State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, has a laugh with state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, during an afternoon budget debate on April 6, 2017.  
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
<p>State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, has a laugh with state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, during an afternoon budget debate on April 6, 2017. &nbsp;</p>

Admitting error, prosecutors drop charges against Rep. Dawnna Dukes

Attorneys for state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, said Monday all criminal charges against her had been dropped. The announcement ends a months-long legal saga in which Dukes was accused of abusing public office after a grand jury indicted her on 13 felony charges and two misdemeanor charges earlier this year.

 
An American flag flies over the international bridge at Eagle Pass, seen through the border fence.
Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune
<p>An American flag flies over the international bridge at Eagle Pass, seen through the border fence.</p>

ACLU asks appeals court to reconsider ruling delaying abortion for undocumented teen

Days after a three-judge panel ruled that an undocumented teen in Texas would not immediately have access to an abortion, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking all 10 judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reconsider.

ACLU asks appeals court to reconsider ruling delaying abortion for undocumented teen

An American flag flies over the international bridge at Eagle Pass, seen through the border fence.
Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune
<p>An American flag flies over the international bridge at Eagle Pass, seen through the border fence.</p>

Days after a three-judge panel ruled that an undocumented teen in Texas would not immediately have access to an abortion, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking all 10 judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reconsider.

 

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Hell and High Water: How Houston is ill-prepared for a hurricane

Oil tankers in the Houston Ship Channel on November 10, 2015.
Oil tankers in the Houston Ship Channel on November 10, 2015.

In Austin, Sessions touts Trump's hardline stance on immigration

U.S. Attorney&nbsp;General Jeff&nbsp;Sessions&nbsp;speaks about&nbsp;carrying out President Donald Trump's immigration priorities at the&nbsp;U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office for the Western&nbsp;District of Texas in&nbsp;Austin on&nbsp;Friday, Oct. 20, 2017.&nbsp;
<p>U.S. Attorney&nbsp;General Jeff&nbsp;Sessions&nbsp;speaks about&nbsp;carrying out President Donald Trump's immigration priorities at the&nbsp;U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office for the Western&nbsp;District of Texas in&nbsp;Austin on&nbsp;<span data-term="goog_2092899666">Friday, Oct. 20, 2017.</span>&nbsp;</p>

“The President is determined, first and finally, to build a wall at the border,” Sessions said during a 20-minute speech in downtown Austin in which he praised state Republicans who approved an anti-"sanctuary" law earlier this year.

Hey, Texplainer: What's on the November ballot?

Voters line up at an early voting station in Houston on Oct. 24, 2016. Poll workers said the lines were much longer than normal for early voting.
<p><span>Voters line up at an early voting station in Houston on Oct. 24, 2016. Poll workers said the lines were much longer than normal for early voting.</span></p>

Monday marks the beginning of early voting for the Nov. 7 election. Here's a look at the seven amendments to the state’s constitution that Texans are being asked to decide on.

Patrick skeptical of need for new House committee on Texas economy

After two days of contentious debate and several bills passed, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulates the Senate on what he says was a job well done on July 26, 2017. &nbsp;The Senate tackled bills on 18 issues, sending them over to the House for consideration in the special session.&nbsp;
<p>After two days of contentious debate and several bills passed, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulates the Senate on what he says was a job well done on July 26, 2017. &nbsp;The Senate tackled bills on 18 issues, sending them over to the House for consideration in the special session.&nbsp;</p>

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick isn't sold on the new House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness, which House Speaker Joe Straus recently formed to look at the factors that draw new business to Texas.

Five former presidents come together at Texas A&M for hurricane relief

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama&nbsp;at a concert benefiting hurricane relief efforts called &ldquo;Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal,&rdquo; in College Station on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017.
<p>Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama&nbsp;at a concert benefiting hurricane relief efforts called &ldquo;Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal,&rdquo; in College Station on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017.</p>

All five living former U.S. presidents gathered at Texas A&M University Saturday night to raise money to benefit the victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

 

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Houston homeowners upstream and downstream of dams flooded after Harvey

The Brief: Texans focused on cleanup, housing and health in wake of Harvey

One of three approved debris removal sites in Port Arthur, where some residents have raised concerns about the city&rsquo;s plans for post-Harvey clean up. "It&rsquo;s just not right,&rdquo; said Tami Pinkney, who lives in a home across the street from one of the sites. &ldquo;This is not safe. It&rsquo;s just not safe.&rdquo;
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-74fde164-bfe4-525c-5e4f-81113fbbc11f"><span>One of three approved debris removal sites in Port Arthur, where some residents have raised concerns about the city&rsquo;s plans for post-Harvey clean up. "It&rsquo;s just not right,&rdquo; said Tami Pinkney, who lives in a home across the street from one of the sites. &ldquo;This is not safe. It&rsquo;s just not safe.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

Texas voters are pretty content with how all levels of government responded to Hurricane Harvey, per the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

A $10,000 degree that freshmen are discouraged from pursuing

Lavelle Hendricks, a professor at Texas A&amp;M University-Commerce, teaches a "signature course" on mental health, drugs and alcohol to a class of freshmen. University officials have reimagined the first-year experience at A&amp;M-Commerce, and each freshman is required to take at least one signature course.&nbsp;
<p>Lavelle Hendricks, a professor at Texas A&amp;M University-Commerce, teaches a "signature course" on mental health, drugs and alcohol to a class of freshmen. University officials have reimagined the first-year experience at A&amp;M-Commerce, and each freshman is required to take at least one signature course.&nbsp;</p>

At the urging of Gov. Rick Perry, Texas A&M University-Commerce developed an online degree program that can be completed for less than $10,000. So why doesn't it want its freshmen to sign up?