January 2026

Abbott expands call for stronger anti-fraud investigations to include Texas Medicaid

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday ordered Texas state agencies to investigate potential fraud in the state’s Medicaid program, following federal findings of possible Medicaid fraud in other states under the Trump administration. In a letter to officials overseeing Medicaid, Abbott directed agencies to strengthen anti-fraud safeguards, review operations for vulnerabilities, coordinate with federal and state investigations, and report their findings and corrective plans to his office. The directive expands Abbott’s earlier push for tougher anti-fraud efforts in state programs to specifically target Texas Medicaid and aligns state actions with nationwide federal initiatives to detect and prevent Medicaid fraud.

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Texas to fight for Ten Commandments posting rule in schools — essential info

A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear arguments on lawsuits challenging Texas and Louisiana laws that require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. The article explains how the statutes mandate classroom postings, details the constitutional claims by parents and civil liberties groups, and outlines the defenses by state officials. It also reports how the court’s ruling could shape future Establishment Clause cases involving religious displays in schools and affect policy decisions in districts across both states.

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Congress releases last-minute measures to keep government open

Congress faces a Jan. 30 deadline to fund remaining U.S. government agencies and programs after the longest shutdown in history in November. Lawmakers are negotiating final appropriations measures, agencies are preparing contingency plans and federal workers and contractors are watching closely as the House, Senate and White House work to avoid another disruption in government operations.

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NBI probes Atong Ang beach house in Zambales during manhunt

Authorities from the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Tuesday inspected the AA beach house of gaming operator Charlie “Atong” Ang in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales, but did not find him there, Mayor Arvin Antipolo said, as the nationwide manhunt for Ang—identified by police as the only remaining fugitive among 22 suspects in the “sabungeros” disappearance cases—continued with coordinated operations, surveillance of his known properties, and joint enforcement efforts by national law enforcement agencies.

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Wembanyama bounces back from injury scare as Spurs beat Bucks

Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to post 22 points and 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in San Antonio. Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists, while Julian Champagnie contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Spurs built a lead that reached 39 points early in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points for Milwaukee, which recorded its third straight loss and its second consecutive blowout defeat. The Spurs controlled the boards, dictated the tempo, and limited Milwaukee’s offense for most of the game.

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San Antonio police chief McManus to retire after years of service

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, the city’s longest-serving police chief, announced in Austin, Texas, that he will retire later this year. City officials have not yet disclosed the effective date of his retirement or the process for choosing his replacement. The San Antonio Police Department will continue regular operations as the city prepares for a leadership transition.

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Houston lands at No. 4 on list of most anxious US cities

A new Compare the Market study ranks Houston as the fourth most anxious city in the U.S., based on Google searches for “anxiety symptoms.” Researchers analyzed one year of search data across major cities and found Houston recorded about 23,000 anxiety-related searches, placing it ahead of Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, and Las Vegas. The study identifies multiple Texas cities among the top locations for anxiety-related queries and uses search activity as an indicator of public concern, not formal clinical diagnoses.

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Wemby drops 39 to lift Spurs past Wolves, Edwards scores 55

Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-123 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, overcoming a season-high 55-point performance by Anthony Edwards on Saturday night. Donte DiVincenzo briefly put Minnesota ahead with a late three-pointer, but Wembanyama responded with a 20-foot jumper, then blocked Joan Beringer’s reverse layup and secured a key offensive rebound in the final seconds to preserve the Spurs’ lead. De’Aaron Fox added 25 points and 12 assists as San Antonio avoided a three-game season sweep by Minnesota in their head-to-head series.

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‘Zero respect,’ say Hays County officials about ICE actions in local raids

Hays County officials in Texas publicly criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over recent immigration raids in Kyle and Buda, citing a lack of coordination, “zero respect” toward local authorities, and concerns about a filmed arrest that left a detainee injured. Local leaders requested detailed information from ICE on the number of people detained, the locations of operations, and the circumstances of the injury incident, while residents reported confusion and alarm over the unannounced federal activity. County and city officials are collecting witness accounts and video evidence as they press for clearer communication protocols and a formal explanation from federal immigration authorities.

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