Texas has billions pledged to expand broadband. Spending it is taking a while.
Despite the efforts of local governments and others, the move to provide internet access to millions of Texans has been slow and faces new challenges. Full Story
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![A sign welcoming visitors to Big Lake. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Mitch Borden for The Texas Tribune -
How David Cook went from Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s ally to lead the movement to replace him
The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates. Full Story
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![State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
State Board of Education says it wants more control over public school library books
A majority of the panel voted to call on the Texas Legislature to pass a state law giving members the authority to determine age-appropriate books for students. Full Story
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![Books line shelves at the Walsh Middle School library in Round Rock on July 11, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Could Texas do for Alzheimer’s research what it did for cancer?
Modeled after the state’s $6 billion cancer research fund, the dementia fund — a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Texas researchers. Full Story
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![The facilities of El Faro Health and Therapeutics clinical research facility count with an infusion room to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Rio Grande City on November 13, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order targeting Chinese government operatives in Texas
The order is in response to “Operation Fox Hunt,” a Chinese government initiative intended to root out corruption but in practice has been used to intimidate Chinese citizens living abroad. Full Story
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![Chinese President Xi Jinping listens as U.S. President Joe Biden, not pictured, delivers remarks during an event launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty at the G20 Summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.]()
Credit: Eric Lee/Pool via REUTERS -
In preview of legislative session, lawmakers expect school vouchers to pass and the House to shift to the right
Lawmakers discussed public education, gun laws and health care policy at a daylong Texas Tribune event. Full Story
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After election, Texas House speaker race remains up for grabs
Neither Speaker Dade Phelan, nor his current opponent Rep. David Cook, have enough public support yet from the GOP caucus to win the nomination. Full Story
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![The state capitol on the last day of the regular legislative session, May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?
Tuesday was another electoral blowout in which Democrats underperformed expectations, weakening their case that Texas is a battleground state worthy of investment and attention from the national party. Full Story
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![The Ector County Democratic Headquarters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since Reconstruction
Hinojosa won the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting Sen. Morgan LaMantia two years after she narrowly defeated him. Full Story
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![Adam Hinojosa, Texas Senate District 27 Republican Candidate, after a Futuro RGV candidate forum in Brownsville on Jan. 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans reassert their dominance in Texas
Recent gains made by Democrats in past elections were wiped out, as Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and other Republicans won by wide margins. Full Story
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![Attendees celebrate poll results during a watch party for Ted Cruz on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in downtown Houston.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP poised to increase its majorities in the Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott said the House would have enough Republicans to pass school vouchers next year. Full Story
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![Lawmakers on the House floor during Sine Die of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin, on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
A West Texas pecan farm fights to save its water supply as neighbors sell it to growing cities
A yearslong dispute over exporting water to growing Texas cities offers a hint at the battles to come as the state’s population booms and water supply dwindles. Full Story
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![General Manager Zachary Swick poses at Belding Farms on Sep 23, 2024]()
Credit: Julian Mancha for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans dominate fundraising in final weeks of Texas House battles
Across a dozen of the most competitive House races, Republicans raked in more than $11 million over the last month, compared to the nearly $3.5 million collectively raised by their Democratic counterparts. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to state Representatives on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Search the newly updated Texas state employees salaries database
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of October 1. Full Story
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Watch a conversation with San Antonio’s state Sen. José Menéndez
The Democrat said the number of state senators should grow to better represent Texas population, but admitted that idea will likely gain little traction. Full Story
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Children in Texas state representative’s latest campaign ad aren’t hers
From our premium politics newsletter, The Blast: A new ad from Rep. Caroline Harris Davila raises eyebrows in what increasingly appears to be a competitive race. Full Story
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![A campaign ad for State Rep.Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott’s office condemns Texas House lawmakers who intervened in Robert Roberson’s execution
The Texas governor had not publicly shared his thoughts on the actions of a bipartisan group of lawmakers that stopped the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas on Aug. 4, 2022.]()
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Republicans want to flip this last competitive South Texas senate seat
State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, faces off against Republican Adam Hinojosa in the only competitive race for the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, left, and Republican challenger Adam Hinojosa.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water system
The South Texas city is the latest to grapple with aging water infrastructure, which officials suggested could have been the cause for the E. coli outbreak. Full Story
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![An empty street in historic downtown Laredo, TX on Nov. 7, 2021. Businesses along the border crossing are hoping to see a return in Mexican clientele after the U.S. land borders reopen to vaccinated travelers.]()
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Judge strikes down strict voter assistance rules in Texas’ 2021 rewrite of election laws
Texas Republicans passed the legislation known as Senate Bill 1 after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and spread lies about it. Full Story
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![A device outside the San Marcos Library polling place, allowing for voting assistance for anyone unable to enter the polling place on Nov. 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune