Julie Krawczyk, Director of the Elder Financial Safety Center, at the organization's Dallas office on July 17, 2017.
Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune
<p><span>Julie Krawczyk, Director of the Elder Financial Safety Center,&nbsp;at the organization's Dallas office on July 17, 2017.</span></p>

New law aims to help elderly Texans fooled by scammers

A new Texas law gives financial institutions greater authority to stop transactions that they suspect are aimed at defrauding elderly or disabled clients.

 
Floodwaters threaten the Grand Vista neighborhood in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2017. Residents were forced to evacuate due rising water from the Brazos River.
Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
<p><span>Floodwaters threaten the Grand Vista neighborhood in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2017. R<span>esidents were forced to evacuate due rising water from the Brazos River.</span></span></p>

Hey, Texplainer: How is FEMA distributing money to areas hit by Harvey?

Following Harvey, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested money from the federal government, which has sent nearly $1 billion since the federal disaster declaration issued by President Donald Trump on Aug. 25.

Daniel Gonzalez, who freelances for a remodeling company and can't get to work because his car flooded during Hurricane Harvey,&nbsp;shows a video of his flooded vehicle in Houston on&nbsp;Sept. 14, 2017.&nbsp;
Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
<p><span>Daniel Gonzalez, who freelances for a remodeling company and can't get to work because his car flooded during Hurricane Harvey,&nbsp;</span>shows a video of his flooded vehicle in Houston on&nbsp;Sept. 14, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

In Houston, low-income residents struggle after losing vehicles in floods

In addition to replacing clothes and finding new places to live, many in southeast Texas must repair vehicles or buy new cars. But not being able to get to work for more than three weeks makes that a challenge.

Hey, Texplainer: How is FEMA distributing money to areas hit by Harvey?

Floodwaters threaten the Grand Vista neighborhood in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2017. Residents were forced to evacuate due rising water from the Brazos River.
Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
<p><span>Floodwaters threaten the Grand Vista neighborhood in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2017. R<span>esidents were forced to evacuate due rising water from the Brazos River.</span></span></p>

Following Harvey, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested money from the federal government, which has sent nearly $1 billion since the federal disaster declaration issued by President Donald Trump on Aug. 25.

In Houston, low-income residents struggle after losing vehicles in floods

Daniel Gonzalez, who freelances for a remodeling company and can't get to work because his car flooded during Hurricane Harvey,&nbsp;shows a video of his flooded vehicle in Houston on&nbsp;Sept. 14, 2017.&nbsp;
Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
<p><span>Daniel Gonzalez, who freelances for a remodeling company and can't get to work because his car flooded during Hurricane Harvey,&nbsp;</span>shows a video of his flooded vehicle in Houston on&nbsp;Sept. 14, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

In addition to replacing clothes and finding new places to live, many in southeast Texas must repair vehicles or buy new cars. But not being able to get to work for more than three weeks makes that a challenge.

 

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.

EPA approves expedited loan funding for Harvey-related water projects

Temporary pumps are installed at a city facility in Beaumont as the city struggles to get fresh water in the aftermath of Harvey, on Sept. 5, 2017.
<p><span>Temporary pumps are installed at a city facility in Beaumont as the city struggles to get fresh water in the aftermath of Harvey, on Sept. 5, 2017.</span></p>

The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to expedite a low-interest loan program to serve as a financial bridge for local governments rebuilding their water and wastewater systems damaged by Hurricane Harvey.  

Houston looks to Supreme Court to resolve same-sex marriage benefits fight

Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.
Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.

The city of Houston is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Texas Supreme Court in which it suggested a landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits.

The Brief: Protests in Dallas over Confederate statues and more Harvey recovery updates

A statue of Robert E. Lee is harnessed to a crane as workers cut it from its base at Lee Park in Dallas on Sept. 14, 2017.
<p>A statue of Robert E. Lee is harnessed to a crane as workers cut it from its base at Lee Park in Dallas on Sept. 14, 2017.</p>

Texans are still grappling with Confederate statues, some more prisoners in the state are getting a break from the sweltering heat thanks to Hurricane Harvey and GOP efforts in the U.S. Senate to repeal Obamacare could come back to life. 

New law lets Texas drivers help tackle the state's rape kit testing backlog

Jenny Black, executive director/coordinator at Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, shows a sexual assault evidence collection kit at St. David's Medical Center in Austin on July 29, 2013.
<p>Jenny Black, executive director/coordinator at Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, shows a sexual assault evidence collection kit at St. David's Medical Center in Austin on July 29, 2013.</p>

Driver's license applications will soon ask Texans whether they'd like to donate $1 or more for sexual assault kit testing. It's the state's latest effort to reduce a backlog that has swelled for years. 

As a result of Hurricane Harvey, 600 more Texas prisoners getting AC

Here's a look at an aerial view of flooding from Hurricane Harvey at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Terrell and Stringfellow units in Brazoria County on Aug. 30, &nbsp;2017.
<p>Here's a look at an aerial view of flooding from Hurricane Harvey at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Terrell and Stringfellow units in Brazoria County on Aug. 30, &nbsp;2017.</p>

As Hurricane Harvey approached Texas, state prison officials moved thousands of inmates to higher ground. But now that the storm has passed, about 600 of the evacuees gained protection from hot conditions in their cells thanks to an ongoing federal lawsuit.

 

Featured Video

Hell and high water – Riding out Hurricane Harvey

  • by Texas Tribune Staff

Principals aren’t registering high schoolers to vote. Texas is turning to superintendents.

Voters lined up at the Austin Community College Highland Campus in Austin for the first day of early voting on Oct. 24, 2016.
Voters lined up at the Austin Community College Highland Campus in Austin for the first day of early voting on Oct. 24, 2016.

Thirty-four years ago, the Texas Legislature enacted a novel law requiring high school principals to register eligible students to vote. But many aren’t complying, and voter participation remains chronically low. 

Felony charges against Dukes reportedly on hold

State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, in the House chamber as they adjourn on August 1, 2017. &nbsp;Dukes will apparently face trial on corruption charges Oct. 16th as she failed to accept a resignation offer by the Travis County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;
<p>State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, in the House chamber as they adjourn on August 1, 2017. &nbsp;Dukes will apparently face trial on corruption charges Oct. 16th as she failed to accept a resignation offer by the Travis County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;</p>

Travis County prosecutors are setting aside felony charges against state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, at least temporarily, the Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday.