TribCast: The COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Texas
In this week's podcast, Matthew speaks with Karen, Ross and Alex about the coronavirus vaccine and the Electoral College vote in Texas. Full Story
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![Holly Ainsworth, a nursing intern at the University of Texas, administered a COVID-19 vaccine to Nurse Stephanie Vasquez on Dec 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas has $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds left to spend. Advocacy groups are anxiously watching.
The deadline to use the funds is Dec. 30. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asked the governor to support rural hospitals and food banks. Full Story
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![Boxes of food and hygiene products from the Central Texas Food Bank at LBJ Early College High School. The bank is donating boxes to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. April 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
More Texas Republicans in Congress are acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory, but many holdouts remain
Upon Biden securing 306 electoral votes during Monday’s meeting of the Electoral College, The Texas Tribune polled all Texans in Congress with the question: “With a majority of the Electoral College voting for Biden today, do you accept Joe Biden as the president-elect?” Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol during sunrise in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
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After voting for Donald Trump, Texas electors ask swing states to reject results that assured victory for Joe Biden
Electors across the country affirmed Biden’s victory, but the Texas electors refused to admit Trump’s defeat. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Fayetteville Regional Airport in North Carolina on Nov. 2, 2020.]()
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Texas attorney general's office paying lead lawyer $540 per hour to defend against whistleblower lawsuit
Four former aides sued the agency last month, claiming they were wrongfully terminated after they told law enforcement they believed their boss, Ken Paxton, had broken the law. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the Gun Owners of America assembly.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo loses reelection bid to Oscar Leeser
Margo told reporters he doubted any other mayor has had to endure the crises he has battled throughout his last term, and was hopeful the community would realize he did “the best I could to lead.” Full Story
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![Former El paso Mayor Oscar Leeser.]()
Credit: Courtesy of El Paso Inc. -
Long wait times and broken machines: Nothing could stop this Dallas voter from casting a ballot
In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, Gwendolyn McMillan Lawe reflects on the challenges she and other Black and Latino voters faced at the polls in November. Full Story
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![Gwendolyn McMillan Lawe.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Gwendolyn McMillan Lawe -
U.S. Supreme Court throws out Texas lawsuit contesting 2020 election results in four battleground states
The lawsuit challenged election results in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The high court said Texas did not have standing to bring the case. Full Story
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Three indicted in Harris County on allegations of trying to illegally influence state House races
The indictments announced Friday were tied to races in Texas House Districts 132 and 142. Full Story
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![Jolie McCullough, reporter for The Texas Tribune, moderated the “Criminal Justice Reform We Can All Agree On” panel featuring Mark Gonzalez, Marc Levin, Joe Moody, Kim Ogg and Vikrant Reddy at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Kelly West for The Texas Tribune -
Nine months on the pandemic’s front line have crushed Texas health care workers’ spirits and killed their colleagues
The virus has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 U.S. health care workers; others could face lasting mental scars. It’s “the time when we’re needed most,” one doctor said, “and we’re burned out.” Full Story
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![Amy Jones-Fitz holds a portrait of Dr. Juan Fitz at their home in Wolfforth on Dec. 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Hit hard by the coronavirus, El Pasoans will decide a mayoral runoff where the central focus has been handling the pandemic
Incumbent Dee Margo is considered the underdog as he fights for a second term leading the city in a Saturday runoff against his predecessor, Oscar Leeser, that has been dominated by management of the latest crisis. Full Story
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![El Paso Mayor Dee Margo is fighting for a second term in a Saturday runoff against his predecessor, Oscar Leeser.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Once accused of cheating in an election by Donald Trump, Ted Cruz is now a leading voice casting doubt on 2020's results
On Tuesday, Trump asked Cruz to argue the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election results in four states if it reaches the U.S. Supreme Court Full Story
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![U.S. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz applauds as President Donald Trump displays a presidential permit for energy development that he signed during a tour of the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig in Midland on July 29, 2020.]()
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With election lawsuit, Ken Paxton — like Donald Trump — makes a Hail Mary play
The long-shot lawsuit may be Trump’s last chance to contest the election. For Paxton, it’s helping resuscitate a political career in peril. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton receives an applause as he is sworn into office as Attorney General. Paxton replaced outgoing Attorney General Greg Abbott who was sworn in as Governor in 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas politicians flock to Georgia to aid in fight for U.S. Senate majority
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; Texas GOP Chairman Allen West; U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston; and former presidential candidate Julián Castro have all traveled to the state — or plan to soon — to campaign in the Jan. 5 runoffs. Full Story
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![Senator Kelly Loeffler, R-Georgia, and Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock, participate in a debate in Atlanta for the U.S. Senate seat representing the state. Dec. 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Gray/Pool via REUTERS -
TribCast: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues to undo the presidential election results
In this week's episode, Matthew talks to Emma, Cassi and Mitchell about Texas' lawsuit against swing states that went for Joe Biden, the upcoming legislative session and the future of gambling in Texas. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton walked across the Supreme Court plaza to hold a press conference in 2016.]()
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Trump, Republicans pin hopes on Texas lawsuit to overturn election results, but legal experts say it's a long shot
Donald Trump's legal team filed to intervene in the Texas lawsuit contesting the election results on Wednesday. The president reportedly asked U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz if he would argue the case before the U.S. Supreme Court, if it agrees to hear it. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump speaks during an Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit in the South Court Auditorium of the of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Dec. 8, 2020 in Washington, DC.]()
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Dan Patrick wants to change Senate rules so GOP keeps a key advantage, despite losing its supermajority
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he wants the Senate to decrease the threshold required to bring legislation to the floor to 18 members, which would allow the GOP to continue sidelining Democrats. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reminds senators to keep their testimonies short during a discussion on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1663 relating to the removal, relocation or alteration of certain monuments or memorials, on the Senate floor on May 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
At least three Texas Board of Education members test positive for the coronavirus after in-person meeting
One of the board members said the state needs to be more cautious about getting back to normal — especially with a new legislative session set to begin next month. Full Story
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![The State Board of Education meeting on January 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Defense spending bill named after Texas congressman passes in U.S. House despite Trump's veto threat
The legislation is named in honor of retiring U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, who is the top Republican of the House Armed Services Committee. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
What went wrong with Texas Democrats' 2020 plans? State party leaders intend to find out.
The state party chair plans to do a "deep dive" after executive committee members asked for answers about the outcome of the November election and demanded reforms. Full Story
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![The main stage at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Alyssa Banata for The Texas Tribune
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