Dave Welch speaks during a press conference in favor of a bathroom bill at the Texas Capitol near the end of the special session on August 14, 2017.
Marjorie Kamys Cotera
<p>Dave Welch speaks during a press conference in favor of a bathroom bill at the Texas Capitol near the end of the special session on August 14, 2017.</p>

With bathroom bill dead, Pastor Council looks to future fights

Founded in 2003 as a group of Houston-area pastors, the Texas Pastor Council has grown into a burgeoning statewide apparatus with eyes on someday becoming a nationwide force. Following the recent failure of a "bathroom bill" at the Legislature, members of the conservative group are preparing to shift their focus to the 2018 elections.

 
Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;
Jim Malewitz
<p>Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;</p>

With Supreme Court appeal, Texas wants to keep congressional map intact

Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed that Texas has no plans to ask lawmakers to redraw the state's Congressional map in a fresh round of legislative overtime. Instead, Paxton is appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.
The University of North Texas
<p>Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;<span>The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.</span></p>

UNT's next chancellor has pushed the boundaries of space exploration (audio)

  • by Christopher Connelly, KERA News
  • 1Comment

The University of North Texas has picked NASA’s No. 2 to lead the growing public university system. She’s expected to be confirmed next month. Roe has had a long career at the nation’s space program.

 

With Supreme Court appeal, Texas wants to keep congressional map intact

Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;
Jim Malewitz
<p>Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;</p>

Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed that Texas has no plans to ask lawmakers to redraw the state's Congressional map in a fresh round of legislative overtime. Instead, Paxton is appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

UNT's next chancellor has pushed the boundaries of space exploration (audio)

  • by Christopher Connelly, KERA News
  • 1Comment
Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.
The University of North Texas
<p>Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;<span>The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.</span></p>

The University of North Texas has picked NASA’s No. 2 to lead the growing public university system. She’s expected to be confirmed next month. Roe has had a long career at the nation’s space program.

 

 

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Texas’ congressional delegation weighs in on Trump’s response to Charlottesville protests

Then a candidate for president, Donald Trump rallied a crowd of veterans at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, 2016 &mdash; just ahead of that state's presidential&nbsp;caucuses.
<p>Then a candidate for president, Donald Trump rallied a crowd of veterans at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, 2016 &mdash; just ahead of that state's presidential&nbsp;caucuses.</p>

The Texas Tribune surveyed all 38 Texans in Congress Wednesday, asking if they believed Trump's response to Charlottesville has encouraged the white nationalist movement.

Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill restricting city tree removal policies

State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston, read Dr. Seuss to a crowd on the east side of the Texas Capitol on August 2, 2017. &nbsp;The event, sponsored by Texas Campaign for the Environment, included lobbying of legislators over HB 70 and SB 14, to rescind tree ordinances statewide.&nbsp;
<p>State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston, read Dr. Seuss to a crowd on the east side of the Texas Capitol on August 2, 2017. &nbsp;The event, sponsored by Texas Campaign for the Environment, included lobbying of legislators over HB 70 and SB 14, to rescind tree ordinances statewide.&nbsp;</p>

Just two months after vetoing a bill aimed at restricting city rules on tree removal, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed a similar measure into law passed during a summer special session.

Analysis: The tyranny of the minority

House Speaker Joe Straus keeps watch on the chamber during debate on Senate Bill 6 on municipal annexation on Aug. 11, 2017.&nbsp;
<p>House Speaker Joe Straus keeps watch on the chamber during debate on Senate Bill 6 on municipal annexation on Aug. 11, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

Republican state lawmakers could decide who'll be speaker of the Texas House in January 2019 themselves — and then stick together when it goes to a vote in the full House of Representatives. That would be a significant change.

 

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Bill requiring separate abortion insurance among those Texas House passed this week

Trump to fundraise in Dallas in September

Then a candidate for president, Donald Trump rallied a crowd of veterans at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, 2016 &mdash; just ahead of that state's presidential&nbsp;caucuses.
<p>Then a candidate for president, Donald Trump rallied a crowd of veterans at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, 2016 &mdash; just ahead of that state's presidential&nbsp;caucuses.</p>

Hosts of the Sept. 27 fundraiser in Dallas include senior RNC officials as well as some Texas donors and bundlers who supported Trump in his 2016 campaign. 

 

In special session rubble, spotlight shines bright on Straus

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, emerges smiling from a caucus of Republican members after the 85th Legislature adjourned sine die on Aug. 16, 2017. &nbsp;
<p>House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, emerges smiling from a caucus of Republican members after the 85th Legislature adjourned sine die on Aug. 16, 2017. &nbsp;</p>

Following a bruising special session that ended a day earlier than expected, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus drew sharp criticism from some fellow Republicans as well as questions about his future as head of the lower chamber.