Friday, January 2, 2026

Texans Leaving Congress, Beach Restoration, and Readers' NYE Memories

The Texas congressional delegation will look dramatically different next year as at least nine U.S. House members—six Republicans and three Democrats—are not running for reelection. 
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A Feel-Good Look Back at 2025 — With Amy Hess

Tune in for today's headlines.   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌   ͏ ‌  ...

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Texans Leaving Congress

The Texas congressional delegation will look dramatically different next year as at least nine U.S. House members—six Republicans and three Democrats—are not running for reelection. Texas Republicans also hope to increase their numbers from the current 25 members to 30 after redistricting created a more GOP-favorable map.

Chip Roy (R-Austin) is running to replace Ken Paxton as attorney general, while Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) and Wesley Hunt (R-Houston) are running for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn.

Democrats Marc Veasey (Fort Worth) and Lloyd Doggett (Austin) decided to retire from Congress after redistricting pitted them against other Democratic members. Veasey was first elected in 2012, while Doggett has served in Congress since 1995.

Republicans retiring from Congress include House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (Lubbock), former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell (Magnolia), former sheriff Troy Nehls (Richmond), and former anti-terrorism prosecutor Michael McCaul (Austin).

Article Icon 1Contract Awarded to Restore Damaged Beach

An $86 million contract has been awarded to a Houston company to restore Matagorda County's Sargent Beach, damaged by multiple storms in recent years, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Parts of the area have been closed since September.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office are providing funding for the project. Orion Government Services LLC will dredge more than a million cubic yards from the mouth of the Colorado River and deposit it along a 3.5-mile stretch of Sargent Beach, where a 2,600-foot concrete wall will be constructed at Mitchell's Cut.

Sargent Beach has one of the highest erosion rates along the Texas coast—up to 23 feet a year in some areas. "The long overdue beach nourishment project, with the additional building of breakwaters, will help stabilize this important stretch of shoreline," said Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.

The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2027.

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Around Texas

Thanks to our readers who submitted their most memorable New Year's Eve memories. Here are some of our favorites.

➤ Lisa Stout (Spring): My most memorable New Year's Eve was last year. My daughter and two grandchildren came over to spend the night, and we played board games and UNO for hours. At midnight, we made toasts. (My grandson had apple juice.) He is looking forward to New Year's Eve this year and plans to stay up again.

➤ Suzanne & Sonny D. (Montgomery): We were married on New Year's Eve in 1965. We are celebrating our 60th anniversary this year while cruising the Bahamas. Ain't love grand!

➤ Sundy W. (Streetman): Our New Year's Eve fondue tradition began in 2002, when several families from our church volleyball group in Arlington gathered for a "Fundue" celebration. We start with cheese fondue in the kitchen, move to the dining room for oil and broth fondues with bite-sized meats and veggies, and end the night with chocolate and caramel fondue for lots of fun dippers. We watch the ball drop in NYC, and then we toast the new year at midnight Texas time. As our families grew, so did our spread of tables and fondue pots. Frequent trips to the breaker box and winding extension cords through the house to other circuits are always an issue. While many families have participated, three have kept coming for 24 years. Even COVID didn't stop us!

➤ Brenda (Ransom Canyon): My very favorite New Year's Eve was 2000. I had worked for a year to make sure my school's computers were Y2K compliant. And they were. What a relief!

➤ Jeff F. (Waxahachie): As newlyweds approaching our one-year anniversary in 1983, my wife and I traveled from San Diego—where I was stationed in the Navy—to Long Beach, California. After spending the night in a nice hotel, we got up early to visit the retired British ocean liner Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose aircraft, both on display. Although we were among the first visitors to arrive, we made the mistake of seeing the Queen Mary first. After walking around the ship for a couple of hours, we went to see the Spruce Goose. By the time we did, there were about 1,000 people in line ahead of us to see it. We never saw the Spruce Goose that day or any other day!

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The Polling Station

Do you think you'll be represented by a new congressperson next year?

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don't know
  4. Don't care
 

Yesterday's Results:

What was the most important news story in Texas last year?

  1. Flash floods: 22%
  2. EPIC City: 16%
  3. School choice: 16%
  4. Redistricting: 16%
  5. Measles outbreak: 15%
  6. Other: 15%
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