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• A year after Vanessa Guillén’s murder, family and advocates say not enough has changed in the military

  by Reese Oxner Updated: April 23, 2021

  The Texas woman’s death exposed a pattern of violence and abuse against soldiers at Fort Hood, the U.S. military’s largest active-duty base. It also sparked national outrage over federal officials’ handling of sexual harassment and noncombat deaths. Full Story 

• The Texas Senate has approved a new statewide appeals court. Critics contend it's another attempt to limit Democrats' power.

  by Reese Oxner April 14, 2021

  The proposed court would handle some of the state's most high-profile appeals, which are typically handled by the mostly Democrat 3rd Court of Appeals based in Austin. Full Story 

• ERCOT to argue it is immune from winter storm lawsuits

  by Reese Oxner April 9, 2021

  Nearly two dozen lawsuits allege that failures by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the operator of the state's main power grid, led to the wrongful death of a family member. Full Story 

• Court says Ken Paxton's case against Austin and Travis County for issuing New Year's curfew is moot, dismisses case

  by Reese Oxner April 8, 2021

  While it’s been months since New Year’s, Paxton argued the case wasn’t moot and asked the court to prevent Austin and Travis — or other local authorities — from issuing similar orders in the future. The court refused. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott bans state agencies and state-funded organizations from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  by Reese Oxner Updated: April 6, 2021

  This comes as vaccine credentials, often referred to as vaccine passports, are being developed around the world as a way to quickly prove someone’s vaccination status, particularly with private companies. Full Story 

• Texas will provide rapid COVID-19 tests for summer camps

  by Reese Oxner Updated: March 31, 2021

  Many parents rely on summer camps — which were largely shuttered last year — for child care while school is out. Full Story 

• Austin and Travis County officials can keep enforcing local mask mandate for now, judge says

  by Reese Oxner Updated: March 26, 2021

  A district judge denied a request for a temporary block of the mask mandates in Austin and Travis County sought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story 

• When Texas ended its mask mandate, the event cancellations started — and the losses are adding up

  by Reese Oxner Updated: March 26, 2021

  At least four conferences were canceled in Austin because of the lack of a statewide mask mandate. The cancellations have caused the Hilton Austin hotel to lose out on $350,000 of revenue, according to Austin Convention Enterprises. Full Story 

• After Atlanta and Colorado mass shootings, Texas GOP leaders double down on protecting gun owners

  by Sami Sparber and Reese Oxner March 24, 2021

  Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday there is an even greater urgency this legislative session to pass laws expanding gun rights because of Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story 

• White Republicans are refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine more than any other demographic group in Texas

  by Reese Oxner March 24, 2021

  In Texas, 59% of Republicans either said they are reluctant to get the vaccine or would refuse it outright, according to the February University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story 

• Griddy Energy customers may be off the hook for exorbitant energy bills after company files bankruptcy

  by Reese Oxner March 16, 2021

  If approved, former Griddy customers might not have to pay their outstanding bills, some of which cost more than $15,000. Still, many customers have already had their bank accounts drafted or credit cards charged for thousands of dollars. Full Story 

• Austin can keep enforcing mask mandate for at least two weeks until trial, judge says

  by Reese Oxner March 12, 2021

  Austin and Travis County residents will be required to keep their masks on after a district judge delayed action on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to end the mandates immediately. Full Story 

• Austin officer charged with murder in Michael Ramos' death as lawmakers file bills making it harder to withhold body camera footage

  by Reese Oxner and Jolie McCullough Updated: March 11, 2021

  Almost a year after Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, was killed in Austin, Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot him, has been charged with murder. Full Story 

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue Austin over mask mandate. The city isn't backing down.

  by Reese Oxner Updated: March 10, 2021

  Austin and Travis County officials said they would continue to require masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott ended his statewide mandate. Full Story 

• Student files class-action lawsuit against UT-Austin, saying online education last year wasn't worth the tuition

  by Reese Oxner March 3, 2021

  The suit claims that the quality of classes dropped and argues the tuition should have too. Full Story 

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues electricity retailer Griddy over exorbitant bills

  by Reese Oxner Updated: March 1, 2021

  Griddy claims it billed some customers tens of thousands of dollars due to skyrocketing wholesale electricity prices. Meanwhile, Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday calling those price increases "devastating." Full Story 

• Texas expects to receive more than 200,000 initial doses of newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine

  by Reese Oxner Feb. 27, 2021

  The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday approved the vaccine, the first that requires one dose instead of two. Full Story 

• Catastrophic Texas power outages prompt finger pointing and blame shifting at legislative hearings

  by Reese Oxner, Mitchell Ferman and Julián Aguilar Updated: Feb. 26, 2021

  Lawmakers grilled public regulators and energy grid officials about how power outages happened and why Texans weren't given more warnings about the danger. Full Story 

• Over a million Texans are still without drinking water. Smaller communities and apartments are facing the biggest challenges.

  by Reese Oxner and Juan Pablo Garnham Feb. 24, 2021

  Plumbers and supplies to fix broken pipes are in high demand, but apartment complexes also present more difficulties than single-family homes when it comes to repairs. Full Story 

• After Texans died during winter storm, Harris and Travis counties launch investigations into power outages

  by Reese Oxner and Shawn Mulcahy Updated: Feb. 23, 2021

  Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee said operators should have been prepared after 2011’s hard freeze. Travis County District Attorney José Garza told local media that his office will determine whether criminal charges should be filed against any person or entity. Full Story