The latest Greg Abbott news from The Texas Tribune.
Gov. Greg Abbott urged Texans to stay alert as the National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings or watches for most of the state. Experts fear that electricity demand during the frigid temperatures could cause power outages. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bd5ce4911a7c47ec92e69053c2bae6f6/Corpus%20Christi%20Winter%20Storm%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
What gets the state’s unusually subdued lieutenant governor to stand up and take notice? Not playing the national anthem at Dallas Mavericks games, as it turns out. The first culture clash of the 2021 legislative session is underway. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/742630084c985be957a6ff750b79820d/Senate%20Floor%20Patrick%20JJ%20TT%2004.jpg)
People pushing for the move say they are hopeful they'll get legislative approval this year. If not, one executive said, it's "inevitable" in the future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/577d77058ebb34eb12f1021b289c472d/Casino%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.jpg)
While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downward, the numbers are higher than when Abbott initially announced restrictions on businesses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/162e7535e253075e69e17499a7b48328/El%20Paso%20COVID%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Multiple federal courts have found Texas' cash bail practices discriminatory against poor people. The governor has said his priority bill will instead focus on keeping "dangerous criminals" in jail before they're convicted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4897f5dfaa1c671d69fe3dd902eb2778/Bail%20Bond%20Signs%20EL%20TT%2005.jpg)
The lieutenant governor is not starting the biennial legislative session in his characteristically outspoken style, particularly when it comes to making clear his policy priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eeb9a5d36aae81147e44c7ec880ba7ce/Dan%20Patrick%20Tea%20Party%20LBS%20TT%2002.jpg)
There are a total of 181 legislators in the Capitol, but the influence is not evenly distributed. Due to the lawmakers’ positions, ideology and tenure, some will have a much bigger say on the biggest issues this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a689f0ac2f89852303d477218e5def01/House%20Floor%20Opening%20Day%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
Texans stuck at home need high-speed internet for schooling, for work, for shopping, for medicine, for entertainment — the live, in-person activities we all took for granted a year ago. Sounds simple enough, but there’s a lot to untangle. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1811b4edad6305e365876dc682d6b24/Rackspace%20JW%20TT%2012.jpg)
Their plea comes just days after a state district judge temporarily stopped the state from excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, a government health insurance program for the poor. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bba6c3b4e6996d78e0dc3e671f2c0d48/Planned%20Parenthood%20EG%20TT%2016.jpg)
The slow start to the legislative session reflects the public declarations of goals from House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: There aren't any. Gov. Greg Abbott put his priorities in a State of the State address this week, but legislative leaders have been relatively quiet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc5f100b96b207f7a0fc2927e8a1a253/House%20Floor%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
The absence of any mention of the mass shootings rankled gun control advocates and state lawmakers from El Paso, who see this legislative session as their best chance to advance the very measures Abbott expressed support for in 2019. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1f14df1e3788752e39586cf6047c2a6/Guns%20Rifles%20McBrides%20CR%20TT.jpg)
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Patrick, Ross and Alexa about Gov. Greg Abbott's State of the State speech and the delays in the 2021 redistricting process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af668e619603337bb4f51d90371f143b/TribCast%20Feb%203.jpg)
The group of hardline conservatives made waves in 2017 by sparring with House leadership and fellow Republicans. Now members say relationships with the broader chamber have improved. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/73ab4e724cc2d48635022287d49ba03a/Texas%20State%20Capitol%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Republican governor said his office is "offering up some legislation ourselves" to deal with some intraparty concerns about executive authority that have cropped up during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/804d83d5eccbb727685a04104a20d811/Abbott%20April%2017%20Presser%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
In his State of the State speech this week, Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his top priorities, and his chances of success might be pretty decent: They match up with the issues Texas legislators were already working on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/619b21c15a02b2e92b261fdc50742523/State%20of%20the%20State%202021%20BD%20TT%2010.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott designated five emergency items, which are matters the Legislature can vote on within the first 60 days of the session that began Jan. 12. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7bdd8ea7e09bb481dc0c9c32597f16ca/State%20of%20the%20State%202021%20BD%20TT%2002.jpg)
You thought election season was over? It’s just starting, with a potential race for governor between incumbent Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who says he is considering a challenge. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9e050c64e4ec99fe5558b18e46a9b878/Beto%20Abbott%20Split%20TT%2002%20.jpg)
The minimum wage in Texas pays $7.25 an hour, well below a livable wage and far lower than the minimum hourly pay in most states. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f5330c45322c74718513d53fd91adc15/Monique%20Warren%20Wage%20MYL%20TT%2001.jpg)
Viruses constantly change by mutating, and the coronavirus is no exception. But health experts say it's difficult to know the exact number of variants currently around the world. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8bc1797c9ad77119669f76f689f295c/Vaccination%20Drive%2001-25-21%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Republican governor, who is up for reelection in 2022, and the state's best-known Democrat exchanged words Thursday after O'Rourke said he will consider challenging Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d573c8d711bca3e07b4e43d216111d6/Abbott%20Beto%20Split%2002%20TT.jpg)