City staff are drafting zoning changes to bar new smoke and vape retailers from opening within 1,000 feet of schools and daycares; existing shops would be grandfathered.

City staff are asking Council to authorize eminent domain on a Mount Larson Road parcel so Austin can build a public‑safety radio tower above Lake Austin. The city says the site would close a first‑responder coverage gap and cut lease costs.

A short Austin pilot that helped some homeowners pay flood premiums has ended and applications are closed; city staff will evaluate results before any new funding is approved.

Rep. Chip Roy demanded policy files from Travis County DA José Garza, citing an August 2023 memo and reporting that prosecutors missed indictment deadlines and dismissed thousands of felony counts.

A federal judge in Tyler blocked a proposed IRS‑church settlement that would have allowed pulpit endorsements without risking tax status. The Johnson Amendment remains intact while the legal fight continues.

Houston GOP leaders and radio callers have revived calls to redraw state legislative maps after 2025 legal fights. The proposal would reshape local districts and likely prompt new lawsuits.

Gov. Abbott and TANEO opened applications for a $350M state fund to back advanced nuclear reactors, manufacturing and fuel‑cycle projects. Notices due April 23; full apps due May 14.

John Barnes, wounded confronting the 2018 Santa Fe shooter, still waits for federal help. A bipartisan bill would widen eligibility and force faster PSOB decisions.

UT invited Justice Clarence Thomas to a closed‑door April 15 talk at Hogg Memorial Auditorium. The university has not publicly confirmed the event.

Houston‑area families have driven a surge of applications for Texas’ new TEFA voucher program as the parent‑application window ends March 31; roughly 100,000 students may be funded. Award notices begin in April.

A Texas policy group says tablets may be hurting student learning; lawmakers are being pushed to review device rules and classroom screen time.

Five Austin councilmembers asked staff to study banning face coverings for officers in a March 13 memo that frames the step as a transparency and accountability move. Staff are due to report back by mid‑April.

A San Antonio judge ordered the release of Wimberley artist Igor Babkin from a Pearsall ICE facility, saying ICE must justify re‑arrests on an individual basis. The move has drawn legal questions and local support.