County officials say new state bail rules and a constitutional amendment could erase recent declines in the jail population by increasing pretrial detention. Local leaders warn the county’s progress depends on courts keeping cases moving.

The U.S. forces seized a tanker smuggling sanctioned oil from Venezuela, signaling a crackdown on the shadow fleet system used by sanctioned countries to sell crude oil.

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen settled with the TCOLE, receiving a retroactive six-month suspension and retaining his job after an investigation into omissions in his application history.

A special runoff this Saturday will decide who fills Houston's At-Large Position 4 seat, pitting Alejandra Salinas against Dwight Boykins as early voting closes.

Conroe ISD trustee Tiffany Baumann Nelson resigned to run for the State Board of Education, igniting debate over appointment versus a special election. The board will address the vacancy at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Abbott wants Texans to vote on any local tax increase and would cap spending growth while allowing petitions to force tax‑cut elections.

Texas AG Ken Paxton succeeded in scrapping a Biden-era HHS rule, reaffirming state authority to probe healthcare practices, including those related to abortion and gender transition treatments.

Attorney General Paxton secured a court order against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue for operating without proper registration in Texas, with a court decision due on December 15.

A 500‑MW battery appeal that began as a neighborhood fight is now before the PUC after ERCOT moved to intervene. The commission will consider a procedural schedule this week.

A federal judge refused to remove Klein ISD from a Title IX lawsuit by a former teacher who says she was forced out after reporting her daughter’s trafficking.

Fort Bend County allocates $1.5 million from parks funds for Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project to honor convict-leasing system victims and create an educational site.

HUD signed off on a roughly $315M disaster-recovery plan for Houston, directing money toward backup power, housing repairs and debris work after last year’s storms. The funding is subject to federal compliance before projects begin.

Texas implements Senate Bill 8, a bathroom bill requiring public restrooms to match birth gender, affecting schools and government buildings, and causing controversy and confusion over enforcement.