The Texas Dispatch

Your source for news and insights on the Texas government. News, podcasts, profiles, and tools to help you understand what is happening in the Lone Star State.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

What lessons did Texas learn from the tragedy in Uvalde—and how are lawmakers working to prevent a similar failure from happening again?

On this episode of the @TXTalksPodcast, host @bradswail sits down with State Representative @donfortexas, who represents Texas House District 80 and previously served as mayor of Uvalde during one of the most difficult periods in the city’s history.

McLaughlin discusses House Bill 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, which was passed unanimously during his first legislative session and is designed to improve coordination, training, leadership, and preparedness among law enforcement agencies responding to active shooter situations.

Looking ahead, McLaughlin shares his perspective on the major issues likely to dominate the next legislative session, including property tax relief, water infrastructure, border security, and public education.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Robb Elementary School shooting shocked Texas and exposed failures in systems to protect children from school shootings. State Rep. @donfortexas says the lessons were behind his efforts to pass the Uvalde Strong Act in the last Texas Legislature.

https://t.co/A3czoV0rfs

[Texas Talks @TXTalksPodcast]

How AI could reshape regulatory review and permitting: Texas Talks host @bradswail explains the latest developments in the Texas government's use of AI.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $6.17 million in state and federal grants to fund 21 recreational trail construction and maintenance projects across Texas. https://t.co/HvXO5x34DV

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Austin attorney and former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire @AleshireLaw joined the Taxpayer Empowerment podcast to critique the financial evolution and legal standing of Project Connect, Austin’s multi-billion dollar transit initiative.

https://t.co/ghTzRCvpY5

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Many longtime institutions in Austin, Texas, have disappeared, but @kerbeylanecafe has adapted while maintaining the culture that helped make it an Austin staple.

Mason Ayer, CEO of Kerbey Lane Cafe, says long-term success depends on adapting to Austin’s evolution while staying true to the values that built the restaurant nearly 50 years ago.

https://t.co/OaVEYaNvTe

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The U.S Department of Agriculture confirmed the first domestic case of the New World screwworm in South Texas after State Rep. @donfortexas urged state action on the pest.

https://t.co/pD1ikZGEtP

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott visited Killeen and Borger to celebrate their entry into the Texas Main Street Program. https://t.co/s3P6P0ZjG9

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

@TXTalksPodcast @bradswail @donfortexas Watch or listen to the episode on your preferred platform.

YouTube: https://t.co/dcH2YZ42LA
Spotify: https://t.co/Bn4gnqkYRq
Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/1W5teLoGN6

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

What lessons did Texas learn from the tragedy in Uvalde—and how are lawmakers working to prevent a similar failure from happening again?

On this episode of the @TXTalksPodcast, host @bradswail sits down with State Representative @donfortexas, who represents Texas House District 80 and previously served as mayor of Uvalde during one of the most difficult periods in the city’s history.

McLaughlin discusses House Bill 33, the Uvalde Strong Act, which was passed unanimously during his first legislative session and is designed to improve coordination, training, leadership, and preparedness among law enforcement agencies responding to active shooter situations.

Looking ahead, McLaughlin shares his perspective on the major issues likely to dominate the next legislative session, including property tax relief, water infrastructure, border security, and public education.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Texas Department of Transportation @TxDOT has initiated a series of training exercises, equipment evaluations, and emergency readiness drills along the Texas coast to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. https://t.co/WfVXSaIVkn

[Texas Talks @TXTalksPodcast]

Texas policy update: Texas Talks host @bradswail breaks down Texas’ summer camp licensing crisis after the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act and why fiber optic internet requirements became a major point of controversy.

[Texas Talks @TXTalksPodcast]

Gov. Abbott’s proposal to create a statewide prosecutor’s office: Texas Talks host @bradswail explains the constitutional questions the proposal raises.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Texas Oil & Gas Association’s @TXOGA Workers’ Compensation Safety Group announced that its member companies earned a collective $1.65 million safety dividend from Texas Mutual Insurance Company. https://t.co/EuOAYTT2IG

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The intersection of education, workforce development, and economic opportunity is driving a fundamental shift in how Texas defines and scales human capital.

In a recent episode on the Future of Texas @TXTalksPodcast series hosted by @bradswail, Dr. @WynnRosser, Commissioner of Higher Education for the @TXHigherEdBoard, joined @JohnHryhorchuk, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at @Texas2036, to map out the state’s ongoing policy revolution.

https://t.co/Pe7sRbrKas

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced the official acquisition of the 54,000-acre Silver Lake Ranch. The future Silver Lake State Park will rank as the second largest state park in Texas after Big Bend Ranch State Park. https://t.co/QqA0G6iDRQ

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

A Texas developer has filed a federal lawsuit against Hill County, asking a judge to strike down a one-year data center moratorium that county officials openly acknowledged they believed was illegal before voting to approve it. https://t.co/K4pXJ7OWAv

[Texas Talks @TXTalksPodcast]

Texas policy update: Texas Talks host @bradswail explains Governor Greg Abbott’s proposed statewide prosecutor and the debate over local control.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a legal victory after a federal district court upheld a state law requiring commercial pornography websites to utilize robust age-verification methods to prevent minors from accessing explicit content. https://t.co/B6qpBo3tbN

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

"Budget season is here. Not only have surveys gone out soliciting San Antonians’ priorities, but it came up in a March city council session as it pertains to hiring more police."

Opinion by Christopher Baecker, VP of @bexartax and @infuseSA_org board member.

https://t.co/U0yCwbJIVv

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Governor Greg Abbott participated in a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday to launch a $1 billion modernization of Davie Defense’s Gulf Copper Shipyards. https://t.co/6PdA0AgBsD