State Rep. Dutton renews uphill fight to abolish the death penalty in Texas
Every legislative session since 2003, Harold Dutton of Houston has filed at least one bill to end capital punishment in Texas. It’s often been a lonely quest. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas colleges fret about $1 billion in expected funding missing from budget plan
Schools say they rely heavily on "special item" appropriations for higher education. The Senate hasn't appropriated any so far, but it could add them later. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Thousands of school choice advocates expected to rally at Texas Capitol
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will headline Tuesday's rally, marking the start of a protracted battle this session over whether Texas should allow parents to pay for private school with taxpayer money. Full Story
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![A school choice rally, part of National School Choice Week, drew advocates to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Jan. 30, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Castro brothers confront Trump era
Donald Trump's upset victory left many in both parties shocked, upending their best-laid plans for after the election. Among them are rising Texas Democratic stars Julián and Joaquin Castro. Full Story
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![Julián and Joaquin Castro speak to media during the Texas Democratic Convention on June 17, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Senate takes first step toward school finance overhaul
The Senate has tasked a new budget working group with coming up with ways to overhaul the state's school finance system. Full Story
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![Senate Committee on Education Chairman Sen. Larry Taylor R-Friendswood during a Aug 3, 2016 hearing]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Former Sen. Eltife appointed to UT Board of Regents; Wallace Hall passed over
An era of disunity and controversy on the University of Texas System Board of Regents could soon be ending, as the most controversial member of the board Wallace Hall and his two closest ideological allies have been passed over for reappointment to the board. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
George H.W. Bush moved out of ICU, Barbara Bush discharged from hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush is leaving intensive care as he battles pneumonia; former First Lady Barbara Bush will stay by his side Full Story
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![Former President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara Bush in Houston Methodist Hospital.]()
Credit: Jim McGrath Twitter feed -
Gov. Abbott demands Travis County reverse new "sanctuary" policy
Gov. Greg Abbott is formally demanding that Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez reverse her new policy on cooperation with federal immigration authorities or lose state dollars, further escalating a showdown over "sanctuary cities" that have been in the crosshairs of Republican officials. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Martin do Nascimento -
With Rubio's support, Tillerson's confirmation as secretary of state all but assured
Former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson's nomination to lead the State Department is on track, thanks to the support of a crucial Republican senator. Full Story
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![Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, testifies before a Senate Foreign
Relations Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. secretary of state in Washington, D.C. on January
11, 2017.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst -
Supreme Court rejects Texas voter ID appeal — for now
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up Texas’ effort salvage its strict voter identification law, handing at least a temporary victory to civil rights advocates who have successfully argued that the law discriminates against minorities. Full Story
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![A sign describing Texas' new voter ID law is displayed at Fiesta Mart in Austin on Election Day 2013.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Rex Tillerson inches closer to nomination
The former Exxon CEO and native Texan got the support of two key U.S. senators this weekend: John McCain and Lindsey Graham. With their support, Tillerson likely has the votes for confirmation from the senate. Full Story
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![ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson speaks during the IHS CERAWeek 2015 energy conference in Houston,
Texas April 21, 2015.]()
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Analysis: Luckily for Texas, voters don’t get report cards
A recent study of mayoral races — those important but rarely epic meat-and-potatoes exercises in civic responsibility — revealed some ugly facts about voters in general and Texas voters in particular. 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.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Two key senators announce support for secretary of state nominee Tillerson
Two powerful U.S. senators announced they would back the secretary of state nomination of Rex Tillerson, a native Texan. Full Story
![Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, testifies before a Senate Foreign
Relations Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. secretary of state in Washington, D.C. on January
11, 2017.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst -
Watch our video series on community concerns coming to the Capitol
In our six-part "State of Mind" series, we looked at various issues being discussed across Texas as state lawmakers debate bills during the 85th Legislative Session. Watch all of the videos here. Full Story
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In West Texas, abandoned well sinks land, sucks tax dollars
Land around a West Texas roadway used to be flat. Now, it’s fissured, sinking and has cost taxpayers more than a million dollars — all because of a water well that was left unplugged. Full Story
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![The land is sinking three-fourths of an inch every month around this abandoned well outside of Imperial in Pecos County, and huge cracks have opened in the area. The Texas Department of Transportation paid most of the $315,000 bill to plug the well in 2009 and has spent at least $1 million fixing a nearby farm-to-market road.]()
Credit: Rafael Aguilera for The Texas Tribune -
Tens of thousands participate in Texas women's marches
The day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, tens of thousands of Texans took part in marches across the state Saturday during Texas’ multiple iterations of the Women’s March on Washington. Full Story
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![Women and supporters gather at the Texas Capitol for the Women's March on Austin on Jan. 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Brownsville jurors shown cash and safe as Border Patrol agent's murder trial continues
Hoping to bolster their murder case against Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna, prosecutors showed jurors a safe they say he used to store $90,000 in smuggled money. Full Story
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![Chief Prosecutor Gus Garza examines a safe and cash seized from Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna's mother-in-law's home during Luna's trial for murder on Jan. 20, 2017, in Brownsville.]()
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Travis County sheriff announces new "sanctuary" policy
A Friday announcement by newly-elected Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez that her office would reduce cooperation with federal immigration authorities will set up a showdown with Texas Republican leaders, especially Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento -
Texas dance troupe swings through Washington for Trump inauguration
The Lil' and Elite Wranglers, a College Station-based troupe of dancers made up of nine- to 18-year-olds, took their Texas swing to Washington, D.C., on Friday for the Inaugural Parade of President Donald Trump. Full Story
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![The Lil' Wranglers of College Station perform at the 2017 Black Tie And Boots Ball outside Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Allison Shelley for the Texas Tribune -
For Texas students at inauguration, history of moment trumps turmoil
After spending a year raising money for the trip, a group of San Antonio students managed to look past any political disappointment to enjoy the experience of witnessing a peaceful transfer of power. Full Story
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![San Antonio high school students (l.-r.) Justin Cantu, Jacob Webster, Sarahi Rivas, Cianna Kaysing and Autumn Duerr, in Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration of President Trump, on January 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston
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