Texas
Texas counties lead the US in population growth, Census says
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Six out of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023 are in Texas, according to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Kaufman County, just east of Dallas, led the list with a 7.6% increase that brought its population over 185,000, Census data shows. Rockwall and Liberty counties followed closely behind, each with growth bursts of 6.5% and 5.7%, respectively.
Population increases across the southern U.S. were largely due to people relocating from other parts of the country, Census officials said. On average, counties in the South experienced faster growth in 2023 than in 2022.
“Domestic migration patterns are changing, and the impact on counties is especially evident,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch, in a Thursday statement.
Big counties see major population increases
Texas also holds eight out of the ten counties across the country that added the most residents from 2022 to 2023. Harris, Collin and Montgomery counties led the pack.
Harris County added 53,788 residents, more than any other county in the U.S. With nearly 5 million total residents, it’s now the third most populous county in the country. Harris also saw the second-highest gains from international migration of all counties nationwide.
Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area also had significant gains, bringing in tens of thousands of new people. Denton is now the seventh county in Texas to surpass 1 million residents.
Notably, Dallas County didn’t make the Census’ top ten list.
Growth in the state’s major counties boosted Texas’ overall population. The state grew more than any other in the country in 2023, by nearly half a million people, according to earlier Census estimates.
Texas’ cities are booming
Texas’ four most populous metro areas — Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — were among the top 10 metro areas with the biggest population increases from 2022 to 2023.
The greater Dallas area saw the highest jump. It added 152,598 residents, bringing its total population over 8 million. The greater Houston area followed closely behind, adding 139,789 over the same period. Its total population is now over 7.5 million residents.
Nearly 70% of Texas residents live in the state’s four largest metro areas, according to estimates from the Texas Demographic Center.
But the Midland metro area grew more rapidly than any of them. From 2022 to 2023, Midland’s population increased by nearly 3% — making it the seventh fastest-growing metro area in the country.
Midland is part of the Permian Basin, the highest-producing oil field in the U.S., and is home to much of Texas’ oil and gas production.
Tracee Bentley, CEO of Permian Strategic Partnership — a collaboration between Permian Basin communities and oil and gas companies — said job growth in the energy sector could be driving population increases in Midland.
“The nature of the jobs that you’re seeing in the oil and gas space are attracting some of the younger professionals who want to come here,” Bentley said.
Overall, more U.S. counties saw population gains than losses in 2023, but the South saw faster growth than much of the rest of the country, according to Census data.
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Texas
Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office
A Texas man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after he threw a bucket containing suspected human remains over a fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office and posted a video of it on YouTube.
Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, the Bartonville Police Department said in a news release.
The investigation began on March 16 when a Bartonville police officer responded to a call from Fry’s mother, who said he asked her for money to pay for a U-Haul. When asked why, he said he “had a body that needed to be moved,” the probable cause affidavit said.
Fry then became “irate” and left the home. Shortly afterward, the officer received information from Fry’s sister that he had “filmed himself on YouTube” at the Dallas FBI field office, the affidavit said.
The video showed Fry throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI building, according to the affidavit.
Fry claimed in the video he was trying to compel the FBI to intervene “in what he describes as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest,” the affidavit said. It’s not clear what that alleged wrongdoing was.
An FBI special agent said “the bucket contained numerous bones” that appeared to be human, per the affidavit. The bones are awaiting further forensic analysis.
Fry had also posted another video on YouTube that showed what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home.
The mother told police that she found in her vehicle’s GPS history three searches for cemeteries — one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also said she found a shovel that was never at the residence before and her son had started to lock the shed in the back of the home, which he didn’t do previously, the affidavit said.
In the investigation by Bartonville police and FBI agents, Fry was found to have posted videos online showing separate human remains and an urn of ashes.
Investigators later determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City — which was the subject of an Oklahoma City Police Department investigation from February, according to Bartonville police.
FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton, Texas, “indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum,” Bartonville police said.
Officials did not disclose whom the remains belonged to or why Fry might have targeted them.
The case remains active and next of kin have been notified, police said.
Fry remained in custody Sunday on a $30,000 surety bond, according to booking records. It’s not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer.
Fry had made headlines in the past for ramming a truck into a FOX 4 building in downtown Dallas in 2018. In that case, police determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting in Denton County that killed his friend. He apologized to the local news station during a court hearing, FOX 4 reported.
Texas
Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel
March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 2 seed LSU taking on No. 7 seed Texas Tech in a Second Round matchup on Sunday, March 22. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Lady Raiders and Lady Tigers.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more
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What time is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech tips off at 3:00 PM (ET) on Sunday, March 22 from Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
What channel is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is airing live on ABC.
How to stream Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is available to stream on Fubo.
Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Fubo
Women’s March Madness schedule today
See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament action here.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 18-19: First Four
- March 20-21: First Round
- March 22-23: Second Round
- March 27-28: Sweet 16
- March 29-30: Elite 8
- April 3: Final Four
- April 5: National Championship
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Texas
Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired Kahil Fennell away from Texas-Rio Grande Valley to take over its struggling men’s basketball program, athletic director Dan Bartholomae announced Saturday.
Fennell was 35-29 in two seasons with the Vaqueros and will take over a WMU team coming off its eighth straight losing season and fourth under Dwayne Stephens, who was fired two weeks ago. The Broncos were 10-21 this season and tied for last in the Mid-American Conference.
“As we set out to find our next head coach, we sought a leader who not only had experience working with some of basketball’s finest programs and coaches, but one who had also led his own program to new heights at the Division I level,” Bartholomae said.
“We also sought someone who would be a great community partner as we prepare for the most transformative event in the history of our athletics program,” he added. “There is no question that Western Michigan University and the entire Southwest Michigan community has found that leader in Kahil. His track record of recruiting, developing and connecting with student-athletes stood out, and his vision and leadership acumen was unmatched.”
Fennell was an assistant at Louisville and BYU before he was hired to lead a UTRGV program that had won six games in 2023-24. His first Vaqueros team went 16-14. This season, UTRGV finished 19-14 and third in the Southland Conference.
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