Former Secretary of State David Whitley back at Gov. Greg Abbott's office
Whitley had resigned as secretary of state just before he would have been kicked out of office without a confirmation vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4eafc36ede785a1021d55f4ab2621218/02_David_Whitley_Confirmation_MG_TT.jpg)
-
![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Trump's tariffs could hurt Texas, U.S. economies as much as Mexico's, border leaders and analysts say
Mexico is the biggest trade partner for Texas and the U.S., and tariffs on Mexican imports would quickly be felt on the border before impacting the rest of the U.S. economy, trade experts say. Full Story
Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Becerril -
O’Rourke nearly triples Iowa staff as focus grows on first 2020 voters
The Democratic presidential candidate and former El Paso congressman now has 44 campaign workers in the Hawkeye State. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a00ce68a96015ebe9dc2e454ef5ef022/Beto_Waterloo_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
![Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks with supporters during a three-day road trip across Iowa, in Waterloo, Iowa on March 16, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Ben Brewer -
Analysis: The latest Texas legislative session proves elections have consequences
The marked difference between the 86th Legislature and its predecessors followed an election year that changed politicians' minds about who deserved their attention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fc982d09e0e66438f84ef9f82af488e6/10_Texas_AFT_Public_Ed_Rally_MG.jpg)
![The Texas American Federation of Teachers hold a rally in support of public education at the capitol on Mar. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers boosted special education funding this year, prompting hope for more from advocates
The Legislature committed about $223 million to pay off a federal financial penalty and will study the possibility of overhauling special education funding in 2021. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9767d3272e18ada5820107633668a018/Special_ed_hearing_1_LBH_TT.jpg)
![Jaculyn Zigtema, special education director for Whitehouse ISD, speaks during a Texas Education Agency hearing on special education funding in Richardson on April 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
From property taxes to teacher pay, here's how the Texas Legislature handled spending priorities
Take a look at how Texas lawmakers reconciled major differences in their proposed two-year budgets, including funding for public schools, teacher salaries, women’s health, prison guard salaries and more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/59920d4e23a77d6469d4a329ff7a76d2/budget-comparison.jpg)
![Entrance to the House Floor.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Trump says U.S. to impose 5% tariff on all Mexican imports beginning June 10 in dramatic escalation of border clash
The Trump administration wants Mexico to combat the surge of Central American migrants traveling through the country on their way to seek asylum in the United States. More than 1,000 Central Americans crossed into the El Paso area Wednesday to surrender to authorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f91e76230b0007d068fcf8970b1df3e/Trump_in_Crosby_April_10_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
![President Donald Trump signs an executive order on energy and infrastructure during a campaign event at the International Union of Operating Engineers International Training and Education Center in Crosby on April 10, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Carlos Barria -
Border wall on private land given the green light to continue by New Mexico town
City leaders issued a cease-and-desist letter after they said proper permits were not issued before the project began. But on Thursday the mayor said the project has been given permission to continue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/991cd9e281373e25286cc9ffae75830c/02%20Private%20Wall%20Sunland%20Park%20IPA%20TT.jpg)
![A portion of the border wall built by We Build The Wall, a private group that raised money through a GoFundMe account, on private land in El Paso's west side]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune. -
Texas at center of new evidence suggesting census citizenship question was pushed to help Republicans
An analysis of the Texas House was among the evidence submitted in federal court as part of the legal fight over the addition of a citizenship question on the census. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e636fe34382dc731c1aebc8df273499b/hardtocount-leadart.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez agree to partner up on legislation
The conservative Texan and liberal New Yorker agreed over Twitter to partner up on a bill banning members of Congress from becoming corporate lobbyists after they leave office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a8e2ffc93ec6ffb6187858af26045075/Ted%20Cruz%20and%20Alexandria%20Ocasio-Cortez%20REUTERS.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York.]()
Credit: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY: Cruz/REUTERS/Jeenah Moon: Ocasio-Cortez -
Point of Order: Roll credits
In the last episode of our podcast about the 86th Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody and Senate President Pro Tem Kirk Watson about what state lawmakers did for us and to us this session — and what they’ll do next. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
“The right man at this point in Texas history”: How Dennis Bonnen led the Texas House
Dennis Bonnen gaveled out on Monday with much of the same widespread support in the Texas House that accompanied his unanimous election to the speaker’s gavel in January. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f9dc933699fa001171c1eff1ada0d56/Dennis%20Bonnen%20Sine%20Die%20Weekend%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
![Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony on May 25, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
In Texas' biggest congressional races, Democrats face choices new and old
All but one of Texas' six U.S. House contests that national Democrats are targeting will feature candidates who ran last time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c00b055d9072e685e0c5eed4cdeeaf53/Democratic%20Candidates%20TT.jpg)
![Clockwise from top left: Jan McDowell, Mike Siegel, Gina Ortiz Jones and Sri Preston Kulkarni.]()
Credit: Images via Social Media -
TribCast: Bonus sine die edition
On this week’s bonus TribCast, political reporter Patrick Svitek leads a conversation on what happened — and what's next — now that the 86th session of the Texas Legislature has adjourned. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce121d5bd41274316e8b712e0e8773cb/TribCast%20Sine%20Die%20Special%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
After blocking David Whitley's confirmation, Senate Democrats see bills die on Abbott’s desk
A monthslong push from the governor’s office to confirm his longtime aide as secretary of state heated up in the session’s final days. Some Democrats feared retribution for defying the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e9661f15f3cdad69414aa50b8d92e22/12_David_Whitley_Confirmation_MG_TT.jpg)
![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
No one knows exactly why rural East Texas faces high suicide rates. And resources to help are scarce.
The region has some of the highest suicide rates in the state. But the safety net for people who need help is being stretched thin, and some Texans are falling through. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f27faa411b8ff6a91a14dafa171a010e/03%20Suicides%20Texas%20Observer%20TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Christopher Collins/Texas Observer -
Analysis: Do as they say, not as they do
The Texas Legislature did a lot in the 86th regular session, especially if you judge by their spending. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5fedef2bf00b9970570a0712d44c1a5a/02%20Zerwas%20Nelson%20Budget%20Conference%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas law will outlaw minors from buying popular cough medicine
Texas joins 18 other states that have passed similar laws restricting access to over-the-counter cough medicines like Nyquil and Robitussin that include the ingredient dextromethorphan. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f87a4f7efd360ce03e3c499612586323/Cough%20Syrup%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![Bottles of cough syrup on sale at CVS on May 20, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Biden makes first Texas trip as a 2020 presidential candidate, pitching new education plan
The former vice president was making a two-day swing through Texas, with stops planned in Houston and Dallas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f54152a0f1115efca4bee9fe0386796c/Biden%20Philadelphia%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pa. on May 18, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Mark Makela -
Border wall on private land near El Paso lacks necessary permits, local officials say
A Sunland Park, New Mexico spokesperson said We Build the Wall's permit application was incomplete when it was submitted and that site inspectors tried to visit the property, but were turned away. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2116dd5d2430f84851db7129eeb268f7/01%20Private%20Border%20Wall%20JA%20TT.jpg)
![A portion of the border wall built by We Build The Wall, a private group that raised money through a GoFundMe account, on private land in El Pasoâs west side. May 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar/The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dd5b11cff3d478be94be4931b8bace23/01%20Mexico%20Trade%20Semi%20Trucks%20Wait%20REUTERS%20TT)