Since 2005, Texas has taken a new approach to adult corrections that is still tough, but also smart. By expanding alternatives to incarceration such as evidence-based practices in probation and drug courts, the state has achieved a double-digit reduction in crime while avoiding $2 billion in projected expenses on building new prisons.
Local Government
Texas Gave Cities a Tool for More Housing Affordability. Some Are Throwing It Away.
Housing affordability is one of the Lone Star State’s – and greater Houston’s – most pressing challenges. Recent estimates suggest Texas’ statewide housing shortage exceeds 300,000 homes, applying upward pressure on rents and prices in ways that squeeze working households, young families, and seniors looking to downsize. The gap is especially severe for first-time homebuyers,...
August 7, 2026