AUSTIN (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.
Flores was the first Mexican-born congresswoman in the U.S. House after winning a 2022 special election in another Texas border district. She served about six months in Congress but lost her bid for a full term.
Her campaign did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about why she was hospitalized.
“We pray that Mayra will return stronger than ever, ready to continue her unwavering commitment to serving our country,” her campaign said in a statement posted on X.
Flores’ challenge highlights Republicans’ growing confidence in making gains in South Texas, a region once a stronghold for Democrats but has slowly chipped away its support for the party in recent elections. President Donald Trump flipped several counties near the border — including the two most populous, Hidalgo and Cameron — in November. Starr County, with a predominately Hispanic and working-class population, broke generations of precedent when it flipped for Trump in 2024.
Cuellar, who has represented Texas’ 28th Congressional District for two decades, won reelection last year against a Republican newcomer who had little outside support. It was a test of Cuellar’s resiliency after he and his wife were indicted in 2024 on bribery charges. Prosecutors allege the couple accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. Cuellar has said that he and his wife are innocent, and the case remains ongoing.
Cuellar’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
DALLAS (AP) — Police responded Tuesday to reports of a shooting at a Dallas high school where students were seen leaving the campus and school authorities later reported the campus had been secured.
Authorities did not immediately provide further details on the incident, which drew a large number of police and emergency vehicles to the campus of Wilmer-Hutchins High School in south Dallas.
The Dallas Independent School District later said the campus had been secured but it did not elaborate on what had occurred. The school has roughly 1,000 students.
Aerial television footage taken above the high school showed multiple police vehicles at the complex on Tuesday afternoon.
By mid-afternoon the school district said parents could reunite with students at a nearby stadium. The district also said counselors were available on site.
Florence Pugh says she doesn't make it easy to date her.
The actress opened up about her romantic life in a recent cover story for Harper's Bazaar UK. Pugh said she is currently in love and that she is approaching this relationship differently than she has in the past.
“I’m more sympathetic to the people who are in love with me, because it’s not easy," Pugh said. "I’m tricky – I’m always busy, I can never make dates.”
Even so, Pugh said she is learning she must work on this part of herself if she wants to have a family one day.
"But it’s not good enough for me to ask someone to just accept that," Pugh said. "I’ll just end up alone. I don’t want that – I want a family."
Pugh, who has endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, has also begun the process of freezing her eggs. Though she describes it as “tiring and horrible,” the actress understands she is lucky to be able to afford the medical care.
“There was a clickbait article about me doing it,” Pugh said. “I know you shouldn’t read the comments but ... urgh. I wish there was a little more tenderness and understanding.”
(WASHINGTON) -- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's recent executive order aimed at Susman Godfrey, the law firm that has for years represented Dominion Voting Systems -- the leading supplier of election technology across the U.S.
The decision from Judge Loren AliKhan on Tuesday is the latest win for one of the few law firms that have fought back against Trump's orders instead of striking a deal.
Trump's executive order seeks to block the firm's access to government buildings and cancel government contracts, among others, over their "previous activities."
Susman Godfrey has represented the voting machine company Dominion, famously securing a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News to settle allegations the network aired false claims about the company rigging the 2020 election.
Notably, the firm still represents Dominion in its active cases against a number of Trump's allies -- including Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell and others.
In her ruling, Judge AliKhan delivered a strong repudiation of the order, noting it "chills the firm's speech and advocacy" as well as "threatens reputational harm."
"The executive order is based on a personal vendetta... and frankly I think the Framers of the Constitution would see this as a shocking abuse of power," she said.
During the hearing on Tuesday afternoon, attorneys representing Susman Godfrey said that Trump's order was "one of the most brazenly unconstitutional exercises of executive power in the history of this nation."
"The executive is wielding an axe, and we don't know exactly when that axe is going to fall but they're ready to bring it down," said Donald Verrilli, an attorney representing Susman from the firm Munger, Tolles, and Olson.
Deputy Associate Attorney General Richard Lawson, a political appointee who previously worked for Attorney General Pam Bondi, argued repeatedly that the order fit squarely in the administration's free speech rights.
"I would urge great caution from the court on the judiciary policing the executive branch's speech, that is just a very tricky area that is extremely difficult to try and implement," Lawson said.
He argued the judge should wait until the administration issued formal guidance to agencies on their interactions with the firm before issuing a temporary restraining order barring any kind of enforcement.
Despite this, Judge AliKhan said the TRO would remain in effect for 14 days and ordered the government to rescind any memos or guidance that had already gone out on the order.
Susman Godfrey said of the judge's decision in a statement to ABC News,"This fight is bigger and more important than any one firm. Susman Godfrey is fighting this unconstitutional executive order because it infringes on the rights of all Americans and the rule of law."
"This fight is right, it is just, and we are duty-bound to pursue it. We are grateful the court directly addressed the unconstitutionality of the executive order by recognizing it as a 'shocking abuse of power,'" the firm said.
The hearing comes as the Trump administration has ramped up pressure against several law firms and universities.
Since Trump began targeting law firms, nine of the country's largest law firms -- including Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis, Willkie Farr and Latham & Watkins -- have agreed to provide a combined $940 million in legal services to promote causes supported by the president.
The firms also agreed to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from hiring practices and vow not to deny representing clients based on politics.
Alternatively, three other major U.S. firms -- Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block -- are fighting the president's action against law firms in federal courts, which have temporarily paused the orders from taking effect.
TYLER – UT Health East Texas is continuing to expand their health care operations by building a new facility in Tyler.
According to our news partner, KETK, the new state-of-the-art facility will have an area of more than eight thousand square feet. It will open up at Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway in West Tyler near the Sam’s Club, and the new building will offer an urgent care center, a pediatric clinic, and a primary care clinic.
UT Health CEO Todd Hill spoke about the need for the new facility due to Tyler’s continued population growth.
“This location is at the heart of Tyler’s rapid growth along the western corridor,” Hill said. “As our community expands, we remain committed to meeting the increasing demand for quality healthcare close to home. This investment ensures that families in this area have convenient access to the care they need, when they need it.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility will be held at 10 a.m. on April 17 and the building is anticipated to be opened later this year.
UPSHUR COUNTY – According to our news partner, KETK, an Upshur County deputy received the lifesaving award on Tuesday after saving a man’s life during an overdose in March.
Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb presented Deputy Lucrecia Davidson the lifesaving award after she responded to an overdose call on March 27 where a man was found unresponsive and lying on the floor.
Officials said Davidson was the first on scene and administered two doses of Narcan and continued to provide CPR while keeping his airway clear until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.Then man slowly began to respond and survived the incident due to Davidson’s quick actions.
The Sheriff’s office commented, saying, “Thank you, Deputy Davidson, for your unwavering service to the citizens of Upshur County.”
TYLER –A Tyler tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a tax refund fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Karistha Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to making false and fraudulent statements on a tax return and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 15, 2025. Johnson was ordered to pay $1,244,934 in restitution. Continue reading Tyler tax preparer sentenced to federal prison for role in tax refund fraud scheme
People take part in a protest to demand the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi; Photo credit: Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) -- Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was arrested by immigration authorities Monday, was taking the last step in the process for him to become a U.S. citizen, his attorney told ABC News.
Mahdawi, a permanent United States resident, was arrested during his naturalization interview and detained in Vermont, Luna Droubi, one of his attorneys, told ABC News.
"It was the last stage, the last hurdle for him," Droubi said. "What he wanted was to become a US citizen, and attended this naturalization with that hope."
U.S. District Judge William Sessions subsequently granted Mahdawi's attorneys a temporary restraining order barring the government from moving Mahdawi out of District of Vermont "pending further order" from the court.
Mahdawi, who founded a university organization called Palestinian Student Union with Mahmoud Khalil, was an activist in student protests on Columbia's campus until March 2024, according to a habeas petition obtained by ABC News.
"He advocated on behalf of his people," Droubi said. "He had moments where he spoke out and that is the extent of his participation."
Droubi said Mahdawi was detained "solely on his first amendment rights."
"He's being detained based solely on his first amendment rights -- his speech," Droubi told ABC News. "That's a violation of the law, that's a violation of the Constitution, and he should be released immediately as a result of the detention."
Droubi said "there was a smear campaign against Mahdawi" on social media.
"They were all non-governmental actors," Droubi said. "So the reality is the government has not provided any evidence to justify his detention by government agents."
Droubi said she has requested that Mahdawi be released on bail.
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement referred ABC News to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a court filing in Khalil's immigration case, DHS submitted a two-page memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserting that the law gives him the power to determine a person is deportable even if their actions are "otherwise lawful."
Rubio wrote that Khalil should be deported because of his alleged role in "antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States."
TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that a portion of Rose Rudman Trail will be closed all day Wednesday, April 16 for tree trimming. The part of the Trail in question runs parallel to South Donnybrook Avenue, north of Shiloh Road. Officials stressed this area should be avoided until this work is completed.
DALLAS – The Dallas Morning News reports the Trump administration is pulling nearly $64 million in support for a proposed Dallas-to-Houston bullet train project, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calling the project “a waste of taxpayer funds.” The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday that it would terminate a $63.9 million grant for the project led by Texas Central, the company behind the planned high-speed rail line. The funds were awarded to Amtrak, a public rail provider that Texas Central said in 2023 would help move the project forward. The Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak agreed to terminate the $63.9 million previously awarded under the Corridor Identification and Development Program, according to Monday’s announcement. “This project was originally announced as a purely private venture, but as the cost estimates dramatically ballooned, the Texas Central Railway proposal became dependent on Amtrak and federal dollars for development work,” the DOT said in a statement.
“The project capital cost is now believed to be over $40 billion — making construction unrealistic and a risky venture for the taxpayer,” the statement added. The company announced plans more than a decade ago for a proposed train to shuttle passengers from Dallas to Houston in about 90 minutes compared to the 3½-hour car trip on Interstate 45. Texas Central planned to model the bullet train after partner Japan Central Railways’ Shinkansen system. The project has faced many delays and leadership changes since, and uncertainty about the final costs remain. In a hearing before the Texas House Transportation Committee earlier this month, a Texas Central representative said details about how the rail line would be funded and the project timeline remains in flux. The company also expressed doubt that Amtrak would continue to lead the effort.
If you can't help but wonder when the season 3 trailer for And Just Like That... will arrive, then you're in luck.
Max released the trailer and release date for the third season of the original series on Tuesday. It premieres May 29 and will drop new episodes every Thursday. The 12-episode season 3 will conclude on Aug. 14.
The show is a continuation of the popular HBO series Sex and the City. It "follows Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Seema, and LTW navigating the complicated reality of life, love, sex, and friendship in their 50s in New York City," according to its official logline.
Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Carrie Bradshaw, and this time around she's facing something almost every New Yorker has had to deal with.
"There's nothing like summer in New York City," Carrie says in her signature voice-over during the trailer. "With its hot days and even hotter nights, something new and unexpected always awaits."
Cut to: an infestation of rats taking over Carrie's apartment. "Prancing around like in The Nutcracker," she jokes.
The new trailer also shows off other developments in Carrie's life, such as where she stands with her beau, Aidan, and a new career pivot into writing fiction.
"Life is a story we get to write every day," Carrie says during the trailer. "And when the plot twists, we can choose to embrace a new chapter."
Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Cathy Ang, Mehcad Brooks, Jonathan Cake, MarioCantone, Niall Cunningham, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Christopher Jackson, Logan Marshall-Green, SebastianoPigazzi, Alexa Swinton, Dolly Wells and John Corbett also star in season 3.
Michael Patrick King develops and executive produces the show, which follows characters based on the book by CandaceBushnell and made popular in the HBO series from Darren Star.
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Smith County deputy and K9 placed second out of 39 teams at a narcotics competition in Florida.
According to the Smith County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, Deputy Alvin Gordon and K9 Blaze attended the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) National Training Conference at the Hyatt Conference Center in Titusville, Fla., from April 7 through April 11, where they competed against other K9s and handlers.
NNDDA holds an annual seminar for hundreds of K9s and their handlers with extensive training, including K9 liability, K9 supervisor’s course, training sites and certification, K9 troubleshooting problems, patrol competition, and narcotics competition. Officials said Gordon and Blaze came home with second place in the narcotics competition out of 39 teams.
“We could not be prouder of these two, and the work they do for Smith County,” the precinct 5 constable’s office said.
Chris Columbus regrets including Donald Trump in Home Alone 2.
The U.S. president makes a seven-second cameo in the 1992 holiday sequel film which Columbus directed. The director recently told the San Francisco Chronicle he wishes he could cut the brief appearance out of it.
“It’s become this curse. It’s become this thing that I wish it was not there,” the director said. “It’s become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone.”
Columbus, who has Italian ancestry, said he fears if he were to cut out the cameo the Trump administration may deport him.
“I can’t cut it,” Columbus said. “If I cut it, I’ll probably be sent out of the country. I’ll be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so I’ll have to go back to Italy or something.”
The brief appearance happens during a scene in The Plaza Hotel. Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, asks Trump for directions to the lobby. “Down the hall and to the left,” Trump responds.
Columbus said Trump allowed him to shoot the movie in the hotel in exchange for the cameo.
“He said I begged him to be in the movie, but there’s no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie," Columbus said. "But we were desperate to get The Plaza Hotel.”
(WASHINGTON) -- Former President Joe Biden will deliver one of his first public speeches since leaving office 85 days ago, expected to speak about safeguarding Social Security amid Republicans’ current threats to it at a conference in Chicago on Tuesday.
Biden re-enters the public stage after keeping a relatively low profile in the time since he left office. After he gives the keynote speech at the gathering of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled, Biden will have been seen now a handful of times in recent weeks -- emerging even while President Donald Trump continuously blames his predecessor for a range of issues.
Trump has blamed Biden for everything from rising egg prices (during his address to a joint session of Congress in March, claiming "Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control") to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Trump notably called Biden a "stupid president" during his contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in March and refers to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as "Biden’s war."
ACRD is billing Biden’s remarks as the first of his post-presidency, though the 82-year-old is known to have given remarks at two recent events, though less publicized. He spoke at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers event in Washington last week when he became an honorary member of the union. In March, he spoke at the Model United Nations conference in New York.
“We are deeply honored President Biden is making his first public appearance at ACRD’s sold-out conference,” said Rachel Buck, ACRD Executive Director. “As bipartisan leaders have long agreed, Americans who retire after paying into Social Security their whole lives deserve the vital support and caring services they receive. As a result, we are thrilled the President will be joining us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security.”
ACRD is convening its conference to bring together policymakers and advocates in a bipartisan effort to support Social Security, the organization claims, especially as operational and staffing issues caused by cuts by the current administration have impacted the older and disabled Americans who use Social Security income and insurance.
Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have slashed 7,000 Social Security Administration jobs over the past few months in their efforts to cut down the federal workforce as part of the new Department of Government Efficiency, moves that Democrats have vigorously rallied against.
Biden's speech comes as Democratic congressional leaders are billing Tuesday as a 'Day of Action' focused on Social Security.
“Across the country, Democrats are leading the fight to oppose the Republican plan to gut Social Security. Our Save Social Security Day of Action will mobilize Americans from every corner of the United States to push back on Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE’s cuts to Social Security," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement.
“Republicans want to slash this critical lifeline by making it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to access their earned benefits. Shutting down local offices, firing large numbers of experienced constituent service workers and cutting phone services makes it harder for people to get their checks. Republicans are trying to kill Social Security from the inside -- it is a cut by another name -- and we won’t let that happen."
Biden will be joined in Chicago by former Maryland Gov. and Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley and the organization’s co-chairs -- former Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow and former Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.
