AUSTIN, Texas – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico challenged Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton to participate in three televised debates.

He accuses his opponent of avoiding public scrutiny and calling on him to accept invitations from three Texas media organizations.

Talarico challenges Ken Paxton to Texas Senate debates

Ken Paxton (left) and James Talarico (Getty Images)

Local perspective:

In a press release sent by James Talarico, he says he has accepted debate invitations from Nextstar Media Group, KXAN News in Austin, NBC News in Hearst and WFAA/TEGNA. He urges Republican senate candidate Ken Paxton to accept the invitations as well.

“Ken Paxton has not debated a political opponent in more than a decade,” Talarico said in a statement. “I’m challenging Ken Paxton to three televised debates. I’ll be on that debate stage because I answer to the people of Texas.”

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and Republican US Senate candidate, during a Texas primary election night event in Dallas, Texas, US, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. US Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are heading for a runoff

Dig deeper:

In a recent interview, Talarico also said Paxton should answer questions about his personal finances, his policies as attorney general, his 2023 impeachment and a recent plea agreement involving Adam Hoffman, whom Talarico described as an admitted child predator. Talarico accused Paxton of giving Hoffman an “Epstein-style sweetheart deal” and questioned whether Paxton had made agreements with two billionaire political donors during his impeachment proceedings.

Legal scandals and policy issues

What’s next:

Paxton has not publicly responded to Talarico’s debate challenge, or the allegations contained in Thursday’s statement. FOX has reached out to Paxton’s team for comment and is awaiting a response.

The three media organizations have invited both candidates to participate in statewide televised debates, according to the Talarico campaign.

AUSTIN, Texas – A local nonprofit animal shelter says its crews have rescued pets from floodwaters in South Texas and moved hundreds more animals through its shelter as the nonprofit continues responding to widespread flooding across the region.

The organization, Austin Pets Alive, said volunteers and staff entered an evacuated neighborhood near Crystal City on Friday night after families were forced to leave their pets behind while escaping rapidly rising floodwaters.

Overnight animal rescue operations in Crystal City

What we know:

Austin Pets Alive said disaster response teams rescued 17 pets from flooded homes after learning an entire neighborhood had been evacuated. Families made it out safely but were unable to take their animals because of dangerous conditions.

With assistance from the local fire department, crews spent about an hour searching for a safe route into the neighborhood before beginning rescue operations around 7 p.m. Friday.

Volunteers searched homes and yards for hours, rescuing dogs from partially submerged kennels and cats trapped inside flooded structures.

Among the rescues was a severely dehydrated kitten discovered inside a birdcage in a flooded shed. The kitten received emergency treatment before being transported to safety, according to the organization.

Crews remained at the scene until about 1 a.m. on Saturday providing emergency medical care to the rescued animals.

Regional flood crisis swamps Texas

What they’re saying:

The overnight operation is part of a larger disaster response stretching across South Central Texas.

Chelsea Riseman, Austin Pets Alive’s dog behavior program director, said the organization’s first priority during disasters is helping local shelters make room for displaced pets.

“We partner with those shelters to remove all the animals who were already there,” Riseman said. “That clears space for these shelters to intake all the animals who are displaced, which will allow for their owners to find them and for reunification to happen.”

Since flooding began, the organization has deployed staff, volunteers and transport teams to Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Uvalde and Zavala counties, along with communities including Boerne, San Antonio and Hondo.

In addition to rescuing stranded animals, teams have been delivering pet food and supplies to affected communities, helping reunite lost pets with owners and providing temporary foster care for families displaced by flooding.

On Saturday, Riseman said she was traveling between Batesville and La Pryor delivering supplies to a community relief hub before picking up an injured dog found with an embedded collar for emergency veterinary treatment.

Hundreds of animals taken in

Local perspective:

Riseman said about 270 animals have passed through Austin Pets Alive’s main shelter since the flooding began, with many quickly placed into foster homes.

“The community has been so amazing,” she said. “We could not do any of this without the support of the community.”

Earlier in the week, the nonprofit also coordinated an overnight Wings of Rescue flight from San Marcos to Utah in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society to relocate animals and free additional shelter space.

The organization also completed the evacuation of the Uvalde animal shelter after Highway 90 reopened, transporting 53 dogs and 12 cats into its care.

Broader flood response

Big picture view:

Riseman said it’s too early to compare this response with last year’s flooding but said Austin Pets Alive has become more prepared.

“As soon as we got word that this was going on, we already started talking about, ‘Let’s look at the flood maps. Let’s figure out plans. Let’s see who we can get out there,’” she said.

She said first responders understandably focus on rescuing people first, leaving organizations like Austin Pets Alive to help recover pets left behind.

“Pets aren’t always able to come when people go back into the shelter, so that’s where we’re trying to come in and help,” Riseman said.

The nonprofit also offers temporary foster placements for pets whose owners have been displaced, allowing families to reclaim their animals once they have stable housing.

How to help

What’s next:

Austin Pets Alive is asking for additional foster homes, volunteers and donations to support its flood response.

Riseman also urged pet owners to microchip their animals.

“In situations like this, you can never know,” she said. “The easiest way for us to be able to get you right back to your animal is if they have a microchip.”

Donations to support flood relief efforts can be made through Austin Pets Alive’s website, the organization said.

TO PERFORM AT PBR GAMBLER DAYS PRESENTED BY TECOVAS

Local Honky-Tonk Band to Kick Off Fan Fest on Saturday, Aug. 22, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Tribute Band to Close Out Gambler Days On Sunday, Aug. 23

AUSTIN, Texas (July 16, 2026) – The Austin Gamblers, 2024 PBR Teams Champions, announced today that Austin-based honky-tonk and country band All My(eux) Groovy Friends will take the Fan Fest stage on Saturday, Aug. 22, bringing an energetic mix of Texas country, Americana, and dance-ready sounds to PBR Gambler Days presented by Tecovas. Additionally, nationally acclaimed Selena tribute band Tejano Queen Forever will close out the weekend on Sunday, Aug. 23, with a high-energy celebration of the music and legacy of Selena Quintanilla Perez during Fan Fest. Both bands join a star-studded lineup of live music performances at Gambler Days, which also includes country superstar Dustin Lynch on Friday, Aug. 21, and hip-hop icon Nelly on Saturday, Aug. 22.

“We’re always looking for ways to raise the bar and deliver an experience our fans will never forget,” said JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. “Just like the adrenaline and excitement that comes with riding a 1,000-pound bull, we wanted to bring that same energy to our lineup of acts for Gambler Days 2026. Tejano Queen Forever will celebrate the music and legacy of Texas icon Selena Quintanilla, whose m and All My(eux) Groovy Friends is a staple in the Austin honky-tonk scene, so it felt only right to bring  both acts to the Fan Fest stage.”

Known for bringing people together through two-stepping and line dancing, All My(eux) Groovy Friends will add an authentic Austin honky-tonk experience to the Fan Fest lineup. Led by Tate Mayeux, the group continues to build its following throughout Austin. Mayeux has assembled a powerhouse band of long-time friends, featuring highly accomplished songwriters and multi-instrumentalists including Jordan Matthew Young, who competed on Season 20 of The Voice in 2021 as part of Team Blake (electric guitar/vocals) and Adam Johnson (electric baritone guitar/vocals), alongside Bryan McGrath (drums) and Preston Rhone (Gulf Coast bass).

Based in Dallas and touring nationwide, the beloved tribute act Tejano Queen Forever is led by vocalist Carymel Rodriguez, whose dynamic performances capture the spirit and sound of the Queen of Tejano Music. Backed by an ensemble of award-winning musicians, the band delivers authentic renditions of Selena’s biggest hits, creating an unforgettable live experience for fans of all ages. Showgoers can look forward to chart-breaking hits from the beloved Tejano superstar such as “Como la Flor”, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “Amor Prohibido” and “Dreaming of You”.

Gambler Days Weekend Entertainment Lineup

• Dustin Lynch – Friday, Aug. 21 | Fan Fest and post-event DJ performance on the dirt
• All My(eux) Groovy Friends – Saturday, Aug. 22 | Fan Fest performance 
• Nelly – Saturday, Aug. 22 | Post-event performance on the dirt
• Tejano Queen Forever – Sunday, Aug. 23 | Fan Fest performance

The Austin Gamblers will host their fifth annual homestand, PBR Gambler Days presented by Tecovas, at Moody Center on August 21-23. 

Tickets for the event are on sale now and start at $36 (taxes and fees not included) and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, PBR.com, and MoodyCenterATX.com, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727. Fans who purchase Sunday tickets starting at $42 before Aug. 7 will be eligible to receive a free kid’s ticket. Exclusions apply.

For more information on Austin Gamblers, visit www.austingamblers.com or follow on social media channels:

ABOUT AUSTIN GAMBLERS

2024 PBR Teams Champions, the Austin Gamblers are based in Austin, Texas, where the team’s fifth annual Gambler Days homestand will take place at the state-of-the-art Moody Center on August 21-23, 2026, bringing three days of world-class professional bull riding to the heart of downtown Austin. The team is coached by PBR legend and world champion Michael Gaffney. Under the leadership of JJ Gottsch as CEO, the Austin Gamblers are owned by Egon and Abby Durban. Both originally from Texas, Egon is Co-CEO of Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, and serves on the board of directors of Dell Technologies, whose founder, Michael Dell, is also a minority investor in the Gamblers.

All PBR Teams events are carried on either CBS Television Network, the CW, streaming live on YouTube, RidePass on Pluto app, or the PBR app. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

ABOUT PBR TEAMS

PBR Teams is an elite league featuring the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five games leading to a Team Championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. During the 2026 season, the league’s fifth, each of the 10 teams – Arizona Ridge Riders of Glendale, AZ; Austin Gamblers of Austin, TX; Carolina Cowboys of Greensboro, NC; Florida Freedom of Sunrise, FL; Kansas City Outlaws of Kansas City, MO; Missouri Thunder of Ridgedale, MO; Nashville Stampede of Nashville, TN; New York Mavericks of Belmont Park, NY; Oklahoma Wildcatters of Oklahoma City, OK; and Texas Rattlers of Fort Worth, TX – will host a three-day homestand. Neutral-site games in Anaheim, CA, and Fort Collins, CO are planned for the 2026 season as well.

PBR Teams, launched in July 2022, builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. In events staged in a tournament-style format, all teams compete in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game features five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters are comprised of seven riders on the Protected Roster and three Reserve Roster riders. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders is declared the winner of each game.

PBR is part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a global sports and entertainment company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

About the Author:

Biography:

I grew up on a Midwest farm with dirt under my fingernails and the sound of wind rustling through cornfields. My childhood was all about 4H – raising pigs and horses, learning to bake and sew, and discovering the magic of transforming a garden into jars of summer sunshine. Those years taught me the value of hard work, the thrill of seeing a project through to the end, and the simple joy of creating something beautiful. A country girl with a need for speed and a thirst for adventure. Maybe that’s why I love the feeling of wind in my hair – whether I’m cruising down a dusty road on my Harley or tackling a mountain trail on my trusty mountain bike. Some of my earliest memories of rodeo are watching my father compete at small local events. That’s also where my love for country music comes in – long car rides listening to 8 tracks. The lyrics and melodies always spoke to my soul. These days, you’ll find me cheering on the cowboys and cowgirls at rodeos, two-stepping to my favorite bands, belting out a country tune at a concert or sharing stories and laughter with friends around a bonfire. When I’m not soaking up the country life and getting my boots dirty, I’m a nurse, caring for folks in my community. Follow along for more stories from the heart of rodeo and country life!