Latest Contributions

• Judge considers holding state in contempt a third time over foster care conditions

  by Karen Brooks Harper Dec. 4, 2023

  U.S. District Judge Janis Jack on Monday considers whether state’s foster care agency has made progress caring for most vulnerable children or should be held in contempt for the third time in an ongoing 2011 lawsuit. Full Story 

• Texas attorney general sues Pfizer, claiming vaccines didn’t end pandemic quickly enough

  by Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Dec. 1, 2023

  Experts argue other assertions made in the lawsuit filing are completely unsubstantiated, such as one claiming that vaccinated people were more likely to die from COVID-19, which Texas health data disputes. Full Story 

• More than two-thirds of Texas’ 30.3 million residents live in four largest metro areas

  by Karen Brooks Harper and Ayden Runnels Nov. 20, 2023

  According to new Texas Demographic Center figures, the Austin region continues to grow at the fastest rate, but Fort Worth was the city that attracted the most new residents between 2020 and 2023. Full Story 

• Texas homeowners and businesses will get a tax cut after voters approve Proposition 4

  by Joshua Fechter and Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 7, 2023

  The $18 billion property tax-cut package is aimed squarely at lowering school district property taxes, which make up the lion’s share of a Texas landowner’s property tax bill. Full Story 

• Texas voters gave retired teachers raises and approved new infrastructure funds as most constitutional amendments passed

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 7, 2023

  Voters approved a massive property tax cut and several other measures, but refused to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges. Full Story 

• Sex trafficking, drugs and assault: Texas foster kids and caseworkers face chaos in rental houses and hotels

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 6, 2023

  A report from Department of Family and Protective Services watchdogs paints a picture of a roughshod safety-net system that is unprepared to protect its youthful charges from predators and unable to keep them from endangering themselves. Full Story 

• Texas GOP lawmakers’ border and education wishlist would expand state budget by $2.7 billion — and counting

  by Karen Brooks Harper Nov. 2, 2023

  If bills now being considered pass, lawmakers will be left with $3.3 billion to take care of unforeseen costs over the next two years. Some experts worry that Texas can’t sustain its massive spending on the border and public education. Full Story 

• Sweeping ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers heads to governor

  by Karen Brooks Harper Oct. 31, 2023

  The legislation, which Republican lawmakers have been trying to pass since 2021, offers no exceptions for doctors’ offices, clinics or other health facilities. Full Story 

• Texas House approves ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers

  by Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Oct. 26, 2023

  Violations could bring a $50,000 fine under an amendment adopted Wednesday. The bill’s sponsor said the ban would be the strongest in the nation. Full Story 

• House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher program

  by Karen Brooks Harper Oct. 20, 2023

  The Senate’s Republican bill would let state leaders grow the program by taking money from other agencies without the Legislature’s approval. The House bill would bar the practice. Full Story