Meet Emma, the AI assistant answering the phones at Amarillo City Hall

Summary

Just in time for high summer, a surge in COVID cases? What officials are saying about a new subvariant.
It could be a very wet 72 hours of so for much of Southeast Texas and beyond as meteorologists focus on what could be the first big storm of hurricane season coming together in the Gulf of Mexico.
In Amarillo, phones at City Hall are answered by Emma – a first-of-its-kind virtual assistant powered by AI, built specifically for the city.
Why some analysts are pumping the brakes on predictions of a looming oil glut thanks to electric vehicles.
And: why some Texas Democrats say schools could be key to their success in November.

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A rare strawberry moon lights the Texas sky this week »

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January 15, 2025

Dustin Burrows wins race for Texas House speaker

In a session-opening battle for speaker of the House – one of the most powerful positions in state government – Rep. Dustin Burrows won the role in a blow to a rising faction in the Texas GOP, and a victory for what many call establishment Republicans. Elon Musk, Texas’ richest resident, is turning his eyes […]

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January 14, 2025

UT Dallas student journalists fight for press freedom

As lawmakers begin their work at the state Capitol, money is at the center of it all. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar shares a look at the current state of the Texas economy. After a Venezuelan woman died violently in Texas, her body was sold for scientific research without her family’s consent. An investigation into the […]

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January 13, 2025

What’s a wolf moon?

It’s go-time at the Texas Capitol as the 89th legislative session opens tomorrow, running through June 2. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom has a preview of what to expect. War on drugs? Or drug users? How a mass overdose event underscores what critics say is wrong with Texas’ anti-drug strategy. You’ve heard of a […]

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January 10, 2025

Could Houston send water to West Texas?

With temperatures on the rise, beware the temptation to let down your guard: a waning winter storm and what it means for drivers today. Gov. Greg Abbott is keen on an idea to pipe Houston’s surplus water to drought-stricken West Texas. With the U.S. inauguration just 10 days away, what’s in store for the relationship […]

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January 9, 2025

It’s cold outside, but politics are heating up in Austin

As cold as it is in some parts of the state, politics are heating up in Austin. As the next legislative session nears, there’s intense infighting over who will hold one of the top spots.Abortion access in this country has changed, especially in states like Texas, since the effective overturn of Roe v. Wade. But […]

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January 8, 2025

The polar vortex is complicating Northeast Texas farming

Rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow are sweeping across Texas, with the Panhandle and DFW areas bracing for the worst. We’ll have the latest on this week’s forecast – and how it’s complicating life for farmers and ranchers between Dallas and Texarkana. With the Texas Legislature set to reconvene in a few days, some lawmakers […]

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January 7, 2025

How one woman is helping revitalize Matagorda Bay

State lawmakers want to tackle the rising cost of renting or owning a home in Texas. Why more white-collar office workers are facing long-term unemployment. Diane Wilson waged a legal war against the company that was polluting a stretch of Gulf Coast and won. Now the shrimper is using the settlement money to help her […]

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January 6, 2025

What to expect as polar vortex hits Texas

We have the latest on what’s shaping up to be the first real winter storm of 2025 in Texas – and we’ll also turn to energy and what the winter weather adds up to for consumers and the industry. Houston mayor John Whitmire marks one year in office. How’s it going so far? The U.S. Census Bureau […]

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