Beto O’Rourke wants to end the STAAR tests. Here’s why he can’t.
The Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate has said several times he will end the annual standardized tests. State and federal law make it impossible. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally in Austin on Sept. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Disabled Texans worry loss of Affordable Care Act could cost them programs that help them live independently
Texas is leading a group of conservative states in a legal battle to have the sprawling health care law struck down. Without it, disabled Texans stand to lose programs that have allowed more people to stay in their homes, rather than state-run institutions. Full Story
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![Laura Halvorson at her home in San Antonio on Nov. 30, 2020.]()
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What to expect as Texas heads to the U.S. Supreme Court in bid to overturn the Affordable Care Act
On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a Texas-led challenge to the landmark health law. Full Story
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![Protestors gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C., in 2015, to show support for the Affordable Care Act.]()
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After Ginsburg’s death, high stakes for Texas’ legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act
Experts say the Supreme Court is unlikely to strike down the law in its entirety. Texas’ GOP leaders have yet to produce a promised plan to replace it. Full Story
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![Francisco Garcia arrives at Kelsey-Seybold clinic in Sugar Land to see his doctor Spencer Berthelsen for annual physical. Sept. 22, 2011.]()
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Trump administration must accept new DACA applications, judge orders
The directive comes four weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against an effort to halt the program that protects more than 100,000 Texans from the immediate threat of deportation. Full Story
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![Protesters gather as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the 2017 Trump Administration decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is lawful, in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2019.]()
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U.S. Supreme Court to hear Texas' challenge to Obamacare
The high court is likely to take up the landmark health law for the third time this fall and issue a decision in 2021. Full Story
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Trump restores funding that was cut over targeting Planned Parenthood
The Trump administration announcement reverses an Obama-era decision in 2012 to cut federal women’s health funding to Texas. That came as punishment after the Texas Legislature excluded Planned Parenthood from the Healthy Texas Women program in 2011. Full Story
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![From left, Gov. Greg Abbott reacts as President Donald Trump speaks at a church relief center during a visit with flood survivors and volunteers of Hurricane Harvey in Houston on Sept. 2, 2017.]()
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Julián Castro drops out of presidential race
Castro’s departure means there will be no Texans competing in the Democratic presidential primary. Full Story
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![Julián Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio and the former secretary of House and Urban Development, announced his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination on Jan. 12, 2019. Castro made the announcement in Guadalupe Plaza in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Individual mandate is unconstitutional, federal appellate court rules in Texas-led Affordable Care Act lawsuit
A panel on the conservative-leaning U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the lawsuit back to a district court in Texas to reassess how much of the Affordable Care Act can stand if the individual mandate must fall. Full Story
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![Jill Ramirez, the Director of Outreach for the Latino Healthcare Forum, passes out flyers and explains components of the American Care Act (ACA) to Jesse Zavala at a carshow and picnic at the Promiseland Church in Austin, Texas on Oct. 5, 2013.]()
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TribCast: Texas presidential polling and looming redistricting
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Alexa and Patrick about how Texans are polling on the presidential and U.S. Senate fields, the inside look at Texas Democrats’ 2020 strategy and the Legislature’s impending redistricting process. Full Story
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![Presidential candidates Julián Castro and Beto . O'Rourke.]()
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Julián Castro spars with Democratic front-runner Joe Biden during party's second presidential debate
Several Democrats put the former vice president on the defensive. But Castro landed one of the most personal blows as he criticized Biden's stance on immigration. The stakes were high for the Texan, who has yet to qualify for the next debate. Full Story
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![Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and presidential candidate Julián Castro speaks on the second night of the 2020 Democratic presidential debates in Detroit, Michigan on July 31, 2019.]()
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As Texas seeks to overturn Obamacare, attention focuses on a potential swing judge
Jennifer Walker Elrod, a federal appeals court judge appointed by George W. Bush, asked the majority of the questions in a two-hour session Tuesday on Texas' lawsuit. Full Story
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![The John Minor Wisdom United States Fifth Court of Appeals building in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Oct. 3, 2017.]()
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Texas is going to court to end Obamacare. It hasn't produced a plan to replace it.
During a legislative session focused on schools and taxes, Texas lawmakers did little to prepare for the possibility that Obamacare will be struck down in its entirety — even as the state leads the charge to have the law declared unconstitutional. Full Story
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![A protester dressed as Death holds a sign during a rally before a hearing in a lawsuit against the Affordable Health Care Act in Fort Worth on Sept. 5, 2018. Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general Justin Nelson (not pictured) was one of the speakers.]()
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Trump says he has no plans to revive policy of separating migrant families
"We're not looking to do that, now," the president said. He also blamed Barack Obama for the chain-link pens where migrants were held last year. Full Story
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![Undocumented immigrant children at a U.S. Border Patrol processing center in McAllen, Texas.]()
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Beto O'Rourke hires former top Obama aide as campaign manager
O'Rourke has brought on veteran Democratic strategist Jennifer O'Malley Dillon to lead his White House bid. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso speaks to his supporters at the final campaign rally before elections at UTEP, Monday, November 5, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Lewd texts and school finance scuttlebutt
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the pre-session school finance scuttlebutt, a big Obamacare ruling out of Texas and a state senator facing allegations he sent lewd texts. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown during a March 22, 2018 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing.]()
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The U.S. is helping the natural gas industry make a profit — at the expense of the environment
The U.S. government has become a pitchman for the natural gas industry. That could raise profits — and temperatures. Full Story
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![A carrier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is docked at Cheniere’s Sabine Pass Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on July 6, 2018. Cheniere is the largest U.S. exporter of LNG.]()
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Beto O’Rourke met with Barack Obama as he ponders a 2020 presidential campaign
Former Obama aides have encouraged the outgoing Democratic House member to make a White House run. The recent meeting was the first signal that the former president is getting personally involved in talks with the Texas congressman. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke speaks to his supporters after losing to Ted Cruz in the 2018 midterm elections, in El Paso on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.]()
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TribCast: O'Rourke isn't "interested" in Obama endorsement
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Alex about Beto O'Rourke's disinterest in an Obama endorsement, whether the Kavanaugh confirmation process has energized GOP voters in Texas and what the Trib's new affordable housing investigation shows. Full Story
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![Former U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.]()
Credit: Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/via REUTERS: Obama/Rodolfo Gonzalez: O'Rourke -
Obama endorses 9 more Texas candidates in midterm races
Former President Barack Obama gave his support Monday to nine additional candidates in Texas as part of his second wave of midterm endorsements. Full Story
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![President Barack Obama speaking in Austin on Thursday, May 9, 2013.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune
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