
A group of Texas House Democrats made their way back to Austin on Monday for the second special legislative session, reestablishing quorum and paving the way for Republicans to push forward with redistricting legislation.

Houston has lifted its hiring freeze for 12 city departments following a reorganization push aimed at boosting efficiency and reducing a $330 million budget deficit.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has petitioned the state Supreme Court to remove 13 House Democrats, accusing them of abandoning their offices during a redistricting standoff aimed at preventing a GOP-led map from advancing.

Texas House Democrats—many from Houston—have left the state to block a vote on a new congressional map that could tilt power toward Republicans. Donald Trump is pushing the redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Tae Heung “Will” Kim, a South Korea-born doctoral student at Texas A&M University and legal permanent U.S. resident, remains in ICE custody following a brief trip abroad. His detainment, reportedly linked to a decade-old marijuana charge, has sparked criticism from legal experts and immigrant rights groups who say he was denied due process.

Houston residents packed a heated public hearing this week to challenge Texas GOP redistricting efforts, accusing lawmakers of racial gerrymandering and voter suppression. The city is now a key battleground in the fight for equitable political representation in the state.