Texas Grants $160M for World Cup Security, Amid Criticism

0:00It's March 25th. Welcome in. This is El Paso News Today, where local news meets AI. Governor Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday, March 25th, that the state has awarded $116 million in grants to the city of Houston and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The money will fund extra safety personnel, equipment, and resources to boost security for the FIFA World Cup events coming to Texas. This funding comes from the FIFA World Cup Grand Program, which totals $625 million overall for host cities. It aims to protect players, staff, fans, venues, and key infrastructure from threats like potential terrorist attacks during the big tournament. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has criticized avid's priorities, saying Texans want focus on schools, health care, and affordability instead of what she calls political spending. Her comments highlight growing tensions ahead of the election. Meanwhile, with voting season approaching, key dates include the last date to register on October 5th, early voting from October 19th through 30th and Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd.

1:12These developments show Texas gearing up for both global events and local politics, keeping public safety and voter turnout in the spotlight.