Texas drag shows become a right-wing target amid rising extremism
LGBTQ Texans say lawmakers and right-wing figures are misrepresenting what happens at all-ages performances to propagate hate and violence against queer people. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/722dfd382248178c0dd5c889a8244fcd/1119%20Trans%20Storytime%20ST%20TT%2026.jpg)
-
![Counter-protesters form a barricade outside of a transgender storytelling event as Sara Gonzales of Defend our Kids Texas chants “there are only two genders,” in Denton, on Nov. 19. 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas hits 1,000 days under Greg Abbott’s public health disaster as a new COVID-19 wave and legislative session loom
After more than 92,000 deaths and 8 million reported COVID-19 cases in Texas, the state remains one of less than a dozen still under a statewide disaster or public health emergency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b98aa6eee5e166950865eeb015205c31/0313%20Abbott%20Statewide%20Emergency%20EG%20TT%2044.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott declares a state of disaster in Texas amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020, at the state capitol.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott bans TikTok on state phones and computers, citing cybersecurity risks
Following the lead of several other GOP governors, Abbott said banning the social media platform, which is run by the Chinese company ByteDance, would protect state information from the Chinese Communist Party. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3cd8aa036a8925777cf5476f64199b4e/2022-12-07T010719Z_2_LYNXMPEIB6000_RTROPTP_4_TECH-TIKTOK.JPG)
![FILE PHOTO: TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration]()
Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration -
In defamation lawsuit against Beto O’Rourke, lawyers debate whether Kelcy Warren is a public figure
Warren, a Dallas pipeline tycoon, sued O’Rourke in February over accusations he made on the campaign trail that Warren effectively bribed Gov. Greg Abbott with a $1 million campaign contribution following the 2021 power grid collapse. Full Story
Credit: Energy Transfer website -
Gov. Greg Abbott says he will nominate retiring state Sen. Jane Nelson to be secretary of state
Nelson planned to retire from the Senate after 30 years in office. But her nomination will give Abbott a clearer path to having his nominee confirmed by the Senate after his last three have gone unconfirmed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/00ad7a9dd21b9d1f2697bfe1acf52237/5087%20Jane%20Nelson%20HB%201%20TT%20JF.jpg)
![Then-state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, in the Senate on May 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
How Austin’s housing crisis has shaped the race for a new mayor
The capital city’s mayoral race is something of a test case in how the state’s rising housing costs might influence local races in major cities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9b8553917d79eac05a09f94ddedd0c91/1205%20ATX%20Mayoral%20Debate%20AS%20TT%2011.jpg)
![State Rep. Celia Israel and former State Sen. Kirk Watson debate on ATX Decides, hosted by Austin PBS at Studio 919 on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick diverge ahead of the legislative session on property taxes, power grid
The dueling approaches are coming into focus as lawmakers prepare to return to Austin for the session which begins Jan. 10. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1c4fa786260990976aea0942d42fd980/Abbott_Patrick_Bonnen_Joint_Presser_4.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019. Newly-elected House Speaker Dennis Bonnen was also present.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune. -
Houston’s at-large City Council districts deprive Latinos of fair representation, lawsuit alleges
The League of United Latin American Citizens sued the city Monday, asking a federal court to halt its practice of electing five of its 16 council members through at-large elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7e2746b4d2708d4bec67656c80163b9/Houston%20City%20Hall%20PYH%20TT%2002.JPG)
![Houston City Hall on October 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
John Scott, Texas’ top elections official, to step down at end of year
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Scott as secretary of state in October 2021, and he served in an interim capacity pending Senate confirmation. He is stepping down right before the legislative session, in which his appointment would have come up for debate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3ce5e2490fc40a381446ec5935423f57/SOS%20John%20Scott%20SF%20TT%2007.jpg)
![John Scott speaks to a reporter during an interview inside his office at the Texas State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 in Austin, TX. Scott was appointed last week by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his appointment has been criticized by some after Scott's role in representing the Trump administration in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results. Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Caucus backs Dade Phelan as Texas House speaker
Republican members of the Texas House endorsed Phelan’s bid for reelection in a nonbinding vote on Saturday. An official vote from the entire Texas House will take place in January. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f7c6a0e37ee3f6afa885d8f0a48d358/House%20Floor%20Phelan%20BD%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks to the House of Representatives during opening ceremonies as the 2021 legislative session begins. Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
Hundreds of Texas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination after years of infighting over gay marriage and abortion
Those leaving are frustrated that the church has taken positions they feel are too liberal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a2336fc144c58679e5acbdc507409c5f/1203%20Lakeridge%20Lubbock%20TrT%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Lakeridge Methodist Church in Lubbock on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Feds often hand migrants over to state police rather than process immigration claims, complaint says
State police often rely on federal immigration officials to lock up migrants on state trespassing charges, according to a new complaint by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. The collaboration contradicts federal and Texas officials’ attacks on each other’s immigration policies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d8602b4a9c0d1ef2e3149cb038cf703/Kinney%20County%20Migrants%20DPS%20MG%20TT%2017.jpg)
![A group of migrants walk off a pick-up truck after being apprehended by Department of Public Safety officers at a train depot in Spofford on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How much will Texas spend on tax cuts?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Karen about property taxes and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0b177a4291615e7443707648d33af695/TribCast%20Dec%202.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the state budget and legislative priorities at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
Losing Republican candidate wants Texas House to void results of his race
Mike May, who lost to Houston state Rep. Jon Rosenthal by 6,000 votes, wants the Texas House to order a new election. State law allows such an appeal, but the House hasn’t approved one in more than 40 years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa8d320914812a771ad7950d038cbf6e/Mike%20May%20and%20Jon%20Rosenthal%20TT.jpg)
![From left: Republican Mike May and Texas House District 135 incumbent Democrat Jon Rosenthal.]()
Credit: Social media -
Photos: “We don’t feel safe here.” A transgender teen and their family flee Texas.
Texas policies targeting access to health care for transgender youth forced one family to leave the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cdbcc51c1247c0fc976b716fd3c0c33c/Cass%20Wide%20Edit%20JV%2056.jpg)
![Heather Crawford embraces Cass as they struggle through a panic attack while packing their room to move to Minnesota from their home Austin, TX on August 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
To combat opioid overdoses, Gov. Greg Abbott says he supports decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips
The announcement signals a shift in Abbott’s approach to fighting the opioid epidemic. He had previously pushed back against bills calling for the decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7ec4865f3b95852b317bfe98815156d2/Anti-Abortion%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during at Texas Rally for Life at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz sides with Bernie Sanders to give rail workers more sick days
Cruz split with Sen. John Cornyn in a vote to expand paid sick days for railroad workers in a tumultuous action to stave off a potentially catastrophic rail shutdown. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/49768b4e6fab6c42ab333783f10a8f04/Ted%20Cruz%20Capitol%20Hill%20REUTERS%20.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in September of 2020.]()
Credit: Erin Schaff/Pool via REUTERS -
By tradition, the minority party gets to chair some Texas House committees. Some in the GOP want to end that.
Republican critics say conservative priorities will always be hamstrung if Democrats, who are in the minority party, get a say in which legislation reaches the floor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8d57e60382e14dfe4c41874dd1e6b81/Second%20Special%20Day%20One%20JV%20TT%2015.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels the House into session on Saturday, August 7, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
El Paso DA Yvonne Rosales a no-show in Walmart shooting hearing
The district judge has asked the embattled district attorney, who resigned Monday, to appear in court Thursday or risk being arrested. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb360b0466fb12bbab032d612cee51cd/DA%20Rosales%20Hearing%20EPM%20TT%2022.jpg)
![El Paso County District Attorney Yvonne Rosales listens to District Judge Sam Medrano at a hearing on the Walmart shooting case on July 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters -
Texas lawmakers have a $27 billion surplus, but a spending cap complicates their goal of lowering property taxes
Texas homeowners have some of the highest property tax bills in the nation, a byproduct of the state’s reliance on such taxes to help pay for public schools and the state’s lack of an income tax. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/78c9e8c2634854175f95f96e67e66dd2/Kelcy%20Warren%20TT)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b27a728f3a0fbc20fb1697a34a76524/Capitol%20File%20Jan%202022%20JV%20TT%2023)