Federal judge temporarily blocks Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to pull over vehicles with migrants, which drew racial profiling concerns

Latest News

• With the delta variant spreading, the number of hospitalized Texans has increased to levels not seen since February

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 9 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 

• Two years after Walmart mass shooting, El Paso leaders see inaction and betrayal by Texas officials

  by Angela Kocherga, El Paso Matters Aug. 3, 2021

  In what some people call an affront to the families of the 2019 shooting victims, Texas Republicans expanded gun rights earlier this year when the state Legislature passed a permitless carry bill. Full Story 

• COVID-19 is spreading fast among Texas’ unvaccinated. Here’s who they are and where they live.

  by Colleen DeGuzman and Mandi Cai Aug. 3, 2021

  There are two main groups within Texas’ unvaccinated population: white conservatives in rural areas, and Hispanic and Black people in big cities. Full Story 

• Texas teachers say GOP’s new social studies law will hinder how an entire generation understands race, history and current events

  by Isabella Zou and Jason Kao Aug. 3, 2021

  Educators who spoke to The Texas Tribune overwhelmingly denounced the new social studies law going into effect Sept. 1. These are the provisions they say could cause problems for them — and Texas students. Full Story 

• University of Texas president defends decision to join SEC as lawmakers criticize timing and impact on other schools

  by Heidi Pérez-Moreno Updated: Aug. 2, 2021

  Jay Hartzell said the switch to the Southeastern Conference was the best thing for UT-Austin’s student athletes and the university. Texas senators expressed disdain for the move and questioned how it came about. Full Story 

• With time running out, Texas Legislature still at impasse on GOP elections bill

  by Cassandra Pollock and Patrick Svitek Aug. 2, 2021

  Republicans believe they have already compromised enough on the legislation, while Democrats are distrustful of both the policy driving the bill and their GOP colleagues after seeing how they have managed the process around the proposal so far. Full Story 

• Analysis: Groundhog Day in Texas

  by Ross Ramsey Aug. 2, 2021

  A lot of the news from the last few days — about the Legislature, about COVID-19 and about immigration — has a real déjà vu quality to it. And there’s a good reason for that. Full Story 

• San Antonio built a pipeline to rural Central Texas to increase its water supply. Now local landowners say their wells are running dry.

  by Erin Douglas Aug. 2, 2021

  A pipeline helped secure water for San Antonio for decades to come — at a potentially high cost to some rural residents who are losing groundwater to the big city. Is it a preview for the rest of the state as climate change brings more water scarcity and cities keep sprawling? Full Story 

• With school openings near, parents and teachers say state leaders have stripped them of weapons against COVID-19

  by Reese Oxner July 30, 2021

  Public health experts and medical professionals are sounding the alarm over the highly transmissible delta variant of COVID-19. The governor has stood firm on his ban against masking mandates in schools. Full Story 

• Justice Department sues Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott's order for law enforcement to pull over vehicles with migrants

  by Uriel J. García July 30, 2021

  On Wednesday, Abbott issued the order, allowing Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to reroute civilian vehicles back to their origin point or a port of entry, or seize the vehicles, if police suspect the driver is transporting migrants who have COVID-19. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar joins Sen. Lindsey Graham in demanding that Biden appoint border czar

  by Farah Eltohamy July 30, 2021

  Cuellar and Graham’s letter is the latest in a series of criticisms against the Biden administration’s border security response. Full Story 

• UT System board votes to accept invitation for UT-Austin to join the SEC

  by Heidi Pérez-Moreno Updated: July 30, 2021

  ​The decision comes just a week after news surfaced that the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma planned to leave the Big 12, sending shockwaves through college sports and many Texas lawmakers who feel the expansion will have drastic consequences on the remaining Texas schools in the Big 12. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott's border security initiative rolls out with confusion, missteps and a whole lot of state troopers in Val Verde County

  by Jolie McCullough July 30, 2021

  The governor's decision to go all in on border security is evolving rapidly, and many of those on the ground don't know how it's going to work. Full Story 

• As federal eviction moratorium expires, tenants and rent advocates scramble to obtain state and local rental relief funds

  by Allyson Waller July 30, 2021

  In the first phase of funding from the federal government for emergency rental assistance, Texas received about $2 billion. Now the state has to get those funds in the hands of Texans. Full Story 

• Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee arrested for civil disobedience over voting rights bill

  by Abby Livingston July 29, 2021

  It was unclear what the Houston Democrat did to spur the arrest, though she said, “I engaged in civil disobedience.” Full Story 

• Texas House Democrats spar with congressional Republicans over their protest of state voting bills

  by Farah Eltohamy July 29, 2021

  Three Texas House Democrats testified before a congressional committee on their efforts to thwart voting restrictions — and were met with heat from their Republican counterparts. Full Story