Abbott, on family vacation, meets with Australian prime minister
Gov. Greg Abbott paused a family vacation to Sydney this week to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull show off hats they exchanged after their meeting Tuesday in Sydney. Abbott was vacationing with his family in the city.]()
Credit: Greg Abbott -
Five stories that marked 2016 in Texas politics
It may have been the offseason for the Texas Legislature, but there was still ample news coming from state officials, much of which will reverberate through the legislative session starting in January. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gave the opening speech at the state republican convention in Dallas, Texas on May 12, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
School finance, testing fiasco topped 2016 education news
School districts lost a court case that could have forced the state to reform its school finance system, and federal officials toured Texas to investigate claims that special education services were arbitrarily capped. Full Story
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![Protesters at a press conference held by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in May, 2016 calling on Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Kent Scribner to resign over the district's bathroom guidelines for transgender students.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Trump's rhetoric, border surge colored immigration debate in 2016
The president-elect's tough border talk propelled him to victory, the U.S. Supreme Court dashed President Obama's deferred action hopes and the Texas border surge drew questions. Full Story
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Lawsuit proceeds against Gov. Greg Abbott over mock nativity display
A lawsuit is moving forward against Gov. Greg Abbott over his order to remove a satirical nativity scene from the Texas Capitol last year. Full Story
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![Winter Solstice scene on display in the Capitol. It was ordered removed after Gov. Greg Abbott objected to it.]()
Credit: Courtesy State Rep. Charlie Geren -
Analysis: On transgender Texans and bathrooms, a call to stay calm
Some Texas lawmakers were in a hurry to require transgender Texans to use the restrooms that match the genders listed on their birth certificates. But the policy and politics are complicated enough to prompt the governor to tap the brakes. Full Story
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![An accessible unisex bathroom at The University of Texas at Austin.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Trump selects Perry to lead U.S. Department of Energy (video)
In the Roundup: Donald Trump selects former Gov. Rick Perry to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, Gov. Greg Abbott takes a wait-and-see approach on anticipated bathroom legislation and Attorney General Ken Paxton takes on a new fight over Christmas. Full Story
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When asked, won't tell: top three officials duck specifics on illegal hiring
The state's top elected officials are happy to go on about border security, but they get tongue tied if the conversation turns to cracking down on employers of undocumented immigrants. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on proposed bathroom legislation: Wait and see
Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
A&M protests white nationalist speaker, businesses oppose anti-LGBT bills (video)
In the Roundup: Protesters turn up for a white nationalist speaker at Texas A&M University, a business lobbying group says anti-LGBT bills will hurt the Texas economy and Gov. Greg Abbott calls for a convention of states. Full Story
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Mental health pilot program for Texas foster kids underway
A new pilot program led by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office aims to provide specialized care and services for 500 of the most emotionally traumatized foster children in Texas. Full Story
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Greg Abbott appoints new Dallas County district attorney
Republican Faith Johnson, a former state district court judge, will finish the term of Dallas District Attorney Susan Hawk, who resigned in September after taking medical leaves to treat depression and mood disorder. Full Story
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![Faith Johnson, newly named district attorney for Dallas County.]()
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Greg Abbott: Convention of states to amend Constitution still needed under Trump
Gov. Greg Abbott squared the new political reality Tuesday with his long-standing crusade to amend the U.S. Constitution by arguing President-elect Donald Trump "epitomizes exactly why we need a convention of states." Full Story
![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott taps Texas Racing Commission chairman as secretary of state
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday named Rolando Pablos, the chairman of the Texas Racing Commission, the next secretary of state, following the resignation of Carlos Cascos. Full Story
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Credit: John Jordan -
Abbott vows to cut funding for "sanctuary campus" schools
Though the definition of a "sanctuary campus" is murky, Gov. Greg Abbott Thursday made it clear they are not welcome in Texas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to a large crowd of state leaders at the Texas Education & Workforce Summit Sept. 19, 2016 at the AT&T Center.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Is it legal to burn a U.S. flag? A Texplainer.
President-elect Donald Trump believes those who burn the flag should be jailed. Is it legal to burn the American flag? Full Story
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Credit: John Jordan -
Abbott: Campus carry could have prevented Ohio State attack
Commenting on the knife attack at Ohio State University that left 11 people injured, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that someone would "think twice" about carrying out such an attack in Texas due to its campus carry law. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a Rotary Club of San Antonio luncheon on March 23, 2016.]()
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Texas moves forward with cuts of therapy services for disabled children
In two weeks, Texas will officially enact cuts of Medicaid reimbursement rates for disabled children's therapy services. 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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Analysis: Some politicians want your attention and some don’t
It makes political sense for statewide officials like the governor and the lieutenant governor to do things that attract favorable attention from voters. Speakers of the House live a little farther from the limelight. Full Story
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![Joe Straus, Texas Speaker of the House, at an 85th Legislative Session preview at the Dallas Regional Chamber on Sept. 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
For fifth time, lawmakers to decide ban on texting while driving
Texas remains one of four states without a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Rep. Tom Craddick and Sen. Juddith Zaffirini plan to try again. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman