When showing up at the Texas Capitol made a difference

Readers sometimes ask us if the outcomes in governing are predetermined and whether civic engagement makes…

A year after FBI raids Henry Cuellar’s home, no arrests and no answers

One year later, there have been no arrests or charges filed related to the case. Cuellar…

“Who ever thought I would be chief?” Texas’ Alabama-Coushatta tribe elects first female chief

Millie Thompson Williams was elected the tribe's first female second chief, a lifetime appointment, last year.…

T-Squared: Texas Tribune 2022 diversity report shows progress

Varied backgrounds and points of view among staff members help the Tribune to better connect with…

Texas Legislature’s state budget proposals leave more than $50 billion in state funds up for grabs

The preliminary budgets by House and Senate call for $130.1 billion in state spending over two…

Whisper campaign about RNC chair candidate’s Sikh faith roils campaign

Harmeet Dhillon called some fellow Republicans' comments "hurtful."

Santos refuses to resign amid calls from local N.Y. GOP

Local GOP leaders and a fellow Republican congressman told the New Yorker to resign, with some…

Texas universities block access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected…

Gov. Greg Abbott energizes supporters with vows to focus on education and the border as his third term begins

Texans came from all corners of the state to watch Abbott's inauguration Tuesday. Even those who…

Feds won’t seek death penalty against alleged El Paso Walmart gunman

The federal government has largely avoided pursuing the death penalty under President Biden.

Texas teens embark on an idealistic quest to shut down the state’s last five youth prisons

Spurred by reports of inhumane conditions at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities, Austin-area teenagers are lobbying…

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn eyes the seemingly impossible: a bipartisan deal on immigration

Riding the success of his historic congressional session last year where he helped pass the first…

Texas lawmakers want to end state holiday commemorating Confederate veterans

For the third straight legislative session, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, has filed a bill to…

Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid

Abbott is on track to becoming Texas' second-longest-serving governor, behind Rick Perry, who served more than…

Environmentalists push for tougher oil and gas restrictions to protect rare whale in Gulf of Mexico

Environmental scientists say Rice's whale, discovered in 2021, faces extinction unless the federal government sets tougher…

Conroe brewery receives flood of threats, harassment after canceling Kyle Rittenhouse event

The CEO of Southern Star Brewery said the cancellation was prompted primarily by concerns from local…

As lawmakers begin a new session, Texas mayors want to maintain control of local issues

Mayors from the state's most populous cities presented their legislative wish list, including economic development and…

TribCast: The Texas Legislature is off and running

In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with James and Patrick about the fight over Democrats chairing…

Afghan soldier jailed in Texas for crossing border should receive presidential pardon, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee says

The Houston Democrat said she has sent a letter to the White House asking the Biden…

Conroe brewery pulls out as venue for Kyle Rittenhouse rally against censorship

Southern Star Brewery, which had been listed as the event host, said it "is an apolitical…

A new bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers wants to highlight the state’s fragile water infrastructure

So far there has been an average of six boil-water notices a day across Texas in…

More than 70 Texas prisoners are 3 days into a hunger strike protesting harsh solitary confinement practices

Prisoners have refused food to protest practices that have kept more than 500 people in isolation…

Texas Supreme Court clears way for state’s education agency to take over Houston ISD

The decision from the state's highest court would allow the TEA to move forward with its…

EPA moves away from Permian Basin air pollution crackdown

The oil industry pushed hard against the proposal to issue an ozone nonattainment designation, which would…

The fringe ideology of “constitutional sheriffs” is attracting believers within Texas law enforcement

Some 50 Texas sheriffs and numerous elected officials have attended trainings on the unsupported notion that…

COVID-19 upended Texas schools’ finances. Now they’re calling for a new funding system.

Districts like Pflugerville ISD, which is struggling with a $12 million deficit and weighing school closures,…

T-Squared: Renzo Downey will write the Tribune’s politics newsletter

Downey, who currently reports on Florida politics, covered the Texas Legislature's 2019 session for the Austin…

Ken Paxton wants more power to prosecute election crimes. These bills in the Texas Legislature would give it to him.

Although no evidence of widespread voter fraud has been found, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has…

Texas House speaker addresses prospects of anti-LGBTQ bills, gun legislation and casinos

At the start of his second term leading the lower chamber, Dade Phelan talked to reporters…

Afghan soldier arrested at border while seeking asylum has new lawyers, meets with FBI

Abdul Wasi Safi's physical and mental health are deteriorating as he waits at a detention center…

Texas higher ed leaders optimistic about funding, faculty uneasy about culture wars as new session starts

Community colleges want a funding overhaul this legislative session, and four-year universities are hoping for a…

State agency that oversees Texas power grid needs more money to do its job, Sunset Commission finds

The Public Utility Commission has about 200 employees but needs more to handle shoring up the…

Effort to ban Democratic chairs fails in Texas House, but rule passes to penalize future quorum-breakers

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, snuffed out a monthslong push Wednesday to end the chamber's longtime…

As Donald Trump mounts his 2024 presidential bid, his support among Texas officials is waning

About two months into his comeback bid, few prominent Texas Republicans have endorsed Trump -- and…

Questions about validity of shaken baby syndrome not enough to give Texas death row inmate new trial, court rules

Robert Roberson was sentenced to death for killing his 2-year-old daughter. Experts have since backtracked on…

Republican Texas House candidate’s election complaint tossed after he fails to pay fee

Mike May was one of more than 20 losing candidates in Harris County who filed election…

Texas Senate votes to take up redistricting again

The redistricting process this year is mostly procedural and is not expected to produce very different…

Texas senators draw lots to determine how long their terms will be

After redistricting, the state constitution requires senators to draw lots to determine which half of the…

Farmers face a higher risk of suicide. The Texas Agriculture Department wants $500,000 a year to change that.

The department's helpline is less than a year old. But advocates hope state lawmakers fully fund…

As the share of white Texans continues to shrink, the Legislature remains mostly white and male

In the 2023 legislative session that convened Tuesday, 70% of lawmakers are men. More than half…

Oaths, M&Ms and a historic Quran: Texas’ freshman lawmakers begin their inaugural legislative session

New Texas House members were sworn into office Tuesday, including some who have already made history.

Texas executes Robert Fratta after high courts reject challenges to expired lethal injection drugs

Fratta was convicted in the 1994 murder-for-hire of his wife. Lawyers unsuccessfully challenged Texas' routine of…

Uvalde DA gets initial state police report on school shooting but doesn’t expect full investigation for months

The preliminary report has not been made public by either the district attorney's office or the…

Texas House selects Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker for another legislative session

Phelan defeated Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, for the House leadership position in a vote, 145-3. In…

A Texas Republican has started the process to impeach the secretary of Homeland Security over border security

Pat Fallon, R-Sherman, filed articles of impeachment late Monday, delayed a week because of the contentious…

Texas universities propose two-year tuition freeze in exchange for nearly $1 billion in additional state funding

The leaders of the state's six biggest university systems are seeking the money to fund instruction,…

Look up your representatives in the Tribune’s elected officials directory

Look up information about every statewide elected official, every member of the Texas Legislature and every…

Texas Republicans tapped to chair four committees in new GOP-led U.S. House

The Texans are poised to chair some of the most important committees, including the appropriations and…

Watch: Live video from the Texas House and Senate

The Texas Tribune is streaming the 2023 legislative session live from the Texas House and Senate…

State police terminate another officer for response to Uvalde mass shooting

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw accused the suspended Texas Ranger of failing to…

Texans help elect Kevin McCarthy speaker after dramatic late-night votes

Texas Republicans were key players in the intraparty fight over how its leaders would run the…

Watch a Jan. 17 conversation with four new members of the Texas House

They'll talk about their campaigns and journey to the Legislature, what has stood out to them…

Joe Biden tours El Paso for first border visit of his presidency

He was greeted by Gov. Greg Abbott upon arrival at the El Paso airport. Abbott has…

Watch: After the Uvalde shooting, one Texas school district increases focus on mental health

Round Rock ISD is thought to be among the first school districts in Texas where social…

“I want to fight”: LGBTQ Texans ready for legislative session as GOP lawmakers target them in dozens of bills

Republicans are backing legislation targeting gender-affirming care for children, classroom lessons about sexuality and drag shows.

Texas prisoners launching hunger strike to protest state’s harsh solitary confinement practices

Hundreds of prisoners may participate in the protest beginning Tuesday, the first day of the state's…

U.S. Supreme Court tells Texas to reconsider executing man convicted with faulty DNA evidence

Areli Escobar was sentenced to death in 2011 for an Austin murder, but even prosecutors now…

Texas lawmakers will have $188.2 billion available for the next budget after record-breaking revenue growth

It's far more money than legislators have ever had at their disposal, with an increase in…

Texas Supreme Court will decide whether ERCOT should be immune from lawsuits sparked by deadly winter storm

Many people and insurers sued the Electric Reliability Council of Texas after the 2021 freeze. The…

A Texas project hopes to turn water into fuel for cars, planes, ships and trains — using wind

New subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act are powering the race to build the country's first…

Texas Legislature 101: Understanding the state government and how it passes laws

Here's a rundown of how a bill becomes a law, how the Texas Legislature works and…

Watch a Jan. 24 conversation with Kirk Watson on what he plans to do as Austin mayor

Watson will also talk about what his experience in the Legislature has taught him since his…

Chip Roy and other Texas holdouts flip votes and now support Kevin McCarthy, who remains short in speaker bid

Roy, R-Austin, as well as U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, and Rep.-elect Keith Self, R-McKinney, switched…

Texas House Democrats enter session with bipartisan hopes — and a new leader who’s prepared to fight

There are 64 Democrats in the 150-member House, one fewer than before the election. There is…

Texas Senate to ban reporters from chamber floor

The move to take news reporters off the Senate floor was implemented in 2021 as a…

GOP Harris County judge candidate contesting her loss after Election Day problems at polling sites

Democratic County Judge Lina Hidalgo beat Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer by more than 18,000 votes.…

Appeals court to decide if First Amendment should have protected Laredo’s “big crazy lady” from arrest

Priscilla Villarreal was arrested over her Facebook postings. In a rare proceeding, the entire 5th U.S.…

Lubbock-Cooper ISD passed a resolution denouncing racist bullying in schools. Parents say it’s a publicity stunt.

Students reported enduring racial slurs, the sounds of whips cracking and monkey noises as they walked…

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over enforcement of “public charge” law for immigrants

Paxton has sued the Biden administration a dozen times over its immigration policies. Most of those…

Midland is the latest Texas city to issue a boil-water notice

Officials said the water levels at the local reservoir were too low to meet safety standards.

Chip Roy, key McCarthy opponent, steps up as top negotiator in House speaker standoff

Roy has differentiated himself from peers like Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida,…

UT fires head basketball coach Chris Beard after domestic violence arrest

Beard was hired by UT in 2021. The university paid $4 million to buy out his…

Ahead of El Paso visit, Biden says U.S. will allow 30,000 migrants from four countries to enter monthly

Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela will be allowed entry and given work permits. The…

Odessa City Council will meet to reconsider firing two top employees after lawsuit

A local attorney is threatening more lawsuits as a new City Council, backed by the local…

Texas Republicans urge Chip Roy and other McCarthy opponents to let Congress get to work

Texans poised to assume committee leadership are growing frustrated by Republicans blocking Kevin McCarthy's election for…

President Joe Biden says he’ll visit the border next week during Mexico trip

The president, who has been criticized by some Republicans for not visiting the border since he…

T-Squared: Introducing our spring 2023 fellows

Tribune fellows have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in all aspects of the operation of…

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy emerges as key GOP agitator in U.S. House speaker fight

Three Texas Republicans, including Roy, voted three times against U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to be…

“It takes time to get stuff done”: New Texas congressman promises results, not rhetoric

Nathaniel Moran, the former Smith County judge, has promised to be a staunch conservative who will…

Texas family planning clinics require parental consent for birth control following court ruling

The Title X program has long provided free, confidential contraception to anyone, regardless of age, income…

Texas ag agency says climate change threatens state’s food supply

A new Texas Department of Agriculture report also points to other factors that are making it…

Texas 2022: Year in Photos

Texas Tribune photographers captured a historic year of challenges and resilience.

Property tax revision, judicial branch expansion among new Texas laws that took effect Jan. 1

While the Legislature will soon start its new session, some laws passed in 2021 are just…

‘Wherever it is peaceful’: Venezuelan migrant seeks refuge in D.C.

'Wherever it is peaceful': Venezuelan migrant seeks refuge in D.C. lead image

A cartoon chronicle of 2022

The cartoonists were busy this year as we managed to complete another lap around the sun.…

TribCast: Evan Smith reflects on a career of watching Texas politics and media

In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with outgoing Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith about the state…

Texas Supreme Court says it can’t force the state to process deluge of applications for tax break expiring this year

The program, known as Chapter 313, provides companies with billions of dollars in property tax breaks.…

Texas GOP lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposed

Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans have expressed support for legalizing fentanyl test strips, which help…

TribCast: What happens in Texas if Title 42 lifts?

In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Uriel about immigration policy and the migrant crisis in…

Texas power grid holds amid record winter demand, but test isn’t over

At least one person died in the freezing weather. High demand for electricity is forecast to…

Two Texas businessmen pitched Trump on plan to overturn 2020 election, Jan. 6 report reveals

Morgan Warstler and John S. Robison, who have ties with former Gov. Rick Perry, met the…

El Paso extends emergency declaration as surge of migrants cross border amid subfreezing temperatures

For the past six months, El Paso has been the epicenter of a migrant influx that…

After underestimating power demand, Texas electric grid operator gets federal permission to exceed air quality limits

The U.S. Department of Energy granted permission for power plants to release more pollution than is…

Buses from Texas drop off more than 100 migrants in a bitterly cold Washington, D.C., on Christmas Eve

Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly sent the migrants, who arrived at Vice President Kamala Harris' residence Saturday…

Broken hearts lead to broken traditions in Uvalde as Mata family celebrates first holidays without Tess

The Matas never celebrated Day of the Dead before; this year they built an altar at…

Looking back at some of The Texas Tribune’s best reads of 2022

It was another historic, news-filled year. As you get ready for 2023, check out these memorable…

Jennifer Shuford named commissioner of Texas public health agency

The infectious disease doctor has been at the helm of the department in an interim capacity…

T-Squared: John Thornton, the Tribune’s founder, is stepping down from our board after 13 years

The visionary venture capitalist had the idea for our nonprofit news org and put the people…

U.S. Supreme Court rules to keep Title 42, the pandemic-era policy to quickly turn away migrants, for now

The court ordered the Biden administration to continue enforcing the policy while Texas and other states…

Best of the Rest: The 2022 stories Texas Tribune journalists wish we’d had

We can't get to everything -- as much as we'd like to. Here are stories from…

Southwest Airlines’ holiday meltdown brings on federal investigation

The Dallas-based airline has canceled more flights than any other airline during the holidays, prompting federal…

T-Squared: Before I go, one final pitch to support The Texas Tribune

It's been fun. It's been real. It's been a calling more than a job. And it's…

Greg Abbott calls for investigation into Atmos Energy following disrupted natural gas services during freeze

Atmos, a major natural gas provider for the state, apologized for last week's service disruption that…

The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics

Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills…

Venezuelan migrant hopes to work in U.S. to support family back home

Venezuelan migrant hopes to work in U.S. to support family back home lead image

The anti-McCarthy faction teases a shadow speaker

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va. 5th District) details his strategy for the next potential House speaker. It's…

The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics

Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills…

Will the fusion breakthrough ignite a Congressional chain reaction?

Rep. Don Beyer says this week's breakthrough could be a turning point for both science and…

Wine tasting in Napa and a staff revolt: How a progressive powerhouse went kaput

Founded after the 2004 Howard Dean presidential campaign, Democracy for America was felled by poor fundraising…

Young conservatives send mixed messages on Trump at MAGA gathering

Some attendees are talking about the former president more as a historical figure than the GOP's…

Conservative youth group disses McDaniel in race for RNC chair

Turning Point USA straw poll endorses Harmeet Dhillon over Ronna McDaniel by a wide margin.

Biden administration wants Supreme Court to end Title 42 — just not yet

The administration seeks another pause -- at least a week -- in winding down the Trump-era…

House committee votes to release Trump tax returns over objections by U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady

Brady, the top Republican on the House tax-writing committee, urged the committee not to release the…

Army Corps of Engineers withdraws plan to dredge Texas Gulf Coast Superfund site for oil tanker traffic

The reversal follows a challenge by Earthjustice and Gulf Coast community groups alleging flaws in the…

Trump to meet with Orthodox Jewish group on heels of Fuentes, Ye dinner

The former president will speak before the annual President's Conference of Torah Umesorah at his club…

With rifles and razor wire, National Guard and state troopers are blocking migrants at the border in El Paso

As cities on the Texas-Mexico border continue preparing for a possible influx of migrants and Title…

Zelenskyy expected to visit Washington on Wednesday

The trip would come days after Congress, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, unveiled a…

Ex-Fort Worth cop sentenced to nearly 12 years for manslaughter of Atatiana Jefferson

A jury found Aaron Dean guilty of manslaughter last week for the fatal shooting of Jefferson,…

Federal report identifies cause of 2019 Port Neches chemical plant explosion

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found that TPC Group LLC failed to identify problem areas where…

On the day of the Uvalde shooting, her school bus became a makeshift ambulance

Sylvia Uriegas transported children who were wounded inside Robb Elementary School to the hospital. The terror…