Texas' Voter ID Defense Has Cost $3.5 Million
Texas taxpayers are still picking up the tab for defending the nation’s strictest voter identification law more than five years after Republicans fast-tracked it through the Legislature. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton and Solicitor General Scott Keller after oral arguments on the voter ID case before the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans on May 24, 2016.]()
Credit: Cheryl Gerber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: What the Numbers in the Texas Budget Really Mean
Numbers can give you a full accounting of something without telling you what’s really going on, like when lawmakers talk about trimming budgets and saving money while diverting attention from whatever fell on the cutting room floor. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
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Cosper Wins GOP Recount in Race to Succeed State Rep. Aycock
Texas House candidate and former Killeen Mayor Scott Cosper has won a recount of his narrow victory over Killeen optometrist Austin Ruiz in last month's Republican primary runoff. Full Story
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![Former Killeen Mayor Scott Cosper (left) defeated optometrist Austin Ruiz in House District 54's Republican primary runoff in after a recount was completed June 16, 2016.]()
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Lawmaker Wants Federal Investigation of Austin Ride-Hailing Rules
Republican state Rep. Jason Isaac has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Austin's rules for ride-hailing companies, raising concerns that the city's "burdensome regulations" are anti-competitive. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the floor of the House on May 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmakers Seek Roadmap For Ride-Hailing Regulation
State lawmakers are poised to discuss ride-hailing for the second time in two weeks on Thursday, attention many expect to carry into the upcoming legislative session as some legislators attempt to wrest regulatory power from cities. Full Story
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Credit: Ståle Grut / Flickr -
Tesla Takes Direct Sales Message to the People at Party Conventions (Audio)
Texas law prohibits car companies from selling cars directly. Customers have to go through an independent dealership instead. For three years, Tesla has been trying without success to change that by lobbying Austin. Now it's lobbying party activists. Full Story
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![Tesla vehicle on display outside the Texas Capitol on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Ride-Hailing Companies Bring Battle to the Legislature
Representatives from Uber and Lyft urged lawmakers to adopt statewide regulations for the ride-hailing industry during a Texas Capitol hearing on Wednesday. Full Story
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![Rena Davis, left, a public policy manager for Lyft, and Sarfraz Maredia, right, general manager for Uber in Texas, testify before the House Committee on Business and Industry on June 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang / The Texas Tribune -
With Uber and Lyft Gone, Ride-Hailing Startups Swarm Austin
Less than a month after Uber and Lyft left Austin over the city's regulations, at least six new companies offering similar services have launched in the city and are fighting for market share. Full Story
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![Since Uber and Lyft left Austin, the city has opened its doors to an influx of new companies including Arcade City, getme, RideAustin, InstaRyde, zTrip, Wingz, Fasten and Fare.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Republicans Ask Obama, Congress for Zika Help
Texas' top Senate Republicans on Monday upped the urgency on federal policymakers to do something about the Zika virus. Full Story
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Ryan Sitton on Oil Prices, Regulation, Trump (Video)
Here's full video of our June 3 conversation in Austin with Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton. Full Story
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In Texas, State Offers Little Help with Zika Prevention, Control
State health officials are urging Texans to protect themselves from mosquito bites — but they aren't helping counties coordinate or pay for those protective measures. Full Story
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UCLA Shooting Rekindles Campus Carry Debate
Supporters of Texas' new campus carry law say the shooting at UCLA exemplifies how banning guns on campus only deters law-abiding people. Opponents say it shows why guns shouldn't be allowed on campus. Full Story
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![Anti-gun protester Mark Sheridan leads a group of 250 members of the Modern Language Association-sponsored rally against campus carry on Jan. 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lt. Gov. Patrick Suggests Legislature Might Step In on Bathroom Guidelines
Declaring that "this fight is just beginning," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday escalated his battle against guidelines in Texas and across the country that allow students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed transgender bathroom rules during a news conference in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Disability Community Divided On Sub-Minimum Wage Program
Some disability rights activists say state contracts paying people with disabilities well below minimum wage is exploitative and inhumane. Full Story
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![Linda Patrick and her son Scott walk back to their seat after speaking at a May 13, 2016 hearing in favor of a state program that encourages state agencies to contract with companies that hire people with disabilities, including ones that pay some workers less than minimum wage.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: A Very Early Guide to November’s Competitive Texas Races
Most of the 218 races at the top of the state and federal sections of our general election ballots in November are not going to be competitive. Here's a look at those that are likely to be. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: An Expense to Texas Taxpayers That Carries No Explanation
Should taxpayers pay severance to state employees to take the sting out of unexpected job losses or to protect the uncovered tails of the elected officeholders who fire them? Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference in Austin on Jan. 13, 2016.]()
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State Rep. Wayne Smith Now Wants Recount in House District 128 Runoff
In a reversal, state Rep. Wayne Smith is now pursuing a recount in his narrow loss in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff. Full Story
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![State Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, faced off with lawyer Briscoe Cain in the May 2016 GOP primary runoff for House District 128.]()
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A Conversation About Higher Education Funding (Video)
Full video of our 5/26 conversation with state Sen Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, and state Senator Kirk Watson, D-Austin, a member of the committtee and its former vice chairman. Full Story
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Christian Defeats Gates in Railroad Commission's Republican Runoff
Former state Rep. Wayne Christian won the Republican nomination late Tuesday in the race for Texas railroad commissioner, edging out Houston-area real estate mogul Gary Gates in a race that turned heated in its final stages. Full Story
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![Republicans Wayne Christian (left), and Gary Gates (right) are facing off in a May 24 primary runoff for Texas railroad commissioner.]()
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In Texas Senate Races, Hughes and Buckingham Win Republican Runoffs
Two new Republicans are poised to claim seats in the Texas Senate: Travis County eye surgeon Dawn Buckingham and state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola. Full Story
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![(L-R) State Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, beat state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, in the runoff for SD-1, while state Rep. Susan King, R-Abilene, lost to Dawn Buckingham in SD-24.]()