Ending birthright citizenship, increasing oil drilling, and leaving WHO are just a few bills the state’s Republicans pushed in Congress this month.
Stories by Texas Tribune fellows
The Texas Tribune welcomes a group of student fellows into our newsroom each spring, summer and fall. Here is a sampling of their work. Learn more about the fellowship program here.
House Caucus Chair Gene Wu wants Texas Democrats prepared for battle
After his party lost seats in the Texas House, Wu says he’s focused on building a coalition against extremism.
Posted inPolitics
Texas Senate’s voucher proposal would give families $10,000 to fund students’ private school
Senate Bill 2 starts a new debate on a school voucher program in Texas. A funding proposal would allow up to 100,000 K-12 students who want to enroll to a private school to participate.
Posted in
Politics
Split senate panel approves Scott Turner to lead HUD
Picked to lead the housing agency under Trump, the former Texas House member tells senators there is a housing crisis. Democrats say they want to act only after a background check.
Posted in
Congress
U.S. Senate clears hurdle on bill to deport undocumented immigrants charged with minor crimes
The proposal requires immigration authorities to hold and deport immigrants charged with crimes like burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas should close prisons and jails with staffing challenges, state oversight panel says
A report found up to 70% of guard positions were unfilled at some prisons. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a 26% staff turnover rate.
Posted in
Courts
When is a business to blame for over-serving? Texas Supreme Court weighs the line in drunk driving case
The court’s ruling could boost a state law that allows drunk driving victims to sue businesses that over-serve alcohol to intoxicated individuals.
Posted in
Economy
Meta to move content moderators to Texas as part of plan to end fact-checking program
The tech giant’s decision to end the program comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeks to mend ties with the incoming Trump administration.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Rep. Mihaela Plesa survived a heated GOP challenge. Here’s how she thinks Democrats can prevail.
Plesa, a Dallas Democrat, said the party should embrace bipartisanship, and start talking about economic issues.
Posted in
Politics
Texans remember Jimmy Carter, the last Democrat to take the state’s presidential election
The Georgia peanut farmer turned politician won Texas’ 26 electoral votes in 1976 but couldn’t repeat the feat four years later against Ronald Reagan.