Gov. Abbott launched a Texas Jobs Council to shore up shortages in electricians, welders and other trades; the panel will hand in recommendations by November 2026.

A Houston ICE check‑in ended with the detention of Stephanie Kenny‑Velasquez, the wife of a Black Hawk pilot; her removal hearing is set for April 1. The family is racing to secure military parole in place.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is now issuing Class VI permits to store CO₂ underground. The agency has a staffed review unit, a federal grant, and 18 applications in the queue.

Nobel laureate María Corina Machado will appear at CERAWeek in Houston next week, joining a panel on Venezuela's energy future as global industry leaders convene. Her scheduled slot comes amid controversy after she presented her Nobel medal to President Trump in January.

HISD's board voted to rename the district's Chávez‑Huerta holiday 'Farmworkers Day' while preserving the March 30 day off as officials weigh next steps. The move follows major reporting about César Chávez.

Harris County's governing body met March 19 as fallout from Judge Lina Hidalgo's RodeoHouston confrontation continued. Commissioners signaled they would address the dispute while experts warned removal is difficult.

A resurfaced clip of James Talarico saying his campaign "became a non‑meat campaign" drew swift criticism from Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and other GOP leaders.

Abbott hosted Canada’s Conservative leader in Austin to tout trade and energy ties while Democrat Gina Hinojosa ramps up organizing and fundraising ahead of November.

City Council approved funds for a new South Central police station, playground upgrades, Fire Station 80 repairs and radio gear as Houston prepares for the 2026 World Cup.

State Republicans are advancing proposals that could strip undocumented children of guaranteed K–12 schooling and trigger costly legal fights.

Sweden’s foreign minister toured Houston and Austin to press trade and security ties, mark a Houston consulate activation and urge continued support for Ukraine.

Legacy the School of Sport Sciences will stay open after an agreed order with the TEA ties continued operation to quick academic and financial benchmarks.

After touring Houston’s federal detention site, Rep. Christian Menefee criticized conditions and said he will oppose funding for ICE unless enforcement priorities change. The facility is run by CoreCivic and serves hundreds of detainees.