Support nonprofit, public-service journalism that Texans trust. Give now.
Arrests of U.S. citizens hundreds of miles from the border. Claiming drug busts from across the state. Changing statistics. The data that Texas leaders use to boast about Operation Lone Star raise more questions than answers.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bab3291547820183592586350193c35d/johnwhitlock-operation_lonestar-1-tight%20crop.jpg)
We’re looking into Texas’ border security initiatives, including what has worked, what hasn’t and how they affect residents. If you have experience on the border, we’d like to hear from you.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a544e0799b1bc09a841bdebe958b1e99/National%20Guard%20OLS%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1213fd47091ec5aa33238c9ea8a18cb1/Doctor%20Clinic%20Medical%20Women%20Health%20SS%20TT%2005.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa31f095a73de06398d486c3c116cacd/Abbott%20Paxton%20MGO%20TT%2010.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e61aece1fa73d63ba08a39b22d948f3b/Trans%20Rights%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3abfc60b2d372cd264ec016472e4b6ca/Harris%20County%20Votes%20AM%20TT%2011.jpg)
Latest News
Texas, unlike all but 11 other states, hasn’t expanded its Medicaid program. And it also hasn’t addressed the problem that’s supposed to help solve: The state’s worst-in-the-nation ranking for people without health insurance. Full Story
Wildfires have burned more than 58,000 acres across the state. At least one person has died and dozens of homes have burned down. Full Story
Student and staff COVID-19 cases declined after districts reported their highest levels in January since the pandemic began. But the data is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/289abbe9bb905781004995e9e6b30aef/Blanco%20Vista%20Elementary%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial border mission was subject to a slew of bad news this week, including a major shakeup at the Texas Military Department, whose top leader Abbott replaced. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f62eaec8749f5af5e930564d15cf9ccf/TribCast%20March%2018.jpg)
The Texas Tribune is using data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus hospitalizations, vaccinations, cases and deaths. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6ae19d077ee5ac27040752dad19ee5a/Coronavirus-data_pointer.png)
Months after the problems became apparent, migrants are still being kept in prison in violation of state laws under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security crackdown. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/337f7eb871dbbc274df9b959359473e3/Del%20Rio%20Migrant%20Processing%20CS%20TT%2030.jpg)
It took him three years to come out to his mother as trans. Now, under a new directive from the governor, the state is investigating whether she pressured him to transition. Full Story
Nearly 23,000 Texans voted in this month’s party primaries and saw their mail ballots rejected by election officials, evidently an aftershock from new state laws that were supposed to make voting easier and more secure. Full Story
It was also revealed at a special Texas Senate committee meeting that the Texas foster care worker who allegedly sold nude pictures of girls is also accused of dating a child trafficker. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e89dcd2aff7a24d585dade9bee4753a0/Refuge%20Ranch%20TT%2004.jpg)
The departure of three top officials in a week signals that officials may be looking to make changes to the heavily criticized mission. A soldier leading a unionization effort welcomed the moves. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/97d707618e7c448a98014ebf07c8a20b/Camp%20Mabry%20File%20TT%20LW%2007.jpg)
Griner will be under arrest until at least May 19, according to Russian state media. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b81729aae5172593e86a61b95265264/Brittney%20Griner%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
The U.S. transportation secretary says high-growth areas will need to pave more highway lanes — but that state and local officials should minimize environmental and community impacts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/867b56fb2945eacab083fdb4b0ef91de/Pete%20Buttigieg%20Senate%20Hearing%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
A new law prohibits the state from contracting with or investing in companies that divest from oil, natural gas and coal companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68aa4d54cc26ca6f1a987fcb7e9bae55/Capitol%20Vault%20Dome%20SP%20TT%20412.jpg)
A jury awarded Evdokia Nikolova damages for past and future pain and suffering after finding UT-Austin illegally discriminated against her when the school denied her tenure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/236c7e0cce44e6cc59e55613a08ef94c/REDO%20UT%20Austin%20File%20AG%20TT%2009.jpg)
An attorney representing foster care children in a suit against Texas said Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw’s conclusion that there was no evidence of sexual abuse despite the investigation into the photos was “both surprising and extremely troubling.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfd510d21aca93ad8dda58e970faf785/Refuge%20Ranch%20TT%2001.jpg)
After last winter’s near-statewide electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers went after regulators they deemed responsible but tiptoed around the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas. Now voters have a chance, if they want it, to send the state a message. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2458034d7908f9df129f85d9adb6185c/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2012.jpg)
There are several ways you can securely send tips, documents and photographs to our reporters and editors. Learn more.
As conservative parents become more frustrated with how school boards handled the pandemic, once-ignored school board elections are becoming better funded. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d6953bba82ca5a5df58024376fb5678/Frisco%20ISD%20Mask%20Protest%20ST%20TT%2008.jpg)
The dispatching of troops to the sprawling private ranches, far from the border, raises questions about the use of National Guard troops, who have widely decried the mission as aimless, political and oversized, as the cost of the effort has already ballooned to $2 billion a year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23fcf4243170b9e75da2ef6b1ca95324/Redo%20Texas%20National%20Guard%20Kenedy%20Co%20EG%2004.jpg)
Paxton tweeted Friday that investigations into parents of transgender children would continue as a result of his appeal. But the state’s child welfare agency won’t confirm the status of the investigations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4e847f29c53df32209cc9824c9ef6c9f/SCOTUS%20Nov%201%20EL%20TT%2069.jpg)
