Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s push to ban THC in Texas draws rare backlash from the right
It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward.
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Texas’ abortion bans are here to stay despite narrow clarification
Legal challenges have failed, elections haven’t moved the needle and the fight for a narrow clarification shows how immovable these laws are.
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immigration
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Congress
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Trump’s use of Enemy Aliens Act against alleged gang members is illegal, El Paso judge rules
The judge’s order prohibits the federal government from using the act to deport people in a large swath of Texas who are accused of being Tren de Aragua members. But the ruling did not order anyone’s release from custody. Full Story
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![The Richard C. White Federal Building in El Paso, Texas on June 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel -
Texas foster care agency chief to step down this summer
Two years after Stephanie Muth became Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, staff turnover is down and the number of children without a placement has dropped. Full Story
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![DFPS Commissioner Stephanie Muth listens to agency updates during a DFPS Council Meeting in Austin on March 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
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Staff vacancies hit Texas weather offices as they brace for a busy hurricane season
Houston’s National Weather Service office has lost its head meteorologist amid a federal requirement to cut 10% of NOAA’s staff. Full Story
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![The National Weather Service issued a Hurricane Warning for the Coastal Bend on July 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusion
Experts say Wednesday’s action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a “collusive lawsuit,” where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome. Full Story
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![The Texas State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune
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Lawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewables
With demand expected to soar, the Legislature passed bills aimed at boosting supply and making the grid more reliable. Bills to impose more regulations on renewables died. Full Story
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![A pump jack operates near a gas turbine power plant in the Permian Basin oil field outside of Odessa, Texas, on Feb. 18, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Eli Hartman -
Texas legalizes shooting invasive sheep from a helicopter for sport
Aoudad sheep are joining the short list of animals Texas lawmakers allow to be shot from a helicopter for sport, along with coyotes and feral hogs. Full Story
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![Barbary sheep, also known as Aoudad sheep, were introduced to Texas from their native habitat in North Africa mid-20th century. Popular among hunters, considered an invasive species by farmers and ranchers, the Texas Legislature has added them to the list of animals that can be hunted helicopters, along with feral pigs an coyotes.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Leroy Williamson/Texas Parks and Wildlife -
A Texas Republican new to Congress, Brandon Gill has a knack for getting noticed
With a scant legislative record but a lot of face recognition, the representative from North Texas has found a way to make a mark in his first term. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Flower Mound, speaks during the news conference on the Birthright Citizenship Act at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 23, 2025.]()
Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Sipa USA via REUTERS
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Hundreds gather in Houston and San Antonio to protest immigration crackdowns in workplaces, courthouses
The protests in Texas followed days of unrest in Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump sent National Guard troops in response to demonstrations. Full Story
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![Protestors cross over a bridge as they march towards Houston's Hermann Park during a protest in response to recent news of nationwide ICE raids and deportations on Sunday, June 8, 2025.]()
Credit: Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribune -
Air Force veteran Gina Ortiz Jones wins runoff race for San Antonio mayor
Jones, who served in the Biden administration, defeated Rolando Pablos, a former Texas secretary of state, in a high-profile, bitterly partisan contest. Full Story
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![Gina Ortiz Jones declares victory at Dakota East Side Ice House Saturday night.]()
Credit: Amber Esparza for the San Antonio Report -
Texas Republicans pioneered in-state tuition for undocumented students. Now they’re celebrating its end.
In 2001, Texas Republicans saw expanding college access for certain undocumented students as a way to build an educated workforce. Now, some GOP lawmakers feel only U.S. citizens should receive those benefits. Full Story
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![Governor Rick Perry delivers his State of the State speech to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Feb. 12, 2003.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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Watch: Texas policy experts discuss how lawmakers addressed education, infrastructure needs this year
Policy experts discussed a new school funding bill, a $20 billion package to keep up with water demand and the state’s energy fund. Full Story
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Texas measles cases grow to 742. Track the spread here.
Four more cases were reported in the last week from the ongoing measles outbreak connected to West Texas. Full Story
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![An editorial art for the West Texas measles outbreak tracker.]()
Credit: Yuriko Schumacher/The Texas Tribune -
Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don’t raise costs
The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program. Full Story
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![Bonham Middle School employees watch as students begin to gather for lunch in the school’s cafeteria Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune
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Speaker Dustin Burrows, once tagged as “liberal,” kept skeptics at bay by leaning into a conservative agenda
At the same time, some Democrats acknowledged the Lubbock Republican let them leave their mark on some of the GOP bills they disagreed with. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gavels out the 89th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol on Sine Die, Monday, June 2, 2025]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers pull funding for child identification kits again after newsrooms report they don’t work
For the second time, lawmakers cut funding for kits meant to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune documented the lack of evidence that the kits work. Full Story
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![The House chamber at the Texas Capitol during a session.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas reined in recreational THC for more medical marijuana this legislative session
Texas passed sweeping changes to cannabis policy, including expanding the medical marijuana program and banning hemp products, while also boosting psychedelics research. Full Story
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![Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.]()
Credit: Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune
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Texas bill creating more weekend early voting could boost turnout, but delay election results
A bill headed for Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk may not go into effect until 2027. Election administrators say the changes could create staffing challenges. Full Story
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![The line wraps around the sidewalk at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Ft Bend County.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
First trial of immigrant accused of trespassing on Texas border military zone ends in acquittal
The trial of the Peruvian woman was the first test of the Trump administration’s new policy aimed at prosecuting immigrants who crossed the border illegally with military-related charges. Full Story
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![Near Marker 4 east of the Texas-New Mexico state line, a sign, illegible from the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande, warns that the U.S. Department of Defense has taken over the area, May 12, 2025.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters -
Texas secretary of state refers 33 potential noncitizen voters for criminal investigation
The 33 potential voting violations are a tiny fraction of the roughly 11 million who cast ballots in the November 2024 election. Full Story
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![A sign warns non-citizens against voting outside of a polling location in Canyon Lake on Nov. 05, 2024.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune - More News