Texas House Republicans flex their might after Democrats threaten legislative priorities
After Republicans and Democrats fight over the budget and constitutional amendments, GOP members stake out a new battlefield. Full Story
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Kate McGee is an Austin-based enterprise and investigative reporter. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 as a higher education reporter. She was a three-time finalist for the Education Writers Association's Beat Reporter of the Year award, winning the title in 2024. She was also a Livingston Award finalist for her coverage of the University of Texas at Austin. Before the Tribune, she spent nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations nationwide, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University.
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![Members of the Texas House of Representatives on the House floor on April 10, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Houston police directed to call ICE on undocumented immigrants with deportation orders
The new guidance comes after ICE added 700,000 individuals with deportation orders to a national crime database that law enforcement uses to track warrants. Full Story
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![A Houston Police Department officer is seen during a demonstration on Presidents' Day outside City Hall in Houston, Texas, on February 17, 2025.]()
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Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI
At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities. Full Story
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![The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Aug. 18, 2023.]()
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Texas A&M regents may soon decide the university system’s next leader
Sources indicate the board has narrowed its search to five candidates: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, University of Alabama President Stuart Bell and state Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M University campus on June 15, 2020 in College Station.]()
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In first full day leading UT-Austin, Jim Davis replaces chief academic officer
Davis, who was named interim president one day earlier, replaced a provost who was named to the position by the university’s previous leader last month. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
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UT System names Jim Davis as UT-Austin’s interim president
The decision to name Davis, UT-Austin's chief operating officer since 2023, ends President Jay Hartzell’s tenure months earlier than anticipated. Full Story
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![James E. Davis was named senior vice president and chief operating officer at the University of Texas at Austin in September 2023]()
Credit: University of Texas at Austin website -
How a multi-year legal battle by allies of a billionaire megadonor set off this year’s explosive House Speaker race
A pair of lawsuits filed by allies of West Texas megadonor Tim Dunn shut down laws that banned outside spending in the House leadership race, allowing for more political mudslinging and raising questions about ethics rules. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House Speaker, on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session at the capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Ethics Commission dismisses complaint against state GOP chair, lawmaker says
Rep. Cody Harris had accused Abraham George of improperly threatening to send mailers and censure lawmakers who backed Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker. Full Story
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![Texas GOP Chair Abraham George holds a press conference on the states of the state capitolfollowing the vote for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
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UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell will leave to lead SMU
Hartzell leaves UT-Austin after four years of tense political battles and legislative efforts to implement a more conservative vision of public higher ed. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell, middle, on April 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
SMU’s bid to split from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights heads to Texas Supreme Court
Southern Methodist University in Dallas tried to declare its independence after the church voted to ban gay weddings and clergy in 2019. Full Story
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![A sign at one of the entrances to the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas on Dec. 20, 2022.]()
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