Originally published by Hood County Express on October 25, 2026. Times and conditions below reflect the original reporting date.

4.2 million early votes • Emergency ballot options • San Antonio homicides decline • Houston crash • Dallas I-30 closure

Texas early vote tops 4.2 million

More than 4.2 million Texans had voted through Saturday, about 22% of the state's nearly 19 million registered voters, according to Transparency USA's compilation of Secretary of State data. The snapshot covers 198 of 254 counties, meaning the full count is higher.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told CBS News Texas on Friday that “the Democrats have the early lead” and that about 600,000 high-propensity voters had not shown up. He urged them to “get off the bench” and predicted they would catch up early next week. Texas does not register voters by party. His Democratic challenger, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin of Austin, told CBS News that “a lot of new voters are showing up.”

Early voting runs through Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Emergency ballot options remain

Friday, October 23, was the deadline to apply for a regular mail ballot in Texas, but some voters may still qualify for emergency procedures, KPRC 2 Houston reported.

Voters whose qualifying illness or disability began on or after Thursday, October 22, may apply for an emergency ballot with a doctor's certification. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on November 3 and ballots must be returned by 7 p.m.

A death in the immediate family on or after Thursday, October 29, can also qualify. Those voters apply in person at the main early voting site between Saturday, October 31, and Monday, November 2. Contact the county elections office for details.

San Antonio homicides on pace to drop

San Antonio is on track to finish the year with fewer than 100 homicides for the first time since 2015, The Texas Flyover reported.

Police Chief Jesse Salame told the city's Public Safety Committee that 66 homicides were recorded from January through September. Overall crime is down 6%, he said. Salame credited a plan developed by UTSA criminologists and implemented in 2023 that sends additional officers to crime hot spots.

Homicides peaked at 231 in 2022 and fell to 105 last year, according to a KSAT analysis.

Wrong-way crash kills one on Houston's 610

A wrong-way driver died in a head-on collision on Houston's 610 South Loop early Sunday, FOX 26 Houston reported. Police said the crash occurred shortly before 5 a.m. near Tierwester Street, east of the Highway 288 interchange.

The wrong-way driver hit a Chevrolet Suburban and was pronounced dead. The Suburban driver was taken to a hospital and was last reported in critical condition. While police blocked the road, a second vehicle struck two patrol cars. No one was hurt in that crash.

I-30 closed through downtown Dallas

All lanes of Interstate 30 through downtown Dallas were closed in both directions between the I-35E and I-45/U.S. 75 interchanges until 5 a.m. Monday, October 26, FOX 4 reported. Drivers were detoured onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway (SH 366). The closure was part of the $888 million I-30 Canyon construction project.

In Austin, FM 812 toward Circuit of the Americas reopened Sunday following a water-line issue, CBS Austin reported. Officials said Elroy Road remained the preferred approach to the track and repairs would resume Monday.

Hood County weather watch

At 2:15 p.m., Granbury airport (KGDJ) reported clear skies, approximately 79°F and southeast wind near 13 mph.

The National Weather Service Fort Worth forecast mostly cloudy skies Sunday afternoon, a high near 81, southeast wind around 10 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Sunday night: mostly cloudy, low around 58. Monday: mostly sunny, high near 81.

Community pulse

More than 4 million Texans have already voted early. Have you cast your ballot yet, or are you waiting for Election Day?

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Source: https://www.facebook.com/100649679540231/posts/1104436099152810