This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security gave notice that it plans to waive environmental laws to install gates along a stretch of border fence in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Vice President Mike Pence visited Dallas on Monday to spur Republican support. He cast the midterm elections as a "choice between a party that’s committed to moving our nation forward and a party that’s committed to the politics of destruction."

Today is the deadline to register to vote. Not sure if you’re registered? Visit votetexas.gov and enter some identifying information to verify your voter status.

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Demographics, income and location all play roles in the difficulties Texans face finding an affordable home in a neighborhood they like.

Plus, get the latest news from the campaign trail.

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The legal battle played out at a federal appeals court Wednesday, with the two sides debating whether Texas' decreased spending on kids with disabilities years ago violated federal law.

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And in just a few days, Vice President Mike Pence will be Texas bound to also campaign for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Pete Sessions of Dallas. They’re two of the state’s most competitive federal races in the midterms.

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Former President Barack Obama gave his support Monday to nine additional candidates in Texas as part of his second wave of midterm endorsements.

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After repeatedly making headlines for eclipsing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the incumbent, in money raised for his campaign, Beto O'Rourke declined to give Tribune CEO Evan Smith a firm answer on his fundraising total in the third quarter of this year, which ended Sunday.

“I honestly don’t know, but it’s a lot,” he said.

Instead of questioning Christine Blasey Ford personally, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz delegated their time to sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, whom committee Republicans hired to ask questions of Ford for the GOP senators, a move widely viewed as saving the panel's 11 Republican men from the optics of questioning a woman who has alleged sexual assault.

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Both Texas senators are a part of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will hear the allegations on Thursday.

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A spokesperson said Schwertner "categorically denies any knowledge of the accusations leveled against him" and added that the senator "is eager to cooperate with the University of Texas and hopes to make clear he played no part in the behavior described.”

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