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Good morning,

Given all the naysaying about the General Election, we asked readers yesterday whether their friends and family will be voting in November. You will find the survey results below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan [[link removed]]

--" width="434" src=" Huffines Announces School Districts Receiving Fiscal Exam Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]] that four school districts known for courting controversy will now face a detailed review of their spending by the Office of the Comptroller.

Comptroller Don Huffines announced [[link removed]] yesterday afternoon that state auditors will examine the school districts in Austin, El Paso, Barbers Hill, and Prosper to find greater efficiencies in education spending. Gov. Greg Abbott requested the project in August, asking the comptroller to pick four districts of varying sizes and geographic locations.

Austin and El Paso were specifically mentioned by Abbott in his request because of their increased administrative spending despite enrollment declines. Prosper, meanwhile, has been home to horrific abuse cover-ups by school officials.

Barbers Hill was recently grilled by state lawmakers because of district trustees' decision to direct nearly $100 million to a private education foundation that engages in property speculation. Researchers have found that while more than $97 million was sent to the foundation over the course of a decade, less than $7 million has come back. --" width="434" src=" Paxton Investigates Insurance Company Over Denial of Medically Necessary Care A major health insurance company is under investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton over allegations that it engaged in deceptive and unlawful practices by denying Texans access to medically necessary healthcare. As Riley Wanasek reports [[link removed]], a similar investigation is underway regarding Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

In one instance, a UnitedHealth customer received a letter from the company approving a requested procedure. After the surgery, United allegedly sent the patient a second letter withdrawing the authorization, leaving the patient responsible for a large medical bill.

The investigation will also examine whether United’s coverage determinations improperly interfere with physicians’ medical judgment. Paxton’s office asserts that by denying treatment a patient’s physician has determined is medically necessary, United may be harming patients.

"I will not tolerate any insurance company putting illegal corporate greed over the people of Texas. No Texan should be denied medically necessary care, dragged through endless appeals, or stuck with devastating bills after trusting their insurer’s word." – Ken Paxton [[link removed]] --" width="434" src=" Lawmakers Get Screwworm, Mealybug Update Addie Hovland reports [[link removed]] that members of the Texas House have been briefed on efforts to contain New World screwworm infestations and combat the invasive pasture mealybug.

According to the state veterinarian, progress has been made in fighting the screwworm infestation. As of October 1, more than 71,800 animals in infected zones have been inspected. There are only three active cases of screwworm infestation in the U.S.; two are in Texas, and a third is in southwest New Mexico.

Meanwhile, lawmakers were told that the pasture mealybug problem has worsened. It has now been confirmed in more than 110 counties, up from 79 in August. Researchers have, though, identified an insecticide that can be used to combat the pest. --" width="434" src=" Former TSU Professor Sentenced in Student Aid Fraud Scheme A former adjunct professor at Texas Southern University will serve at least five years in prison following a guilty plea to a series of fraud charges. As Adam Cahn reports [[link removed]], the scheme involved more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the U.S. Department of Education.

Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for the full amount paid out in the fraud scheme.

According to Aaron Retiz, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Finnih submitted more than $1.3 million in fraudulent applications, of which more than $920,000 was paid out.

"Higher education costs are already skyrocketing out of control, and it’s scammers like Finnih who make it worse, more expensive, and financially damaging for everyone." – Aaron Retiz [[link removed]] --" width="434" src=" West Texas Band Director Arrested for Child Sex Abuse Material A West Texas band director recently hired by the Post Independent School District was arrested on Friday for possessing sexual images of children. Post ISD marked the seventh school district the man had worked for in eight years. Erin Anderson has the story [[link removed]].

Bruce Randal Bailey Jr. has been charged with possession of child pornography. Post ISD hired Bailey in July to direct the Pride of Post Marching Band. He had previously worked in six other school districts in Texas and New Mexico since 2018, including Spearman ISD north of Amarillo in 2023-24.

Post ISD is a D-rated district with three schools serving about 650 students. As news of Bailey's arrest broke, families took to social media with allegations that district administrators had dismissed concerns raised earlier in the year by the parents of band students.More Texas School News West [[link removed]] Texas Substitute Teacher Charged With Sexual Misconduct [[link removed]] --" width="434" src=" Trump (Back) in Texas Tomorrow For the second time in two weeks, President Donald Trump will be in Texas [[link removed]]. The president's visit to San Antonio tomorrow is meant to invigorate Republicans to turn out on Election Day.

The San Antonio appearance comes less than a week after Trump traveled to North Texas, where he visited the Peterbilt Motors manufacturing facility in Denton before heading north for a midterm rally in Durant, Oklahoma. During that trip, Trump called the GOP's senatorial nominee, Ken Paxton, “one of the most loyal people” and the "greatest attorney general in the United States of America."

Paxton is expected to join Trump in San Antonio, along with Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz. --" width="434" src=" Number of the Day

3,181

The estimated 2026 population of Post, Texas.

Source: World Population Review [[link removed]]

--" width="434" src=" Quote-Unquote

"There is no act, however virtuous, for which ingenuity may not find some bad motive." – Thomas Jefferson

--" width="434" src=" Support Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] --" width="434" src=" Y'All Answered

Yesterday, we asked readers if they thought their friends and family would vote in the General Election on Nov. 3.

Nearly 80 percent of readers said their acquaintances would vote, while 20.6 percent said theirs would not.

“The idea of Talarico representing us in the U. S. Senate will rush my friends and family to the polls to ensure that doesn’t happen.” – Randy Wright

“Many are frustrated and disappointed with the direction this administration is going. While to me, not voting is not the smartest thing to do, I would hate to think what history would sound like if the Defenders of the Alamo had that same mindset. Now is NOT the time to abandon ship. It's time to ‘hold the line’ in my book. I will definitely be voting.” – Linda Wentworth

“No. My friends, neighbors, and even family are apathetic to the entire process and don’t want to be bothered.” – Ed Scruggs

“I’ve been doing a lot of block walking. Most who answer the door are absolutely going to vote straight Republican ticket. A few were mad at either Paxton or Abbott, but were going to vote. Only one woman was rude. I suspect she was one of those Democrats who vote in Republican primaries. We really need to get that fixed.” – Marta Hollowell

“My friends know what's at stake and they vote.” – Steven Howell

“Please vote!! Don’t turn Texas into California. In other words, don’t Californicate Texas! I’m from California, so I know.” – Sandra Schroder

"Considering the considerable sacrifices rendered over the years on our behalf by patriots who fought and died defending our beloved nation, exercising our right to vote is the very least the rest of us can do." – Mike Karson --" width="434" src=" Directory of Texas' State & Federal Officials [[link removed]]

Contact information, biographies, and campaign finances.

Statewide

Texas Senate

Texas House

SBOE

U.S. House

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