Persistence pays off for rural Texans besieged by sky-high power prices
After struggling to pay sky-high power line rates for more than three years, thousands of rural Texans are set to get relief. Full Story
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![Hugh and Nancy Raney in front of a pair of fields, one currently fallow, on their farm near Big Spring in January 2016. The couple had to stop farming part of their land when running the electric pumps to get well water to the fields became too expensive.]()
Credit: Gary Rhodes for The Texas Tribune -
School choice, property taxes and abortion (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Patrick and Morgan about the special session issues the Senate is plowing through — and what the House's coping mechanism is. Full Story
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Law enforcement comes out against Texas "bathroom bill"
In a news conference Tuesday, big-city police chiefs called on lawmakers to reject the “bathroom bill,” saying the measure is discriminatory and does not keep the public safe. Full Story
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![Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stand behind Austin Mayor Steve Adler on the steps of the state Capitol on July 25, 2017. Top Texas law enforcement officers gathered at the Capitol today to speak out against "bathroom bill" legislation.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Almost half of Texas' supply of execution drugs just expired
Eight doses of the state's supply of pentobarbital, the only drug used in Texas executions, expired on Thursday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
Congressman: If female GOP senators were South Texas men, I'd challenge them to a duel
A Texas GOP congressman says if the three female Republican senators who oppose a bill repealing Obamacare were men from South Texas, he might challenge them to a duel. One of those senators was caught on a hot mic mocking him. Full Story
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The Brief: Texas Senate moving fast on Abbott's special session agenda
The Texas Senate on Monday approved six bills related to Gov. Greg Abbott's 20-item special session agenda — and they're expected to consider another chunk of legislation today. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gaveled out the Senate at 1:24 a.m. on July 20 after the upper chamber approved crucial sunset legislation to keep several state agencies alive.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Set for execution, death row inmate alleges legal fraud in hopes of a stay
With two days left before TaiChin Preyor's scheduled execution, his lawyers have tried just about everything to stop it. That includes alleging that his previous counsel committed fraud. Full Story
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![TaiChin Preyor was sentenced to death in the 2004 slaying of Jami Tackett in Bexar County.]()
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Texas to lose Galveston and Hill Country children's therapy providers
The University of Texas Medical Branch and Hill Country MHDD Centers have put the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on notice that they’re ending services through the Early Childhood Intervention program. Full Story
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Death toll in San Antonio immigrant-smuggling case rises to 10
As the death toll from the weekend’s immigrant-smuggling tragedy in San Antonio rises, the driver in the alleged crime could face up to life in prison — or the death penalty. Full Story
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![The truck with human smuggling victims — 10 of whom died from heat exposure — was discovered at a Walmart in southwest San Antonio.]()
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Video: A conversation on Medicaid and Texas with Mark McClellan
Watch our conversation in Austin on Medicaid and Texas with Dr. Mark McClellan, former head of Medicaid and Medicare under President George W. Bush. Full Story
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Meet the owner of a gay bar who is challenging Texas Gov. Abbott
Texas has a history of being a predominately red state, but Jeffrey Payne wants to change that. That’s why the Dallas Democrat is running for governor against one of the most popular and well-funded incumbents in recent memory. Full Story
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![Jeffrey Payne, a Dallas-based businessman and Democrat, recently announced his campaign for governor of Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: The Texas Senate had a whirlwind special session weekend.
With the first week of the special legislative session in the rearview mirror, the speedy Senate shows no signs of slowing down. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In special session, Texas Senate's the hare, House is the tortoise
This summer's special session is a little like this spring's regular session, only in miniature. The Senate has big plans and is in a hurry. The House? Not so much. Full Story
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![The three leaders of Texas appear jovial at a short meeting of the Cash Management Committee on July 18, 2017, as they face a potentially contentious 30-day special session of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate panel targets mail-in ballot fraud after high-profile case
A bill that largely relies on increased penalties to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud is headed to the Senate floor. Its movement is a new path for lawmakers who previously focused on rare in-person voter fraud. Full Story
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After Texas "human trafficking crime," Lt. Gov. Patrick lauds sanctuary city law
Amid the deaths of nine people in San Antonio, state and federal officials used social media and formal statements to tout a new anti-"sanctuary city" law, human trafficking legislation and U.S.-Mexico border security. Full Story
![The truck with human smuggling victims — 10 of whom died from heat exposure — was discovered at a Walmart in southwest San Antonio.]()
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Texas Senate committee OKs bill to outlaw city cellphone restrictions
Senate Bill 15 would pre-empt local ordinances on mobile phone usage, effectively rolling back provisions in more than 40 Texas cities that currently post hands-free ordinances stricter than the statewide texting ban. Full Story
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![State Sens. Brandon Creighton, R-The Woodlands, and Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, at a Business & Commerce committee hearing on Saturday.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate panel approves teacher bonuses, retirement benefits
The Texas Senate Finance Committee approved a bill Saturday that would put one-time influxes of money toward the Teacher Retirement System and teacher bonuses, and require districts to fund $1,000 in teacher pay raises. Full Story
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![State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, explains the benefits of Senate Bill 19 during a Saturday meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on July 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Despite losing bathroom bill fight, a transgender girl gets her two minutes
They were unlikely to sway a committee of Republicans considering bathroom restrictions for transgender Texans, but a transgender 7-year-old and her mother waited for their two minutes. Full Story
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![Libby Gonzales, a 7-year-old transgender girl, and her sister sit by their parents at a press conference in the Capitol rotunda concerning SB 3 and SB 91 on July 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Senate committee passes 'bathroom bill' after 10 hours of testimony
For the third time this year, state lawmakers on Friday held a marathon hearing on measures to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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![Citizens line up to testify during a July 21, 2017 Senate State Affairs Committee hearing where Senators will take up Senate Bill 3, the "bathroom bill."]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Senate committee passes bills on private school choice and school finance study
The Texas Senate Education Committee passed a bill that would create a "private school choice" program to subsidize private school tuition for kids with special needs, and a bill to study the school finance system. Full Story
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, during a July 21, 2017 Senate Public Education Committee hearing. Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, is seated to his left.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
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