Sales tax receipts will be closely watched as Texas tracks economic jolt of tariffs
As the Texas House prepares to vote on the budget, officials and other experts monitor national policy and state tax revenue. Full Story
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![A view of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge from The Tower Club on the 48th floor of the Santander Tower in downtown Dallas, on Nov. 07, 2023. Texas metros have a glut of vacant offices space driven by the rise of remote work, overbuilding and other factors during the pandemic. One option companies are doing to combat the changes, is to convert office space into residential housing.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
West Texas, oil companies brace for downturn following Trump’s tariffs
Supply chain disruptions and policy decisions can significantly change these costs for oil companies — and consumers. Full Story
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![The last remnants of the sunlight begin to set behind a trailer home and pump jack Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in West Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Cruz says a trade war would cost jobs, spur prices and be terrible for Texas
The Texas senator also highlights a potential “upside,” saying the Trump tariffs could entice other countries to negotiate lower trade barriers. Full Story
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![Chairman U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing with CEO of Boeing Kelly Ortberg in the Dirksen Senate office building in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 2025.]()
Credit: Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Tariffs creating uncertainty in Texas as report shows slower revenue growth since late 2024
Respondents to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey expressed concern about a reduction in consumer demand and a potential recession. Full Story
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![A parklet with diners outside of City Tavern along Elm Street in downtown Dallas near the Santander Tower, on Nov. 07, 2023. Texas metros have a glut of vacant offices space driven by the rise of remote work, overbuilding and other factors during the pandemic. One option companies are doing to combat the changes, is to convert office space into residential housing.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new bill
The lawmakers behind the bill promised there would not be an increase in the number of days the beach is closed. Full Story
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![Members of the ENTRE Film Center, a local film center and regional archive, hosted the gathering at Boca Chica to celebrate the beach and motivate people to fight for its preservation, which they view as being in jeopardy since the arrival of Elon Musk's SpaceX. Aug. 8, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves $500 million infusion for film incentives
Senate Bill 22 would more than double the amount of money Texas spends to lure film and television projects and has the backing of Texas movie stars including Matthew McConaughey. Full Story
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![Charles Steen, an operator working on the B camera during a film production showcase hosted on the Texas Capitol grounds on March 12, 2025. Film crews from throughout the Austin area exhibited their work and invited the public to experience film production.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman/USA TODAY Network via REUTERS -
Store, harvest, fix: How Texas can save its water supply
State lawmakers are poised to devote billions to save the state’s water supply. These are some of the ways the state could spend the money. Full Story
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![Treated water at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Austin, TX. The treatment plant will undergo a billion dollar expansion starting this summer to meet the increasing demand due to the growth the city has faced. Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes fail
Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas is running out of water. Here’s why and what state leaders plan to do about it.
The state’s water supply faces numerous threats. And by one estimate, the state’s municipal supply will not meet demand by 2030 if there’s a severe drought and no water solutions are implemented. Full Story
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![Water gushes from Rick Bradbury’s truck to Shannon Montague’s reservoir as the Bradbury’s make a delivery Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Terlingua.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Casinos and sports betting won’t win approval in Texas House, group of GOP members say
Gambling critics hope the net loss of more than a dozen votes for sports betting — and 10 votes for casinos — will be enough to block any action in the Texas House. Full Story
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![Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud hands off to safety M.J. Stewart during the first half match against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Jan. 18, 2025.]()
Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images via REUTERS -
Two Texans in Congress defend CHIPS Act in the face of Trump’s criticism
Although the president has said he wants to “get rid of” the act, Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. John Cornyn say it supports jobs and national security. Full Story
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![From left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as then-Samsung co-CEO and Vice Chairman Ki Nam Kim speaks at an economic announcement at the Texas Governor's Mansion on Nov. 23, 2021, in Austin. Greg Abbott was joined by John Cornyn and Samsung's Ki Nam Kim to announce a new $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, the third such plant in the area.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
“We’re doing what Canadian has always done,” Panhandle resident says a year after wildfires
Canadian — one of the communities hardest hit by last year’s wildfires — is on the road to recovery and working to be a resource for others around the state. Full Story
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Texas braces for surge in power demand amid population and industry boom
At a Texas Tribune event Thursday, energy experts discussed how the state’s growing energy demands will impact residential bills and how legislation is trying to regulate new big energy users. Full Story
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Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patients
As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts. Full Story
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![Evangelina Yzaguirre, a cancer patient at DHR, receives food aid from the hospital food pantry program.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Senate wants more — and smaller — starter homes in new neighborhoods
The goal of the new legislation is to help drive down the cost of housing so that more Texans can afford homes. Full Story
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![Star Creek, a neighborhood in Allen, on May 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The looming fight over regulating AI in Texas
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Sherri Greenberg about proposed state laws related to artificial intelligence. Full Story
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![On this week's TribCast, talk turns to the regulation of artificial intelligence in Texas.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
A surge in bee deaths is hurting Texas beekeepers — and could affect the price of produce
Commercial beekeepers in Texas have lost about two thirds of their honey bees since June last year, according to a recent survey. Full Story
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![Luis Hernandez, a beekeeper with Frio Country Farms, shows off an empty bee frame from a hive where the bees have died at the Noria bee yard on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Davis, Texas. Robert Wheeler, co-owner of Frio Country Farms, estimates 35% of the bees at this particular bee yard have died since November. Beekeepers nationwide are experiencing their highest honey bee losses nationwide in decades, which has large implications for Texas, the top bee-keeping state in the nation.]()
Credit: Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune -
How Texas lawmakers want to cut property taxes
House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses. Full Story
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![An East San Antonio neighborhood seen on Saturday, May 25, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Trump tariffs set to hit Texas’ biggest trading partners beginning next week
The president said Mexico and Canada have failed to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S. after giving the countries 30 days to do so before enacting the tariffs. Full Story
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![Trucks cross the World Trade Bridge over the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States in Laredo on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House unveils plan to cut property taxes, setting up fight with Senate
Lawmakers will debate how to spend $3.5 billion in proposed tax cuts, a legislative priority for Republican leaders. Full Story
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![Newly developed apartments sit next to older homes in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas on July 11, 2024.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune