Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patients
As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/233b9fd1d526fa3f0dec530cc782aa93/Food%20Insecurity%20BL%20TT%2004.jpg)
-
![Evangelina Yzaguirre, a cancer patient at DHR, receives food aid from the hospital food pantry program.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
House votes to censure Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech
Green, a Democrat from Houston, was protesting any planned cuts in Medicaid. He said it was worth a punishment to stand up for those who depend on government benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3fc35167dd9ec263ab2442cea97dadf0/0304%20Al%20Green%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, is removed from the House chamber for disrupting Pres. Donald Trump as he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images -
Texas House majority signs on to new bill restricting the use of bathrooms in public buildings by transgender people
House Bill 239, which echoes a bathroom bill that failed in 2017, includes new provisions for shelters and prisons. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/03/22/ShelbyKnowles-12_TT.jpg)
![Bathroom stalls at the Austin Convention Center in 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Following Trump’s lead, Gov. Abbott pushes state agencies to end telework
The directive comes as some state agencies have downsized their office spaces after the pandemic forced many employees to work remotely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/09b6522650e83139e195d0fc2baa0bd1/0620%20State%20Capitol%20JT%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The state capitol seen from the Sam Houston State Office Building in Austin on June 20, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Vance visits Texas-Mexico border to promote Trump's immigration crackdown
The vice president, joined by two other top Trump administration officials, took an aerial tour of the border and met with law enforcement officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/376f5369d09a65fac69887033696aa00/0905%20JD%20Vance%20REUTERS.JPG)
![Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance speaks at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 5, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Go Nakamura -
Rep. Greg Casar and Elon Musk in D.C. brawl
From Austin city council to the halls of Congress, this lawmaker has been increasingly critical of Musk, saying the billionaire receives special treatment and has conflicts of interest. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bace29bd8c026c265aef494946281072/0206%20Greg%20Casar%20Musk%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, chair of the of Congressional Progressive Caucus, speaks at a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center to oppose Elon Musk gaining access to the Treasury Department's federal payment system, on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.]()
Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA -
Part of pro-Palestinian student art exhibit at UNT removed amid antisemitism complaints by state lawmakers
Five GOP lawmakers who targeted the exhibit also called for the cancellation of the “Palestinian Children and the Politics of Genocide” lecture, which is still scheduled. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1e2e1146e911cceb6f342b13deaf9ed7/0224%20UNT%20Campus%20ST%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on February 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats criticize school leaders for being too “nice” about their funding needs
Lawmakers this week listened to testimony on House Bill 2, which would raise schools’ base funding per student by $220 — a figure that falls short of what many Texans say is needed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e0dd484a1e675a2d7fdcc879fa73b9fa/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2092.jpg)
![Odessa High School students walk between classes Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers scold juvenile justice department over scathing DOJ report
Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu criticized the department for treating an August 2024 federal report as “nothing.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6618869dc538bc65e59583761ff176d4/Giddings%20State%20School%20JM%2007%20CROPPED.jpg)
![Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility, in Lee County on July 20, 2022.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Senate wants more — and smaller — starter homes in new neighborhoods
The goal of the new legislation is to help drive down the cost of housing so that more Texans can afford homes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a85b0549856caca5709a3456e0ab3795/0508%20Allen%20Shooting%20Reacts%20ST%2019.jpg)
![Star Creek, a neighborhood in Allen, on May 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Al Green disrupts Trump speech and is escorted out
The Texas Democrat who has a history of attention-getting acts repeatedly shouted “no mandate to cut Medicaid.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/108f50a431cdeea1b6a0a35091dbecb5/Al%20Green%20Trump%20Joint%20Speech.JPG)
![U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, is removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS -
TribCast: The looming fight over regulating AI in Texas
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Sherri Greenberg about proposed state laws related to artificial intelligence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8e1b64d22e074cf405edec82b802642/TribCast%20March%204.jpg)
![On this week's TribCast, talk turns to the regulation of artificial intelligence in Texas.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Former Uvalde mayor files Texas bill to improve law enforcement response to mass shootings
The bill would require school districts and law enforcement to meet once a year to plan their response to an active shooter situation. It would also mandate annual multi-agency exercise drills on how to respond to an active shooter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed4e558862392e4c9dee4b51a38c0dd9/Robb%20Elementary%20File%20EL%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Voucher bills want to prioritize low-income families and be open to all students. Those goals might be at odds.
Neither of the Legislature’s voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b0d02c6dfd097835cd4bd255d1dcddcb/School%20File%20ST%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Children draw self-portraits at the Rowlett Public Library in Rowlett, TX on October 26, 2023. The self portrait is part of a “hero’s journey” activity run by the mothers where the daughters think about who they are, what makes them special, and what they want to become.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials still don’t know how West Texas measles outbreak started
Texas’ health commissioner fielded questions from state lawmakers about the outbreak and vaccine risks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/80f454d244aa79e8a5b57d92c3d7557b/0228%20Measles%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An Austin Public Health truck is decorated with an advertisement encouraging vaccinations while parked outside the Austin Public Health office at the Bergstrom Technology Center in Austin, Feb. 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images -
How Texas lawmakers want to cut property taxes
House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a0bf919956bb0f0614e03fb1846a0a6f/0525%20SATX%20Housing%20File%20EH%20TT%2005.jpg)
![An East San Antonio neighborhood seen on Saturday, May 25, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Republican senators threaten Texas universities’ funding over DEI ban
In a letter, Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt said they found “numerous” violations of the law, but didn’t provide specifics. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9451a53697460f1dc00d3035b94c98a/0128%20Voucher%20Hearing%20LS%2001.jpg)
![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, speaks at a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas leaders quiet amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades
Declining vaccination rates, decreasing trust in government and a political unwillingness to endorse vaccines is shaping Texas’ measles response. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/89bb79734491725fdae6ec1a77316a0d/0227%20Covenant%20Childrens%20TT%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock on Feb. 26, 2025. Covenant has added a patient screening check before entering the children's emergency entrance.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Trump tariffs set to hit Texas’ biggest trading partners beginning next week
The president said Mexico and Canada have failed to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S. after giving the countries 30 days to do so before enacting the tariffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34ff06977abf6a39c5c435caf477594e/Laredo%20Trucks%20JV%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Trucks cross the World Trade Bridge over the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States in Laredo on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
A shortage of criminal defense attorneys threatens indigent right to counsel in rural Texas
Texas’ indigent defense commission wants lawmakers to spend $35 million on public defender offices in rural areas, but some say that isn’t nearly enough to ensure compliance with the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/866557311ac1e69b8e3db03e2d50ccc7/05%20Indigent%20Project%20TM%20TT.jpg)
![Scene from bond review docket in the Travis County courthouse in July.]()
Credit: Trevor Paulhus for The Texas Tribune and Texas Monthly