Economic Optimism Seen From Chamber Day Survey Results

Press Release: (AUSTIN, TX) – Attorney General Ken Paxton will propose strengthened rules to implement and enforce Senate Bill 17 (89(R)), which restricts certain individuals and entities connected to designated foreign adversaries from purchasing or acquiring interests in Texas real property. The strengthened proposal builds upon the comprehensive rules previously proposed by the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”). Attorney General Paxton’s new rules add new safeguards designed to increase transparency, encourage reporting of potential violations, and better help Texans identify property owned by entities covered by the law. The Texas Legislature passed SB 17 during the 89th Legislative session, and the law took effect on September 1, 2025. The statute restricts the purchase or acquisition of real property by certain individuals and entities from designated adversarial nations, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to mitigate national security risks. The strengthened proposal leaves most of the OAG’s previously proposed rules in place while adding several important protections and clarifications. The new rules clarify that any person—not only individuals or entities facilitating real estate transactions—who believes they have information indicating a potential violation of the statute may submit a complaint to the OAG. The new rules would also provide protection for facilitating entities whose due diligence is based on regulatory guidelines or standards adopted in good faith by an industry group. Additionally, under the updated rules, the OAG would develop a plan for an online portal containing a registry of Texas properties owned by entities that meet the definitions established by SB 17, including properties acquired before the law took effect. The registry would be modeled after the Texas Sex Offender Registry website and include similar mapping and search functions to provide Texans with greater transparency regarding covered foreign ownership of property across the state. The proposed rules would also create a mechanism for individuals to report pre-SB 17 property acquisitions to the OAG. “Under my watch, communist China, Russia, Iran, or any other of our nation’s enemies or foreign nationals who threaten our national security will not be allowed to buy property in Texas,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My strengthened rules will increase transparency, empower Texans to report potential violations, and give my office additional tools to identify foreign land ownership and vigorously enforce the law.” In addition to proposing stronger rules, Attorney General Paxton has also begun developing plans for a new OAG task force dedicated to uncovering and stopping foreign land sales in Texas. The new rules will be available for review in the October 9th issue of the Texas Register. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

Coming up on Sunday, October 25, 2026, you can dine on pizza AND make a difference in our community! The Rotary Club of College Station is hosting Pizza for a Purpose at Napa Flats on Texas Avenue to benefit the Rotary Club’s Clothing for Kids project. The club helped approximately 160 local children through its back-to-school and Christmas shopping events last year. Each child received a $150.00 clothing-shopping budget, providing roughly $24,000 in direct clothing assistance to children in need. With the Christmas shopping event approaching, the club hopes to raise additional funds to serve even more children this holiday season. Community partnerships help make that goal possible. Napa Flats is generously partnering with the Rotary Club of College Station to provide the pizzas and beverages for Pizza for a Purpose. Pickup will take place from 5:00 to 7:00pm on Sunday, October 25th in the Chick-fil-A parking lot next to Napa Flats in College Station. For $40.00, get your choice of cheese, pepperoni, or Margherita pizza, plus a bottle of red or white wine or a 2-liter soft drink. Every ticket also includes automatic entry into the event’s His & Hers Raffle, where participants have a chance to win either a rifle or a gift basket filled with goodies donated by a local salon.* Tickets can be purchased through Venmo at @csrotary, with Tap to Pay available on the day of the event. WoodmenLife – Texas Southeast will match donations. Burdett & Son Outdoors is also contributing its services by handling the firearm prize transfer and associated paperwork at no cost to the Rotary Club. Together, these partnerships demonstrate the power of local businesses and organizations coming together to support children and families throughout the Brazos Valley. For perspective, every $150.00 raised is equivalent to the shopping budget for one child. With the generosity of local businesses, community supporters, and WoodmenLife’s matching contribution, the Rotary Club of College Station hopes to expand Clothing for Kids and make this Christmas brighter for even more children. Event Details: What: Pizza for a Purpose When: Sunday, October 25, 2026 | 5–7 p.m. Where: Chick-fil-A parking lot next to Napa Flats, College Station Cost: $40 per ticket Includes: Choice of pizza, beverage, and automatic raffle entry Payment: Venmo @csrotary or Tap to Pay at pickup Benefiting: Clothing for Kids, a Rotary Club of College Station service project Community Partners: Napa Flats, WoodmenLife – Texas Southeast, and Burdett & Son Outdoors About the Rotary Club of College Station: The Rotary Club of College Station is a local service organization and part of Rotary International, a global network of people dedicated to creating lasting change in their communities and around the world. Guided by the motto Service Above Self, club members work together through service projects, charitable initiatives, and community partnerships to address needs throughout the Brazos Valley. *Firearm prize transfers are subject to applicable laws and eligibility requirements. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

According to the Texas Railroad Commission, there were permits issued for 696 new oil wells in the state during the month of September. That brings the total of new wells for the year to 5,780, which is not yet to the 2025 total of 8,434 new wells. More than half of the new drills in September were in the state’s Midland drilling district. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.