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.
Happy New Year! It’s 2026 and the time is here to hold true to your New Year resolutions. Or maybe not. After many years of setting the same resolution — work out more, eat better, lose weight, yada yada — followed by my typical pattern of not sticking to it, I finally stopped making resolutions.
By Lisa Chappell, 2025-26 president, Texas Press Association
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.
A friend recently took a new job as a manager of a community weekly.
He is an experienced operator and a passionate newspaper guy. He went to work and hit the ground running.
By AUSTIN LEWTER, Director, Texas Center for Community Journalism
As with most managers these days, he has a foot in both the editorial and advertising world.
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.
Older Texans face steep ACA price hikes
About 1 million Texans over the age of 45 who receive health insurance coverage through the federal Affordable Care Act will likely face monthly premiums of more than $1,000, the Austin American-Statesman reported. That accounts for one-fourth of the state’s 4 million ACA enrollees.