Note to editors: Due to the President's Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 16, the Capital Highlights Column for the week of  Feb. 16 - 20 will be released early Friday afternoon, Feb. 13.

Early voting begins Feb. 17

Early voting in the March 3 primary begins Monday, Feb. 17 and concludes on Friday, Feb. 27. A full slate of contested races will be on the ballots in both Republican and Democratic primaries. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Feb. 20, according to votetexas.gov.

At least 11 dead in state after winter storm

At least 11 people have died in Texas, nearly half of them children, after Winter Storm Fern swept the state last week, the Texas Standard reported. Among those killed were three young brothers who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham, about 60 miles northeast of Texas. In the Dallas suburb of Frisco, two teens died after a sledding accident. They were riding on a sled being pulled by a vehicle.

Power grid holds up during wintry blast

The electricity grid that covers most of Texas was holding up as of Sunday during the latest winter storm, although localized power outages were reported in Deep East Texas and far West Texas.

Democrats Talarico, Crockett set first debate

The first debate in the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is set for Jan. 24 in Georgetown, The Dallas Morning News reported. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock are vying for the nomination.

As the new year dawns, we look ahead to an exciting calendar in 2026.

As we do, we are grateful for a busy 2025 and count our blessings for the relationships fostered along the way. 

By AUSTIN LEWTER, director, Texas Center for Community Journalism

We welcomed 2025 with happy news from Parker, Tarrant and Wise Counties when we learned that the Tri-County Reporter would not be closing. 

New laws taking effect in New Year

A spate of new laws took effect on Jan. 1, The Dallas Morning News reported. Here’s a brief summary of the most notable new laws now in force:

EDITORS: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if needed.

Five big moves from the Lege in 2025

 The Texas Legislature made a host of major decisions in 2025, as The Dallas Morning News reported. Here are the highlights:

Editors: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early holiday deadlines. It will be updated Sunday if needed.

ERCOT: Little chance of blackouts this winter

Winter has officially arrived, and officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas say the Texas power grid is expected to hold up through most weather conditions, the Houston Chronicle reported. However, the boom in data centers across the state increases the risk of rolling brownouts to 1% to 2% through February.

Local governments are putting the finishing touches on 2026 operations as this year nears a close. Budgets and tax levies have been presented to citizens, debated and adopted. Most newsrooms have been there at each step reporting on individual budgets of city, school, county and other bodies with taxing authority. Pause for a moment. Is your work done? Have you given readers a complete picture?

By Jim Pumarlo, consultant

Crockett, Talarico to face off in Democratic primary

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, entered the U.S. Senate race on the final day to file, pitting her against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock. The Austin American-Statesman reported the difference between the two is more of style than substance, with both raising the issues of income inequality, rising prices, corruption and polarization.