The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 18, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy, folks, today is Friday, September 18th, and you're listening to The Texans' Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, an event hosted by State Representative James Tala Rico's U.S. Senate campaign on Sunday in Houston's third ward featured several Democratic midterm candidates, placing particular emphasis on Talariko's need for the black vote and recognition of the progress. he's made with the demographic. Among the speakers who congregated alongside attendees at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church were Democratic Texas House candidates Tyler Smith, who is challenging State Representative Lacey Hole in House District 138, and former State Board of Education member Stacey Childs, who is running for outgoing state representative Alma Allen's seat, as well as Letitia Plummer, the Democratic nominee for

Starting point is 00:01:00 Harris County Judge to succeed outgoing County Judge Lena Heddon. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett held a prior event at Wheeler Avenue Baptist during her primary campaign against Tala Rico earlier this year. The event took place in the same hall where the Harris County Democratic Party selected the late former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner to replace Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on the 2024 ballot after her death that year. Next, Harris County property owners will be on the hook for higher tax bills next year to cover a budget expansion that includes $325 million in new general fund spending to cover higher costs, including more personnel, higher pay for county employees, and continued programs launched with

Starting point is 00:01:47 federal funds. Under the combined total, which includes the county's general fund, the property tax rate will rise from $62.4 to $67.1 per $100 of a property's appraised value. The average owner with a property valued at $400,000 will see an increase of $193 over last year for a combined total of about $2,148. In other news, state leaders are reacting to Land Commissioner Don Buckingham's move to open up state lands to new energy production. The initiative by the General Land Office, first reported by the Texan, begins a request for information process for qualified companies, developers, technology providers, energy producers, and other interested parties who are interested in developing geothermal, natural gas, and small modular nuclear reactors.

Starting point is 00:02:42 State Representative Drew Darby, who chairs the House Committee on Energy Resources, praised the move in a statement to the Texan. Quote, putting our state lands to work for geothermal, natural gas, and advanced nuclear combined with existing assets is exactly the all-of-the-above approach our grid needs. The chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, State Representative Cody Harris, concurred. He said, quote, Commissioner Buckingham's effort to make wise use of Texas land as we work to have more dispatchable energy at the ready is to be commended. He continued, quote, This is the kind of initiative we need to expedite energy resources for the growing Texas population and economy. Also, the city of San Antonio reached a collective bargaining agreement with the San Antonio Police Officers' Association last week, carving out over $100 million over the next three years from a tight budget.

Starting point is 00:03:37 A week before the San Antonio City Council's budget deadline, the SAPOA and the city struck a deal that will raise officers' wages by 16.5% by 2029, but also assigned them a greater share of health care costs, according to a summary of the deal prepared by the city manager. The cumulative incremental cost of the contract totals $102.3 million over three years, starting with $15.4 million in fiscal year 2027, the document shows. It's the largest collective bargaining agreement of its kind in Texas, and it takes place as the city addresses a significant deficit. Last but not least, the U.S. Department of Justice charged seven non-citizens in North Texas with voting in federal elections or falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens.

Starting point is 00:04:26 According to U.S. Attorney Ryan Rabled, six of the defendants were indicted on September 10th, with a seventh being charged on September 11th. Three of the seven who were charged are from Mexico, two are from Nigeria, one is from India, and one is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six of the seven were lawful permanent residents of the United States. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 18, 2026

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