Total spending on public education has stayed relatively steady over the past decade. But who is paying for it has shifted.
Texplainer
Welcome to The Texas Tribune’s “Texplainer” series, where we answer questions from readers like you.
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Guides
Republicans dominate the Texas House. So why is a Democrat running for speaker?
Running for speaker in a chamber that’s nearly two-thirds Republican seems like a long shot for Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas. But there might be things he could gain other than the gavel.
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Guides
The next local control fight explained: Why Austin passed a citywide sick leave policy
There’s no state or federal law requiring employers to give their workers paid sick leave. But under the mandate recently passed by the Austin City Council, many private employers in the state’s capital city will be required to allow their workers to accrue up to 64 hours of paid sick leave per year.
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Texas Elections 2018
Texas is holding a special election to fill Blake Farenthold’s seat. Here’s how that works.
A special election doesn’t play out like normal elections. For starters, there are no primaries. Every candidate who files for the seat – regardless of party affiliation – will appear on one ballot.
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Guides
Is the top vote-getter in a Texas primary election most likely to win their runoff? Usually, but not always.
If history is any guide, candidates that earned first place in their primary race are likely to win their runoff — especially if they finished with a lead of more than 10 percentage points. But there are instances when second-place primary finishers come out on top.
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Guides
Texas teachers’ pay is average. But their pensions are among the lowest in the country.
Benefits for Texas teachers have been a point of contention between educators and lawmakers for years — and often a hot topic at the Legislature. But where does Texas fall nationally when it comes to teacher pay, health care and retirement benefits?
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Guides
A Texas Democrat’s campaign just unionized. Here’s why so few campaigns do that.
Labor groups are praising Democrat Laura Moser’s campaign for its collective bargaining agreement. But some argue campaigns are too unpredictable to guarantee workers the benefits that come with unionizing.
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Guides
Texas’ gambling rules explained: You can play bingo or the lottery, but no sports betting
In most cases, it’s illegal to gamble or place a bet in the state. But there are some exceptions.
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Texas Elections 2018
More than 30 Texas primary races are headed to a runoff. Here’s what you need to know.
If no candidate in a primary election receives a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters go head-to-head in a runoff. Here’s everything you need to know about how they work and how to vote.
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Guides
Angela Paxton might join the Texas Senate. Could she vote on her husband’s salary?
Angela Paxton is the favorite to win a Texas Senate seat and have a vote on the state budget, which includes funding for her husband’s office. Legal experts and ethics lawyers weigh in on how such a situation is addressed in Texas law.