Opponents of church-state separation have been emboldened by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and the growing acceptance of Christian nationalism on the right.
May 2023
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Graphics and data reporting
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of April 1. It includes detailed data for the 113 agencies in state government and positions at each of those agencies.
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Broken Pipes
Texas towns need money, technical help and compromise to save their water systems
Water agencies have long resisted working together out of fear of losing their local powers. But an example from Florida could help save the Lone Star State’s water and infrastructure.
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Energy
Texas utility commission chair raises threat of summer power outages and pushes for more gas-powered electricity
Public Utility Commission Chair Peter Lake said renewable energy could be critical to preventing power outages this summer. Renewable energy supporters said the grid’s reliability doesn’t hinge on wind and solar.
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Texas Legislature 2023
House committee advances tweak to free speech protection law, prompting fear from First Amendment advocates
The change is supported by business groups, but has drawn opposition from media companies, First Amendment lawyers and political groups from across the ideological spectrum.
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Texas Legislature 2023
For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careers
While the proposed tenure ban will likely face steep opposition in the Texas House, faculty say lawmakers’ recent attacks on higher education have raised concerns about whether Texas is the best state to build their career.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Protesters evicted from Texas Capitol as clash between LGBTQ residents and GOP leaders escalates
Texas state police detained and handcuffed people protesting legislation that would prohibit transgender kids from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The House separately delayed a vote on Senate Bill 14 until later this week.
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Demographics
Watch: How language advocates brought Houston voices to the Capitol
In the months leading up to their committee hearing, Woori Juntos community members trained on how to share their personal stories with legislators — in their own language.
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Politics
Dallas Democrat Colin Allred announces 2024 challenge to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz
Allred was first elected to Congress in 2018 and quickly became a rising Democratic star. Cruz is Texas’ junior senator and unsuccessfully sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.
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Guns in Texas
Poll finds solid majority of Texans, even Republicans, favor raising age for gun purchases
The University of Texas survey also found stronger support for Sen. Ted Cruz, while Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis remain popular among Republicans.