TribCast: Texas rushes to get more residents vaccinated
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks to Karen, Patrick and Ross about the race to reach herd immunity in Texas and the early maneuverings in the 2022 election cycle. 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.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn and Eddie Bernice Johnson jointly file legislation to help weatherize Texas’ electrical grid
The two Texans' new bill would authorize the federal government to offer grants to states in support of weatherizing the state's electrical grids. It comes in response to February's deadly winter storm and sweeping power outages. Full Story
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![An aerial view of northbound Interstate 35 at Stassney Lane in South Austin after a severe snow storm. Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthem
10 of the 13 Texas Senate Democrats voted in favor of the "Star Spangled Banner Protection Act," which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named a legislative priority after the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing the national anthem before games. Full Story
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![Fans stand during the playing of the National Anthem before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks at the American Airlines Center on Feb 10, 2021, in Dallas.]()
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS -
Court says Ken Paxton's case against Austin and Travis County for issuing New Year's curfew is moot, dismisses case
While it’s been months since New Year’s, Paxton argued the case wasn’t moot and asked the court to prevent Austin and Travis — or other local authorities — from issuing similar orders in the future. The court refused. Full Story
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![A sign outside of Hotel San Jose asks customers to wear a mask inside the South Austin business on March 3, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Congress allocated $19 billion in federal stimulus money to Texas public education, but schools have yet to see an extra dime
Three federal stimulus packages passed during the pandemic included more than $19 billion for Texas public schools, but state leaders have yet to distribute most of the money. Local districts say they need it to cover pandemic-related costs. Full Story
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![Students in Mrs. Hogan's kindergarten class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary. Sept. 8, 2020 in Highland Village.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee advances bill that would make it a crime for election officials to send unsolicited vote-by-mail applications
Like other Republican proposals, the measure would target Harris County’s initiatives from the 2020 general election, including a shift to proactively send out vote-by-mail applications. Full Story
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![A polling location in the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos during early voting on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want to ban dangerous radioactive waste. The proposal would give a nuclear waste company a big financial break.
A bill advancing in the House seeks to ban spent nuclear fuel, one of the most dangerous types of radioactive waste, from coming to Texas. 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 -
Texas investigating allegations that unaccompanied migrant children are being abused, sexually assaulted in San Antonio
The governor did not know the identities of those who alleged assault, nor did he provide many details. He said he was concerned more than one child may have been assaulted. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar joins lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of inciting Capitol riot
The suit says Trump and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup of Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Matt McClain/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas’ rent relief program has been plagued by problems that slow payments and could prompt evictions
According to a legislative report, of the 176,000 people who have begun applications for rental assistance, just over 1,000 have had their applications approved. And only 250 of payments have been sent. Full Story
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![Carl Nickerson shows his eviction papers outside of of Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas on Aug. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Republican state House speaker backs expanding Medicaid to cover mothers for a year after they give birth
The number of reported maternal deaths has increased nationwide in recent decades. Health experts and advocates say giving low-income moms Medicaid coverage for a year after delivery, rather than two months, could save lives. Full Story
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![Patients wait to be seen at the People's Community Clinic in Austin, which provides state-subsidized women's health services to low-income women on July 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A Texas state budget — minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money
The state budget approved by the Texas Senate on Tuesday is just the start: Lawmakers still have to decide what to do with billions in federal COVID-19 relief money. Full Story
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![Levi Pedrick peaks out of his kindergarten class window on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues in effort to force Biden administration to deport more people convicted of crimes
The suit is the latest in a series of legal challenges Paxton has brought against the Biden administration since January. Full Story
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![Immigrants are escorted by border patrol agents near the Paso del Norte International Bridge in El Paso on June 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used
The budget does not factor in over $35 billion in federal aid. Senators said they don't yet know when that money will come in and what strings could be attached. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers advancing bail bills that opponents say do little for people stuck in jail because they're poor
Texas courts have long been criticized for keeping people in jail pending trial who can't afford to post bond. Two priority bills this session would change the bail system, but they're primarily aimed at keeping potentially dangerous defendants behind bars. Full Story
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![Around the Clock Bail Bonds on 10th St. and Nueces in Austin on May 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
First day of STAAR testing canceled for thousands of students experiencing technical issues across Texas
Texas officials mandated that students take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness in person this year at monitored test sites, although millions of students are still learning remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![A Texas elementary school student works on a laptop.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel for USA Today Network via REUTERS -
After falling short of Texas ambitions in 2020, national Democrats target two seats for 2022
The smaller battlefield — at least initially — comes after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted 10 seats last election cycle in Texas and flipped none of them. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., in December of 2020.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa via REUTERS -
St. Edward’s becomes one of the first universities in nation to require COVID-19 vaccine this fall for in-person activities
St. Edward’s is one of a handful of universities across the country to require the COVID-19 vaccine for students and faculty on campus as schools prepare for a more normal college experience this fall. Full Story
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![The Main Building at St. Edward's University on July 28, 2020 in Austin.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott bans state agencies and state-funded organizations from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination
This comes as vaccine credentials, often referred to as vaccine passports, are being developed around the world as a way to quickly prove someone’s vaccination status, particularly with private companies. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference in Dallas on unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border on March 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Carly May for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Democratic leaders on a challenging year for their party
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Chris Turner and Carol Alvarado, the chairs of the Democratic Caucuses of the Texas House and Texas Senate, about a challenging year for their party. Full Story
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