Joaquin Castro appears likely to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
A source close to Castro said the four-term congressman will very likely soon announce a bid for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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![US Congressman Joaquin Castro listens to a speaker during a "Where Are The Children?" rally Thursday night highlighting the over 600 children that were separated from their parents while trying to immigrate to the United States. The rally took place on Gualdalupe Plaza in San Antonio on May 31, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke acknowledges involvement with hacking group as a teen, expresses regret for writings
O’Rourke called the writings he produced while part of the group "really hateful, really bad stuff" and said he was "mortified to read it now." Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, stopped in Gainesville at the historic Santa Fe Depot June 9, 2018 to complete his 254 county journey across the state in his campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
After new admissions scandal, former Regent Wallace Hall says University of Texas' rules are a "joke"
Hall led a heated battle to reform the school's admissions procedures, which led to reforms in 2015. But after a UT tennis coach was accused of taking a bribe to help a student gain admission, Hall says more needs to be done. Full Story
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![UT Regent Wallace Hall on April 28, 2014. Lawmakers admonished and censured Hall, who was waging a personal investigation into lawmaker influence in the UT-Austin admissions process.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke's political career drew on donations from the pro-GOP business establishment
As he ran for El Paso City Council and pushed a plan to redevelop some poor neighborhoods, O'Rourke received support from some of El Paso's biggest business moguls. Will that hurt him in the Democratic presidential primary? Full Story
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![Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks to the media following a campaign event in Muscatine, Iowa, U.S. March 14, 2019.]()
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Tribcast: Beto O’Rourke is in. What now?
On this special edition of the Tribcast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Aman about Beto O’Rourke’s two-day presidential rollout — and what happens next. Full Story
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![After officially announcing his 2020 presidential bid in the morning, Beto O'Rourke campaigns in Fort Madison, Iowa on March 24, 2019.]()
Credit: O'Rourke campaign/Social media -
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn vote against Joaquin Castro’s resolution blocking Trump's emergency order
But multiple Republican senators joined Democrats in backing the resolution, which passed the Senate. President Donald Trump has said he'll veto the measure. Full Story
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![Ordered under the George W. Bush administration, a controversial incomplete border wall along the Rio Grande River in South Texas has had environmental and cultural impacts.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Here are 9 things to know about 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke
Now that O'Rourke has announced he's running for president in 2020, here's a look at some of his political and financial history. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rorke speaks during a counter protest right across the street from where President Trump is holding a campaign rally, Monday, February 11, 2019, in El Paso, TX. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre]()
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TribCast: College admissions scandal, "Border Hustle," waiting for Beto
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Patrick, Matthew and Jay about whenever the heck Beto O’Rourke is going to announce his next move, the admissions scandal facing colleges across the country, including UT-Austin, and "Border Hustle," a big Tribune collaboration with Time Magazine. Full Story
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![The tower at the University of Texas at Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Property tax proposal piles one more worry on Texas' rural hospital districts
Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services. Full Story
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![The wound care center at Eastland Memorial Hospital.]()
Credit: Gary Rhodes for The Texas Tribune -
Texas senator proposes moving all youth in state lockups to shuttered adult jail
After shrinking the population at state-run juvenile lockups, state Sen. John Whitmire wants to move the remaining youth at five facilities to one recently closed adult jail. Full Story
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UT System to slash 65 jobs in second round of layoffs
The announcement, made in an internal email, is part of a new but expected wave of cuts aimed at trimming the system's overhead. Full Story
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![The University of Texas System building in Austin, Texas. Photo by Shelby Knowles]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Al Green of Texas will force Trump impeachment vote, defying Nancy Pelosi
The Houston Democrat previously forced an impeachment vote on the U.S. House floor in late 2017, when Republicans held the majority. It was soundly defeated by a 364-58 margin. Full Story
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Credit: Joan Brook for The Texas Tribune -
A fight over paid sick leave is turning into a fight over LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances
A now-erased provision in Senate Bill 15 explicitly said a potential new state law would not supersede local nondiscrimination ordinances. Without that language, many LGBTQ advocates fear Texans could be exposed to some discriminatory employment practices. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, explains parts of House BIll 214 to Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, on August 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
A "big announcement" from Beto O'Rourke is on the horizon
During a screening of a documentary that chronicles O'Rourke's failed U.S. Senate bid, the former Democratic congressman's camp sent an email to supporters alerting them to an impending 2020 decision. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso speaks to his supporters at the final campaign rally before elections at UTEP, Monday, November 5, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Trump to nominate Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown to the federal bench
If the U.S. Senate confirms Brown, the state's highest civil court would see its second vacancy in a period of months. Full Story
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![Justice Jeff Brown listens to Philip Durst during the Texas Supreme Court hearing for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Maurie Levin, et al. case on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Former U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall dies
The longtime congressman was one of the last conservative Democrats to switch to the Republican Party. Full Story
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![U.S. Representative Ralph Hall.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate leaders unveil $1.8 billion package of disaster relief bills
In the first session since Hurricane Harvey, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and three top senators are pushing a legislative package aimed at preparing the state for natural disasters. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Senators Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham and Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, hold a press conference to announce the filing of Senate bills 6, 7, and 8. Mar. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Santa Fe official testifies in somber committee hearing on school safety bills
The proposals that earned the support of lawmakers of all political stripes included ones that strengthen security and beef up mental health initiatives in schools. Full Story
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![Senate Education Committee Chariman and state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, during a committee meeting on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
We're bringing 2020 to Texas. Watch Conversations About America’s Future at SXSW.
We're streaming live interviews with John Kasich, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Bill Weld, Julián Castro, John Hickenlooper and Kevin McCarthy. Full Story
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![John Kasich and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.]()
Credit: Knowles/Schlegel for The Texas Tribune -
GOP senator, oil industry clash over proposed eminent domain reforms
At a public hearing on Monday, state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst — who has long tried to strengthen protections for landowners facing condemnation — challenged officials from fossil fuel groups who said her latest legislation would drag down energy production. Full Story
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![Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing for Texas Secretary of State David Whitley on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune