The remnants of an SUV wrecked in a car accident on Sept. 21, 2017 during a U.S. Department of Agriculture tour of Harvey-damaged agricultural production. 
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
<p>The remnants of an SUV wrecked in a car accident on Sept. 21, 2017 during a U.S. Department of Agriculture tour of Harvey-damaged agricultural production.&nbsp;</p>

Three hospitalized after wreck involving motorcade carrying state, federal officials

Two staffers for U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway and one from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were sent to a hospital near El Campo on Thursday after a major car wreck. Conaway, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue were all unhurt. 

 
Texas Railroad Commissioners Christi Craddick, center, and Ryan Sitton, right, during a Sunset Advisory Committee hearing on Aug. 22, 2016.
Marjorie Kamys Cotera
<p>Texas Railroad Commissioners Christi Craddick, center, and Ryan Sitton, right, during a Sunset Advisory Committee hearing on Aug. 22, 2016.</p>

Texas railroad commissioner wants AG to weigh in on board chair's actions

Two days after Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and the board's chair, Christi Craddick, clashed publicly at a state meeting, Sitton is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on his colleague's actions.

Members of the Texas congressional delegation from both parties&nbsp;hold a press conference to discuss Harvey relief efforts in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7, 2017.&nbsp;
Abby Livingston
<p>Members of the Texas congressional delegation from both parties&nbsp;hold a press conference to discuss Harvey relief efforts in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

Are any Texans in Congress ready to retire in 2018? We asked them.

All but one of the 38 Texans in Congress are up for re-election next year. Two have already said they are giving up their seats. But many in Washington are bracing for a wave of Congressional retirements in the coming weeks.

Texas railroad commissioner wants AG to weigh in on board chair's actions

Texas Railroad Commissioners Christi Craddick, center, and Ryan Sitton, right, during a Sunset Advisory Committee hearing on Aug. 22, 2016.
Marjorie Kamys Cotera
<p>Texas Railroad Commissioners Christi Craddick, center, and Ryan Sitton, right, during a Sunset Advisory Committee hearing on Aug. 22, 2016.</p>

Two days after Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and the board's chair, Christi Craddick, clashed publicly at a state meeting, Sitton is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on his colleague's actions.

Are any Texans in Congress ready to retire in 2018? We asked them.

Members of the Texas congressional delegation from both parties&nbsp;hold a press conference to discuss Harvey relief efforts in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7, 2017.&nbsp;
Abby Livingston
<p>Members of the Texas congressional delegation from both parties&nbsp;hold a press conference to discuss Harvey relief efforts in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

All but one of the 38 Texans in Congress are up for re-election next year. Two have already said they are giving up their seats. But many in Washington are bracing for a wave of Congressional retirements in the coming weeks.

 

Featured Data

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.

How some see Texas as the "gold standard" against wrongful convictions

Christopher Scott, wrongfully convicted of murder, tells his story next to a photo of fellow exonerees in a Dallas office in July 2017.&nbsp;
<p><span>Christopher Scott, wrongfully convicted of murder, tells his story next to a photo of fellow exonerees in a Dallas office in July 2017.&nbsp;</span></p>

This year, Texas legislators continued efforts to prevent wrongful convictions by passing a law focused on fixing unreliable jailhouse informants, unfair police station lineups and coerced confessions.

Analysis: In politics, you must be present to win

Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Tom Noonan joined other business leaders in opposition to SB6, the so-called "bathroom bill, on March 6, 2017.
Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Tom Noonan joined other business leaders in opposition to SB6, the so-called "bathroom bill, on March 6, 2017.

House Speaker Joe Straus wants business to stay the course through 2018’s elections and into the 2019 session, buttressing business-friendly Republicans against a conservative tide. It's a lot to ask.

 

New law seeks to prevent surprise medical bills from freestanding ERs

A freestanding emergency room provides 24-hour acute care in the Mueller neighborhood of Austin on July 10, 2017. As of Sept. 1, 2017, facilities like this one are required to post a notice of which health insurance networks they participate in, if any.
<p>A freestanding emergency room provides 24-hour acute care in the Mueller neighborhood of Austin on July 10, 2017. As of Sept. 1, 2017, facilities like this one are required to post a notice of which health insurance networks they participate in, if any.</p>

A new law requires Texas' freestanding emergency rooms to more clearly communicate what health insurance networks they're in, if any.

 

Along the Texas coast, food banks brace for post-Harvey need

Damon Smith helps unload a truckload of food and supplies at the Southeast Texas Food Bank in Beaumont on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.&nbsp;
<p><span>Damon Smith helps unload a truckload of food and supplies at the Southeast Texas Food Bank in Beaumont on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.&nbsp;</span></p>

Food banks, pantries and other food access advocates are bracing for increased need in communities that struggled with food insecurity even before Hurricane Harvey — and planning how to meet needs in the months of recovery still ahead.

Homeowners join lawsuit against Crosby chemical plant that burned after Hurricane Harvey

The Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas is covered in&nbsp;debris after a series of chemical fires that occurred as a result of floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey.
<p><span>The Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas is covered in&nbsp;debris after a series of chemical fires that occurred as a result of floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey.</span></p>

Eleven additional plaintiffs and a new defendant have been added to a lawsuit against the company whose manufacturing plant experienced a series of chemical fires as a result of floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey. 

Abbott, Paxton send Trump letter requesting FEMA funding for churches

Gov. Greg Abbott (center) at a press conference with State Rep. Todd Hunter (left), FEMA Director Brock Long and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (center) in Corpus Christi on Aug. 28, 2017.
<p>Gov. Greg Abbott (center) at a press conference with State Rep. Todd Hunter (left), FEMA Director Brock Long and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (center) in Corpus Christi on Aug. 28, 2017.</p>

The letter comes after Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, along with Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, introduced an act to make houses of worship eligible for FEMA Public Assistance program grants. 

 

Featured Video

Hell and high water – Riding out Hurricane Harvey

  • by Texas Tribune Staff