Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival, Democratic Rep. Donna Howard acknowledged that Republicans have unified around Speaker Dustin Burrows to the point that he “may not need us” to retain the gavel.
Texas House Democrats say they are keeping their options open for speaker in 2027
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The 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
Watch: Bishop Michael Curry speaks at the 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
The former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church sits down with Ruth Graham of The New York Times at 12:45 p.m. Thursday.
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Environment
Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon underground
The EPA handed over power to the Railroad Commission after a two-year review. Critics say the commission has been too lax with the industry.
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Congress
Fresh off defeating state THC ban, Texas hemp industry faces wipeout under federal deal to end shutdown
The issue roiled Texas politics earlier this year when Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a ban on THC products spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
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Health care
How building a new hospital cost this rural Texas town a place to deliver babies
Olney Hamilton Hospital joins the nearly 60% of rural Texas hospitals that do not deliver babies, leaving large swaths of the state without a nearby place to give birth.
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Congress
U.S. House OKs funding deal to reopen government with support from Texas Republicans
The spending package includes a provision that will criminalize the sale of almost all consumable hemp products nationwide, restoring a similar ban to the one vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
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2026 Texas Elections
Mike Collier to challenge Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick again — as an independent
Patrick has twice defeated Collier, who was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 and 2022.
Sponsor Post
This November is COPD Awareness Month: Take Action in Texas to Improve Health, Policy, and Lives
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects an estimated 30 million Americans, yet half remain undiagnosed. In Texas, the burden is especially high — both in human and economic terms. As November marks COPD Awareness Month, the COPD Action Alliance urges Texans to not only raise awareness but also advocate for stronger policies that improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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2026 Texas Elections
Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad Commission
French will face commission Chair Jim Wright in the Republican primary. The three-person panel is in charge of the agency that oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry.
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Politics
Texas Head Start closures during government shutdown add to state’s child care woes
Hundreds of families lost child care when certain programs weren’t funded earlier this month, and scores more may be affected if Congress doesn’t fund the government by Dec. 1.
