Texas News

The Texas Hill Country is known as “flash flood alley” due to its unique terrain. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / wckitchen The families of seven campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic who died during the July 4 Hill Country floods sued the camp Monday, alleging that its owners’ negligence resulted in a “self-created disaster” that led to the fatalities. Twenty-five campers and two counselors were among the more than 130 people that died in this…

Officials said a software update prevented the sirens from activating, even though San Marcos was on the edge of a tornado warning, according to the city’s Facebook post. The warning originated in Blanco County but extended into neighboring Hays County, which includes San Marcos. While the tornado dissipated before reaching the city, the siren failure raised concerns about public safety. “We had an opportunity to utilize our high-dollar investment in technology, and we failed,” Hays…

San Antonio’s flood watch continues. Following overnight showers from scattered storms that brought one to two inches of rainfall in the area, the National Weather Service has extended their flood watch warning here and for portions of the Hill Country, I-35 corridor, and coastal plains until 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 25.  This morning’s ongoing showers and storms around San Antonio are expected to weaken and move east in a few hours, according to the weather…

Update at 2 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for portions of South Central Texas, which includes San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels, Kyle, Kerrville, Georgetown, Fredericksburg, Uvalde and Del Rio. The flood watch will be in effect from 7 p.m. on Friday to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 25.  NWS warns that “heavy rainfall and excessive runoff could lead to life threatening flash flooding somewhere in the watch area.” The flood watch…

A hearing attendee labels a map of the Guadalupe River during a joint committee hearing at the Hill Country Youth Event Center on July 31, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. Credit: Texas Tribune / Ronaldo Bolaños Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Top Republicans in the Texas Legislature have announced the creation of committees tasked with “getting to the bottom…

Speedy Sparks (second from left in the rear) performed with legendary musicians, including the Texas Tornados. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Texas Tornados Speedy Sparks, a bassist who played with Lone Star State music icons including Doug Sahm, Joe King Carrasco and the Texas Tornados, has died at age 79, according to friends and associates. Though he primarily worked out of Austin, Sparks first made his mark in San Antonio, recording with new-wave wild man Carrasco…

The 7.98% property tax rate increase was approved on Tuesday, September 23, during a city council meeting that drew angry residents in strong opposition to the tax hike. City officials have the option to keep the new tax hike for three years or until the city’s total taxable value exceeds $3.6 billion without a vote, which angered residents even more.  “This tax increase is basically a gut punch to the flood victims in the city,” Jacklynn…