Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton draws first Democratic challenger for 2018
Attorney Justin Nelson is entering the race to be the state's top lawyer with just over a month until the candidate filing deadline for the 2018 primaries. Full Story
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![Houston lawyer Justin Nelson (left) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Nelson campaign/Laura Buckman: Paxton -
Texans in favor of all 7 constitutional amendments
Texas voters were in favor of all seven constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot, according to early voting results released Tuesday evening by the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Full Story
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![People voting in Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Texans backed all 7 constitutional amendments this year
Texas voters approved all seven constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot Tuesday. Full Story
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Analysis: The gun debate lets government off the hook after every mass shooting
Given their intractable positions over gun laws, government officials are as powerless in the face of mass shootings as they are in the aftermaths of tornados or hurricanes. Unable to prevent them, they can only react in horror and sorrow. Full Story
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![Police tape cordons off the crime scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs after the worst mass shooting in Texas history on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas has hired its first ever director of human trafficking prevention
In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Kim Grabert, the state's first director of human trafficking prevention, discussed how the state plans to recover and rehabilitate runaway youth who are sold for sex. Full Story
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![Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation (HTCE) Director Kim Grabert.]()
Credit: DFPS staff photographer Sean Mathis -
U.S. Rep. Ted Poe is third Texas Republican in a week to announce retirement
U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, announced Tuesday evening that he will not seek another term in Congress next year. Full Story
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![Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., September 14, 2016.]()
Credit: Allison Shelley -
"Sanctuary cities" law hearing draws debate on free speech, ICE detainers
It was round two in New Orleans on Tuesday for attorneys for the state of Texas and opponents of the state’s anti-“sanctuary cities” law, Senate Bill 4. Full Story
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![A massive protest engulfs the Capitol Rotunda as anti-SB 4 protesters rally on May 29, 2017, the last day of the 85th legislative session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Free of criminal charges, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes says she was victimized
In her first public appearance since being cleared of criminal charges, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, said at a Texas Tribune event Tuesday she had been treated unfairly by her fellow politicians and the press. Watch the full video here. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, says she's healthy enough to serve another term in the Texas House during a conversation on Nov. 7, 2017 at the Austin Club.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Will Texas massacre finally push the military to improve its criminal reporting system?
The Air Force failed to report Devin Kelley's domestic violence conviction to a federal database, which allowed him to buy guns before the massacre in a Sutherland Springs church. That failure has been a problem for years. Full Story
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![Mourners gathered for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting at a candlelight vigil in Sutherland Springs on Sunday night, Nov. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
A conversation with Rep. Dawnna Dukes
Watch full video of our event in Austin with state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, moderated by the Tribune's Evan Smith. Full Story
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The Brief: "Sanctuary cities" law heads to court today — again
Attorneys for Texas today are set to defend the state's new "sanctuary cities" law before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Full Story
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![People demonstrating against Senate Bill 4, the "sanctuary cities" ban, march near the Riverwalk in San Antonio on June 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
With no state-approved textbooks, Texas ethnic studies teachers make do
The Texas State Board of Education is set to vote this week on whether a Mexican-American studies textbook and a Jewish Holocaust memoir should be the first state-approved materials for ethnic studies courses. Full Story
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![Ethnic studies teacher Elizabeth Close works with student Olivia Capochiano at LC Anderson High School in Austin.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding -
It's Election Day. What's on the Texas ballot?
Today is Election Day. Texans are being asked to decide on seven amendments to the state’s constitution, including two creating new property tax exemptions and one allowing professional sports teams to hold charitable raffles. Here's what's on the ballot. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line at the University of Texas Co-op to cast their ballots in the March 1, 2016 primary elections.]()
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Texas back in federal court over anti-"sanctuary cities" law
Attorneys for the state of Texas are set to head back before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Tuesday to defend the state’s new immigration enforcement law. Full Story
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![Protesters opposed to Senate Bill 4, known as the "sanctuary cities" law, turn out in force for the last day of the legislative session on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Vice President Mike Pence to speak at Republican governors meeting in Austin
Vice President Mike Pence is coming to Austin next week to address Republican governors' yearly meeting, according to the group. Full Story
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![Mike Pence speaking with supporters at a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Aug. 2, 2016.]()
Credit: Gage Skidmore -
Recently passed Texas law allows for armed volunteer security at churches
A state law put into effect in September made it legal for houses of worship to have armed volunteer security — but the law's author says many churches in Texas don't know it's an option. Full Story
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![U.S. Marshals speak with a DPS officer in Sutherland Springs after a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church there, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Air Force: Shooter who killed 26 in Texas church should not have been allowed to buy guns
The Air Force has released a statement that it failed to report Devin Kelley's domestic violence conviction to a national database used to screen firearms buyers. Full Story
![Mourners gathered for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting at a candlelight vigil in Sutherland Springs on Sunday night, Nov. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
For Sutherland Springs residents, mass shootings seemed a world away — before Sunday
Mass shootings have become common throughout the nation, but when a community of only about 650 people lost 26 in one event Sunday morning, everyone in Sutherland Springs was impacted. Full Story
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![Lupe Picasso came from La Vernia with her 3-year old son to offer help to the residents of nearby Sutherland Springs, site of the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez emerges as potential challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez told the Tribune Monday she is "in the exploratory process" of a possible run next year against Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez speaks during the Dallas County Democratic watch party in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. John Zerwas won't commit to backing GOP caucus' speaker pick
Watch the video of our conversation in Austin with state Rep. John Zerwas, a newly announced candidate for speaker of the Texas House. Or check out our recap of the event. Full Story
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