The fall semester is well underway, and I have settled back into the familiar rhythm of classes, deadlines and stacks of student copy waiting to be edited.

I teach four classes this semester, which marks the beginning of my sixth year at the university. Six years is long enough that I can no longer get away with calling myself “the new guy.”

By Austin Lewter, director, Texas Center for Community Journalism

Paxton, Talarico spar over gas taxes, diesel prices

U.S. Senate candidates Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee, and Democratic nominee James Talarico traded jabs last week over rising gas and diesel prices, The Texas Tribune reported.

At a gas station in Carrollton, Talarico called on Paxton to condemn the Iran war and join his call to suspend federal gas and diesel taxes. Hours later, Paxton said the gas tax should be permanently eliminated.

Medicaid funding restored to Texas hospitals

Nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals will be restored after a nearly year-long stalemate between the state and the federal government ended, the Texas Standard reported.

Gov. Greg Abbott hailed the end to the impasse.

Senate GOP opens wallet for Paxton’s campaign

The Senate Republican leadership is pouring tens of millions of dollars into the U.S. Senate campaign of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight race with Democratic nominee James Talarico.

Customer service is paramount in business. At newspapers, that means being attentive to details in all aspects of operations from prompt service for advertisers to quick turnaround on news releases to on-time delivery of products.

By JIM PUMARLO, consultant

Does your newsroom have customers in mind? Are you focused on substantive content? When has your staff last evaluated news reports? Those conversations should be center stage as newspapers compete for market share in today’s fragmented media landscape.

I don’t remember the exact quote, so I will paraphrase.

It was from a book by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. He was discussing how to be more involved in your community.

Essentially, he said, “If you want to know what’s going on in your community, go to your city council meeting or go to your school board meeting,” but, he warned, “don’t go too often because then you might want to run.”

By AUSTIN LEWTER, Director, Texas Center for Community Journalism

One thing that has remained constant in my 30 years in journalism is the importance of transparency in establishing and maintaining public trust. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, we say, and in the absence of sunlight rumors fill the void of truth and misdeeds continue unabated.

By YVONNE MINTZ, TPA President 2026-27

Never in our lifetime have we seen misinformation spread so rapidly, yet still some governmental entities refuse to release even basic facts that would help set the record straight.

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

Texas hospitals could lose $27 million daily in Medicaid funding

Border barrier construction halted in Big Bend

Amidst mounting public outcry, the federal government last week halted construction of border barriers through state park property in far West Texas, The Texas Tribune reported.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodeny Scott personally stopped construction until he could visit the region.

Election season is in full swing. Newsrooms have their hands full navigating coverage.

By Jim Pumarlo, consultant

It makes sense to devote resources to those contests with greatest familiarity to your staff and relevance to readers – city council, school board, county board, other local governing boards Next in line are applicable legislative and congressional races. Depending on circumstances and issues, specific statewide races may prompt a closer look.

I urge you to also put judicial races on your radar.