Nadia Lathan, The Associated Press

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Nadia Lathan, The Associated Press.

Texas governor signs bill creating another DOGE-inspired effort at the state level

Texas governor signs bill creating another DOGE-inspired effort at the state level

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday creating an office inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency and aimed at reducing state regulations, joining other Republican governors who have pledged their own versions of billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting group.

Former Texas Rep. Mayra Flores is recovering after hospitalization, campaign says

Former Texas Rep. Mayra Flores is recovering after hospitalization, campaign says

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Former Republican U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores is recovering after being hospitalized Tuesday shortly after announcing that she will run for a U.S. House seat in 2026, according to her campaign.

Former Texas Rep. Mayra Flores is hospitalized hours after announcing 2026 run, campaign says

Former Texas Rep. Mayra Flores is hospitalized hours after announcing 2026 run, campaign says

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Former Republican U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas on Tuesday launched a bid to unseat Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in 2026, followed by her campaign announcing just hours later on social media that she had been hospitalized with no further details.

Texas AG Ken Paxton launches Senate primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn

Texas AG Ken Paxton launches Senate primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in a primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn, setting up what is likely to become one of the GOP's most contentious and expensive contests of 2026.

Judge awards $6.6 million to whistleblowers who reported Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to FBI

Judge awards $6.6 million to whistleblowers who reported Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to FBI

A district court judge has awarded more than $6 million combined to four whistleblowers in their lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired shortly after they reported him to the FBI.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrongfully fired whistleblowers, judge rules

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrongfully fired whistleblowers, judge rules

A district court judge has awarded more than $6 million combined to four whistleblowers in their lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired shortly after they reported him to the FBI.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gears up for potential Senate run after bribery probe dismissed

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gears up for potential Senate run after bribery probe dismissed

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is gearing up for a potential U.S. Senate run while no longer shadowed by a federal corruption investigation that hung over his rising profile in the Republican Party.

No timetable from Texas governor on filling late Democratic congressman's vacant seat

No timetable from Texas governor on filling late Democratic congressman's vacant seat

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The race to fill a Texas congressional seat has candidates but no election date more than three weeks after Rep. Sylvester Turner's death left a vacancy in a stronghold for Democrats, who are eager to cut into Republicans' narrow U.S. House majority.

Justice Department moves to drop lawsuit that would allow Texas police to arrest migrants

Justice Department moves to drop lawsuit that would allow Texas police to arrest migrants

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Trump administration has moved to dismiss a Biden-era lawsuit against Texas over a state law that would allow local police to arrest migrants who enter the country illegally, days after the administration's decision to dismiss similar lawsuits against Iowa and Oklahoma.

Texas lawmaker introduces bill to clarify medical exceptions in state's abortion ban

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A Texas lawmaker who helped pioneer the state's restrictive abortion laws introduced a bill on Friday to clarify medical exceptions allowed under the law, representing a pivot from Republican legislators who have defended the state's abortion ban in the face of lawsuits and medical scrutiny.

The late US Rep. Sylvester Turner is honored by mourners as he lies in state

The late US Rep. Sylvester Turner is honored by mourners as he lies in state

Mourners in Houston paid tribute to the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas as he lay in state at city hall Tuesday, part of a week of public events to honor the Democratic lawmaker and former mayor.

Houston pays tribute to the late US Rep. Sylvester Turner as he lies in state

Houston pays tribute to the late US Rep. Sylvester Turner as he lies in state

Mourners in Houston paid tribute to the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas as he lay in state at city hall Tuesday, part of a week of public events to honor the Democratic lawmaker and former mayor.

The late US Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas to lie in state in Houston

The late US Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas to lie in state in Houston

U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas, who died this month just weeks into first term in Congress, was scheduled to lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday in the first of several public events honoring the former Democratic lawmaker and mayor.

Texas governor orders ban on DeepSeek, RedNote for government devices

Texas governor orders ban on DeepSeek, RedNote for government devices

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a ban on Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek for government-issued devices, becoming the first state to restrict the popular chatbot in such a manner. The upstart AI platform has sent shockwaves throughout the AI community after gaining popularity amongst American users in recent weeks.

Texas bar association drops lawsuit against AG Ken Paxton over 2020 election challenge

Texas bar association drops lawsuit against AG Ken Paxton over 2020 election challenge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The State Bar of Texas is dropping efforts to discipline Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton over allegations that his failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election amounted to professional misconduct.

Texas' bar association drops lawsuit against AG Ken Paxton over 2020 election challenge

Texas' bar association drops lawsuit against AG Ken Paxton over 2020 election challenge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The State Bar of Texas is dropping efforts to discipline Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton over allegations that his failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election amounted to professional misconduct.

Texas has a powerful new House speaker in a blow to the GOP's hard right

Texas has a powerful new House speaker in a blow to the GOP's hard right

A push by Texas' hard right to widen control in the state Capitol fell short Tuesday after House lawmakers rejected its choice for the powerful speakership amid a Republican feud accelerated by the historic impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Republicans again make gains on Texas-Mexico border and hang onto a US House seat

Republicans again make gains on Texas-Mexico border and hang onto a US House seat

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz of Texas won reelection Tuesday night as the GOP showed growing strength along the U.S.-Mexico border and continued chipping away at a region that has been a longtime stronghold for Democrats.

Republicans again make gains on Texas-Mexico border and hang onto US House seat

Republicans again make gains on Texas-Mexico border and hang onto US House seat

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz of Texas won reelection Tuesday night as the GOP showed growing strength along the U.S.-Mexico border and continued chipping away at a region that has been a longtime stronghold for Democrats.

Texas border districts are again in the thick of the fight for House control

Texas border districts are again in the thick of the fight for House control

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas faced his first election Tuesday since his indictment on bribery charges, one of three closely watched races along the U.S.-Mexico border where Republicans are trying to widen inroads in the predominately Hispanic region.

Texas jury clears most 'Trump Train' drivers in civil trial over 2020 Biden-Harris bus encounter

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal jury in Texas on Monday cleared a group of former President Donald Trump supporters and found one driver liable in a civil trial over a so-called "Trump Train" that surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus days before the 2020 election.

Jury deliberations begin in civil trial over 'Trump Train' encounter with Biden-Harris bus in Texas

Jury deliberations begin in civil trial over 'Trump Train' encounter with Biden-Harris bus in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A jury in Texas began to deliberate Friday whether the so-called "Trump Train" that surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus days before the 2020 election in a heated highway encounter amounted to political intimidation.

Closing arguments begin in civil trial over 'Trump Train' encounter with Biden-Harris bus in Texas

Closing arguments begin in civil trial over 'Trump Train' encounter with Biden-Harris bus in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A civil trial in Texas over a so-called "Trump Train" that surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus days before the 2020 election reached closing arguments Friday before a federal jury decides whether the rolling highway encounter amounted to political intimidation.

A 'Trump Train' convoy surrounded a Biden-Harris bus. Was it political violence?

A 'Trump Train' convoy surrounded a Biden-Harris bus. Was it political violence?

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A Texas jury will soon decide whether a convoy of supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently intimidated former Democratic lawmaker Wendy Davis and two others on a Biden-Harris campaign bus when a so-called "Trump Train" boxed them in for more than an hour on a Texas highway days before the 2020 election.

Trial begins over Texas 'Trump Train' highway confrontation

Trial begins over Texas 'Trump Train' highway confrontation

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal trial is set to begin Monday over claims that supporters of former President Donald Trump threatened and harassed a Biden-Harris campaign bus in Texas four years ago, disrupting the campaign on the last day of early voting.

Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition

Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in a privacy lawsuit over claims that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission, officials said Tuesday.

Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition, state says

Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition, state says

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in a privacy lawsuit over claims that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission, state officials said Tuesday.