Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
Huffines, who has criticized Abbott as being too slow to fully reopen the state, served in the Senate from 2015-19. Full Story
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![Former State Senator Don Huffines, R-Dallas, during a Texas Public Policy Foundation event on Feb. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP’s voting restrictions bill could be rewritten behind closed doors after final House passage
In a 78-64 vote, the House on Friday passed a pared down version of priority GOP legislation to place new restrictions on voting. Now the bill likely will be reshaped in conference committee with the Senate, largely out of public view. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, flanked by his Republican colleagues, answers questions regarding SB 7, a voting rights bill adopted from the Senate, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Top political aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller arrested in alleged scheme to take money in exchange for hemp licenses
Todd M. Smith was arrested Thursday and released from Travis County Jail on Friday, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. On Sunday, his attorneys said he did nothing wrong and is cooperating with police. Full Story
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![Todd M Smith.]()
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Democrat revives Texas bill restricting transgender students' sports participation in apparent act of retaliation against his party
The bill previously lacked the votes to advance out of House committee. After House Democrats spiked one of his bills, Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, revived it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston, on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As hot-button issues dominate Texas legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott sends clear signals on some conservative priorities
His approach differs somewhat from past sessions, when Abbott kept legislators in suspense on whether certain hot-button proposals would have his support. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State speech at Visionary Fiber Technologies outside of Lockhart on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
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State Rep. John Raney tests positive for coronavirus after being inside Capitol this week
Raney, who has been fully vaccinated since February, "went home immediately and, as of this evening, is doing well," his office said in a statement. The CDC says a "small percentage" of people who have been vaccinated can still contract COVID-19. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Raney, R-College Station, at a House Higher Education Committee hearing on March 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ larger cities would face financial penalties for cutting police budgets under bill approved by House
Previously, the Senate approved a bill that would ask for an election if cities decide to reduce law enforcement budgets. Full Story
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![The Austin Police Department building with the Austin skyline in the background on March 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers propose electricity market bailout after winter storm
Lawmakers argue that spreading costs through the whole market — which will get passed through to consumers’ bills — is necessary to stabilize the state’s electricity market and prevent even higher costs. Full Story
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![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power, and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas voters signal a turn to normal, in more ways than one
Texas voters are returning to normal pre-pandemic activities, and to their customary civic and political concerns, too. The changes are evident in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Austin's camping ban returns Tuesday, but it's not clear when — or how — it will be enforced
While city leaders are analyzing possible housing options for people experiencing homelessness, advocates warn against using aggressive tactics to enforce the ban. Full Story
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![Camps were set up near the ARCH, The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, in downtown on Aug. 2, 2019.]()
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Texas House advances bill that would ban homeless encampments in public
The bill still needs final approval by the House — usually a formality after it's passed in the chamber's first vote — and then will head to the Senate. Full Story
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![A homeless camp near downtown Houston on June 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Protesters who obstruct emergency vehicles could face felony charges under bill passed by Texas House
The bill is in response to nationwide protests against police brutality last year. Full Story
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![Demonstrators block traffic and march past vehicles on I-35 during a protest against police violence in Austin on May 31, 2020. Police later used teargas to disperse crowds on the interstate.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Tamir Kalifa -
Permitless carry of a handgun in Texas nearly law, after Senate OKs bill
House Bill 1927 would nix the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they’re not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. Full Story
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![Gun rights activists gathered at the Capitol on April 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP gears up for contentious runoff in TX-6 congressional race as Democrats grapple with being shut out
The runoff pits Susan Wright against fellow Republican Jake Ellzey after Democrats failed to advance a candidate in the Saturday special election. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol at sunrise, in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 2021.]()
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Fetal “heartbeat” bill, which could ban abortions at six weeks, nears passage in the Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has signaled that he is looking forward to signing the bill. Full Story
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![A visitor of the House gallery listens to legislators speak during a debate on an abortion bill being considered on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
GOP lawmakers want to ban "woke philosophies" like critical race theory in Texas schools
Gov. Greg Abbott has called for expanding the state's civic education curriculum, but the House and Senate are quickly advancing bills that would restrict the discussion of current events and public policy in the classroom and prohibit critical race theory in public schools. Full Story
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![High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo on March 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Local Texas Democratic party declines to accept resignation of chair who called U.S. Sen Tim Scott an “oreo”
Representatives of the Lamar County Democrats met Tuesday to consider the resignation of Gary O’Connor, the local party chair. O'Connor called U.S. Sen. Tim Scott an "oreo" following his rebuttal to the president's congressional address. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, and former Lamar County Democratic Party chair Gary O’Connor.]()
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Texas Senate bill restricting transgender students’ sports participation stalls in House committee, casting doubts on its fate
The bill would prevent transgender Texas children from joining school sports teams that match their gender identity. Full Story
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![People hold up signs at an event held by Equality Texas at the Capitol on April 14, 2021. The group had several speakers including parents of trans-children speaking against SB1646, which would bring possible charges against parents for helping their children with their gender identities.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast, special edition: Our pollsters on how Texans feel about guns, police, and the pandemic
In this edition of the TribCast, Ross talks to pollsters Joshua Blank, James Henson and Daron Shaw about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll and what voters are thinking about guns, policing, voting law and the pandemic. Full Story
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![Handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
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Major corporations come out against proposed voting restrictions in Texas
Dozens of big companies, local businesses and chambers of commerce issued a statement reflecting the biggest pushback yet by the business community against Texas Republican efforts to further tighten the state's restrictive voting rules. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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