James Dickey elected as Texas GOP chairman
Dickey narrowly defeated Houston-area businessman Rick Figueroa on Saturday, winning the support of 32 members of the State Republican Executive Committee. Figueroa got 31 votes. Full Story
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![James Dickey (l.) and Brendan Steinhauser at a Juneteenth celebration in East Austin on June 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Paxton prosecutors want high court to overturn judge removal
Prosecutors in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton are asking the state's highest criminal court to overturn a ruling backing his push for a new judge. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2017.]()
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Abbott pushes back announcement on special session
An announcement from Gov. Greg Abbott on whether he will call a special session is unlikely to happen before next week. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill that cracks down on inappropriate student-teacher relationships on May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dallas lawmakers on the 85th Legislature (video)
Full video of our conversation with state representatives Eric Johnson, Linda Koop, Victoria Neave and Jason Villalba on how the 85th Legislature impacted Dallas. Full Story
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The Brief: "Sanctuary" law fight heats up
The cities of San Antonio and Austin announced Thursday they were joining the fight to stop Senate Bill 4, the state's new law banning "sanctuary cities," in federal court. Full Story
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![Protesters opposed to Senate Bill 4, known as the "sanctuary cities" law, turn out in force for the last day of the legislative session on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers cap session with scuffle over immigration (video)
Things got heated on the Texas House floor on the last day of the legislative session. Full Story
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Texas school districts cut costs to avoid closure as state funding cuts loom
Superintendents in hundreds of Texas school districts rely on a pot of state funds that expires in September. Without drastic cost-saving measures, some districts are worried they may have to shut down. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: A governor’s executive order doesn’t go very far in Texas
As Texas legislators began to speculate about whether and when they will be called into a special session for unfinished business, lawyers and others started looking for ways to avoid it. The simplest idea — an executive order — won't work. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 7 into law on May 25, 2017. The bill toughens penalties for inappropriate student-teacher relationships.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
San Antonio, Austin suing Texas over immigration law
The cities of San Antonio and Austin have announced they will file suit to stop the state's new immigration enforcement law, Senate Bill 4. Full Story
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![The floor of the state Capitol is packed with protesters opposed to Senate Bill 4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott signs bill to eliminate straight-ticket voting beginning in 2020
After years of Texas voters having the option to vote for an entire party's slate in one fell swoop, the straight-ticket option will be no longer available beginning in 2020 under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Thursday. Full Story
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![Travis County voters cast ballots at Travis County Tax Office on Feb. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles -
For daily fantasy sports sites, legal limbo in Texas set to continue
A bill that would have affirmed the legality of some popular fantasy sports sites in Texas died this legislative session, continuing a murky legal landscape for players in the state. Full Story
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Video: UT Chancellor McRaven talks about his future, state's higher ed budget
Watch video of our conversation with University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven. Full Story
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McRaven on his UT System future: "I want to see the direction the board is going"
With about half a year left on his contract, University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven said no decision has been made about his future of his job. "I have to find out if the board wants me to stay," he said. Full Story
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![UT System Chancellor William McRaven at the Austin Club on June 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: The Legislature went after ethics reform this session. Did they do enough?
Lawmakers passed broad reforms this year that would increase transparency and conduct among their own ranks. But watchdog groups say they didn't go far enough. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs several bills reforming Child Protective Services in a ceremony with state legislators at the Department of Family and Protective Services headquarters on May 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ethics reform not swept under rug, but not sweeping either
Nearly four years after Gov. Greg Abbott called on the Legislature to pass meaningful ethics reform, he's finally got some of it on his desk. But it's not as sweeping as the watchdogs wanted. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill that cracks down on inappropriate student-teacher relationships on May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In the Texas Capitol this year, university leaders' worst fears never materialized
University leaders were worried about tuition freezes, funding cuts and other major changes this past legislative session. For the most part, they didn't happen. Full Story
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![Inside the student center at the University of Houston campus.]()
Credit: University of Houston