U.S. seeks court order requiring Texas to remove floating barrier in Rio Grande
The string of buoys is a safety hazard that violates treaties and harms relations with Mexico, Justice Department lawyers tell a federal judge. Full Story
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![A group of migrants walks around a string of buoys which was deployed to prevent migrants from swimming across the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass on July 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy helps bend powerful House committee further to the right
With help from two other ultraconservatives, the Texas Republican’s seat on the Rules Committee has let him press for red-meat priorities, even in traditionally bipartisan legislation. Full Story
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![Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, arrives for a House Rules Committee Meeting, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar stages “thirst strike” to advocate for federally mandated water breaks in extreme heat
There are no federal or state requirements that people who work outside receive paid water breaks. Casar, an Austin Democrat, wants to change that. Full Story
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![Freshman U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, walks down the House steps on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture
The professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters. Full Story
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![Joy Alonzo is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.]()
Credit: Texas A&M University Health Science Center -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs $18 billion tax cut package for Texas property owners
At a time when the state has some of the nation’s highest property taxes, the initiative was a cornerstone of his 2022 reelection campaign. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. sues Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott declines to remove floating border barrier
The U.S. Department of Justice made good on its warning last week that it would sue Texas unless the state agreed to remove the barrier in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. Full Story
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![Workers construct a string of buoys which is being deployed to prevent migrants from swimming across the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass on July 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton’s far-right billionaire backers are fighting hard to save him
With the attorney general’s impeachment trial set for September, supporters have risen to Paxton’s defense, fueled by the deep pockets of oil-rich West Texas donors. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press May 26, 2023 a day before a scheduled impeachment vote in the Texas House in a long-running ethics complaint.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Justice Department threatens Texas with legal action over floating barrier in Rio Grande
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the 1,000-foot barrier to be deployed in the river near Eagle Pass earlier this month. The Justice Department gave Texas until Monday to commit to removing it. Full Story
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![Workers construct a string of buoys which is being deployed to prevent migrants from swimming across the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass on July 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton lawyers seek to disqualify 3 Democratic senators as impeachment jurors
The motion asks Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to block the senators from voting on articles of impeachment, arguing that past statements critical of the attorney general show unacceptable bias. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas, Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, and Sen. José Menéndez of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar/Evan L'Roy/Bob Daemmerich for The Texas Tribune -
2021 statements about role of outside lawyer could play a part in Ken Paxton impeachment trial
Paxton’s top aide told senators that an agency-hired lawyer worked with the Travis County district attorney’s office to investigate a complaint by Nate Paul. County prosecutors dispute that. Full Story
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![First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Texas begins withdrawal from multistate partnership to clean voter rolls
A new GOP-backed state law requires Texas to create its own version of a cross-check program or find a vendor that doesn’t cost more than $100,000. Full Story
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![Voters check in with poll workers behind glass and cast ballots in booths spread apart in the gymnasium at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center for the delayed primary runoff election in Houston, on July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republican leaders want to improve elections in the state’s largest county. Their solution could backfire.
Unless a judge intervenes, Harris County is expected to dissolve its elections administration office later this year. The duties of running elections will once again be split between the county’s tax assessor and clerk. Full Story
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![Harris County Election Administrator Clifford Tatum speaks to the media on Nov. 8, 2022, at Harris County’s central count center at NRG Arena in Houston.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Four Price declines to run for eighth term in Texas House
The Amarillo Republican has led six committees and was among the rural GOP members to oppose school voucher proposals. Full Story
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![State Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo (center), speaks with legislators before the House gavels in on Aug. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
6 large donors fuel Ken Paxton’s post-impeachment campaign fundraising
The suspended attorney general’s campaign disclosure did not shed light on how he is paying for his impeachment legal defense. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attends a campaign event during a Bulverde Spring Branch Conservative Republicans meeting on May 16, 2022, in Bulverde. Paxton criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, championed voter fraud in Texas and praised the leaked SCOTUS draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Travis County won’t pursue driving while intoxicated charges against State Sen. Charles Schwertner
The Republican from Georgetown was arrested in Austin in February. But the county attorney said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prosecute. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, during the last day of the 88th regular session on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Pro-Paxton group gives $3 million to impeachment trial judge Dan Patrick
Defend Texas Liberty was the lieutenant governor’s largest benefactor in late June, providing a $1 million donation and $2 million loan to his campaign. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to media during a press conference in the offices of Blakemore & Associates in Houston on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Acting as Paxton impeachment judge, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issues sweeping gag order
“Prejudicial and inflammatory statements” from both sides have jeopardized the ability of senators to offer fair and impartial justice, Patrick says. Violators can be found in contempt, jailed and fined. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Senate at the state capitol in Austin on June 20, 2023.]()
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Ken Paxton, impeached and suspended from office, raised $1.7 million in less than 2 weeks
Paxton’s campaign said 2,343 donors contributed to the Republican attorney general in 12 days when a fundraising freeze lifted after the regular legislative session. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton speaks at his primary election results watch party alongside his wife Senator Angela Paxton in McKinney, TX on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Democrats confident U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will keep his South Texas seat in 2024 election
Republicans recently announced Mayra Flores’ comeback effort with great fanfare, but Democrats argue that a redrawn district — and Flores’ voting record — are hurdles the GOP can’t clear. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, at a polling location in Mercedes on Nov. 8, 2022. Rep. Gonzalez is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in a new district, TX-34.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
In a political era of “parental rights,” Texans raising trans kids say new law strips them of choice
Senate Bill 14, which is set to take effect on Sept. 1, bans transition-related care for minors. Parents of transgender kids say it blocks their ability to support their children. Full Story
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![Kari stands with her son, a 17-year-old trans kid, during golden hour at a park in Georgetown on June 30, 2023. As of September 1 of this year, her son will no longer be legally allowed to have gender affirming healthcare and, according to the bill, will have to be “weaned off” their hormones in a “medically appropriate” manner. “I would love to ask somebody what is going to change between today and next March? Is my son going to magically change genders? Please let me know where that magic is,” Kari said.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune