Business Roundup | Lonestar Weekly

Texas Lawmakers Rejected Emergency Response Bill Months Before Devastating Floods, Raising Questions on Preparedness

WildCard Charlie2 months ago08 mins

A legislative effort aimed at bolstering Texas’s emergency response capabilities was rejected by state lawmakers just months before the state was struck by recent devastating floods. The timing of this legislative failure has drawn scrutiny, prompting discussions about the adequacy of current preparedness measures in the face of increasingly severe weather events. Legislative Setback for…

Texas Mandates Sweeping Food Additive Warning Labels, Shaking Industry and Interstate Trade

Vicky Lee2 months ago010 mins

Austin, Texas — In a significant legislative action poised to reshape the landscape of food production and distribution, the state of Texas has formally enacted a new law mandating explicit warning labels on certain foods. This sweeping legislation targets specific additive content found within these products, introducing a new layer of consumer information requirements. The…

Federal Aid Activated: SBA Disaster Loans Available for Texas Communities Ravaged by July Storms, Flooding

Tiana Blake2 months ago09 mins

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the immediate availability of low-interest federal disaster loans aimed at providing crucial financial relief to small businesses, residents, and private nonprofit organizations across parts of Texas severely impacted by recent weather events. The declaration follows a period of intense severe storms, straight-line winds, and…

Texas Freeze for Flood Relief: Andy’s Custard Donates 10% of Sunday Sales to Aid Catastrophic Hill Country Flood Recovery

admin2 months ago07 mins

WACO, Texas – A Waco-based business is stepping forward to support communities grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that struck the Texas Hill Country this week. Andy’s Frozen Custard has announced that specific locations will donate a portion of their sales to aid search, rescue, and recovery operations following the destructive July 4th floods….

Texas Unemployment Claims Fall as National Jobless Filings Ease, Labor Department Reports

Kendra Lane2 months ago07 mins

Austin, Texas – Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Texas registered a notable decline last week, signaling a potential easing in the pace of layoffs across the state. Data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor showed a decrease in new jobless claims, often considered a key indicator and a proxy for shifts in…

Controversial US Spending Bill Passes Amidst Scrutiny of Tech Giant’s Rising Influence and Market Woes

Jackson Reed2 months ago07 mins

A highly contentious federal spending bill, characterized by some political observers as “Donald Trump’s prize legislation,” recently achieved narrow passage in the U.S. Senate. The legislative battle culminated in a rare moment requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote, highlighting the intense partisan division and the delicate balance of power in the…

Texas Solidifies Nuclear Leadership Position as Key Alliance Membership Swells to 50

Jackson Reed2 months ago09 mins

Austin, Texas — The Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA), the preeminent industry association solely dedicated to advancing nuclear technology within the state, has announced a significant expansion of its ranks, reaching a milestone of 50 member organizations by the conclusion of the second quarter of 2025. This rapid growth underscores Texas’s escalating ambition to become a…

Nationwide Labor Shortage Grips Small Businesses, Survey Reveals Persistent Hiring Challenges

Sierra Ellis2 months ago08 mins

A new survey underscores a significant and persistent challenge facing small business owners across the United States: the struggle to adequately staff their operations. Conducted among thousands of small businesses nationwide, the findings highlight widespread difficulty in filling open positions, a hurdle owners report is actively impacting their ability to function and grow. Understanding the…

Elon Musk’s Powerful Lobbying Machine Reshapes Texas Laws

hank thompson2 months ago07 mins

A new investigative report reveals the extent to which technology magnate Elon Musk and his companies significantly influenced key legislation during the 2025 legislative session in Texas. The report, co-published by ProPublica, The Texas Newsroom, and The Texas Tribune on July 3, 2025, details how focused lobbying efforts by entities linked to Musk, including Tesla,…

Elon Musk’s Texas Legislative Triumph: Inside a Year of Significant Influence at the Capitol

Felicia Holmes2 months ago09 mins

A comprehensive look at the legislative successes achieved by representatives of Elon Musk’s sprawling business interests in Texas during the recent legislative session, highlighting the state’s increasing importance as the core of his corporate empire. A Pivotal Year in Austin While Elon Musk frequently commands national and international headlines through his various ventures and public…