How to know the difference between a local power outage and rolling blackouts
Power outages are a possibility during any severe weather event. But a local power outage is different from a larger power grid problem. Full Story
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Megan Munce
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Megan Munce was a spring 2021 reporting fellow. A graduate of Northwestern University, she previously worked as a business development intern at New Enterprise Associates and as The Daily Northwestern’s campus editor, overseeing coverage of student protests and the COVID-19 pandemic on Northwestern’s campus. Megan is also a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and was part of Northwestern’s mock trial team.
Past Contributions
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![Electrical power lines near the Austin Energy/Sand Hill Energy Center in Del Valle on March 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
CBD, hemp, delta-8, medical marijuana: Here’s what you need to know about Texas’ pot laws
In 2019, Texas legalized hemp, but not marijuana. The new law led to confusion about which marijuana products are legal in Texas. Meanwhile, support for legalizing the drug remains high in polling, and other cannabis-derived products like delta-8 have emerged. Full Story
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![Products containing Delta-8 at Oasis A CBD Wellness Shop in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2021.]()
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What you need to know about abortion in Texas
The nation’s high court has eliminated the constitutional protection for abortion. Clinics in Texas stopped providing the procedure immediately. We’re answering our readers’ questions. Full Story
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![Abortion rights demonstrators protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court after the court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision, in Washington, D.C. on June 24, 2022.]()
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Plan B and contraceptives remain legal in Texas after U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion
In the same decision that overruled Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court was clear that the constitutional right to access contraceptives remains untouched — though one justice said he would welcome challenges to that right. Full Story
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![Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials decided Thursday. The Food and Drug Administration ruling culminated a contentious three-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive. Washington DC August 24 2006.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas lawmakers would prioritize workers in 2021. But advocates say the working class was largely left behind.
After Texas workers were praised during the pandemic, many thought lawmakers would increase protections or benefits. But advocacy groups say they spent a lot of time playing defense on bills that could hurt workers. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's warehouse district on May 2, 2017.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott signs slate of legislation to increase criminal penalties for protesters, punish cities that reduce police budgets
The bills are in response to widespread protests and calls to “defund the police” last year. Full Story
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![The Austin Police Department building with the Austin skyline in the background on March 22, 2021.]()
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Texas GOP’s bills targeting transgender children have exacted a mental health toll, even if they don’t become law
GOP bills that sought to restrict or punish transition-related health care, like puberty blockers, missed key deadlines. But LGBTQ advocates say the mere specter that such measures could become law does mental health damage to transgender people. Full Story
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![Transgender rights activists gather outside the entrance to the House floor on May 23, 2021.]()
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Texas Senate resumes push to ban transition-related medical care for transgender children, days after bill failed in House
Days after the House failed to pass a ban against gender confirmation medical care, the Senate pushed its own attempt forward. Full Story
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![Ali Cross of the Austin Cheer squad waves a trans flag while her squad mates hold her up on the steps of the state Capitol at a rally against anti-trans legislation on April 28, 2021.]()
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Time runs out on Texas House bill banning gender-confirmation health care for kids, but another attempt lives on in the Senate
House Bill 1399 would have banned gender-confirmation surgery, hormone therapy and puberty suppression treatments for Texas' transgender children. Full Story
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![Protestors participate in a rally against Anti-Trans legislation at the southern steps of the state Capitol on April 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Democrat revives Texas bill restricting transgender students' sports participation in apparent act of retaliation against his party
The bill previously lacked the votes to advance out of House committee. After House Democrats spiked one of his bills, Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, revived it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston, on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune