The explosion at a machine shop damaged hundreds of nearby homes. Investigators found that flammable gas leaked into the building and was ignited by a light switch. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7ac9c95ac41da98d86027937494d4d57/Watson%20Grinding%20Explosion%20REUTERS.jpg)
In this week’s two-topic TribCast, we discuss the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the consideration of race in college admissions and the dangerous heat inside Texas prisons this summer. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bae985d06feef59ada7dc78d339765fb/0630%20Tribcast%203%20Affirmative%20Action.jpg)
Several of Texas’ largest cities sought to put in place mask requirements, which Gov. Greg Abbott overturned. The ruling is a legal win for Republicans in Austin their ongoing symbolic fight with cities, often run by Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26377fc4cc252ac5f7837360cf0629f5/Abbott%20Vaccine%20Presser%20SF%20TT%2023.jpg)
The Democrat from San Antonio was initially sentenced in 2018 to 12 years in federal prison. His sentence was later reduced, and he will stay in a halfway house until December 2024. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b16c5833d46994ce37efd77e68447b8/0626%20Uresti%20Verdict%20RJ.jpg)
The state police agency had been withholding nearly all of its records on law enforcement’s botched response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. DPS will have an opportunity to redact the files before they are released. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b55637ccf6cba37a149f41300914a8cb/Uvalde%20Victims%20March%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
This is the first analysis of live births since the law, which banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, went into effect in September 2021. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1f7b08d914c4bfaa2144cff59cebb77e/2023-06-21T100302Z_101589457_RC2G2W9JRVQA_RTRMADP_3_USA-ABORTION-FAMILY.JPG)
A Houston grand jury decided Thursday not to indict rap star Travis Scott for the deaths of 10 people at the 2021 Astroworld Festival when fans collapsed in a massive crowd. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3676dca0b12ba139e1d75f5ad8efba97/Astroworld%20Memorial%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Two bipartisan bills passed this session will give voters more time and opportunities to fix mistakes when they request and return ballots by mail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e00a05b48e5f7eda6301c1db589fb80d/Mail-In%20Ballot%20Drop%20AI%20TT%2011.jpg)
A federal judge blocks an 118-year-old state law that required minor political party candidates to collect more than 83,000 signatures on paper in order to appear on the ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff98cd99712783bc01a1cea43ed73d1e/Green%20Party%20Shirts%20MS%20TT.jpg)
The Wall Street Journal says the impeached attorney general, his wife and a family trust spent nearly $3.5 million buying properties in four states in 2021 and 2022. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05b23bfa82882cee5d63539bafb98a98/0526%20Lege%20Coverage%20Paxton%20BD%20TT%2013.jpg)
Mike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d40396de84324cbbd01e87fd8fc5ec2/Wheatley%20HISD%20PY%20TT%20352.jpg)
No other public universities use race as a factor, but Texas private schools like Rice and Southern Methodist University will be impacted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/da69e5630c4dc7fc12884dd6580e8256/0530%20UT%20Campus%20File%20LS%20TT%2018.jpg)
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the practice unconstitutional, admissions experts say other states could look to Texas’ Top 10% Plan as a way to diversify their student bodies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9a10b7344c98d5a47da0ce9578d8c3c/UT%20Austin%20Texas%20Flag%20EG%20TT%2002.jpg)
Legislators also passed bills that will provide foster kids entering the troubled system with duffel bags or backpacks and those aging out of the system with help setting up bank accounts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8cd7329a48e04b0fee2bc0f4cfcbe5a/0512%20SB%2014%20House%20Friday%20EL%20TT%2047.jpg)
Bari Weiss, Colin Allred, Joe Lombardo, Mary Trump, Robert Costa, Melissa Murray, David French, Juliette Kayyem, Chris Murphy, Katie Benner and Mitch Landrieu are among the big names we’ve added to our amazing program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf6e86f8c406c7f5976821e40d9ba882/TTF23-6-LeadArt-2000x3000.gif)
A stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/06/Pasadena_Neighborhood_MS_TT.jpg)
Under a provision of the Texas Constitution, Fanny Jetton will represent her husband’s Houston suburban district during the Legislature’s second special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/14d1611612abc0a0c0ed064393a00914/0628%20Fanny%20Jetton%20Sworn%20In%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
Reed, a Black man on death row for more than 25 years, has gained international support for his claims that he did not kill 19-year-old Stacey Stites, a white woman. Another appeal over DNA testing of evidence is still pending. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bb83d676afd0c20ce5b65b0164f6d8c1/Rodney%20Reed%20KXAN%20TT.jpg)
Since a heat wave gripped Texas, at least nine inmates, including two men in their 30s, have died of heart attacks or unknown causes in prisons lacking air conditioning. It’s been 11 years since the state last classified a death as heat-related. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75d362f480cb04994e8b8109e7b4d9fc/Mountain%20View%20Prison%20MKC%20TT%2036.jpg)
Texas has seen a boom in solar power in recent years, and experts say that’s helped the state grid weather an intense June heat wave. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e661c63e8b9ecd6efdbb17673a5f6524/0403%20Wharton%20Solar%20Panel%20AM%20TT%2007.jpg)