State Rep. Gooden launches campaign for Hensarling's congressional seat
State Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Terrell, is running to succeed U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, who announced his retirement last month. Full Story
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![State Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Terrell, speaks to Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, on August 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers battle with Land Office over transparency in Alamo restoration
Lawmakers who agreed earlier this year to dedicate tens of millions of dollars to update the Alamo are now asking for greater transparency about how the money is being spent. Full Story
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![Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Dec. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Survey: Hurricane Harvey victims still struggle to find housing, pay bills
Black and Hispanic Texans, low-income people and residents of the Beaumont and Rockport areas were more likely than others to have felt the negative effects of the storm, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Episcopal Health Foundation released Tuesday. Full Story
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![A destroyed motel in Rockport on Aug. 28, 2017. The motel was heavily damaged as Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph in Rockport on Aug. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for the Texas Tribune -
Texas senators discuss closing youth lockups amid sexual abuse scandal
Several state senators indicated at a Tuesday committee hearing that they would be open to closing at least some of Texas' five remaining remote lockups for committed youth. Full Story
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![State Sens. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Royce West, D-Dallas, at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Dec. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Arrests along border dipped sharply under Trump, according to federal data
Department of Homeland Security officials said on Tuesday that apprehensions of people attempting to enter the country illegally dipped to historic lows during the 2017 fiscal year. Full Story
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![At dusk, Border Patrol agents place mobile floodlights along the levee-fence in Hidalgo County.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Federal appeals judges question challenge to revised Texas voter ID law
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments over the state's recent revisions to its 2011 voter ID law, which federal courts have said discriminated against voters of color. Full Story
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![The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.]()
Credit: Cheryl Gerber for The Texas Tribune -
How a chaotic night in the Texas House paved the way for Speaker Straus
Angry outbursts. Abrupt resignations. A Texas House speaker fleeing his own chamber. While Joe Straus is voluntarily stepping down as speaker, the day many view as pivotal to putting him in that position of power was far less orderly. Full Story
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![(Left) House Speaker Tom Craddick at the House dais on May 25, 2007. (Right) House Speaker Joe Straus adjourns the House sine die on the final day of the special session of the 85th Legislature on Aug. 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Texas voter ID law back in court, Cornyn knocks Dems, U.S. Supreme Court greenlights travel ban
Texas and minority rights groups are back in court today over the state’s voter ID law, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn knocked Democrats for threatening to shutter the federal government, and the U.S. Supreme Court greenlighted the Trump administration to fully enforce its travel ban. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks at the Texas State Rifle Association general meeting in Round Rock on Feb. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Two Gainesville youth lockup guards arrested over alleged abuse
Two guards at a Texas lockup for minors were arrested last week after allegedly abusing youths in custody, according to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Full Story
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Cornyn blasts congressional Democrats' government shutdown threats
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Monday blasted Democrats for threatening to shut down the federal government under the guise of helping undocumented immigrants. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, at the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M guaranteed $75 million to its new football coach. How can it afford that?
The amount Texas A&M University will pay its new football coach is unprecedented in the state, but no state appropriations will be used for Jimbo Fisher's salary. A&M can afford it because its football program is raking in money. Full Story
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![Newly hired Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher at an introductory press conference in College Station on Dec. 4, 2017.]()
Credit: Texas A&M Football Facebook page -
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold pledges to pay back $84,000 sexual harassment settlement
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold settled a sexual harassment complaint with $84,000 in taxpayer money. Now he's promising to pay the public back. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi.]()
Credit: U.S. House Website -
Taking Texas to trial: the latest on the state's court battles
Texas has a host of high-profile legal battles in the works, ranging from voting rights to political maps. Full Story
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U.S. Supreme Court declines to consider Houston fight over same-sex marriage benefits
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will not review a June decision by the Texas Supreme Court that ruled that the legalization of same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits. Full Story
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![Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for the Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Taxpayer money used for congressman's sexual harassment settlement, Texas House gets new harassment policy
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold settled a 2015 sexual harassment claim with $84,000 in taxpayer dollars, and a House committee approved a new sexual harassment policy for the chamber. Full Story
![U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi.]()
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Analysis: What state government can learn from college football
One particular type of government program is hyper-sensitive to poor performance and quick to change at almost any dollar cost, which begs the question: Why doesn't everything work like college football? Full Story
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Former Rep. Martinez Fischer to seek return to House in primary challenge to Rep. Arévalo
Former state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer announced Saturday that he is running for his old House seat, setting up a primary battle with fellow San Antonio Democrat Diana Arévalo. Full Story
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![Trey Martinez Fischer and state Rep. Diana Arévalo, D-San Antonio.]()
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Making re-election bid official, Cruz talks taxes and brushes off competition
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, made his re-election bid official Saturday, brushing off his competition's criticisms and looking to keep the focus on the Republican agenda in Congress. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, signs paperwork to file for re-election at the Harris County GOP headquarters in Houston on Dec. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek/Texas Tribune -
Straus questions Gov. Abbott endorsement of House primary challenger
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Friday questioned Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to endorse against a GOP member of the lower chamber, suggesting it could lead to a Democrat capturing the seat. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announces he won't seek re-election in 2018 at a press conference at the state Capitol on Oct. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House Republicans agree to select speaker candidate in caucus
Texas House Republicans agreed Friday to change their rules for selecting the next house speaker, potentially paving the way for a more conservative leader of the chamber in 2019. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, closes the door as the House Republican Caucus prepares to meet in Austin on Dec. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune