Texas is getting older and its child population is growing
Texas remains younger than other states, but the number of older Texans has outpaced that of any other age group. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cfef1f4a19e8b79a710866a6e580da89/Kaminski%20Gingerbread%20AM%20TT%2014.jpg)
-
![Marina Hernandez helps students clean up for center time in her Pre-K 2 classroom at Gingerbread Kids Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Richmond.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls for regulation instead
The move infuriated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful head of the Senate, who had called the ban among his top five bills over 17 years in the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/62fb97f84018749a4c9c5149ba0f9478/0209%20Delta%208%20Products%20SF%20TT%2029.jpg)
![Various Delta 8 THC products on display at a convenience store in Spring Branch on Feb. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texas creating task forces to target Permian Basin oil field thefts
Texas lawmakers passed a suite of bills that officials said are crucial to combat losses in the state’s largest oil field. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c4963f8427ac15bba6faf48f25edf97/0625%20Truckers%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2011.jpg)
![A semi-truck waits to turn onto Texas State Highway 158 after disposing of its load at a salt-water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Meals On Wheels waiting lists grow as Texas braces for federal funding cuts
State chapters of the nonprofit group that provide meals to seniors are waiting to hear from Washington how much of a hit their battered budgets will take. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c211a9766900b11e9761ebdcce0a7d5/0618%20Meals%20on%20Wheels%20RB%2001%20TT.jpg)
![Henry Van de Putte, CEO of Meals on Wheels Central Austin preps to go meals for a Meals on Wheels food drop off in Austin on Wednesday June 18, 2025.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
American babies may get $1,000 each to invest because of Ted Cruz
Included in Congress’ major tax and spending bill is Cruz’s proposal to give every American baby $1,000 to invest. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6dd8d214e1c5c191997eb3b24f25083/0519%20Trump%20and%20Cruz%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, after the signing ceremony for the "Take it Down Act" in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
To fight screwworm, the U.S. is opening a South Texas facility to disperse sterile flies
Screwworm is a parasitic fly that targets warm-blooded animals and has the potential to disrupt Texas’ $15 billion cattle industry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c1579529fbe20a62c5c4fe28fb4a22f7/0122%20Screwworm%20JH%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Cattle are brought across the U.S.-Mexico border at the livestock import/export facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on January 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers laid the foundation for a housing boom. Here’s how.
The Legislature passed laws allowing smaller homes on smaller lots and making it harder for neighbors to block new housing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b586d184a6284f35f080c3d4bcb5dcd/Housing%20North%20Austin%20AI%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Houses in a North Austin neighborhood on Oct. 9, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Developers propose more than 100 new gas power plants in Texas
New research reveals the planned expansion of gas-fired electrical generation to power artificial intelligence and other heavy industries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d7e65cb05287ac689627af88b678964/Gas%20Plant%20Report%20DB%20ICN%2001.JPG)
![The Hays Energy Project, a 990 MW gas-fired power plant near San Marcos, pictured on May 27, 2025.]()
Credit: Dylan Baddour/Inside Climate News -
Staff vacancies hit Texas weather offices as they brace for a busy hurricane season
Houston’s National Weather Service office has lost its head meteorologist amid a federal requirement to cut 10% of NOAA’s staff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8985f3edeabdbc39e90e7efab5317c40/0706%20Beryl%20Corpus%20PG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![The National Weather Service issued a Hurricane Warning for the Coastal Bend on July 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewables
With demand expected to soar, the Legislature passed bills aimed at boosting supply and making the grid more reliable. Bills to impose more regulations on renewables died. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0fd7532bd8468dbceb320d39f0fb36a5/021825%20Permian%20Basin%20File%20REUTERS%20EH%20TT%2004.jpg)
![A pump jack operates near a gas turbine power plant in the Permian Basin oil field outside of Odessa, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Eli Hartman -
Texas Republicans pioneered in-state tuition for undocumented students. Now they’re celebrating its end.
In 2001, Texas Republicans saw expanding college access for certain undocumented students as a way to build an educated workforce. Now, some GOP lawmakers feel only U.S. citizens should receive those benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35a9ee737d30fbc6a1ed545637084bf5/Perry%20SOS%202003%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Governor Rick Perry delivers his State of the State speech to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Feb. 12, 2003.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Voters will have final say on billions of tax cuts for Texas homeowners, businesses
Texas is slated to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts over the next two years. Some worry that’s unsustainable. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d9095bf47e54b9bb65e98febd141b737/0512%20Rio%20Runs%20Dry%20MG%20TT%2056.JPG)
![An aerial view of new construction homes in a subdivision next to farmland and an irrigation canal in Edinburg, Texas on May 12, 2025.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers voted to ban consumable THC products. Will Gov. Greg Abbott sign — or veto — the bill?
Abbott faces pressure from both sides of the aisle. The prohibition was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but some hemp farmers and veterans want it killed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfdd9dc488f044df565deb4cdfa7e75b/0602%20Sine%20Die%20EG%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Displaying boxes of petitions, members of the Texas Hemp Business Council hold a press conference calling for Gov. Greg Abbott to veto SB 3, a bill which would ban THC products, at the Texas Capitol on June 2, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
School vouchers, THC ban, property tax cuts: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did in the 2025 regular session
The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, with state GOP leaders checking off nearly everything on their to-do lists. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af0e284d192e1616f6685c4cd7167a31/0526%20House%20Floor%20EG%20TT%2025.jpg)
![State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, looks out the window from the Texas House of Representatives chamber as the lawmakers debate on bills at the Texas Capitol, on Monday, May 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers to allow smaller homes on smaller lots
State legislators passed an array of bills this year aimed at reining in the state’s high home prices and rents. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/acf2641b2be1a06aa49e4b22708b087c/Austin%20Housing%20JJ%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Homes under construction in the Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature approves $338 billion two-year spending plan with a focus on property tax relief
A boost in public school spending, school vouchers, and money for water systems are other highlights of the state budget, which was bolstered by a $24 billion surplus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Starbase, Texas' newest city, has liftoff; seeks $1.5 million loan from Elon Musk’s SpaceX
City leaders held their first public meetings this week since voters approved the South Texas city’s incorporation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81f4331f285cde9f375b9f7f5bba4fc1/Starbase%20Starship%20S28%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Starship S28 & B10 on the launch platform in Starbase, Texas, on Thursday March, 14 2024.]()
Credit: Scott Schilke/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Texas moves close to ban on some land sales to foreigners
The Legislature has approved a conference committee report that lists sales to certain people from China, North Korea, Russia and Iran as threats to national security. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7a8399271dbbc5c7b5ae74773965d1d/Steve%20Young%20Milam%20Co%20MM%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A horse grazes on a farm in Milam County on March 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas policy experts discuss how lawmakers addressed education, infrastructure needs this year
Policy experts discussed a new school funding bill, a $20 billion package to keep up with water demand and the state’s energy fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/38149d4d4866fdad078be2f6de60d797/06-06_89thSession-Lead-Logo-v1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking water
At least four companies say they are prepared to treat the water well enough to be released into rivers in West Texas. Environmental groups say the state is moving too fast. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f1b32537b79e6c171c301f3d55480487/0224%20Martin%20Produced%20Water%20JM%20TT%2030.jpg)
![Produced water ponds, constructed by Martin Water, in Lenorah, on Feb. 24, 2024. The Railroad Commission approved the construction of the ponds, used to treat and recycle produced water from fracking, next to the Circle 6 Baptist Camp in the Permian Basin.]()
Credit: Julian Mancha for The Texas Tribune/Inside Climate News