As a result, a number of parks sustained serious damage, including the ripping up of trails by motorized vehicles and the chopping down of Joshua trees in California. At Big Bend, prehistoric petroglyphs were vandalized and irreparably damaged, according to the non-profit National Parks Conservation Association.

DALLAS — On day three of the government shutdown, three members of Congress joined Inside Texas Politics and Y’all-itics to discuss the shutdown’s impact on constituents, who they think is to blame, and when they see the government re-opening.

This collection of Star-Telegram stories explores the impact of the federal government shutdown on Texas through various sectors like education, nutrition programs, Social Security, and airport operations.

Texas is one of the fastest growing states for enrollment through the Affordable Care Act. The shutdown could decide if they end up paying higher premiums.

The federal government officially shut down Wednesday, immediately affecting vital services that residents across Central Texas rely on daily.

This newsletter was originally sent out via email to our Ground Game subscribers on October 6. You can subscribe at any time at apnews.com/newsletters.

Students at the International Leadership of Texas Charter school were set to take a school trip to D.C. involving visits to the FBI and the capitol before the government shutdown foiled the plans.

The looming federal government shut down should not affect operations at border ports of entry, airports or essential activities at military bases. But many other services that rely on federal