Stadium exemption in "bathroom bill" won’t be enough, opponents say
An exemption for stadiums and convention centers in Texas' "bathroom bill" may not be enough to avoid economic fallout in the state, opponents warn. Full Story
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![AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home to the Dallas Cowboys, on October 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
She was a sex-trafficking victim, but Texas law labeled her a pimp
Laws the state uses to put sex traffickers behind bars can sweep up their prey, too. A few years in age can mean the difference between a chance at rehabilitation and a lengthy prison sentence, as Yvette learned. Full Story
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![Yvette, 24, was convicted of trafficking a 16-year-old girl in 2015. She is serving a 23-year sentence at a prison in Gatesville, Texas.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas may still be giving state-funded pension to convicted elected officials
More than two dozen former elected officials convicted of felonies may be receiving taxpayer-funded retirement pay. But state law keeps the details secret. Full Story
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![Sen.Van Taylor R-Plano questions a witness during a Aug 3, 2016 Senate Committee on Education meeting]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate panel hears testimony on 3 abortion-related bills
Senate Health and Human Services Committee members heard emotional testimony from reproductive rights and anti-abortion advocates on Wednesday over Senate Bill 8, Senate Bill 415 and Senate Bill 258. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown listens to questions asked by Sen. Kirk Watson D-Austin during a February 15, 2017 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House budget proposal would defund Gov. Abbott's pre-K program
The House has proposed cutting all funding for a pre-K grant program that Gov. Greg Abbott has discussed as a priority this legislative session — setting the stage for a battle in the Legislature. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs House Bill 4, which adds funding for pre-kindergarten, into law at the Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center in Austin on May 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Trump team's alleged Russia ties get muted response from Texas Republicans
Texas Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for more Congressional oversight, amid news reports of Trump allies communicating with Russian officials. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hangs on politically as criminal trial looms
In less than three months, Texans will watch as their attorney general stands trial on securities fraud charges, facing up to 99 years in prison. Yet Ken Paxton's Republican base is standing by him. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
If Texas passes anti-"sanctuary" bill, El Paso County could face lawsuits
A 2006 settlement between an El Paso County resident and his local sheriff's department could come back and haunt the border town if the Texas Legislature passes its anti-"sanctuary cities" bill. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Menéndez failed to report $50,000 in donations
A Texas Tribune investigation found that two state senators failed to report almost $60,000 in donations from two PACs. Sens. Jose Menendez and Carlos Uresti, both San Antonio Democrats, vowed to file amended reports. Full Story
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![Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, reacts after his point of order to kill SB 4 the sanctuary city bill is denied during debate on Feb. 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Child sex-trafficking, budget woes and Abbott vs. the NFL (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Morgan about Sold Out, the Tribune's child sex-trafficking project; Gov. Greg Abbott's war of words with the NFL; and whether state lawmakers will tap into the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
Texas Attorney General first in country to file brief backing Trump travel ban
Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an amicus brief Wednesday expressing his support of President Donald Trump's travel ban, effectively becoming the first state attorney general to back the controversial executive order. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Watch a film screening and discussion on the documentary Tower
The UT Tower shooting is infamous as America’s first mass school shooting. Meet the survivors and heroes of that day in “Tower,” an animated documentary film. Full Story
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![Co-Sponsored Screening of TOWER]()
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The Brief: New abortion fights in Texas start today
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is taking up three abortion-related bills today. Here's what you need to know. Full Story
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![Protesters on both sides of the issue face off in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. as Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt is argued inside, March 2, 2016. The case is focused on Texas law HB2, which if enforced would result in the closure of more than 75 percent of all women’s health clinics that provide abortion services in the state.]()
Credit: Allison Shelley for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Lawmakers can turn to a bag of tricks to balance state budget
With an official forecast that less money will be available, the next state budget is tight. The finance folks are looking for money to make it balance, but don't fret: They've got plenty of tax-avoiding, budget-balancing tricks in their bags. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas couldn’t help this sex-trafficked teen, so authorities sent her to jail
No one wanted Lena behind bars. She was not a prostitute; she was a child who had been sexually exploited. But teenage sex-trafficking victims in Texas end up in jail for one simple reason: There's nowhere else for them to go. Full Story
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![17-year-old Lena waits to be released from the Harris County Jail, with a small bag of her possessions. Her mentor gave her a blue jumpsuit to wear over her skimpy clothes.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
For Dawnna Dukes, a lukewarm welcome from Travis County delegation
Dukes’ presence in the House is a sensitive topic for her colleagues in the Travis County delegation because of the 12-term Democrat’s legal issues. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, outside the Travis County Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center before being arraigned on Jan. 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Juvenile justice agency pushes back on claims of ineffectiveness
A Senate Finance committee workgroup has been tasked with exploring ways to improve the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as the agency defends itself from claims of inefficiency. Full Story
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![Detainees are moved from location to location within the Travis County Juvenile Detention Center in Austin, Texas, Monday, June 24, 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott blasts NFL for wading into "bathroom bill" debate
"The NFL needs to concentrate on playing football and get the heck out of politics," Gov. Greg Abbott told conservative radio host Glenn Beck. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and the official NFL logo.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune/The National Football League -
Study: A quarter of Texas public schools no longer teach sex ed
Nearly 60 percent of Texas public school districts used an abstinence-only sexual education curriculum, and a quarter taught no sex education at all, according to a study released Tuesday from the Texas Freedom Network. Full Story
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UTSA President Romo placed on administrative leave pending "conduct review"
University of Texas at San Antonio President Ricardo Romo, who had been scheduled to retire in August, has been placed on administrative leave pending a "review of allegations related to his conduct." Full Story
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![University of Texas at San Antonio President Ricardo Romo opens the Texas Tribune's event on Cybersecurity and Privacy in San Antonio on Dec. 9, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich