Texas Senate advances bill to crowdfund rape kit testing
Legislation that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits has moved closer to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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![State Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, authored a House bill that would allow crowdfunding for rape kit testing in Texas.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas budget negotiations turn to higher education as a deal inches nearer
Members of both chambers of the Texas Legislature say they are getting closer to agreeing on a budget. One of the last sticking points? Higher education. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.]()
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Texas Senate approves ban on straight-ticket voting
The Texas Senate gave initial approval Wednesday to legislation that would eliminate straight-ticket voting in all elections. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Richland Hills, debates Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, on the merits of House Bill 25, which would eliminate straight-party voting in Texas. Garcia argued that the measure would result in discrimination and in even lower voter turnout.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Patrick takes hostages — and control of legislative session
Amid rumors of a special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put out a short list of bills he wants the House to pass if he's going to let the Senate advance must-pass legislation. And he appears to have the upper hand in the last days of the session. Full Story
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![At a May 17, 2017 press conference at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warns he'll seek a special session if the House doesn't pass certain legislation.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
What questions do you have about Texas politics?
Submit your questions to our new Texplainer feature and we may report the answer. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
From U.S. House floor, Texas Democrat calls for Trump's impeachment
U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump Wednesday morning during a speech from the floor of the U.S. House. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston.]()
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Teen pregnancy rates have plummeted, but not in parts of Texas (audio)
Across the U.S., the number of teenagers having babies has hit a record low. That trend hasn't extended to certain parts of Texas, where it’s still nearly twice the national average. Full Story
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![Jessica Chester and her children (from left) Ivory, Kameron and Skylar.]()
Credit: Lauren Silverman/KERA News -
The Brief: What Texans in Congress are saying about latest Trump reports
A series of political revelations about President Donald Trump and recently ousted FBI Director James Comey faced lawmakers as they returned to the U.S. Capitol. Here's what some members of the Texas delegation have said so far. Full Story
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![Former FBI Director James Comey (l.) was fired by President Trump on May 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles: James Comey/Bob Daemmrich: Donald Trump -
New in Trib+Water: Spotlighting interbasin transfers
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A closer look at the regulatory structure of interbasin transfers, the Senate moves to protect the San Marcos River and an interview with Ashleigh Acevedo, an attorney at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. Full Story
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Analysis: The only two reasons the Legislature needs extra time
Rumors of a special session are a normal feature in the last days of a regular session. There's no emergency that would force a special session, but don't discount the Texas Legislature's ability to force one by failing to finish its work. Full Story
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![State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, meets with fellow members on the Senate floor on May 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim. Full Story
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![Champion Baptist Church in Roscoe, west of Abilene, is among several West Texas churches grappling with high power line prices.]()
Credit: Pastor Bruce Parsons -
Even in Texas, sometimes the billionaires lose
After billionaire Warren Buffett met with Gov. Greg Abbott and other top leaders, a bill to grant him a loophole from protectionist Texas auto laws seemed to be fast-tracked, until Tea Party activists found out about it. Full Story
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![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
Credit: White House -
Canadian officials upset with Republican “Buy American” iron and steel bill
A recent call from Texas lawmakers to “Buy American” iron and steel has upset some northern neighbors worried about the implications such a measure will have on Texas-Canada trade relations. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's warehouse district on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texans in Congress grapple with latest Trump reports
Texans in Congress spent Tuesday processing a series of stunning political revelations as President Donald Trump's presidency becomes more embattled. Full Story
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![Speaking to reporters after President Donald Trump's address to Congress on Feb. 28, 2017, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz reiterated his desire to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, saying that Americans were suffering from high insurance premiums.]()
Credit: Ayan Mittra -
Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti indicted on fraud, bribery charges
A federal grand jury handed state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, two indictments Tuesday: one for his involvement in a now-bankrupt company accused of misleading investors and another for alleged bribery surrounding a government contract. Full Story
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![State Senator Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, at a Texas Tribune legislative preview on Dec. 2, 2016. Uresti's San Antonio office was raided by the FBI on Feb. 16, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes court security bill
The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek. Her assailant shot at her several times outside her home, and she suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel. Full Story
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![District Judge Julie Kocurek, who was severely injured in a 2015 shooting, greets state Rep. Tomas Uresti after she was mentioned in Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's State of the Judiciary speech on Feb. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Despite Bland family's complaints, House unlikely to beef up Sandra Bland Act
The House sponsor of the Senate's Sandra Bland Act won't try to change the bill's language, after key provisions were taken out in the upper chamber. Full Story
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![State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, announces the Sandra Bland Act at a press conference at the Capitol on March 2, 2017. Those looking on behind him include state Reps. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, and Eric Johnson, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas wants to renew federal women's health funding it lost over Planned Parenthood
With a Republican president in the White House, Texas health officials are seeking to restore federal family planning funding they gave up under the Obama administration to take a stand against Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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![The Women's Health Advisory Committee took testimony from the public regarding the Healthy Women Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver application. Blanca Murillo, a former UT student, gives testimony on her experience with Planned Parenthood at the Health and Human Services Commission Brown-Heatly building in Austin on May 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Appeals court puts Paxton case on hold as lawyers push for new judge
A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bill to reduce handgun license fee in Texas reaches Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
The proposal, Senate Bill 16 by state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry from $140 to $40 and the annual renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
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