State agencies push for better worker pay as critical staffing crunch hits Texas government

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• In West Texas, Fort Stockton’s solution to a teacher shortage is a motel

  by Bekah McNeel, The 74 2 hours ago

  The rural Fort Stockton school district is paying big money for teachers and sweetening the deal with low-cost housing. Full Story 

• In campaign ad, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests mandatory 10-year sentence for gun-related crimes

  by Jolie McCullough Sept. 28, 2022

  New mandatory sentences could be a big policy shift for Texas. But Patrick isn’t providing any details of his one-sentence proposal so it’s hard to gauge its significance. Full Story 

• Texas court confirms the attorney general can’t unilaterally prosecute election cases

  by Alejandro Serrano Updated: Sept. 28, 2022

  Texas’ highest criminal court once again said the attorney general needs permission from local prosecutors to pursue election cases. Attorney General Ken Paxton had fought that decision. Full Story 

• A Texas congresswoman wants to make cancer care easier for the growing number of female veterans

  by Allison P. Erickson Sept. 28, 2022

  U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, hopes the pilot program will help female veterans get better access to cancer care. Full Story 

• Migrant encounters at the border are higher today than they were before Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star began

  by James Barragán Sept. 28, 2022

  The number of migrant encounters at the Texas-Mexico border has climbed from 109,456 in March 2021, the month the mission began, to 116,976 in August — a failure of Abbott’s office’s stated desire to “stop this revolving door and deter others considering entering illegally.” Full Story 

• Watch: Republicans gain ground all along the Texas-Mexico border by emphasizing border security

  by Jillian Taylor and James Barragán Sept. 28, 2022

  In these historically Democratic border areas, some voters are turning to the Republican party, while others remain unmoved. Full Story 

• Texas AG’s office sends mixed signals about whether it can fine nonprofits that pay for out-of-state abortions

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Sept. 27, 2022

  Lawyers for abortion funds want Ken Paxton to testify in their lawsuit. He fled his home Monday while being served a subpoena that was later quashed by a judge. Full Story 

• Texas will build more than 50 new electric car charging locations along major highways

  by Erin Douglas Sept. 27, 2022

  The $408 million approved Tuesday by the Federal Highway Administration will help build a network of charging facilities every 50-70 miles along certain major Texas highways. Full Story 

• Ted Cruz votes against bipartisan bill to prevent another Jan. 6

  by Matthew Choi Sept. 27, 2022

  The Texan objected to certifying Arizona’s electoral votes as rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The bill, which Cruz voted against in committee on Tuesday, would make a similar move in the future meaningless. Full Story 

• Leading anti-abortion group drops support of Texas lawmaker after he pledges to support exceptions for rape

  by Pooja Salhotra Sept. 27, 2022

  Other anti-abortion groups and Republicans said they will continue to support state Sen. Robert Nichols after his comments at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story 

• Texas will fight to block 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns

  by Trent Brown Sept. 27, 2022

  A court had ruled that the state’s ban was unconstitutional. The attorney general’s office — usually a supporter of gun rights — said it will appeal but didn’t explain why. Full Story 

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fled his home to avoid being served with subpoena, court record says

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Updated: Sept. 27, 2022

  In an affidavit, a process server said that the state’s top attorney tried to evade him as he attempted to deliver a subpoena from an abortion fund’s lawsuit against the state. Full Story 

• Brazos County won’t restore Texas A&M early-voting location despite students’ pushback

  by Alex Nguyen Updated: Sept. 27, 2022

  County commissioners decided Tuesday that A&M still won’t have an on-campus early-voting location for the 2022 elections, despite admitting it was a mistake to eliminate it for the first time in years. Full Story 

• Texas Democrats try to convince voters they aren’t bad for oil and gas

  by Patrick Svitek and Mitchell Ferman Sept. 27, 2022

  Candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Mike Collier say they want to work toward a cleaner energy future but aren’t looking to eliminate the energy jobs that boost Texas’ economy. Full Story 

• As inflation skyrockets, local Texas governments ponder tax rate increases as they balance budgets

  by Pooja Salhotra Sept. 27, 2022

  Local governments in Texas have spent the summer preparing their budgets for next year, wrestling with inflation and a law that prohibits them from raising property tax revenues beyond 3.5% without voter approval. Full Story 

• They saved to buy their own mobile homes. Then the land beneath them was sold to an investor.

  by Lucy Tompkins, The Texas Tribune and The New York Times, and Evan L’Roy, The Texas Tribune Sept. 27, 2022

  Mobile homes are a vital source of affordable housing for around 2 million Texans. But as Texas cities grow, many mobile home parks are being closed and redeveloped, pushing out longtime residents. Full Story