Senator Ted Cruz and challenger Colin Allred engaged in a heated debate, clashing over critical issues like border security, abortion rights, and economic policies.

In Dallas, the Texas Senate debate on Tuesday night evolved into a battleground of ideas as incumbent Ted Cruz debated Democratic challenger Colin Allred. The candidates exchanged pointed criticisms regarding critical issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion, which exposed their contrasting perspectives on the future of the state.
Cruz, who maintains a slight advantage in the polls, defended his conservative record, while Allred capitalized on the occasion to question Cruz's stance on abortion rights. Allred criticized the stringent abortion laws of Texas, contending that they violate the autonomy of women. He emphasized the necessity for women to make their own decisions, stating, "26,000 women have been compelled to give birth to the child of their rapist under this law you called perfectly reasonable."
Cruz accused Allred of being out of touch with Texas values in response, emphasizing his opposition to parental notification laws for minors seeking abortions. Cruz attempted to portray Allred as an extremist by asserting that "he even supported late-term abortions."
Immigration and border security were also the subjects of the discussion. Cruz castigated Allred for purportedly advocating for the elimination of existing barriers and the establishment of open borders. "When Trump was president, we secured the border and achieved the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years," Cruz pointed out.
The high stakes of this closely watched campaign were underscored by the debate, as both candidates prepare for the November election. They are both striving to connect with Texas voters in the face of a changing political landscape.
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has closed the oyster harvesting area TX-5 in Galveston Bay after reef health fell below sustainability thresholds, leaving only two public areas open in the bay as the season continues.
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The Gulf Coast Protection District voted unanimously Jan. 21 to advance preliminary engineering and design work on the long-debated Galveston Bay Barrier System, a $31 billion centerpiece of the broader Coastal Texas Project. Supporters call it critical storm protection; critics question its cost, timeline, and effectiveness.
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A $35 million beach renourishment project on Pensacola Beach is nearing completion, with 1.5 million cubic yards of sand set to be placed along 8.1 miles of shoreline ahead of peak spring tourism. Similar restoration efforts have wrapped up in Galveston, Texas.