Paul Cobler, Author at The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/author/paul-cobler/ Independent news. Trusted by Texans. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:45:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cropped-cropped-texas-tribune-favicon-32x32.png Paul Cobler, Author at The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/author/paul-cobler/ 32 32 249301168 Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdown https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/27/texas-houston-airport-tsa-staffing-delays-lines/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=225068 Travelers wait for hours in long TSA lines at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on March 25, 2026.

Wait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are expected to worsen over the weekend as agents miss a second paycheck and increasingly call in sick.

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Legislators, business leaders highlight Texas policies driving competition with Wall Street https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/26/texas-tribune-panels-yall-street-growth-legislation/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:42:15 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224982 John Sepehri, of counsel at Foley and Lardner LLP, answers a question alongside Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Chris Babcock, president at Alliance for Corporate Excellence, and Brian Page, managing director at JPMorganChase, during The Texas Tribune’s Y’all Street event, moderated by Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins and held at the Dallas Regional Chamber in Dallas on March 24, 2026.

The panelists at the Dallas event hosted by The Texas Tribune said “Y’all Street” is poised to become the nation's financial capital.

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Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisis https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/20/texas-corpus-christi-water-shortage-oil-gas-refineries/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=224471 A house next to a refinery in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Corpus Christi on Feb. 7, 2022.

The city produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.

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Texas oil companies stand to profit from Iran war disruptions while consumers face higher gas prices https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/11/texas-oil-iran-war-gas-prices/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=223560 Gas and diesel prices displayed at a Shell gas station in Austin on March 10, 2026.

Texas’ status as the nation’s largest oil producer will partially insulate its residents from some gas price hikes, but it’s not immune to disruptions, experts say.

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ExxonMobil set to to move its legal home to Texas, citing business friendly environment https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/10/texas-exxon-mobil-move-incorporation-new-jersey/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:56:44 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=223544 An ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown on Sept. 15, 2008.

Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the announcement on Tuesday, crediting Texas’ legal environment. Exxon has based its operations in the Houston area since 1989.

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Pro-gambling interests fail to gain ground in Texas primaries as legislative roadblocks remain https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/06/texas-primary-election-casino-gambling-candidates-sands-adelson/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=223198 Miriam Adleson delivers a keynote speech at the Texas Association of Business Policy Conference in Austin on Dec. 7, 2023.

Despite slow progress, casino empire Las Vegas Sands promised to continue investing in candidates who support bringing destination resort casinos to Texas.

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Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/02/texas-minority-women-business-hub-program-lawsuit-comptroller/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:17:34 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=222247 State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, left, listens as Ipsum General Contractors owner Ruben Mercado Jr. speaks at a press conference about a lawsuit against the state comptroller's office, at the Capitol in Austin on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Women- and minority-owned businesses were removed from the Historically Underutilized Business Program in December by acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who argued he was ending a DEI program.

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Early vote turnout in Texas outpacing past elections, fueled by Democratic primary voters https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/25/texas-early-voting-turnout-democrats-midterm-election/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=221608 The line wraps around the sidewalk at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Oct. 21, 2024, in Fort Bend County.

Turnout during the first week of early voting for the Texas midterm election exceeded the same period for the previous two presidential elections, years that typically see higher voter engagement.

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Texans shouldn’t expect Supreme Court ruling against tariffs to bring prices down soon, economists say https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/20/texas-trump-tariffs-supreme-court-ruling-business-reaction/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:05:51 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=221332 The Supreme Court on Friday struck down most of President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign goods.

The order wiped out many of the Trump administration's tariffs, but Trump promised Friday to find other ways to restore them.

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Texas 15th Court of Appeals primaries: Who is running and what to know https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/16/texas-15th-court-of-appeals-2026-primary-guide/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.texastribune.org/?p=220648

Voters statewide elect three justices to the new 15th Court of Appeals, created in 2023. Gov. Greg Abbott’s GOP appointees face their first election for six-year terms.

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