Texas state crime labs won’t test suspected marijuana in low-level cases
The Texas Department of Public Safety said last week that it would not perform testing to distinguish between hemp and marijuana in misdemeanor cases. Full Story
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![A container of dried hemp plant with leaves and stems on Jan. 23, 2020.]()
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State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. bets on experience, seniority as he confronts two Democratic primary challengers
The longtime state senator from Brownsville is hoping his upper-chamber clout can ward off two intraparty opponents questioning his Democratic credentials. Full Story
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![State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, on the Senate floor on May 6, 2019.]()
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Speaking statistically, this GOP donor wants to convince you that money buys justice in Texas
After losing a case at the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, millionaire Salem Abraham set out to mathematically test the idea that campaign contributions influence the elected justices. Now he wants to change the system. Full Story
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![Salem Abraham in his office on Dec. 19, 2019.]()
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Hemp is booming in Texas. Distinguishing it from marijuana is still a challenge.
In this video, The Texas Tribune dug into hemp and marijuana with lawmakers, crime lab scientists, criminal defense attorneys and hemp entrepreneurs. Full Story
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![A container of dried hemp plant with leaves and stems on Jan. 23, 2020.]()
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Watch: Conversations on the future of the border region
We traveled to El Paso for a daylong series of conversations on the economic, political and cultural significance and evolution of the border region. Full Story
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State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate
Watson has represented Austin in the Texas Senate since 2007. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, on the Senate floor on April 11, 2019.]()
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The billionaire Wilks family bankrolls one of its own in run for Texas House
The family has pumped millions from its fracking fortune into Texas politics, backing hardline conservative candidates and causes. Now one member of the clan is vying for the House District 60 seat being vacated by Rep. Mike Lang. Full Story
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![From left: Jon Francis and Glenn Rogers are among the four Republicans running for the open seat in Texas House District 60.]()
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Our updated Texas 2020 Hotlist: The most competitive races in this year's primary
A couple of The Texas Tribune's political nerds highlight (their latest version of) the most interesting races up and down the 2020 primary ballot. Full Story
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To end hazing, students must be individually punished or prosecuted, advocates tell Texas lawmakers
Legislation passed last year increases university transparency and strengthens the state's definition of hazing. But advocates say when it comes to enforcement, kicking fraternities off campus isn't enough. Full Story
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![The House Committee of Higher Education meets on Feb. 11, 2020.]()
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Watch: Who will control the Texas House?
It’s the question everyone’s asking across the state and at the Capitol: Will the Texas House flip? Watch our conversation with state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, and Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth. Full Story
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Beto O’Rourke’s flock remains loyal while his party debates whether to move on
The question facing Texas Democrats: Can the party capitalize on the energy he brings out of his supporters while minimizing the counter-energy he seems to provoke from the right? Full Story
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![Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at Texas Southern University in Houston on March 30, 2019.]()
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After black student suspended over dreadlocks, some Texas lawmakers want to ban hair discrimination
The Texas Legislative Black Caucus hopes to pass the CROWN Act in the next legislative session. The bill would prohibit hair discrimination affecting people of color in schools and workplaces. Full Story
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![The administration at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu told senior DeAndre Arnold to cut his dreadlocks.]()
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Watch: Conversations on the future of health care
We're sitting down in Edinburg with lawmakers, thought leaders and medical professionals from all corners of the state for a daylong series of conversations on health care issues affecting Texas. Full Story
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Conservative activists helped elect Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Now some say there’s a disconnect.
A group of hardline grassroots activists has called on Patrick to be more outspoken on party priorities and worries that lines of communication appear to no longer be there. Full Story
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![JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America, sits for a portrait in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Tyler Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.]()
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With GOP supermajority at risk in 2020, Dan Patrick says Texas Senate may lower threshold to bring bills to the floor
The lieutenant governor said Thursday he may decrease the threshold to a simple majority if Republicans lose one or two seats in November. Full Story
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![Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senate Parliamentarian Karina Davis on the senate floor. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
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Elizabeth Warren backs Eliz Markowitz in battleground Texas House race
The U.S. senator from Massachusetts is the latest Democratic presidential candidate to get involved in the Jan. 28 special election runoff for House District 28. Full Story
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![From left: Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren and Eliz Markowitz, Democratic candidate for Texas House District 28.]()
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New campaign finance reports help crystallize fight for state House majority
The reports, which were due Wednesday, provide the first fundraising checkpoint since the candidate fields were finalized last month. Full Story
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![State Capitol on June 20, 2017.]()
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An open-government mystery solved: McAllen paid Enrique Iglesias $485,000 for 2015 performance
The pop star's contract with the city — long hidden by what critics described as gaping holes in the state's open-records laws — became public this week after new legislation governing the public's right to know went into effect. Full Story
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![Enrique Iglesias performed on stage during his "Sex and Love Tour" in Riga, Latvia on Dec. 7, 2014.]()
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He spent a month in Texas jail accused of hauling 3,350 pounds of marijuana. But lab results say it was legal hemp.
The man had told a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper that his truck contained hemp, not weed. He was released from detention after a federal crime lab tested the cargo. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Public Safety claimed last month that it seized more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in Carson County. Lab results indicate the load was legal hemp.]()
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Former Castro supporters in Texas switch to Biden after Castro drops out
The new endorsements come a day after Castro, who ended his campaign last week, threw his support to one of Biden's opponents, Elizabeth Warren. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe biden speaks at a community event in San Antonio on Dec. 13, 2019.]()