There are generic Texas-themed emoji on the way, but they won’t do the trick. What we really need — what you really want — are ones specially designed with the 84th Legislature in mind. Here are the 14 we came up with. Full Story
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A panel of former chancellors and university presidents defended the University of Texas at Austin president’s role in admissions Thursday, but warned that students’ connections shouldn’t be a factor in whether they are admitted. Full Story
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Members of the Austin City Council on Wednesday sharply criticized a training session for city staffers in which a facilitator said women ask a lot of questions and do not focus on the fiscal impact of their decisions. Full Story
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State Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton, was taken to an Austin hospital Thursday morning, House Administration Chairman Charlie Geren announced on the floor of the Texas House. Full Story
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In his first year, Shaka Smart will earn $2.8 million. That salary will increase by $100,000 each year until the terms of his contract run out in 2022. The final year, in which he'd be paid $3.4 million, is not guaranteed. Full Story
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A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Amid a series of scandals, most lawmakers say they want to reform the way Texas hands out billions in state contracts. Discussion has narrowed to a handful of bills that some warn are merely first steps. Full Story
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Texas has the highest percentage of one-and two-star homes in the country: 51 percent of its nursing homes are rated “below average,” or “much below average” on Nursing Home Compare, which was designed by the federal government. Full Story
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With the clock winding down on the legislative session, Tesla Motors, Uber and Lyft have little to show for the money they spent on high-profile lobbying. As deadlines loom, the bills they were steering appear to have run out of gas. Full Story
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Though people born in Latin American countries continue to make up the largest group of immigrants to Texas, their state numbers are decreasing while the rate of migration by Asian immigrants into Texas is rising sharply. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Gap emerges among states on pre-K services offered, lawmakers eye ending Top 10 Percent scholarships and an interview with Shanna Peeples, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year. Full Story
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The long hours this week are a direct result of one of the first big end-of-session deadlines that hits today. The House has until the end of today to take initial action on any bill or resolution coming out of that chamber. Full Story
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Minors seeking to obtain abortions without parental consent would face more restrictions under a bill that received preliminary approval Wednesday from the Texas House. Full Story
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Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign is revving up in ruby-red Texas, where donors and volunteers are beginning to organize. Full Story
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The state's public safety director says if lawmakers let him, he'll provide Rep. César Blanco with data on security operations on the border. The move follows weeks of tense exchanges over how border security dollars are being spent. Full Story
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You can catch all of the debate in the Texas House and Senate using our livestream, courtesy of the Texas Legislature. Check it out and stay up to date on the issues they're debating with our Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story
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Kyle Workman of Texans Against High-Speed Rail says landowners and taxpayers need more details about the Dallas-to-Houston rail plan, while Robert Eckels of Texas Central Railway aims to set the record straight about the proposal. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jim about the ongoing drama over hidden cameras in the Lege, negotiations on a tax cut deal, and the ag commissioner's effort to return deep fryers and soda machines to public schools. Full Story
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The already tortuous path for ethics reform at the Texas Capitol took another sharp turn Wednesday when a powerful House leader criticized the package passed by the Senate and praised by Gov. Greg Abbott two weeks ago. Full Story
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The state-owned oil company of Azerbaijan secretly funded an all-expenses-paid trip to a conference at Baku on the Caspian Sea in 2013 for 10 members of Congress. Full Story
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