Nearly 200 people in Texas detention facilities have contracted mumps
The Texas Department of State Health Services says 186 people, including immigrants and detention center employees, were confirmed with cases of mumps since October. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6f995357a67b0a60169a614599ba746/Mumps_and_Measles_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
-
![A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson -
Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas
Committee chairs from both chambers unveiled the proposal on Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16069673cceb6e3e0cce96324421cb75/Seton_Trauma_Center_03.jpg)
![A trauma crash room at the Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. The driver responsibility program funds most of trauma care in Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers look to the "cloud" for storing sensitive government data
In hopes of saving money on data storage, legislators are considering downsizing the state's data centers and relying more on private tech companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1de3918d0b79a4780153250c717bdf04/iStock_Server_room_TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Voters in four states have approved Medicaid expansion by ballot. Will Texas do the same?
Idaho, Maine, Nebraska and Utah voters approved Medicaid expansion through ballot initiatives. Now Texas legislators have filed bills for a vote over whether the state should expand coverage for the joint federal-state health insurance program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/07/MedicaidTexas.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Thousands of Texans were shocked by surprise medical bills. Their requests for help overwhelmed the state.
“It’s going to take us a while to get out of this backlog that we’re in, but we’re doing the things necessary to help more consumers,” a state official said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c7322f64f976e22230d609d41a6be3c/Doctors%20Office%20Clinic%20Medical%2002.jpg)
![Francisco Garcia arrives at Kelsey-Seybold clinic in Sugar Land to see his doctor Spencer Berthelsen for annual physical. Sept. 22, 2011.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas optometrists "just roll our eyes" over treatment restrictions in the state
Amid what some call an eye care crisis, Texas optometrists are hoping the Legislature will give them more power to help patients without needing other doctors. But ophthalmologists say allowing optometrists more power would put patients' vision at risk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05b817b59b5f5e53e56cb1535a942dfc/lbs_optometrists-12.jpg)
![Dr. Noor Abushagur uses a slit lamp, a microscope used to examine the inner and outer structures of the eye, to make sure Eliecer Arce's retina looks normal. He originally came in with severe swelling, unable to see and was diagnosed with Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH), an auto immune condition. Dec 4, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking more power this session to prosecute voter fraud and abortion-related crimes
Paxton's office has asked lawmakers for millions more in funding and expanded jurisdiction to go after certain crimes. Critics say the requests are aimed at political gains. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b3a3bcae0d3f8c56e8bee400a2587a3b/06_AG_Ken_Paxton_MG.jpg)
![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Report: Unauthorized air pollution in Texas up 27 percent in 2017
An analysis by the research arm of Environment Texas found that 275 companies across the state reported emitting 63 million pounds of hazardous and climate-warming pollutants from their facilities in 2017. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eed3e86daa540cdcd1c3fdd5bf0fb528/poison_gas_sign_w_flare_MKC_TT.jpg)
![Sign indicating the presence of poison gas in Pecos County, Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Federal appeals court lifts order blocking Texas from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid
Texas moved to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid years ago after a highly-edited video from an anti-abortion group suggested abortion providers sold fetal tissue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/29/UP9A3701.jpg)
![Group of Planned Parenthood supporters outside the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2015 on the morning when the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services was being held]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
How will the Texas Legislature address school shootings? Likely not with gun control.
State leaders have promised to tackle school safety this session, and lawmakers are expected to push bills that would beef up mental health screening programs and make it easier to arm teachers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8feae029b2a5f8010876db12eb0a1986/Santa_Fe_high_School_and_police_tape_REUTERS.jpg)
![Police tape in front of Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 20, 2018.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman -
Medicaid, opioids and abortion: Health care issues to expect this Texas legislative session
Amid uncertainty about the federal health law, state legislators will tackle a variety of issues during the session, from abortion to mental health to opioids to funding for Medicaid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/04/Capitol-Health.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by John Jordan -
Former Texas HHSC executive commissioner named acting director for Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
Chris Traylor's new position comes after joining the federal government in July as deputy administrator for strategic initiatives at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b42838ef53f23e59ea36b3c25b311966/Chris_Traylor_BD_TT.jpg)
![Chris Traylor, acting director of the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 22, 2012.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
As judge weighs the fate of a sweeping Texas abortion lawsuit, confusion remains
Amid a packed Austin courtroom Monday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel told attorneys he was confused by their arguments in a sweeping lawsuit challenging dozens of Texas abortion laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e512781eba01c62c108ee53a2bdf9b73/WWHA_Paxton_Abortion_US_Court_3.jpg)
![Abortion access advocates pose for a photograph outside of the U.S. District Court in Austin. The court is set to weigh in on whether abortion funds and health care providers can challenge restrictions to abortion access. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Here’s how the federal government shutdown is affecting Texas
Court cases are slowing down and it’s taking some people longer to buy a home, but national parks are open and the Border Patrol is still working. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
"I don't do this for fun." Patients are hopeful Texas will expand access to medical cannabis
The Texas Legislature is about to kick off its first session since three licensed marijuana dispensaries opened in the state, providing cannabis products for hundreds of patients. Now advocates are hopeful that lawmakers are ready to dramatically expand that program to thousands more Texans who stand to benefit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d96b843f67de344833cfb9636d0c9e00/medmarijuana_veteran-13.jpg)
![Joshua Raines, an Afghanistan combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, smokes from his marijuana vape pen after returning home early from his son's choir performance due to experiencing PTSD symptoms.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson -
Democratic states appeal ruling declaring Obamacare unconstitutional
A federal judge ruled last month that the sweeping health care law is unconstitutional in its entirety. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/01/6F6A2713.jpg)
![Obamacare sign in east Austin on Dec. 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/ The Texas Tribune -
In Poland, midwives play a significant role in childbirth. In Texas? Not so much.
Poland and Texas have comparable populations and conservative governments. But they differ significantly in how health care is delivered for women. Revisit our July report about the role midwives play in the childbirth process in the two places. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ae6366de87cffca1e1289f2928dedc0f/Poland_Midwives.jpg)
![A midwife cares for a newborn baby at the Independent Public Health Care Center in Myślenice, Poland.]()
Credit: Natalia Ojewska -
Catch up on some of The Texas Tribune's top projects from 2018
The Texas Tribune produced several deep-dive investigations in 2018 that examined various issues that affect Texans across the state. Here's a look at some of those standout projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5211ddaa1da7e1b82e7f9453299fbdcf/TT-2018_top-projects.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Reynaldo Leal / Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
By gutting Obamacare, Judge Reed O’Connor handed Texas a win. It wasn’t the first time.
The Texas Attorney General's Office has made a habit of filing lawsuits against the federal government that land in O'Connor's court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/105beb26f52da30b1904d1e850b81dcb/Reed_Oconnor_Texas_Judge_2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
In Texas, "a perception that tuberculosis no longer exists" raises alarm for legislative attention
Tuberculosis is a rare disease, but public health experts are urging Texas legislators to invest in expensive medication, nurses who can help patients and supporting local health departments to test and treat people who may have been exposed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/873b7dd79247377657b26be9af4d55b5/Texas_Center_for_Infectious_Disease_2_RJ_TT.jpg)
![Nurse Paul Chege prepares to deliver meals to patients at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease in San Antonio on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/12a0be73943e77708056a76325fb6c5f/BD%20INC%20Big%20Bend%20001%202012)