Dallas-Fort Worth metro area saw biggest population growth in Texas in 2018
New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Texas dominated in growth, with suburban counties leading the way as the fastest growing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/18/Dallas_Skyline_TT.jpg)
-
![Downtown Dallas, Texas.]()
Credit: Michael Zanussi/Flickr -
T-Squared: Meet our new Dallas-based urban affairs reporter
Juan Pablo Garnham, who has 14 years of experience as a reporter, editor and journalism teacher in Latin America and the United States, starts at The Texas Tribune on June 3. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/43503f1b8a51b2db970e734c73161a22/Juan_Pablo_Garnham.jpg)
![Juan Pablo Garnham.]()
-
Hurricane Harvey destroyed every apartment in Rockport, Texas. Some residents are still waiting for help from lawmakers.
This is the first legislative session since the storm devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017. Several measures are afoot to aid in recovery and mitigate the effects of future disasters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aafacbfab7c88260a7465cc892e740db/UTD-Ep10-Lead-3-TTSite.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: A conversation with state Sens. Kel Seliger and Kirk Watson
Watch our Thursday morning conversation with Sens. Kel Seliger and Kirk Watson, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3d4cf62c9eabe2b99127e37fa8f3c68/TTE-SeligerWatson-leadart_tt.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
West unveils memorial six years after fertilizer plant explosion killed 15
The memorial is about 100 yards away from where the fertilizer plant once stood and has a reflecting pool surrounded by 15 plaques — one for each person who died. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/18/West-TX-1.jpg)
![A vehicle near the remains of a fertilizer plant burning after an explosion in West, Texas, near Waco.]()
Credit: Mike Stone / Bay Area News -
TribCast: Property tax wars and Speaker Bonnen's rough run-in
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Patrick and Shannon about the fight over property taxes at the Texas Lege and the House Speaker’s fiery exchange with a gun rights activist at a GOP fundraiser. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/87035350cfbcfde79b61e87047797313/TribCast_4_17_19_EW_TT.jpg)
![Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the House Chamber on March 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Conservative group Empower Texans sues lawmaker to gain state House media credentials
The group, which was granted credentials in the Senate but denied them in the House, argues that the lower chamber's administration chairman engaged in "unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e24c43112ec41edf4975ccba122d196f/03_Empower_Texans_MG.jpg)
![Destin Sensky and Brandon Waltens, two employees of Texas Scorecard, a product of the influential political group Empower Texans, sit at the end of the Texas Senate press table on Jan. 16, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Senate bill would let felons run for office in Texas only if they've been pardoned
The legislation is in response to a felon who ran for Austin City Council last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aee49b74945840060755c429a0c1b50c/conway.png)
![Lewis Conway Jr., a candidate running in East Austin's District 1 race, is the first formerly incarcerated person in Texas to run for public office. Conway is using his race to challenge how the criminal justice system suppresses people with criminal records.]()
Credit: Conway for ATX Campaign -
Texas House approves “born alive” abortion bill
The House tentatively signed off on a bill Tuesday that would grant legal protections to babies born after failed abortion attempts, though such instances are extremely rare. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fcb5732c2168e17ad306d79e99d9307c/01_Texas_Born_Alive_Presser_MG.jpg)
![Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano speaks at a press conference to announce the filing of the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act on March 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Can Texas’ top three Republicans muster enough support to pass a sales tax swap?
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already signaled opposition to the proposal from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b495bda576816f9ea30eedff3ba274a6/Abbott_Patrick_Bonnen_Joint_Presser_2.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen hold a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Can Texas Republicans raise the sales tax without suffering a backlash?
Lawmakers have proposed swapping higher sales taxes for lower property taxes — but leaving the final decision to voters. They don't have to do it that way, but it could move the blame from them — to the rest of us. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee46dc5c210721d03b4de26cac936c70/03_Senate_Floor_Bettancourt_SB2_JF_TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, in the Senate chamber on April 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
A Texas sales tax increase would hit poor people the hardest
Top Republican leaders have proposed raising the sales tax and using the money to lower local property tax rates. Wealthier Texans and businesses would likely benefit, while poorer Texans would likely pay more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85e20dce251581d7db5bf518e23efd18/06_Abbott_State_of_the_State_MG.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses state officials at the State of the State address in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019. He's accompanied by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
A creek flowing to the Colorado River turned black. Now the state has sued the alleged polluter.
Residents near Altair began complaining that Skull Creek reeked of chemicals. The Texas attorney general's office says a local company is to blame. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/021f30161174e4077a3acea2377ae9b4/09_Skull_Creek_Pollution_MS_TT.jpg)
![Contaminated black water flows through Skull Creek and crosses over a country road downstream from Inland Environmental & Remediation, Inc., near Columbus, Texas, on April 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Trump administration to withhold bail from asylum seekers in latest border crackdown
As record numbers of Central American families cross the U.S.-Mexico border, Attorney General William P. Barr issued a policy reversal for asylum seekers who have already established “a credible fear of persecution or torture” in their home countries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5adc6ce1a841d0aad71de64daa558975/04-03-19_Immigration_Migrant_Border_Photos_Tribune_IPA_40_TT.jpg)
![A migrant group is detained by CBP near the Paso del Norte International Bridge, Sunday, March 31, 2019, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes legislation to prevent surprise medical bills with arbitration, mediation
Surprise medical bills happen when out-of-network health care providers and insurance companies can’t agree on the price of a medical treatment, leaving the patient to pick up the amount insurance won’t pay. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/640a241cd6dd2dbd83149d9beb714575/Kelly_Hancock_MKC_TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during a February 21, 2018 Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate says cities can’t ban employers from asking about criminal history
Austin previously passed a “ban the box” ordinance preventing private employers from asking potential job candidates’ criminal history before extending a conditional job offer. If state Sen. Brandon Creighton’s bill passes, local governments couldn’t implement such laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b0c1bcddb988e1b92778abf00831b5bc/04_Patrick_Kolkhorst_Conroe_SB_678_MG.jpg)
![Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, speaks at a press conference on SB 6, 7, and 8. Mar. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
With 10 months until Iowa, Castro sees "lower expectations" for him as an advantage
During a two-day swing through Iowa, the former San Antonio mayor downplayed concerns about his poor fundraising numbers while emphasizing all the time he had for his presidential bid to take off. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/41d837d68d180a4ba751853131c978fd/01_Castro_Central_Campus_Des_Moines_AL_TT.jpg)
![Former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julian Castro tours the auto-painting shop of Central Campus, a technical high school in downtown Des Moines on April 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston/The Texas Tribune -
Pierce Bush, grandson of George H.W. Bush, is considering running for Congress in his grandfather's old district
The nephew of former President George W. Bush and son of Neil Bush did not rule out a run for Congress in a statement to the Tribune. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/01d588cf0af5a0ee4b60417e77f8260c/01_Pierce_Bush_BBBS_TT.jpg)
![Pierce Bush.]()
Credit: Via Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star -
T-Squared: We’re hitting the road to celebrate our statewide members
Our member community is now more than 6,500 strong — the largest it’s ever been — and it's time to celebrate! Join us as we launch a new series of members-only field trips in select Texas cities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/36327f2f52353fcbc854033fe6ad5cba/TT-SMD19-membership-tour002.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Is Texas leading on disaster preparedness? Yes and no, experts say
During the first legislative session since Hurricane Harvey, state lawmakers are poised to make an investment in storm recovery and flood mitigation that some have described as unprecedented. But it's more complicated than that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2018/02/20/Harvey-Rockport-2017-12-01.jpg)
![Debris covered a street corner in Rockport in December, more than three months after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the tiny town that sustained extensive damage.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby / The Texas Tribune