Houston Rodeo Now Has Dress Code After Carnival Participants Brawl
March 18, 2026 – An outbreak of fights forced organizers to shut down the carnival portion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo early Saturday night, prompting new safety measures and sparking debate over a recently implemented dress code.
According to police, multiple altercations broke out across the carnival grounds, creating chaos and safety concerns for attendees. Videos circulating on social media captured large crowds running and confrontations escalating, leading officials to close the event ahead of schedule.
In response, rodeo organizers quickly enforced an updated code of conduct that includes a new dress code aimed at maintaining a family-friendly environment. The policy prohibits outfits considered overly revealing, including exposed undergarments or excessive skin, and allows staff to remove individuals whose attire is deemed disruptive to other guests.
The dress code was announced earlier in the week and took effect immediately following growing online criticism about inappropriate attire at the event. While some attendees have praised the move as necessary to preserve the rodeo’s traditional, family-oriented atmosphere, others have raised concerns about how the rules will be enforced.
Critics warn that dress codes have historically been used in ways that disproportionately impact people of color, and question whether the largely volunteer workforce will be equipped to fairly determine what qualifies as appropriate attire.
The updated policy also bans visible gang-related clothing, tattoos or symbols, a measure officials say is intended to address safety concerns following recent fights.
City leaders have previously discussed similar issues surrounding dress code enforcement in Houston nightlife venues, highlighting the broader challenges of balancing public safety with fairness.
Rodeo officials say security presence has been increased moving forward, as they work to prevent further incidents while maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for families.
Paris District Roads to be Resurfaced Notification
March 18, 2026 – PARIS – Over 100 miles of Northeast Texas Roadways will receive new surfaces
Starting next week, according to plans awarded last winter by the Texas Department of
Transportation.
Contractor Clark Construction of San Antonio, TX was awarded the contract to seal coat
highways in all nine counties within the Paris District with a low bid of $12.9 million. The
Paris District includes Grayson, Fannin, Hunt, Rains, Hopkins, Franklin, Lamar, Delta,
and Red River counties.
The project consists of seal coat and striping. Various lane closures are to be expected
throughout project duration. Motorists who travel frequently in these areas are asked to
pay special attention to all barricades, traffic controls and signs, and to reduce their
speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid
distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
See the attached list for highways that are scheduled to be resurfaced. The projected
start date is April 13. Once underway, the project is expected to be completed by
the end of summer, weather permitting.
Army Approved New Grenade, the M111
March 18, 2026 – The United States Army has approved a new offensive hand grenade, marking the first time in nearly six decades that a new lethal grenade has reached full deployment status.
The earliest known hand grenades originated in Song Dynasty China (960–1279 AD) as “thunder crash bombs,” which were gunpowder packed into ceramic or metal containers with fuses. Earlier, 8th-century Byzantine forces used hand-thrown containers with Greek Fire, while 12th-century Persians used explosive-filled terracotta vessels.
Officials announced that the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade has been cleared for Full Material Release, allowing it to be fielded across Army units. The system was developed at Picatinny Arsenal in coordination with Army research and development teams.
The M111 is designed to replace the aging Mk3A2 grenade, which first entered service in 1968. The older model has faced increasing restrictions due to its asbestos-based construction. In contrast, the M111 uses a modern plastic body that is fully consumed during detonation, improving safety for soldiers.
Unlike traditional fragmentation grenades such as the M67, the M111 relies on blast overpressure to neutralize targets. This design makes it particularly effective in confined spaces like buildings and urban environments, where fragmentation can pose risks to nearby friendly forces.
Military officials say the new grenade reflects lessons learned from urban combat, including operations in Iraq, where fragmentation grenades were not always the safest option in close quarters.
The Army says the M111 will enhance both training and combat readiness by giving soldiers a safer and more adaptable tool. While fragmentation grenades will still be used in open environments, the M111 is expected to become the preferred option in enclosed and restricted terrain.
Paxton Sues Water Treatment Plant For Dumping Sewage into Cedar Creek
March 18, 2026 – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced this week that his office has secured a court order halting the illegal discharge of sewage and waste into waterways in East Texas.
The legal action targets Angelina County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4, which state investigators say had been releasing untreated or improperly treated sewage into Cedar Creek. The creek is part of the larger Neches River Basin, a critical water system for the region.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the lawsuit was filed in early March after an investigation revealed that the district’s wastewater operations were polluting Cedar Creek with contaminants, including ammonia and E. coli. Officials say the pollution stemmed from a leaking lift station that discharged sewage into a tributary feeding the creek.
State officials allege the activity violated both the Texas Water Code and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, laws designed to protect public health and the environment.
A court has now granted a Temporary Restraining Order, requiring the district to immediately stop all unauthorized discharges and begin cleaning up affected areas. The order is intended to prevent further contamination while the case moves forward.
Paxton said the ruling sends a clear message that environmental violations will not be tolerated.
“Illegal sewage dumping that threatens the health of Texans and harms our beautiful Texas waterways will not be tolerated,” he said in a statement.
The Attorney General’s office says it will continue monitoring the situation to ensure compliance and protect nearby communities that rely on the water system.
Officials say the case highlights the importance of maintaining proper infrastructure and oversight when managing wastewater systems across Texas.
Islamic Schools Still Banned From Texas School Choice Program
March 18, 2026 – A federal judge in Houston is drawing attention amid ongoing legal challenges to Texas’ new school choice program, particularly over questions involving religious schools and eligibility rules.
U.S. District Court Judge Alfred Bennett of the Southern District of Texas reportedly described the lack of Islamic schools participating in the state’s Education Freedom Accounts program as “troubling” during recent proceedings.
The program, created to provide state-funded education savings accounts for families seeking alternatives to public schools, has drawn widespread interest. State officials report that more than 200,000 applications have been submitted, despite funding being available for only about half that number of students. The application period closed this week.
At the center of the legal dispute is a provision that bars private schools from participating in the program if they have ties to terrorist organizations or foreign adversaries. Supporters of the rule argue it is necessary to protect national security and ensure public funds are not directed to entities with questionable affiliations.
However, two federal lawsuits currently before Bennett’s court challenge that restriction. Plaintiffs argue the provision could unfairly limit participation by certain religious schools and may violate constitutional protections, including religious freedom and equal access.
The judge’s comments have added another layer to the debate, which sits at the intersection of education policy, national security concerns and religious rights.
The outcome of the cases could have significant implications for how Texas implements its school choice program moving forward, particularly in determining which private institutions are eligible to receive public funds.
For now, the program remains in place as applications are reviewed, but its long-term structure may ultimately depend on how the court rules in the pending lawsuits.
The 2026 Dairy Festival Begins!
March 18, 2026 – The 2026 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parent and Contestant Information Reception was held Monday, March 16th, 2026, at the Southwest Dairy Museum in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Below is KSST/Cable Channel 18’s coverage of this reception. Check it out and learn what the theme is for this year’s Hopkins County Dairy Festival!
How did your Plants and Flowering Trees Fare?
March 17, 2026 – A late-season cold snap brought freezing temperatures to Hopkins County overnight, damaging early spring vegetation.
Temperatures dipped into the mid-30s across the area, cold enough to produce patchy frost in low-lying and rural areas. Gardeners and landowners reported concerns about tender plants, blooming trees and early garden crops that may have been exposed to the chill.
Agriculture experts say even a light frost can damage or kill sensitive vegetation, particularly newly budding fruit trees and spring flowers. Leaves may appear wilted or darkened in the days following a freeze, while some plants could experience stunted growth.
The cold temperatures come during a transitional time of year, when warmer daytime highs—often reaching into the 70s and 80s—encourage early growth. However, sudden overnight drops remain a risk across Northeast Texas through early spring.
Climatologists note that the average last freeze date for Hopkins County typically falls between mid-March and late March, though colder temperatures can occasionally occur into early April. That means residents are still within the window where frost and freezes are possible.
Local gardeners are encouraged to take precautions during cold nights, such as covering plants, bringing potted vegetation indoors or using frost cloths to reduce exposure.
The good news is that warmer weather is expected to return quickly, with temperatures climbing back above seasonal averages in the coming days. Still, experts caution that until the region passes its average last freeze date, residents should remain prepared for occasional cold snaps.
For now, the overnight freeze serves as a reminder that winter conditions can linger, even as spring gets underway in Hopkins County.
Texas Stops Oklahoma Land Grab Attempt
March 17, 2026 – Texas officials say an effort by an Oklahoma landowner to claim property along the Red River has been stopped after a court sided with the state’s legal arguments.
“The full force of the law will come crashing down on anyone trying to seize Texas land. I will always defend our state’s sovereignty and will not allow erroneous theories to undermine Texas’s land ownership,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The Red River Rivalry may be famous on the football field, but I won’t allow that term to extend to Oklahoma property owners unlawfully seizing Texas land in the courtroom.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the decision this week, calling it a victory for Texas sovereignty and established state boundaries. The dispute stemmed from a lawsuit filed in August 2025 in an Oklahoma court, where a property owner sought to redefine the border between Texas and Oklahoma.
Paxton’s office intervened in the case alongside the Texas Department of Transportation, arguing that the lawsuit relied on outdated legal precedent and improperly attempted to bring Texas into an out-of-state court without its consent. The judge ultimately agreed, removing the State of Texas from the case.
At the center of the dispute was the boundary along the Red River, which has historically been the dividing line between the two states. The landowner based the claim on a 1923 U.S. Supreme Court decision that defined the border as the river’s “lower bank.”
However, Texas officials argued that the earlier ruling had been superseded by the Red River Boundary Compact, an agreement approved in 1999 and later ratified by Congress in 2000. That compact more clearly established the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma, providing a modern legal framework for resolving disputes.
State officials said the court’s decision reinforces that the compact—not older case law—governs the border.
While Texas has been dismissed from the lawsuit, litigation involving other parties may still proceed in Oklahoma courts.
Paxton said the ruling ensures Texas land remains under Texas jurisdiction and prevents what he described as an improper attempt to shift state boundaries through legal action.
No Run-Off Election Needed for City of Starbase
March 16, 2026 – The newly incorporated City of Starbase will not hold its upcoming municipal election after no candidates filed to challenge the current officeholders.
Under Texas election law, local governments are allowed to cancel an election if every race on the ballot is uncontested. Because no challengers submitted paperwork before the filing deadline, Starbase officials confirmed that the scheduled election will not take place, and the current officeholders will remain in their positions.
The city is closely tied to the operations of SpaceX and its launch complex in South Texas. The community sits near Boca Chica Beach, where the aerospace company conducts rocket launches and testing activities.
Starbase officially became an incorporated city last year after officials in Cameron County approved a petition submitted by residents connected to the growing development around the SpaceX facility. The incorporation effort came as the area saw rapid growth tied to the company’s expansion and increasing workforce.
Supporters of the incorporation argued that forming a city would allow local leaders to better manage infrastructure, services and development connected to the spaceport and surrounding community.
Because the election will be canceled, Starbase’s existing leadership will continue serving their terms without a formal vote. Such cancellations are relatively common in small municipalities when no candidates step forward to contest local positions.
Although residents will not head to the polls this election cycle, city officials say the incorporation of Starbase represents a new chapter for the rapidly developing community.
The area continues to attract attention due to its role in commercial spaceflight and its association with Elon Musk, whose company has made the region a central hub for rocket development and testing.
For now, Starbase will move forward with its current leadership in place as the city continues to grow alongside SpaceX’s operations.
2026 Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program Removes 973 Derelict Traps from Texas’ Bays
March 13, 2026 – GULF COAST — During this year’s annual Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program (ACTRP), participants from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division, Texas Game Wardens, volunteers and partner organizations along the Texas Gulf Coast rallied together to search for and discard derelict traps from Texas’ Bays.
For the past 24 years, Texas coastal waters officially close to crabbing with mesh wire cages for 10 consecutive days each February to facilitate the volunteer crab trap cleanup. Any traps left in bays — including traps tied to docks — are assumed abandoned and considered “litter” under state law during the closure period. This allows volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they may find.
“The Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program continues to be essential for reducing the number of derelict crab traps that can be found along the coast,” said Holly Grand, TPWD’s ACTRP and Coastal Outreach Coordinator. “The support of our volunteers, partners, and staff is crucial for the success of this program. We look forward to removing more traps next year.”
This year, TPWD staff, volunteers and partners helped remove 973 traps from Texas Coastal waters. In addition, various marine life was successfully rescued from these now disposed crab traps:
- 320 blue crabs
- 201 stone crabs
- 21 sheepshead
- 13 catfish
- 3 flounder
- 2 Diamondback terrapins
The abandoned traps can damage shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, and create unsightly views. In addition, lost or abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, traps and pots continue to catch and kill marine life (called “ghost fishing”). To date, volunteers and TPWD staff have hauled off over 46,000 of these derelict traps, saving an estimated 756,461 blue crabs.
The Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Galveston Bay Foundation, San Antonio Bay Partnership, Christmas Bay Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provide continued support to the annual crab trap removal program. In addition, numerous organizations and companies provide volunteer services to make this program so successful. The Gulf of America Alliance also provides funds for innovative techniques to find traps and recently helped promote the benefit of crab trap cleanups.
