New in TribTalk: Saving for a rainy day
Legislators will be tempted to tap the Economic Stabilization Fund for many reasons, but restraint should be exercised, write Vance Ginn and Elliott Raia of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Full Story
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The Brief: Mexican-American studies textbook rejected in early vote
The preliminary vote has to be affirmed during a second meeting Friday, where it's likely the book will fall short. Full Story
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![State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, speaks during a press conference at the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 regarding a proposed Mexican-American studies textbook that educators and activists are calling racist. The advocacy group, Texas Freedom Network, along with educators, and activists are asking the State Board of Education to reject the Mexican American heritage textbook.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Both in court and under Trump, Texas Voter ID law faces uncertain future
Whom President-elect Donald Trump appoints to a vacant U.S. Supreme Court seat and how his Justice Department will differ from President Obama's could determine whether Texas' 2011 Voter ID law survives. Full Story
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![During the first week of early voting for the 2016 presidential elections, civil rights lawyers took issue with this sign outside of a polling place in Cuero. It did not mention options for casting a ballot without photo ID.]()
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Under Trump, new questions about mental health benefits in Texas
As Republicans prepare to dismantle Obamacare, mental health advocates are worried that benefits for counseling and substance abuse treatment will be lost in the shuffle. Full Story
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State education board focuses again on teaching of evolution
Language challenging evolution was removed from high school biology standards because it seemed too difficult for students to analyze and evaluate, the state education board was told Wednesday. Full Story
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![State Board of Education Chair Barbara Cargill questions textbook publishers on the contents of their publications at a meeting in Austin on Monday, October 20, 2014.]()
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UNT Dallas law school gets second chance to earn accreditation
The school is fighting a recommendation that it not be accredited, which would prevent its graduates from taking the Texas bar exam and practicing in the state. Full Story
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![The outside of the University of North Texas System building in downtown Dallas. The building is occupied by the UNT Dallas College of Law, which is at risk of losing its accreditation.]()
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Laredo mayor, city manager congratulate Trump, ask for meeting
A week after acknowledging some of his constituents are anxious and perplexed over the election of Donald Trump, the mayor of Laredo has sent a congratulatory note to the president-elect. Full Story
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![Donald Trump responds to a reporters question at the World Trade Bridge. Scott Ball.]()
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John Cornyn, Senate majority whip, watches and waits for Trump appointments
Even though U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will be tasked with rounding up confirmation votes, he told reporters on Wednesday that he is not looped in on coming Trump appointments. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, held a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 12, 2015.]()
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Legislator, A&M chancellor spar over nixed campus merger talks
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and state Rep. J.M. Lozano exchanged criticism Wednesday over a quashed proposal to merge Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Full Story
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![State Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp.]()
Credit: Lozano: website/Sharp: Marjorie Kamys Cortera -
Texas education board rejects Mexican-American studies textbook
In a 14-0 vote, the Texas State Board of Education rejected the adoption of a controversial Mexican-American studies textbook. Full Story
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![Carolina Hernandez, a student in the Houston ISD, spoke during a news conference at the Texas Education Agency on Nov. 15, 2016, about a proposed Mexican-American studies textbook that educators and activists have criticized. As Hernandez spoke, she glanced at a box holding 15,000 petitions against the textbook.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Water: New worries about sea-level rise
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A new study stokes sea-level rise fears, major water conference planned for January and an interview with Collins K. Balcombe of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Full Story
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The Brief: Texans react to Trump's immigration plans
Since his victory on Nov. 8, President-elect Donald Trump has doubled down on the immigration policies he campaigned on. Full Story
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![GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump rallied supporters at Gilley's in Dallas on June 16, 2016.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
Most border arrests by Texas troopers are not for drug smuggling
DPS has added more troopers to the border under the assumed objective that they're going after drug and human smugglers. But most of their arrests are for drunk driving and misdemeanor drug possession. Full Story
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![45-year-old Nickolas Mares is described by DPS as a “high-threat criminal,” though he only faced a drug possession charge. He can hardly speak from a stroke and lives with his mother in Rio Grande City.]()
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Many border drug smugglers avoid prison
In two key counties, less than a quarter of the “high-threat criminals” arrested by Department of Public Safety troopers for felony drug offenses during the state’s border surge have been sent to prison. Full Story
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![A DPS trooper spots a motorist along Highway 83 in Starr County.]()
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Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn't everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
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Cruz fuels speculation over Cabinet position with surprise Trump meeting
The meeting between the former rivals at Trump Tower in New York, where the business mogul has been planning his transition to the White House, spawned theories about Cruz's possible place in Trump's Cabinet. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen Ted Cruz.]()
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Opposition to Dakota Access pipeline boils over in Austin
Hundreds protested at the Capitol on Tuesday, one of several demonstrations across the country against the oil pipeline being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. Full Story
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![Protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline rallied at the Texas capitol on Nov. 15, 2016.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
A conversation with Isaac and Murr
Full video of my 11/14 conversation with state Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, and Andrew Murr, R-Junction, on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville. Full Story
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Lawmaker to try again with bill banning "sanctuary cities"
Backed by the lieutenant governor, Sen. Charles Perry filed legislation Tuesday to eliminate sanctuary cities. Full Story
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![Sen.Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, continues debate with Sen. Kirk Watson on HB3994 an abortion reform measure on May 25, 2015.]()
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Feds: More recoverable oil in West Texas than previously thought
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that producers could tap some 20 billion more barrels of oil from under the Midland area. It's the agency's largest discovery of recoverable crude ever. Full Story
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Credit: Paul Lowry