A measles outbreak in northwest Texas grew to 124 cases in nine counties on Tuesday, and health officials warned that residents in other parts of the state may have been exposed to the highly contagious respiratory illness.

The Hays County Health Department said a Gaines County resident who tested positive for measles was in San Marcos from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. that Friday. People who were at Texas State

The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 124 cases across nine counties, the state health department said Tuesday, and 18 people are hospitalized. The outbreak is largely spreading in the Mennonite community in an area where small towns are separated by vast stretches of oil rig-dotted open land but connected due to people traveling between towns for work,

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate two controversial lottery jackpots amid growing scrutiny over the role of online ticketing firms in the state.

Texas announced it is investigating two big lottery jackpots in the state where the winning tickets weree purchased through a courier service, as the state's lottery office announced it was banning such services.

The Texas Lottery on Monday banned online lottery ticket sales by third-party courier services after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and lawmakers had questioned the practice. The policy is effective immediately and “aligns with legislative efforts to address serious concerns raised by players and state leadership regarding the integrity,