Supreme Court Preserves Mifepristone Access — But Texas Isn’t Done Fighting
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that mifepristone, the most widely used abortion medication in the United States, can continue to be prescribed via telehealth and delivered by mail.
For Texans seeking abortion care in a state with a near-total ban, the decision offers a measure of relief — but the fight is far from over.
The court’s order pauses a May 1 ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would have required patients nationwide to obtain mifepristone in person. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The case, brought by Louisiana against the FDA, now returns to the lower courts for a full hearing on the merits — meaning the legal battle over mifepristone access will continue for months, if not longer.
For Texans, telehealth has become one of the only viable routes to abortion care. An estimated 3,000 Texas residents per month access abortion medication through out-of-state telehealth providers, according to the Society of Family Planning. Those providers typically operate under so-called “shield laws” in states like Delaware and California, which offer legal protections against out-of-state enforcement. Nationally, about one in four abortions were provided through telehealth in 2025.
Texas officials, however, have been aggressive in trying to shut that pipeline down.
In September 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 7 — the Woman and Child Protection Act — into law. Modeled after the state’s 2021 Heartbeat Act, the law allows private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails, or provides abortion medication to Texas residents, with damages starting at $100,000. The law took effect in December 2025.
Attorney General Ken Paxton has been equally aggressive on the enforcement front. In January 2026, his office sued Delaware-based nurse practitioner Debra Lynch, who operates a telehealth service called Her Safe Harbor and has acknowledged mailing abortion pills to patients across Texas. In February, Paxton filed a second suit against Aid Access, an Austria-based nonprofit, along with two of its affiliated physicians. His office has also sent cease-and-desist letters to other organizations, including Plan C, which provides information on how to obtain abortion medication. Texas has additionally joined a multi-state federal lawsuit seeking to revoke FDA approval of mifepristone entirely.
Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling keeps mifepristone accessible for now, but abortion advocates are cautious. The 5th Circuit — the same court that issued the May 1 ruling threatening nationwide access — covers Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and has shown willingness to restrict the drug’s availability. As legal challenges multiply and Texas continues its enforcement push, the status of mifepristone access in the state remains fragile.
Sources:
- CNN, “Supreme Court allows telehealth and mail access to mifepristone for now,” May 14, 2026
- Texas Tribune, “Rule that lets Texans obtain out-of-state abortion pills can continue for now, Supreme Court says,” May 2026
- Houston Public Media / KERA, “AG Ken Paxton sues more out-of-state providers for allegedly shipping abortion pills to Texas,” February 25, 2026
- Texas Attorney General press release, “Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Abortionist for Sending Pills that Kill Unborn Babies into Texas,” January 27, 2026
- Texas Tribune, “New Texas law restricting abortion pills beefs up an existing legal tool,” September 2025
- KUT Radio, “Texas abortion pills bill heads to governor’s desk,” September 2025
- The Nation, “Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication,” September 2025
- Society of Family Planning (via multiple news sources), telehealth abortion data, 2025
Gov. Greg Abbott took aim at Travis County District Attorney José Garza, accusing him of dragging his feet on indictments and being too lenient on criminals. Abbott argued that creating a statewide prosecutor appointed by the governor — and making district attorneys subject to impeachment — would address the problem.
In an interview with CBS Austin, Garza responded.
PODCAST
Two men are accused of exchanging gunfire outside Sam’s BBQ in East Austin in April, injuring six people after a dispute tied to a $200 debt from a Houston trip escalated into a fight, according to newly released court records. (Austin American-Statesman)
A man wanted by the Texas Pardon and Parole Board as well as Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was apprehended by Manor police Wednesday.
A 37-year-old Bexar County woman reported missing by family members was found dead inside a van last week and authorities are looking for a person possibly connected to her death.
A busy summer rush is expected to come to Austin this year as the Austin Police Department is still hundreds of officers short of full staff.
Austin’s Law Department received 135 claims for building damages caused by police over the past six years. Each time, the city refused to pay. (Austin American-Statesman)
Buda police report a a 23-year-old motorcyclist somehow wound up off their bike and onto the road and was subsequently struck by at least two vehicles, killing him.
Late Wednesday night, Austin firefighters responded to an incident at the Le Med Apartment Homes in Central Austin after a truck crashed directly into an occupied apartment building, causing a significant gas leak and forcing multiple evacuations.
No one was injured in the incident.
Austin ISD is evaluating Widen Elementary for community use amid a budget shortfall, with the campus possibly remaining a local hub through nonprofit partnerships.
Pflugerville ISD trustees voted Thursday night to close four elementary schools beginning in the 2027-2028 school year after hours of emotional debate over the district’s ongoing budget challenges. (CBS Austin)
Some parents feel they were not let in on the process.
Some are questioning why the school district is buying land for more schools while closing others.
Austin officially joins the nation’s elite urban ranks.
The Texas capital has crossed the one-million-resident threshold, cementing its place as the 12th most populous city in the United States — a milestone that caps decades of explosive growth fueled by a booming tech sector, a thriving cultural scene, and a steady stream of transplants drawn to the city’s unique blend of Southern charm and cosmopolitan energy.
Austin is embracing efficiency within the city by implementing artificial intelligence to improve permitting.
While Austin officials move forward with plans to rename Cesar Chavez Street following sexual assault allegations against the labor icon, a segment of the community is fighting to protect the legacy of a man they have honored for generations. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes acknowledged the weight of the situation, describing the name change as a difficult but essential step. (KUT 90.5)
Several bridges across Austin need to be repaired or replaced due to old age and weakened structures, driving the price tag up millions for the city.
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Mandatory evacuations in Randall County are now lifted, but the danger isn’t over.
Multiple wildfires tore through the Texas Panhandle Thursday, with Randall County among the hardest hit — burning homes southwest of Canyon and sending residents scrambling for safety. The Randall County Sheriff’s Office and the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management ordered mandatory evacuations for multiple neighborhoods, including areas between Hungate Road and FM 1714, with residents directed to shelter at Cole Community Center in Canyon.
Blue Origin — the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos — is setting it sights on Williamson County for a major project.
Texas executed Edward Lee Busby Jr. Thursday evening, making him the 600th person put to death in the state since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976 — a grim milestone reached only after the U.S. Supreme Court intervened to lift a last-minute stay. Busby, 53, was pronounced dead at 8:11 p.m. at the Huntsville Unit following a lethal injection, ending a legal battle that stretched through the final hours over whether his intellectual disability made him ineligible for execution.
Opponents of the death penalty reacted.
Texas Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty issued the following statement:
This week’s roundtable discussion was recorded prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s last minute clearing of the execution of Edward Busby, at a moment when we were hopeful that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals staying of his execution, based on finding that he is intellectually disabled, would be honored. Sadly, it was not. Capital punishment is a stain upon civilization, and we explain that position in today’s talk.
(Episode from May 14, 2026)
The future of Camp Mystic in Kerr County remains uncertain as legal battles continue following the July 4 flash flooding that killed 27 girls at the camp last year, including Cile Steward.
A Texas law that would allow state and local police to arrest people suspected of having crossed the southern border illegally is once again halted, a day before it was supposed to take effect. (Texas Tribune)
After revelations that one of the proposed routes for a new extra-high-voltage transmission line would come into proximity with land apparently still owned by a Chinese national with reported Chinese Communist Party connections, a state agency has requested that the Public Utility Commission of Texas consider a relevant security law. (Texas Scorecard)
Two people were found dead in a burned vehicle early this morning in San Antonio.
Human remains were found at Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez’s Everman home, law enforcement said in a press conference Thursday. The 6-year-old boy went missing in 2022 and has since been presumed dead.
A multi-agency crackdown led by the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office rescued twelve victims of prostitution and resulted in eight arrests.
Following a lengthy dispute regarding lease terms, gate access, and infrastructure development, Southwest Airlines and San Antonio International Airport have officially reached a settlement. Under the terms of the agreement, the airline will secure several gates within the airport’s upcoming $1.7 billion Terminal C. (Texas Public Radio)
A federal judge has mandated the release of two elementary-aged children and their stepmother following their detention by federal immigration agents at a bus stop in Alamo Heights last month. The individuals—11-year-old Victor Labrador, 8-year-old Montserrat Labrador, and Maria Betania Castillo—had been held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, located approximately 70 miles southwest of San Antonio. The trio was originally taken into custody on April 27 while walking to their school bus stop.
It’s time to vote again in Texas.
With in-person early voting starting statewide on Monday, journalists Bayliss Wagner and John Moritz join host Jeremy Wallace to break down the hottest races on the runoff ballot. The whole nation is watching the state because what happens here could have a huge impact on which party ultimately controls the U.S. Senate for Donald Trump’s last two years in office. Has Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton done enough to knock out 24-year incumbent John Cornyn? Plus, Republican Chip Roy joins the program for an exclusive interview about how he’s trying to overcome Mayes Middleton’s barrage of attack ads against him as he seeks to become the Republican nominee to replace Paxton in the attorney general’s office. The episode also highlights Wagner’s reporting on elderly donors in Texas who say WinRed and ActBlue signed them up for repeated campaign contributions without their full understanding.
(Episode from May 14, 2026)
To install more border barriers, the Trump administration wants to seize 14 acres of land on an iconic mountain outside of El Paso owned by the Catholic Diocese of neighboring Las Cruces, New Mexico, that attracts thousands of people for an annual religious pilgrimage. (Texas Tribune)
North Texas is now just 30 days from hosting its first FIFA World Cup 2026 match, and crews are deep into transforming AT&T Stadium—temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium for the tournament. A first look inside shows the most dramatic change: the Cowboys’ familiar turf has been replaced with a brand‑new natural‑grass pitch built specifically for World Cup play.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Dylan Volantis struck out 11 batters across a co-career-long seven innings to guide No. 6 Texas to a 6-3 win over Missouri at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Thursday night. (Texas Longhorns)
TONIGHT
The Texas softball team is set to face Wagner College today in the NCAA Austin Regional Tournament.
MLB: A night off for the Rangers last night. Another struggle for the Astros.
Luke Raley and Mitch Garver hit home runs as the Seattle Mariners defeated the host Houston Astros 8-3 Thursday afternoon, taking three of four games in the series between the American League West rivals. (Reuters)
ON THE SCHEDULE
This weekend, it’s an in-state battle.
(CORRECTION: Yesterday, we mistakenly posted that Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals was last night. It is indeed tonight. We sincerely apologize for the error. — The ATX Aggregator)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are one loss away from elimination tonight as they host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of their Western Conference Semifinals series at Target Center. San Antonio holds a commanding 3-2 series lead after blowing out Minnesota 126-97 in Game 5, and the Spurs need just one more win to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Tip-off is set for 8:30 PM CT — can the Wolves extend their season, or will the Spurs close it out on the road?
NFL: Schedules for the 2026 NFL season were released Thursday.
COWBOYS
Dallas opens the regular season on the road and will log roughly 27,980 miles of travel this year, making them one of the most-traveled teams in the NFL.
Key highlights:
The Cowboys kick off on Sunday Night Football, Sept. 13, against the New York Giants — the eighth time in the last 15 seasons these two division rivals have opened a campaign against each other.
The biggest spectacle on the schedule is Week 3. Dallas will host the Baltimore Ravens at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — the NFL’s first-ever game in Rio and the Cowboys’ first international appearance since 2014. It sets up a fascinating quarterback matchup between 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and that year’s runner-up, Dak Prescott.
The early season also features a brutal gauntlet in Weeks 3–5, when Dallas plays three games in just 12 days — flying back from Rio, then facing the Texans, then hosting the Buccaneers on a quick Thursday night turnaround.
Week 6 brings a marquee storyline: the Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field in a primetime game against the Packers, where they’ll face former pass rusher Micah Parsons, who is expected to be back from his torn ACL by then.
On Thanksgiving (Nov. 26), Dallas hosts the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2014 — the Eagles have won both previous Thanksgiving meetings between the two.
Late in the season, another tough stretch follows Thanksgiving: a Monday night game at the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, a bye, then a road trip to face the 2025 NFC runner-up Rams in Week 15.
On the broader outlook, the Cowboys have the 13th-easiest schedule in the league, with ESPN projecting around 10 wins — a bounce-back from their 7-9-1 finish in 2025 in year one under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
TEXANS
Houston opens the season at home for three of the first four weeks, which sets up a real opportunity to get off to a fast start — last season the Texans went 7-2 at home despite starting 0-3.
Key highlights:
Week 1 brings the Buffalo Bills to Houston on Sept. 13 — a measuring-stick game against a potential AFC contender.
The last time these two met, the Texans forced Josh Allen into two turnovers and sacked him eight times in a primetime game.
The Texans’ international game comes in Week 6, when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London on Oct. 18 — Houston’s first international appearance in nearly seven years, coincidentally also against the Jags back in 2019.
The Lone Star showdown with the Dallas Cowboys is set for Oct. 4 in Houston, with a Thursday night home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 19 also on the primetime slate.
The Texans also have a Sunday night road game in Pittsburgh on Dec. 7 and close out the regular season with a Monday Night Football game at Green Bay on Jan. 4, 2027.
The toughest stretch comes late. The end of the season features a cold-weather gauntlet — three games between Dec. 13 and Christmas Eve — including road trips to Washington and Philadelphia sandwiched around a key division game, followed by that finale in Green Bay.
Four of the Texans’ final six games will be on the road, facing the Steelers, Commanders, Eagles, and Packers — a stretch that should prepare them for the road playoff games the franchise has historically struggled with.
Overall, Houston has four primetime games on the docket, including a Christmas Eve game, and enter the season with their core locked up through key extensions for linebacker Azeez al-Shaair, Danielle Hunter, and Dalton Schultz, with expectations of contending for a top AFC seed under DeMeco Ryans.
Celebrate 30 years of the Lone Star Land Steward Awards, presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The program began in the early 1990s, when building trust and partnership with private landowners became essential to conserving Texas’ working lands. Hear from voices who helped shape the program as they reflect on why private lands matter, how incentives and recognition can drive stewardship, and how the awards have grown from a modest event into a statewide tradition. This story is about the people and places that make conservation possible across Texas.
