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• Freshman state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for Dallas congressional seat, with Eddie Bernice Johnson’s backing

  by Patrick Svitek Nov. 24, 2021

  Crockett is running for the seat vacated by Johnson, who announced Saturday that she would not seek reelection in the 30th Congressional District after serving nearly three decades in Congress. The seat is solidly Democratic. Full Story 

• COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas are lower than they have been in months, but experts say there’s still reason to be wary

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 24, 2021

  A surge in COVID-19 cases from the West is impacting El Paso. Full Story 

• For whom the vows apply: Some Texas faith leaders work to combat the stigma religion often places on people seeking abortions

  by Bekah McNeel, The Texas Tribune Nov. 24, 2021

  Female clergy say the state's new abortion restrictions fail to consider women's lives. Full Story 

• Beto O’Rourke targets South Texas in bid to win back Democratic voters he’ll need to beat Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022

  by Patrick Svitek Nov. 24, 2021

  O’Rourke has ground to make up after his own underwhelming performance with voters there in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate — and turning out more Latino voters has long been key to Democratic hopes statewide. Full Story 

• UT-Austin to keep Stan Richards’ name on advertising school after he called motel campaign “too Black”

  by Kate McGee Updated: Nov. 23, 2021

  Richards’ comments in 2020 led to his resignation from his Dallas-based company, The Richards Group, as well as calls for the university to change the name of the Stan Richards College of Advertising and Public Relations, which launched in 2014. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert joins Texas Republicans running against Attorney General Ken Paxton

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Nov. 23, 2021

  Gohmert is at least the fourth GOP primary opponent that Paxton will face. At least three Democrats are also running for the job. Full Story 

• Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorney

  by Patrick Svitek Nov. 23, 2021

  Krause had been among the primary challengers to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal problems have made him a target for both parties next year. Full Story 

• Fewer patients, smaller staff, an uncertain future: abortion providers await court decision on Texas law

  by Karen Brooks Harper and Eleanor Klibanoff Nov. 23, 2021

  For two months, providers have had to work in a sort of limbo as they wait to see if the new law passes the Supreme Court's review. Full Story 

• Evictions in some Texas cities are almost back to normal levels as tenant help dries up

  by Joshua Fechter and Uriel J. García Nov. 23, 2021

  Evictions in major Texas cities have reached levels not seen since the pandemic began. But tenant protections and financial assistance for struggling renters are beginning to fade. Full Story 

• UT-Austin professors criticize university for halting antiracism study with preschoolers

  by Kate McGee Nov. 22, 2021

  The decision to halt the study comes after a University of Michigan-Flint professor filed an Office for Civil Rights complaint against the study, arguing it discriminates against children of color. But professors said pausing the study sets a negative precedent that could impact academic freedom. Full Story 

• At least 28 Texas hospitals were out of ICU beds last week, according to the latest federal data. Look up the ones near you.

  by Carla Astudillo and Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Nov. 22, 2021

  Each week, hospitals in Texas report their current ICU bed capacity to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here’s the latest as the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 spreads and sends unvaccinated Texans to the hospital. Full Story 

• Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas

  by Ross Ramsey Nov. 22, 2021

  As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive campaign promises just got a lot easier to make. Full Story 

• Congressional gerrymandering by Texas Republicans cut out the heart of Houston’s Asian community

  by Neelam Bohra Nov. 22, 2021

  Asian and Pacific Islander populations surged in Texas over the past decade, but their political power is weakened under new congressional maps. A northwest Houston neighborhood offers a case study in how that was done. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson announces retirement after almost 3 decades in Congress

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Nov. 20, 2021

  Johnson, one of the longest serving members in Congress, had previously indicated that her current term would be her last. Full Story 

• Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts during severe winter weather, even with new preparations, ERCOT estimates show

  by Erin Douglas Nov. 20, 2021

  The most severe scenario considered by ERCOT for this winter — very high demand for power, extensive fossil fuel outages, and low renewable power production — does not capture the amount of power lost during February. Full Story 

• Dallas health care program for transgender kids formally dissolved after becoming target of conservative criticism

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 19, 2021

  Hospital officials cited privacy for children as a reason behind the decision and said patients will still receive care through other departments. Full Story