“If this doesn’t push it, we don’t know what will,” says Debbie Bush. She has been fighting for greater accountability for police violence since her nephew was shot in the back by a San Antonio officer seven years ago.
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Texas Legislature 2021
House votes to ban school vouchers, cap attorney general spending as part of its proposed $246 billion state budget
House members filed nearly 240 proposed tweaks to the massive spending plan and spent hours taking votes on controversial issues ranging from Medicaid expansion to school vouchers.
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Criminal Justice
Texas prisons reverse course, will allow religious advisers in execution chamber
The U.S. Supreme Court has twice stopped Texas executions over claims that previous prison policies were discriminatory and violated religious freedoms.
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Politics
Ted Cruz changes course and votes to support bill to address hate crimes against Asian Americans
The junior senator from Texas initially slammed the bill as “a messaging tactic” but supported it in the final vote because he said an amendment made it more palatable.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas House votes down budget amendment aimed at giving health coverage to more uninsured Texans
The Texas Legislature has declined to pass any broad expansion of state and federal health care coverage for uninsured Texans since the Affordable Care Act of 2010 required states to expand Medicaid — a provision later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Politics
Bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers announces legislation to ease crowding at border facilities
The bill backed by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, would create four new processing facilities for asylum seekers and add to federal staffing along the border.
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Texas Legislature 2021
College athletes could be paid for their name and likeness under bill approved by Texas Senate
Some senators opposed compensation within college athletics, but ultimately supported the legislation to maintain Texas’ competitiveness in recruiting efforts as dozens of states consider similar measures.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: Texas lawmakers are working on an incomplete budget
The Texas Legislature is working on a budget that spends around $250 billion. But it doesn’t include billions in federal COVID-19 relief money or account for big changes that could rock the state’s Medicaid programs.
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Higher Education
UT-Austin says Longhorn Band members must play “The Eyes of Texas” or else join new, separate band
The university is starting a separate student marching band that will not perform at major university events or have a required repertoire of songs.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas lawmakers advance bills blocking access to gender-affirming health care despite opposition from LGBTQ Texans, medical associations
Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martinez said Texas has filed more anti-LGBTQ bills this session than any other state legislature.