News

Sealy City Council considered budget amendments and a historical designation for the renovations of Liedertafel Hall and W.E. Hill Community Center during its meeting, Tuesday, Dec.

Sealy City Council reviewed updates on ongoing projects for infrastructure expansion, improvements and more during its city council meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 16.

A second tragic action in less than a week has claimed the life of a well-known Austin County resident. Shirley Biehunko Hegemeyer, 55, of Cat Spring, was pronounced dead at the scene of a three-vehicle accident on FM 949, north of FM 1094 in Austin County.

A two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a prominent Sealy businessman is still under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The accident, which occurred Dec.

The Justice Department announced two indictments in the Central District of California charging Ukrainian national Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, 33, also known as Vika, Tory, and SovaSonya, for her role in conducting cyberattacks and computer intrusions against critical infrastructure and other victims around the world, in support of Russia’s geopolitical interests. Dubranova was extradited to the United States earlier this year on an indictment charging her for her actions supporting CyberArmyofRussia_ Reborn (CARR). Today, Dubranova was arraigned on a second indictment charging her for her actions supporting NoName057(16) (NoName). Dubranova pleaded not guilty in both cases, and is scheduled to begin trial in the NoName matter on Feb. 3, 2026 and in the CARR matter on April 7, 2026.

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott, Southwest Airlines, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson announced at Austin- Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) that Southwest will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin. Southwest’s expansion will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in the state and is expected to create 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $14 million has been extended to Southwest Airlines. In addition, the company has been offered a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.

In the 17th statewide election since Texas Corn Producers Board (TCPB) became a statewide entity in 1990, five board members were elected or re-elected in the organization’s biennial elections. In Voting Region One, Robert Gordon of Hartley County and Michael Dee Vaughan of Moore County were re-elected.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) established a national Jan. 15, 2026, batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. This national batching date ensures producers have a clear, consistent timeline for participating in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This includes NRCS’ new Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.