Stories by Texas Tribune fellows Archives - Page 40 of 119

Members of the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department ready their equipment in Fritch, TX on Feb. 29, 2023. Residents have been working to recover from the Tuesday grass fires that devastated parts of the panhandle.

Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safe

By María Méndez and Maria Probert HermosilloFeb. 29, 2024March 14, 2024

As firefighters work to put out the largest wildfire in Texas history, here’s a guide to fire weather watches, safety tips and how to find organizations collecting donations to directly help local residents, including farmers and ranchers.

An ultrasound machine sits next to an empty patient's bed at Whole Women’s Health of Austin on Sept. 1, 2021.

Texas Abortion Restrictions

Texas Medical Board to consider issuing guidance on abortion laws’ medical exceptions

By Madaleine RubinMarch 14, 2024

On March 22, the board will discuss clarifying what counts as a medical exception to the state’s abortion restrictions.

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R- Friendswood, speaks at a House Freedom Caucus press conference on Feb. 25, 2021, in Washington. D.C. Weber said he was kicked out of the caucus last week.

Politics

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber kicked out of House Freedom Caucus

By Sejal GovindaraoMarch 12, 2024March 13, 2024

Weber, who has disagreed with the hard-right caucus’ tactics during the House Speaker election last year, said Caucus Chair Bob Good expelled him after missing some of the group’s weekly meetings.

Fernando Antunes and Bruno Stefani, both of Sao Paolo, Brazil, video record themselves on the escalator at SXSW at the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2024.

Economy

Performers, speakers pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship

By Madaleine RubinMarch 12, 2024

More than 80 musicians and panelists say they will no longer appear at the nine-day festival, citing the U.S. Army’s support for Israel amid war with Hamas.

Watch: What the Texas wildfires mean to the Panhandle region

By Erin CobbMarch 8, 2024March 8, 2024

Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson said the region has been overwhelmed with the response of support, but work remains.

President Joe Biden delivers his third State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024.

Politics

Texas Democrats cringed when Biden referred to migrant who killed student as “an illegal”

By Matthew Choi and Sejal GovindaraoMarch 7, 2024

President Joe Biden used the term during the address in response to heckling by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia.

The San Juan Idea Public Schools on Nov. 23, 2010, in San Juan.

Public Education

Texas places state’s largest charter school network under conservatorship

By Ikram MohamedMarch 6, 2024March 6, 2024

The state had been investigating IDEA Public Schools since 2021 and raised questions on its spending on things like a luxury driver and private jet.

A 'vote here' sign is located inside of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Mar. 1, 2024.

2024 Texas Elections

Republican voter turnout far outpaces Democrat turnout in 2024 primaries

By Andrew Park and Pooja SalhotraMarch 3, 2024March 6, 2024

About 3.2 million Texans voted in the state’s primary election, down from 4.1 million during the 2020 presidential primary. Democratic turnout accounted for the entirety of the decline.