Odessa bans transgender people from using restrooms that don’t match sex assigned at birth
LGBTQ+ advocates called the ban one of the most extreme measures enacted by a local government. Full Story
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![The Odessa City Council listens to comments from a member of the public during a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Facing election scrutiny, Texas prepares for Nov. 5 with paper ballots and strengthened security
Only a handful of Texas counties will not have all in-person voters cast paper ballots at the polls. By 2026, all voting machines in Texas must produce a paper trail, per a 2021 state law. Full Story
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![People test the polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Delta-8 hemp and Texas medical marijuana industries to face off in the upcoming legislative session
Medical marijuana providers say they must operate under strict rules while hemp products like delta-8 can proliferate. Full Story
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![The Texas Original cannabis farm on Sept. 26, 2024. The red light is an experimental form of growth where the light bleaches the flower of the plant.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas sues Biden administration for not providing data on noncitizens
Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the federal government of failing to provide citizenship data for registered voters, even as he acknowledged that the vast majority of the people on the rolls are lawful voters. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
A West Texas well that exploded has been sealed, cleanup will take months
While residents smelled rotten eggs, the state’s environmental agency said it has not detected any air pollution. Full Story
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![An oil well blowout shooting a mixture of oil, water, and gas over 100 feet in the air west of Toyah on Oct. 4, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel courtesy of DeSmog -
Children in Texas state representative’s latest campaign ad aren’t hers
From our premium politics newsletter, The Blast: A new ad from Rep. Caroline Harris Davila raises eyebrows in what increasingly appears to be a competitive race. Full Story
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![A campaign ad for State Rep.Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock.]()
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Texas Supreme Court justice’s oversight of trust belonging to millionaire with dementia raises ethics concerns
Despite objections from her family, John Devine oversees the trust of Elvie Kingston, a clear violation of Texas’ judicial ethics rules, experts said. His wife is also her legal guardian. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine listens to Douglas Alexander make oral arguments in the cases Abbott v. City of San Antonio, Abbott v. Jenkins, and Abbott v. Harris County, Feb. 22. 2023 in Austin. The cases were consolidated for oral arguments, as they all concern whether an executive order barring local mask mandates falls within the scope of authority granted to the Governor under the Texas Disaster Act.]()
Credit: Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman via REUTERS -
Kamala Harris to rally with Colin Allred in Houston days before Election Day
Harris’ surprise visit comes in the closing weeks of a campaign in which she has largely focused her efforts on other states. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a conversation moderated by Charlie Sykes with former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) in Brookfield, Wisconsin on Oct. 21, 2024.]()
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Questions on Texas voting rules? Ask our AI voting assistant.
This artificial intelligence tool queries The Texas Tribune’s guides to help answer your questions about voting rules in 2024. Full Story
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Robert Roberson juror says new evidence would have prevented his conviction in shaken baby case
The death row inmate was expected to testify before a Texas House committee, but those plans were scrapped amid a dispute over whether he should appear in person or virtually. Full Story
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![Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Dec. 19, 2023. Texas death row prisoners are housed in Livingston but executed at the state prison in Huntsville, about 43 miles away.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project -
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office condemns Texas House lawmakers who intervened in Robert Roberson’s execution
The Texas governor had not publicly shared his thoughts on the actions of a bipartisan group of lawmakers that stopped the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas on Aug. 4, 2022.]()
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Election Day is Tuesday. Here’s a guide to your rights at Texas polls.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Our guide outlines your voting rights and where you can cast a ballot. Full Story
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![People test the polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Level of oil and gas regulation at heart of Texas Railroad Commission race
Incumbent Christi Craddick is touting the health of the Texas energy industry and its impact on the economy. Her top opponent says regulation on the commission is too lax. Full Story
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![From left: Commission Shift Executive Director Virginia Palacios moderates a Texas Railroad Commission candidate forum with Libertarian Hawk Dunlap, Democrat Katherine Culbert and Green Party candidate Eddie Espinoza in Austin on Oct. 16, 2024. Republican incumbent Christi Craddick did not attend.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for the Texas Tribune -
A legal battle spared Robert Roberson’s life, for now. Here’s what happens next.
The effort to spare Roberson sparked a conflict between the executive and legislative branches that must be resolved. When it is, the death row inmate will likely be back on the path to execution. Full Story
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![Robert Roberson seeks a new trial for the 2003 conviction of the murder of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis. His attorneys are asking for a new trial based on new findings they say debunk the flawed science presented in the original trial.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
As Robert Roberson’s execution neared, Gov. Greg Abbott stuck to silence
It’s rare for governors to step in to halt executions. In the case of Robert Roberson, it ended up being state lawmakers who took extraordinary steps. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
How a career-ending injury as an NFL linebacker paved the way for Colin Allred’s underdog Senate bid
Allred was a high school football star who would later go on to play for the Tennessee Titans. From there he pivoted to law school where he pursued a career as a civil rights attorney. Full Story
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![Colin Allred, center, with safety Chris Hope (24), and fellow linebacker Gerald McRath (51) at a Tennessee Titans practice at Baptist Sports Park in Nashville on June 15, 2010.]()
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After Roberson ruling, upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals election in the spotlight
Three of the five judges who allowed Robert Roberson’s execution to proceed will be leaving the court after Paxton-backed primary challenges. Full Story
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![The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
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At debate, Mayra Flores shrugs off concern about mandating South Texans carry passports
During a tense debate with U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Flores attacked Gonzalez for being soft on border security, then suggested requiring residents to prove citizenship in some instances was appropriate. Full Story
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![Republican challenger Mayra Flores speaks during a debate with U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Harlingen.]()
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Five races for the Republican-dominated State Board of Education to watch this year
Revising the social studies curriculum could be among the divisive issues the Texas State Board of Education tackles next year. Full Story
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![State Board of Education chambers during the SBOE hearing on the controversial Mexican-American studies textbooks in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 13. Scholars who have reviewed Mexican American Heritage have pointed out that the textbook is riddled with factual errors, promotes offensive ethnic stereotypes and disparages Mexican Americans and their contributions to this country.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans want to flip this last competitive South Texas senate seat
State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, faces off against Republican Adam Hinojosa in the only competitive race for the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, left, and Republican challenger Adam Hinojosa.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune