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TOP STORY
Family Says Cuban Immigrant Died in ICE Custody
Geraldo Lunas Campos died on January 3 at an ICE detention center in El Paso. His family claims guards choked him to death, while federal officials say he died by suicide. The family has asked a court to halt deportations of witnesses who could testify in a wrongful-death suit.
If you have loved ones in detention or follow immigration issues, this case underscores deep concerns about oversight and treatment in custody. The dispute over what happened reveals challenges in transparency and accountability within ICE facilities, which may affect your views on immigration policies and the safety of detainees. Watching how this lawsuit unfolds could signal changes in how testimony and investigations are handled in these settings.
Source: The New York Times
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Markets
Oil (WTI) | 59.9900 | ▲ 0.13% |
Gas (Nat.) | 4.6810 | ▼ 0.15% |
Cotton | 0.6442 / lb | ▲ 0.08% |
Cattle | 2.3257 / lb | ▲ 0.05% |
S&P 500 | 6796.76 | ▲ 0.00% |
Dow Jones | 48485.82 | ▼ 0.07% |
Nasdaq | 22955.94 | ▲ 0.03% |
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Texas Grid & Weather Snapshot
Statewide Outage Count — today (from start of day to now): None.
City | High (°F) | Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|
Dallas | 63.7 | 47.3 |
Houston | 68.7 | 58.5 |
Austin | 75.4 | 54.5 |
San Antonio | 72.9 | 56.8 |
Alerts
Dallas: A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from January 21 at 3:04 AM CST until January 25 at 6:00 AM CST, issued by NWS Fort Worth.
Houston: No active Weatherbit or NWS alerts.
Austin: No active Weatherbit or NWS alerts.
San Antonio: No active Weatherbit or NWS alerts.
Politics and Economy
Texas Must Ease Occupational Licensing Barriers
Texas ranks third nationally for burdensome occupational licensing, making it harder for workers to enter professions and raising prices for consumers. Laws like House Bill 11 have begun reducing these hurdles, but more reforms — especially universal license recognition — could help newcomers start work immediately and boost the state economy.
If you’ve ever waited weeks for a home repair or struggled to switch careers, licensing rules are partly why. Easing these regulations lets skilled workers get employed faster, meaning more local services and lower costs for your family. Plus, if you move to Texas for a job, universal license recognition could let you keep working without delays or extra exams — turning a fresh start into an immediate paycheck.
Source: Dallas News
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What else is happening:
The Bexar County elections office faces a backlog of 6,000 voter registration applications, risking delays for new voters ahead of the March primaries and straining staff.
USCIS paused local naturalization ceremonies, citing fewer applications and increased vetting while relocating a regional swearing-in to San Antonio.
An analysis found Austin City Council votes aligned more than 95% of the time in 2025, prompting debate over consensus voting and effects on major city projects like I‑35 reconstruction.
Tech and Business
Texas AG faces Google’s AI content access tactics
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton targets Google's use of its search dominance to pressure publishers into free AI content access, threatening their visibility. Google’s approach risks undercutting publisher revenue and skewing the developing AI content licensing market, unlike other AI firms that negotiate payments for news content.
If you rely on digital news, this Google tactic could limit the diversity and quality of the content you see. Publishers not getting paid may reduce original reporting, affecting the information available to you. This fight reflects a bigger challenge on how AI technologies are reshaping online content access and what you might expect from news sources in the future.
Source: Dallas News
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New deep-water tunnel to boost Central Texas drought resilience
A $225 million, 2-mile tunnel under Lake Travis is nearly complete to supply Round Rock, Leander, and Cedar Park with deeper lake water during droughts. This infrastructure will enhance water reliability by accessing water nearly twice as deep as current methods, strengthening long-term drought defenses for these growing cities.
This project means more secure water for your household and community even when drought hits hardest. The deeper intake tunnel reduces reliance on shallow water that dries up quicker, helping maintain steady water flow. For residents in Round Rock, Leander, and Cedar Park, it’s a vital step to protect daily life, gardens, and business operations against Texas’s ever-present drought threat.
Source: Austin American-statesman
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What else is happening:
Google turned Gemini into a free SAT prep tool that could lower test-prep costs and expand access for Texas students preparing for college admissions.
Palantir's multi-hundred-million deal with HD Hyundai underscores industrial AI adoption and could influence software deployment trends in Texas shipbuilding and manufacturing supply chains.
Sports
Dallas Emerges as Leading NBA Talent Pipeline
Dallas continues to produce NBA stars as North Texas high schools like Duncanville and Faith Family dominate basketball talent development. Multiple recent lottery picks and NBA starters hail from the area, highlighting its unique, integrated basketball ecosystem fueling national-level players.
If you follow basketball, you'll notice many NBA stars are coming from right here in Dallas. This means local games and high school tournaments are more than just community events—they're the starting point for future NBA stars you could watch over the next decade. For families and young athletes, Dallas offers a strong path toward professional basketball, making it a hotspot for scouts, coaches, and opportunities. It changes how you see neighborhood gyms, turning them into breeding grounds for elite talent.
Source: The Guardian
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Sports Spotlight:
The Dallas Stars visit the Blue Jackets after Jason Robertson’s two-goal game, aiming to sustain scoring depth and improve their Western Conference standing.
The Warriors face the Mavericks in Dallas as Golden State pursues a fifth straight win, a matchup with notable Western Conference seeding implications.
Texas Tech’s transfer portal review outlines 20 additions and remaining roster gaps, highlighting positional needs and how new players reshape the Red Raiders’ outlook.
Texas Cultural Insight
The city of Waco, Texas, is home to the Dr Pepper Museum, located at the site of the original Dr Pepper bottling plant. Founded in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton, Dr Pepper is the oldest major soft drink brand in America — predating both Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The museum celebrates this uniquely Texan creation with historic exhibits, vintage bottles, and interactive experiences.