Texas
International bridge projects get speedier approval process with push from Texas lawmakers
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The process for approving international bridge projects in South Texas, intended to increase commerce between the U.S. and Mexico, is speeding up after President Joe Biden signed into law a policy change pushed by a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, led the effort to set a maximum 120-day timeline for the president to decide whether to approve a permit. The previous process used by the Biden administration required an environmental review — which could take years — before the president could decide on a permit.
The policy change was part of the National Defense Authorization Act that Biden signed into law three days before Christmas.
Cruz and Cuellar touted the policy change at a news conference Thursday, with Cruz calling it a “tremendous bipartisan victory for Texas.” They were joined by Mexican officials and Glenn Hamer, head of the Texas Association of Business. Hamer said it was the “most significant effort to increase commerce since the passage of the” United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2020.
Cruz and Cuellar spoke from the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, the site of one project they were aiming to speed up. The project would expand the bridge by more than doubling the number of lanes, from eight to 18.
Under the new law, the U.S. State Department has 60 days to recommend to the president whether to approve a permit for an international bridge project in South Texas. After that, the president has 60 days to approve the permit, and if he does not act, the permit is automatically granted.
The provision applies specifically to at least three international bridges in Webb, Cameron and Maverick Counties that have applied for a permit between Dec. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2024.
Environmental reviews must still be done before construction, but they will no longer hold up the permitting decision.
Cruz has argued the previous policy was actually bad for the environment. He said Thursday that the permitting delays meant trucks were backed up for miles — “spewing pollution into the air” — waiting to cross bridges that needed improvements.
The policy change had the support of Cruz and Texas’ senior senator, Republican John Cornyn, as well as Cuellar and the rest of the South Texas delegation: Reps. Monica De La Cruz, R-McAllen; Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen; and Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio.
“If you want to see bipartisanship, this is the type of bipartisan work that gets the job done,” Cuellar said at the news conference.
The new law also comes as Cruz is up for reelection this year and looking for bipartisan accomplishments to tout. One of the Democrats vying to challenge him, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is running on a platform of being able to work across the aisle.
Disclosure: Texas Association of Business has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Texas
KXII 12 wins 10 first place awards at Texas Broadcast News Awards
AUSTIN, Texas (KXII) — KXII 12 received 10 first place awards at the Texas Broadcast News Awards by the Texas Association of Broadcasters over the weekend.
The station won the following awards in the small market division:
•Breaking News
•Investigative Report
•Election Results Coverage
•Sports Special (The Max Blitz)
•Sports Anchor (David Reed)
•Station Photojournalism
•Individual Photojournalism (Drury Vaughan)
•Morning Newscast
•Evening Newscast
•Overall Broadcast Excellence
KXII 12 has been recognized for Overall Broadcast Excellence three times in the past four years. The award is the top station honor in each division.
“This is an incredible honor and a testament to the integrity and hard work of our entire news team,” station vice president & general manager Derek Rogers said. “We’re proud to be recognized for journalism that puts Texoma first, and we’re grateful to our viewers for trusting us to tell the stories that matter most.”
Station news director Matt Griffin said the awards reflect the team’s commitment to the community.
“These awards are a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the team we have at KXII 12,” Griffin said. “They are committed to serving our communities by giving them the quality coverage they deserve every day.”
Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.
Texas
Strong storms, heavy rain working through Central Texas tonight
CENTRAL TEXAS — Strong thunderstorms started to fire up west of I-35 after 2pm Sunday afternoon after several rounds of morning rain and thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to pepper regions along and west of I-35 for the remainder of the evening. Individual storms are traveling North-Northeastward at a slow pace. Severe weather isn’t out of the question, but risks will mainly be small hail, wind gusts around 40mph, frequent lightning, and heavy rain. Rain totals could climb to 3″ for some affected.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is unlikely to be issued today.
A Flood Watch was issued for Bell, Williamson, Milam, Robertson, Leon, Burleson, Brazos, Madison, and Grimes counties until 4am Monday morning. A complex of thunderstorms closer to I-10 have prompted Flash Flood Warnings for excessive rain, but this has so far stays south of the Brazos Valley.
Any thunderstorms, severe or not, should conclude by 10pm tonight. After which, conditions remain humid with lows in the upper 60s. Monday’s storm chances have diminished greatly, and only an isolated chance for showers and storms remain for those east of I-35. Waco is looking dry. Highs climb to the low to mid 80s.
The next thunderstorm chance appears to be around Wednesday of this week. There is a chance for stronger storms but Waco is at the extreme southern most extent of thunderstorm chances to begin with, so this isn’t a particularly great chance for nasty thunderstorms. The bulk of that action is likely well north extending from Dallas, TX to Milwaukee, WI.
The week finishes very warm. Waco’s high temp will climb to about 86 degrees and College Station up to 88 potentially.
– 25 News Meteorologist Thomas Patrick
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Texas
Dallas voters to decide on record $6.2 billion Dallas ISD bond in May election
In May, Dallas voters will have an opportunity to decide on a bond election by Dallas ISD valued at more than $6.2 billion, a record amount in the State of Texas.
If voters approve, they will agree to raise their property tax rate by one cent. It’s estimated it will cost homeowners an extra $2.79 each month and an extra $33 annually with a home value of $500,000 after the $140,000 homestead exemption.
The bond would build 26 brand new schools, renovate and modernize all campuses, remove the 700 remaining portable classrooms and upgrade security.
It will also provide various updates, including technology for students, debt service refinancing and repairs for swimming pools.
The bond election is comprised of four propositions, A through D. Early voting for this and other municipal elections runs from Monday, April 20, through Tuesday, April 28.
CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink spoke with the Dallas ISD Bond Campaign co-chair and former school board trustee Miguel Solis, who explained more about why the bond is needed.
“Kids getting a high-quality education in high-quality facilities will inevitably lead to a better economic outlook,” Solis told Fink. “Because more kids will then be getting better grades that lead to better jobs and maximizes their earning potential… this is a workforce play as much as anything else.”
Solis said that the tax rate in Dallas ISD has been consistently decreasing since 2019.
“When you look at the ten largest districts in North Texas, it’s actually got the lowest tax rate,” he said. “That only gets the district so far to be able to ensure, once and for all, that every student and every school across Dallas ISD can have physical infrastructure improvements.”
According to Solis, there are 135,000 students in Dallas ISD.
“That number alone is larger than most Texas cities outside of Dallas,” Solis said. “The district is just big.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation said that if the Dallas ISD bond is approved, it could double the district’s debt.
“Anytime you issue a bond, that’s you’re essentially issuing debt,” Solis said. “And that debt can extend out over the course of, you know, multiple years. The 2015 bonds over the course of, I’d like to think maybe the next 5 or 10 years, we will probably see that debt ultimately paid off.”
Solis said that the district feels “pretty confident” that it can manage any existing and new debt.
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