During oral arguments Wednesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of Texas’ abortion restrictions, U.S. Supreme Court justices focused on what role the rules played in closing dozens of clinics.
Alexa Ura
Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
Posted in
Health care
Texas Case Could Define Extent of Abortion Limits
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the legal challenge to abortion restrictions passed by Texas lawmakers in 2013. The case may help clarify how far states can go in regulating the procedure.
Posted in
Politics
In Final Weeks, Millions Spent in Handful of Texas House Races
As Texas primary races head into the final stretch, the latest campaign finance reports show House Speaker Joe Straus and a handful of his allies are spending big to fight off their Tea Party-backed challengers.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Border Communities Have Lower Crime Rates
Texas counties along the Rio Grande are relatively safe, state and federal crime statistics show, and they seem to be getting even safer as more law enforcement resources pour into the area.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Twelve Texas Death Row Inmates Were Undocumented
Of the 251 men and women on Texas death row, 12 committed their crimes while in the country illegally, according to an analysis of data obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Republicans Zero in on Religious Freedom Bills
The next Texas legislative session is almost a year away, but Senate Republicans are already zeroing in on proposals to bolster legal protections for religious opponents of same-sex marriage.
Posted in
Immigration
Scalia’s Death Impacts Texas Cases at U.S. Supreme Court
The late Antonin Scalia might well have been on the side of Texas conservatives in four cases now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted in
Politics
Martinez Fischer, Menéndez Meet Again
On major issues there’s little daylight between San Antonio Democrats Trey Martinez Fischer and José Menéndez, but their rematch for a Texas Senate seat couldn’t produce a greater divergence of styles.
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Politics
A Familiar Uresti-Madla Ballot In San Antonio
The upcoming face-off between state Sen. Carlos Uresti of San Antonio and Helen Madla, the widow of the senator Uresti defeated in 2006, flips the script on a storied battle between two prominent San Antonio families.
Posted in
Demographics
Judge Again Rejects Texas Bid to Block Syrian Refugees
A federal judge has once again denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to keep the federal government from resettling Syrian refugees in the state.
