Second Special Session Adjourned

State legislators adjourned the second special session Wednesday after passing a new congressional map and numerous other high-profile bills, including ones related to flood relief and safety, a replacement for the STAAR test, and the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs.

The House and Senate failed to reach a compromise on the issue of restricting the sale of consumable THC products or banning them completely. They were also unable to agree on legislation that would have lowered the threshold for triggering local tax rate elections.

Lawmakers approved bills to enact safety measures for camps and provide $278 million for flood warning systems and disaster relief. However, they failed to approve legislation that would have created licensing requirements for local emergency coordinators.

In the final hours of the session, the Senate approved a bill to prohibit lawmakers from accepting large donations during a special session, and the House approved rule changes aimed at preventing future quorum breaks by increasing fines and stripping seniority and committee leadership from absent members.

PowerSchool Sued Over Data Breach

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing California-based software provider PowerSchool over a data breach that compromised the personal and health information of more than 880,000 Texas students and teachers.

Numerous Texas school districts use PowerSchool’s platform to manage sensitive student and employee data. However, the lawsuit claims that basic security measures such as data encryption and multi factor authentication were not implemented, despite the company’s claim that its software meets “the highest security standards.”

In December 2024, a hacker accessed personal records—including addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical information—through a subcontractor’s account and transferred them to a foreign server. The company said it notified families and regulators once it became aware of the incident.

Paxton is accusing the firm of misleading customers and failing to implement adequate safeguards. “If Big Tech thinks they can profit off managing children’s data while cutting corners on security, they are dead wrong,” said Paxton.

Ruth Paine, Tied to JFK Case, Dies at 92

Ruth Paine, a former Irving resident who befriended Lee Harvey Oswald’s wife in the months preceding President Kennedy’s assassination, has died at her home in California at the age of 92.

In 1963, Paine offered Oswald’s wife and their two daughters a place to stay while he looked for work, and she helped connect him with a job at the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. Oswald spent the night at her house the night before he shot and killed Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, to retrieve his rifle, which he had wrapped in a package he claimed contained curtains.

In the years following the assassination, Paine shared what she knew about Oswald countless times with government investigators, reporters, and scholars, portraying him as a troubled man who “wanted to make a splash.” Despite being vilified by those who questioned the conclusions of the Warren Commission, Paine insisted Oswald acted alone.

The city of Irving purchased Paine’s house in 2009 and opened the Ruth Paine House Museum in 2013.

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➤ Austin: Two California companies are suing the state over its new law banning the sale of lab-grown meat, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against interstate commerce. (More)

➤ Milam County: A 38-year-old man who allegedly shot his girlfriend on Aug. 26 was captured Wednesday after more than a week on the run. (More)

➤ Williamson County: An Amtrak train collided with a vehicle at a private crossing on Wednesday, killing the driver. The train was traveling from San Antonio to Chicago. (More)

➤ Uvalde CISD: Officials released more than 50 pages of text messages from the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting after the district’s law firm took responsibility for failing to provide them in last month’s court-ordered release. (See Details)

➤ Harris County: Precinct 7 deputy Ostin Urbina, 41, was released from jail on a $200 bond Tuesday after being arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a teenage Starbucks employee. (More)

➤ Corpus Christi: Three women were arrested for disrupting Tuesday’s city council meeting during a heated discussion over proposed cuts to city programs. (See Details)

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➤ The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Philadelphia Eagles last night 24-20 in the NFL season opener. (More)

➤ TCU’s $50 million training facility renovation includes a 12-degree “snow room” to aid athlete recovery, along with a cryo lounge, red light therapy, and hydro massage. (More)

➤ Texas Tech soccer’s Macy Blackburn was named Big 12 Defender of the Week for the second time this season after a one-goal, one-assist performance in a shutout win over SMU. (More)

➤ Longhorns defensive back Wardell Mack was arrested early Wednesday on a DWI charge. Head coach Steve Sarkisian said the team is aware of the situation and will handle it internally. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Golf | U.S. Open

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➤ La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio is the first Texas property to join the Signia by Hilton portfolio, a collection of upscale hotels operated by Virginia-based Hilton Worldwide. (More)

➤ Houston oil giant ConocoPhillips will cut 20-25% of its workforce by the end of the year, the company announced Wednesday. The restructuring follows last year’s acquisition of competitor Marathon Oil. (More)

➤ San Antonio-based cloud computing company Rackspace has hired Gajen Kandiah to be its next CEO, following years of declining revenue. (More)

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➤ Browser, the resident cat at White Settlement’s library since 2010, died of natural causes this week. In 2016, the city council reversed its decision to evict him after 12,000 people signed a petition to let him stay. (See Photos)

➤ Austin’s Michelin Star-winning LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue was named the top barbecue joint in Texas by The Infatuation, a food and travel website. (More)

➤ Blue Bell Ice Cream rolled out a new limited-edition flavor for fall: Classic Pecan Pie. The company says the ice cream combines pecans, pie crust, and a swirl of pecan pie filling in one carton. (More)

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Do you believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President Kennedy?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your game-night vibe?

1. Casual, no stress: 33%
2. What game?: 31%
3. Invested in every play: 15%
4. Here for the snacks: 11%
5. Other: 10%

What Texas town is named after the founder of a major cereal manufacturer?

Show me the answer