Texas faith leaders come out against bills targeted at LGBT Texans
A group of faith leaders gathered outside the House chamber on Wednesday to protest legislation they see as discriminatory toward LGBT Texans. Full Story
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![Members of the clergy and others supporting LGBT rights gather outside the Texas House chamber May 3, 2017 to show support for the community affected by "bathroom bill" legislation pending at the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Swarm of Texas Democrats vying for two Republican seats in U.S. House
Control for the U.S. House could run through Texas, thanks to a flood of Democrats lining up to challenge two longtime GOP incumbents – John Culberson of Houston and Pete Sessions of Dallas. Full Story
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![U.S. Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, and John Culberson, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill: Pete Sessions/Spike Johnson: John Culberson -
Veterans tuition program would see only minor changes under bill approved by panel
The House Higher Education Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would largely preserve the benefit of free college tuition to veterans or one of their kids. Full Story
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![House Higher Education Committee chair State Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, listens to testimony on several bills intended to curb sexual assaults on Texas college campuses during a hearing March 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Convention of states debate in House begins
A couple of measures tied to one of Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items this legislative session — a call for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution — are up for debate on the floor of the Texas House today. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Water: Going to Texas to escape the seas
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: More folks could be "gone to Texas" to escape rising sea levels, a report urges recycling of oil and gas field wastewater and an interview with Tom Arsuffi of the Llano River Field Station. Full Story
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How to kill a bill in 140 days (or less)
A brief guide to the legislative dark arts as the scramble to pass — and kill — bills reaches its height. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
Texas may require students to pass a citizenship test. How would you do?
A bill approved by the Texas House on Wednesday would require high school students pass a version of the civics test that immigrants must take when applying for U.S. citizenship. How well would you do? Take our quiz and find out. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva / The Texas Tribune -
Bill would spur study of why more black mothers die after childbirth
Public health advocates want a state task force focused on Texas' rising maternal mortality rates to study how race, bias, prejudice and socioeconomics affect care for pregnant black women — who are disproportionately affected. Full Story
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Sandra Bland Act gets nod from Texas Senate panel
The legislation would mandate that county jails route people with mental health crises and substance abuse issues to treatment and install electronic sensors or cameras to better monitor inmates. Full Story
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![Sandra Bland, who was found dead at the Waller County Jail in 2015.]()
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Texas House passes measure to reduce handgun license fee
The Texas House backed a proposal that would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry a handgun from $140 to $40. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
UT-Austin police on stabbing spree: "This was not a conspiracy"
Police said the student who stabbed four people on the University of Texas at Austin campus didn't appear to be targeting anyone in particular. Full Story
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![A look at the sun setting over the University of Texas at Austin Tower in 2011.]()
Credit: Illustration by Nicolas Raymond / Todd Wiseman -
State's failures led to voter ID problems in 2016
Texas' efforts to enact and enforce the strictest voter ID law in the nation were so plagued by delays, revisions, court interventions and inadequate education that the casting of ballots in the 2016 election was inevitably troubled. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line before polls open on Election Day in Round Rock on Nov 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Two dozen arrested at Texas Capitol
At least two dozen protestors on the grounds of the Texas Capitol were charged with trespassing Monday after a day-long sit-in over a proposed bill that would ban "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas. Full Story
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![Austin City Council member Gregorio Casar speaks to opponents of the "sanctuary" jurisdictions bill moving through the Legislature outside the State Insurance Building in Austin on May 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Pasadena, a voting rights battleground, prepares for pivotal elections
After having its city council districts declared discriminatory, the city of Pasadena is preparing for May elections that could have statewide implications. Full Story
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![Oscar Del Toro, who lost a Pasadena City Council race for an at-large seat in 2015, and is running again this year, points to the city's redistricting map.]()
Credit: Laura Starecheski -
Analysis: Texas Legislature flushing sanctuaries, from cities to bathrooms
Texas legislators — along with everyone watching them — expected to lock horns over transgender Texans and the bathroom bill. But the raw debate over sanctuary cities legislation could be the hallmark of this 85th Legislature. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, at the beginning of floor debate on Senate Bill 4 — the "sanctuary cities" bill — on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Federal court sets July trial date in Texas redistricting case
A federal panel has ordered a five-day trial starting on July 10 over Texas House and congressional political maps. This follows a pair of rulings that found Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated against minority voters with maps drawn in 2011. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Senate passes bill extending alternate graduation route to 2019
The Senate passed a bill extending the opportunity for students to graduate even if they haven't passed their required exams by going before a graduation committee. Full Story
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![Higher Education chair Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo answers a question at TTEvents on May 26, 2016.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Tree protection ordinances targeted by Republicans, defended by city officials
City officials on Monday testified against a bill that would limit the ability of Texas cities to ban residents from cutting down trees on their properties. Republican lawmakers have filed several such bills this year. Full Story
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![A neighborhood in East Austin on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
UT police search for motive in student's stabbing spree
Police said they don't know why a junior biology major stabbed four other students on the University of Texas at Austin campus, killing one. Full Story
![A look at the sun setting over the University of Texas at Austin Tower in 2011.]()
Credit: Illustration by Nicolas Raymond / Todd Wiseman -
Texas Senate passes bill overhauling Houston's troubled pension systems
On a 25-5 vote, the Texas Senate passed a bill aimed at overhauling Houston's troubled pension funds. The bill's author also added a provision that could shift future employees to new retirement system if shortfalls worsen or persist. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune