TribCast: Will Texas build its own border wall?
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Patrick and James about Gov. Greg Abbott's border wall idea, the politics of South Texas and the GOP statewide ticket in 2022. Full Story
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![A section of border fence in Donna on June 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Republicans think they can take South Texas — especially after a win in McAllen
Statewide officials are campaigning in the Democratic stronghold and GOP groups are now targeting statehouse districts. Full Story
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![Newly-elected McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos at City Hall on June 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas will build a border wall, but doesn’t yet give details on cost or location
The governor suggested more details would be released next week. The announcement Thursday of several initiatives is the latest in an ongoing conflict between Abbott, a Republican, and Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. Full Story
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![Asylum-seeking migrant families surrendered themselves to the U.S. Border Patrol, after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, on April 16, 2021.]()
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Kamala Harris to host White House meeting with Texas Democrats who blocked voting bill
The meeting will take place Wednesday, according to Harris' office. Full Story
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![State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, speaks at a press conference at Mt. Zion Baptist Church near the state Capitol in Austin after Democrats broke quorum in opposition to Senate Bill 7, a sweeping GOP voting bill. May 30, 2021.]()
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Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price announces run for Tarrant County judge
One of the last remaining Republican mayors of a big city is jumping back into the political arena after not seeking reelection. Full Story
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![Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 29, 2018.]()
Credit: Thomas Meredith for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted almost all Texas pandemic restrictions. But not the one limiting jail releases.
As he was fighting for the Legislature to change state bail laws, the governor continued his emergency order to restrict no-cost jail releases during the pandemic. At least several Texas courts have deemed the order unconstitutional. Full Story
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![Inmates at the Dawson State Jail in Dallas.]()
Credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Ken Paxton’s attractive troubles
The 2022 political season is just starting, but there are already three Republicans with statewide experience running for attorney general — including the incumbent. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27, 2021.]()
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Fear of coronavirus will no longer be acceptable reason for Texans on unemployment to turn down job offers
The state's unemployment agency is ending that exemption June 26, when out-of-work Texans will also stop receiving an extra $300 in federal jobless benefits. Full Story
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![Threadgill’s restaurant is closing permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
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Lawyers prosecuting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s fraud case challenge decision to move trial back to his home county
Last month, a divided three-judge panel ruled that the case should move back to Collin County. Prosecutors are asking the full 1st Court of Appeals to review and reverse that ruling, potentially further delaying the 6-year-old case. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the Gun Owners of America assembly.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas power generation companies will have to better prepare for extreme weather under bills Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law
Senate Bills 2 and 3 are aimed at overhauling the state’s power grid after the devastating winter storm in February and the widespread power outages that followed. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3 at the Texas Capitol on June 8, 2021. The omnibus power grid bills will change the state’s power grid and the people who oversee it.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
After 2020 disappointments, Democrats look to prioritize year-round organizing
Two former congressional candidates, Julie Oliver and Mike Siegel, are hoping to help Democrats learn the lessons of 2020 with a new group called Ground Game Texas. Full Story
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![The Travis County Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ 1836 Project aims to promote “patriotic education,” but critics worry it will gloss over state’s history of racism
The project is essentially an advisory committee designed to promote the state’s history to Texas residents, largely through pamphlets given to people receiving driver’s licenses. Full Story
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![The Tejano Monument, commemorating the contributions that Tejanos made to Texas history and culture, sits on the southern lawn of the Texas Capitol on June 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Biden administration threatens to sue after Texas officials say they’ll yank licenses from facilities housing unaccompanied migrant children
A federal attorney claims an order from Gov. Greg Abbott violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and said legal action could follow if the state carries through with plans to pull licenses from the federally contracted facilities. Full Story
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![Unaccompanied migrants at the Customs and Border Protection migrant processing center in El Paso on March 29, 2021.]()
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Supreme Court unanimously backs limits on immigrants with temporary protected status seeking green cards
As many as 400,000 immigrants have been granted temporary protected status in the U.S. because of unsafe conditions or crises in their native countries. Full Story
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An anti-abortion program will receive $100 million in the next Texas budget, but there’s little data on what’s being done with the money
Critics say the fast-growing Alternatives to Abortion program is secretive and a “waste” of money. But the program has strong supporters in the Republican-controlled Legislature who say it helps those who decide to “choose life in difficult circumstances.” Full Story
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![Pregnancy and abortion related brochures from The John Paul II Life Center in Austin. June 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Pandemic shifts balance in long-running debate over the best way to teach children to read
For years, educators have disagreed over the most effective method for teaching reading. In Texas, one side thinks remote learning during the pandemic has strengthened its argument in the Reading Wars. Full Story
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![A stack of various books. June 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman resigns
Her resignation is effective Friday, she told Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
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U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul joins call to move 2022 Olympics from China over persecution of Uyghurs
The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim group who live in China’s northwestern region. The Chinese persecution of these people reportedly includes indoctrination camps and forced sterilization of women. Full Story
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![Staff members sit near a board with signs of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, on April 1, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill to punish businesses that require proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Abbott's signature means that businesses that require so-called vaccine passports can't get state contracts and could lose state licenses or operating permits. Full Story
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![Dr. Annamaria Macaluso Davidson holds a COVID-19 vaccine registration card at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center in Houston on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
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Republican state Sen. Dawn Buckingham running for Texas land commissioner
The news of her decision comes two days after the current land commissioner, George P. Bush, announced he was running for attorney general next year, challenging fellow Republican Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Kelly West for The Texas Tribune
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