Guides

The national debate came home to Texas again this year when a 17-year-old opened fire at Santa Fe High School, killing 10 and wounding several others. Full Story 

Texas' Economic Stabilization Fund holds more than $11 billion and is the largest in the country. There's a lot of disagreement over how and when to spend the money. Full Story 

The Texas House is about to get a new speaker and more than two dozen new members. While they all have started transitioning into their new roles, they can't do much until they are officially sworn in to their new positions next month. Full Story 

Some voters have complained that their votes at the top of the ballot were changed, but the Texas secretary of state's office said the voting machines are not at fault. Full Story 

On Nov. 6, Texas voters will decide who will hold several statewide, legislative and congressional seats. To help Texans navigate Election Day, we’ve compiled an overview of everything you need to know about casting a ballot in the 2018 midterms. Full Story 

Election officials who often receive thousands of voter registration cards just before elections must manually enter each new voter’s information into their database — a time-consuming process that often leads to massive backlogs. Full Story 

Each Texas candidate for U.S. Senate has criticized the other for raising money outside the state. But campaign finance rules make it difficult to say who has raised more. Full Story 

Cities, school districts and other local governments can provide discounts on property tax bills through the homestead exemption process. But not all Texans qualify for every exemption. Full Story 

Sometimes, incumbents are reluctant to give attention to their underfunded, less-well-known opponents. Full Story 

Here are four things to keep in mind when you see a poll on a statewide race in Texas. Full Story 

Texas has eight independent candidates running for office, and the Libertarians will be on the statewide ballot once again. Full Story 

Political speech is protected by the First Amendment, so candidates can get around bans on spam. But just asking to be taken off a list will usually work. Full Story 

Nearly 90 percent of Texas schools are enrolled in TRS-ActiveCare. Some say the program saves teachers money, though complaints are growing about the state's stagnant per-month contribution. Full Story 

The shelters are designed to keep kids in, but they're not detention facilities, and in most cases staff can't forcibly stop a child from leaving. Full Story 

Texas has 254 counties — far more than any other state. The reason? The state is huge, and its founders wanted to keep residents close to their local governments. Full Story 

Government agencies are grappling to respond to the number of immigrants coming into the country. Many tax-funded shelters housing immigrants are overcrowded, and there are reports some have substandard living conditions. We’ve compiled a list of organizations that are mobilizing to help. Full Story 

More than 2,000 children have been separated from their families at the border. Here's the latest on what's happening at the border, in Washington and among Texas politicians. Full Story 

The state law that defines residency requirements is hard to enforce. Full Story 

People along the Texas coast should consider buying insurance, packing an emergency supply kit and learning their evacuation routes now. Full Story 

“If you’re voting in a gubernatorial election ... it’s a drop in the bucket," says one Republican strategist. Full Story