Trump agrees not to terminate NAFTA
After a trial balloon went over poorly with Congress, Trump told foreign leaders he won't end the trade agreement just yet. Full Story
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![Texas has a front row seat to NAFTA, one of the campaign's most contentious policies.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Dallas police officers, firefighters rail against mayor's handling of pension crisis
Mike Rawlings says he's trying to protect taxpayers as he opposes bill aimed at fixing shortfall. But first responders say he could exacerbate a shortage of police officers and firefighters. Full Story
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![Dallas police officers and firefighters protest their failing pension fund outside City Hall in Dallas on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Uber picks Dallas, Fort Worth as test cities for flying vehicle network
The company also tapped a Dallas real estate development firm and Fort Worth's Bell Helicopter to develop pick-up and drop-off sites for electric vehicles that would take-off and land vertically. Full Story
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![Artist's visualization of a Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft in Dallas.]()
Credit: Uber Technologies, Inc. -
Texas leaders to Trump: Houston needs billions for hurricane protection
Dozens of Texas politicians and business leaders are urging President Donald Trump to commit $15 billion toward protecting the Houston area from a devastating hurricane. Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush (l.) and President Donald Trump.]()
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Uber and Lyft call "sex" amendment disappointing, unnecessary
Representatives for Uber and Lyft say an amendment to a statewide ride-hailing bill that defines "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female" is disappointing and unnecessary. Full Story
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Credit: Ståle Grut / Flickr -
Warren Buffett visits Capitol and "Buffett Bill" is born
The Texas Senate could soon debate the "Buffett Bill," a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled. Full Story
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![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
Credit: White House -
Gender identity debate seeps into Texas House vote on ride-hailing regulations
After a lengthy debate among lawmakers over the best way to regulate services like Uber and Lyft, the Texas House backed a proposal that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, looks over his notes shortly before vote on HB 100 on April 19, 2017. The bill passed second reading on a 110-37 vote and will impose regulations on transportation network companies statewide if finally passed.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves bill curbing regulation of short-term home rentals
Under Senate Bill 451 by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, Texas cities would be prevented from banning short-term rentals and their ability to write ordinances restricting the practice would be narrowed. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, chairman of the Business & Commerce Committee, at a hearing on March 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Cosmetology licensing under scrutiny in Texas House
Three bills aimed at reducing what it takes to get licensed for certain cosmetology jobs were considered in a House committee hearing Monday evening. Full Story
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![Bri Liu, a client at Wink Threading Salon in Austin.]()
Credit: Jennifer Carlson/Wink Threading Salon -
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar pitches overhaul of Rainy Day Fund
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wants to reshape the state's Rainy Day Fund, aiming to get more bang for those stowed-away bucks. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Constitutional or not? Paxton asked to weigh in on $2.5 billion Senate budget trick
Paxton’s answer to that question could shake up budget negotiations in the final weeks of session. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Austin group aims to reframe debates around city's development
Evolve Austin, a nonprofit that advocates for denser development and more affordable housing, is aligning with some high-profile real estate and business groups to push for changes to how Austin regulates land use. Full Story
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Credit: Dave Wilson -
Senate panel considers requiring rest breaks for Texas construction workers
A Texas Senate panel considered legislation Tuesday that would require construction companies to give workers mandatory rest breaks — an effort to prevent illnesses and deaths from the sweltering Texas heat. Full Story
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Credit: Elvert Barnes -
Amid clash over procedure, Texas House moves to defund Enterprise Fund
While the Texas House on Thursday voted to defund a controversial economic development program and put the money toward services for vulnerable children, a group of Tea Party Republicans complained about the way the vote was handled. Full Story
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![As the state House debates its $218 billion budget on April 6, 2017, Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, tells a packed house that he is upset about a procedural battle that caused his voice to be silenced.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Why Texas Ag Chief Sid Miller signed a deal with disputed Israeli settlements
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has opened trade relations with group of Israeli settlements in the West Bank that neither the United States nor the United Nations legally recognizes. Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller tours the Naama Agricultural Community in Israel's Jordan Valley.]()
Credit: Sid Miller Facebook page -
Texas cities predict dozens of canceled events if "bathroom bill" passes
Tourism officials in the state's four biggest cities expect to lose at least $407 million in revenue from upcoming events if the "bathroom bill" becomes law. Scores more event planners are likely to bypass Texas entirely in the future, they say. Full Story
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![Bathroom stall at the Austin Convention Center.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes bill to cut franchise tax paid by businesses — later
The Texas Senate approved legislation Tuesday that aims to eventually slice — and possibly eliminate — the state’s franchise tax, a levy on businesses earnings that’s widely unpopular among the state’s Republican leadership. Full Story
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Senate passes property tax bill state leaders love, local officials oppose
The Senate voted 18-12 in favor of bill that would require an election if a local government entity wanted to increase some of its tax collections by 5 percent or more. Full Story
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Credit: The Texas Tribune -
House Democrats try again for a minimum wage hike
Though the proposals are unlikely to get very far, House Democrats are again pushing for a minimum wage increase in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Antony Vance Clicks -
Texas sues feds — including Rick Perry — for failing to license nuclear waste facility
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses U.S. agencies of violating federal law by failing to license a nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Full Story
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![John Ward, operations project task manager at Waste Control Specialists' facility near Andrews, Texas, walks over to inspect concrete canisters that will house drums of nuclear waste.]()
Credit: David Bowser