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• Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power. Here's how they can do it.

  by Alexa Ura and Jason Kao Sept. 20, 2021

  Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work. Full Story 

• Texas schools have reported more coronavirus cases in two months than they did in the entire 2020-21 school year

  by Kalley Huang, Mandi Cai and Brian Lopez Updated: Oct. 15, 2021

  A little over two months into this school year, districts have reported 193,012 cases in students. But state data on school cases is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story 

• At least 42 Texas hospitals were out of ICU beds last week, according to the latest federal data. Look up the ones near you.

  by Carla Astudillo and Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Oct. 18, 2021

  Each week, hospitals in Texas report their current ICU bed capacity to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here’s the latest as the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 spreads and sends unvaccinated Texans to the hospital. Full Story 

• Energy industry showers Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas politicians with campaign cash after they passed power grid bills

  by Mitchell Ferman and Carla Astudillo Aug. 4, 2021

  For some energy experts, the increase in donations for the officials at the close of the session looks like a reward for not passing more stringent regulations and raises questions about whether lawmakers let the oil, gas and the broader energy industry off easy for its massive failures. Full Story 

• Texas teachers say GOP’s new social studies law will hinder how an entire generation understands race, history and current events

  by Isabella Zou and Jason Kao Aug. 3, 2021

  Educators who spoke to The Texas Tribune overwhelmingly denounced the new social studies law going into effect Sept. 1. These are the provisions they say could cause problems for them — and Texas students. Full Story 

• COVID-19 is spreading fast among Texas’ unvaccinated. Here’s who they are and where they live.

  by Colleen DeGuzman and Mandi Cai Aug. 3, 2021

  There are two main groups within Texas’ unvaccinated population: white conservatives in rural areas, and Hispanic and Black people in big cities. Full Story 

• The 2021 legislative session is over. Here are the big bills that passed – and the ones that failed

  by Carla Astudillo and Texas Tribune Staff Updated: June 21, 2021

  Texas lawmakers filed thousands of bills during the 2021 legislative session. Here are the big bills that passed – and the ones that failed. Full Story 

• Texas enabled the worst carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in recent U.S. history

  by Perla Trevizo, Ren Larson and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh and Suzy Khimm, NBC News Updated: Aug. 17, 2021

  They used their car to stay warm when a winter storm brought down the Texas power grid. In a state that doesn't require carbon monoxide alarms in homes, they had no warning they were poisoning themselves. Full Story 

• COVID-19 ravaged Texas nursing homes. Here are the stories behind the numbers.

  by Carla Astudillo and Karen Brooks Harper April 15, 2021

  Nearly 9,000 Texas nursing home residents have died of COVID-19. This is what the last year of chaos and isolation was like for nursing homes residents and the employees who care for them. Full Story 

• One year ago, the first Texan was killed by COVID-19. 47,000 deaths followed — and it’s not over.

  by Mandi Cai, Emily Albracht and Chris Essig March 15, 2021

  This timeline tracks COVID-19’s rampage through Texas over the last year: the growing death toll, the policy decisions made in response to the pandemic that often influenced its course, and the stories of some of the Texans claimed by the virus. Full Story 

• How Texas’ power grid works

  by Darla Cameron, Emily Albracht, Erin Douglas and Mitchell Ferman Feb. 25, 2021

  Who are the major players and how do they manage the power grid in Texas? Full Story 

• We’ve updated our Texas Public Schools Explorer with 2019-20 data

  by Mandi Cai Feb. 24, 2021

  Use our database to learn about Texas public school districts and campuses, including hundreds of charter schools and alternative campuses. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state waived accountability ratings for the 2019-20 school year. Full Story 

• In Texas, Biden’s urban wins couldn’t offset Trump’s millions of votes in rural, red counties

  by Mandi Cai, Matthew Watkins, Anna Novak and Darla Cameron Nov. 6, 2020

  In order to turn the tide in 2020, Biden needed to take advantage of population growth in the state’s biggest cities and political shifts in the suburbs to erase Trump’s massive advantages in rural areas of the state. Full Story 

• Democrats hoped high turnout would usher in a blue wave across Texas. It didn’t.

  by Shannon Najmabadi and Mandi Cai Nov. 4, 2020

  In Texas, at least 66% of the 17 million registered voters cast ballots in the 2020 general election. That’s 6.6 percentage points higher than total turnout in 2016. Full Story 

• Joe Biden’s struggles along the Texas border raise questions about Democrats’ outreach there

  by Alex Samuels, Patrick Svitek, Anna Novak and Mandi Cai Nov. 4, 2020

  Democrats once again won a large number of counties along or near the Texas-Mexico border, but by narrower margins than in recent elections. That showing played a big role in disappointing results for the state’s Democrats. Full Story 

• Here are the Texas 2020 election results

  by Carla Astudillo Updated: Nov. 18, 2020

  Get all of Texas’ election results through The Texas Tribune’s coverage of the 2020 races for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the Texas Legislature. Full Story 

• Texas is on track for record turnout in this election after breaking early voting records

  by Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mandi Cai, The Texas Tribune Updated: Nov. 1, 2020

  After early voting, 57.3% of registered voters in Texas have cast ballots, just shy of the total turnout of 59.4% in 2016. Full Story 

• Texas has added 1.8 million registered voters. Where they are shows how the state has become more competitive.

  by Mandi Cai, Alex Samuels, Darla Cameron and Matthew Watkins Oct. 30, 2020

  Most of the new voters registered in the state's fast-growing urban counties or suburbs. Full Story 

• At least 9.7 million Texans — 57% of registered voters — voted early

  by Mandi Cai Updated: Nov. 6, 2020

  During early voting in Texas, at least 9.7 million people — 57.4% of registered voters — cast their ballots in the 2020 general election. Turnout on Election Day brought this year’s overall turnout to 66%, surpassing 2016's turnout of 59.4%. Full Story 

• Texans have until Oct. 30 to vote early in 2020 election

  by Mandi Cai, Carla Astudillo, Yasmeen Khalifa and Catherine DeLaura Updated: Oct. 26, 2020

  The last day to vote early in Texas is Oct. 30. Use The Texas Tribune's voter guide to learn more about key election dates, voting during the pandemic, mail-in voting and Texas candidates. Full Story