Ahead of November’s general election, The Texas Tribune is creating an election guide with a primary focus on young Texans — and we need your help.

Last month, Texas Republicans and Democrats approved the latest versions of their party platforms. A close look at these documents provides a snapshot of where the two parties stand on guns, gay rights, marijuana and other issues.

The city of Austin announced Tuesday it will no longer enforce its ban on plastic bags after the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a similar ban in Laredo violated state law, KUT reported.

In today's Brief: A roundup of news on the national immigration debate, a House panel will meet this month to consider whether Texas needs a "red flag" law and a recap of the state GOP convention. 

After a few hours of relatively mild debate, Texas Republicans approved multiple legislative priorities and backed a platform that includes more than 300 planks.

Incumbent GOP Chairman James Dickey is fending off a challenge from Cindy Asche, who has questioned Dickey's support for President Donald Trump. 

Thousands will gather at the state GOP convention in San Antonio this week. Texas Democrats will meet in Fort Worth for their biennial meeting the following weekend. School shootings and the #MeToo movement are among the issues that could loom large at one or both events.

Five of the seven Texas House GOP runoffs were won by candidates who had support from two groups aligned with retiring House Speaker Joe Straus and other establishment Republicans.

Democrat Lupe Valdez will face off against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the fall. Two incumbents in the Texas House lost their runoffs. And Democrats had their worst runoff turnout in almost a century.

Abbott will instead give away a $250 gift certificate.

Meet the Associated Republicans of Texas, a moderate PAC spending millions to combat hard-line conservative groups in the 2018 elections.

A suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is reportedly set to get the nation's first self-driving car service.

Gov. Greg Abbott's decision in 2015 to ask the Texas State Guard to monitor a federal military exercise prompted significant criticism. A former CIA director said Wednesday that the move emboldened Russians to next target elections.

The Sherman Republican will step down April 30. 

Bush has been hospitalized due to an infection that spread to his blood, a spokesperson said Monday.