Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gets all-important endorsement from Donald Trump over fellow Republican George P. Bush

Latest News

• Speaker Dade Phelan signs civil arrest warrant for Texas House Democrat who returned to Washington

  by Cassandra Pollock July 26, 2021

  The warrant to apprehend state Rep. Philip Cortez is the first one signed by the speaker since more than 50 House Democrats left the state to block Republicans from having the quorum needed to pass legislation during the special legislative session. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers to testify as U.S. House oversight committee plans hearing on Texas voting bill

  by Alexa Ura July 26, 2021

  Three of the Democratic legislators who went to Washington, D.C., to deny the Texas House a quorum have been invited to detail their concerns at a specially called hearing on the contentious legislation that includes new restrictions on voting. Full Story 

• What you need to know about the latest COVID-19 surge and how to stay safe

  by Elvia Limón July 26, 2021

  COVID-19 cases have been increasing in Texas and nationally — mostly among unvaccinated people — as the highly contagious delta variant has become dominant. Here's what that means for Texans, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Full Story 

• Analysis: In Texas, sports can be a religion. Thankfully, politics are not involved. Oops…

  by Ross Ramsey July 26, 2021

  Nothing offers a better distraction from nasty political fights over serious subjects than nasty political infighting over Texas college sports. Full Story 

• As Texas COVID-19 cases surge again, some local officials urge everyone to wear masks and unvaccinated residents to stay home

  by Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 24, 2021

  Officials in Dallas, Harris and Travis counties want residents to take stronger precautions as the delta variant drives an increase in coronavirus infections across Texas. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers file bill to block UT-Austin from leaving Big 12 for SEC

  by Heidi Pérez-Moreno July 23, 2021

  The move is largely symbolic as the legislative session has been ground to a halt by the quorum-busting Democrats who fled Texas 11 days ago. Even if the Democrats returned, Abbott would have to add the item to his special session agenda for it to have a chance at passing. Full Story 

• Texas veterans homes overseen by George P. Bush were often the deadliest places to be during COVID-19 pandemic

  by Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune, Jay Root, Houston Chronicle, and Carla Astudillo, The Texas Tribune July 23, 2021

  Seven of the state’s nine veterans homes had a fatality rate of 25% or more, far higher than the statewide average of 11% for nursing homes. Bush has vowed to not renew the operators’ contracts. Full Story 

• Texas has seen nearly 9,000 COVID-19 deaths since February. All but 43 were unvaccinated people.

  by Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 23, 2021

  Preliminary data shows 99.5% of COVID-related deaths in Texas were among unvaccinated people, according to the Department of State Health Services. Full Story 

• As the delta variant spreads, Texas’ coronavirus test positivity rate exceeds 10% for the first time since February

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: July 23, 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 

• Gov. Greg Abbott promised “transparency and accountability” for border wall donations. But donors don’t have to use real names.

  by James Barragán July 23, 2021

  Despite promises from Abbott that transparency in the crowdfunding process for the border wall would be paramount, donor information released to The Texas Tribune for the first week of collections was bereft of any way to verify the identities of the majority of the donors. Full Story 

• Lawmakers concerned about UT leaving Big 12 conference make their case to Gov. Greg Abbott's office

  by Patrick Svitek and Matthew Watkins July 22, 2021

  Four prominent lawmakers — one each with ties to Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University — met with Gov. Greg Abbott’s staff Thursday, one day after news broke that the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma had reached out to the Southeastern Conference about joining. Full Story 

• Texas House Democrats trying to block the GOP voting bill are pinning their hopes on Congress. So far Congress is unmoved.

  by Abby Livingston July 22, 2021

  Over the past few days, the Texas delegation has met with nearly all of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, save for President Joe Biden. But there is not yet clear movement to revive the congressional Democrats’ federal voting legislation. Full Story 

• Texans not expected to lose power through the rest of the summer, regulators say

  by Mitchell Ferman July 22, 2021

  The state’s electricity regulators said they’re taking steps to assure a skeptical public that the power won’t go out again if Texas experiences extreme weather this summer. Full Story 

• Beto O’Rourke group gives $600,000 to Texas House Democrats’ stay in Washington, D.C.

  by Cassandra Pollock July 22, 2021

  Members left Texas about 10 days ago and have said they plan to stay out of state until after the special session ends Aug. 6. Full Story 

• Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated

  by Ross Ramsey July 22, 2021

  Texas and other states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, one that’s preying disproportionately on unvaccinated people. Full Story 

• Pandemic show and tell: Texas second graders’ drawings and words reveal how COVID-19 touched their lives

  by Bekah McNeel, The74Million.org July 22, 2021

  Fear, happiness and relief show up in the artwork of San Antonio students asked to depict their reactions to the challenges of the past year. Full Story