The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Citing a congressional request, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday said the department won't end a program that helps federally detained immigrants obtain legal advice and other resources. Full Story
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Andrew Oldham, a nominee for an influential federal appeals court, asserted during a U.S. Senate committee hearing Wednesday that the positions he took on behalf of Texas would not influence his work as a judge. Full Story
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In a letter Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott told former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold he should return $84,000 that he used to settle a sexual harassment claim to taxpayers by funding a June 30 special election to finish his term. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Ross talked to Evan, Patrick, Alex and Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Christine Eady Mann about the upcoming runoffs, a hurried special election coming up, Texas redistricting litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court, and epilepsy patients' struggles to get medical cannabis oil. Full Story
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U.S. District Judge John D. Bates ruled Tuesday that the administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was never fully explained and could not be justified. However, Bates did allow for a 90-day hold on his ruling “to afford [the Department of Homeland Security] an opportunity to better explain its view that DACA is unlawful.” Full Story
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Tom Steyer, one of the biggest Democratic donors in the country, openly mulled spending on O'Rourke's behalf via his environmental super PAC, NextGen America. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott has called a June 30 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi. The candidate filing deadline is Friday. Farenthold abruptly resigned in April. Full Story
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Two congressional districts are part of a Texas redistricting case the U.S. Supreme Court will take up Tuesday. Here's a detailed look at what's at issue in one of them: the 27th Congressional District. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a Texas redistricting case that has flagged two congressional districts and nine Texas House districts. Here's a closer look at one of the districts in question: U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's curiously shaped 35th Congressional District. Full Story
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A nonbinding opinion issued Monday by Attorney General Ken Paxton continues a battle between lawmakers, restaurants and the Texas Department of Agriculture over the regulation of scales used to measure food. Full Story
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The caravan of Central Americans through Mexico to the U.S. border happens annually, but this year’s drew the attention of President Donald Trump and resulted in his call to send the National Guard to the border. Full Story
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Republicans said the Democratic county chair never signed the candidates' ballot applications. Democrats called the suit a frivolous partisan attack. Full Story
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The U.S. Department of Education was investigating why black students in Bryan, Texas, are almost four times as likely as white students to be suspended. Then Betsy DeVos took over. Full Story
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For Texans with severe epilepsy, a new treatment recently became legal: medical cannabis oil. As the state’s first dispensaries open, we followed two families trying the medication to reduce seizures. Watch our video documentary, “Out of Options.” Full Story
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Ron Pigott, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's deputy executive commissioner for procurement and contracting services, is the latest person to leave the agency amid a shake-up over contract mismanagement. Full Story
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While President Trump's order sending National Guard to address a "crisis" to the border has garnered national attention, those living in the Rio Grande Valley see a gap between perception and reality. Full Story
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Benefits for Texas teachers have been a point of contention between educators and lawmakers for years — and often a hot topic at the Legislature. But where does Texas fall nationally when it comes to teacher pay, health care and retirement benefits? Full Story
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Cruz, a Texas Republican, is at the forefront of revamping the U.S. Senate's internal sexual harassment policies. Last year he joined a New York Democrat in introducing legislation proposing such an overhaul. Full Story
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In a livestreamed conversation with The Texas Tribune, state Sen. Sylvia Garcia hints that she doesn’t plan to leave her Senate seat until after her race. Watch some clips or read the recap. Full Story
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Democrats took a shellacking during President Barack Obama's first midterm election in 2010, and U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz's loss was one of the biggest surprises. Eight years later, some are wondering if Republicans have some overly confident incumbents unprepared for a potential "blue wave" in November. Full Story
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