Flooding from summer thunderstorm closes Texas Capitol
Video showed water pouring from the massive skylights above the building’s underground annex. The Capitol is expected to reopen Monday. Full Story
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Allyson Waller is a newsletter writer at The Texas Tribune. Previously, she was part of the 2020-2021 New York Times Fellowship class where she worked as a general assignment reporter for the publication’s breaking news desk. Allyson is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in journalism. While at UT Austin, she interned at the Miami Herald as a local government reporter and The Texas Tribune as an investigative fellow. When not closely following politics and state policy, Allyson enjoys listening to podcasts, watching documentaries and stocking up on fiction books. She is based in Austin.
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![A group of visitors walks on the Capitol grounds in Austin. Capitol visitors were asked to leave as a result of flooding in the building on Aug. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texas GOP leaders continue targeting transgender children, state’s protective services agency takes aim at surgeries rarely used on kids
Medical experts said gender-affirming care for transgender children rarely, if ever, includes use of the surgeries. Most care for transgender kids involves social transitioning and puberty blockers. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas judges temporarily allow officials in Bexar and Dallas counties to issue mask mandates, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban
The rulings came in two separate lawsuits. A Bexar County health official quickly required masks in public schools. And Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins may soon issue a mandate. Full Story
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![Desks are spaced out in a classroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The arrows on the floor indicate the direction for students to walk to control the flow of traffic through the classroom.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Austin still struggling to find places for people experiencing homelessness as it begins enforcing public camping ban
After weeks of educating people about the ban that voters approved in May, police are allowed to start arresting violators this week as the city tries to find more housing. Full Story
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![Christina Jezzizki hugs her friend Elizabeth while sitting outside her tent in front of Austin City Hall on June 21, 2021.]()
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As federal eviction moratorium expires, tenants and rent advocates scramble to obtain state and local rental relief funds
In the first phase of funding from the federal government for emergency rental assistance, Texas received about $2 billion. Now the state has to get those funds in the hands of Texans. Full Story
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![Demonstrators rally against evictions outside the Harris County Courthouse in Houston on Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge tosses lawsuit that sought to end UT-Austin’s affirmative action policy
The judge found that the group behind the suit had essentially brought the same claims in a previous case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s policy. Full Story
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![The statue of George Washington outside the University of Texas at Austin Main Building on July 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court extends state program to help tenants avoid eviction until Oct. 1
The extension comes as the federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire on July 31. Full Story
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Five Texas House Democrats who traveled to Washington, D.C., have tested positive for coronavirus
Three lawmakers tested positive on Saturday and two more on Sunday. All of the lawmakers are fully vaccinated. Full Story
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![At least 50 House Democrats that Texas left the state held a press conference in Washington D.C. The democrats broke quorum and stopped Republicans from taking up GOP priority bills on July 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves limits on transgender athletes, but bills are still in limbo
Transgender students would be prevented from joining public school and university sports teams that correspond to their gender. Full Story
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![Transgender rights activists gather outside the entrance to the House floor on May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After hours of impassioned testimony, Texas Senate panel advances bills limiting the school sports teams that transgender athletes can join
Gov. Greg Abbott added the legislation to the special session agenda after similar bills failed to pass during the regular session earlier this year. Full Story
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![A high school volleyball player gets ready to serve during a game.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStock
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