This West Texas town's proof is in the banana pudding
More than 10,000 people met over Labor Day weekend in Slaton to sample the banana pudding — a major boost to the rural town’s economy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5342a64bcc870692a4aaf5fac95127bc/0830%20Banana%20Pudding%20Fest%20JR%2006.jpg)
-
![People line up to purchase or pick up passes at Texas Banana Pudding Festival in Slaton on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. An estimated 10,000 people attended the festival in the small town about 17 miles southeast of Lubbock.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want penalties for local governments’ campaign finance posting failures
ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found nearly three dozen school districts were missing required campaign finance reports online. Now lawmakers are pushing to impose steep penalties on local governments that fail to abide by the law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92eba1ea12a056664b578f1a9c068a93/2012_06_28_health_rally_MG_5504x_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_quality_95_embedColorProfile_true.jpg)
![Republican state Rep. Carl Tepper has issued a new bill to strengthen a law that requires local governments to post campaign finance reports online, citing ProPublica and The Texas Tribune’s reporting.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Lubbock celebrates native Dustin Burrows’ rise to Texas House speaker
Meanwhile in the Panhandle, Republicans were less excited that Burrows won the speaker contest thanks largely to Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4cfa32215e8315ad78674056ab3327aa/0114%2089th%20Opening%20Day%20EG%20TT%2075.jpg)
![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House speaker, on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session at the capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1f76ddc32204fa5b5df44e2a0d3ad1fc/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20JV%20TT%2016.jpg)
![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 -
UT-Austin’s Jay Hartzell praised by GOP leaders as university presidents nationwide take heat over protest response
Hartzell’s protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bd6d25e6f477a9cf7b0042f5d458f0b/UT%20TIE%20Presser%20LW%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune