Will Abbott wield sharper veto pen in budget talks?
With some of his priorities on the chopping block this session, Gov. Greg Abbott may be eyeing his recently expanded veto authority in order to get his way. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TABC on hot seat over trips and spending controversies
For more than three hours, top TABC officials were grilled by House members for misusing state resources, taking trips to Hawaii on the taxpayers’ dime, mixing vacation with state duties, misreporting who has been assigned which state-owned vehicles, and cozying up to the very industry they’re supposed to be regulating. Full Story
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![Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Executive Director Sherry Cook appears before the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics on April 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House committee considers convention of states measures
The House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility considered measures that aim to pull powers from the federal government and hand it to the states. Full Story
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![State Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, listens to testimony in the State & Federal Power & Responsibility Select Committee on April 13, 2017. Miller's House Joint Resolution 39 calls for a convention of states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Dallas police investigating Qurans found in toilet in March
Police are investigating an incident in which they found two copies of the Muslim holy book in a men's bathroom at the University of Texas at Dallas. Full Story
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![The Quran.]()
Credit: A Gude -
Women's health providers say Trump-backed measure won't affect Texas — yet
Women's health organizations in Texas say a President Trump-signed measure targeting abortion providers will not have an affect here — yet. But it could in the coming years. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax dies after fight with cancer
Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax died Thursday morning following a battle with cancer. Full Story
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![Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax held a public meeting to consider changing the insurance department’s long-standing practice of prohibiting insurance companies from including pre-dispute binding arbitration in home insurance policies on July 6, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
During Texas visit, Rick Perry touts Houston-area carbon capture system
In his first public appearance in Texas since being sworn in as U.S. energy secretary, former Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday heaped praise on a new and first-of-its-kind energy project that captures climate-altering emissions from the state’s largest coal plant. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, left, and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry join the Petra Nova carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery system partners — NRG Energy, JX Nippon Oil and Gas and Hilcorp Energy — for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the NRG/ Petra Nova Power Plant in Thompsons on April 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Spike Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Public Utility Commission Chairman Nelson to retire
Chairman Donna Nelson announced Thursday that she will retire from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, ending a nine-year tenure. Full Story
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![Chairman of Texas Public Utility Commission, Donna Nelson, during a hearing on Jan. 11, 2016.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: House panel takes up Convention of States
Lawmakers on a Texas House select committee are expected to consider today a resolution calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Edu: Playlists come to the curriculum
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Software companies aim to personalize learning, Idaho experiments with online accounts for students to defray college prep costs and an interview with Candace Walkington of Southern Methodist University. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Sen. Huffman, advocates at odds over best way to combat sexual assault
Some sexual assault survivors and advocates are clashing with a Texas senator over the best way to combat sexual assault on college campuses. 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 -
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar pitches Rainy Day Fund overhaul
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wants to reshape the state's Rainy Day Fund, aiming to get more bang for those stowed-away bucks. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
For transgender Texans, navigating public restrooms is already complicated
Five transgender Texans explained to The Texas Tribune what goes into making decisions about using public restrooms, including considerations for the comfort of others and reflections on how strangers perceive their gender. Full Story
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![Lily Pando, a 16-year-old sophomore, used to deny herself water, to avoid the discomfort of using public restrooms as a transgender person.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Constitutional or not? Paxton asked to weigh in on $2.5 billion Senate budget trick
Paxton’s answer to that question could shake up budget negotiations in the final weeks of session. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Former lawmaker takes local battle over historic zoning to the Capitol
What began as a local dispute over the demolition of a 1910 house has escalated into a statewide battle over what makes a building historic — and who gets to decide. Full Story
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![House at 405 W. 14th St. in Austin on April 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Top liquor regulator got "hazardous duty" pay on Hawaii junket
The state's top alcohol administrator received "hazardous duty" pay while in Hawaii. And the TABC brass has gotten trained as police officers, which allows them to get take-home cars, free gas and an array of weaponry, according to records and interviews. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by John Jordan / The Texas Tribune -
Paxton trial in Harris County to begin Sept. 12
Attorney General Ken Paxton's newly relocated trial on securities fraud charges is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a May 25, 2016, press conference.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Hog fights, Paxton's change of venue and Flat Stanley (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about an unruly Texas budget fight, the relocation of AG Ken Paxton's jury trial, and a warm and fuzzy photo of often-at-odds state leaders. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
House committee advances scaled-down "sanctuary cities" bill
The latest version of the Texas Legislature’s bill to outlaw "sanctuary cities" in Texas is a scaled-down version of what the state Senate passed out in February. Full Story
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![A coalition of immigrant rights groups protest SB 4 at the East steps of the Texas Capitol prior to a committee hearing on the sanctuary cities bill on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Hate crime law results in few convictions and lots of disappointment
In Texas, the tiny number of successful prosecutions leave both victims and lawmakers questioning state’s commitment to punishing hate. Full Story
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![Reverend Rodney Norsworthy, a minister at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, shows the grave of James Byrd, at a cemetery in Jasper, TX on June 15 2012.]()
Credit: Scott Dalton