Attorney General Ken Paxton’s three Republican challengers criticize his legal problems — and pitch themselves as the best GOP nominee

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• Watch U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona talk about the effects of the pandemic and more at The Texas Tribune Festival

  by Texas Tribune Staff Sept. 25, 2021

  Cardona spoke about how students, teachers, schools and districts have fared during the pandemic — and what happens now. Full Story 

• Watch state Reps. Jeff Leach and Joe Moody discuss lawmakers’ criminal justice work at The Texas Tribune Festival

  by Texas Tribune Staff Sept. 25, 2021

  Leach, a Plano Republican, and Moody, an El Paso Democrat, co-chair the House Criminal Justice Caucus. Full Story 

• 50% of Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but rate of shots administered has slowed

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: Sept. 24, 2021

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

• Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick blast state bar investigation into Ken Paxton as “politically motivated”

  by James Barragán Sept. 24, 2021

  The Texas attorney general is being investigated for professional misconduct for his filing of a lawsuit challenging the 2020 presidential elections in battleground states. Fellow Republicans say the probe encroaches on Paxton’s executive branch authority. Full Story 

• Texas county officials call election audits an unnecessary partisan ploy while voicing confidence in 2020 results

  by Reese Oxner and James Pollard Updated: Sept. 24, 2021

  Officials in some counties targeted by audits accuse Republican Texas leaders of pandering to conspiracy theorists and undermining faith in elections. They also say the secretary of state’s office hasn’t provided details on what the audits entail. Full Story 

• Texas law restricting access to abortion medications goes into effect Dec. 2 after governor signs bill

  by Kevin Reynolds Sept. 24, 2021

  The new law narrows the window in which physicians are allowed to give abortion-inducing medication to patients from 10 weeks to seven weeks after conception, bucking FDA guidelines. Full Story 

• A Republican wants to add exceptions for rape and incest to Texas’ new near-total abortion ban. He faces an uphill climb.

  by James Pollard Sept. 24, 2021

  The proposal comes almost two weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott’s comments that the state would “eliminate all rapists.” Full Story 

• Beto O’Rourke on Matthew McConaughey: “I don’t know how he feels about any of the issues”

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 24, 2021

  In a Texas Tribune Festival interview, the former member of Congress discussed the fight for voting rights, his takeaways from his last two runs for office and speculation about his becoming a candidate for governor. Full Story 

• All migrants have been cleared from encampment in Del Rio, homeland security secretary says

  by Felicia Sonmez, The Washington Post Sept. 24, 2021

  As many as 15,000 migrants, mostly from Haiti, crossed the Rio Grande at Del Rio and spent days under the international bridge, sparking a crisis for President Joe Biden. Full Story 

• Texas schools have reported more coronavirus cases in less than two months than they did in the entire 2020-21 school year

  by Kalley Huang, Mandi Cai and Brian Lopez Updated: Sept. 24, 2021

  Less than two months into this school year, the number of reported coronavirus cases among students has surpassed the total from the entire 2020-21 school year. But state data on school cases is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story 

• U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas is lone Democrat to vote against federal bill protecting abortion rights

  by Bethany Irvine and Abby Livingston Updated: Sept. 24, 2021

  The U.S. House is trying to override Texas’ near-total ban on abortions. But Democrats likely lack the support they need in the U.S. Senate. Full Story 

• Texas lawmaker defends new permitless carry law against criticism from gun control advocate

  by Mitchell Ferman Sept. 24, 2021

  The law that went into effect Sept. 1 allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training. Full Story 

• Texas bill restricting transgender student athletes’ sports participation has enough votes to pass, House Speaker Dade Phelan says

  by Allyson Waller Sept. 24, 2021

  Three times this year — in the regular session and in two subsequent special sessions — legislation targeting transgender student athletes sailed through the Senate only to falter in the House. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans hope to flip San Antonio-area House seat in Tuesday special election

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 24, 2021

  After upsets in previous special elections and President Joe Biden’s underperformance in South Texas last year, Democrats running for an open Texas House seat are taking the GOP threat seriously. Full Story 

• With Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s blessing, lawmakers fast-track property tax cut proposal

  by Joshua Fechter Sept. 24, 2021

  Tax relief for property owners joins a packed to-do list for Texas lawmakers — which includes redistricting, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and a spending plan for $16 billion in federal stimulus dollars. Full Story 

• Watch Alexander Vindman talk about his military service, former President Donald Trump and more at The Texas Tribune Festival

  by Texas Tribune Staff Sept. 24, 2021

  The retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel will discuss his childhood as an immigrant, his service to his adopted nation and his decision to testify against his commander in chief. Full Story