AGP Executive Report

Texas Senate Race: Elon Musk has put $10 million behind a PAC supporting Ken Paxton, as Democrat James Talarico returns to the campaign trail and attacks Paxton over data centers. Talarico also denied a false rumor about mental-health treatment; the named Ohio facility said he was never a patient. ICE Investigation: The Harris County district attorney has opened an independent inquiry after an ICE vehicle struck a man during a pursuit, saying no badge places anyone above the law. Workforce Training: Gov. Greg Abbott announced $20 million in grants for 84 Texas schools and colleges, with equipment expected to train more than 7,400 students for high-demand jobs. North Texas Growth: Developer Hines plans a community of about 3,800 homes on a 1,476-acre ranch spanning Tarrant and Parker counties, along with parks, trails and commercial space.

Texas Senate Race: James Talarico returned to campaigning after a 12-day absence, saying he had the flu; a mental-health-treatment rumor was contradicted by the clinic named in the claims. Ken Paxton faces GOP infighting and ridicule over an ad saying he takes down missing-child posters, while polls show a close race and experts urge caution. Data Center Boom: Texas projects face soaring building costs and growing local resistance, turning data centers into a campaign issue. One South Texas AI campus has signed its first 10-megawatt hosting deal, with room to expand. Water and Health: A report examines how drought-driven efforts pushed Corpus Christi toward a water crisis. Separately, the state health agency has proposed ending a children’s autism program, raising concerns for families who rely on it. Business and Industry: Texas remains a magnet for investment, but high costs and infrastructure demands are testing the pace of growth; a high-purity iron producer has begun building a commercial plant in the state.

Texas Senate Race: James Talarico said he has not shifted his positions to win over voters, while Ken Paxton called him a “deceiver.” Talarico says he missed campaign events with the flu and rejects rumors about his absence; the claims of a mental-health stay remain unverified and his campaign denies them. A New York Times/Siena poll put Talarico ahead by six points, though Texas political experts say other polls show a closer race. Paxton’s Travel: His security detail has cost taxpayers millions, with just one in six trips listing a business purpose, according to recent reporting. South Texas: Democrat Bobby Pulido’s challenge to Republican Monica De La Cruz will test whether Republicans can hold their recent gains among Latino voters in the 15th Congressional District. Household Costs: Texas officials say home and auto insurance rates are falling, but state records offer a more complicated picture as families continue to face affordability pressures.

Texas Senate Race: James Talarico has returned to campaigning after a 13-day absence, and recent polls show him slightly ahead of Ken Paxton. Paxton faces scrutiny over taxpayer-funded security travel that cost millions; only one in six trips had a stated business purpose. Campaign Stakes: Economic frustration is putting more races in play, and a leading Republican Senate group has committed another $30 million to advertising in Texas to defend the seat. Data Center Debate: Texas leaders are weighing the costs of rapid data-center growth, including pressure on power and water supplies. Gov. Greg Abbott says companies must find ways to be good neighbors. Paychecks: A SmartAsset study found weekly wages rose more than 50% over five years in 39 Texas counties, though gains varied widely across the state.

Texas Senate Race: James Talarico returned to the campaign trail after an illness-related absence and leads Ken Paxton 47.1% to 43.6% in a Trafalgar poll of likely voters. The poll’s margin of error is 2.9 points. Paxton also faces scrutiny over more than 1,000 security-detail trips that cost taxpayers millions. Red River Rivalry: Oklahoma stunned top-ranked Texas 27-24 in Dallas, handing the Longhorns a costly defeat. Harris County: Authorities are investigating after an ICE vehicle struck a man during a pursuit on Clay Road. He was hospitalized with a broken leg and remains in ICE custody. Energy and Growth: Texas lawmakers are weighing data-center water use as the state courts major power and technology investments, sharpening questions about how to balance economic growth with local resources.

Texas Senate Race: Ken Paxton and James Talarico are tied at 45% in a new poll as Talarico returns to campaigning. Paxton also alleged in leaked audio that John Cornyn wants him to lose; Cornyn’s camp denies the claim, which CNN said it could not verify. Household Costs: Odessa residents are seeking refunds after some water bills reportedly quadrupled following a meter replacement. In Hays County, August home sales fell 8.1% year over year and pending sales dropped 13.5%, while inventory rose to 5.5 months. Business and Innovation: A Fort Worth-based company has begun commercial production of battery-grade lithium from oilfield wastewater near Midland. An Austin AI company has also acquired the stalled RELLIS data-center project and plans a 73-megawatt facility. Ranching: Mealybugs have spread to 111 Texas counties, with estimated cattle-industry losses topping $1.5 billion so far this year. Property Protection: Lubbock County residents can sign up for email alerts when deeds, liens or other covered property documents are filed under their name.

Texas Senate Race: James Talarico returned to the campaign trail at Austin City Limits after an illness kept him out of public view for nearly two weeks. Republicans are pouring money into the contest: a GOP super PAC plans another $30 million in TV ads for Ken Paxton, bringing its spending in Texas to about $200 million overall. Data Center Debate: Texas utility regulators are suing to keep data center locations confidential, citing security risks, as calls grow for a pause on new projects. Gov. Greg Abbott says businesses should find ways to be good neighbors. Insurance Costs: State officials say home and auto rates are trending down, but filings paint a mixed picture: homeowners’ rates averaged a 4.3% decrease, while auto filings averaged a 0.6% increase over the past 90 days. Rural Broadband: Jasper officials are considering a land lease for Nextlink, which is building a $51 million-plus broadband network across 11 Deep East Texas counties, where about 40% of locations are unserved.

Senate Showdown: Texas’ once-safe GOP Senate race is tightening, with polls showing James Talarico narrowly ahead of or tied with Ken Paxton. Donald Trump made a third Texas visit to rally for Paxton, whose campaign is under pressure after leaked audio; Talarico’s flu-related absence has drawn GOP attacks, and Paxton has yet to agree to a debate. Border Wall Fight: Big Bend landowners are challenging the $46 billion border project in court and resisting surveys. A judge paused construction in the region, slowing the administration’s plans. Data-Center Boom: Texas’ push to attract AI infrastructure is fueling disputes over power, water and public records. State utility regulators are suing to block release of data-center locations, while lawmakers push for water-use limits. School Takeovers: Houston-area lawmakers want guardrails on state interventions, and a commission report has questioned the HISD takeover.

Texas Races: A new YouGov poll puts Democrat James Talarico ahead of Ken Paxton 50%-44% in the Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa and Gov. Greg Abbott are virtually tied, 48%-47%. At Trump’s San Antonio rally for Paxton, protesters repeatedly interrupted the president; Trump and Paxton also attacked Talarico over his 12-day absence with the flu. Data Center Fight: Texas utility regulators sued to keep data-center locations from public view, citing grid and water security. Meanwhile, a $366 million Cedar Creek campus has cleared a permitting roadblock and is moving ahead, intensifying questions about transparency and resource use. Business & Jobs: Conroe-based Hertha Metals broke ground on a commercial iron plant designed to produce 10,000 metric tons a year. Household Costs: State officials say homeowners’ insurance filings averaged 4.3% lower over three months, while nearly 4.4 million drivers have seen auto-rate cuts. Veterans’ Care: Construction began on a $160 million Copperas Cove VA clinic expected to employ nearly 500 people and serve about 800 patients daily when it opens in 2029.

Senate Showdown: President Donald Trump’s San Antonio rally for Ken Paxton was repeatedly interrupted by protesters as Republicans try to hold a Texas Senate seat in a race polls show tightening against Democrat James Talarico. Paxton’s leaked criticism of Trump adds strain to an already uneasy alliance. Data Center Curbs: Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a pause on state permits for data centers while officials assess their demands on Texas’ power grid and water supplies, sharpening a debate over who pays for the industry’s rapid growth. Energy Shift: Devon Energy agreed to sell its Eagle Ford assets to Crescent Energy for $4.2 billion, a major reshuffling of Texas oil-and-gas holdings. Cost Pressures: Rising diesel prices are squeezing Waco-area food-truck operators, some of whom are cutting back on longer trips to protect already-thin margins.

Senate Showdown: President Donald Trump rallied in San Antonio for Republican Ken Paxton, whose race against Democrat James Talarico is tight; protesters repeatedly interrupted the event, and Gov. Greg Abbott did not attend. Power and Data Centers: Texas approved a low-interest loan for a 452-megawatt West Texas gas plant expected online in 2027. At the same time, 45 lawmakers who responded to a survey backed limits on data-center water use, and all but one supported requiring centers to provide their own power. Business and Jobs: Texas expanded electrician license reciprocity with Tennessee, easing cross-state work for qualified master electricians and contractors. State sales-tax revenue rose 11.5% in September, with strong business spending cited as a driver. Housing: Houston officials are exploring church-owned land for affordable homes, identifying about 414 acres that could support as many as 7,200 apartments and 1,000 houses.

Houston Hockey: The NHL is giving the Friedkin Group six months to explore bringing a team to Houston or Austin, with a potential $3.5 billion investment. The league says it is not yet in a formal expansion process. Texas Politics: Trump is making another Texas visit as Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton battle in a tight Senate race. Paxton has not accepted debate invitations, and a new leaked recording is adding to GOP concerns about his campaign. School Accountability: Requests to rescore STAAR reading tests nearly tripled to 64,489 this spring; human reviews raised more than 13,300 scores, amid questions about computer grading. Business and Energy: Texas sales tax revenue rose 11.5% in September, reflecting stronger business spending. Oil climbed above $100 a barrel amid supply fears, while solar manufacturer TOYO completed an expansion that brings its Humble facility’s capacity to 2 gigawatts.

Texas Senate Race: Democrat James Talarico is stepping off the campaign trail after a flu diagnosis, scrapping at least two events as early voting nears. Campus Speech Fight: A federal appeals court is weighing how far Texas can restrict overnight and late-semester protest activity under SB 2972, with judges pressing whether the injunction is clear enough. Local School Oversight: A judge temporarily halted Calhoun ISD’s budget, tax election, and campus consolidation plans while an Open Meetings Act lawsuit plays out. Education Finance Scrutiny: Texas Comptroller Don Huffines is launching detailed spending reviews that include Austin ISD and other districts, adding pressure on how districts use state funds. Business & Jobs: Digital Realty priced €1 billion in guaranteed notes for data center projects, while Trimac opened an ISO tank depot in Houston’s chemical corridor. Public Safety & Justice: Texas Rangers identified a decades-old 1983 cold-case murder victim using advanced DNA and genealogical work. Community Support: A Houston foundation partnership is raising funds and scholarships for domestic violence survivors through a “Casino Royale” event. Flags & Solidarity: Gov. Abbott ordered U.S. and Texas flags lowered to half-staff Oct. 7 in solidarity with Israel.

Texas Politics: Gov. Greg Abbott will skip President Trump’s San Antonio rally as the governor’s race tightens, with a new NYT/Siena poll showing Gina Hinojosa leading Abbott. Texas Senate Race: Ken Paxton and James Talarico are trading barbs over gas and diesel taxes, with Paxton backing permanent elimination and Talarico calling for a pause tied to war-driven price spikes. Education & State Control: A Texas Tribune report warns Austin ISD could end up paying big costs if the Texas Education Agency takes over, citing what happened in other districts. Health Care Scrutiny: Texas AG Ken Paxton opened an investigation into UnitedHealth over claims it paid nursing homes to delay hospital care. Veterans Funding: Texas opened applications for about $31M in Fund for Veterans’ Assistance grants, with a Dec. 2 deadline. Business & Energy: Range Resources set its Q3 results call date, and a Texas A&M study says creatine may help preserve lean muscle for older adults even without structured exercise. Local Crime: Sealy police say a jugging suspect has received TDCJ time. Sports: NFL power rankings after four weeks keep the 49ers, Chiefs, and Vikings as the only undefeated teams.

Texas Insurance Crunch: Lawmakers grilled insurers and experts after homeowner premiums jumped about 79% since 2020, with wind-and-hail losses driving much of the pain and debate now turning to what can actually bring rates down. Election Politics: As midterms near, Sen. Angela Paxton’s ad urges Republicans to vote the full ticket and not “focus on one individual,” while reporting also flags how debate plans may be fading in the Texas governor and Senate races. Healthcare Funding: Texas won nearly $12B in Medicaid supplemental funding, but the money is aimed at hospitals and providers—not bigger checks for patients—raising questions about what it protects on the ground. Crime & Courts: A Stephenville businessman was sentenced to 13+ years for wire fraud and identity theft tied to exotic-car purchases, with prosecutors saying victims were also hit by unpaid insurance schemes. Business & Tech: A Spring-based payments startup backed by Stripe and Zerohash alums is pushing fast international transfers using stablecoin rails. Energy Watch: Oil slipped about $2 as Middle East exports rose and G7 pledged diesel and crude releases, though Hormuz disruption fears still hang over prices.

Texas Politics: Abbott’s reelection fight with Gina Hinojosa is tightening as the governor leans into sharper attacks and Democrats press turnout momentum heading into November. State Policy & Courts: A Texas judge temporarily blocked Trump’s border wall project in Big Bend, citing likely irreparable harm and public interest. Insurance & Cost of Living: Public Citizen urged Texas lawmakers to address property and casualty premium cost drivers, pointing to climate-driven market instability. Energy & Tech Economy: Korea’s first $2.4B investment phase includes an Encinal, Texas gas plant tied to AI data centers, even as U.S. tariff pressure remains. Texas Business & Growth: Flex is backing Axiom with a $2.0B convertible preferred investment ahead of a planned 2027 separation, aiming at AI power and compute infrastructure demand. Local Economy: Freedom Behavioral Health Solutions is relocating and expanding its Killeen clinic to boost access to outpatient mental health services. Health & Research: McKesson’s InspiroGene report maps the path from cell and gene therapy breakthroughs to patient access, highlighting payer and provider hurdles. Markets: Oil nudged up as supply releases were discussed, while Wall Street digested softer U.S. jobs data and watched upcoming economic releases.