Author: Longhorn Ledger
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill this week that allocates an additional $2.1 billion to FEMA’s disaster response fund and includes provisions specifically designed to speed up federal assistance to disaster-prone states like Texas, which has faced a string of hurricanes, freezes, and severe storms in recent years. The Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, which passed the House 312-118 and now heads to the Senate, would streamline the federal disaster declaration process, increase pre-positioned emergency supplies in high-risk regions, and establish a pilot program for community resilience grants in areas with repeated disaster exposure. “Texans know what…
Texas State Parks recorded a record 4.8 million camping and day-use reservations in 2025, extending a trend of surging outdoor recreation that has strained resources at some of the system’s most popular destinations, according to figures released by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Enchanted Rock, Palo Duro Canyon, and Garner State Park topped the list of most-visited parks, with each regularly reaching capacity on weekends and holidays. The department has responded by expanding online reservation systems, adding new campsites, and investing in trail maintenance across the 89-park system. “Texans love their state parks, and the numbers prove it,” said…
The San Antonio River Authority has completed a new 2.3-mile extension of the River Walk that creates a continuous pedestrian and cycling path from the downtown entertainment district to Mission Concepción, one of the four Spanish colonial missions that form the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site. The extension, which opened to the public this weekend, features landscaped pathways, native plantings, interpretive signage detailing the area’s colonial and indigenous history, and several rest areas with shade structures. The project cost $9.5 million and was funded through a combination of city bonds, county funds, and a grant from the National…
Farmers across the Lubbock area are increasingly turning to drought-resistant cotton varieties as the Ogallala Aquifer — the underground water source that sustains agriculture across much of West Texas — continues its decades-long decline. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension reports that adoption of drought-tolerant cotton strains has risen 35 percent in the South Plains region over the past two growing seasons, driven by a combination of declining well yields and improved seed technology from breeding programs at Texas Tech University and private seed companies. “The water situation isn’t going to fix itself, so we have to adapt,” said cotton farmer Bobby…
A new arts and culture initiative is breathing fresh energy into Amarillo’s stretch of historic Route 66, transforming vacant storefronts and aging buildings into galleries, studios, and performance spaces that organizers hope will anchor a creative revival in the Panhandle city. The “Route 66 Arts District” project, backed by $1.8 million in grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts and private donors, has already converted three former commercial buildings along Sixth Avenue into working artist studios and exhibition spaces. A fourth building is being renovated into a community theater expected to open this summer. “Route 66 is America’s most…
The City of El Paso has officially launched “Pedal EP,” a new bike-share program that places 500 electric-assist bicycles at 60 docking stations across the city, aiming to provide affordable, eco-friendly transportation and better connect the city’s diverse neighborhoods. The program, developed in partnership with a national bike-share operator, represents a $4.2 million investment funded through a combination of federal transportation grants and city capital improvement funds. Stations are concentrated along major corridors including Mesa Street, Montana Avenue, and the downtown core, with additional locations near UTEP, the medical center, and several transit hubs. “El Paso is a city that’s…
The Texas wine industry reached a new milestone in 2025, with statewide wine sales surpassing $6 billion for the first time, according to data released this week by the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. The Hill Country region, which accounts for the majority of the state’s wineries, led the growth. Texas is now the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the nation, and industry leaders say the momentum shows no signs of slowing. The number of licensed wineries in the state grew to 570 in 2025, up from 520 the previous year, with the greatest concentration between Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and…
Engineers overseeing the Galveston Seawall restoration project announced this week that Phase Two of the $45 million initiative is now complete, marking a significant step in the effort to fortify one of the most important coastal defense structures in the United States. The seawall, originally constructed after the devastating 1900 hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 people, stretches more than 10 miles along the Gulf Coast and protects much of Galveston’s residential and commercial districts. Decades of storm surge, saltwater exposure, and settling had caused significant deterioration in several sections. “The seawall has protected this island for over a century,…
Katy ISD officially unveiled the completed $18 million renovation of Legacy Stadium this week, showcasing a facility that rivals many college venues and underscores the outsized role that high school football plays in Texas culture. The renovation, funded by a 2024 bond approved by district voters, includes a new 12,000-seat grandstand with chair-back seating, a state-of-the-art video scoreboard measuring 40 feet wide, expanded press facilities, and upgraded concession areas. The stadium’s artificial turf field was also replaced with the latest generation of synthetic playing surface. “Friday nights in Katy are something special, and this stadium reflects the pride our community…
A network of 12 rural hospitals across West Texas has been awarded a $7.8 million federal grant to expand telehealth services for underserved communities, addressing a persistent gap in healthcare access across one of the most sparsely populated regions in the state. The grant, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will fund new telehealth equipment, broadband infrastructure upgrades, and staff training at hospitals in communities ranging from Big Spring to Alpine. The initiative aims to connect patients in remote areas with specialists in cardiology, mental health, endocrinology, and maternal care. “For a rancher living 90 miles…