Federal appeals court questions Texas’ new school library regulations
House Bill 900 seeks to rid school libraries of inappropriate books by requiring book vendors to rate materials. A legal challenge says the law is too vague and broad. Full Story
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![Partitions sit on a table in the library at Judson High School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in Converse. The librarian purchased the partitions with her own funds for $7.50 each. Aisles of books are blocked off to control the flow of traffic through the library.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
How one man's open records obsession sparked a fight over transparency and power in East Texas
Once a tool of journalists and concerned citizens to hold government accountable, open records requests have been increasingly used by political opponents and conspiracy theorists to slow down the pace of government. Full Story
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![David Stua in front of the Angelina County Court House in Lufkin on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott begins offensive against school voucher opponents, endorsing first House primary challenger
Abbott on Tuesday backed Hillary Hickland, an activist mother who is running against Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Kamala Harris touts White House record at Latino event ahead of 2024
The vice president’s Houston visit comes as the Biden campaign works to shore up Latino support ahead of a potential rematch against former President Donald Trump next year. Full Story
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![Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about abortion rights with Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Julieta Garibay, Senior Capacity Building Director for Groundswell Fund, at the LBJ Museum in Austin on Oct. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott jumps out of plane with 106-year-old World War II vet
Abbott visited the San Marcos area to go skydiving with Al Blaschke, a 106-year-old World War II veteran who has already broken records for his own aerial feats. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott skydives in a tandem jump in San Marcos on Nov. 27, 2023. The governor skydived for his first time with 106-year-old World War II veteran Al Blaschke, who holds the the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest tandem parachute jump.]()
Credit: Office Of The Governor -
Kamala Harris to visit Houston for Hispanic outreach event
The Monday event will be a “community conversation” hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Full Story
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![Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event where the president signed an Executive Order regarding Artificial Intelligence at the White House in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
A Texas university removed its unique public billboards after students used them to share thoughts on Gaza war
The University of Texas at Dallas replaced three boulders — known as the Spirit Rocks — with trees, citing “extended political discourse.” Students say the quirky public square is a frequent venue for political messaging. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Whistleblowers ask judge to order Ken Paxton, aides to sit for depositions
The motion, filed Tuesday, comes a week after a judge in Burnet County allowed the 3-year-old whistleblower lawsuit to proceed. Full Story
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![At a press conference on May 26, 2023, Attorney General Ken Paxton with aides, from left to right: Tommy Tran, executive assistant; James R. Lloyd, associate deputy attorney general for civil litigation; Austin A. Kinghorn, associate deputy attorney general for legal counsel; Ryan Fisher, director of government relations; Joshua Reno, deputy attorney general for criminal justice; Suzanna Hupp, special adviser; Brent Webster, first assistant attorney general; Lesley French, chief of staff; George Lane, adviser; Paige Willey, deputy communications director; and Ralph M. Molina, deputy attorney general for legal strategy.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
School voucher fallout leaves Texas Legislature with no clear sense on next steps
Vouchers were left without a clear path forward after a decisive vote Friday. Gov. Greg Abbott, who had threatened lawmakers with more special sessions to pass the proposal, seems to have turned his attention to punishing voucher opponents in next year’s primary elections. Full Story
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![House Parliamentarian Hugh Brady, center, is joined at the dais by a group of State Representatives to discuss proceedings during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Nov. 17, 2023 in Austin.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott sets January date for Texas House special election runoff
The runoff features two Republicans from dueling factions of the party, Jill Dutton and Brent Money, vying to finish the term of former state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City. Full Story
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![Republicans Jill Dutton and Brent Money are running in a special election for state House District 2 seat, empty since former state Rep. Brian Slaton, R-Royse City, was expelled from the House.]()
Credit: Campaign websites -
After hotly contested 2022 primary, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar works to mend relations with labor groups ahead of 2024
The moderate South Texas Democrat has held meetings with union leaders and filed a labor-backed bill this month. But he still shares some disagreements with the movement. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at a Get Out the Vote rally in San Antonio on May 4, 2022.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott endorses reelection bids of 58 House members who voted for school vouchers
No members who voted against Abbott’s top legislative priority received the governor’s backing. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott speaks to parents during an event hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition at Covenant Christian Academy in McAllen on April 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzales for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, who led impeachment of Ken Paxton, won’t seek reelection
Murr, who represents Junction, suggested he wanted to come home to spend more time with family. He had become a target of hardline conservative supporters of Attorney General Paxton. Full Story
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![Chair of the Texas House impeachment managers, state Rep. Andrew Murr holds a press conference with vice chair Ann Johnson, D-Houston, following Attorney General Ken Paxton’s acquittal verdict on the impeachment trial at the Texas capitol in Austin on Sept. 16, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas State University will host first 2024 presidential debate
The debate, scheduled for Sept. 16, 2024, will be the first of four for the general election. The San Marcos school would be the first Texas university to hold a presidential debate, Texas State officials said. Full Story
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![Empty seats in the Alkek Teaching theatre on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on Aug. 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott endorses Donald Trump during border trip
Abbott made the presidential endorsement after he and Trump served meals to service members deployed for Operation Lone Star, Abbott’s sprawling border security mission. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump greets and shakes hands with Gov. Greg Abbott at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, on Nov. 19, 2023, after the governor announced his endorsement of President Trump. “We need Donald J. Trump back as our president of the United States of America,” the governor said.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas school board launches investigation into how a trans student was stripped of his role in musical
The Sherman school board also temporarily ended the superintendent oversight of its fine arts programs pending the results of the investigation. Full Story
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![Amy and Phillip Hightower sit with their son Max Hightower in a hotel in Denton on Nov. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House cuts school vouchers out of the education bill. See how lawmakers voted on the measure.
Here’s how each representative voted on an amendment that removed school vouchers from the education bill on Friday. Full Story
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![A state Representative prepares to vote on a bill during session on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on April 25, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Prominent anti-LGBTQ+ activist Jared Woodfill running for Texas House
If elected next year, Woodfill also plans to run for House speaker. His campaign accuses his 2024 opponent, conservative state Rep. Lacey Hull, of conspiring with incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan to work against conservatives. Full Story
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![Attorney and former Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill listens to Dr. Steven Hotze as they held a press conference to discuss his election fraud claims and answer questions about the arrest of an ex-cop who he hired to investigate the claims Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Houston.]()
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“Our public school system is our town”: Why this rural Republican is voting against school vouchers
Despite intense political pressure, Republican Rep. Gary VanDeaver said he won’t support a bill that includes school vouchers. Rural Republicans like VanDeaver have long opposed school vouchers because of the unique role public schools they play in their communities. Full Story
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![State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, on the House floor on May 7, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to remove school vouchers from massive education bill
The outcome was an embarrassment to Gov. Greg Abbott, who spent seven months lobbying two dozen Republicans who signaled opposition to vouchers in April. Full Story
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![Bonham Middle School students enter the school’s cafeteria for lunch Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune