Oil industry helped handpick members of Texas advisory group for electric grid reliability, emails show

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• Texas urges U.S. Supreme Court to allow near-total abortion ban to stand as Biden administration lawsuit unfolds

  by Reese Oxner 56 minutes ago

  The U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in on the ongoing case, but Texas argues that the federal government lacks the standing necessary to overturn the law. Full Story 

• ACLU of Texas sues Houston-area school district over gender-based dress code’s long-hair policy

  by Allyson Waller Updated: 1 hour ago

  The lawsuit says Magnolia ISD’s gender-based rule “imposed immense and irreparable harm” on students. Full Story 

• Power companies required to better prepare plants for winter in first phase of rule approved by Texas regulators

  by Erin Douglas 1 hour ago

  The state Public Utility Commission adopted a rule — which experts first recommended a decade ago following a winter storm — requiring power companies to use “best efforts” to ensure plants can operate in the winter. Full Story 

• Appeals court allows whistleblower lawsuit from former employees who accused Ken Paxton of bribery to proceed

  by Cassandra Pollock Updated: 2 hours ago

  The state 3rd Court of Appeals rejected the attorney general’s argument that the Texas Whistleblower Act doesn’t apply to him. Full Story 

• As Texas’ deadly third wave of coronavirus slows, about 9 million eligible Texans still aren’t fully vaccinated

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 3 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 says popular cannabis extract, delta-8, is illegal, sending retailers scrambling

  by Kevin Reynolds Updated: 5 hours ago

  The federal farm bill in 2018 made the substance legal because of its low THC content. Full Story 

• In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races

  by Patrick Svitek 10 hours ago

  The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted. Full Story 

• TribCast: Is the Texas Legislature finished for 2021?

  by Matthew Watkins and Michael Rey de Leon Oct. 20, 2021

  On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, James and Patrick about the end of the Texas Legislature’s third special session and whether there will be a fourth. Full Story 

• Texans will decide eight proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 2. Here’s what you need to know.

  by Andrew Zhang Updated: Oct. 20, 2021

  Two proposed amendments — one regarding religious services and another related to nursing home visitors — stem from restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early voting begins Oct. 18. Full Story 

• Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger, a Republican willing to buck his party leadership, will not seek reelection

  by James Barragán Oct. 20, 2021

  Seliger has served in the Senate since 2005 and led the higher education committee. He was seen as a champion of public education and local control but was derided as too soft on social conservative issues near the end of his tenure. Full Story 

• U.S. Senate Republicans block federal voting rights legislation that would override Texas’ restrictions

  by Bethany Irvine Oct. 20, 2021

  In their latest push to lift state-level voting restrictions, Senate Democrats failed to secure the 60 votes required to break a filibuster on the Freedom to Vote Act. Full Story 

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Gov. Greg Abbott should call lawmakers back for a fourth special session

  by Patrick Svitek Oct. 20, 2021

  In a tweet, Patrick said he supported Abbott calling lawmakers back to Austin to increase the penalty for illegal voting and approve a “forensic audit bill.” Full Story 

• Analysis: Texas legislators set the table for the 2022 elections

  by Ross Ramsey Oct. 20, 2021

  The controversial issues you’ve heard Texas lawmakers debate for most of the year aren’t going away; many of them will be argued all over again during the 2022 elections. Full Story 

• UT Rio Grande Valley to offer free tuition and fees to students with family income $100,000 or less

  by Kate McGee Oct. 20, 2021

  UTRGV’s decision to offer free tuition to more students comes after more students’ families lost jobs during the pandemic. Full Story 

• Republicans say Texas’ new political maps are “race blind.” To some voters of color, that translates as political invisibility.

  by Alexa Ura Oct. 20, 2021

  With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power. Full Story 

• Five takeaways from Texas’ third special legislative session

  by James Barragán and Cassandra Pollock Oct. 19, 2021

  Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says there’s no plan for a fourth special session at this time. If this was the final special session of the year, what did we learn from it? Full Story