Unemployed Texans will stop getting additional $300-per-week benefit next month after Gov. Greg Abbott opts out of federal program

Latest News

• Lawsuit seeks to block Lubbock’s ordinance aimed at outlawing abortions

  by Shannon Najmabadi Updated: 3 hours ago

  The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas are suing over the West Texas city’s “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance. Full Story 

• More than 30% of Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 5 hours ago

  The Texas Tribune is using daily data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Full Story 

• Texas senator overhauls House bail bill to keep more people in jail if they can’t post cash bonds

  by Jolie McCullough 6 hours ago

  Legislative attempts to reform bail in Texas are likely headed for a closed-door showdown over the different approaches the House and Senate each devised. Full Story 

• Here's what you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas

  by Shawn Mulcahy, Elvia Limón and Yasmeen Khalifa Updated: 6 hours ago

  Texas health officials have told vaccine providers that they could resume using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in all adult recipients. Use of that vaccine had been paused for nearly two weeks. Full Story 

• Pay for some Texas teachers will top $100,000 in bid to aid poorer schools devastated by COVID-19

  by Bekah McNeel, The74Million.org May 17, 2021

  A new incentive program will increase pay for teachers facing some of the greatest challenges in helping students catch up from the pandemic. It relies on more than standardized test scores to measure performance. Full Story 

• George P. Bush wants to challenge beleaguered Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. But can he keep Trump out of it?

  by Patrick Svitek May 17, 2021

  Bush has a unique history with Trump as the only prominent member of his famous political family to back the former president. Meanwhile, Paxton has tightly aligned himself with Trump in recent months. Full Story 

• Texas GOP state senator urged use of unproven hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19. Now he's spreading doubt about vaccines.

  by Shawn Mulcahy May 17, 2021

  In a period of sagging vaccination rates — particularly among staunch conservatives — state Sen. Bob Hall used his platform to promulgate debunked anti-vaccine conspiracies and push claims that have largely been eschewed by the medical community. Full Story 

• Analysis: Texas legislators have a long way to go and a short time to get there

  by Ross Ramsey May 17, 2021

  Texas lawmakers are entering the last two weeks of this legislative session, with some of their biggest promises unfilled. Don’t fret: They do a lot of their work only when deadlines loom. Full Story 

• After sweltering temperatures killed Texas prisoners, lawmakers vote to install air conditioning

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: May 14, 2021

  The bill approved by the House aims to cool all of Texas’ prisons before 2029. But even if it is signed into law, the lockups will only be air conditioned if lawmakers provide funds for installation. Full Story 

• New Texas lawsuit accuses Biden administration of threatening state’s health care funding to force Medicaid expansion

  by Karen Brooks Harper May 14, 2021

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit, filed Friday, argues that the Trump-era extension of the federal 1115 Medicaid funding waiver was lawful and that overturning it was a political move. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Chip Roy loses bid to replace Liz Cheney as third-ranking House Republican

  by Abby Livingston May 14, 2021

  Roy announced Thursday that he was seeking the post but was quickly denounced by former President Donald Trump. Full Story 

• Analysis: Those Texans ignoring social distancing guidelines? They’re probably not vaccinated

  by Jim Henson and Joshua Blank May 14, 2021

  Polling suggests that along with an increasing number of vaccinated people without masks, there will be many others who are unmasked but unvaccinated — posing a public health hazard to themselves and to other unvaccinated people with whom they come into contact. Full Story 

• Time runs out on Texas House bill banning gender-confirmation health care for kids, but another attempt lives on in the Senate

  by Megan Munce May 14, 2021

  House Bill 1399 would have banned gender-confirmation surgery, hormone therapy and puberty suppression treatments for Texas' transgender children. Full Story 

• Texas Legislature approves bill to ban residential wholesale electricity plans — the first major winter storm bill sent to the governor

  by Mitchell Ferman May 13, 2021

  Time is running out on a slate of other bills lawmakers are considering that stem from February's deadly winter storm. Full Story 

• How inconsistent policies and enforcement have created false hope for migrants at the border

  by Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 13, 2021

  The Biden administration and the Mexican government have made the situation at the border so confusing that even seasoned experts can’t always determine who is allowed in and who isn’t. That may be contributing to the high number of border crossings. Full Story 

• Donald Trump denounces Chip Roy's bid for U.S. House Republican leadership post: "He has not done a great job"

  by Abby Livingston May 13, 2021

  Roy was among a small handful of Texas Republicans who voted against overturning the election in January. Full Story