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Tag: Across Texas
In Texas’ first post-Roe legislative session, there’s a new political power dynamic on abortion
While Democrats and the far-right edge of the Republican Party remain focused on abortion, leaders in…
Conservative lawmakers push for review of school board group’s guidance on transgender students
Texas Freedom Caucus asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on school board association's guidance…
New Texas foster care report shows both improvements and continued deficiencies
In a fifth report tracking the state's efforts to remedy its embattled foster care system, federal…
Bill to ban Chinese citizens and government from buying Texas land gains steam among Republicans
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst filed a bill that would ban citizens, governments and entities from China, Iran,…
TribCast: Is bipartisan immigration reform a realistic goal?
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Washington correspondent Matthew Choi and immigration reporter Uriel J.…
Texas GOP launches radio attack ads against Republican state House speaker
The radio ad, which criticizes Phelan for appointing Democratic committee chairs, prompted pushback from Republican colleagues…
After 10 days, dozens of Texas prisoners remain on hunger strike protesting solitary confinement practices
Although the number of men refusing food has steadily declined, 38 are still starving themselves to…
Texas jobless rate drops below 4% for first time since pandemic shutdowns
The state has set a record for the number of employed people for 14 consecutive months,…
Montgomery County-owned venue will host Kyle Rittenhouse rally against censorship
The venue change comes days after a Conroe-based brewery faced threats and harassment for pulling out…
State regulators approve controversial Texas electricity market reform
The substantial change in the way the state's market works will first be reviewed by the…
Migrant shot and injured by National Guard soldier patrolling border
It's the first-known incident where a soldier has shot a migrant since the mission began. The…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Watch a Jan. 9 Texas Tribune conversation with Comptroller Glenn Hegar
Hegar will discuss the state's biennial revenue estimate, how the state is enjoying a surplus amid…
Texas elections secure despite COVID-related “irregularities” in 2020, audit finds
Four Texas counties were evaluated in a 359-page audit released by Secretary of State John Scott…
GOP lawmakers accuse investment firms of breaking a law that prohibits divesting from oil and gas
At a senate committee hearing in Marshall, Texas Republican lawmakers accused investment firms of pulling back…