South Texas emerges as political hotbed after Democrats underperformed there in 2020
Democrats will have to defend three seats in the region. And two of those seats could draw heated primary races, too. Full Story
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![Downtown McAllen on July 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Warren Buffett’s power play puts a price on electric reliability in Texas
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy wants to build 10 electric plants in Texas, for use when demand peaks or other plants falter. And it’s the first time a price tag has been attached to a remedy since last month’s deadly storm. Full Story
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![Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett at an annual Berkshire meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 2, 2015.]()
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Texas' George Floyd Act seeks to reform violent police behavior. But a sticking point centers on protecting officers from lawsuits.
A provision that would remove police officers' legal shield against civil lawsuits has been pegged by multiple lawmakers as a sticking point in the Republican-led Legislature. Full Story
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![Activist and author Cluren Williams leads a chant at a rally to support the Texas George Floyd Act outside the Texas Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Charlie L. Harper III for The Texas Tribune -
Hundreds of Texas prisoners are getting vaccinated — months after many became eligible
Almost 2,000 vaccine doses have gone to qualifying prisoners as of Thursday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
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![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
At least 111 people died in Texas during winter storm, most from hypothermia
The newly revised number is nearly twice the 57 that state health officials estimated last week and will likely continue to grow. Full Story
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![The Blanco Vista neighborhood of San Marcos is blanketed with several inches of snow as a massive winter weather system causes power outages across Texas on Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Warren Buffett group lobbying Texas lawmakers for deal to build $8 billion worth of power plants for emergency use
In return, lawmakers would agree to create a revenue stream for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway through an additional charge on Texans’ power bills. Full Story
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![Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walked through an exhibit hall as shareholders gathered to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 4, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Scott Morgan -
Texas' natural gas and power generators would have to prepare for extreme temperatures under bill Senate committee approved
The wide-ranging proposal includes a number of reforms that have been floating around the state Capitol since last month’s deadly winter storm left millions without electricity during freezing temperatures. Full Story
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![Executive director and Vice President of DMA Properties Sergio Amaya clears the walkways outside of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Alcohol to go from restaurants gets closer to becoming permanent as Texas House gives approval
The chamber signed off on House Bill 1024 to permanently allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders. The measure still requires approval from the Senate. Full Story
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![The Barn Door restaurant during dinner service in San Antonio on May 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton refuses to release messages about attendance at pro-Trump rally before Jan. 6 insurrection
The Texas Tribune joined several other news organizations in an effort to obtain copies of emails and text messages that the Texas attorney general sent or received while in Washington for the rally. 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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Hispanic Texans are still struggling to get vaccines. Here’s how Dallas is trying to change that.
Grassroots organizers and county employees are organizing registration events in some of the underserved neighborhoods in the city. But they still worry it won't be enough. Full Story
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![Volunteers and officials with the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services register people for the COVID-19 vaccine at an event in Irving on March 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Carly May for The Texas Tribune -
One Texas town, two school districts and completely different mask policies. How science and politics are clashing in New Braunfels.
The two school districts in this Central Texas town headed in opposite directions after Gov. Greg Abbott ended the statewide mask mandate, sparking heated debates over safety and government responsibility. Full Story
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![Cars line up in the Wylie West Junior High School parking lot to drop students at the 5th and 6th grade entrance in Abilene, Texas Wednesday August 19, 2020. The first day of school saw students and faculty wearing masks as they began classes in the midst of a global pandemic.]()
Credit: Ronald W. Erdrich/Abilene Reporter-News - USA TODAY -
TribCast: Texas to expand vaccine eligibility to all adults
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Karen and Julián about the state’s plan to expand vaccine eligibility starting Monday and the increase in apprehensions at the border. Full Story
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![Maria Diaz received her Coronavirus vaccine at a 24 hour vaccination event at Kelly Reeves Athletics Complex in Austin on March 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
After Atlanta and Colorado mass shootings, Texas GOP leaders double down on protecting gun owners
Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday there is an even greater urgency this legislative session to pass laws expanding gun rights because of Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story
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![Guns at McBride's Guns in Austin on March 26, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. House committee holds hearing on Texas’ massive power outages during deadly winter storm
At least 57 people died during the winter storm that plunged much of Texas into subfreezing temperatures and caused widespread power outages for days. Full Story
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![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
White Republicans are refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine more than any other demographic group in Texas
In Texas, 59% of Republicans either said they are reluctant to get the vaccine or would refuse it outright, according to the February University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Protesters at the Governor's Mansion protest government mandates on wearing face masks in businesses and recent bar closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. June 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Not all emergencies are priorities in the Texas Capitol
Texas has seen more mass shootings in the last two years than proven incidents of voter fraud, but legislators are more focused on election law than on gun violence. Full Story
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![A police unit at the back entrance to a Walmart where a gunman opened fire on back-to-school shoppers on Aug. 3, 2019, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Baylor University report recommends changing buildings and statues honoring slave owners but gives a pass to school’s founder
Some students this summer called for a statue of the founder to be removed from campus and for the university itself to be renamed. Full Story
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![A bronze statue of Judge Baylor, the founder of Baylor University, on his namesake university in Waco, on Dec. 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Vaccinated Texas nursing home residents can now hug their families and receive more visitors after a year of isolation
For many residents, birthday parties and holiday celebrations took place largely through windows and over video calls. Full Story
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![The Austin Retirement and Nursing Center in Austin on July 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas opens COVID-19 vaccine to everyone 16 and older on March 29
The Texas Department of State Health Services is asking providers to prioritize appointments for people 80 and older, and to prioritize walk-ins from anyone in that age group who shows up without an appointment. Full Story
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![A person receives a band-aid after getting their vaccine injection at a 24-hour vaccination event at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex on Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Austin. Family Hospital Systems hosted the drive-thru vaccine event with an 80s theme and equipped to vaccinate 7,000 people.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus explains why he voted for Joe Biden last year
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus about life as a civilian, what he’d do about repricing electricity, the conservative case for expanding Medicaid, why he didn’t vote for Donald Trump — twice — and whether he’ll run for something again. Full Story
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