Texas
Build, baby, build: Texas needs houses.
Texas continues to experience significant population growth as Americans flee other states for new opportunities and, historically, a lower cost of living. According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, approximately 225,000 people moved to Texas between 2021 and 2022, but homebuilding has not kept pace with the influx of new residents. The increased demand for housing — combined with factors such as high interest rates, high property taxes, inflation and rising insurance costs — have left Texas with a housing deficit of 306,000 units, second only to California. Texas lawmakers are likely to tackle housing affordability during the 2025 legislative session.
Just because a family cannot afford or qualify for a mortgage does not mean they should not be able to live in a home they are proud of in a community where they can afford to rent.
To improve Texans’ living situations, it’s just as important to increase the supply of single-family rental homes as it is to increase the supply of homes for purchase. We need options for everyone.
Many who have testified before Texas Senate and House committees during the interim have emphasized the importance of increasing the housing supply for both buyers and renters. Some have zeroed in on several potential solutions: easing zoning regulations and minimum lot size requirements, streamlining local permitting processes and allowing for easier conversion of commercial property into residential. (The comptroller’s report also outlined some of these options.)
Meanwhile, calls to limit corporate purchases of single-family homes to rent miss the mark. According to a 2021 report by the National Association of Realtors, corporate investors bought 28% of homes sold that year in Texas — more than twice the national average. But corporate investors in single-family homes range from large companies to small mom-and-pops. And according to legislative testimony, home purchases by corporate investors of every size have not exceeded 20% of the total.
In reality, to generate much-needed housing at scale,Texas needs corporate investment. It’s up to our elected leaders to clear the way by eliminating barriers to supply and creating greater housing options and accessibility for all Texans.
Charles Blain, a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle, researches and writes about policies that promote opportunity and social mobility.
Tensions are rising between the United States and Iran, as a deadline from President Donald Trump fuels concerns about potential military action.
Just hours before President Trump’s deadline for Iran to accept a deal or face military consequences, Iranian Americans in North Texas feared for their relatives on the ground, saying the focus should stay on the people of Iran.
“We’re in a wartime, so everyone’s worried and following the news,” said Homeira Hesami, the chairwoman for the Iranian American Community of North Texas. “The internet’s still being down, you know, we don’t have a very secure way to communicate with our family and friends back home, so sometimes, you know, they may be able to call out, but it’s very patchy.”
Tuesday, Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, following similar threats he made on Easter Sunday. TCU Political Science Professor Ralph Carter offered this perspective on the potential loss of life.
“In the worst-case scenario, President Trump carries out massive attacks against civilian targets, killing thousands or even millions of people, then I think Congress has to act,” said Carter.
Carter added that targeting an entire civilization could amount to a war crime and raises serious questions about Mr. Trump’s legal authority. He said this also shakes up the U.S.’s relationships with its allies.
“I do think that Iran will survive, whatever happens,” Carter said. “I think the Iranian people will be united in a rally around the flag phenomenon to defend their homeland against an aggressor, and I think, again, this is one of those things where a weaker power outlasts a stronger power, because the stronger power gets tired of the price they have to pay to try to get a victory.”
Hesami believes change in Iran must come from the Iranian people, not through foreign intervention.
“War has proven that sometimes it is not the solution, and the solution is relying on the Iranian people and their organized resistance,” she said.
Less than two hours before his deadline for Iran to either cut a deal with the U.S. or face massive strikes on its power plants, Mr. Trump said he agreed to a “double sided CEASEFIRE” with Iran.
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
He said the ceasefire, which he agreed to at Pakistan’s request, was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be joining Texas Gov. Greg Abbot at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on Tuesday for an event promoting economic growth.
The event is being organized by the Texas Stock Exchange, and several business and policy leaders will be in attendance.
The event starts at 11 a.m.
Tuesday’s contest will broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard locally on 1150 AM/93.7 FM The Zone. Fans can follow along through live stats or on X, @AggieBaseball.
The midweek marks the 66th meeting all-time between the programs, with the Aggies (25-6) leading the series 50-15 over the Bobcats (21-10). The two programs met at Blue Bell Park on March 17, with the Aggies claiming a 9-6 victory. In midweek games this season, Texas A&M is 7-0.
The Maroon & White are fresh off a series win over Vanderbilt, which featured a 12-0 shutout in the series finale to clinch the series. Aiden Sims received SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after pitching seven shutout innings in the rubber match, striking out eight batters.
The Aggies combined for 11 home runs in the series, marking the second consecutive conference series the lineup has accomplished the feat.
In 31 games this season, Texas A&M boasts the 15th-best batting average (.322) in the country and ranks inside the top five national ranks in on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.593), home runs (66), runs scored (309) and walks (208).
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M baseball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M baseball team on Facebook, Instagram and X by following @aggiebaseball.
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