Thin majority of Texas House signs on to support voucher bill

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• Texas A&M System bans drag shows from its universities

  By Jessica Priest Updated: Feb. 28, 2025

  The move potentially sets up a new First Amendment fight between students and university administrators. Full Story 

• West Texas measles cases rise to 146 and the first case reported in Austin. Here is what you need to know.

  By Stephen Simpson, Terri Langford and Eleanor Klibanoff Updated: Feb. 28, 2025

  The number of measles cases in Gaines County has more than doubled in a week. Separate from the West Texas outbreak, Austin’s first measles case in 24 years reported Friday. Full Story 

• Texas leaders defend Black official after lawmaker’s public interrogation of DEI policies left her in tears

  By Alejandra Martinez Feb. 28, 2025

  The topic was a budget request from a state agency. The exchange grew emotional when a lawmaker pressed for answers about a strategic plan that praises diversity. Full Story 

• Trump is sending migrants from the U.S. to Guantanamo. One mother speaks out about her son’s detention.

  By Gerardo del Valle, ProPublica, Perla Trevizo, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica Feb. 28, 2025

  Yoiker Sequera’s mother reflects on her fears after finding out her son had been detained in the infamous prison in Cuba for two weeks before being deported to Venezuela. Full Story 

• Republican senators threaten not to boost Texas public universities’ funding over DEI ban

  By Jessica Priest Feb. 28, 2025

  In a letter, Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt said they found “numerous” violations of the law, but didn’t provide specifics. Full Story 

• Texas leaders quiet amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades

  By Eleanor Klibanoff Feb. 28, 2025

  Declining vaccination rates, decreasing trust in government and a political unwillingness to endorse vaccines is shaping Texas’ measles response. Full Story 

• Bills introduced a year after state’s largest blaze seek to limit wildfires

  By Jayme Lozano Carver Feb. 28, 2025

  Among the proposals is a bill that would force more inspections of power lines, which a committee concluded ignited a blaze that burned more than 1 million acres last year. Full Story 

• Republican lawmaker files bills to ban DEI in Texas K-12 public schools

  By Jaden Edison and Pavan Acharya Updated: Feb. 27, 2025

  Sen. Brandon Creighton has filed bills that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies related to hiring and programming, while creating ways for parents to complain about violations to the DEI ban. Full Story 

• Trump tariffs set to hit Texas’ biggest trading partners beginning next week

  By Matthew Choi Updated: Feb. 27, 2025

  The president said Mexico and Canada have failed to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S. after giving the countries 30 days to do so before enacting the tariffs. Full Story 

• Trump administration removes five immigration judges in Texas, union says

  By Alejandro Serrano Feb. 27, 2025

  The move raises concerns about large case backlogs that have persisted for years. Full Story 

• A year after Texas’ largest wildfire, Panhandle residents tugged between hope and anxiety

  By Jayme Lozano Carver Feb. 27, 2025

  The Panhandle town of Canadian is determined to move beyond the deadly fire. And yet, they are reminded almost daily another catastrophe is possible. Full Story 

• A shortage of criminal defense attorneys threatens indigent right to counsel in rural Texas

  By Pooja Salhotra Feb. 27, 2025

  Texas’ indigent defense commission wants lawmakers to spend $35 million on public defender offices in rural areas, but some say that isn’t nearly enough to ensure compliance with the U.S. Constitution. Full Story 

• Investigations into the Texas Lottery grow after courier controversy

  By Ayden Runnels Feb. 26, 2025

  AG Ken Paxton’s office joins two other investigations by state officials into the commission as one service suspends operations due to the agency’s ban. Full Story 

• Texas Senate approves school funding proposal focused on teacher raises

  By Jaden Edison and Alejandro Serrano Updated: Feb. 26, 2025

  Teachers with three and five years of experience would qualify for raises under Senate Bill 26. Instructors in smaller school districts would get bigger pay bumps. Full Story 

• Who are the Mennonites in a Texas community where measles is spreading?

  Story by Peter Smith, Associated Press Feb. 26, 2025

  The group is part of a larger, loosely affiliated group of churches with varied beliefs and leadership structures — and with sometimes strained relations with authorities. Full Story 

• First death in West Texas measles outbreak is unvaccinated child

  By Jayme Lozano Carver and Terri Langford Updated: Feb. 26, 2025

  More than 120 people across nine counties have been infected during the largest Texas outbreak in 30 years. Full Story