Analysis: Texas’ proposed voting restrictions have more to do with 2018 than 2020
New voting restrictions working their way through the Texas Legislature have more to do with the 2018 election cycle than the one in 2020. Full Story
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![Cars lined up to vote in the drive-thru line at NRG Stadium in Houston during the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Corporate giants come out against Republicans’ efforts to restrict voting in Texas
American Airlines and Dell Technologies on Thursday publicly declared their opposition to Republican legislative proposals that would impose new restrictions on voting. Full Story
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Ted Cruz has rejected most of Biden's cabinet picks so far. John Cornyn has taken a different approach
Texas Democrats accused the two Republican senators of "putting Party and politics over country and the welfare of all Americans." Full Story
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![U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27, 2018.]()
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Outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price discusses her tenure, says push to limit local control is misguided
Price, who is leaving office after 10 years, also spoke with The Texas Tribune about her city’s response to the pandemic, political divisions and the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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Texas Senate approves bill to stop social media companies from banning Texans for political views
Some experts have raised doubts whether the bill will hold up in court. Full Story
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Bills restricting abortion, including one that bans procedure as early as six weeks, gets Texas Senate OK
The slate of bills must still go to the House for approval. Full Story
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![A women’s health clinic in Texas.]()
Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune -
Sweeping legislation to overhaul state’s electricity market in response to winter storm heads to Texas House after Senate's unanimous approval
Senate Bill 3 would require all power generators, transmission lines, natural gas facilities and pipelines to make upgrades for extreme weather. Its prospects are uncertain in the House, which is scheduled to take up a series of related, standalone bills on Tuesday. 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.]()
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Black lawmakers, NAACP and students push back on UT-Austin’s “The Eyes of Texas” report, urge school to lose the song
Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus said they are "unequivocal" about their opposition to UT-Austin's alma mater and have asked the university to reconsider getting rid of the song. Full Story
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![State Rep. Ron Reynold, D-Missouri City, speaks at a press conference concerning the University of Texas' fight song at the Texas Capitol on March 29, 2021.]()
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Analysis: The fight over local control turns to representation — and lobbyists
The latest fight over local control in the Texas Legislature is a rerun: Conservative lawmakers want to bar local governments from hiring lobbyists to represent them in Austin. And their effort has more support than before. Full Story
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![Downtown Pearsall in Frio Co. on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Restrictions on Texas voting could tighten under Republican bill advanced by Senate committee
Senate Bill 7 would make sweeping changes to Texas voting by limiting extended early voting hours, prohibiting drive-thru voting and requiring Texans to provide proof of disability to qualify for mail-in voting. Full Story
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![Voters line up to utilize drive-through voting at NRG Stadium in Houston during the first day of early voting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
As migrant apprehensions soar, Texas politicians jockey for air time to criticize — or defend — President Joe Biden
Republicans are seizing on the apprehensions to blame Biden for conditions in holding facilities. But Democrats blame former President Donald Trump for dismantling the nation's immigration infrastructure. Full Story
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![Asylum-seeking migrants' walked towards the border wall after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States from Mexico, in Penitas, Texas on March 26, 2021.]()
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After slow start, Texas lawmakers pick up the pace on GOP priorities as legislative session passes halfway mark
After some early tension, the Legislature's Republican leaders say they are on the same page with the business that remains. Full Story
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![Newly-elected Speaker of the House Dade Phelan addresses the House Floor on opening day of the 2021 Legislative Session on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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South Texas emerges as political hotbed after Democrats underperformed there in 2020
Democrats will have to defend three seats in the region. And two of those seats could draw heated primary races, too. Full Story
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![Downtown McAllen on July 1, 2020.]()
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Warren Buffett group lobbying Texas lawmakers for deal to build $8 billion worth of power plants for emergency use
In return, lawmakers would agree to create a revenue stream for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway through an additional charge on Texans’ power bills. Full Story
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![Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walked through an exhibit hall as shareholders gathered to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 4, 2019.]()
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Ken Paxton refuses to release messages about attendance at pro-Trump rally before Jan. 6 insurrection
The Texas Tribune joined several other news organizations in an effort to obtain copies of emails and text messages that the Texas attorney general sent or received while in Washington for the rally. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27, 2021.]()
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After Atlanta and Colorado mass shootings, Texas GOP leaders double down on protecting gun owners
Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday there is an even greater urgency this legislative session to pass laws expanding gun rights because of Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story
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![Guns at McBride's Guns in Austin on March 26, 2013.]()
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White Republicans are refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine more than any other demographic group in Texas
In Texas, 59% of Republicans either said they are reluctant to get the vaccine or would refuse it outright, according to the February University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Protesters at the Governor's Mansion protest government mandates on wearing face masks in businesses and recent bar closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. June 28, 2020.]()
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Alcohol to go from restaurants gets closer to becoming permanent as Texas House gives approval
The chamber signed off on House Bill 1024 to permanently allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders. The measure still requires approval from the Senate. Full Story
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![The Barn Door restaurant during dinner service in San Antonio on May 18, 2020.]()
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Point of Order: Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus explains why he voted for Joe Biden last year
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus about life as a civilian, what he’d do about repricing electricity, the conservative case for expanding Medicaid, why he didn’t vote for Donald Trump — twice — and whether he’ll run for something again. Full Story
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Democrats view Texas congressional special election with a mix of optimism and caution after disappointing 2020
Ten Democrats are among 23 candidates running to replace the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, in a May 1 special election. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol looms in the background as a woman walks among flags at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. on May 27, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque