T-Squared: Save the date! The Texas Tribune Festival is Sept. 20-25
Our annual gathering of big names and big brains to talk big ideas will be weeklong and virtual. But we’re keeping our eyes on the reopening of Texas. Full Story
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Point of Order: Big man on campus
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former state Rep. Pete Gallego about his first year as the president of his alma mater, Sul Ross State University in Alpine, and the challenges and opportunities ahead for higher ed as the state comes out of the pandemic. Full Story
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Alliance of Texas environmental, oil interests block bill that would have given nuclear waste company a financial break
Opponents said the legislation wasn’t strong enough to stop highly radioactive materials from coming to Texas and instead amounted to a financial giveaway to a West Texas nuclear waste company. Full Story
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![The entrance to the Waste Control Specialists site, where radioactive and hazardous waste is being stored on Jan. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump endorses Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection
Patrick, who twice chaired Trump's campaign in Texas, is up for a third term in 2022. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
Huffines, who has criticized Abbott as being too slow to fully reopen the state, served in the Senate from 2015-19. Full Story
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![Former State Senator Don Huffines, R-Dallas, during a Texas Public Policy Foundation event on Feb. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Alamo renovation gets stuck over arguments about slavery
Some heroes of the Texas Revolution were enslavers, a neglected piece of history that has helped stall a badly needed overhaul of the revered battle site. Full Story
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![The Alamo Cenotaph at Alamo Plaza in San Antonio commemorates the Battle of the Alamo. Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Republican Texas legislators, like the governor, take a right turn
The Legislature still has plenty of big issues to address in its last month: electric outages, the budget and policing. At the same time, the Republican majority has its eye on issues that are dear to the conservative base: abortion, guns and elections. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, flanked by Republican colleagues, answers questions regarding SB 7, a voting rights bill, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Top political aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller arrested in alleged scheme to take money in exchange for hemp licenses
Todd M. Smith was arrested Thursday and released from Travis County Jail on Friday, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. On Sunday, his attorneys said he did nothing wrong and is cooperating with police. Full Story
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![Todd M Smith.]()
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Texas GOP’s voting restrictions bill could be rewritten behind closed doors after final House passage
In a 78-64 vote, the House on Friday passed a pared down version of priority GOP legislation to place new restrictions on voting. Now the bill likely will be reshaped in conference committee with the Senate, largely out of public view. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, flanked by his Republican colleagues, answers questions regarding SB 7, a voting rights bill adopted from the Senate, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ larger cities would face financial penalties for cutting police budgets under bill approved by House
Previously, the Senate approved a bill that would ask for an election if cities decide to reduce law enforcement budgets. Full Story
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![The Austin Police Department building with the Austin skyline in the background on March 22, 2021.]()
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Democrat revives Texas bill restricting transgender students' sports participation in apparent act of retaliation against his party
The bill previously lacked the votes to advance out of House committee. After House Democrats spiked one of his bills, Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, revived it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston, on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As hot-button issues dominate Texas legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott sends clear signals on some conservative priorities
His approach differs somewhat from past sessions, when Abbott kept legislators in suspense on whether certain hot-button proposals would have his support. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State speech at Visionary Fiber Technologies outside of Lockhart on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
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Medicaid expansion for uninsured Texans had bipartisan support, but lawmakers won't pass it this session
Nothing is truly dead until the session ends. But committee chairs in both chambers have blocked bills from getting hearings, and supporters have dim hopes that Republican leaders will revive it in time. Full Story
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![A Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, treats a patient in Austin on Nov. 8th, 2012.]()
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State Rep. John Raney tests positive for coronavirus after being inside Capitol this week
Raney, who has been fully vaccinated since February, "went home immediately and, as of this evening, is doing well," his office said in a statement. The CDC says a "small percentage" of people who have been vaccinated can still contract COVID-19. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Raney, R-College Station, at a House Higher Education Committee hearing on March 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
“Serious, harmful consequences”: Texas continues placing foster children in harm’s way, court monitors find
A federal judge in 2015 found that Texas violates foster children's constitutional rights. At a hearing this week, court monitors found some progress in reforming the foster care system — but also noted several concerns. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers propose electricity market bailout after winter storm
Lawmakers argue that spreading costs through the whole market — which will get passed through to consumers’ bills — is necessary to stabilize the state’s electricity market and prevent even higher costs. Full Story
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![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power, and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton unblocks nine Texans on Twitter after lawsuit claiming he violated First Amendment rights
It’s unclear if Paxton has unblocked others on Twitter who were not named in the lawsuit. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton during a press conference in 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Protesters who obstruct emergency vehicles could face felony charges under bill passed by Texas House
The bill is in response to nationwide protests against police brutality last year. Full Story
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![Demonstrators block traffic and march past vehicles on I-35 during a protest against police violence in Austin on May 31, 2020. Police later used teargas to disperse crowds on the interstate.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Tamir Kalifa -
Analysis: Texas voters signal a turn to normal, in more ways than one
Texas voters are returning to normal pre-pandemic activities, and to their customary civic and political concerns, too. The changes are evident in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Austin's camping ban returns Tuesday, but it's not clear when — or how — it will be enforced
While city leaders are analyzing possible housing options for people experiencing homelessness, advocates warn against using aggressive tactics to enforce the ban. Full Story
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![Camps were set up near the ARCH, The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, in downtown on Aug. 2, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
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