Webb County’s top elected official switches to Republican Party
Tano Tijerina was elected as a Democrat to lead Webb County, which includes Laredo. It is among many border counties that Trump won in November. Full Story
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![Webb co. Judge Tano Tijerina.]()
Credit: Washington's Birthday Celebration website -
High-speed rail efforts in Texas have gained some momentum. The Texas Legislature and Donald Trump may change that.
A yearslong effort to bring high-speed rail to Texas has recently shown signs of life, but state lawmakers have consistently put up roadblocks to keep it from happening. Full Story
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![Railroad tracks near a proposed bullet train terminus on the outskirts of downtown Dallas, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The entities in charge of a bullet train connection between Houston and DFW have faded despite Texas courts approving eminent domain to accomplish the massive project.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Recycled oilfield water could aid drought-stricken West Texas
Oilfield wastewater injected underground is causing earthquakes and blowouts. Now, pilot projects are exploring whether this water could be treated and used to grow crops. Full Story
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![Eric Selinger walks on his property near the Pecos River outside Imperial on Oct. 8. He previously farmed shrimp but now hopes that treated produced water could bring the land back to life.]()
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Federal judge blocks rule that would have given DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act coverage
The temporary injunction issued Monday would affect roughly 90,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Texas. Full Story
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![Supporters of the the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy rally after a hearing on the DACA program outside the federal courthouse in Houston on June 1, 2023.]()
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Bill aimed at increasing transparency could sow chaos for election officials, experts say
Under state Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s bill, some individuals could submit requests for explanations of ‘election irregularities’ and potentially bring them to the Texas Secretary of State. Full Story
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![State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, on the Senate floor on Sept. 14, 2023.]()
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Campaign finance records don’t capture total spending on Amarillo abortion “travel ban” election
Several prominent Amarillo business people donated to support the so-called travel ban. Meanwhile, statewide progressive groups helped the opposition. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion supporters from left, Cassie Green, Mark Lee Dickson, and Bonnie Burnett talk outside of a polling location in Amarillo on November 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune -
Dustin Burrows says he has votes to be Texas House speaker after David Cook wins GOP caucus vote
Burrows claims the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, while Cook has the endorsement of the GOP caucus. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room, on Dec. 7, 2024, saying he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ maternal mortality committee faces backlash for not reviewing deaths from first two years post-Dobbs
Committee members said it was necessary to skip the two years after Texas passed its restrictive abortion laws to offer more timely recommendations. Full Story
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![The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee meets in Austin on Sept. 27, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
The Texas House speaker race isn’t over. Here’s where it stands.
With Speaker Dade Phelan out of the race, Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows will now face off. Full Story
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![The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
What does the Texas House speaker do and why are Republicans fighting?
Texas Republicans are poised to pick the statehouse lower chamber’s next leader this weekend. Full Story
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![Speaker of the House Dade Phelan presides over the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Speaker Dade Phelan abandons bid for third term amid bruising leadership battle
Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers are scrutinizing university professors’ influence. Here's how faculty shape their universities.
Faculty senates have long played a key role in developing curriculum and protecting open inquiry. State leaders have also accused them of liberal indoctrination. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M University campus.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/The Texas Tribune -
A 2006 study found undocumented immigrants contribute more than they cost Texas. The state hasn’t updated it since.
A comptroller’s report found that deporting the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2005 would have cost the state about $17.7 billion in gross domestic product. Full Story
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![Leticia Quintanilla is undocumented and resides in Houston. Quintanilla states that she's been more cautious about traveling since the recent threat of immigration raids in Houston. June 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session
Wu defeated incumbent Trey Martinez Fischer on Thursday to become the next chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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![Texas Rep. Gene Wu looks on during a press conference in opposition to Senate Bill 147 outside of City Hall on January 23, 2023, in downtown Houston, Texas.]()
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Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill prohibiting minors from using social media accounts as school districts become a “hunting ground” for online dangers. Full Story
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![In this photo illustration, the Social Media icons and Facebook, Messenger and Instagram logos seen displayed on a smartphone.]()
Credit: Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images via REUTERS -
At this Fort Worth charter school, Texas adults are getting a second chance at a diploma
The Texas Legislature has prioritized getting high school dropouts the skills they need to enter the workforce. Full Story
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![Tiphainne Wright makes an expression while reading “The Handmaid's Tale” in class on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. Wright is one of 5 students in Schnique Dory’s period four English class at New Heights High School.]()
Credit: Maria Crane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate to pursue ban on THC products next year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says
Patrick contends retailers have exploited a law passed in 2019 to sell unregulated and potentially harmful consumable tetrahydrocannabinol products. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
If Trump makes cuts to Medicaid, Texas officials could seize the opportunity to further slash the program
State leaders have shown a decadeslong antipathy toward the health insurance program. If Trump makes severe reductions, it’s unlikely leaders would have the political will to make up any lost federal funds with state money, experts say. Full Story
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![A hospital bed]()
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Henry Cuellar pitched adding buoys in Rio Grande to deter migrants years ago
The congressman said he joined other Democrats in opposition to the use of the floating barriers and razor wire at Texas’ border because of the lack of permits. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks about the U.S.-Mexico border at the World Trade Bridge at a news conference in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023.]()
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After Texas banned puberty blockers and hormones for trans kids, adults lost care, too
As limitations on trans teens increase, doctors have left the state, weakening an already threadbare system for trans adults. Full Story
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![Colin Zicko on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas on November 20, 2024.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune