Hundreds of Allen ISD parents signed and sent a letter on Tuesday afternoon urging a discussion with the district to implement a mask mandate for elementary schools. The letter, signed by more than 600 people, demands a public forum or a meeting between the group, Allen ISD Parents for Safe Schooling, and the district by Aug. 20. The letter also demands …

WASHINGTON — Citing a decades-long personal and professional alliance, Sen. Ted Cruz threw his support behind Gov. Greg Abbott during a Wednesday town hall — a move that alienated some Texas conservatives who oppose the governor’s reelection. Cruz’s endorsement came at a Grapevine event hosted by tea party conservatives branding themselves as “True Texans.” The True Texas Project is fighting …

AUSTIN — Three Democrats broke ranks and returned to the Texas House on Thursday, giving Republicans enough members to resume work on a controversial elections bill and ending a weeks-long standoff. A solemn silence fell over the chamber as Houston Reps. Garnet Coleman, Armando Walle and Ana Hernandez came into the chamber together. In a statement, the three said they …

The Biden administration announced Thursday it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with severe disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes. The move will wipe out more than $5.8 billion in debt, according to the Education Department, and it marks the start of a broader overhaul of a program that has been criticized …

The Texas Department of Transportation is urging residents to keep sharing their thoughts on the future of Interstate 345 as part of the agency’s feasibility study on the project. The deadline for the public to provide comments to TxDOT on the project, which is still in its early stages, was recently extended from July 22 to Sunday. TxDOT spokesman Tony …

Barbecue and Bibles are on the menu at Baker’s Ribs in Weatherford. Co-owners Brian and DeeAnna Krier’s restaurant on South Main Street hands out free Bibles and offers a prayer request box in an effort to share their Christian faith with their customers. Copies of the Bible and the New Testament sit on a table in the entrance at Baker’s …

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, sounding upbeat and appearing healthy in his second video update since testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, said Thursday that although still in quarantine he remains engaged in his duties as the state’s chief executive. “I want to thank everybody for the many well-wishes and prayers that you all have sent from across our state …

Dallas police are asking for the public’s help solving a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday morning in central Oak Cliff. Around 11:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting scene at 4115 Druid Hills Drive, near Hampton Road and Ledbetter Drive, police said. There, they found a man shot. Dallas Fire-Rescue took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced …

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP leaders want to more than double their already amped-up spending on border security so Texas can put more boats in the Rio Grande, deploy 1,800 more National Guard soldiers there and prosecute and imprison immigrants arrested for misdemeanor offenses such as trespassing. A $1.77 billion appropriations bill filed late Thursday by Friendswood GOP …

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Residents in a southwest Houston neighborhood are protesting the construction of a propane storage facility, saying it’s just too close to home. The facility is being built near the Southwest Crossing subdivision, located just east of Missouri City. Gene Pack has lived in the neighborhood for 31 years. He said he started an online petition when he learned …