Loving ‘Landman,’ baseball team violations, GOP advantage in TX. Today’s top stories

From a hit TV series filmed in Fort Worth to high school baseball news and shifting political winds in Texas, May 1 brought a busy news day. Here’s a quick look at the top stories from the Star-Telegram.

• ‘Landman’ star explains the show’s appeal: Billy Bob Thornton said he and the cast were surprised the Fort Worth-filmed series became an international hit, crediting its honest characters and tonal variety. Season 2 drew over 9 million viewers for its premiere, a 262% jump from the season 1 opener. Reporting by Brayden Garcia.

• Second North Texas baseball team booted from playoffs: Poolville ISD self-reported an eligibility violation to the UIL, resulting in the team’s removal from the Class 2A playoffs. The team will relinquish its district title and conduct a full audit of its athletic eligibility process. Reporting by Charles Baggarly.

• Grapevine clears coach in playoff removal: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said head coach Jimmy Webster and his staff are not at fault after defending state champion Grapevine was removed from the UIL baseball playoffs over a residency violation. An internal review confirmed all protocols were followed, and the district has pledged a more stringent eligibility validation process. Reporting by Charles Baggarly.

• Political trends favor GOP despite Democratic optimism: Although Austin Democrat James Talarico holds a thin polling lead over U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Texas voters now identify as 50% Republican and 40% Democrat — a 10-point GOP advantage compared with just 3 points in 2018. Voters have also grown more conservative and more Christian since the last cycle. Commentary by Bud Kennedy.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.