We asked our readers for their questions about the special legislative session that starts Thursday in Texas. These are the answers.
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.
Posted in
Health care
Houston-area COVID-19 outbreak — including delta variant cases — should be a wake-up call for Texans, health expert warns
The latest, most transmissible coronavirus variant is spreading rampantly in countries with low vaccination rates, and health experts are bracing for impact in Texas.
Posted in
Politics
State museum canceled book event examining slavery’s role in Battle of the Alamo after Texas GOP leaders complained, authors say
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed on Twitter that he called for the event to be canceled. Abbott, Patrick and other GOP leaders are board members of the State Preservation Board, which oversees the Bullock museum.
Posted in
Immigration
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to build a border wall. South Texas landowners are divided over whether they want it.
Some landowners who sued the Trump administration say they aren’t “just going to roll over and give up” now that Abbott has taken on a border wall project. Others say a wall is needed to protect people and property on the border.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
2,100 state workers caught in the crosshairs of Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto of Legislature funding
The legislative branch budget includes funding for House and Senate lawmakers, their staffers and those working in nonpartisan legislative agencies. In total, there was more than $410 million allocated in the 2022-23 fiscal budget.
Health experts talk about what Texas did right and wrong in the pandemic — and what it should do differently next time
Three medical professionals discuss what they have learned about where Texas is — and where it is going — in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Texas voters split over Gov. Greg Abbott’s job performance, but he remains popular among Republicans, UT/TT Poll finds
The June 2021 poll shows that 44% of Texans approve of Abbott’s job as governor, while 44% disapprove. His approval rating from Texas voters is better than those of Joe Biden, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and House Speaker Dade Phelan.
Posted inEconomy
Immigration and border security remain top concerns of Texas voters, UT/TT Poll finds
Immigration and border security continue to top Texas voters’ list of most important problems facing the state. It is a particular concern of Republican voters.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Collin County detention officers won’t face charges over in-custody death of Marvin Scott III
Since Scott’s death, family members had led regular demonstrations outside the Collin County Jail. Multiple news outlets reported that a grand jury recommended the formation of a group to study Scott’s death, which had been ruled a homicide.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes criminal justice bills, legislation to protect dogs, teach kids about domestic violence
Abbott vetoed 13 bills authored by Democrats and seven by Republicans. Twelve of the vetoes targeted bills that originated in the House, and eight were from the Senate.
