Here's a snapshot of what's happening in Texas today (April 12, 2026):
Political & Legal
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Federal Voter Records Subpoena: The Department of Homeland Security has subpoenaed at least three Texas counties for detailed individual voter records, sparking concerns about election oversight.
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Smokeable Hemp Ban Blocked: A judge issued a temporary restraining order halting the state's new smokeable hemp rules, providing relief to retailers who had furloughed staff and pulled inventory.
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Colony Ridge Settlement Controversy: The Trump DOJ plans to settle the Colony Ridge human trafficking case without compensating victims, despite a judge's concerns.
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Walkout Fines: Texas House Democrats who walked out over the congressional redistricting map have been fined over $8,000 each.
Education & Culture
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Texas Tech Program Cuts: The Texas Tech System leader canceled academic programs "centered on" sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Required Reading List: The Texas education board gave preliminary approval to a required reading list that includes Bible material, drawing criticism for its length, lack of diversity, and Christian focus.
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Social Studies Rewrite: Portrayals of Islam and people of color are dominating discussions around the state's social studies curriculum rewrite.
Tech Updates
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California Exodus Continues: Another tech company is relocating from California to Texas, bringing 138 jobs to the state.
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Berkshire Hathaway Tech Hub: A 131-year-old Texas company owned by Berkshire Hathaway announced a new tech hub aimed at embracing AI.
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Houston Tech Growth: Hundreds more tech jobs are coming to the Houston area as part of an $85 million U.S. investment.
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Rural Internet Shift: After a pilot with Elon Musk's Starlink, Texas officials are opting to dig Biden-backed fiber optic cables to bring internet to rural families instead.
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Robotics Research: Scientists at UT Austin are deploying computerized dogs (robotic canines) to study human-robot interaction on campus.
Finance & Energy News
Markets & Economy
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Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE): Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the new Texas Stock Exchange will begin trading in July 2026, positioning Houston as a financial power center with less regulation than Wall Street.
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Record Energy Impact: Energy's impact on the Texas economy shattered records last year, driven by record oil production in West Texas that is helping stabilize U.S. supply amid the Iran conflict.
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Major Merger: Diamondback Energy's $50 billion acquisition of Endeavor Energy Resources will create the Permian Basin's third-largest energy producer.
Corporate Moves
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Shell EV Pivot: Shell is putting 1,000 Texas stations on the line as the oil giant shifts focus to EV chargers.
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Hydrogen Bets: Texas energy companies are increasingly betting on hydrogen as a future fuel source.
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Layoffs: New layoffs hit hundreds of Texas employees across various industries this week.
Consumer Impact
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SNAP Sugar Ban Issues: Texas' ban on using SNAP benefits for sodas and candy is troubling diabetics and hypoglycemics who need quick sugar fixes.
The state continues to balance its booming energy and tech sectors with contentious political and social policy debates as the May 2 local elections approach.