State Rep. John Zerwas to join UT System as executive vice chancellor
The lawmaker, a doctor by training, will oversee a network of six health institutions with four medical schools, two dental schools and three nursing schools. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond (left), speaks with Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster (right), in the House Chamber on March 27, 2019, the day the House will take up HB1, the 2020-21 budget plan.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Texas doubled funding for an anti-abortion program. Now lawmakers want to award the money without competitive bidding.
The Texas Pregnancy Care Network, the largest recipient of funding under the state's controversial Alternatives to Abortion program, is poised to receive millions more under the proposal. Full Story
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![Austin Life Care in Austin, Texas July 18, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribCast: An Obamacare hearing, UT's tuition affordability, a growing U.S. Senate field
In this edition of the TribCast, Patrick talks to Matthew, Emma and Cassi about the latest developments in the Texas-led challenge to the Affordable Care Act, the University of Texas System's efforts to make tuition more affordable and the U.S. Senate race. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin campus.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas seeks to overturn Obamacare, attention focuses on a potential swing judge
Jennifer Walker Elrod, a federal appeals court judge appointed by George W. Bush, asked the majority of the questions in a two-hour session Tuesday on Texas' lawsuit. Full Story
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![The John Minor Wisdom United States Fifth Court of Appeals building in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Oct. 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribune -
Texas is going to court to end Obamacare. It hasn't produced a plan to replace it.
During a legislative session focused on schools and taxes, Texas lawmakers did little to prepare for the possibility that Obamacare will be struck down in its entirety — even as the state leads the charge to have the law declared unconstitutional. Full Story
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![A protester dressed as Death holds a sign during a rally before a hearing in a lawsuit against the Affordable Health Care Act in Fort Worth on Sept. 5, 2018. Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general Justin Nelson (not pictured) was one of the speakers.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas is trying to limit public money from going to abortion providers. Some fear other health services could get cut.
Starting in September, government agencies will no longer be able to provide anything of value to abortion providers or their affiliates. Opponents of the law fear it could mean the end of some public health and education programs across the state. Full Story
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![Planned Parenthood advocates rally outside of the Capitol on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters’ biggest concerns for the country? Immigration and political corruption, UT/TT Poll says
Immigration and border security are at or near the top of voters' concerns about the U.S. and Texas, and political corruption is also near the top of their U.S. list, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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East Texas town with no abortion clinics passes ordinance attempting to ban the procedure
Waskom declared itself a "sanctuary city for the unborn." City leaders acknowledged that the decision will likely lead to a lawsuit. Full Story
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![The Waskom City Council.]()
Credit: Screenshot via ArkLaTex News -
Texas vaccine exemption rates have reached an all-time high. Did Texas make it too easy for parents to opt out?
Texas has resisted recent attempts to change its vaccine laws, allowing parents to get their children exemptions for "reasons of conscience." Use our lookup tool to see how exemption rates have changed in school districts and private schools across the state. Full Story
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![Doses of the meningitis vaccine, August 7, 2012 in Houston at Legacy Community Health Services. Each vial contains one dose.]()
Credit: Eric Kayne for The Texas Tribune -
Texas governor signs bill clarifying that women are allowed to pump breast milk in public
Previous state law explicitly permitted breastfeeding in public, but the bill adds a protection for women who choose to pump breast milk in public. Full Story
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![Arika Rodriguez feeds her son, Parker, after giving birth at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco, Texas, on Sept. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas governor accused people of lying about Texas' maternal mortality rate. The critics relied on the state's own bad data.
Problems with the state’s data led to initial reports that Texas' maternal mortality rate was far higher than it is. Full Story
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![Vanna Waldron, left, evaluates Erika Piñon at the Holy Family Birthing Center in Weslaco, Texas. Waldron is a Certified Nurse Midwife from Seattle, Washington, who is volunteering at the birthing center for a year.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Legislature passed bills reining in freestanding emergency rooms
One bill awaiting action by the governor will require freestanding emergency rooms to clearly disclose the in-network health plans they accept and the fees patients may be charged. Full Story
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![Paramedics bring an extra stretcher into the emergency room at Eastland Memorial Hospital. The facility has seven emergency treatment rooms and is the only hospital along the roughly 120 mile stretch of I-20 between Weatherford and Abilene.]()
Credit: Gary Rhodes for The Texas Tribune -
No one knows exactly why rural East Texas faces high suicide rates. And resources to help are scarce.
The region has some of the highest suicide rates in the state. But the safety net for people who need help is being stretched thin, and some Texans are falling through. Full Story
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Credit: Christopher Collins/Texas Observer -
Texas law will outlaw minors from buying popular cough medicine
Texas joins 18 other states that have passed similar laws restricting access to over-the-counter cough medicines like Nyquil and Robitussin that include the ingredient dextromethorphan. Full Story
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![Bottles of cough syrup on sale at CVS on May 20, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas passes bill banning cities from partnering with Planned Parenthood on any services
The bill would prohibit such partnerships, even for services not related to abortions. Abortion rights advocates worry that the bill's broad language could even halt privately funded programs held on government property. Full Story
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![Planned Parenthood advocates rally outside of the Capitol on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Paid sick-leave ordinances likely survived the Texas Legislature. But businesses still want to kill them.
Angry that the Legislature failed to overrule local ordinances requiring private employers to offer paid sick leave, many business groups are hoping the courts will finish the job for them. Full Story
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![The Justices of the Texas Supreme Court hear the Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Maurie Levin, et al. case on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver for The Texas Tribune -
Texas expansion of medical cannabis nears finish line after Senate approval
If the House approves changes made by the upper chamber, the bill will head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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This session's biggest mental health bill got killed on a technicality — then resurrected
Senate Bill 10, focused on connecting children to mental health services, was knocked out of contention with a parliamentary maneuver Tuesday night but was revived as an amendment to another bill hours later. It's one of several measures the state's GOP leaders championed in the wake of the deadly shooting last year at Santa Fe High School. Full Story
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![Former state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House advances bill banning cities from partnering with Planned Parenthood on any services
Senate Bill 22 bars Texas governments from contracting with abortion providers or their affiliates — even for services like sexual health education and pregnancy prevention initiatives. Full Story
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![A bipartisan group of state legislators, medical professionals and abortion advocates gathered at the Capitol in opposition to SB22. The group claims the bill would reduce funding for abortion providers. May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas medical marijuana expansion gains steam in Senate, even after previous stonewalling
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed wariness to expanding the Compassionate Use Program, but the bill's Senate sponsor said Patrick helped craft the version that cleared a key hurdle Friday. Full Story
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![State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braufels, speaks with State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, shortly after he received the gavel as Senate President Pro Tempore on Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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