After Texas Democrats’ woeful performance last year, the 2022 race to chair the party ​is already heating up

Latest News

• As holidays arrive, nearly 55% of Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 4 hours ago

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

• Texas schools started this year with record-high coronavirus cases, but weekly totals have now declined

  by Kalley Huang, Mandi Cai and Brian Lopez Updated: 5 hours ago

  More than four months into this school year, districts have reported 224,814 cases in students. But state data on school cases is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story 

• Analysis: It takes a village to win big races in Texas

  by Ross Ramsey Dec. 3, 2021

  Want to win a statewide political race in Texas that's not at the very top of the ballot? It helps a lot if your party's top candidate wins — or at least runs a close second. Full Story 

• Texas Democrats see focusing on power grid failure as a winning campaign strategy heading into 2022

  by James Barragán Dec. 3, 2021

  Republican leaders defend their record on the power grid, pointing to more than a dozen laws passed during this year’s legislative session to address the grid’s reliability. Gov. Greg Abbott has staked his reputation on a promise that the lights won't go out this winter. Full Story 

• Republican bill that limits how race, slavery and history are taught in Texas schools becomes law

  by Brian Lopez Dec. 2, 2021

  The so-called “critical race theory” law prohibits teachers from discussing “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.” Full Story 

• The Supreme Court appears open to rolling back abortion rights. Here's what that means for Texas.

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Updated: Dec. 2, 2021

  Texas has passed legislation that ensures abortion would be made a felony if Roe v. Wade is overturned “wholly or partly,” as the court considers Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. Full Story 

• U.S. and Mexico reach deal to restart Trump-era "remain in Mexico" program along border

  by Nick Miroff and Kevin Sieff, The Washington Post Dec. 2, 2021

  When the Biden administration canceled the program earlier this year, Texas and Missouri sued, leading a federal judge to order the government to resurrect it. Full Story 

• Texas now bans medical abortions after seven weeks of pregnancy

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Dec. 2, 2021

  Beginning today, a new law restricts abortion-inducing medication, the most common abortion method in Texas. Full Story 

• The number of undocumented immigrants in detention centers has increased by more than 50% since Biden took office

  by Uriel J. García Dec. 2, 2021

  A Texas construction worker who’s been locked up for 11 months is one of an increasing number of undocumented immigrants detained since Biden took office — despite the president’s instructions to prioritize more dangerous immigrants. Full Story 

• Federal judge blocks Texas law that would stop social media firms from banning users for a "viewpoint"

  by James Pollard Dec. 1, 2021

  The law was passed this year after outcry from Republicans over perceived anti-conservative bias among major tech companies. Full Story 

• Texas scientists search for potentially virulent new omicron COVID-19 variant as state health officials push vaccination

  by Karen Brooks Harper Dec. 1, 2021

  So much is unknown about the new COVID-19 variant: the severity of the illness it causes, whether it can resist vaccines and natural antibodies and whether it’s more contagious than the delta variant that has burned through Texas and the U.S. for months. Full Story 

• Texas’ ban on mask mandates in public schools back in place after federal appeals court ruling

  by Brian Lopez Updated: Dec. 1, 2021

  Three-judge panel finds no "concrete, or actual or imminent, injury" caused by Abbott's ban on mask mandates. Full Story 

• The pandemic has undone years of educational gains in Texas schools. Here’s what the road to recovery looks like.

  by Brian Lopez Updated: Dec. 1, 2021

  Gaps in student learning because of pandemic disruptions could impact students in the long term. Full Story 

• Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast

  by Ross Ramsey Dec. 1, 2021

  Gov. Greg Abbott says he can "guarantee" there won't be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That's the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll. Full Story 

• Texas abortion funds struggle to meet demand for out-of-state abortion assistance

  by Neelam Bohra Dec. 1, 2021

  But some Texas nonprofit groups dedicated to paying for the medical costs of abortion say they have more money than patients to give it to — a likely symptom of fewer people being able to access the procedure because of the new law. Full Story 

• Texas regulators pass rule aimed at preventing natural gas producers from having power cut off during future winter storms

  by Mitchell Ferman Nov. 30, 2021

  But Texas oil and gas regulators addressed only part of the problem that led millions of Texans to lose power for days after February’s winter storm, and gas producers likely won’t be required to weatherize until 2023. Full Story