A potentially fierce Republican primary is brewing as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign Tuesday evening, signaling a direct challenge to incumbent four-term Senator John Cornyn.
Conservative political consultant Matt Mackowiak of the Potomac Strategy Group says he expects this to be “one of the nastiest races in Texas political history”.
Response from the Cronyn camp:
“Ken Paxton is a fraud.”
Paxton will not have to resign his position as Texas Attorney General while he campaigns for the U.S. Senate. (Fox7 Austin)
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One person was injured early Wednesday morning in a shooting in East Austin.
Austin Police Department responded to a call about a possible shooting just after midnight near East Cesar Chavez Street and San Marcos Street.
Five months after being deemed incompetent to stand trial for a 2023 shooting rampage that killed six people across multiple Central Texas counties, former U.S. Army officer Shane James Jr. has been transferred to a state hospital. (Austin American-Statesman)
Two people were arrested in connection with a Rockdale woman’s death following a dog mauling in December 2024, according to the Milam County Sheriff’s Office.
More information has been released regarding Monday evening’s homicide downtown in which a 16-year-old has been charged.
The Austin Police Department Bomb Squad has concluded no charges will be filed after an incident involving degraded explosives were found in a northeast Austin neighborhood on Monday afternoon.
A landlord called police after locating a large quantity of legal explosives that were decades old and degraded, making them unsafe to move. The approximately 40 pounds of explosives would have been used in mining or construction. (KVUE-TV)
“Arrests have been down 40%. Use of force is down 32% and officer injuries are down 57%.” — Austin Police Chief of Staff Robin Henderson
Austin’s 6th Street traffic plan is being credited with reducing arrests. (CBS Austin)
Austin’s budget analysts presented a grim financial outlook to the City Council on Tuesday, projecting a $33 million shortfall in the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026, which is expected to balloon to $79.9 million by FY 2030.
The new 183A Toll extension from Hero Way to State Highway 29 opens today and will provide drivers with “16 miles of non-stop travel between Liberty Hill and northwest Austin,” according to CTRMA.
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce held its annual Infrastructure Summit on Tuesday, discussing the challenges of rapid growth in Central Texas.
Tomorrow, Austin city leaders will look at even more ways to address safety on 6th Street. (KVUE-TV)
Pflugerville City Council approved a $77.6 million construction contract for a new city public works complex Tuesday with construction set to begin immediately following the notice to proceed. (Community Impact)
Austin firefighters were busy Tuesday.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said it’s responding to more illegal dumping cases as the area grows.
H-E-B is slated to begin work on a new San Marcos store later this year. (Austin Business Journal)
Austin-based Thom’s Market has been sold and its three stores will be getting name changes.
Bill Thom, owner of the 18-year-old business, said he has opted to retire. (Austin Business Journal)
Willie’s back.
A Willie Nelson mural is returning to East Seventh Street in downtown Austin after the original version was torn down following a building fire. (KUT 90.5)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting 505 cases of measles in the state. Fifty-seven of the patients have been hospitalized.
There have been two fatalities in school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area. The children were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.
While the devastating measles outbreak sweeps through West Texas, some Austin lawmakers are advocating for bills that would weaken vaccine requirements and broaden exemption access under the guise of “choice.” (Texas Tribune)
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 held a hearing on a bill that aims to limit how close a homeless navigation center can be to a school.
Officials at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin discovered that several international students had their visas quietly revoked and legal statuses terminated without notice. (Houston Chronicle)
Bexar County commissioners on Tuesday voted to move forward on the potential renovation of a building at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston to house 1,000 personnel of the Defense Health Agency. (Texas Public Radio)
President Trump’s latest round of tariffs has set off unease among oil and gas industry groups representing Texas operators. Trade leaders said Trump’s actions threaten the industry’s ability to continue meeting global oil demand. (Texas Tribune)
The sharply higher tariffs kicked in after midnight. What will they mean for Texas?
Texas lawmakers will attempt to clarify the state’s abortion bans while also further cracking down on pills.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: No. 2 Texas (27-4) scored nine times over the first two innings, cruising to a 12-2 run-rule victory over Houston Christian on Tuesday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. (Texas Longhorns)
It’s back to conference action this weekend as the Longhorns will travel to Lexington.
MLB: Former Houston Astros pitcher Octavio Dotel was killed after a roof collapsed at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic.
Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti broke his right thumb when he was hit by a line drive while playing catch in left field before Monday night’s game at Seattle.
Victor Caratini hit the winning RBI single in the top of the 12th inning, as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! News)
The Texas Rangers dropped their second straight last night.
Both teams play this afternoon.
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs lost in Los Angeles last night.
All three Texas teams are back on the court tonight.
NHL: Kiefer Sherwood scored with 1:16 left in overtime after the Canucks became the first NHL team to score three times in the final minute of regulation – all 6-on-5 scores – as Vancouver rallied to stun the Dallas Stars 6-5. (Yahoo! Sports)
Texas grocer H-E-B has been around for 120 years and is one of the state’s largest employers.
Here’s a look at its history.
