Hill Country News 3160
Parents of Camp Mystic Survivors, Victims Testify Before Texas Legislature, Blast Eastland Family’s Leadership
Tuesday night saw the conclusion of a marathon day two of hearings on the Camp Mystic flood tragedy, which took the lives of 28 people in July 2025, during which parents of both deceased and surviving girls testified before members of the Texas Legislature. Lawmakers on the Joint General Investigating Committee on the July 2025
Texas State Representative Vows to Continue Legal Fight with Education Foundation Over Free Speech Claim
Although an education foundation has moved to drop a defamation lawsuit filed earlier this year in relation to a heated Republican primary election, state Rep. Terri Leo Wilson (R-Galveston) has vowed to continue the legal fight in an appeals court over what she said was an attempt to stifle her free speech. “You cannot set
Fourteen Indicted for Alleged Texas-New Mexico Permian Basin Oilfield Theft
Fourteen defendants from Texas and New Mexico were federally indicted for large-scale oil theft in the Permian Basin. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced on April 22 that the 14 conspirators were indicted for the alleged transport and theft of crude oil across the New-Mexico Texas border. × This
‘The Next Right Thing’: Investigators, Camp Mystic Owners Testify at Texas Legislature
Whether Camp Mystic may continue to operate this summer, and under its current leadership, after the tragedy of the July 4, 2025 weekend was broached during two emotionally raw hearings conducted by the Texas Legislature early this week, during which investigators presented their findings and the camp owners themselves testified. The Texas Rangers launched an
Talarico Leads Cornyn, and Paxton by Wider Margin, in New Poll for U.S. Senate Race
A Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR) poll showed state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) leading incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the November 2026 general election for U.S. Senate. In the contentious race that has drawn national attention, Cornyn and Paxton will face each other in a May 26
The Trump Administration Aims to Penalize Disabled Adults Who Live With Their Families
A planned Trump administration regulation will penalize disabled young adults like Shy’tyra Burton, pictured with her father, Rondell, if they live with their parents. Caroline Gutman for ProPublica Even a glance at Shy’tyra Burton’s life reveals her need for the sort of federal government assistance that helps disabled Americans stay in their homes. Born two
He Died in a Florida Jail. The Company in Charge Should Have Sent Him to the Hospital, Experts Say.
Family photos of Brian Tracey kept by his sister, Lillian Scharf, who has tried for three years to get answers about how her brother died at a jail in St. Johns County, Florida, in 2023. The company that was contracted to care for inmates, Armor Health of St. Johns County LLC, has declined to release
Texas Lawmakers React to Attempted Assassination of Trump, Cabinet at White House Correspondents Dinner
Various Texas officials are responding to the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and most members of his cabinet at the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner on Saturday night. During the annual dinner hosted by the WHCA, a nonprofit organization comprising media members who cover the presidential administration, several shots were heard outside the
Federal Appeals Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Texas Law Making Illegal Immigration a State Crime
After several years of legal wrangling over a 2023 Texas law making illegal immigration a state crime, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a pending lawsuit against the measure and lifted an injunction that had prevented the law from taking effect. Senate Bill (SB) 4, authored by Texas Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) during
State Rep. Briscoe Cain Challenges ‘Obscene’ Books in Deer Park ISD Libraries
State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) is calling on Deer Park Independent School District (ISD) to remove “obscene” library books that he says violate Senate Bill (SB) 13. SB 13 was passed during the 89th Legislative Session and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 20. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for
Texas Redistricting Map Upheld as U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a November 2025 ruling by an El Paso-based federal judicial panel that claimed Texas legislators illegally considered racial factors when redrawing the congressional map last year with the intent for Republicans to pick up five new seats in the 2026 election. Initially, Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary stay of
One Month to Texas Runoff Elections: Key Contests to Watch
Texas’ primary runoff is now less than one month away, marking the last chance for candidates in several heated races who failed to clear more than 50 percent of their party’s support in March to now win those nominations for the November general election. Early voting for the runoff kicks off on May 18 and
