Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick diverge ahead of the legislative session on property taxes, power grid
The dueling approaches are coming into focus as lawmakers prepare to return to Austin for the session which begins Jan. 10. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019. Newly-elected House Speaker Dennis Bonnen was also present.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune. -
Texas lawmakers ask state agency to delay power market redesign until after 2023 legislative session
In a Monday committee hearing, lawmakers questioned whether a Public Utility Commission proposal to redesign Texas’ electricity market would lead to the building of more natural-gas-fired power plants. Regulators say it would. Full Story
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![From left: Peter Lake, chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Brad Jones, interim president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), speak at a press conference about the grid on May 17, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
John Scott, Texas’ top elections official, to step down at end of year
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Scott as secretary of state in October 2021, and he served in an interim capacity pending Senate confirmation. He is stepping down right before the legislative session, in which his appointment would have come up for debate. Full Story
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![John Scott speaks to a reporter during an interview inside his office at the Texas State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 in Austin, TX. Scott was appointed last week by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his appointment has been criticized by some after Scott's role in representing the Trump administration in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results. Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Houston’s at-large City Council districts deprive Latinos of fair representation, lawsuit alleges
The League of United Latin American Citizens sued the city Monday, asking a federal court to halt its practice of electing five of its 16 council members through at-large elections. Full Story
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![Houston City Hall on October 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
A Texas program that backs school districts’ bond debt is about to reach its limit — and it could mean raising taxes
Under the state’s Permanent School Fund’s Bond Guarantee Program, schools get the best interest rate on bonds. That soon may be over if the federal government doesn’t act. Full Story
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![Desks are spaced out in a classroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Republican Caucus backs Dade Phelan as Texas House speaker
Republican members of the Texas House endorsed Phelan’s bid for reelection in a nonbinding vote on Saturday. An official vote from the entire Texas House will take place in January. Full Story
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![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks to the House of Representatives during opening ceremonies as the 2021 legislative session begins. Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
Hundreds of Texas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination after years of infighting over gay marriage and abortion
Those leaving are frustrated that the church has taken positions they feel are too liberal. Full Story
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![Lakeridge Methodist Church in Lubbock on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Feds arrest Texas man charged with threats to Boston doctor who cares for transgender children
The 38-year-old Hill Country man faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Full Story
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![Counter-protestors gather to demonstrate against an appearance by "Billboard Chris", who opposes medical treatments for transgender youth, outside of Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sept. 18, 2022.]()
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Feds often hand migrants over to state police rather than process immigration claims, complaint says
State police often rely on federal immigration officials to lock up migrants on state trespassing charges, according to a new complaint by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. The collaboration contradicts federal and Texas officials’ attacks on each other’s immigration policies. Full Story
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![A group of migrants walk off a pick-up truck after being apprehended by Department of Public Safety officers at a train depot in Spofford on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How much will Texas spend on tax cuts?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Karen about property taxes and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the state budget and legislative priorities at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
Losing Republican candidate wants Texas House to void results of his race
Mike May, who lost to Houston state Rep. Jon Rosenthal by 6,000 votes, wants the Texas House to order a new election. State law allows such an appeal, but the House hasn’t approved one in more than 40 years. Full Story
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![From left: Republican Mike May and Texas House District 135 incumbent Democrat Jon Rosenthal.]()
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Alex Jones files for bankruptcy after juries award Sandy Hook parents almost $1.5 billion
A handful of the Texas-based conspiracy theorist’s companies already filed for bankruptcy. Earlier this year, a Texas jury awarded Sandy Hook parents $49 million in a defamation case against Jones. Full Story
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![Infowars founder Alex Jones spoke to a crowd over a loud speaker from his Infowars vehicle as hundreds attended a "Re-Open America" protest near the Capitol in Austin on April 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Justice Department tried to hide report warning that private border wall in Texas could collapse
The report confirms a ProPublica and Texas Tribune investigation that found the privately built fencing could collapse during major flooding. The federal government resisted making the findings public for more than a year. Full Story
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![Erosion can be seen along the privately funded border wall that was built less than a year ago on June 19, 2020 in Mission, Texas.
Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublica]()
Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublica -
Photos: “We don’t feel safe here.” A transgender teen and their family flee Texas.
Texas policies targeting access to health care for transgender youth forced one family to leave the state. Full Story
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![Heather Crawford embraces Cass as they struggle through a panic attack while packing their room to move to Minnesota from their home Austin, TX on August 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
To combat opioid overdoses, Gov. Greg Abbott says he supports decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips
The announcement signals a shift in Abbott’s approach to fighting the opioid epidemic. He had previously pushed back against bills calling for the decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during at Texas Rally for Life at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
An Afghan soldier fleeing the Taliban spent months reaching the U.S. to request asylum. He was arrested at the Texas border.
Abdul Wasi Safi was trying to reach his brother, who immigrated legally to Houston after helping the U.S. military. Legal experts say Wasi may have to serve a criminal sentence before he can pursue asylum. Full Story
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![Abdul Wasi Safi stands in the foreground of Afghan military vehicles surrounded by HESCO barriers and concrete bunkers.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Sami-ullah Safi -
Supreme Court leaves student debt relief program on hold after Texas judge blocked it
More than 16 million people had already been approved for student loan debt relief by the Education Department when a federal judge in North Texas struck down the plan last month. Full Story
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![A student walks through the Library Mall at the University of North Texas in Denton on March 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Uvalde officials say local prosecutor impeded investigation into police response to shooting
In a lawsuit filed Thursday, the city of Uvalde says the district attorney is restricting information needed by its independent investigator. Uvalde wants a judge to compel the prosecutor to hand over all relevant investigative information. Full Story
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![District Attorney for the 38th Judicial District of Texas (Uvalde & Real Counties) Christina Mitchell Busbee at a press conference at the Uvalde High School on May 27, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz sides with Bernie Sanders to give rail workers more sick days
Cruz split with Sen. John Cornyn in a vote to expand paid sick days for railroad workers in a tumultuous action to stave off a potentially catastrophic rail shutdown. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in September of 2020.]()
Credit: Erin Schaff/Pool via REUTERS -
Watch a conversation on higher education and tomorrow’s workforce
The discussion took place at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus. You can watch the conversation in person or online. Full Story
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