspection and remediation standards. The move comes as one Austin renter says her experience with mold and code enforcement left her frustrated....
Poll ranks 'most obnoxious' college fan bases in Texas
A recent poll from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Overton Insights gauged Texas voters' attitudes on different policy issues ahead of the state's 90th legislative session starting in January and the midterm elections in November....
Deadline to release 2026 Maternal Mortality Report arrives after midterm elections
The deadline for the release of the 2026 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Report is Dec. 1 this year, which means it could be released after the midterms....
JetBlue unveils new first-class seating for domestic flyers
The airline's new BlueFirst cabin will offer more legroom, upgraded dining, priority airport perks and enhanced onboard technology on select domestic routes....
Republican Midterm Convention schedule: Trump, Vance and what happens each night
The RNC released full schedule details for its Midterm Convention in Dallas, featuring keynotes from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance ahead of November elections....
Bastrop votes to cover Flock cameras, reconsider contract
Bastrop is the latest city to cover their automated license plate readers and reconsider their contract with the company Flock.
Bastrop covers Flock cameras ahead of vote as debate spreads across Central Texas
The debate over Flock license plate reader cameras continues to grow across Central Texas, and now Bastrop is at the center of the conversation.
Texas voters split on top races, oppose data centers and Flock-style cameras
A new Texas poll shows the U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton effectively tied.
Bastrop moves to immediately cover city's Flock cameras as vote to terminate contract looms
The vote comes after growing privacy concerns from residents and city council members.
Whistleblower warns new USPS mail-in ballot system could threaten midterm elections
An anonymous whistleblower warns an untested online system for mail-in ballots could cause severe election disruptions as a legal battle over the Trump executive order plays out in federal court....
Texas A&M fans narrowly top UT Austin fans as Texas’ most obnoxious, survey finds
Texas A&M has officially been voted the most obnoxious college football fan base in Texas, though a major split among younger voters suggests a new rival might be coming for the crown....
Texas SBOE moves closer to vote on new high school social studies standards
After hours of public testimony and debate, the Texas State Board of Education moved closer to a final vote on proposed changes to the state's high school social studies standards....
Austin City Council gives historic designation to 140-year-old east Austin home
An over 140-year-old house has achieved historic status after the Austin City Council voted unanimously to designate the building as a City of Austin Landmark o...
Photo of the Month poll: Vote for the best viewer photo of August
We want to showcase some of the amazing photos we receive. Help us choose the best KXAN viewer photo of August 2026!
Texas Board of Education considers religious influence and framing in curriculum overhaul
Texas education leaders are debating controversial proposed high school social studies standards that emphasize America's biblical roots while framing early Islam around military conflict....
Texas lifts New World screwworm restrictions in 5 counties
The Texas Animal Health Commission has lifted New World screwworm movement restrictions in parts of five counties after officials determined eradication efforts eliminated the pest from those areas....
Why 1.2 million Texans are on the voter ‘suspense’ list and how to fix it
About 1.2 million Texas voters have been placed on the state’s "suspense" list with early voting in the 2026 midterm elections less than two months away....
Mississippi mayor argues against lowering flag for Dolly Parton after her death
Mayor Ken Adams argued half-staff flags should be kept for military heroes, presidents and fallen first responders, not celebrities.
Colorado city leader dies after collapsing on 14,000-foot mountain hike
Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson, 45, died Friday after collapsing while hiking Colorado’s Quandary Peak, a 14,271-foot mountain in Summit County.