Will lawmakers let Texas’ maternal mortality committee review abortion deaths?
The Legislature is considering bills that would lift long-standing restrictions on how Texas’ panel can investigate maternal deaths and near-misses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1f7bd34d5b2535941d818d95622e271a/Arika%20Newborn%20RL%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/1130_Eleanor_Klibanoff_2x3.jpeg)
Eleanor Klibanoff is the law and politics reporter, based in Austin, where she covers the the Texas Legislature, the Office of the Attorney General, state and federal courts and politics writ large. She also co-hosts the weekly politics podcast, TribCast. Eleanor previously spent three years as the Tribune’s women’s health reporter, covering abortion, maternal health and LGBTQ issues. Before coming to Texas, Eleanor worked for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, where she reported, hosted and produced the Peabody-nominated podcast, “Dig.” Eleanor was born in Philadelphia and raised in Atlanta, and attended The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Latest Contributions
-
![Arika Rodriguez with her newborn son Parker at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco on Sept. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune -
Texas leaders quiet amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades
Declining vaccination rates, decreasing trust in government and a political unwillingness to endorse vaccines is shaping Texas’ measles response. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/89bb79734491725fdae6ec1a77316a0d/0227%20Covenant%20Childrens%20TT%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock on Feb. 26, 2025. Covenant has added a patient screening check before entering the children's emergency entrance.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
New Texas Supreme Court chief justice calls for judicial raises, changes to bail laws
Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock embraced constitutional originalism, a judicial philosophy tied to conservatism, in addressing the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08f29d592627d2ee5b25950b3cce994b/0226%20State%20of%20the%20Judiciary%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock gets applause from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows as he starts the State of the Judiciary speech on February 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: One year after the fires
On this week’s episode, the gang looks at where things stand a year after the largest wildfire in state history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1f14e72adb7f160655e756e73c83e056/TribCast%20Feb%2025%20MC.jpg)
![A fallen utility pole outside of Canadian on Highway 60 on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas measles cases rise to 597. Here is what you need to know.
Two more counties, Potter and Parmer, have reported a measles case. The outbreak has cost state taxpayers $4.5 million to pay for immunization, testing and a public awareness campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bd8ad482f78442ca98da07249d45f471/0226%20Measles%20Covenant%20TrT%2049.jpg)
![Covenant Childrens hospital located in Lubbock on Feb. 26, 2025. Covenant has addd a patient screening check before entering the children's emergency entrance.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
New York doctor ordered to stop providing abortion pills to Texans
The ruling is the opening salvo in a likely lengthy battle between Texas’ abortion bans and New York’s “shield” protections for providers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fb7ca36d07ff3d7950072cb9fcc7dbe2/Mifeprex%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at a clinic in New Mexico on Jan. 13, 2023.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein -
TribCast: What does Gov. Abbott want?
The gang talks about the State of the State, how Abbott wields power and how many priority bills are too many priority bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fd6b1a5b4abe10e66ae5064c61d0838c/0204%20TribCast.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott gives his State of the State Address at Arnold Oil Company in Austin on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2024.]()
Credit: Office of the Governor -
Many new moms in Texas don’t know they qualify for a year of Medicaid, doctors say
“Now that we have this coverage, what do we do to make sure women can get it?,” one health advocate said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/558bb8d2ebc4fc1b339f4b6aa6c00b6a/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Patients wait to be seen at the People's Community Clinic in Austin, which provides state-subsidized women's health services to low-income women on July 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
“Wrap around the family”: Doulas, community health workers push Texas to cover more services for pregnant women
Legislators allowed doulas and community health workers to bill Medicaid last session. They’re hoping it’s just the beginning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f555dd84be059d88294df57484b20448/Maternal_Mortality_Weslaco_RL_TT.jpg)
![Vanna Waldron, left, evaluates Erika Piñon at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco, Texas. Waldron is a Certified Nurse Midwife from Seattle, Washington, who is volunteering at the birthing center for a year.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune -
Longtime Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards dies after battle with brain cancer
Richards, the eldest daughter of Gov. Ann Richards, forged her own path as a tireless advocate for women across Texas and the United States. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/118bc55727b8446939c44d97c2187e67/Beto%20ATX%20Sept%206%20EG%20TT%2028.jpg)
![Former president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards speaks at a rally in Austin on Sept. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune