Texas House elects Dade Phelan speaker as 2021 legislative session gets underway
Phelan’s election to the gavel was one of the House’s first order of business Tuesday, when the Legislature kicked off the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/abd9934fdbde517767ef4ee47ed057b3/Dade%20Phelan%20MG%20TT%2002.jpg)
-
![State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, held a press conference at the capitol to declare that he had enough votes to become Speaker of the House. Nov 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
In his first public appearance since Capitol riot, Trump visits Texas border to tout wall construction
President Trump on Tuesday visited the Rio Grande Valley in what's likely his last Texas appearance as commander-in-chief. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7386f547c57926ee097aa3e3973d1265/Trump%20in%20RGV%20JG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Former President Donald Trump walks from his flight at Valley International Airport in Harlingen on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislative session begins with heavy security presence following U.S. Capitol riot
Lawmakers gathered for the start of the 140-day session Tuesday as the coronavirus continues to rage in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9daa6dcdbdf3f06a17d839e8cb96bf66/2021%20Lege%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%20014.jpg)
![Security at the state Capitol increased after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., earlier in January of 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Live video of the Texas House and Texas Senate
During the 2021 legislative session, The Texas Tribune is streaming the Texas House and Senate chambers, which you can watch here. The session runs from Jan. 12 to May 31. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/edfc9b8b54d6eb5381e4a4bf7af4cf16/texastribune-placeholder.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Point of Order: The incoming speaker speaks
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks politics, policy, priorities and the pandemic with Dade Phelan, the presumptive speaker of the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
The Texas Legislature convenes for its 2021 session Tuesday. Here are 5 things to watch.
Much about the session — including how it will be conducted during a pandemic — remains uncertain. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/679a71cbb184a24b24f172fa3e496034/05_HB2_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
![House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Recession cuts how much lawmakers can spend with the next state budget, but decrease isn’t as bad as feared
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar estimated that lawmakers have $113 billion to spend when they write the next two-year budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2c80fe77f6e2a3c06be6bd8c4a7baeeb/06%20Glenn%20Hegar%20Biennial%20Revenue%20Estimate%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Wendy Davis says Trump supporters harassing a Biden bus in Texas should have served as a warning before U.S. Capitol riot
The former state senator, speaking publicly for the first time about the October incident, said she was not surprised by last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, criticizing Republicans for emboldening Trump supporters to act lawlessly. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5021dbf33ebaa0a7076a1c74fdd18228/Biden%20Bus%20Trump%20Train%20Accident.jpg)
![A Twitter user captured the moment a truck and a vehicle collided as the Biden-Harris bus tour was being followed by a caravan of Trump supporters.]()
Credit: Screenshot via Twitter -
Watch: Presumptive Speaker Dade Phelan says House will take session "a day at a time" as lawmakers balance agenda with pandemic
Phelan spoke with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith in a virtual interview on the day before the legislative session is set to begin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/449d8efb65b1624cdd0f5869d10e0a58/TTE-DPhelan_leadart-v2.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
After a rocky start, Gov. Greg Abbott promises to ramp up COVID-19 vaccinations across Texas
Twenty-eight coronavirus vaccination hubs will receive most of the state's next shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week, with 158,825 doses shipping to providers able to manage large-scale efforts as more doses arrive in the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c861e5cf6109437b520ce9141937b63e/Abbott%20Vaccine%20Presser%20SF%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Dec. 17, 2020, regarding COVID-19 and the Pfizer vaccines that have been sent to hospitals across Texas. Gov. Abbott was adamant that despite rising cases and deaths, he will not be ordering any shutdowns. Gov. Abbott also said he has not received the vaccine, but he will take it when the time comes.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
In 2021, the Texas Legislature remains mostly white and male
When the 2021 legislative session begins Tuesday, three of every five lawmakers in the state House and Senate will be white and just 27% of seats will be held by women. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2fcd91932eb1813747415d06d2b5b853/Capitol%20Sunset%20BD%20TT%20228.jpg)
![The Capitol at sunset on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Four years ago, Texas Republicans were the most likely to use mail-in voting. Here’s how that flipped in the last election.
Absentee ballots, which only certain groups of Texans are eligible to use, have traditionally been a tool utilized by the GOP, and in 2016, higher percentages of Republican voters cast absentee ballots than did Democratic voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9df6b06292b182bcebebaace7daf798c/Mail-In%20Ballot%20Drop%20AI%20TT%2015.jpg)
![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county. The drop-off location photographed here on Oct. 2, 2020, will be open until Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature isn’t like Congress, right?
The Texas Legislature is more bipartisan than Congress, historically speaking. But a unique set of issues to address and an atmosphere of division emanating from Washington, D.C., could test that in the session that starts Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15a808fb111afeac0bc8c71fb61a7068/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2018.jpg)
![Signs adorn every seat in the House Gallery to ensure social distancing in the house chamber. Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump visiting Texas' Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday as his administration rushes to award more border wall contracts
The president's visit comes a week after Department of Homeland Security officials touted the “historic” completion of 450 miles of border fencing during his administration. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d440d5485ff924488186466519c53bdf/Trump%20Brenner%20REUTERS%202020%20TT%20.jpg)
![President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, in September of 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Tom Brenner -
Texas announces sites for next COVID-19 vaccine shipment
State health officials said Sunday that 28 hubs will be getting 158,825 doses this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cda0200745abb334b9163858f99bfa1a/Arlington%20Vaccination%20BT%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Arlington Fire Fighter Samuel Rochin, right, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare worker Vannia Atao at the Esports Stadium in Arlington on Jan. 05, 2021.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
In rural Texas, frustration with a disjointed vaccine rollout grows: “We’re better than this”
Steve Johnson, 75, says trying to get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose in Wise County highlighted the shortcomings of the distribution plan. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81478447d3e46426ae4a57c3e861266d/The%20Brief%20Vaccine%20TT.jpg)
![Health care workers at the UT Health/Dell Medical School administered COVID-19 vaccines in Austin on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Advocates worry vaccines will be out of reach for Black and Hispanic neighborhoods devastated by COVID-19
In the state's largest metropolitan areas, vaccine distribution centers like hospitals and pharmacies are more common in white, affluent neighborhoods. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc7699e30d4e5ae0c56f5a42ca42d4a2/RGV%20Vaccine%20Distro%20JG%20TT%2025.jpg)
![People waited in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Grounds in Mercedes on Jan. 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin keeping most classes virtual through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County
The flagship university in Austin is urging students to space out their return to campus for spring semester to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as cases in Travis County reach record highs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5b667a127a3591efb63b966cba9621c2/UT%20Austin%20Reopening%20AG%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Students walk around the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding for The Texas Tribune -
All 13 Texas Democrats in the U.S. House have called for impeaching Donald Trump after Wednesday's riot
House leadership said it "will move forward with impeachment,” if Vice President Mike Pence does not invoke the U.S. Constitution’s 25th Amendment to remove Trump. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/39a16084bc9c26ca1365c71eccf8533f/Trump%20Election%20Rally%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![President Donald Trump speaks during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 presidential election results by Congress, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jim Bourg -
Joe Biden says Texas voters should oust Ted Cruz in next election
"I think they should be just flat beaten the next time they run," Biden said, when asked if Cruz and another Republican senator, Josh Hawley of Missouri, ought to step down. "I think the American public has a real good clear look at who they are. They're part of the big lie, the big lie." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4c95edc8d058f41516c06d9d77cbb72/Ted%20Cruz%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questions judicial nominees during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts