The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown January 9 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Friday, January 9th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans managing editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Hamilton County Sheriff Jason Bradley Bolton was booked into the adjacent Coriol County Jail after a grand jury issued seven indictments, charging Bolton with multiple misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses that allege he committed wrongful acts in his position. Bolton was elected sheriff in 2024, beating Isaac Partain and Billy Hollingsworth in that year's March GOP primary election. Official records show Bolton is now facing seven total charges, including three counts of abuse of official capacity, a Class A misdemeanor, another misdemeanor count of failing to report a felony,

Starting point is 00:00:56 and five charges relating to tampering with governmental records, all second-degree felonies. The Texas Rangers executed an arrest warrant on Bolton after the grand jury issued indictments on Wednesday. The records indicate that Bolton's criminal actions began in October 24 and continued into 2025. In other news, several challenges have been filed against primary candidates in Tarrant County for Texas House District 93, House District 98, and against seven Democratic judicial candidates. In House District 93, Steve Sprouls challenged the candidacy of his opponent, Alan Blaylock. Sprouls is a veteran, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and serves on the board of trustees for Northwest Independent School District. Blaylock is a member of the Fort Worth City Council and announced his candidacy after the current HD93 occupant, State Representative Nate Shatsline,

Starting point is 00:01:52 announced that he would not run for re-election in 26. Blaylock resigned his position on the city council, for which he is paid $25,000 annually. However, he will remain in office until an election in May 26. Sprouls argues that the annual salary qualifies the council position as a lucrative office under the Texas Constitution. A person holding a lucrative office is not eligible to hold a Texas house seat. Even though Blaylock officially resigned, the Texas Constitution also requires him to, hold over in his city council seat until the May 26 election. Last but not least, a lawsuit filed by a popular local restaurant chain, alleging the city of Houston illegally awarded a lucrative airport contract under former Mayor Sylvester Turner will proceed, according to a Supreme Court of Texas ruling issued Friday. The iconic Pappas Restaurant Group, which operates Papa Doe, Papasito's,

Starting point is 00:02:51 Papas Barbecue, and other brands, filed suit in 2023 after the city booted the Papas venues from William P. Hobby Airport and instead awarded a $470 million 10-year contract to Area's Houston JV LLC, a subsidiary of a company based in Spain. Pappas lawsuit alleged that the city violated a section of the Texas Local Government Code, known as Chapter 252, governing procurement procedures for expenditures of $50,000 or more. But Houston claimed immunity in the case, arguing that the contract would result in revenues but did not necessarily require city expenditures that would require following the state law. After a district court judge rejected the city's claim of immunity, Houston then filed an interlocutory appeal, which effectively blocked Pappas from introducing evidence to the court

Starting point is 00:03:42 showing that the city's expenditures would exceed $50,000. An appeals court panel sided with the city, but the Texas Supreme Court overturned the panel's ruling this week. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan.News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown January 9 2026

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