Watered-down expansion of Texas’ medical marijuana program signed into law
House Bill 1535 expands eligibility for the Texas Compassionate Use Program to people with cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's effective Sept. 1. Full Story
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![Newly planted marijuana plants at Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation Medical Marijuana facility in South Austin on Apr…]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Bill legalizing permitless carry of handguns in Texas on brink of passage after compromise reached
The agreement advances the legislation even closer to becoming law. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will sign such a proposal. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick awards committee chair to Texas senator who previously faced sexual harassment allegation
State Sen. Charles Schwertner gave up serving as chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in 2019. This year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named him chair of the Committee on Administration. Full Story
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![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
In 2015, Texas lawmakers rejected effort to upgrade state's disease response
After the Ebola outbreak, a task force recommended stockpiling protective gear and expanding state powers to deal with infectious diseases. "Tinfoil hats" opposed to big government killed a bill that would have done it, its sponsor says. Full Story
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![John Carter, Environmental Services Supervisor, practices the proper technique for putting on safety equipment during a trai…]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
A new Texas law criminalizes sending unwanted nudes. Lawyers say it might be difficult to enforce.
The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be written too broadly under the First Amendment to be effective. Full Story
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Credit: Photo illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes legislation to prevent surprise medical bills with arbitration, mediation
Surprise medical bills happen when out-of-network health care providers and insurance companies can’t agree on the price of a medical treatment, leaving the patient to pick up the amount insurance won’t pay. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during a February 21, 2018 Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula F…]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The…]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Following inconclusive harassment inquiry, state Sen. Charles Schwertner asks to give up his committee chairmanship
Schwertner was investigated by the University of Texas at Austin after a student reported that he sent her unwanted lewd texts. He denied the allegation and an investigator determined evidence "does not support a finding" that he violated Title IX. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: More questions after #MeToo investigation of Texas Sen. Charles Schwertner
An investigation of a state senator accused of sending lewd texts to a college student ended without proving his guilt or his innocence, leaving some tough questions unresolved as the Texas Legislature starts its 2019 regular session. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leading debate on urban ride-sharing rules in the Texas Senate on May 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich 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.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin says evidence "does not support a finding" that Charles Schwertner violated Title IX by sending lewd texts
Lawyers for Schwertner say the messages were sent by a third party. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leading debate on urban ride-sharing rules in the Texas Senate on May 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawyers for state Sen. Charles Schwertner say forensic review proves explicit texts didn't come from his phone
The lawyers said the examiner, R3 Digital Forensics, of Austin, "determined that the photo and texts in question could not have come from the senator's phone." Full Story
![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin hires former federal prosecutor to investigate sexual misconduct allegations against Sen. Charles Schwertner
Lawyers for state Sen. Charles Schwertner, a Republican from Georgetown, revealed the hire Wednesday and again denied allegations that their client sent lewd messages to a UT-Austin graduate student. Full Story
![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: A Capitol sexting scandal; will Obama endorse O'Rourke?
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Alexa and Patrick about the sexting allegations against state Sen. Charles Schwertner, why former President Obama hasn't endorsed Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke, and whether O'Rourke and Sen. Ted Cruz will revisit their canceled debate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
After another member is accused of sexual misconduct, the Texas Senate takes a wait-and-see approach
A recent allegation of sexual misconduct against a state senator highlights the ambiguity that remains at the Capitol over how Texas lawmakers respond to such cases. Full Story
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![The Senate chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
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Analysis: For state Sen. Charles Schwertner, bad news and a trickle-down effect
The timing of sexual misconduct allegations against Texas state Sen. Charles Schwertner could affect more than his election chances in November; it could affect the chances of other Republican candidates whose districts overlap his. Full Story
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![Charles Schwertner, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, listens to DFPS Commisioner John…]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber/The Texas Tribune -
Report: State Sen. Charles Schwertner retains lawyers, denies sending "any inappropriate texts as alleged"
Allegations that Schwertner had sexually harassed a University of Texas at Austin graduate student were first reported Tuesday evening by the Austin American-Statesman. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown (center), listens to testimony at a hearing held by the Senate Select Committee …]()
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Sexual misconduct allegation jolts Texas Sen. Charles Schwertner's district
Schwertner has denied the allegation, revealed Tuesday in a news report, but his challengers on the November ballot think it may prompt voters to give the race a second look. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown (center) is being challenged by Democrat Meg Walsh (left) and Libertarian Amy Ly…]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages: Walsh and Lyons/Thomas Meredith: Schwertner -
Report: UT investigating sexual misconduct allegation levied against state Sen. Charles Schwertner
A spokesperson said Schwertner "categorically denies any knowledge of the accusations leveled against him" and added that the senator "is eager to cooperate with the University of Texas and hopes to make clear he played no part in the behavior described.” Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, in a Texas Senate Business and Commerce Committee hearing in Austin on Mar. 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tirbune -
Texas cancer institute CEO: Research needs support from state
Wayne Roberts, CEO of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, said the institute has played a critical role in researching and preventing cancer and needs state funding to continue. Full Story
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![Wayne Roberts is the CEO of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.]()
Credit: CPRIT