United States

Nurses at Methodist Hospital | Westover Hills in San Antonio help newborn and NICU babies create first letters to Santa during the holiday season. Staff write on behalf of infants, with input from parents, and provide the letters as keepsakes that record early milestones and hospital experiences. The activity takes place alongside regular medical care and follows infection-control procedures. Families often save the letters and sometimes return in later years to show their children’s progress.

The Texas comptroller reports that millions of dollars in unclaimed property are available to residents and businesses in Bexar County. Funds include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, and other dormant assets. Officials urge Bexar County residents to search the state’s free online database through the comptroller’s website and file claims at no cost. The state holds unclaimed property indefinitely until the rightful owner or heir submits proper documentation and the claim is approved.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reverse his veto of funding for a federal Summer EBT meal program that could provide grocery benefits to low-income children across Texas. The request comes as state officials face a federal deadline to opt into the program, which offers electronic food assistance to families of students who receive free or reduced-price school meals. The governor previously cited concerns about long-term federal funding and administrative costs in his decision.

The Federal Communications Commission is blocking new approvals for certain foreign-made drones, including many from China, citing U.S. national security and communications network concerns. Chinese officials call the measure discriminatory and say it unfairly targets Chinese manufacturers. The decision affects future equipment authorizations and could change availability and sourcing in the U.S. drone market. Industry groups, retailers and drone users are watching for detailed implementation rules and potential effects on prices, product choices and cross-border technology trade between the United States and China.

The U.S. Justice Department has released more than 11,000 new documents and photos tied to Jeffrey Epstein under a federal disclosure law. The files include investigative reports, internal communications, court-related materials, and images from prior probes. Many names and details appear redacted to protect victims and sensitive law-enforcement information. Officials describe the move as part of an ongoing effort to make Epstein-related records public on a rolling basis. The new release adds to earlier document tranches and offers a broader view of federal interest in Epstein’s activities, prosecutions, and custody before his 2019 death.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting detailed information on monitoring and response efforts for equine herpesvirus outbreaks. The congressman asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to explain surveillance, communication with state agencies, event guidance, and available resources for managing the highly contagious horse disease. The inquiry focuses on how federal authorities track cases, support Texas officials and work with veterinarians, horse owners and equine event organizers as the state reports EHV cases linked to major gatherings.

Denmark will summon the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen after former President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland, the autonomous Arctic territory within the Danish realm. Danish officials plan to seek clarification on the envoy’s mandate, its impact on existing defense and foreign policy arrangements, and how Washington will coordinate with Copenhagen and Greenland’s self-rule government. The move highlights Greenland’s strategic role in the Arctic, ongoing U.S. military and diplomatic interests in the region, and Denmark’s constitutional responsibility for foreign affairs and security on behalf of the island.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has tripled its “exit bonus” for certain undocumented migrants who agree to leave the country voluntarily by December 31, 2025. Eligible migrants can now receive $3,000 for self-deportation, as part of federal efforts to manage immigration enforcement and reduce reliance on formal deportation proceedings. The program operates within existing immigration law governing voluntary departure and remains limited to migrants who meet specific criteria set by authorities.

Waco Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley filed a federal lawsuit in December 2025 seeking to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The suit challenges the authority of the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct to discipline her for refusing to perform same-sex weddings while continuing opposite-sex ceremonies. Represented by attorney Jonathan Mitchell, Hensley asks federal courts to restore state control over marriage laws and to bar sanctions against her, positioning the case as a potential vehicle for Supreme Court review of same-sex marriage precedent.