Texas House committee assignments extend power of experienced GOP leaders
Republicans chair all committees, as promised, while Democrats will lead half of the newly created subcommittees. Full Story
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![House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, presides over a session on Feb. 11, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Domestic violence is up in Texas. Survivors and supporters hope lawmakers will take action.
Reported domestic violence incidents have risen 26% since 2019. Full Story
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![The East Texas Crisis Center, on Wednesday January 8, 2025, in Tyler.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune -
Former TPPF leader Brooke Rollins confirmed by Senate for agriculture secretary
The Senate voted 72-28 to confirm her nomination. She easily sailed through the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this month on a unanimous vote. Full Story
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![AFPI President & CEO and Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Brooke Rollins, speaks during the America First Agenda Summit organized by America First Policy Institute AFPI, on July 25, 2022 in Washington, D.C.]()
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“We have a problem here”: Sen. Charles Perry outlines his plans to save Texas’ water supply
The Lubbock Republican has been working for years to develop a new statewide approach to managing water and hopes voters will devote $1 billion a year to the problem. Full Story
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Texas now has more top-tier research universities than any other state, report finds
The designations come at a tumultuous time for universities as funding could be cut off and efforts to end tenure continue. Full Story
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
How a multi-year legal battle by allies of a billionaire megadonor set off this year’s explosive House Speaker race
A pair of lawsuits filed by allies of West Texas megadonor Tim Dunn shut down laws that banned outside spending in the House leadership race, allowing for more political mudslinging and raising questions about ethics rules. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House Speaker, on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session at the capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
County judge approves election to decide whether SpaceX launch site will become a city
If a majority of the roughly 500 residents living around the South Texas site vote yes in May, Starbase will be the state’s newest city. Full Story
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![SpaceX rockets at the launch pad at the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. On Oct. 22, Elon Musk said via Twitter the Starship rocket would be ready for an orbital launch by next month.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Texas appeals court hears attorney general’s arguments for questioning Catholic Charities director over migrant services
Three Republican judges heard oral arguments Wednesday after a lower court blocked Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to depose the charity’s leader. Full Story
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![Migrants are greeted by Sister Norma Pimentel in front of the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, on April 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Certain criminal suspects would be denied bail under changes OK'd by Texas Senate panel
The package of bills would tighten the state's bail laws to keep more people in jail — including undocumented immigrants — while their criminal cases are pending. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holds a press conference on bail reform, an emergency item this legislative session, on Feb. 12, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
In quest to infuse more religion into Texas schools, advocates say courts are now on their side
Past efforts to allow more religion in public schools have been hamstrung by legal challenges. But those on the religious right feel empowered by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Full Story
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![A christian bible sits on a representatives desk on the house floor on first day of the 88th legislature, Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Burrows, Patrick and Abbott: Texas’ “Big Three” have big plans and a wary new dynamic
The aggressive Republican agenda’s success depends on how well the three leaders harmonize their tactics and goals for the legislative session. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Trump’s mass deportation plans have echoes of a 1950s federal crackdown that swept through Texas
Seventy-one years after the Eisenhower administration launched a high-visibility operation to arrest undocumented immigrants, President Trump is following some of the same playbook. Full Story
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!["Wetbacks," workers from Mexico board deportation buses at the McAllen (Texas) detention center, ca. early 1950s]()
Credit: Courtesy, Texas AFL-CIO Mexican American Affairs Committee Records, University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections -
Texas foster home linked to boy’s death had history of fight clubs and sexual misconduct, report says
The death of an 11-year-old at a Greenville residential treatment center is among 16 deaths reported in the Texas foster care system in the last 15 months. Full Story
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![The Thompson’s Residential Treatment Center in Greenville on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.]()
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Rep. Roger Williams introduces bill to reimburse Texas for Operation Lone Star
The new bill reinforces Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for the federal government to repay the $11 billion Texas has paid for the border security operation. Full Story
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![Shelby Park, occupied by the Texas National Guard and other state agencies, is seen along the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Eagle Pass.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What is Texas’ role in Trump’s immigration crackdown?
The gang discusses the major role that Texas plays in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his second term Full Story
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![A Texas Department of Public Safety official makes an arrest near the U.S. and Mexico border in Del Rio as a group of migrants watch on July 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Casino and sports betting companies press for a win in Texas despite Senate opposition
With plenty of patience and money, the industry is extending its multi-year campaign to bring legal casinos and sports betting to the state. Full Story
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![A gambler stacks chips at a roulette table during the reopening of Bellagio hotel-casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020.]()
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As Texas gets redder, John Cornyn could face toughest primary season of his career
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has hinted at a possible run, has more support than the four-term senator among Republicans, polling shows. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks with members of the press during a visit to the Republican Party of Texas convention on May 24, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
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With vouchers fast-tracked, other Texas public education issues to watch this session
From teacher pay and preparation to special education and DEI, here are issues Texas lawmakers are prioritizing this legislative session. Full Story
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![Matilda Shaefer gets a goodbye kiss from her mom Allyson as she heads to class at Timber Lakes Elementary School in Splendora on Aug. 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas universities could face funding cuts for health care research under new Trump administration policy
A federal judge blocked a new National Institutes of Health policy from going into effect in 22 states that sued the agency, but Texas wasn’t part of the suit. Full Story
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![UT Tyler Health East Texas is seen from a garage in Tyler on Dec. 7, 2023. The regional system of hospitals was bought by The University of Texas System, UT Health Northeast and Arend Health Services in March 2018.]()
Credit: Greta Díaz González Vázquez/The Texas Tribune -
Here’s how much Ted Cruz and Colin Allred raised in their U.S. Senate race
Updated fundraising figures show that the Senate candidates have fundraised a combined $193 million. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune
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