U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, is using his congressional recess for a 34-day tour of Texas in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz next year.
August 2017
Posted in
Public Education
Nearly 1,500 school officials urge Patrick to accept House school finance bill
In a letter sent to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Thursday, nearly 1,500 local school superintendents and trustees urged the head of the Senate to support the House’s primary piece of school finance legislation, House Bill 21.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Paxton’s “sanctuary cities” suit dismissed — but the fight’s not over
A federal judge dismissed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to dub the state’s new “sanctuary cities” ban constitutional on Wednesday — but the legal battle isn’t over yet.
Posted in
State Government
House member’s ties to utility districts raise ethical questions
State Rep. Cecil Bell is a member of a committee that oversees utility districts in Texas. Many of those districts give his construction companies big contracts, while some of their lawyers contribute to his campaign.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After 2015 legalization, Texans may be able to buy medical cannabis oil by January
Three dispensaries expect to get final approval from Texas soon to start growing and cultivating marijuana. It’ll take another several months before they can begin distributing the kind of cannabis oil that lawmakers legalized in 2015.
Posted inState Government
Judge dismisses Paxton lawsuit over “sanctuary cities” law
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state’s new immigration enforcement law.
Posted inState Government
Texas House approves one crackdown on mail-in ballot fraud, but pushes repeal of another
The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a bill that seeks to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud, one of Greg. Abbott’s priorities. But in doing so, they repealed another law meant to prevent such fraud at nursing homes.
Posted inState Government
Texas House passes bill restricting insurance coverage of abortion
Texas women would have to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions — what an opponent dubbed “rape insurance” — under a bill given early approval by the Texas House on Tuesday.
Posted in
TribCast
Abbott v. Perry, school finance, impending Sine Die (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about Gov. Greg Abbott’s comparison of his accomplishments to former Gov. Rick Perry’s, whether school finance reform has a real shot in the special session, and how soon the Texas Legislature will adjourn — again.
Posted in
Transportation
How Angela Hunt changed Dallas’ mind about its divisive riverside toll road
Once the lone dissident against an army of elected officials, the land-use attorney made a name for herself pushing back against North Texas’ long-planned Trinity Parkway. After 11 years, her fight paid off.