T-Squared: The wait is over. Our full program for TribFest23 is here!
We’re bringing people together for talks that will examine education, Texas’ energy future, the 2024 races for U.S. Senate and president, and the state of democracy. Full Story
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![Image promoting The Texas Tribune Festival with a solid yellow background and an illustration of the Texas State Capitol dome opened up with Texas iconography spilling out. Images include western boots and hat, a star, and the Texas flag. With text that reads, "The wait is over. Full program announced!"]()
Credit: Reagan Mcgregor Hicks/Texas Tribune -
Texans in Congress take bipartisan path to boost semiconductors, a crucial industry to the state
Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrats like Rep. Colin Allred — opponents in the 2024 election — propose streamlining environmental reviews to promote investment and expansion by chipmakers. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to Peter McCormack about bitcoin and freedom at the Texas Blockchain Summit in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
Henry Cuellar, a previous Democratic primary target, touts 2024 support from national party leaders
The moderate Democrat from Laredo announced endorsements from top Democrats in the U.S. House, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Full Story
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![Cuellar walks into his election watch party to celebrate with his supporters on election night, Nov. 8, 2022, in Laredo.]()
Credit: Jessica Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
East Texas missionaries stuck in Niger amid recent coup set to be brought home
Members of a Lufkin church had been in the West African country on a mission trip when a coup broke out. Airspace had been restricted, but the U.S. government stepped in this week. Full Story
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![Demonstrators hold Russian flags during a gathering in support of the putschist soldiers in the capital Niamey, Niger, on July 30, 2023.]()
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U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson “briefly detained” by officers at rodeo near Amarillo
The Amarillo Republican, a doctor, was trying to help somebody experiencing a medical emergency in a chaotic situation, his office said. The sheriff is reviewing the incident. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, speaks during the CPAC Texas 2022 conference at Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Lev Radin/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Texans in Congress lead bipartisan efforts to allow fentanyl test strips
The legislation comes after a bill to decriminalize the test strips passed the Texas House but died in the Senate despite support from Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Fentanyl Test Strips are made available by the Hamilton County Public Health Department during the A1 Harm Reduction Resource Fair at Living God Church in Avondale, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Albert Cesare/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
U.S. Capitol Police to open Texas field office, citing rising threats against members of Congress
Offices also will open in Milwaukee and Boston “due to the increased threat environment,” the police chief says. Full Story
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![A Capitol Police officer patrols outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2023, on the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.]()
Credit: USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
U.S. House Republicans from Texas target federal funding unless Homeland Security chief is removed
Escalating their fight over Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ handling of immigration at the southern border, far-right representatives say they will oppose any appropriations for his agency. Full Story
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![U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during the opening of the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue at the State Department in Washington on Oct. 13, 2022.]()
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U.S. Rep. Chip Roy helps bend powerful House committee further to the right
With help from two other ultraconservatives, the Texas Republican’s seat on the Rules Committee has let him press for red-meat priorities, even in traditionally bipartisan legislation. Full Story
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![Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, arrives for a House Rules Committee Meeting, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar stages “thirst strike” to advocate for federally mandated water breaks in extreme heat
There are no federal or state requirements that people who work outside receive paid water breaks. Casar, an Austin Democrat, wants to change that. Full Story
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![Freshman U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, walks down the House steps on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune -
Democrats confident U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will keep his South Texas seat in 2024 election
Republicans recently announced Mayra Flores’ comeback effort with great fanfare, but Democrats argue that a redrawn district — and Flores’ voting record — are hurdles the GOP can’t clear. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, at a polling location in Mercedes on Nov. 8, 2022. Rep. Gonzalez is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in a new district, TX-34.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz raises $4.4 million in second quarter as he seeks reelection
The Republican’s haul fell short of the money raised by Rep. Colin Allred, a Democratic opponent who collected $6.2 million in a shorter period — but Cruz prevailed in the 2018 election despite getting outraised then. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz signs books and greets supporters during the Republican Party of Texas 2022 Convention in George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Friday, June 17, 2022.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. House adopts Texas Republican’s amendment blocking Pentagon abortion policy
Under U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson’s change to the annual defense policy bill, service members could no longer be paid travel expenses if they are stationed in a state where abortion is not available. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando on Feb. 28, 2021.]()
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Republican Mayra Flores announces bid to retake South Texas congressional seat
Flores won a special election in 2022 but lost to U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat, five months later in the general election. Redistricting may complicate her comeback. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, at a GOP event in McAllen on Nov. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez enters Democratic primary targeting U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024
Known for pushing gun restrictions after the Uvalde school shooting in his district, Gutierrez will vie for the opportunity to take on Republican Cruz in the general election. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is already running in the primary. Full Story
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![State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, at a press conference with family members of the victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting to address gun violence in schools at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 24, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
With new federal food stamp limits coming, advocates mobilize to inform Texas recipients
A requirement to work 80 hours a month, starting in September, could affect 44,000 Texans over age 49. Meanwhile, attention in Congress shifts to the farm bill’s significant impact on food stamp policy. Full Story
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![The fresh produce section of a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo on June 29, 2023.]()
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National GOP recruiting Mayra Flores, ousted from her South Texas seat, to run again for Congress
The Los Indios Republican won a special election in 2022 but lost to U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez five months later in the general election. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, speaks at a rally in Brownsville on Nov. 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $6.2 million in first 2 months of Senate race
Allred also transferred $2.4 million from his House campaign account, giving him $8.6 million in total receipts through the end of June. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas speaks to media with members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a press conference on voting rights legislation and reforming the filibuster at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn wants the U.S. to train Mexican troops to fight drug cartels
The Republican from Texas introduced the legislation after meeting with Mexico’s president and calling for more cooperation between the two countries. Full Story
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![The Mexican military guards the perimieter of the shelter where an estimated 1700 migrants are currently being held in Piedras Negras. Feb. 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Julie Johnson announces she is running for U.S. Rep. Colin Allred’s seat
Johnson, first elected to the Texas House in 2018, joins a crowded primary to succeed Allred, who is giving up his solidly Democratic seat to run against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz next year. Full Story
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![State Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Carollton, speaks to the press in Austin to announce the new LGBTQ Caucus on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune