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BREAKING NEWS | Election night, Nov. 3, 2026 | JigrockRadio News

James Talarico wins Texas U.S. Senate race and Gina Hinojosa wins governor

DALLAS — Democrats won two of Texas’ biggest races on election night. James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, and Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor’s race, while U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries won reelection in New York.

Talarico flips a Texas U.S. Senate seat

Talarico, a Democratic state representative, became the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988. The Texas Tribune reported the race call.

Hinojosa defeats Abbott for Texas governor

Hinojosa, also a Democratic state representative, becomes the first Democrat elected Texas governor since Ann Richards in 1990. Abbott conceded the race. KPRC 2 reported Abbott’s concession.

Bottoms wins in Georgia and Jeffries holds his New York seat

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson and is set to become Georgia’s first woman governor. CBS News Atlanta reported the race call.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries defeated Republican Lewis Mizrahi to keep his seat in New York’s 8th Congressional District. The House elects its speaker in a separate vote. Anadolu reported the Associated Press race call.

These election-night calls are based on unofficial results. Follow The Texas Tribune’s live results for the latest Texas vote totals.

Where the $5,000 figure came from

The $5,000 figure refers to a proposed DOGE dividend. Businessman James Fishback floated the idea in 2025, and President Donald Trump said returning a share of DOGE savings to Americans was under consideration. As PolitiFact reported, the $5,000 figure came from a proposal that would have needed congressional approval. JigrockRadio found no verified federal approval or payment date for that proposal.

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JigrockRadio News | November 3, 2026 | Polling snapshot checked at 8:55 a.m. Central.

DALLAS — Today is Election Day. Voters are deciding congressional, statewide and local races in the 2026 midterms, with the Texas U.S. Senate contest among the races drawing attention. Here is a morning snapshot of the latest available polling and official information for voters.

Latest national polling

The The Hill/Decision Desk HQ national generic congressional ballot average, dated November 3, showed Democrats at 51.4% and Republicans at 42.8% when checked for this report. That is an 8.6-point Democratic advantage in this average. The generic ballot asks about party preference for Congress; it does not determine individual district winners or directly translate into a seat count.

Texas Senate: What recent polls show

The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Politics Project tracker, last updated November 1, lists these recent surveys of likely voters in the race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton:

These are separate polls, not a combined average. Other candidates and undecided responses are not displayed in the table, so the two candidates’ shares may not total 100%. The margins shown apply to the individual surveys; uncertainty in the difference between candidates is larger than a single candidate’s margin of error.

Polling is not an election result

Polls measure opinions during their field dates. Turnout, undecided voters, sampling error and other survey limitations can change how closely polling matches the final vote. A lead in a poll is not a declaration of victory. This report contains no vote totals or winner calls, and the figures above are a dated snapshot rather than an automatically updating feed.

Texas voting information

According to the Texas Secretary of State’s Election Day calendar, Texas polling hours today are 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time. Check your registration, voting location and identification requirements through VoteTexas.gov. Dallas County voters can consult the Dallas County Elections Department for local voting information. Readers outside Texas should confirm hours and locations with their own election office.

Follow the count

For statewide race coverage as returns become available, visit The Texas Tribune’s 2026 results page. Early returns are incomplete, and final certification follows the official election process. Check the linked polling sources for revisions after the snapshot time above.

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SOUTH DALLAS — A landmark of Black music and neighborhood life is entering a new chapter. The historic Forest Theater’s return centers on its November 1, 2026, reopening celebration, following a major restoration and expansion led by nonprofit Forest Forward.

Forest Forward scheduled its “Grand Return” for Sunday evening at the theater, 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Organizers announced live entertainment, a village of local vendors, food trucks and a ceremonial relighting of the tower and marquee after more than 50 years. Those details describe the announced program; JigrockRadio has not independently verified a post-event account.

A home for South Dallas culture

First opened in 1949, the Forest became an important gathering place and entertainment destination for South Dallas. Its history includes performances by Prince, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett and Dallas native Erykah Badu. The venue closed in 2008, leaving a gap in the neighborhood’s cultural life.

Forest Forward’s restoration effort puts that history at the center of a broader neighborhood investment in arts, education and economic opportunity. The goal is to give residents places to gather, create and build businesses around the theater’s return.

More room for music and new voices

The expanded campus includes a 1,000-person concert hall, a 200-seat black box theater and a 13,000-square-foot creative education lab, according to the reopening announcement. Recording and podcast studios, artist classrooms, a rooftop gathering area and community meeting spaces broaden the possibilities beyond a traditional night at the theater.

For Dallas musicians and media creators, those spaces could offer new ways to develop work and connect with audiences. Forest Forward describes the project as part of a long-term strategy linking cultural activity with opportunity for surrounding residents.

What comes next

The November celebration begins a gradual launch. In an October 29 interview with D Magazine, Forest Forward president and CEO Elizabeth Wattley described a series of introductory events ahead of the first performance season planned for spring. Readers should check the organizer’s official channels for confirmed dates, ticket information and public access details.

Sources: Forest Forward’s Grand Return announcement; October 31 reopening release via North Texas e-News; D Magazine’s October 29 interview; Forest Forward project information.

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JigrockRadio’s News page now includes the courtroom YouTube feed selected for our Yella Beezy trial coverage, with Facebook, X and WhatsApp sharing buttons.

WATCH THE COURTROOM FEED ON OUR NEWS PAGE →

The player is titled “Criminal District Court 7, Dallas Live Stream.” Live availability, scheduling and the proceedings shown are controlled by the court’s broadcast. Outside broadcast hours, the player may show a waiting screen, replay or offline message.

The artwork is a symbolic editorial illustration, not a photograph of the courtroom. It does not depict evidence or a verdict.

PORT HURON, Michigan — October 26, 2026 | JigrockRadio News

Nicki Minaj brought a major hip-hop name into the midterm campaign spotlight Sunday, October 25, appearing at President Donald Trump’s rally in Port Huron, Michigan, and reaffirming her support for him and Republican candidates.

The appearance came as Trump campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. According to The National News Desk, Minaj encouraged voters to support Republicans in the November 3 elections and said she would support Trump if he sought office again.

A celebrity appearance with political consequences

Minaj’s presence added entertainment-world attention to a campaign stop centered on Michigan’s Senate contest. She also traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One, according to reporting by the New York Post and Entertainment Weekly.

Trump acknowledged the rapper during his remarks and made a comment about her body that drew cheers from the audience. Entertainment Weekly reported that he then apologized for drifting away from his prepared remarks and said he hoped she had not been insulted.

What is confirmed — and what is speculation

Minaj’s comment about backing another Trump run does not establish that he can seek a third elected term. The National News Desk noted that the Constitution bars a person from being elected president more than twice.

Separately, White House communications director Steven Cheung joked on social media about Minaj becoming press secretary after sharing footage of her aboard Air Force One. That remark was a joke, rather than an announced appointment, according to the New York Post. Readers should distinguish that online speculation from a formal White House personnel announcement.

For JigrockRadio’s music and culture audience, the appearance is another example of a prominent artist taking an active role in partisan politics as voters prepare for the midterms.

Sources: The National News Desk / ABC News 4 (October 26); New York Post (October 25); Entertainment Weekly (October 25).

Featured artwork: AI-generated editorial illustration for JigrockRadio, not a photograph of the event.

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DALLAS — October 22, 2026

Dallas police closed lanes of Interstate 20 and Interstate 45 Thursday while responding to a man on an overpass, causing major traffic backups around the interchange, according to FOX 4.

FOX 4’s report, published at 1:57 p.m. Central, described aerial footage showing officers attempting to speak with the man. The station attributed its information to Dallas police and its SKY 4 helicopter coverage.

The Dallas Morning News later reported one death following an hourslong standoff at the interchange.

Details remain limited. This draft could not independently establish the man’s identity, the circumstances of the reported death or when the affected highways reopened. Claims circulating online that the man allegedly jumped have not been independently verified for this report.

JigrockRadio News | October 22, 2026

Ohio’s governor’s race has taken a deeply personal turn after Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign released an attack advertisement featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton. The ad has sparked criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, raising questions about the limits of political campaigning.

In the video, Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, accuses her daughter of dishonesty and urges voters not to elect her. But the commercial leaves out a crucial part of the family’s history: Acton says she has been estranged from her mother since childhood, after allegations of sexual abuse by her stepfather. Acton and her brother have publicly described abuse and their removal from their mother’s custody.

Acton’s brother, Phil Stearns, appeared in a response video defending his sister and criticizing the use of their childhood experiences as a campaign weapon. Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed it produced the original ad and said it planned a $4 million effort to promote it despite the backlash.

Reaction has crossed party lines. Some Ohio Republican officials said they would not have aired the ad, while other conservative voices defended it. Political observers are divided over whether the controversy will change votes so close to Election Day.

With Ohio voters already casting ballots, the dispute has shifted attention from policy to the candidates’ personal histories—and to what voters consider fair game in a campaign.

Sources: Ohio Statehouse News Bureau; PolitiFact.

JIGROCK RADIO ENTERTAINMENT NEWS | October 20, 2026

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z could be taking center stage at Super Bowl LXI. According to an October 20 report by Dave Brooks at Puck, multiple sources say the Roc Nation founder has selected himself to headline the halftime show on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Important: The NFL, Roc Nation and Jay-Z have not officially confirmed the performance. For now, the news remains a reported plan rather than an official announcement.

From Behind the Scenes to Center Stage?

Since 2019, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has partnered with the NFL to help shape the Super Bowl’s music and entertainment programming. The partnership was extended in 2024. If the report proves accurate, 2027 would mark Jay-Z’s first time headlining the halftime show himself.

Other stars, including Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, were reportedly considered. The potential Jay-Z performance would bring one of hip-hop’s most influential catalogs to one of the world’s biggest televised stages.

With Super Bowl LXI set for Valentine’s Day in Southern California, fans will be watching for an official announcement and any news about possible special guests. None have been confirmed.

Stay tuned to JigrockRadio for confirmed updates.

Sources: Puck, October 20, 2026; AllHipHop, October 20, 2026.

JigrockRadio Sports | October 19, 2026

Dallas Cowboys 13 — Green Bay Packers 23

The Dallas Cowboys stumbled on Sunday night at Lambeau Field, losing 23–13 to the Green Bay Packers after falling behind 17–0 at halftime. The defeat dropped Dallas to 2–4 while Green Bay improved to 4–2.

Dak Prescott completed 34 of 54 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Cowboys struggled to establish the run, gaining just 48 rushing yards. Green Bay turned Dallas mistakes into points and controlled the first half.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw for 276 yards and a touchdown to Matthew Golden, then scored on a one-yard run. Golden finished with six catches for 104 yards. Kicker Trey Smack added three field goals.

Dallas finally scored in the third quarter on a one-yard Javonte Williams touchdown run. Prescott connected with Ryan Flournoy for a six-yard touchdown late in the fourth, but the rally came too late.

What’s next for Dallas?

With two consecutive losses and a 2–4 record, the Cowboys face renewed questions about their offensive consistency, turnovers and ability to stay competitive in the NFC East.

Sources: Dallas Cowboys official game recap and game box score.

JIGROCK RADIO NEWS | October 19, 2026

Early voting is underway in parts of the United States as Americans begin casting ballots ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The voting calendar varies by state, but the stakes are national: control of Congress, governorships and numerous state and local offices will be decided this fall.

Texas polls open today

In Texas, in-person early voting begins Monday, October 19, and continues through Friday, October 30. Registered Texans can vote early at an authorized early-voting location in their county of registration. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Among the races drawing attention are contests for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices, along with congressional, legislative, judicial and local races. The Texas U.S. Senate contest between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is one of the closely watched battles.

A nationwide election with local rules

Across the country, voters are weighing issues such as the economy, health care, immigration, public education and the direction of the federal government. Not every state begins early voting on the same day, and some states use different combinations of in-person early voting and mail voting. Voters should confirm the rules and deadlines with their own state or local election office.

What Texas voters should know

• Early voting: October 19–30, 2026.
• Election Day: November 3, 2026.
• Mail-ballot application deadline: October 23; the application must be received by the early voting clerk, not merely postmarked.
• Identification: Bring an accepted form of photo identification, or ask election workers about applicable alternatives if you cannot reasonably obtain one.
• Locations and hours: Check with your county elections office before leaving home.

For official Texas voting information, visit VoteTexas.gov. For voting information in other states, consult your state election authority or USA.gov’s state election office directory.

JigrockRadio will continue following developments as voters head to the polls. Share this story to help others find accurate election information.