The Texas Senate advanced a municipal annexation bill to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, the fifth bill sent to the governor’s desk during the special legislative session set to end in no more than three days.
Alex Samuels
Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
Posted inState Government
White nationalist rally at Texas A&M University has been canceled
The white nationalist rally planned on the campus of Texas A&M University has been canceled, officials confirmed Monday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After 2015 legalization, Texans may be able to buy medical cannabis oil by January
Three dispensaries expect to get final approval from Texas soon to start growing and cultivating marijuana. It’ll take another several months before they can begin distributing the kind of cannabis oil that lawmakers legalized in 2015.
Posted in
Guides
Hey, Texplainer: Why can’t we create a statewide property tax to fund public education?
It would be unconstitutional to impose a statewide property tax. Even if one was enacted, however, that wouldn’t solve the structural issues with the state’s school finance system.
Posted in
State Government
Travis County District Attorney rescinds offer to drop charges against Rep. Dukes
The Travis County District Attorney’s office on Tuesday said its offer to drop all corruption charges against state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, in exchange for her agreeing to resign immediately had expired.
Posted in
State Government
Power Trips: Who should regulate property tax rates? Give us your take.
The Texas Tribune wants to know more about how rising property tax rates are affecting people across Texas — and who should have the final say.
Posted in
Politics
Travis County DA offers to drop charges if Rep. Dawnna Dukes resigns
The Travis County District Attorney’s office has told state Rep. Dawnna Dukes it would drop corruption charges against her if she agrees to resign from office and agree to a drug and alcohol assessment by the end of business Tuesday.
Posted in
Health care
Texans with disabilities say bathroom bill could further complicate their lives
When it comes to this summer’s “bathroom bill,” Texans with disabilities say they — like many transgender men and women — believe the Legislature is further complicating something that’s already difficult to navigate.
Posted in
Politics
Where do Texans in Congress stand on Trump’s ban on transgender troops?
President Trump set off even more confusion than usual at the U.S. Capitol this week by announcing he would ban transgender people from the military. Take a look at where Texans in Congress stand on the issue.
Posted in
State Government
Sid Miller on Trump’s transgender ban: “Military is not the place for leftist social experimentation”
A tweet by President Donald Trump asserting that transgender people would no longer be able to serve in the U.S. military garnered the support of at least one Texas official: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
